Title: Tumblin' Down 8/?
Author: Elisabeth
Email: dragonydreams@yahoo.com
Website: http://www.dragonydreams.com/
Rating: NC-17
Pairing: Willow/Giles
Summary: What if Riley hadn't been there to pull Willow out of harm's way during "Wild at Heart"?
Disclaimer: I claim no ownership over these characters. I am merely borrowing them from Joss et al.
Distribution: My site, the usual lists, anyone with previous permission. Anyone else - please ask.
Feedback: Yes please! It makes me happy and keeps me writing.
Author's Note: Thanks to my wonderful Betas for all of your help and encouragement.

The radio alarm sounded the arrival of a much anticipated day, two days after Willow's physical therapy appointment. Willow made a noise of disapproval for being awoken in such a rude manner. She lifted her head to glare at the clock over Giles' chest, reaching out her too-short arm to turn it off.

Giles chuckled as he reached behind him to silence the offending alarm. Wrapping his arm back around the redhead he asked, "Better?"

"Much," Willow sighed, snuggling closer to Giles.

They had been sharing a bed every night since Willow's nightmare of Oz and Veruca. Willow had claimed that she had slept better with him there, so it made sense for him to continue sharing her bed. They both knew that was just an excuse, but since it was what they both wanted, they used it.

"You do know that the alarm went off for a reason," Giles pointed out, turning on his side to face Willow.

"Yeah," she smiled. "Today I get my stitches out." She whispered this last statement, afraid that if she said it too loudly it wouldn't happen.

"A big day," Giles agreed. "One that deserves a hearty breakfast. We can't have that doctor of yours thinking that I'm not taking good care of you."

Willow snaked her fingers out to capture Giles' pajama top and pulled him closer. "Oh, I think you're taking very good care of me, Nurse Giles."

Before he could protest the title, Willow had succeeded in pulling him into thought-stopping kiss. It never failed to amaze him how passionate their kisses could be. In fact, it still amazed him that Willow wanted to kiss him at all, let alone share her bed with him. Granted all that they had done in it was sleep, and kiss, but it was an incredible honor nonetheless. One that he didn't take lightly.

"What time is your appointment?" Giles rasped when they finally separated.

"It's at 10:00."

"We must get up then," Giles regretfully said, pulling away from Willow and standing.

"Aw," Willow pouted momentarily, then broke into a grin at Giles' amused expression. "So what's on the menu this morning Nurse Giles?"

"Must you call me that?" he whined. "You make me feel like I should be behind some kind of glass window holding a clipboard, doling out medication."

"Yes, I must," Willow grinned. She slowly eased her body out of the bed and followed him into the kitchen. "You're the one nursing me back to health, so suck it up and take it like a man, Nurse Giles." She stuck her tongue out at him.

"So long as I don't have to wear some kind of white uniform…" Despite the exasperated tone in his voice, Giles' eyes sparked with amusement.

"Get with the times, old man," Willow teased. "In this day and age nurses wear scrubs."

"Old man?" Giles sputtered. "Old man? Can an old man do this?"

Giles abandoned his breakfast preparations to swoop Willow off her stool and into his arms, kissing her soundly.

"Giles," Willow squealed in the half a second she had before Giles' mouth had descended on hers. Her arms snaked around his neck, holding his shoulders tightly.

"I take it back," Willow said when she could speak again. "You're not old."

Giles granted her a truly Ripperish grin. "Don't you forget it."

He gently set her back down on her stool and returned to the business of making omelets.

"Keep reminding me like that and I won't."

"Do you want to go freshen up while I finish preparing breakfast," Giles offered.

"Yeah, I probably should. Just think, after today, no more sink baths."

"And I know how much you will miss those," Giles sarcastically replied.

"Not a whit." Willow tossed over her shoulder as she exited the room.

By the time she returned, clean and dressed, Giles had a feast of cheese omelets, toast, orange juice and tea waiting for her.

"Yum," Willow commented, taking in the spread. "You didn't have to go to all this trouble."

"It was my pleasure," Giles said, helping her to sit before joining her at the counter. "This is a big day for you and you deserve to be well fed for it."

After the meal Giles quickly showered and dressed. Before he left his room he double checked to make sure his present was well hidden. He knew Willow was going to love his surprise.

~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~

"Do you want me to come in while the doctor removes the stitches?" Giles asked as they sat in the waiting room.

