Title: Recovered
Author: Ladyforash
Spoilers: up to the beginning of Season 4. Before Riley but after Parker.
Rating: FRAO
Pairing: B/G
Disclaimer: Of course I own nothing, make nothing, and only am taking the characters I love out for a spin!

AUTHOR'S NOTES: My offering for Summer of Giles at livejournal, but it's a bit different. I based this story on a book, The Lost Slayer. I've written it in such a way that hopefully it will make sense if you have not read the story. If you have, and I've heard from numerous of you that loved the story as much as I did, well... I hope I did it justice.

Please don't let the fact this is based on a book scare you away. I really think/hope the story works for you if you have NOT read it.

Thank you to marsterslady for the beta. Her point of view was from someone that had not read the book, and she liked it. (Although yes, I admit, she's prejudiced where I'm concerned. SMOOCH.)

Thank you to wide_rider for the second beta. She is the one that loaned me the book in the first place, and inspired me to write this story.

"We're alive, Will. That could change at any time, but right now? We're alive. If we're careful, and we plan ahead, and we back each other up, I think we can stay that way."

Those words that Buffy had said to Willow echoed in her mind as she walked to Giles' flat. The night before, as a team, they had defeated Camazotz, and the future was, thankfully, changed forever.

Buffy still had not enlightened any of the gang about what had happened to her. What had happened to all of them, in the future, if Buffy hadn't been able to come back and fix the mistake she had made. Buffy wasn't sure she'd ever tell all of them everything. Maybe…not anything. But Giles? She had to tell Giles. She intended to tell him everything.

That was the plan, anyway. She contemplated the morning autumn sun and then softly knocked on his door.

She smiled as the door opened. He gave her his affable grin as he held the door open for her. He looked the worse for wear. His face was bruised, and he was sure to have a scar on his forehead from where Camazotz had wounded him. But he was alive. Buffy couldn't help but grin and pull him into another hug.

Giles was more then a little startled. Buffy had been so different in the last twenty-four hours. He was more than curious. "Buffy? Cracked ribs, remember?"

"Oh! Sorry!" Buffy quickly released him, but she continued to smile up at him, her eyes warm with affection. Giles couldn't help but smile in return as he closed the door behind her.

"Would you like some tea? Or perhaps some breakfast? Have you eaten?" Giles asked, almost nervously.

"I'm fine, Giles. Better than fine, actually." She went over to the sofa and sat down.

It was remarkable, Giles thought, to see the sudden change in Buffy. She seemed more relaxed. Calm. More mature. And when she looked at him, her entire presence exuded warmth and affection. Gone were the walls she'd always had up, especially recently.

He stood there awkwardly for a moment. He reached up for his second- hand glasses, as his originals had been broken in the fight with the harbormaster, and polished the lenses with the hem of his green sweater. Putting them back on, he took a step towards where Buffy sat on the sofa. "You're going to explain everything to me now, yes?"

"Yes, Giles. I am." She patted the sofa pillow next to hers. He hesitated a moment more before sinking into the seat beside her.

He gulped with surprise when her hand found his. He looked up from their entwined fingers and back to her face. She was still smiling. He swallowed nervously. "Buffy? What is it?"

"I'm just so glad that we're here together. That you're…you are alive and well." It was her turn to swallow a lump in her throat, but she didn't break eye contact with him.

"Tell me," he said, his warm fingers squeezing hers.

Buffy wasn't sure where to start. Where was the beginning? How did she explain everything that had happened? But she had to try.

"Last night, when you were attacked by the harbormaster and Camazotz… it wasn't the first time. It was the second time." Buffy licked at her bottom lip. Giles simply gave her an encouraging nod, so she continued. "See, the first time…I made a mistake. A horrible mistake."

