Title: England and the Afterlife 7/7
Author: Saint Buffy
Feedback: I'll make it easy for you: `Dear Saint B, I really enjoyed
this fic.' Now cut, paste and send.
Disclaimer: Not mine, don't sue
"How long do you think Dawn and Xander will be?" Buffy wondered, leading him into her bedroom.
"Another hour at least, with any luck," Giles said, pulling her back into his arms. They kissed again, softly, exploring. He ran a hand down her spine. Buffy shivered, pulling him nearer. There was something different in him, suddenly, more confidence, or determination. He moved them back towards the bed. <This is it,> she thought, <This is what it's going to be like the rest of my life.> She wondered where that thought had come from, then told herself firmly to shut up.
He was different to the other men she had been with. Each of them had been different, she supposed, but his was a more fundamental change than one of technique. Even the way his hand felt on her skin was new, his fingers sliding off her clothes and stroking whatever he discovered beneath. She couldn't get over the simple fact that he was *there*, the physicality of him, his wide shoulders, the dense warmth of his flesh. She let her hands run over him endlessly, glorying in every detail. He locked his legs around hers and turned them, pulling her on top to let his hands free on her back and behind. Never before had it felt so good simply to touch and be touched, to explore, to hold someone as close as she could. She couldn't have said how long they lay there, restless in the bed, turning each other over, learning each other with quiet absorption.
He turned them over again and kissed her harder, pushing her into the bed. Buffy wrapped her legs around him. They tangled, fighting to pour feelings into each other. Buffy pushed him away and rolled to pull open her beside drawer, feeling around until she grabbed a condom. Giles took it and rolled it on with a practised move that made her shiver and pull him down again. His hand slid down to her entrance and he ran two fingers over her, making her arch. He kissed her breast, leaning his weight on one arm, then rolled back over her, fitting his body against hers, and pushed himself inside.
Every hair in her body was on end, every nerve showering her with pleasure. For a moment they both held still, every muscle tensed, staring at each other. Then Giles brushed a kiss over her lips and thrust again, slowly, until he filled her completely. Buffy grabbed his back, her nails digging in.
"Buffy," he said, and kissed her again, his hips thrusting against hers. Buffy felt her internal muscles tighten and let go, kissing him wherever she could reach. He started thrusting harder, following her rhythm, then taking her over, moving deeper and harder as Buffy lost control. She felt herself come and rose up to meet it, lifting her hips against him. Giles held her backside to him, driving himself home as she came, calling his name incoherently. His face fell against her neck as she began to come down.
"Giles?" Buffy said breathlessly. He lifted his head and kissed her face, over and over, still big and hard inside her.
"I love you very much," he said, sounding humble. Buffy stroked his head.
"Hey, watcher," she replied. "I know. You're all mine. Just the way I want you." He looked at her for a moment, until she pulled his hips against her tighter and he shut his eyes with a growl of pleasure. Then his eyes opened and he began to thrust into her, slowly and deeply, watching her face. Her back arched, but she couldn't tear her eyes away from his face as each thrust caught her, differently, taking her thoroughly. Suddenly he pushed up, harder, and Buffy groaned, feeling herself about to come again. As soon as he heard her, Giles started thrusting harder, hitting the same spot over and over, until they lost control together, the bed shaking around them.
As they came down, Giles rolled them over and pulled out. Buffy could hardly move as he rolled away to deal with the condom. As he rolled back she turned over with a groan and fitted herself against his side, wrapping one arm over his chest, feeling him still heave each breath.
He kissed the top of her head. She could hardly think, still caught up in the aftermath of the explosions he had caused. She pulled him closer, even though they were about as close as they could get.
"I never thought it would be this easy," she said.
"What?"
Buffy shrugged. "This," she said. "Finding this… being happy."
Giles snorted. "So one apocalypse, a couple of arguments, some hospitalisation and teleportation make for an easy beginning to a relationship?"
"It does in my book," Buffy said, with a wry smile. She watched as Giles yawned. "But I guess the teleporting part also makes for a tired watcher, huh?"
"A little," he admitted, stroking her arm.
"Poor Giles," Buffy said, kissing his chest. He smiled.
"Hardly. I can't think of a time when I have felt happier."
"Really?" Somehow that brought a lump to her throat. Giles turned slightly to see her face, and he did look happier than Buffy could ever remember seeing him.
"You're all I've ever wanted, Buffy," he said. She leant over and kissed him, still savouring every touch of his lips against hers.
"You are staying, this time, though," she said as they parted.
"If you'll have me," Giles said.
She couldn't resist. "I thought I just did."
"Seriously," he said. He sat up slightly more. "You are my life, but there are things that tie me to England."
Buffy sat up as well. "What are you saying?"
"If I return, I need to know that… you'll keep me here. That you feel, or one day might feel, something of how I feel for you." He was staring at his hand, picking at a corner of the sheet, his eyes studiously away from hers. Buffy looked at him.
