Title: Tomorrow 3/?
Author: Madsdog
Disclaimer: If I just owned Willow's body, Dawn's hair and Giles' voice to sing me to sleep... okay... none of it's mine- those bits belong to the actors and the rest is Joss' and Marti's (Tara-killers) and Love Letter #1 belongs to Red
SPOILERS: UP UNTIL THE END OF 'TWO TO GO'
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SUMMER JUST BEFORE SEASON 3
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Furiously, Willow descended the steps that led to the patio before Giles' front door, meeting the postman who was trying to push a small package through the tiny letterbox. Trust Giles not only to be the sole person in America with a letterbox instead of a mail box, but also with the aforementioned hole-in-the-door two inches smaller than even the most uptight Brit's.
"Here, let me take that. I'm gonna kick his ass anyway, I may as well bring in his lack of mailbox and how much it puts you out each morning."
"Thanks, but it's no prob-"
"Why should you have to almost break your back every morning just because he's too British to change his ways?" She raised an eyebrow to accentuate her question, and he smiled back
"Well, when you put it that way-" The door opened a crack to reveal Giles clad in spectacles and dressing gown
"What is all this- Willow?" The mailman gave her another smile
"I'll see you around."
"You too." She turned to face the door "Can I come in?" He stepped back and she entered, closing the door behind her
"You are aware it's eight am on the last day of your summer holidays?" Willow paid him no attention and began pacing the floor in front of him
"What is it with men? First they say they love you, then they steal and rip apart your Barbie, then they're all sweet with the animal crackers but just forget to mention that they're a werewolf, and then they spend a summer with you turning your crush into love, then they kiss you back and leave with a 'see you tomorrow.'" She stopped moving to stand and glare at him, hands on hips, looking every bit like the woman who would chase Tom with the rolling pin, while Tom fought kitchen and garden implements to reach Jerry.
"Well?" Giles struggled for an answer
"Well- er- I-"
"Giles, what I want to know, is if last night meant as much to you as it did to me?" He looked at her, a beautiful picture of pure anger. He knew what his answer was, but he also knew it didn't matter
"It's not that simple Willow."
"Oh no, it really is." Her eyes were unyielding, almost cold. He tried silently to plead with her not to ask him to do this, but he knew before he started it was no good
"Last night was two friends-" he saw her eyes begin to shine, a single tear begin to form
"Don't lie to me Giles, I can handle rejection, but I want the truth. Last night you kissed me back, then told me to leave. I need to know where I am before I can decide where to go next."
"It means I'm a stupid man."
"Give me a straight answer Giles."
"I can't Willow, I'm a member of The Watcher's Council and of The Sunnydale High School faculty. Anything I say or do has to be led by that."
"Here and now, it's you and me. Tell me whether I stay or go." He searched her face, knowing what she wanted, what he wanted, but unsure whether he could give it to them or not. He thought back over this summer, what it had meant to him, knowing if he answered wrongly he'd never have that closeness with her again, she'd never open up to him again. But if Snyder were to discover- and word would almost certainly spread to Travers. There was so much to take into account, but here and now?
"Stay. Please."
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AND ZZZZZUUUUUPPPPPE HERE WE ARE BACK TO SEASON 6
***
"That's so sweet. Sometimes I think Xander and I were boring, and very unromantic: 'You're the only man I know that I haven't done vengeful things to, give me orgasms,' and him being a man and all... So was there sex next?"
"Anya! I did not come here to discuss my sex life; I came here to discuss the consequences of it."
"Yes, but if there isn't an act, there's no consequences, therefore to discuss a consequence, an act must first have been discussed or there's no consequences to be discussed."
"God your logic's even more messed up than mine."
"Ooooo, I tell you what. I've been assured that female talks of this nature must take place over ice cream. Why don't we go back to my apartment and I'll buy Ben and Jerry's on the way?"
"What about-"
"Xander? He'll be gone for hours; he has a male bonding session after work. If he gets home at all it won't be 'til some horrible hour."
"How about you get IC and I'll get us alcohol?"
"Ooo, even better. But you have to keep talking."