Buffy closed her eyes as the visions of that past assaulted her. Camazotz, holding a bleeding Giles over his head, the Kakchiquel vampires surrounding her friends, the buildings, her decision to dive into the ocean to escape…

Her fingers began to tremble in his. She opened her eyes again and took a deep breath. "The first time, I left you. Remember when you told me to go?"

Giles nodded. "To save yourself, so that you could…live to continue to fight." It had been his intention to sacrifice himself to keep her safe.

Buffy nodded. "I left you, and…you died."

It was Giles' turn to swallow. "But that wasn't the end, was it?"

"No. That was…just the beginning. It gets worse." Buffy took another deep breath. "See, Camazotz had you turned. You became…the most evil vampire ever."

Giles paled. He cleared his throat and tried to give her a smile. "Certainly not…most evil ever?"

Buffy rolled her eyes. "No joke, and trust me, it was awful. Although, I did miss most of it. The first five years anyway."

Giles' expression became more perplexed.

Buffy didn't want to let go of his hands, but she became full of nervous energy. She had to stand and pace a bit in the small living room. She stood and ran her fingers through her blonde hair and walked over towards the hearth. "After I left you, me and the gang went back to Willow's room. In my dreams, I had a visit from Lucy Hanover."

Giles nodded. "Yes, I remember that part. She told you about a prophecy."

"Yes, and that this…prophet predicted that I would make a mistake that would have horrible consequences. Boy, she wasn't kidding. But it was also sort of a lie. The prophet tricked us. She was actually Camazotz's wife, and wanted my body to escape from him." It was so hard for Buffy to explain everything, but it was all-important for the story so that Giles could understand. "We held a séance in Willow's room, using the spirit of Lucy to contact the prophet. I needed to know what I had done wrong, and how to get you back. See, we didn't know you were dead then. We were hoping that Camazotz was holding onto you as bait."

Giles nodded and ran a hand over his throat, as if to make sure there was no other marks there, other then what he'd suffered from in last night's battle. "How did this prophet…Camazotz's wife…how did she trick you?"

"When we did the séance to talk to her, she told me that if she touched me, I could see through her eyes the mistake I would make. I would see the future. But…instead, she pulled me five years into the future. I was 24 years old, and being held in a cell. A cell built for me that I could not get out of. Not for five years, anyway."

"Oh, Buffy." Giles stood, wanting to move to comfort her. He was caught off guard when she turned and gazed at him with a far off look in her eyes. "You built the cage. You held me there, for five years. You were…the Vampire King."

Giles knees became weak, and he sunk to the sofa. He didn't know what to say.

Buffy was afraid he was about to pass out. She quickly poured him a glass of water from the pitcher on the coffee table and sat back down next to him on the sofa. She handed him the glass and he took small sips.

"Go on," he finally said, almost in a whisper.

Buffy knew she had to tell him everything. It was all important. He, as her Watcher, but more importantly, as her mentor and friend, he had to know. "Your intelligence and cunning made you the most patient and evil vampire ever. You tricked Camazotz and imprisoned him for his power. The Kakchiquel vampires became your army. You took over the docks, and then all of Sunnydale, and by the time I broke free, you were steadily taking over all of L.A."

Buffy moved her eyes down to his hands that now held the water glass. He was gripping it so tightly she was afraid he'd shatter the glass. "Everyone died. You had my mother killed, Faith killed, Spike, Dru…Angel, Wesley…and even Xander." Her voice was a whisper now.

She could go into all the battles, but every detail did not matter.

"How did you escape? And why…why didn't I just kill you?" Giles asked her. His eyes were closed, as if to keep the pain out.

Buffy had to smile at him then. She reached up and touched his face. "I think you know the answer to that. But we'll get to that later."

He blinked, but then nodded at her. It was her story to tell. He leaned forward and sat the water glass back onto the table.

