Title: Triumph
Author: LadyForASH
Rating: FRM
Pairing: G/B
Disclaimer: You know that nothing belongs to me. Joss created it all. Please don't sue!
A/N: Rippersgirl06 wanted: Post-Joyce's death, it's Joyce's birthday & Buffy's feeling blue so Giles does something to cheer her up

It was a hot, summer afternoon in Sunnydale. Buffy was more then just bored, but she was also alone and sad. Dawn was staying with a friend, Willow and Tara were off doing whatever wiccas did, and Xander and Anya…well, she figured they were off somewhere having sex.

Normally none of this would bother Buffy. But today was different. Today was a special day. It was all the worse because Buffy realized that everyone else had forgotten. They went on oblivious, doing what one did on a lazy summer day. But not Buffy.

She stared at the calendar for the thousandth time that morning. A year had not yet passed since the death of her mother, so some days were harder then others. Today was an especially hard day. It was Joyce's birthday.

If Joyce had been alive, they would have had a girls day out. It would have started with a big breakfast of pancakes and eggs, and neither Buffy nor Joyce would complain about their diets. Dawn would help with the dishes, and they'd all giggle and laugh. Then the three would head into the city for a day of shopping, a movie, and dinner. Later, when they had returned home, Buffy and Dawn would bring out the cake they would have picked up special, and presented their mother with gifts. It would have been a wonderful, fun, loving day.

But not this year.

A knock at the door brought Buffy out of her dreams. She got up, wiping at the tears in her eyes, and wondered who that would be. Glancing through the peephole, she had to smile at the green eyes on the other side of the door.

"Giles?" Buffy opened the door and saw him smiling at her. But the way he was dressed really brought the confusion and wider smile to her face. "Giles, what are you wearing?!"

Giles had not forgotten. He had planned this afternoon for sometime now. He'd made sure that Dawn was with her friend, happy and enjoying being a teenager. He'd conspired with Willow and Xander to give him some alone time with Buffy. They'd even helped him shop for his black leather jacket, skin tight t-shirt, and stone washed jeans. The black biker boots he'd already owned, but it had been awhile since they'd left the back of his closet.

"I'm wearing riding attire," he told her. One look and he could tell she'd been crying. He slowly reached up and put a hand on her shoulder, giving it a light squeeze. "Care to go for a ride?"

Buffy peered passed him to see the Triumph parked in the driveway. It was a gorgeous motorcycle, 1955, in all black. To think of Giles on that bike with her arms around him, holding on tightly…well, it took her breath away.

Before she could answer, Giles leaned down and handed her a shopping bag. "You'll need to dress properly."

Buffy looked up at him, tears still in her eyes. Then she grinned and threw her arms around him. "Oh, Giles."

Giles rested his chin on the top of her head for a moment, enjoying the hug. Then he eased back. "Go on, get dressed. I have the rest of the day…and evening…planned."

Buffy did not have to be told twice. She gave a little sound of joy, grabbed the shopping bag, and tore upstairs to change.

Giles came into the house, smiling a little, and closed the door behind him. He examined himself in the full length mirror. (Not bad), he thought.

It seemed like forever before Buffy came down those stairs. He'd paced a hole into the carpet. It had all been worth it when he saw her slowly descending, however. His heart almost stopped.

They smiled at each other. Buffy's hair was pulled back into a single braid. The black leather jacket matched Giles', only hers was more feminine, dipping down to cup her breasts in an intimate fashion. A light pink tank top was beneath that jacket, and the outfit was completed with a short leather skirt, and long black boots.

Giles held out his hand to her. She slipped her smaller hand into his, their fingers entwining. "I can't breathe," Giles said softly, his desire for her suddenly springing to his eyes.

Buffy's fingers tightened in his. Her face glowed, a pink tinge barely staining her cheeks. "Do I need to perform mouth to mouth?" she teased.

Giles groaned and pulled her to him. It took them both by surprise, yet felt…so right. "Buffy," he whispered in her ear.

Buffy felt a liquid heat pooling in her center. Her hands moved up and down his back, over the rough leather jacket. Her physical caresses expressing what no words could, because Buffy couldn't have spoken then if her life depended on it.

With reluctance, Giles stepped back, but he didn't release her. "Ready?"

Buffy slowly nodded. She kept her hand in his as they walked outside. Giles handed her a helmet, and instructed her briefly on safety issues. He helped her adjust the chin strap before pulling on his own helmet.

Giles sat down on the bike first. It had a kick start, and it took twice before the bike roared to life. Buffy smiled at Giles when he scooted forward and indicated for her to sit behind him. Within moments, Buffy's legs gripped the motorcycle seat, her chest was pressed against Giles' back, and her arms were wrapped around his waist.

After a few moments of…adjusting, Giles finally backed the bike out of the driveway, hit the gears, and the bike leapt into life, roaring like a cougar down the street.

It was exhilarating.

Giles knew just where to go. He found a deserted desert road where they could test the bike's speed. He leaned into each and every curve, causing Buffy's body to move closer and closer to his. He heard her giggling and laughing, felt her breasts rubbing against his back, and her arms and hands on his waist and stomach. After an hour of that, he was torn between never wanting the feelings to end, or pulling off the road and fucking her until their toes curled.

He knew she was feeling it too. Giles was an experienced man, and the way Buffy held onto him, her quick breath in his ear, and the rapid beat of her heart pounding between his shoulder blades, told his body what hers wanted and needed.

This day was about forgetting. He wanted Buffy to forget all her sorrows and pain. He wanted her to know she was never alone. He wanted to give her a spot of joy in an otherwise dreary day. But now that he was here with her, on this bike, he realized that he needed to feel all those things too. He wanted to be…wanted. He needed to be needed.

Buffy was his joy, and he could only hope and pray that he could be hers.

Eventually the ride had to end, but instead of returning Buffy home, he pulled the bike up to his own flat. He helped her off the bike and then gently took off her helmet. Without a word, he took her hand and led her to his door.

"Giles, that was…that was amazing. I…it was so…" Giles moved a finger to her lips and shook his head with a small smile. "I know," he whispered. Then he opened the door.

The table was set with a wonderful dinner. Soft music was playing on the stereo, and soft candlelight displays were set up in all the little dark corners of his flat.

Buffy gaped and then looked up at him. "How did you…?"

Giles smiled again. "I had some help."

Dawn, Willow, Xander, Tara, Anya…

Buffy felt like crying again, only this time they were tears of happiness and love.

She looked up at her Watcher with a grateful smile. "Thank you," she finally said. "This means so much to me." Her hand came up to cup his face. "You mean…so much to me."

Giles pulled her into another hug. This one was gentle and loving. He kissed her neck, and then her ear. He was debating on taking it further when Buffy's stomach growled. Loudly.

They both burst into giggles.

He took her hand again and led her to the table. Giles pulled out her chair, and when she was settled, scooted it closer to the table. He poured her a glass of wine, and then sat across from her and poured his own glass. Then, raising the glass, he smiled at her. "I propose a toast," he said softly.

Buffy smiled and held up her glass.

Giles' green eyes found hers. Moving his glass closer to hers he said, "To many more rides with you."

Buffy's smile widened. She clinked her glass against his. "For a lifetime."

It was a hot summer evening in Sunnydale.

END