Title: Ever After 1/2
Author: Savage
Pairing: Buffy/Giles
Rating: R
Disclaimer: Joss Owns All
Summary: Season 7 - Buffy and Giles look for a place to stay after
Sunnydale is gone
Distribution: Dusty
Dedication: To Dusty, who all though she had to have surgery, is now
doing much better. I knew you would be ok Dust ;-) Welcome Home.
And of course to Jules for Keeping Giles British ;-)
and making me laugh so much ;-) Happy Birthday Jules
(Hotel _Outside Sunnydale)
After paying for several rooms, Giles placed his wallet back into his pocket and turned towards the others.
"All set" Giles told the Scooby's with a warm smile.
"Thanks Big guy. You're the best" Xander said before grabbing a key off the counter and walking away with Dawn towards the elevators.
"Yeah, Giles, you totally rock" Several potentials said as they grabbed three keys off the now diminishing pile on the counter and headed off towards their own rooms.
"I agree with everything they said" Willow told him, her voice sounding sleepy. Giles smiled at her as she grabbed a key off the counter.
"Thank you Willow. Sleep well"
She smiled at him before reaching for Kennedy's hand to lead her to the elevators.
"G? You want me to pay you back for the room?" Faith asked Giles as Woods waited for her by the elevator with the others.
"Of course not, Faith. Get some rest"
She smiled at him, grabbed her key then turned to leave. But stopped after a few steps and walked back towards the watcher.
"Giles?"
"Hmm?"
"Thank you for giving me another chance. It meant a lot and I won't ever forget it"
Giles smiled at Faith, then with a nod to her, he slid his hands inside his pockets before telling her.
"You know Buffy means the world to me... and if you ever do try to hurt her..."
"I know. But, so not an issue these days"
"Yes, well... let's hope not"
"It's not" She told him seriously, locking her eyes with his. "I mean it. I'm trying"
"You seem to be"
"I really am"
Giles smiled slightly at her.
"Then I shall try as well. I hope all of us can be the family we should have been long ago"
Faith let her eyes drift to the floor, as her hands played with the key.
"Faith?"
"I know I messed up, Giles. And somehow, I will find a way to show you how sorry I am"
"Continue with the path you're on, and we'll call it even"
Faith laughed softly.
"Deal"
Before Giles realized what she was going to do, Faith hugged him.
"I'll try to make you proud. No promises though, cause well, this is me we're talking about. But I can try. I'm going back to LA after this Giles. I want to try to be the Slayer that Wes deserves, that the world needs. And... I think B could go for a little time off. I know I could have before...well, you know"
Giles was amazed at the young woman in his arms. She had so completely changed from years before.
"I have faith in you, Faith" Giles chuckled at his wording and Faith joined him. "Well, I do, and if you ever need someone to talk to, you know my number"
After one more squeeze, Faith pulled back.
"You know, if B wasn't in love with you, I *so* would have made a move on you already"
With a wink at him, Faith walked off to meet Woods at the elevator.
Giles stared after her for what seemed like an eternity.
Buffy was in love with him? How could that be possible? She loved Spike, deeply in fact. Or she never would have chosen the vampire over her watcher. No... Faith must be mistaken. She must have meant Buffy loved him, which he knew. She had told him as much a few years ago. But she couldn't be *in* love with him.
"Sir?"
A man behind the counter, called to Giles, breaking his thoughts.
"Yes?"
"Here's your key. I'm afraid I was wrong before. There aren't any more rooms other than this one after all. It does however have a queen size bed"
"There's only one room left?"
"Yes sir. For some unknown reason, the hotels in this area are all booked"
"Ah" Giles mumbled. He knew why all the hotels were booked. Sunnydale was gone and its residents had had to flee in a hurry to make it out.
"Well, thank you just the same" Giles said, taking the key and holding it in his hand.
One key.
One Room.
One Bed.
For him and Buffy to share.
Dear lord.
"Hey, Giles?"
The watcher turned towards Dawn's voice and smiled when she came closer.
"Yes Dawn?"
"Can I borrow a ten? Xander and I are pretty hungry and there's a snack machine on our floor. Plus, somehow Xander lost his wallet"
"Don't you think room service would be a much better source of nutrition and-"
"They stopped serving. It's after 9pm"
"Ah" Dropping the key on the counter, Giles reached for his wallet, pulled out a twenty and handed it to her. "Ask the others if they're hungry, would you please?"
"You got it, thanks Giles" Dawn hugged him as Giles placed a kiss to the top of her head.
"You're welcome"
"Night"
"Good night, Dawn"
She headed upstairs as Giles replaced his wallet into his pocket. He was thankful the children came through this whole thing with The First unscathed. Well, most of them at any rate. Poor Anya hadn't made it... he was going to miss her snide remarks and brutal honestly.
Lightening flashed outside, drawing his attention to the front doors of the hotel.
Looking down at his watch, Giles realized Buffy had been gone for a while now. She was outside doing one last sweep so she and the others could rest peacefully tonight.
He decided to go check on her just as she walked in.
"Buffy?"
"All's good"
"Wonderful. And you?"
"Tired. Wanna sleep"
Giles' gentle smile made her return his gesture as her eyes caught sight of the key on the counter.
"That key for me?"
"Uh..."
"Cause I have to tell you, I can't wait for some peace and quiet. I love Dawn and the others, but I need some *alone* time"
Giles smiled warmly at her and nodded his head.
"Yes, as a matter fact, it is"
He handed her the key as she grinned at him.
"Thanks Giles. Where are you staying?"
"Uh, don't worry about me. I have it covered. You rest"
She smiled again at him then headed to her room.
"Mr. Giles, you're aware there's no more rooms for miles around-"
The man behind the counter reminded him when Buffy headed upstairs.
"I know"
"Then, what are you going to do?"
Giles looked around.
"I don't know. As long as she's comfortable, I'm fine"
"That's awfully nice of you but I'm afraid I can't have you lying about in the lobby. It's against fire laws and all"
"Ah. Well, not to worry. I'll find-"Giles was interrupted by lightening striking outside once more. Thunder soon followed as he watched rain pouring down in heavy sheets. "Something" He finished.
**
Several hours later, there was a knock at Buffy's door.
"Giles...?" Xander called out through Buffy's closed door. The slayer rolled over and put a pillow over her head.
"GO away!"
"Buffy?"
"What?"
"Where's Giles?"
"Not here, now leave me alone"
"Geeze, someone's cranky"
"I haven't slept in days Xan, please"
"Ok, ok, sorry. I just need to see Giles"
"Well he isn't here"
"Well he isn't in any of the other rooms either. Look, never mind I'll find him"
Buffy heard Xander walking away as what he had said sank in. If Giles wasn't with any of them then, where was he?
**
After talking with the gang and searching the bar, Buffy passed by the front desk, catching the attendant's attention.
"Can I help you Miss?"
"Um, Yeah. You haven't seen a tall, sexy British guy around here have ya?"
"Tall and British, yes. Sexy, I'm not sure. Really isn't my type" He said with a teasing smile to Buffy as she sent him one back.
"Trust me, I'm sure. Sexy is definitely the word to describe him"
The attendant chuckled softly.
"All right, if you say so. Mr. Giles is outside, in the bus"
"The bus? He is? Why?"
"Yes ma'am. There were no more rooms left and as I explained to him earlier, he wouldn't be allowed to sleep in the lobby. Fire laws and all that. So he headed outside a few hours ago to your bus. He told me if anyone came asking for him for any reason, you could find him there"
"Oh Giles... " Buffy whispered sadly
**
Giles had tossed and turned for hours, trying to get his long frame comfortable on the short seats in the bus.
"Argh, bloody hell!" He growled, then sat up, blowing a deep breath out. This was ridiculous! He was never going to get any rest this way! Not to mention the fact that his back was killing him, his legs were tender and his head hurt like it was about to bust open and explode after his fight with the bringers, Giles was sore. Hell, his whole body ached from head to toe. He just wanted a nice soft bed to sleep in for a few short hours.... But Buffy had it.