Another moment passed. Her fingers were still on his cheek. Without thought, he tilted his head towards her touch. Their eyes were locked onto each other. Giles' eyes were filled with wonder and horror. Wonder at the gentle and caring woman that sat beside him, and horror at what she had said she'd endured, by his own…vampire self. How could he have let that happen? He should have killed himself! He was almost beside himself with self-hatred in that moment. To hear he had caused his Buffy to suffer, that he had killed, or had their loved ones killed…that he'd been…a vampire king? He should have killed himself before that vampire had a chance to turn him. "I'm so sorry," he whispered.

Buffy's fingers stroked his cheek. She could tell him that he had nothing to be sorry for. In reality, now that future only existed in her memory. It never happened. It would never happen.

But it had…in many ways. It had happened. Because she'd been too proud to realize she needed help.

"I know," she said softly. "And I'm sorry too. It was my mistake, Giles, not yours."

A tear fell from the corner of his eye. Buffy's fingertips brushed it away, and then she continued with the story.

"I escaped when another Slayer, August, was thrown into my cell," Buffy continued. "After you had Faith killed," and she saw him flinch then, "August became the Slayer. I had been 'missing' for five years. When she realized who I was, she tried to kill me. She said that because the both of us were locked up, that another Slayer would never be called. She knew then that you were the Vampire King, but I didn't. So she attacked me, and I…I…I killed her. I didn't mean to, but…it happened."

It was Giles' turn to comfort Buffy. He moved an arm around her shoulders. He knew how she felt about harming anyone innocent, especially another Slayer. "She was giving up. You didn't," he told her.

"Anyway," Buffy continued, relaxing against his arm, "I made it look as if we had killed each other, so when the guards came, I surprised them and was able to get away." It was a lot more difficult than that, but Buffy could hardly remember a play by play, and it really didn't matter.

She left out bits and pieces now. It was easier for Giles that way. Besides, she knew she couldn't give the description of that Sunnydale justice. How desolate it was. How depressing and sad and… terrifying. But she had to tell him about the drive-in.

"I thought there might be a nest at the drive-in, in one of those out- buildings. When I went inside, I found a crossbow," she told Giles. "My crossbow, with a note. 'For Buffy,' it said." Buffy glanced back up at Giles' face.

He frowned. "Who was it from?"

"I didn't find out until later, but…it was from you." Buffy saw his surprised look.

"From me?"

"Yeah, you told me it wouldn't be very sporting if you didn't arm me," Buffy said. She shrugged. "But the truth is, you didn't want to kill me, Giles. You wanted to turn me. You wanted me to…be with you…forever."

Buffy was sure he was going to faint then. She held a hand up to his face once again to steady him. "Easy, Giles. Easy."

"W-what…happened…then?" Giles voice was hoarse now.

Buffy had been in that future place for many days, but it was best for her to fast forward now.

"It came down to a final confrontation, of course. Me and you," Buffy said softly. She couldn't keep her hands off his face now. He had moved one hand to cover hers as she caressed his face. "I knew it wasn't really you. But it was hard. It sounded like you. It looked like you. It knew things about you and me. It had all your memories, and it used all of that against me. Trying to convince me to…join you." Buffy took a haggard breath. "I almost…I was tempted… a little. You…It was so evil, but…you cared for me so much. Even like that, I knew…you would have just killed me otherwise. I almost… almost let you…"

Giles moved his forehead against hers. "But you didn't, did you? You did what you had to do."

Buffy closed her eyes, her brow against his. "Y-yes. I had to. I had to…stake the Vampire King."

Giles moved his arms around her, hugging her close. He had no words. She tightened her embrace around him. They gave comfort to each other. "I'm proud of you," he finally whispered.

Buffy started to cry then. All those years. All that suffering, and then the ultimate loss. Staking Giles. She felt his tears as well, and they rocked together on the couch.

"After the threat of the vampires was gone, Willow and I researched the prophet, and how I could restore my soul back to this age. I had to figure out my mistake, come back, and…change things. I couldn't let that future happen. I couldn't let you die!"

Giles pressed a kiss to her forehead and then leaned back against the sofa so he could look at her while she finished her story.