"No, I should be fine. It's just a few pulls – no blood. There's some stuff I need to talk to him about anyway." Willow hoped that he couldn't see the faint blush tingeing her cheeks.

"All right." Giles squeezed her hand. He wondered what she could have to ask the doctor that she didn't want him to hear, and caused her to blush. "If you change your mind you'll send for me?"

"Of course."

"Willow Rosenberg," a nurse called into the waiting room.

"Here," she said, easing her body out of the chair to follow the nurse down the hall.

Willow changed into the hospital gown, leaving the opening in the front as instructed, and sat on the examination table. Just as she was beginning to wish that she'd brought a book or magazine with her there was a knock on the door and the doctor entered.

"Good morning, Willow."

"Good morning, Dr. Ashman."

"Are you ready to get rid of those stitches?" he asked, looking over her chart.

"You bet'cha," Willow grinned.

"They haven't caused you any problems have they?" the doctor asked, donning a pair of plastic gloves. He sat on a stool next to Willow, motioning her to lie back. He separated the gown enough to have access to her left hip.

"Only in the non-bathing sense," Willow commented. "The stitches themselves behaved."

"That's good to hear. They look it. You obviously followed the care directions to the letter."

"That's me, practical, reliable girl," Willow agreed, for once not feeling that these are bad things to be.

Dr. Ashman stood to retrieve the tools needed to remove the stitches. He saw that Willow seemed to have steeled herself for what was to come when he returned to her side. He smiled to himself at the concentrated look on her face.

"Keep in mind that you will need to continue to care for the area where the stitches are being removed to prevent scarring."

"I know," Willow said. "I read the pamphlets. I'll need to wash the area gently and rub a medicated ointment gently over the scars to minimize their permanency."

"You have done your homework," Dr. Ashman chuckled.

"I like to be prepared." Willow winced as the doctor began to gently tug the stitches free from her body.

"If only all of my patients took such care of their injuries…" Dr. Ashman wistfully commented.

"Um, speaking of being prepared…" Willow hesitantly began, deciding this as good a time as any to ask.

"Yes?" Dr. Ashman prompted, continuing his work.

"How long, um, how long should I wait… How long do I need to wait before I can have sex?" The end of her question came out in a rushed whisper.

Dr. Ashman blinked and momentarily paused his actions at her question. That wasn't what he had been expecting her to ask him. From what he understood from Willow and her friends, she had been injured in a car accident after breaking up with her boyfriend. He briefly wondered how she could have met someone new so quickly that she'd be asking this question. Pushing aside his personal questions, he answered her professionally as he returned to his task.

"Some time, to be blunt. Your hip has sustained major trauma, Willow. Even with the surgery it will take time for the bones to heal and adjust to the pins that are now there. It's been how long since your surgery… two weeks?" Willow nodded, her bottom lip caught between her teeth. "Three months is the average time I recommend waiting for such an activity."

"Three months," Willow repeated, disappointment evident in her voice.

"That will of course be dependent upon the progress of your recovery," Dr. Ashman continued. "We will be meeting again in a month and I can give you a better estimate at that time."

"Okay," Willow agreed. "How are things going down there?"

"Just about done," the doctor said, removing the last stitch. "There, done." He wiped the area where the stitches had been with an antiseptic, making sure they were clean before covering them with a gauze bandage.

"More bandages?" Willow questioned.

"For a time, yes. This area of your hip will still be sensitive, especially after being tugged at this morning. You should still take particular care of this area for the next several days."

"But I can take a bath, right?" she eagerly asked.

"Yes," the doctor chuckled. "You may take a bath. You may need some assistance getting in and out of the tub because you won't be able to put your full weight on your left leg while climbing in or out."

Relief washed over Willow's face. She knew exactly how she was going to spend her afternoon. "I can live with that condition. Are we done?"

"Yes. Please stop by the front desk on your way out to schedule an appointment to come back in a month's time. When you feel you are ready, you may stop using one of the crutches, but only if you are comfortable. Don't push yourself to try to heal faster than your body is ready to. I know you don't want to do anything to slow down your healing progress."

"That's for sure," Willow agreed. "Thanks, Doc."

"Good day, Willow."

Dr. Ashman handed Willow her clothes before leaving her to some privacy.

Giles stood when he saw Willow coming down the hallway, a smile on her face. He met her near the door.

