Series: Debts to Repay Part I
Title: Feel the music 5/7
Authors: Ananda & Eaglewolf
Email: ananda1@lycos.com & auzzie98@hotmail.com
Date: May 01- April 02
Spoilers: A/U - set somewhere in S5
Summary: Best friends
Rating: PG13
Pairing: Buffy/Giles eventually
Distribution: Just let us know, but feel free.
Feedback: Highly encouraged:)
Disclaimer: Joss and his playmates in the sandbox own it. It's getting crowded in there, and Bette Midler owns Every Road Leads me back to you

Buffy sang from the heart, it was Giles she always came back to. Whenever her life got too tough for her to handle, and she thought she couldn't go on-- it was to him she turned. He was her constant, her rock. He was her best friend. She had been so touched when he'd sung his first song, and told her she was his best friend. Willow and Xander would always be two of her closest friends, but Giles... Giles was simply the best.

Old friend, here we are,
after all the years and tears
and all that we've been through.
It feels so good to see you.
Lookin' back in time,
there've been other friends and other lovers,
but no other one like you.
All my life, no one ever has known me better.

Buffy thought about her past lovers; Angel, Parker, Riley. None of those boys could compare to what Giles meant to her, he knew her better than any other person on the planet could hope to, and it was him she loved. Giles and her had faced so many threats, sure the Scooby gang was always there to help but Giles was who kept her alive, he knew everything there was to know about her, and she wouldn't have it any other way.

I must have traveled down a thousand roads.
Been so many places, seen so many faces,
always on my way to somethin' new.
Ohhh, but it doesn't matter,
'cause no matter where I go,
every road leads back,
every road just seems to lead me back to you.

Old friend, there were times
I didn't want to see your face
or hear your name again.
Now those times are far behind me.
It's so good to see your smile.
I'd forgotten how nobody else
could make me smile the way you do.
All this time, you're the one I still want beside me.

Buffy thought back to when she was younger, when Giles had been there to support her, but she hadn't wanted him then. All she'd wanted was Angel, and it was her love of the vampire that had hurt Giles so badly. Giles was her partner in every way but one, and she wanted to change that. She loved him, surely he had to see that. She wouldn't run again, she had accepted her responsibility long ago. She turned to smile at him, and melted as he smiled at her, reminding her of prom night.

I must have traveled down a thousand roads.
Been so many places, seen so many faces,
always on my way to somethin' new.
Ohh, but it doesn't matter,
'cause no matter where I go,
every road leads back,
every road just seems to lead me back to you.

I must have traveled down a thousand roads.
Been so many places, seen so many faces,
always on my way to somethin' new.
Ohh, but it doesn't matter,
'cause no matter where I go,
every road leads back,
every road just seems to lead me back,
every road leads back,
every road just seems to lead me back to you.
Every road just seems to lead me back to you.

As she finished the song, she turned to him and sang the last line looking him directly in the eyes, willing him to understand what she was trying to say. She laid her hand high on his thigh. He smiled and nodded at her, his green eyes betraying his feelings. Buffy felt her heart skip a beat, if she was seeing what she hoped she was seeing in his eyes, everything was going to be alright.

Giles was shaking, imperceptible to anyone who wasn't looking for it, he loved his slayer so much, but he was so afraid. Would Buffy still feel the same if he opened his heart, and showed her what he carried inside? A small voice in his head told him he'd carried the burden alone long enough, and it was time to share it with the woman he loved, but he was still afraid. How could he tell Buffy he felt the same, and yet he was afraid? Suddenly the perfect song came to him, and he programmed it into the machine.

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