TITLE: Being Played (3/6)
AUTHOR: rjamisong
RATING: R
PAIRING: B/G
DISCLAIMER: All that is Buffy the Vampire Slayer belong to Joss and company...I'm only borrowing them for awhile.
DISTRIBUTION: Just ask.
SETTING: 5th season AU after Riley's departure
SPOILERS: Though 5th season (to be safe)
SUMMARY: Giles is being played by an old foe.
FEEDBACK: I live and write for feedback. No flames...please.

Later the same day...

Giles and Buffy are sitting on Giles' sofa in his apartment.

"I saw blackness, a flash, then...darkness. What do you think it could mean?" she asks troubled by this new development. The previous visions had been pleasant, depicting future happiness, but now this latest one was full of foreboding.

"I'm not sure. Was this the first time?"

"Yes." A pause. "For this particular vision," she answers reluctantly.

Giles looks at her puzzled. "This vision? Have you been having others?"

"Yes. One other." She hesitates, weighing the options as to whether she should tell him the details of the other vision she's been having. She decides to keep the information to herself, for now.

"Why didn't you say anything to me?"

:"At first, I didn't recognize it for a vision at all. I thought my mind was playing tricks on me, since it came when...well, when I did?" A mischievous twinkle came into her eyes."

"Huh? Oh...oh...I see," Giles stutters and blushes bright red.

"Yeah, right. And when I did finally understand...well I didn't want to screw it up."

"I don't understand."

Buffy stands up and walk a short distance away from the sofa. "It believe it to be one possible future, a future that could be altered, destroyed even if events don't continue unhindered. I'm afraid that if anyone else were to know the details, it won't come true. And I very much want the events to happen. Its a thing of the good, Giles." She turns away from him, her arms crossed.

Giles gets up and joins her. He wraps his arms around her from behind. "You don't have to tell me if you feel that strongly about it. I trust your instincts."

She turns around to face him. "It's not like I want to keep anything from you. It's just...now isn't the time." She leans her cheek against his shoulder, hugging him.

Giles smiles wistfully. "It's understand...really." She looks up at him contrite and worried. Giles leans in and kisses her warmly on her welcoming lips. She removes his glasses, folds them and places them carefully on the stand beside her. She cups his face in her hands and begins kissing him deeply, passionately. After a short while, Giles pulls back breathing heavily and says, "Perhaps we should do what we came her to do."

"Hummm..." She looks at him unconcerned. Her hands slide up under his blue sweater and press her digits flat against his back, pushing his chest tightly up against hers.

"Yes...right...it can wait." He returns to the pleasurable task of kissing her senseless.

Summer House--Later that night...

Giles, dressed casually in a blue sweater and blue jeans, strums his guitar as he softly sings to his audience of one, Buffy, on the sofa at the Summer's house.

Where do you go?
Where have you been?
When will you come again?
I look for you, but you're not there.

Where the river meets the road,
Where the road meets the sky,
That's where you'll find me, girl,
Standing by your side.

Where do you go?
Where have you been?
When will you come again?
I look for you, but you're not there.

Where the sun shines brightly,
Where the tree reaches high,
That's where you'll find me, girl,
Standing by your side.

The song ends and Giles props his guitar up against the front of the sofa. Buffy moves closer to him. He raises his arm so she can snuggle up against his chest. He drapes his arm around her shoulders.

"That was beautiful."

"Thank you, Love." He lifts his hand from her shoulder and strokes her honey colored hair. Before he realizes it, his lips press against hers. She parts her lips beneath his. He slips his tongue into the warm moist depth of her mouth, claiming her as his own. She slides her body onto his lap, straddling his legs. Taking hold of his face with her hands, her kisses increase in intensity. His strong arms encircle her waist, pulling her body snugly up against his. Seductively, she reaches down and lifts his sweater up over his head, revealing his broad chest. She runs her fingers through his graying chest hair as she resumes her passionate attack on his mouth. Giles slips his hands up under her black sheer blouse, pressing her smaller frame closer against his chest. The only thing separating her heated flesh from his, was the filmy material of her top. By this time both of them are entirely aroused and lost in the moment of passion. Suddenly and without warning, Buffy body stiffens as another vision grips her mind in a blinding flash of light. Then total darkness engulf her. Then the blackness recedes to reveal a man enclosed by a black mist. She immediately recognizes the man as Giles. His face is devoid of all expression, obviously under something or someone's control. Just as she is assessing this new information, there's another flash of light. The first thing she hears when she returns to herself is Giles' slightly panicked voice calling her name. He's clasping her upper arms painfully tight.