And so she should. She had been hurt worse than he. After patching her up in the bus on the way to the hotel, Giles had made sure she had laid down to regain some strength. Of course her small frame fit better than his on these blasted seats.
*knock*
Giles jumped at the sound of something tapping on the door to the bus.
"Giles?"
"Buffy?"
He got up and went to the door, opening it as Buffy rushed in out of the pouring rain, holding the jacket he had given her earlier in the day, around her small body.
"Buffy what are you doing out here? You'll catch your death"
"Look who's talking" She mumbled
"Sorry?"
"You should be, making me get out of my cozy little bed to look for you"
"I didn't ask you to" Giles told her softly as he turned to take a seat with Buffy watching him.
"I know, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to sound snippy. I'm just tired. Look Giles, come inside?"
"No"
"No? What do you mean no?"
"I mean, I'm perfectly fine where I am"
"Yeah well, I don't believe you. It's freezing out here and the storm isn't letting up by the looks of it any time soon- "
"I won't die out here, Buffy. There's no need to worry-"
"Excuse me? The Hellmouth-"
"Gone"
"Oh. Right. But still, there's evil. Human evil, even. Like robbers and muggers and -"
"I get it"
"Then come to bed"
Giles raised his eyes to hers.
"Excuse me?"
"Giles, could we please have this talk inside? I'm tired, I'm cold and you're beginning to piss me off"
He looked at her sadly before trying to get comfortable again.
"Then go back to your room, Buffy"
Leaning his head against the cold glass, Giles struggled to get comfortable enough that she would believe he was all right and just go back to her room.
"Giles, I'm sorry, I didn't mean that. It's just...why would you think I wouldn't share a room with you?"
"You said you needed some alone time. I was just respecting your wishes"
"By freezing to death out here?"
"I have a coat"
"No you don't, you gave it to me"
Giles was silent for a moment, realizing she was right. Lord how tired was he? He had seen her with the coat around her shoulders just a few moments ago.
"I'm still fine" He argued as he put his leg back up on the seat after it slid off for a second time.
"Giles...." Buffy felt really bad for him. He was much too big to even try and lie on the seats in here. And why should he? He was her watcher. Her mentor and friend. He should be in the hotel room with her, sleeping.
"Goodnight Buffy"
"Giles, come to bed"
"I'm in bed"
"No, you're in a bus"
"And yet, I assure you I'm fine"
"Liar"
He smiled slightly as she stepped closer to him.
"Giles, I really am sorry. I didn't mean to be snap at you. You aren't pissing me off"
Lifting his eyes to hers, Giles raised his brow.
"Ok, you are. But only because you're being so damn stubborn-"
"Buffy-"
"No! Now, we're both adults here. You're my watcher, my friend. I trust you, Giles. So please, come with me?"
Not waiting for him to answer, Buffy grabbed his hand, tugging at him to stand. After a long moment, he did. He really would like to get out of this bus and into a nice room where he would be able to stretch his long frame out.
"All right, but I'm sleeping on the floor"
"Whatever makes you happy" She told him with a smile as they walked towards the hotel. Giles returned the smile as he noticed her hair. The rain had made some of the golden strains stick to the side of her face, giving her that sexy, wet look. Even the shirt she was wearing was showing her skin where the jacket didn't cover it. It was plastered against her, right above her breasts, giving Giles' eyes a beautiful sight to feast on as he walked by her side. So much in fact, when Buffy stopped to push the elevator button, Giles ran into the wall in front of them.
"Giles! Oh my god. Are you ok?"
He felt like an idiot as Buffy reached out to touch his arm with her free hand.
"I... Yes. Yes, I'm fine"
"You sure?"
She touched his forehead where it hit the wall and smiled.
"You took a good hit there you know"
Giles didn't know what to say. She was so close to him all he could think of was leaning in, just a little to the left, and tasting her lips.
"Giles?"
"Hmm?"
"Do I have something on my lips?"
"Your lips?"
She giggled.
"Yeah, you're staring at them"
"I want to kiss them" he answered her honestly.