"Everything went smoothly I presume?" he asked, slipping an arm around her shoulder.

"Blue skies all the way," Willow agreed. "I just need to make a follow-up appointment and then we're outta here."

~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~

"Do you know what you would like to do this afternoon?" Giles asked once they were back in the car.

"Absolutely," Willow confidently said. "I will be wiling away my afternoon in a bubble bath."

"I had a feeling you'd say that," Giles teased.

"Oh, and how did you know," she countered.

"You've been talking about that blasted bath for days now," he reminded her.

Willow giggled. "Oh, yeah, I forgot."

"Were you able to discuss everything you needed to with your doctor?" Giles carefully queried.

"Yep. He said that I have done an excellent job of taking care of my stitches and that I should be able to get rid of one of the crutches in a couple of weeks if I feel stable enough."

"Is that all you discussed with him?" He doubted it; otherwise he could have held her hand while her stitches were being removed.

"No, but that was kind of personal, if you don't mind," she admitted.

His heart sank; he had hoped that they could discuss anything with each other. "Of course, I'll respect your privacy."

"It's nothing bad," she assured him. "And you'll find out eventually. I'm just not ready to share yet."

"All right. Anything else he said that I should know about?"

"Well, he did say that if I plan on taking baths, that I will need some assistance getting in and out of the tub since I can't put my full weight on my left leg."

"He did, did he?" Giles leered slightly at the blushing redhead next to him. "I think I am up to that challenge."

"Who said I was going to ask for your help?" she impishly countered. "Maybe I was talking about Buffy or Xander."

"I highly doubt that you want Xander to see you naked, nor Buffy."

"And who said that I'm ready for you to see me naked?" she continued to tease him.

"Oh, um, I hadn't thought of that," Giles soberly replied, a slight frown creasing his eyebrows. "Of course… I didn't mean to presume…"

"Relax, Giles," Willow told him. "I'm ready."

Luckily Giles had just pulled into his parking space. He turned his head and caught the lustful look Willow was fixing on him. His breath caught and the depth of the emotion he saw on her face, knowing her statement meant more than simply preparing for a bath. He silently prayed that his body would behave itself so that he would be able to do this for her.

Willow watched as his eyes changed from bright-eyed shock to lust-darkened yearning. Her heartbeat quickened at what she saw and she desperately wished it were two months later.

Willow found her voice first. "We, we should go inside." She fumbled with the door handle for a moment before her fingers obeyed the command to open the door.

Seeing Willow move brought Giles out of his thoughts. "Right. You've got a bathtub with your name on it."

Giles quickly exited and moved around the car to assist Willow in getting out. Once she was safely on her feet, he went ahead and opened the door for her.

"Wh-why don't you g-go ahead and change into your robe while I prepare the bath," Giles suggested.

"Yeah, I'll do that," Willow quietly agreed.

Giles dashed up to his room to retrieve the gift he had purchased for Willow for this day. He brought it with him into the bathroom as he began to fill the tub with hot water.

While he waited for the tub to fill he paced. The enormity of the situation laying heavily on his shoulders. 'I'm going to see Willow naked,' he gleefully thought. It wasn't the way he had imagined his first time seeing her sans-clothes would be. In his mind, he had always imagined that he would be the one to get her into a state of undress. He had often imagined what her face and body would look like as he sometimes lovingly, sometimes desperately, peeled the clothing from her body.

He'd never imagined that it would be under these circumstances. How was he expected to keep his emotions at bay when confronted with her completely bare skin? Was he supposed to ignore the fact that a beautiful woman, for surely could be nothing short of gorgeous, was to be naked in his arms. Perhaps he wouldn't have to ignore it so much as look at the situation in a different light.

Giles poured a generous amount of bubble bath from Willow's present into the tub as his mind continued to wrestle with the situation.

Willow was still fragile. He knew that she would most likely be embarrassed by the situation they were in. He doubted that this is how she imagined she would first be naked with him as well. Yet it was what was necessary for her to have the bath she so desperately wanted.

A light rapping on the door announced Willow's presence. Giles stopped his pacing and turned his resolved face to greet Willow. She looked so small wrapped in the terrycloth robe between her crutches. In that moment, Giles knew he could do anything for her.

Willow was oddly relieved to find Giles pacing when she reached the bathroom. She'd been questioning the rationality of having Giles assist her with taking a bath as she'd changed.