"Giles," she answers. Placing her hands over his, she silently asks him to relieve the pressure on her arms.

He lessens his hold on her. "Sorry...sorry. Are you alright? Was it another vision?" He's looking at her intently.

"I'm fine. And yes, it was another vision. I really wish that they came with some sort of warning signal."

"And...had...better timing. The important thing is that you're alright."

"Yes."

"Can you tell me what the vision entailed? Was it the same as before?"

"It was. Same flashing white light, then darkness. Nothing new, just freaked me out by the intensity and sudden appearance." Buffy moves off of Giles' lap and holds out her hand for his. "Let's go upstairs and finish our evening."

Giles grips her hand, lifting himself off of the sofa. He asks concerned, "Are you sure you feel up to this?" Buffy leers at him and nods her head. Grabbing his guitar, Giles wraps his other arm around Buffy's waist. They walk up the stairs together.

Giles, wearing only his boxers, sits singing softly while strumming his guitar. His voice resonates clearly throughout the quiet slumbering house. Buffy listens sleepily while lying next to him on the bed, the blankets pulled up to her chest, revealing naked shoulders. Feeling totally relaxed for the first time in a long time, she languidly reaches out her hand lovingly stroking his fine hairs on his bare back. He smiles over at her while continuing to sing.

Willow and Tara recline in the dark intertwined in each others arms in the room across the hall listening to their friend's pleasant voice. They are lulled to sleep by the soft melody.

Next Morning...

"Giles and I have something to tell everyone, so come to the Magic Box tonight at 7pm."

Tara and Willow look at each other. "Alright, we'll be there," Willow confirms.

"Good." Buffy picks up her dishes from the counter and takes them to the sink. She turns back to the two women. "Oh, also Giles said that he would drop us off on campus this morning before going to the Magic shop."

"That's nice of him," Tara commented as she joined Buffy in drying the breakfast dishes.

"By the way, where is Giles this morning?" Willow inquired. She is sitting at the kitchen island watching the two of them at the sink.

Buffy dries her hands on a towel, while turning back towards her best friend. "He drove over to his place to pick-up a couple of things. He should be back shortly." Buffy glances up at the ceiling when there's a loud thud from the direction of Dawn's bedroom. "Could you guys hurry Dawn up for me?"

"No problem." Willow and Tara leave to fetch Dawn.

Buffy folds the kitchen towels and hangs them up just as Giles enters the kitchen through the back door. Buffy hears him come in and joins him. "Good morning, Sweetie." She wraps her arms around him, kissing him. "Missed you."

"Good morning, Love." He smiles down at her. "Sorry, I didn't wake you before I left this morning, but you looked so peaceful. I didn't wish to disturb you."

"It's alright, although, I wish you would have woke me so I could have sent you off properly." Buffy kisses him again passionately, wrapping one leg firmly around the back his. Giles responds with equal enthusiasm, drawing her in deeper. Their lips meld together as their desires flare. The sound of footsteps are heard approaching from the dining room. The couple reluctantly cease their activity just before Willow, Tara and Dawn enter the room. Still clinging to one another, Buffy turns slightly towards them, "Ready to go, everyone?" They nod yes, smirking at the still embracing two- some. "Good, could you guys give us a few?" They leave the room still smiling. Buffy leans back in close to Giles and straightens his tie which has became askew during amorous activity. "Did you find the books you wanted at your apartment?" she asked smoothing his jacket's lapel down.

Giles lays his hand on top of hers ceasing its restless activity. "Yes, I'm taking them to the shop so I can look them over for any information that may help us in understanding your visions." Buffy's face takes on a worried expression. "Don't worry, Buffy. I'll find something to help, I promise."