"Willow's spell brought my soul back to this time. It was when you were at the harbormaster's office, and I was waiting in the car." Buffy looked down to see that both of his hands were now holding hers. "My mistake had been in not listening to you earlier. When you asked me to contact Willow and have her join us…I didn't follow through. I thought I didn't need her. I didn't need you. I didn't need anyone. But I realized that was a mistake. I do need you. I need all of you, and it is all of us fighting and standing together that makes us strong."

A ghost of a smile crossed Giles' face. His fingers squeezed hers once again. "That's how you knew Willow's alchemy spell against Camazotz would work. And why you didn't listen to me at the harbormaster's when I told you to go and leave me behind."

Buffy nodded. "I'd lived it all before, only this time…I had to get everything right. I had to trust in Willow and in all of you, and you all had to trust in me."

Giles was still shaken to his very core, but he managed to widen his smile. "And you did it," he whispered.

"No," Buffy corrected him, "We did it."

Giles and Buffy sat closely together on the sofa. He would ask her occasional questions, which she would answer to the best of her ability, but mostly they were lost in their own thoughts. Giles was still horrified, and his thoughts caused him pain. Buffy, on the other hand, was feeling a huge sense of relief, and…even hope.

She yawned, and Giles shifted and gave her a tender look. "Did you get much sleep last night?"

Buffy smiled. "I haven't had a good night's sleep in over five years."

Giles blushed and then wrapped his arms around her again, pulling both of them down onto the sofa. He groaned softly and Buffy pulled away. "Your ribs?"

Giles nodded. "No bother." He pulled her back down against his chest. "Just rest."

Buffy wanted to do just that, but she still had that stupid sociology report she had to turn into Professor Blaylock. As it was, the best she could get on it was an 80, since she was now two days late. Funny, but college didn't seem as important to her anymore. "I should go. I don't want to, but I still have to finish my Sociology paper."

"Ah, yes…" Giles frowned, however, and did not let her free from his embrace.

"Besides, you should relax. I wish I could lend you my Slayer healing…"

"Buffy, I'll be fine. Don't worry about me." His fingers gently stroked through her hair.

Buffy had a hard time pulling herself away. She sighed and relaxed in his arms, trying to be gentle and not hurt him more. He might have said it was no bother, but she knew he was hurting.

Then she had a thought. "Giles, what about Olivia?"

His eyes still closed, Giles asked, "What about her?"

"Well, is she still in town?" Buffy wanted to ask a lot more than just that question. Like, what exactly did he feel for her?

"No, Buffy, she left before we went to the harbormaster's." Was that a trace of disappointment in his voice, Buffy wondered?

"Oh." She was quiet for a moment. "Was she supposed to leave so soon?"

Giles sighed. "She wasn't scheduled to leave until Monday, but…I had to devote my time to you and with all the research…I believe she felt neglected."

Buffy sat up and gave him a sorrowful look. "I'm sorry. I know she… means something to you."

Giles opened his eyes. "You come first, Buffy. Always." At her look, he smiled again. "I told you she wasn't my 'Sweetie.'"

Buffy had to smile then. "So what was she then? A…friend with benefits?"

Giles turned red. He sputtered for a moment. "Ah…uh…I suppose…"

Buffy laughed and moved her head back to his chest. "You deserve more."

Giles contemplated that for a moment. His hands began to gently stroke her back. They both relaxed, and soon fell asleep together on the sofa.

Around noon, Buffy woke up. When she realized where she was, she didn't want to get up. Giles still seemed to be asleep. She lifted her head and looked at his face. His glasses were still on. She reached up and ran her fingers over his cheek. His jaw was bruised from the night before, and he would definitely have a scar on his forehead, she thought.