Part of her was embarrassed at having to need his assistance period. The greater part of her doubts was her own insecurities. 'Giles is going to see me naked,' she thought nervously.

Willow had always felt that her body left much to be desired. She was thin, slightly bony after her hospital stay, with pale flesh dotted with freckles. She knew that she wasn't as developed as many girls her age were, including Buffy and Cordelia. Would Giles still want to be with her after seeing her naked?

Maybe she was being presumptuous that he even wanted more of a relationship with her. What if he wasn't thinking far enough ahead to want to sleep with her? She realized that she had been the aggressor with most of their kisses so far. What if he was only being polite and he didn't really want her?

Willow shook her head as she tied the belt closed on her robe. She was being ridiculous. Giles wouldn't lead her on like that. Besides, she'd brushed against his arousal often enough in the last couple of days to know that he desired her, or at least his body did. She smiled as she made her way to the bathroom, and Giles.

"It smells wonderful in here," Willow commented upon entering the room. "Roses?"

"Um, ah, yes," Giles confirmed, pulling himself out of his musings. He presented her with the gift bag.

"Prezzie!" Willow exclaimed, moving to sit on the closed toilet.

"In honor of your first bath post-surgery," Giles said, presenting the gift with a flourish.

Willow clapped her hands with child-like glee. "What do we have here?" She mumbled as she pulled the tissue paper out of the bag, dropping it on the floor. "Ooh, rose scented bubble bath, which I see you already opened."

"I hope you don't mind," Giles apologized with a small smile.

"Not at all. There's more!" Willow proceeded to pull out apple scented shampoo, a loofa, and a rose scented candle. "Thank you Giles! I'd jump up and give you a hug if I could," she gushed.

"I'm glad you like it."

"Of course I do, I can't wait to try them out." Willow said excitedly before the reality of the situation hit her again.

Giles silently turned the water off, testing the temperature one last time before turning back to Willow. "No time like the present," he shyly said.

Willow sagely nodded. She avoided looking at him as she pulled the tie on her robe and shrugged out of it. Her hands moved to cover her exposed body as she awaited Giles' reaction.

Giles noticed Willow's trepidation as she disrobed and tried not to watch her – a difficult task. He rolled the sleeves of his shirt up to his elbows as he waited. He heard the heavy material hit the porcelain of the toilet and took that as his cue. He raised his eyes. Even trying to hide within her skin, Willow was beautiful.

As he exhaled the unknowingly held-in breath, he said, "You're beautiful."

Willow's entire demeanor changed. She sat up a straighter and her face was lit up with her smile. "You think so?"

"Yes." His voice still held a sense of awe that sent delightful shivers down Willow's spine. "Let's get you to your bath."

Willow reluctantly moved her arms, preparing to wrap them around Giles as he bent to pick her up. He tried to ignore the delightful sensations running up his arms where her bare skin touched his and concentrated on not dropping her. Kneeling next to the tub, Giles lowered Willow into the water, hiding her body beneath the bubbles.

Willow sighed with pleasure as she released her arms, allowing them to slide into the tub. Giles allowed himself the pleasure of brushing his hands along her body as he removed them from water.

"Do you want me to go?" he nervously asked, handing her a small rubber pillow to sit on, hoping that she'd say no.

Willow reached out and caught an arm before it was completely out of the tub. "Stay," she shyly requested.

"May I bathe you?"

"Mmm, that'd be nice." The heat of the water was relaxing Willow as she lay her head against the tub.

Giles quickly retrieved Willow's gifts. He excused himself briefly, only to return with an empty pitcher. He filled the pitcher with water from the tub before requesting, "Sit up."

Giles tilted her head back and poured the water over Willow's hair, he repeated the process until it was thoroughly wet. He set the pitcher aside and uncapped the apple shampoo, pouring a generous amount into his hands. "You can sit back now," he informed Willow before working the shampoo into her hair.

Willow played with the bubbles surrounding her, pulling them over her body, making sure she was covered, despite Giles' previous view of her. She relaxed against the tub as Giles proceeded to wash her hair. At first she felt a little silly having him do this for her, but she quickly changed her mind. She'd had other people wash her hair before, at the beauty salon when she had her hair cut, but it was nothing like this.

Giles worked the shampoo into a lather as he massaged her scalp. Using small circles, his strong fingers kneaded Willow's scalp beginning along her hairline and around and up to the top of her head, releasing any tension in her body as he cleaned her fiery hair. The pleasure-filled moans Willow couldn't contain only spurred him on.

