"Yes, Elaine, I'm back." Giles said in to the phone. He wrote something down on the notepad by the phone.

    Elaine? Not a name Buffy recognized. She couldn't recall Giles ever mentioning it before.

    "What?" Giles asked surprised. "A friend." Giles' brows knitted. "Yes, A woman friend." Giles actually pulled the phone away from his ear and looked at it. As if he'd find an answer to his confusion. He put the phone back to his ear. "Elaine? Is something wrong?" Giles listened and his face went blank. Buffy watched, worried.

    "I'm sorry Elaine." Giles said stiffly. "Yes." He looked at Buffy. "Yes," Buffy looked at him in question. Giles shook his head.

    "Thank you Elaine." Giles said gently. "Good-bye." He hung up the phone gently and looked at Buffy at a loss. "Do you find that I am oblivious?"

    "To what?" Buffy asked in return.

    "To people." Giles clarified.

    Buffy bit her lip. "Well, ... It depends on how you mean."

    "Elaine said that I was oblivious to ..." Giles' words trailed off.

    Buffy understood now. "Her."

    Giles looked at her startled. "Well, yes."

    Buffy smiled. "Sometimes. Not always. You weren't oblivious to Jenny." She pointed out.

    "No. No, I wasn't." Giles said with a faraway look in his eyes. "But Elaine said ..."

    "Who's Elaine?" Buffy asked.

    "We worked together at the Museum in London." Giles answered. It didn't occur to him not to.

    "And she had the hots for you." Buffy concluded. She tried to sound casual, but the idea bothered her. "So, did you make a date?" She asked. He looked at her blankly. "I saw you write something down. Her number?" She asked hesitantly, not sure she wanted to know.

    "Um ... No." Giles told her. "Actually, it seems that a paper that I wrote while I was still at the Museum has ... Well, ... Won an award of some kind. Elaine was simply passing on the information."

    "Wow Giles. Congratulations." Buffy said with a wide smile.

    "Thank you." Giles responded a bit embarrassed.

    "What kind of an award is it?" Buffy asked.

    "From the Archeological Society." Giles explained.

    "Cool. What was the paper about?" Buffy asked next.

    "W-well ... " Giles began. "Artifacts that separate the fact from the fiction in Mythology."

    "So, when do you get your award?" Buffy asked enthused.

    "Apparently, the Society has been trying to reach me for some time." Giles said. "Elaine said that it's planned for this Saturday. In New York."

    "That's only three days away." Buffy exclaimed. "Shouldn't you be making reservations and stuff?"

    "I-I don't think that I'm going to go." Giles said. "S-such short notice ... "

    "Giles." Buffy began. "You should go. I mean, if this Society is smart enough to give you an award, the least you can do is be there to pick it up."

    "I don't think so Buffy." Giles said softly. Almost sadly.

    Buffy picked up on it. "What is it Giles? Why don't you want to go?"

    "It's ... Well, it's ... " He couldn't look at her. "It's a Dinner/Dance. I have no wish to go alone."

    "Then don't." Buffy told him. "Take someone with you."

    Giles almost laughed at that. "Who?"

    Buffy couldn't meet his eyes now. "What about Elaine?" She asked in a small voice.

    "W-wouldn't that be a wonderfully awkward night." Giles said. "No, thank you."

    "It's a special occasion Giles." Buffy told him. "You shouldn't miss it."

    "How can it be special with no one to share it with." Giles said sadly.

    "Who do you want to share it with?" Buffy asked as she looked up at him.

    <Now who was oblivious?> Giles thought as he returned her look.

    "Maybe ... Maybe I could go with you?" Buffy asked, haltingly as she looked into his eyes.

    "You'd do that?" Giles asked, surprised. "You'd go with me? To New York?"

    "If you want." Buffy said softly.

    And that was how came to be packing on Friday. Willow was there and talked excitedly about New York. Joyce was there. She watched. "Honey, are you sure that you should be going with Mr. Giles?" Joyce asked. She wasn't quite sure why it bothered her so much. They spent time alone together all the time. But this was different. This had nothing to do with slaying. They'll be in New York. In a hotel.

    "He doesn't want to go alone." Buffy said. Again.