"Buffy," he whispered, bringing her gaze to his eyes. She lost herself in their depths for a moment, and then before she knew what was happening, her lips were on his. His arms tightened around her, a hand to the back of her head, pulling her closer. She parted her lips, and his tongue gently probed against hers. He deepened the kiss and Buffy softly moaned as his soul seemed to meet hers.

Finally they broke the kiss. Again their eyes found each other, as if searching for regrets. Neither found anything but love and desire. In fact, Buffy could feel his desire pressing against her thigh. She shifted and he moaned. "Buffy," he gasped. But he didn't let her go.

Buffy was not that experienced. Her one and only time with Angel had of course ended in disaster. Then there had been Parker. He'd used her for kicks and then thrown her away. Giles would never use her like that. She knew he loved her. She hadn't known in what way he'd loved her, however. Now, and after everything that had happened in that past, and now this present… she was getting an idea. Without relieving the pressure of her thigh against his arousal, she again reached up with her hand. Her fingertips gently ran over his lips. "I'm not just a friend with benefits, Giles. I…I want to be more."

"You are my everything," he whispered.

Buffy bent her head and they kissed again. She pulled away sooner, however, and he frowned. "It's too soon?" Giles understood. He was still in a bit of shock himself.

Buffy gave him a reassuring smile. "You're hurt, Giles. I don't want to make that worse."

Giles snorted. "It's nothing."

Her eyes narrowed. "Giles, you almost died." That brought everything back for a moment. His arms tightened around her again, and he hushed her. But she shook her head. "I want you to heal first, and get some real rest. I know you haven't slept either."

"I just did," he teased, giving her a lopsided smile.

"An hour nap scrunched up here on the couch doesn't count," she protested with a little grin of her own. "But how about this? What if we spend the weekend together? Just you and me? That would give you a few days to heal, and me to get my classes in order."

Reluctantly, Giles nodded and eased his embrace. He gently kissed her nose as she rose to move to sit beside him. She gave him an easy smile. "I suppose we do have a lot to think about," he said.

Buffy frowned and he quickly held up his hand. "No, Buffy. I don't mean about us. I…I've loved you for a very long time. I've…wanted you for a very long time."

Buffy relaxed and he slipped his hands back into hers. "I just can't believe that you share my feelings," he admitted.

"I do," she quickly assured him. "Why do you think I was so jealous of Olivia?" Her eyes narrowed again, causing Giles to smile. He squeezed her hands.

"I need to record everything you told me," Giles continued. "Thank you for telling me. I know it was difficult."

"I know it was difficult for you to hear, too," Buffy said gently. "But I know you had to know and…I guess it made me realize how deep my feelings are for you. You're my everything too, Giles. I'm just sorry it took something like that to make me admit it."

Giles swallowed and squeezed her hands again. "This weekend, then. Is there somewhere you want to go?"

"I just want to be with you," she whispered. "Let's just stay here, okay?"

Giles smiled. "I think that can be arranged." He moved a hand to cup her chin and brushed his lips against hers once more. "I love you."

"I love you too, Giles." Buffy kissed him gently and then slowly stood up. "I'll call you tomorrow and check on you, and…we can talk more then, okay?"

Giles nodded. He held her hand and walked her to his door. He leaned down and kissed her again before opening it for her. "You get some rest, too."

"I'll try. Stupid Soc paper," she grumbled. He smiled and watched her as she walked away. Then he slowly closed the door with a sigh. It had been quite a morning, he reflected. Quite a morning, indeed.

It was half past noon when Buffy got back to the dorm room she shared with Willow. She was surprised to find her roommate there, instead of at Oz's fraternity house. "Hi, Will!"

Willow grinned as she looked up from her desk. "Hi, yourself." Willow was still on cloud nine about the alchemy spell she'd performed that night. Giles hadn't thought she could do it, and she didn't think she could do it, but Buffy had believed in her and insisted. When the moment counted, Buffy had been right. Willow had a million questions in her mind, but had decided those questions could wait. "Here," she said, holding up several typed papers to Buffy.