Buffy shakes her head. "Thanks for doing this. Might be nothing...but..."

"But, might be something?"

"Yes." They gaze into each other's eyes almost reading each other's thoughts. "We should go. I don't want Dawn to be late for school."

"Yes...yes." They head out of the kitchen, walking towards the sitting room and the front door gathering the others on their way out..

Buffy enters the Magic shop at precisely 6:45pm. Willow, Xander, Anya, Dawn and Tara are sitting and talking at the table while Giles makes tea at the sideboard behind them. She walks up to the table, which for once isn't loaded down with research books. "Hi, everyone." Giles turns towards her voice and smiles.

"Buffy." Smiling back at him, she strolls over to his side. "Would you like some tea?"

"Yes, please." She watches him pour steaming tea into four cups. He passes her one. "Thanks." She pours milk into her cup and his while Giles hands a cup to Willow and Tara. He returns to her, picking up his own mug. Giles, sipping the hot liquid, takes her free hand in his. She squeezes his hand affectionately.

"So what's with the big pow wow?" asks Xander totally oblivious to the attraction between Buffy and Giles.

"Giles and I have some news and...a request." She gazes hesitantly up at Giles.

"Yes. Um...Buffy and I...well...we're in love...that is...with each other."

"Oh, that. Wondered when you two would do something about it," Anya remarks.

"What? Were we the last to know?" he asks the others. They all nod their heads yes.

"I'm guessing, yes." Buffy laughs lightly. "Well since we're on a roll, might as well go for the whole deal."

"We wish to invite you all to attend a ceremony here at the shop to seal our commitment to each other," Giles asks.

"A little unclear, here, as to what we're being invited to," Willow asks confused.

"A wedding without the legal stuff, Will" Buffy explains.

"Yes...sorry." Giles smiles. "We would like you all to attend."

"And help...flowers, food, music," Buffy pleads.

"Of course we will come...and help," Willow replies looking first at Tara who smiles her charming crooked grin.

Dawn gets up and hugs Buffy. "You know I'll be there. You are my sister after all. Plus free food."

"Xander? Anya?" Buffy asks hopeful.

"Color me there. I wouldn't miss it for anything. Anya?" Xander turns to glance at his girlfriend sitting next to him.

"Yes, I would like to come. What kind of food?" She asks quite seriously.

"Don't know, thus the need for help."

"Before we get into the planning, there's another reason why we asked everyone here. Buffy's been having...well some rather disturbing visions of late," Giles interrupts.

"Visions of what?" asks Willow.

"Well...darkness mostly. A flash of bright light, then a dark cloud...or maybe a fog," Buffy attempts to explains, visualizing the images in her mind's eye.

"Not much to go on, is it?" Xander comments.

Giles, Buffy, and Dawn join the others at the table. "No, I'm afraid it isn't, but it is a place to start."

A couple of days later...

Buffy and Giles stand facing each other at the Magic Box near the counter. The shop is empty, the hour late. Giles removes a small blue velvet box from his black dress jacket pocket. He opens it and takes out a ring. Giles gently lifts Buffy's right hand in his and slips the ring onto her index finger. She looks down at it, her eyes sparkling brightly. The slim silver band bears the raised images of three doves with brilliant emeralds nestled in between. Willow, standing behind her, hands her a small red box. She removes a man's silver band from it. On the outer surface, a Celtic battle scene is depicted. She slides it on his right index finger. She beams at Giles; he grins back happily. They hold hands. "I promise you all that I am, all that I possess, all my love in this existence and the next. I give you this symbol to bind our union before these witnesses and the powers of the universe," Giles and Buffy recite in unison. They kiss thereby sealing their vows to one another. Their friends stand in a semi-circle around them, viewing ceremony. They turn and face the others. Everyone comes forward to hug and congratulate them.

Music plays softly in the background while everyone dances slowly in the middle of the shop.

When the lights fade,
And the night stays,
You're watching over me,
My destiny...

With a heart that's true,
And a love that grew,
You're watching over me,
My destiny...

