Title: His Favorite
Author: LadyForASH
Rating: FRT
Pairing: G/B
Summary: wide_rider wanted Giles and pecan pie. I don't know why it turned so angsty…
Disclaimer: Everything belongs to Joss.

Buffy had thought it was a good idea at the time. She'd overheard Giles telling Jenny that pecan pie was his favorite. She knew she'd been a pill lately, only going through the motions during training, showing up late and leaving early. Patrols had been more about spending time with Angel then actually slaying. So when Buffy found out that Giles' birthday was coming up, she resolved to make him the best pecan pie he'd ever had.

Of course, she'd never baked anything before. Not even cookies. But this was something she wanted to do by herself. She didn't even tell Willow about it.

Her mom was working late at the gallery, so Buffy gathered all the ingredients and spread everything out on the kitchen counter. Soon the kitchen looked like a disaster area. The first pie burned. It took her an hour to air out the black smoke and scrub out the oven. The second pie looked suspect so she tasted it. It tasted burnt. Residue, probably. The third pie…it looked good. It smelled right. It would have to do.

She waited anxiously all day. It was a Saturday, so there wasn't any school. She hung out with Willow and Xander in the afternoon and evening working on homework and watching movies. Then it was time for patrol. She actually avoided Angel that night, and she wasn't even upset about it.

It was almost midnight when she arrived at his door with the pie. Technically, it was still his birthday She had it in a bag. It was one of those paper grocery shopping bags with the big paper handle. She used her elbow to ring the doorbell. That in itself was weird. Normally she just burst in, but she wanted to surprise him.

"Just a minute," she heard him call out. He sounded like he'd been upstairs. Her eyes narrowed. Obviously he hadn't been sleeping. He always waited for her. Sure, she didn't always stop in anymore. In fact, most nights she barely managed a phone call.

"Oh, hello Buffy." He smiled at her when he opened the door.

Buffy looked up at him with a surprised expression. His hair was mussed, and his shirt was on, but unbuttoned. His chest hair glistened under the porch light. Her breathing sped up and she suddenly felt very warm.

"Buffy, is everything alright?" Giles gave her a concerned look.

"I brought you something." Buffy held out her hand with the bag. "For your birthday." Finally her eyes raised from his chest to his face.

They both stepped inside the apartment. Giles closed the door behind her and then followed her into the living area. She saw him glance up the stairs but then he opened the bag. "A pie?" he said absently.

Buffy frowned again. "It's a pecan pie. I heard it was your favorite?"

Giles gave her a delightful little smile. "You bought me a pecan pie?!"

"No! I made it," Buffy said testily.

Giles blinked.

"Rupert?" Both Buffy and Giles' heads turned towards the voice coming from the top of the stairs. It was Jenny. "Oh, hi Buffy. Everything okay?"

Buffy blushed and quickly stood up. It was quite evident she had interrupted something.

"She made me a pecan pie for my birthday." Giles smiled again. Jenny smiled too. "Well, that was very nice of you, Buffy."

Buffy just nodded. Weird feelings were going through her body. Giles looked…unGilesy. In fact, he looked…very sexy. And Buffy had always liked Jenny, but the sight of her, knowing what had been going on upstairs…Buffy realized she was quite envious of the computer teacher.

She blinked and headed for the door. This was her Watcher. She had Angel. I mean sure, he was a dead vampire. She never felt heat like she was feeling right now coming from Giles. But the heat wasn't for her. It was for Jenny.

"I'm sorry. I'll just go now." Buffy's hand reached for the door knob.

Jenny frowned as did Giles. He stood up with a confused look. "Sorry? For what? Buffy, I love the pie. Thank you very much. It's turning out to be quite a wonderful birthday." He glanced over at Jenny again and gave her a warm smile. Buffy didn't miss it. Nor did she miss how Jenny practically glowed.

Buffy knew she should be happy for Giles. She wanted him to be happy. Being alone really sucked, and she knew he'd been dating Jenny for awhile now. Still…why did something twist in her gut? Why did she suddenly wish it was her fingers running through her Watcher's chest hair?

Get a grip, Buffy, she admonished herself. She was being silly.

Buffy took a deep breath and turned her face back to his. She forced herself to smile. "Happy Birthday, Giles." Then she opened the door and left.

END