Title: Dreamer (1/6)
Author: Luisa
Pairing: B/G
Rating: Gradually progressing through PG-13...
Disclaimer: Sadly, not mine. :'-( Buffy, Giles and the crew belong to Joss & Co.
Feedback: Is the stuff fic is made of. If you'll be so kind as to offer some, I promise I'll write some more fic.

"Way to go G-Man! First night in ages that you didn't get knocked out during a fight!"

"Yes... well... thank you Xander... I think. And must I really tell you yet again not to call me that?"

Giles glared at the young man, although a hint of amusement showed on his handsome features. The two of them plus the Slayer and their Wicca friend had gathered at Buffy's house post-battle to tend to their wounds, as it was closer to the last port of call on the usual patrol than Giles' apartment was. Of course, the home-made hot cocoa that Buffy and Willow were now carrying into the living room may have had a little to do with the reason for being there.

Xander's eyes lit up like a small child's as he spied the drinks. "Have they...?"

Willow answered Xander's question before he even had a chance to finish asking it. "Yes, Xand. They have the little marshmallows in them. Gee, you've really been around Spike far too much." There was a teasing note in her voice, which Xander recognised and so didn't even bother to retaliate with his usual "Dead Boy" remarks.

As each claimed their drinks, Giles and Xander resumed their easy banter, while Buffy and Willow watched them in amusement. "I really think Giles is good for Xander, don't you?" Willow spoke in a hushed voice, not wanting to let on to the subject of her conversation that they were talking about him.

Buffy raised her eyebrows in surprise. Willow was only just noticing this? Where had she been? She chose not to voice this however, answering in a neutral tone, "I think he's good for all of us Will. He's just so..." Her voice trailed off. She hadn't admitted to anyone how she felt about Giles, not even Willow.

Willow sighed in agreement. "Yeah he's just so... Giles." The two girls smiled at each other.

Willow's comment was a comfort to Buffy. Giles was just Giles. She could trust him and she loved him, but she didn't intend for him to find out how she felt... she was convinced that would send him back to England within two seconds flat. Especially considering how he saw her as just - [what was Travers' description all that time ago?] - a daughter. She sighed, at least she knew Giles wouldn't take advantage if he agreed to what she wanted to ask him. He was after all, "just Giles": loyal, and trustworthy and a good father figure. [Hah! To Wills and Xand, maybe. But not to me. To me, he'll always be the man I love, the love of my life. Nope, definitely no fatherly feelings going on here.] She sighed again and made a decision to give it her best shot.

"Giles..."

He looked over at her, a question in his eyes. Buffy had been unusually quiet for several days now, perhaps she intended to explain.

Buffy stood and moved half a step towards him, aware of the others' eyes on her. "I... I..." [Can't do this with an audience] "I forgot the cookies... come help me?"

"I'll help, Buffy." Willow interjected, beginning to rise from her seat.

"Uh... no, that's okay, thanks, Will. You helped with the drinks earlier, it's time to prove that Giles is domesticated, now." Buffy offered a small smile, then without a backward glance she exited the room, Giles following not far behind. She knew he was there without turning to look; she could simply feel the presence of the man she loved.

Once they were in the kitchen, Buffy busied herself sorting out the cookies trying to figure out how to phrase her request, while Giles watched her with concern. After several moments of silence, he spoke up softly, his voice tender and caring as he moved quietly toward her.

"Buffy? Is everything okay?"

She turned to face him, apprehension on her face. He noted it and asked again his voice even softer. "Buffy - whatever it is, I can only help you if you'll tell me the problem. Is it... are you missing Riley? Or is it... Oh dear lord, I should have known... it's your mother, isn't it?" He hesitantly placed an arm around her shoulders as she let out a small sob and nodded. He let her cry on his shoulder for a minute or so before she pulled away and hunted for a tray as if nothing had happened.

[She's so warm... so beautiful to hold] He refused to give in to the fantasies in which he so often indulged, instead speaking softly to her once more. "Is... is there anything else, Buffy? You don't seem quite yourself, you know you can talk to me - I hope - anytime. You can even cry on me again if you like." He smiled slightly.

