Title: Belonging (3/12)
Author: Luisa
Email: leyjd@hotmail.com
Disclaimer: None of the characters are mine, they belong to Joss et al. I'm just playin' with them... giving them what they *really* want before handing them back as if they'd never been touched. <Innocent smile>
Feedback: Pretty, pretty please. with Giles on top?
With a soft cry, Buffy jumped back, just as the face disappeared from the window. [What the f...] Her thought process dissolved as the heavy oak door slowly opened to reveal a tired-looking Giles.
"Buffy."
The way he spoke her name sent a tingle down her spine and she could only stand mute, taking in his weary yet somehow content appearance.
They stood like that for what felt like eternity, both afraid to speak - each terrified that their voices would betray their hearts; disclose their feelings. So they simply watched each other, drinking in their presence, neither ready to either flee or draw nearer. It was Giles who finally spoke, breaking the tension in the air.
"I missed you." The smallest of smiles played on his lips.
She gazed back at him, still dumbstruck. Of all the things she'd expected him to say to her - hurt, anger, and chastisement - this was the least expected. He'd missed her? Really? She looked harder at him, and remembered when he'd last looked like this, so worn out yet wearing a smile so loving, so welcoming and - god - so forgiving. [Acathla.] When she came back after her summer in LA he'd welcomed her back with open arms - arms that she knew would have almost definitely wrapped themselves around her if her friends had not been present at that time. He didn't criticise her for running away; didn't yell, didn't scold, didn't even force her back into routine... all he'd ever done was look after her, defend and forgive her. She felt tears well up in her eyes... she really didn't deserve this man. "I..." She fought to stop the tears from choking her, "I missed you too, Giles." She wanted to run to him so badly as she saw the acceptance and forgiveness reflect in his eyes now, as well as his smile. [I can't believe how childish I've been] "And I'm sorry. Sorry that I said all those horrible things to you... sorry that I pushed you out of my life... sorry for... oh god, Giles, I'm just so sorry for everything."
He still stood in the doorway, not saying a word, just watching with that same smile on his handsome features as she struggled to contain herself. When it appeared that her emotions were finally under control, he spoke again.
"Buffy... dear heart... don't you know that you're already forgiven?"
She met his eyes with a look of hope and confusion. "I... I am?"
He nodded gently, at last taking a small step toward her. "Why apologise when I forgave you when you first said those things? Did you really believe that I wouldn't understand? Buffy..." He took another step forward, this time raising a hand to her forearm, "There is nothing you could do that is beyond my forgiveness... absolutely nothing that would stop me lo... *caring* about you. I know it must have been incredibly hard for you, during such an uprooting period of your life, to discover that there will be times when I have other engagements that I can't give up easily."
She cast her eyes down, her gaze lingering on where his hand touched her skin. A gentle hum radiated from that spot to the rest of her body as she became aware of the possibilities of what Giles had almost said. Slowly she lifted her head, her eyes seeking out his. "Giles..."
He moved his other hand, pressing a finger gently to her lips to shush her. "Besides, it was as much my fault as it was yours. I should apologise too..."
"But what for?" She asked in confusion against his finger. Another pleasant sensation swept though her as she decided she liked the feeling of his skin on her lips.
"For the very fact that I was unwilling to give up my... uh... commitments... for you... for your safety." A dark expression suddenly clouded his eyes." "After the events of... of last year, I should've learnt that you come first... and you do," he added, squeezing her arm gently in assurance, "You will *always* come first. Olivia was just... well... uh... she... she doesn't matter... *you* do." Believe me, I promise I will never let her - or anyone else for that matter - stop me from protecting you again. I may not *officially* be your Watcher, but as far as I'm concerned, in my heart I still am. Please Buffy, say you'll forgive a foolish man."
Buffy smiled against his finger - his words drying all her tears effortlessly - before answering. "Of course I will, Giles." Her smile widened, "What are we like, eh?"
He grinned in response. "A pair of stubborn and stupid fools?"
She laughed softly in agreement before adding, "And impulsive." With that she finally did what she'd been aching to do since her Watcher had touched her mouth: she slid her tongue past her lips, allowing it to caress the finger still resting there.