"What's this?" Buffy took the paper and gaped. "This is my research paper for Sociology!" She flipped through the pages. "You finished it?"

"Actually, I rewrote it. I didn't think you'd mind with everything you've been through, and, besides, Professor Blaylock was being a jerk. I mean, you saved the world, including his sorry butt, so I thought the least I could do was finish your paper for you. You don't mind, do you?"

"Mind?!" Buffy grabbed Willow and hugged her. "Thank you, Willow!"

Willow blushed. "Hey, that's what friends are for, right?"

Giles would never admit it, but the last few days had indeed helped his aching and aging body. There was still a bit of redness on his forehead, but his jaw was no longer bruised and swollen, and his ribs seemed fine.

Ever since his visit with Buffy, he'd caught himself several times looking into the mirror, staring at his teeth. He still couldn't believe what Buffy had revealed to him about that other future. He, a master vampire? He got ill every time he thought of it.

The Buffy that had walked into his flat a few days ago, however, was very different from the Buffy just last week. And the changes were all good. She'd matured almost over night, and the walls between her and the others had come tumbling down. Best of all, they had hope now. Hope, and perhaps…togetherness.

The oven timer went off and Giles slipped the hot pads into his hands and leaned down to take out the honey ham. He was making dinner, and Buffy was due within the next fifteen minutes. Unlike the last meal he'd tried to prepare for a woman… for Olivia, in fact, he didn't want this one ruined. He wanted it to be perfect. Nothing less would be tolerated.

Plenty of times Giles had cooked for Buffy and the others. This time was different. Everything about this night would be different. There was a nervous fluttering inside Rupert Giles' stomach, but there was also an air of excitement within him. Joy even. He'd given up on his feelings for Buffy long ago. Nothing else made sense. He settled for Olivia's affections because he knew his deep and abiding love for Buffy would never be returned. And then, suddenly, everything was different. He just wished it hadn't taken so much suffering for it to happen.

His thoughts were interrupted with a knock on the door. He smiled as he heard the creak of the hinges. Buffy rarely waited.

"Hey!" Buffy shut the door behind her and gave him her best smile.

"Hey," he said softly.

Buffy gave him a pointed look and chuckled. "Nice get up."

Giles frowned. "Pardon?" Then he realized he was still wearing both hot pads on his hands as well as his "Kiss the Chef," apron. Blushing, he whipped off the mitts and the apron, all the while listening to Buffy's sweet giggles.

She'd made her way into the kitchen, and now she slipped her arms around his waist. Giles smiled down at her and returned her hug. He kissed the top of her head.

They hadn't seen each other since her revelations, but they'd talked every evening on the phone. He still had lots of questions about what had happened, and Buffy did her best to patiently explain everything. But having her here close, and in his arms…

"What's cookin?" Buffy asked, pulling away.

Giles sighed in regret but smiled at her. "Honey ham, green beans, and scalloped potatoes."

Buffy's eyes widened. "You cooked all that?"

Giles just smiled and nodded. "I did. And it's just about ready."

"It smells great, and I am hungry," Buffy said.

She seemed in a playful mood, thought Giles. He reached out and stroked her cheek with one finger. "I've missed you."

Buffy's eyes reflected at him, dark and full of emotion. Then he saw something else. A flicker of pain perhaps? He pursed his lips and was about to ask what the matter was when she suddenly wrapped her arms around his waist and pulled him close. One hand went to the back of his neck and lowered his head to hers, their mouths meeting.

What started as a gentle kiss, turned into something else. Their mouths parted, and a crescendo of passion erupted. Giles heard Buffy sigh as his tongue stroked against hers. He felt her body press tighter against his, and a liquid heat of pleasure began to flow in his veins, centering where his waist met hers.

Buffy's sexual experiences were minimal, Giles knew. Her first time with Angel had been a total disaster, and her second time, with Parker, had been a result of the boy getting what he wanted, and moving on.

