Title: Ice Rink Series
Author: Katy Hart
Rating: FRC
Pairing: Buffy/Giles
Disclaimer: Joss, ME, etc own BTVS and its characters. I'm just giving them happiness the show couldn't.
Feedback: feeds the muse.
Spoilers: None really, though probably set between seasons 3 and 4 cause that fits with the rest of the series.
A/N: This was my response to gileswench's mini challenge, asking for an ASHBLF and sports. My first B/G fic, and first posted fic.

He watched her glide over the smooth surface. The only sound was that of the 1/4 inch blade cutting across the ice. She was magnificent, blond ponytail flying out behind her as she spun endlessly. Her body was one with the ice.

He'd brought her here to calm them both. They needed to get away from the group, away from the trials and tribulations of everyday life. He knew she loved skating, missed the routine and calmness of the rink. So he'd picked her up that morning and brought her here.

Her slow smile of joy was all the thanks he had needed. Watching her lace up the boots, glide out and be at peace; his heart filled with love again. He'd loved her for a long time only recently acknowledging that it was not a father's love. He sipped the hot chocolate, smiling at her as she made lazy figure eights. He wouldn't tell her his feeling, she'd never reciprocate. So he gathered his joy close and tried to guard his heart.

Glancing at his watch, he sighed. Time to go, they were needed back home. He would have to bring her back here again, she would need this peace again all too soon.

Rupert Giles stood up and called to his love, his slayer,

"Time to go Buffy."

The summer sun glared against the smooth ice. The rink was quiet, not exactly the season for skating. He'd brought her here again. A respite from the evils that she'd faced, the Big Bad killed. Buffy grimaced at that last thought. Adam had been hard to kill. Thanks to her friends and the power of the First Slayer, he was nothing more than scrap metal. The dream she'd had following that still haunted her. She still felt its presence.

Just as she felt the presence of those who'd helped with the spell. They'd each left behind a part of themselves. Willow her nervous, bubbly energy; Xander his courage; and Giles…. Giles had left behind his heart. She felt enormous love course through her.

But love for who?

She tried to shake off those feelings by doing several toe loops. She wasn't going to try anything more difficult `cause despite Slayer strength she didn't have the skill. She glanced at her Watcher in the stands. The last time he'd brought her here was after the defeat of the Mayor. She found it oddly satisfying that the destruction of the school hadn't been all her fault. Giles had invited the others to join them but they all had their excuses.

They'd all had so much trouble that year. Stupid Council and their stupid test. She imagined them as the ice under her blade and smiled. Although the subject was taboo, she and Giles had wordlessly forgiven each other. Water. Bridge. Under it.

As she glided past him she saw a smile on his face. A smile too often unseen by any of the Scoobies lately. She hadn't seen that smile when Olivia was here.

Was he smiling at her?

Did she inspire the happiness that reached his eyes?

Nah, she decided, spinning endlessly, thankful she wouldn't get dizzy. Another perk of being the Slayer. When she stopped she saw he'd broken into a full fledged grin. The love he'd left behind surged through her again. She felt a joy that she hadn't know since well, ever.

Giles loved her?

Giles loved her.

The truth hit her hard, but before she could think again he called to her.

"Time to go Buffy."

He'd come to this place to find a measure of peace. Instead he was reminded of her. Her joy, her smile, her boundless energy all converged here. He peered out at the smooth surface, gathering the memories of her. That was all he had now, memories. She was gone. Sacrificed to save the world and a sister who wasn't real. He knew if he closed his eyes he could see it all again too clearly

Her body, broken and bleeding at the bottom of the tower. Her friends silent and unbelieving. Spike, whose obsession had worried him, devastated and in tears. Dawn, walking down the steps of the tower, delivering a message to live.

But he didn't want to live. Not in a world that didn't have her. But he must. The others needed him, Dawn needed him. Until that stupid robot had been fixed. Seeing that… thing with her face had been the last straw. He was going back to England. He couldn't call it home. Home was where she was. This last year had brought them closer, as if she knew his feelings. Silent looks, innocent touches, secret smiles. But nothing had been said, Glory interfered. And now nothing could be said.

He stood up, taking one last look at the ice. Tears rolled down his cheeks as he clutched the plane tickets. He whispered one last time into the wind.

"Time to go Buffy."

`Back again' he mused, reveling in the nip of cold despite it being July in California. He was whole again. She had been returned to him.

Yes, he'd yelled at Willow for not consulting him. Yes, he'd agonized every second that she avoided him and her friends, choosing Spike to confide in. But she was back and his heart rejoiced.

Then the demon Sweet had paid a visit. Thank you Xander Harris. He'd poured his heart out to her, she revealed being pulled out of Heaven. Spike had saved her, but left her alone; seen sporadically in town until a few weeks ago when the wanker'd disappeared. He had been her comfort, her rock. They'd left the Bronze together, Watcher and Slayer. Until the music had consumed them one last time, leading to a kiss.

She glided past him with a smile and he returned it. That moment had led to revelations, feelings let loose and guilt assuaged. They were past being colleagues. They were lovers. Oh, not in the physical sense, she was too fragile for that yet. But in every other sense they were,

The wordless glances they'd always exchanged had deeper meaning now. The touches were not so innocent anymore, the smiles genuinely happy. Their family, as the Scoobies had become, delighted in the couple finally achieving happiness. She spun and jump, if not exactly herself again, at least better than she had been.

He hated to end this trip, but a party was brewing back home. Something to celebrate the capture of three useless boys who'd tried to take over the world. His heart filled with love again, stronger now it was reciprocated.

"Time to go Buffy."

A different rink, the same joy. She was no longer the Chosen One, but she was his. He would miss the quiet of Sunnydale. He laughed. No, he amended, it had never been quiet on the Hellmouth. But he would still miss it and the memories it held. The bad. The Master. Angelus. The Mayor. Adam. All balanced by the good. Jenny. Joyce. Olivia. Buffy.

She was not alone on the ice. Their family surrounded them, celebrating the defeat of The First. Xander clumsily being helped by Anya, celebrating over a year of marriage. Willow and Tara magically keeping balance. Dawn and the other potentials grouped in a corner, giggling.

He was glad to see them happy. They would mourn the loss of Spike later. The always surprising vampire had gotten a soul in hopes of winning Buffy's love. Finding out he was too late, he'd joined the fight, sacrificing himself, finding redemption and saving the world in one fell swoop.

Everyone had escaped the collapse of the Hellmouth, driving east, stopping here to assess the situation. He and Buffy had stolen a moment to employ the services offered in Sin City. The next morning the gang had offered congrats, demanding a celebration later. Which is how they'd ended up here. A place symbolizing all the significant moments in his and Buffy's relationship.

Again the time to leave had come all too soon The others gathered close to him, watching her spin, capturing one moment of joy.

"Time to go Mrs. Giles."

END