My troubles told,
My woes unknown,
You're watching over me,
My destiny...

When I look in the mirror,
And I see your face,
You're watching over me,
My destiny...

Buffy and Giles embrace each other closely, gently swaying in rhythm to the music. Xander and Anya dance behind them, while Willow and Tara move slowly together nearby. Dawn and a boy from school shuffle unpracticed in front of Willow and Tara. Buffy, totally oblivious to the other couples in the room, lifts her head from Giles' shoulder and smiles up at him content. He smiles at her, joy written in every line of his face. Leaning his face down towards the woman he loves, he kisses her.

Later that night at Giles' apartment...

"Wasn't it great of everyone to decorate the place with candles and flowers?" Buffy asks gazing around the loft. Candles of all sizes brightly flicker around the room, casting numerous shadows. Rose petals lie scattered over the floor and bed's comforter.

"Yes, it...it was very thoughtful of them," Giles replies, his voice coming from next to her on the bed. Their voices are still labored from their recent love-making.

Buffy smiles seductively at Giles. "That's enough small talk." Her hand slides up his back to run her fingers through his hair, pulling his head down to hers in a searing kiss. He presses his hand against her right breast. She gasps in ecstasy. "Umm." Giles positions his body on top of hers. She spreads her legs further apart, urging him closer to her wet core. She moans loudly as he starts to thrust his hips against hers. Their bodies settle into a steady rhythm. Her body meeting each of his strong strokes with one of her own. Just as they both climax, Buffy receives another vision. Her frame freezes as the illusion grips her.

'Giles is shrouded in a black mist standing in the middle of the Magic shop with a suitcase. Giles is facing Buffy at first. Then Giles turns and leaves. She can feel that he isn't coming back...ever.'

As she comes out of vision, she hears Giles asking her a question. "Love, you're shaking. What's wrong?" There's fear in his voice. He pulls her closer against him.

"I'm scared, Giles."

"Of what? You experienced another vision, didn't you?" he asks realization sinking in.

"Yes, I saw you leaving me. Why would you leave me?" A tear rolls down her soft pale cheek.

"I will never leave you, Buffy. I love you. "

"Others have left me even though they said they loved me too. My dad, Angel, Riley. Why should that stop you from going?"

"I won't leave you, because without you my life is nothing, meaningless. You are a part of my heart. You always have been since I first met you."

Tears flowed down her face at his words. He eased her head down to rest on his shoulder. "It will be alright, Love. We can face anything together?"

Next morning...

Buffy wakes up in bed alone the next morning. "Giles?" she calls, her voice slightly panicked.

"In the kitchen," Giles' voice floated up from downstairs.

Buffy slips her pink terry robe on and heads down the staircase. She sees him in the kitchen, wearing only a worn pair of jeans, making tea. Coming up behind him, she hugs him around his bare chest, pressing her cheek against his warm muscular back. "Good morning."

Giles lifts one of her hands and kisses the palm. "Good morning. Sorry, did I wake you?"

"No."

"Did you sleep well?"

"I always sleep well, when I'm with you."

Giles smiles broadly at her over his shoulder.

Buffy shifts around to stand next to him, looping her arm around his waist, her fingers easing themselves between the material of his jeans and his skin. Giles gazes down at her and absently pours milk in the two cups of tea on the counter. "Are you hungry?"

"Yes, starved."

"What would you like for breakfast?"

"I don't know. What is there to eat?"

"Not sure, actually. Didn't have an opportunity to go to the market in the last couple of days for obvious reasons. Willow, however, did say that she would leave something for us."

Buffy glances around the small kitchen, spying a pink bakery box with a note on the lid. "Giles, I think I found Willow's little gift."

She removes her arm from around him and goes over to the counter that separates the kitchen from the entryway. She opens up the note and reads:

'Buffy and Giles,

Here are some donuts for your morning after
Lots of jellies, so let Giles have some too
Buffy. Enjoy!

Love Willow'

Buffy turns to Giles, her face lit up. "Jelly donuts! Yeah!" Giles laughs at her merriment.

NEXT