Title: I'm Sorry
Author: Donna dlg92000@yahoo.com
Paring: B/G
Spoilers: After Into the Woods
Summary: Buffy and Giles discuss their feelings for each  other...angsty maybe
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Joss and Co. own all

Giles played his guitar softly, relishing this quiet time; he paused to take a sip of quality scotch before picking out a bluesy riff. He was soon so lost in the music that he was creating that the knock on the door was shocking. Scowling at the interruption, he set the guitar aside and checked the time. Sighing, he walked to the door knowing that it was Buffy. Things had been awkward between them lately and for some reason with Riley leaving it had made things worse.

"All right!" He called out at her incessant knocking. He swung open the door and barely bit back a grin, his Slayer resembled a drowned rat.

Buffy glared at him. "Go ahead! Laugh!" She stomped into his apartment.

"Buffy?" Giles strangled out, manfully biting back his laughter. "Is it raining? When did it rain?"

The Slayer pouted at him. "No it's not raining and it hasn't been raining. I've been slaying a particularly nasty looking demon. I slayed. It exploded. All over me. I am covered in demon guts. Not rain."

Giles finally gave way to his chuckles, gaining control over his mirth he told her to go have a shower and he'd make her a cuppa.

Buffy took her time in the shower, enjoying being surrounded by Giles things, his scent. She knew things had become awkward lately and she knew it was her fault. Even before Riley had issued his ultimatum and stormed out, she had suddenly become aware of Giles as a man. Not her teacher or her Watcher, but as an extremely sexy desirable male. It was as of someone had thrown a switch and it had thrown her for a loop to say the least. But, she was determined to find out exactly how Giles felt about her. Lately, some of the looks he had been giving her. Buffy got so lost in daydreams of how it could be, that the knock on the bathroom door almost made her fall, it surprised her that much.

"Buffy?" Giles called through the door. "I left a robe for you to wear."

Buffy smiled, that was so Giles, always taking care of her. "Thanks." She called out and turned the water off, having rinsed and soaped all the demon goo from her body and hair. She quickly toweled off and wrapped herself in the robe she retrieved from outside the bathroom door. She padded her way into the living room in her bare feet, pausing at the threshold to smile. Giles had lit a fire and there was a tray loaded with tea and cookies on the coffee table. Buffy continued on into the room. Giles looked up and smiled at her entrance.

"Less like drowned rat?" Buffy asked with a rueful grin.

"Much less. Here." He patted a sofa cushion. "I have the biscuits that you like so well."

"Cookies Giles, they're cookies." It was a long-standing joke between them, the cookies vs biscuit issue. "You were playing when I knocked. It was beautiful, I'm sorry I interrupted you. Play some more." Buffy asked with a winsome smile, her eyes soft and dreamy. Giles hesitated, then picked up his guitar and began picking out the riff he had been working on before her arrival. The mood had become unintentionally romantic. Buffy watched Giles fingers as he played, absently wondering how they would feel on her body, caressing her smooth skin, cupping her breasts before trailing down to...she bit back a moan as she jerked her attention back to her Watcher, thankful that he seemed absorbed in his music.

Giles peeked back up at Buffy, wondering what had startled her. A moment before her expression had been dreamy, almost sensual. He hoped she wasn't thinking of Riley again. His lips firmed at the thought of the pain that the ex-commando had put her through. He paused in his playing to take a sip of tea.

Buffy drew in a breath and decided that it was now or never. Taking her courage in her hands, she knelt on the floor in front of Giles, ignoring his startled look.

"Giles," she began breathless. "I...I..love you. I've loved you for some time now but didn't have the courage to face it, that's the real reason me and Riley broke up and why I can't find a boyfriend to stick around cause he's been right before me. I love you." Giles raised a finger to Buffys lips, halting the trembling rush of words from pouring out. He looked into her glowing eyes and moaned.

"Buffy. I..I..It's only natural that after time has past..I mean you." He sighed and reached for her hands, desperately not wanting to do this. "You know that I love you." He held up a hand as she opened her mouth to interrupt. "More than just my Slayer," he continued, "you're growing into a wonderful, warm beautiful woman and it's my privilege and honor to know you. But Buffy, you're only twenty years old. I know you're hurting because of Riley and.." He broke off, searching for the right words. "But I have every confidence that you will find someone."

"But Giles." Buffy interrupted earnestly. "I do love you! I know that I've said things in the past that would cause you to doubt me but, I...I.." She gave up on words and threw herself into his arms.

Giles carefully pulled her away from him and stared deeply into her eyes. "Buffy, sweetheart, I...I...just don't love you that way. I'm sorry."

END