    "Buffy ..." Joyce began.

    "Mom." Buffy interrupted. She stopped packing and looked at her Mother. "Giles deserves this. He deserves to have somebody there that cares. I want to do this for him. I want to be there for him, the way he always is for me."

    Joyce sighed. She knew that look. "Just ... Be careful. Okay?"

    Buffy smiled. "I will." She just hoped that her Mom never saw the dress, already packed in the garment bag.

    Joyce nodded and left the room.

    Buffy went back to packing.

    Willow watched her curiously. "This is so great for Giles." She said. "I can't believe that he wasn't going to go."

    "I know." Buffy agreed.

    "Are you going to do anything else while you're there?" Willow asked. "Like sightseeing?" Buffy asked in return. "I'd like to. I've never been to New York. But, we'll only be there two nights, not a lot of time."

    "Too bad." Willow sympathized.

Buffy checked over her bag. "I guess that's everything." She said as zipped it. She looked at Willow, rueful. "Can you believe that I'm nervous." She smiled.

    "Just have fun." Willow told her. "And give Giles an extra cheer from me."

    "I will." Buffy replied.

    "Buffy." Joyce called from downstairs. "Mr. Giles is here."

    The car was silent as Giles drove towards the Airport. Finally, Buffy couldn't stand it anymore. "Is something wrong Giles?" She asked.

    "No." He said rather quickly. "Not really. I suppose that I'm just a bit nervous." Giles told her. Which was true. But, he was thinking about the look Joyce had given him before they had left. Like she was looking through him to see if he had any ulterior motives. Did she know? Could she possibly have seen what he had tried to keep hidden? Even from himself.

    "Well, I guess I am too." Buffy shared.

    "What on Earth are you nervous about?" He asked surprised. Then, he became concerned at the possibilities.

    "I guess I'm afraid that I'll do something to embarrass you." Buffy told him with a shrug.

    "You won't." Giles assured her, much relieved. "You couldn't. I'm just glad that you'll be there."

    "Me too." Buffy said softly.

    When they arrived in New York, they went straight to the hotel. They looked around the suite that the Society had arranged for them in awe.

    "All the award winners have been put up like this?" Buffy asked s she tried to take it all in. There was a bedroom, a living area - with a fold out couch - and a huge bathroom.

    Buffy wouldn't let Giles take the fold out couch. "This is your special weekend." She told him.

    Giles shouldn't have given in so easily, but he could tell that she really wanted this for him. She wanted to fuss over him and, he admitted, that he enjoyed it. More than he should. He felt cared for in a way he hadn't since Jenny. <Stop that. > He told himself firmly. But his smile wouldn't fade.

    They decided to have dinner in the hotel's dining room. Giles wore a suit and Buffy wore a modest, classic, black dress that stopped just above her knees.

    Giles looked at her across the table. He knew that the dress was for him. A concession to where they were and why.

    He noticed the curious looks that they received. Older man, beautiful young woman. He knew the moment that she noticed as well.

    "Why are they all looking at us?" Buffy asked.

    Giles was surprised that she didn't know. Well, he wasn't going to explain it to her. "It must be customary here to stare at the most beautiful woman in the room."

    Buffy looked at him, surprised by the compliment and blushed. "Thank you Giles." She looked at him carefully. He looked quite handsome in his suit. Distinguished ... Sexy. The thought surprised her. Or it should have. Giles watched her expressive face. He saw surprise, pleasure and a flash of desire. He felt an answering flash. She lowered her eyes, confused. He knew the feeling.

    Buffy took a deep breath. When she raised her eyes back to his, her stomach did an odd little flip at the tender, yet sensual, look there. Giles felt his heart pound. Then her gaze shifted to his right. He followed her gaze and his eyes widened. Elaine.

    "Hello Rupert." Elaine said calmly. She flicked a glance at Buffy and dismissed her.

    "Elaine." Giles said as he stood. "Wha...what are you doing here?" He asked.

    "Same as you, I assume." Elaine said with a glance at Buffy. "If you'll recall, I am a member of the Society."

    "Yes, of course. I had forgotten." Giles said. He looked about for something to say. His eyes settled on Buffy, "Oh, I apologize Buffy." He swallowed. "Buffy Summers. Elaine Finch."