"Mm, Giles, where did you learn to do that," Willow moaned.

"I have my sources," he silkily replied. "Now sit up again."

Willow whimpered in protest as he removed his hands, rinsing them in the water. "Don't wanna."

"How do you propose I finish washing you if I can't rinse your hair?" he asked, filling the pitcher with water.

"Good point," she agreed, using the sides of the tub to pull her body into a sitting position.

"Close your eyes." Using his free hand to keep the soapy water from her face, Giles proceeded to rinse her hair.

"This is heavenly," Willow sighed.

"I'm glad you're enjoying it. You can sit back now."

Giles picked up a washcloth and poured some bath gel on it. Starting with her shoulders, Giles began to wash the rest of her body. He ran the cloth over one shoulder and over her chest to the other, back to the bit of chest exposed above the water before dipping below. He held his breath as his cloth-covered hand ran over first one breast and then the other.

A long low moan made its way out of her throat as the rough texture of the washcloth ran over her breasts. Willow arched into his touch, trying to prolong the contact.

Giles grinned at her reaction and lingered on her breasts for a few more minutes before running the cloth over each of her arms. He rewashed her breasts as he continued his downward motion. He flitted over her fluttering belly and purposely bypassed the juncture of her thighs. Instead he lifted her right leg out of the water and ran the cloth from hipbone to toes. Then he repeated the process, although much slower and at a lower altitude, with her left leg. When he neared her pelvis again he paused and chanced a look at Willow's face to see if he should continue.

Willow met his questioning eyes, dark green boring into light. With her bottom lip between her teeth she nodded. Keeping their eyes locked, Giles ran the cloth over her sex.

Willow's body was on fire. She wanted nothing more in that moment than for him to abandon the washcloth and touch her. But at the same time, she knew they weren't ready for that yet.

Giles saw the emotions play over Willow's face. He felt the almost imperceptible lift of her hips, encouraging his touch, but her face belied her body's response. He could see the war being waged between her eyes. Being the gentleman he was, Giles went against instinct and retraced his path back up Willow's body.

As he returned to her head, Giles abandoned the washcloth and lowered his head to capture Willow's lips. She moaned into his mouth, brushing her tongue against his lips, inviting his out to play. An invitation Giles was more than happy to accept.

Many minutes later Willow pulled out of the kiss and leaned forward again. "Don't forget my back," she impishly said, handing Giles the washcloth from the bottom of the tub.

"Wouldn't want to forget that," he mumbled, somewhat put out to have the kiss end.

As he finished, Willow asked, "What time is it?"

Giles retrieved his watch from the sink. "It is nearly one o'clock."

"We need to get me out of this tub then," Willow announced. "Buffy and Xander are supposed to be coming over around two."

"If we must…" Giles reluctantly agreed, a slow smile spreading across his face. He began to drain the tub as he reached for a towel. He took a minute to try to figure out the best way to get a wet Willow out of the tub without becoming soaked himself. Finally he opened the towel across his chest, holding one end in each hand. Making sure that the towel didn't dip into the retreating water, he once again knelt next to the tub and reached in, pulling Willow into his arms. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and Giles lifted her over the edge of the tub, and stood her on her feet. Keeping his hands on her hips as she steadied herself on her right leg, Giles turned his head away allowing Willow as much privacy as possible to dry herself.

"Can you stand on your own?" he asked.

"Kind of. Why?"

"I'm going to let go so that I can get your robe."

"Okay. Go for it."

Giles left her side for a second to retrieve Willow's robe and was back before she knew he was gone. He helped her into the robe from behind, then reaching around her, he tied the belt and held her in his arms.

Willow leaned back against Giles' solid frame. She turned her head to look up at him. "Thank you. That was the best bath I've ever had."

"You're more than welcome," Giles said, dipping his head for a brief kiss. When he pulled back he picked Willow up in his arms again and carried her to her bedroom.

"I can walk you know," she chided, snuggling into his arms.

"I know." He gave her a sheepish grin. "I just like having you in my arms."

"Aw, that's so sweet." Willow's fingers played with the hair at the nape of his neck until he set her down on her bed.

"I'll just go get your crutches then," Giles said, backing out of the room.

"I'll be here," she called back.

NEXT