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Buffy straightened from her kneeling position and moved to hold the counter as if it might support her should he refuse. "Giles... would you..." she began hesitatingly, her insides turning to Jell-o. He smiled gently, encouragingly at her and she continued. "Giles... would you... could you... I mean... is there any chance you could... stay?" A light blush slowly crept into Buffy's cheeks as she spoke, and Giles looked at her in confusion, wondering what was making her so nervous.

In response to her question however, he simply looked at his watch briefly before answering. "Well, perhaps just for another ten minutes or so. After all Buffy, we've all had quite a tiresome battle this evening... maybe you should get some rest." In the next split second he lost his will yet again to her, as she lifted puppy-dog eyes to him.

"Please, Giles?"

He placed a hand tenderly on her shoulder, "You always know how to win me over, don't you?" He tried to be stern and disapproving, but the twinkle in his eyes and the twitching corners of his lips gave away his teasing.

The hope in her eyes grew to a shining beam, her face alight with happiness. "So you will? I mean, you don't mind?"

The hope on her face was not lost on him, and again Giles found himself wondering why Buffy was so nervous. He absentmindedly moved the hand to cup her face, the warmth of the contact sending a sudden shock right through him as he replied in a soothing voice. "Why ever would I mind, Buffy? If you wish for me to stay a little longer, then I shall."

Buffy reluctantly back slightly from his touch and drew a deep breath, suddenly fascinated with the pattern of the floor tiles. "No... I mean... can you... um... stay here... all night?"

The door creaked open and Xander peeked his head round. Spying the cookies on the table, he boldly entered the room; Willow trailing behind.

Giles didn't even notice them, his wide-eyed gaze fixed only on Buffy as her words swam in his brain. "A...a...a... all n... night?"

She nodded her head almost imperceptibly, and Xander and Willow watched the gentle exchange with open mouths.

Still Giles wasn't aware of the company as he tried to gather his wits with as much dignity as possible. "You... you know I would do anything for you Buffy... but I must confess concern about this sudden desi..." he barely caught himself as a deep red blush adorned his neck and ears. "This sudden... need for my presence. Is something... wrong?"

In the background, Willow shifted uncomfortably at intruding on a private conversation, her conscience prodding her to escape, while the rebel within wanted to stay and get all the juicy details of whatever was causing all this sexual tension. Xander had simply regained his wits and munched on the cookies as he continued to watch with some kind of sick fascination as if Buffy and Giles were actors in a film. The heavy silence blanketing the room began to annoy him, so he spoke up with one of his trademark witty comments. "What's with all the words, Word Guy? Wouldn't it have been easier just to ask the Buffster why she wants you to spend the night with her?"

Several things happened in rapid succession following his outburst. Buffy, wide-eyed, gasped in disbelief as a pretty blush coloured her features - the result of the mental images Xander's words had conjured. Willow giggled nervously, lightly smacking Xander on the arm, whilst Giles silently turned a deeper shade of red - also the result of some rather attractive mental imagery. Xander clamped a hand over his mouth, muffling his, "Eeeewww. Scary visual place. Soooo don't want to go there." Before backing up slightly, waiting for a lecture.

The lecture was surprisingly short, for despite his flaming face, Giles simply looked as sternly as possible at Xander, cleared his throat and spoke only a few words of retribution. "Hence the long sentence. You'll see that it is far more discreet and polite."

Xander squirmed uncomfortably under the scrutiny of Giles' glare, until a still-giggling Willow rescued him. "You know, we probably should be off now Xand. Anya and Tara are probably waiting for us... somewhere." She grabbed the arm she had just slapped and backed through the doorway toward the front door, babbling all the while. "It was really... great... patrolling, Buff - we'll have to do it again sometime. Only... without the 'me almost getting killed part'. Sorry we couldn't stop longer, but you know how it is with Xand's foot-in-mouth disease..."

Buffy and Giles just stared down the hall at her in astonishment, simultaneously wondering if the red-head had snuck in some caffeine earlier.

"Hey!" Xander objected. Buffy and Giles didn't hear the argument that followed, as Willow yanked the front door open and flew outside dragging Xander behind her.

A heavy silence descended upon the two remaining friends. Too embarrassed to look at each other, they occupied themselves with mundane tasks: Buffy shuffling to the door to close it behind Hurricane Willow while Giles returned to the kitchen to put the cups and plates in the sink.

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