    <So that's Elaine. > Buffy thought. Brown hair, brown eyes. Cold as ice.

    "Hello." Buffy managed to say pleasantly.

    Elaine barely managed a patently false smile before she looked back to Giles. "I was hoping that we could have a drink ... Or something."

    "Um ... I don't think ... " Giles looked at Buffy for help.

    Buffy refrained from rolling her eyes, but just barely. " *We* couldn't possibly."

    Elaine didn't bat a lash. "Are you old enough *to* drink?"

    Giles nearly groaned. He really hoped that he wouldn't be put in the position to rescue Elaine from Buffy.

    Buffy gave the woman an amused look. "Jealous?" She asked. "If you'll excuse us Ms. Finch, we're having a private dinner."

    Elaine narrowed her eyes. She had expected the child to flare up defensively. She looked at Rupert; "I'll see you later, Rupert." She said in promise and marched off, regally.

    Giles dropped back in to his seat. "I'm sorry Buffy," he said sincerely.

    Buffy smiled at him. "Not your fault women are fighting over you."

    Giles returned her smile, grateful. He was proud of the way she had carried herself through the whole debacle. He reached for her hand and took it in his. "My heroine."

    Buffy laughed.

    Across the room, Elaine watched them through narrowed eyes.

 ********

    After dinner, as they walked through the lobby to the elevators, Buffy was very aware of Giles' warm hand at her back.Buffy didn't notice the horse drawn carriage in front of the hotel, but Giles did. <Why not? > He thought. "Buffy, would you like to take a carriage ride?" He asked before he could talk himself out of it. At her questioning look, Giles indicated the carriage outside the main entrance.

    Buffy's face lit up. "Really Giles?" She looked up at him, excited. "I'd love it." She told him.

    "Then, what are we waiting for?" Without another thought, he took her hand and out they went.

    Once in the carriage, Buffy reclaimed his hand. She took it all in. The lights, the people, everything.

    Giles watched her smiling face and felt her small hand in his. The moment was perfect. He wanted it to last forever. And it would, etched in his mind and heart.

    When they returned to the hotel, Giles helped Buffy from the carriage.

    If his hands lingered at her waist, she didn't mind.

    When he took her hand as walked to the elevators, she smiled up at him. They were both a bit giddy on the elevator ride to the seventeenth floor. And she leaned against him as they walked down the hall to their room. They entered the room and Giles closed the door behind them. Suddenly they were shy.

    It was midnight, or a bit after. At home it would be just after nine.

    They were wide-awake, in a hotel room, alone.

    They looked at each other.

    "Giles..."

    "Buffy..."

    They spoke at the same time, then laughed nervously.

    "I had a wonderful time Giles." Buffy said softly.

    "So did I." Giles said, captivated by her eyes. He leaned down a little, not quite aware that he did.

    "Are you glad that you came?" Buffy asked as she raised her chin.

    "Very glad." Giles whispered as their mouths moved closer.

    "So am I." Buffy whispered in return. She could feel his breath on her lips. "Giles." She sighed as their lips met. Buffy's eyes closed. She felt his hands move gently to her waist. She leaned against him. Giles felt her hands as they slid, tentatively, up and around his neck. He touched his tongue to her lips and she opened her mouth to him. His hands began to roam over her back. Their tongues dueled and he crushed her to him. Buffy wasn't sure if her feet actually left the floor or if it just felt like it. She didn't care. They thoroughly explored each other's mouths. He tasted like the wine he'd had with dinner.

    She tasted of chocolate. God it was heady. And he knew he had to stop it. At least for now. Slow things down. Before it was too late. It wasn't until Giles gently ended the kiss that he realized that, at some point, he'd lifted Buffy off the floor. He gently set her back on her feet. He already hurt and he wasn't sure how much more he could take. He looked at her. Buffy looked up at him languidly. She thought that he expected her to say something, but she didn't know what. So, she said the only thing that seemed ... Coherent. "Wow."

    Giles smiled down at her. "Wow indeed." He responded.

    "What's happening Giles?" She asked.

    "I'm not certain." Giles answered. "Do you want it to stop?" He asked.

    She looked down and then back up. "I don't think so. