Title: The Guitar Lesson
Author: Michelle
Email: mrsdrake@sff.net
Rating: G
Pairing: Buffy/Giles
Summary: Buffy asks Giles to teach her to play the guitar.
Spoilers: None really, Buffy is in college.
Feedback: I love it, want it, and need it.
Distribution: If you want it, you can have it. Just tell me where to find it.
Disclaimer: These are not my characters. They belong to Joss, Twentieth Century Fox, UPN, WB & Mutant Enemy. This is purely for fun.
Author's note 1: Response to the Monday Mini Challenge #10 on GilesRulesBaby

As the others left the apartment, Buffy stayed behind. "Giles?"

"Is there something else?" Giles asked.

Buffy nodded and sat on the couch. "I need a favor. I never took any kind of music class in high school. Now I have to take a music class for college, and I need help. We just started and I'm already having trouble. Will you help me?"

"If I can. What class are you taking?"

"It's a classical guitar class. I feel so lost. The teacher talks so fast, and I don't get a chance to ask questions. I don't want to fail this class."

"You won't fail, Buffy. I'll help you." He brought out a couple of wooden chairs and sat them facing each other. "Sit down. I'll get my guitar."

Buffy didn't know what Giles was doing, but she sat in the chair and waited. He got the guitar and handed it to her before sitting down across from her. She held it awkwardly.

"What have you been learning in class?"

"Tuning, basic notes and a couple scales."

"Okay," Giles said. "You teacher didn't talk about how to hold the guitar or anything like that?"

"Not really. He just said, 'hold it like this.' Then he talked about using a guitar tuner before jumping into playing."

"Well, he doesn't know much about teaching." Giles moved his chair and sat close behind her.

"Giles, what are you doing? I can't see you if you're back there." She looked at him over her shoulder.

"Trust me Buffy. This will help you." He placed his hands on her shoulders and started massaging her neck and shoulders. "You are much too tense to play. You need to relax. Put the guitar down on the floor."

Buffy did as she was told. She relaxed as Giles continued the massage. He slowly worked the tension out of her neck and shoulders. After a while he stopped rubbing her shoulders and trailed his hands down her arms.

He whispered in her ear, "Pick up the guitar and set it on your left leg. Cradle it in your arms. It should rest lightly in your left hand, and your right arm should drape over it." He put his arms around hers and helped her position her hands and arms. "You should feel relaxed, never tense. Now, let just the tip of your fingernail pluck the string." He demonstrated for her.

Buffy plucked the strings a few times. "Hey this is kinda fun. A girl could get used to these kinds of lessons. What now?" she asked.

"Would you like to play a song?"

"I can't play a song."

"Sure you can. I'll help. It will help you feel more comfortable with the guitar. Put your left hand lightly on mine. You'll be able to feel what I do to change notes."

"What should I do with my right hand?"

"Keep it resting where it is. The strings are numbered one thru six from bottom to top. When I say a number, you pluck that string."

They went through the song twice before Buffy realized the melody. Before long, she was able to play the right-hand part without much prompting from Giles. At the end of the third time through, she turned and glared at him. "My County Tis of Thee? Is that the song you came up with?"

Giles tried to hide a smile as he took the guitar from her. "In England we call it 'God Save the Queen'."

The End