This was different. Giles had been afraid of hurting her, but his worries dissipated when he felt her hand reach around and between them to his belt buckle. He wanted to pull back a little and ask if she was sure, but their mouths were still locked and fused together, and frankly, he had no breath or words with which to inquire. Everything had turned into an animalistic passion of want, need, and desire, all cocooned in their love.

He gasped when her hand found his cock. Her fingers wrapped around him and stroked his soft velvet skin. He grew larger with each stroke.

Finally he pulled his mouth from hers. His hands moved down her neck and over her shoulders. His lips and tongue and teeth tasted the soft skin of her neck, over her collar bone, and finally lower. He heard her moan as his lips sucked at her hardening nipples through her cotton blouse. Her hand moved faster, causing his hips to buck.

He pulled back and gave her a questioning look. Her face was flushed. She moved her hands up his chest and neck and she cupped his face. "Giles… I need you."

With one hand he swept the kitchen counter clear of his cooking materials. Everything fell to the floor with a crash, unheeded and ignored. He lifted her up, and then reached up her legs beneath her skirt and pulled down her panties. His eyes never left hers through this entire process.

He smiled at her. Her hands still rested on his face. He turned for a moment to kiss one of her hands, and then he bent and pressed soft kisses up her right leg and inner thigh. Buffy moaned and spread her legs further apart, her hands pulling his head closer, but he denied her what she wanted a moment more so he could kiss his way up her left leg. Only then did he press one hot kiss where her legs joined, pressing his mouth against her sexual lips.

Buffy had never experienced anything like this before. She leaned back on the counter as far as she could, panting and bucking her hips to pull him in closer. "Giles…oh…please…" she begged.

Giles smiled again, and then began to show her one way a man could love his woman. He was thorough and deliberate, teasing and coaxing her pleasure out of her. One last press of his tongue against her clit sent her crashing over the edge, the liquid heat inside her exploding into an oceanic orgasm.

He didn't wait until she was all the way back down. Before she could recover, he stood up and slowly pressed himself inside of her. He closed his eyes for a moment, a groan escaping his own lips.

Buffy cried out as another trembling climax over took her. She moved her hands to his hips and pulled him closer. He loved finally being inside this woman, and she couldn't believe how incredible it felt to have him inside of her.

"Buffy," he whispered. She opened her eyes to find his face looking down on hers. Then he began to slowly move himself inside of her, almost pulling all the way out before thrusting again, deeply inside. Each stroke was a tiny bit faster, and deeper, than the last. Soon they were both moaning and panting and writhing in rhythm together.

"Giles!" Buffy cried out as her third orgasm in minutes surrendered to him. His hands tightened on her hips and he closed his eyes once again as he came deep inside of her, both of their bodies moving together to milk as much pleasure from one another as they could.

When they were both spent, his head collapsed onto her chest. As he struggled to catch his breath, he felt her fingers gently stroking the nape of his neck. Tilting his chin, he looked up to see her smiling at him. "I love you," she said softly.

Giles inched his way up to gently kiss her once again. "And I love you," he said firmly.

They stayed that way for several long moments before Buffy got the giggles. He looked at her with one arched eyebrow. "What's so funny?" he finally asked.

That just made Buffy laugh harder. "Look at us! We didn't even make it out of the kitchen!"

Giles blushed and then shrugged with a grin, his arms still tightly on her waist. "And I wanted dinner to be perfect."

Buffy stopped giggling, but not smiling. Her fingers traced his face again. "It was. Perfect, and incredible. I can't wait to see what you have in mind for dessert!"

The look in Giles' eyes then spoke volumes about his joy and love for this woman. Gently he lifted her into his arms. She wrapped her arms around his neck and rested her head on his shoulder. Giles kicked the pots and dishes and various spices on the floor out of his way, and made the journey up the loft stairs to the bed.

They missed dinner and dessert…and breakfast!

END