"I haven't said it yet, have I?"
"Said it?"
She reached over, playing with the hair above his ears. "It was so obvious it kinda happened without me realising, and then I think I forgot to say it."
"Buffy?" He caught her hand in his.
"I love you too," she said. "I want you here. I always want you here. I've got a man who'll teleport his ass over the Atlantic when I'm pissed off, and I'm not going to let go of *that* lightly."
He looked at her for a long time. Buffy held his gaze, letting him take his time.
"I'm afraid I still think I'm dreaming," he said eventually, lying back down. Buffy sighed, settling back against his chest, her hand over his steady heart. She wriggled, getting comfortable, throwing a leg over his.
"Well get used to it, cos you're not waking up any time soon," she said. There was no reply. Buffy peeked up at him, then sighed again. "I guess I meant that literally," she added, to her unconscious lover. She watched him for a moment longer, then got up to take a shower.
Giles finally emerged just as Buffy was finishing clearing up the mess he had made from teleporting directly into her kitchen.
"Is anything broken?" he asked. Buffy shook her head, pushing the last knife back into its place.
"Thank your lucky stars, cos it'd be coming out of your allowance, mister," she said. He smiled, and followed Buffy into the living room, catching her up in his arms as she moved towards the sofa. "Sleep well?" she asked.
"Mm," he said, and kissed her. "I might sleep better with a slayer in my bed."
"In *whose* bed, now?" Buffy corrected, but he hushed her with another kiss, pulling her close, until she forgot the issue. Buffy wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him back, taking her time. They had plenty of time.
"Holy Mother of God!"
Buffy and Giles pulled back and turned to see Xander and Dawn standing in the doorway, mouths hanging open.
"Giles!" Dawn added. Giles shoved his hands into his pockets guiltily, his face flushed red. Buffy gave a little wave.
"Hey guys," she said.
"Oh my God," Xander said. "When did this happen?"
"A couple of hours ago," Buffy replied. "Giles is… he's coming back to Sunnydale."
That stopped them for a moment, both eager to express their happiness at the good news.
"Are you moving in?" Dawn said. Giles looked at Buffy.
"Yes," she answered, for him.
"Apparently," he said. Buffy grinned back.
They were all more or less settled from the announcement when the next surprise of the evening occurred. Buffy and Dawn were in a dispute about Dawn's bed time when Buffy stopped, mid-sentence, her slayer senses directing her to the back of the living room. She frowned, staring at the empty space suspiciously.
"But we need to celebrate," Dawn said, not noticing as Buffy moved towards the source of her impression. "It's not every day you hook up with your watcher… as far as I know."
"What the hell is that?" Buffy said, pointing.
A column of air shimmered towards the back of the room. As they watched, it coalesced, forming the faint but distinct outline of Willow. The room gaped at her. Buffy glanced at Giles; he was smiling.
"Willow," Xander squeaked.
"Y-you're using magic," Dawn said. "Is she allowed?" she added to Giles.
"Yes," said Giles, standing up. "How does it feel?"
"Did it work?" Willow said, her voice sounding clear but faint.
"The spell?" Buffy asked. "Yeah, we can all see you and hear you. How are you doing?"
Her head shook impatiently. "No, not the spell. You and Giles. Did it work?"
Buffy gaped. "How did you know?"
"The magic," Willow said. She faded a bit then came back stronger, looking at Giles. "When I had all that magic I heard you thinking about the letter you were going to send Buffy, if you… if I had killed you. I could hear your thoughts- I found out how you felt. Then when we got here, it didn't take me long to find the letter."
"You posted it to Buffy," Giles said.
Buffy stared at her best friend's vague form. "Thank you," she said. Willow flickered.
"I know it doesn't even begin to make up for what I've done, but…" she began. Buffy waved a hand, feeling Giles come up to stand beside her.
"It's big, Will. Thank you," she said again. There was a pause. She looked up to see Giles smiling at Willow's form with gratitude.
"God, is there anyone left who hasn't been in love with Buffy?" Xander wondered suddenly. He glanced sharply at Willow. "Hey, Will, there isn't anything you wanna tell us, right?"
"Shut up, Xander," Willow said, sounding, for the first time, like her old self.
"Everybody's here," Dawn said.
"Almost everyone," Willow amended, with a sad smile. Buffy took Giles's hand, thinking how close she had come to losing him, if he had died or if Willow hadn't sent his letter.
"Almost," Buffy repeated, with a glance at Xander. He smiled back.
Suddenly there was a crash from the kitchen, making everyone flinch.
"I just tidied that," Buffy moaned.
"That's everyone, though," Xander said, as Anya appeared in the doorway.
"What's going on?" she asked. Looking round the room, she immediately homed in on the most surprising sight. "Why are Buffy and Giles holding hands?"
END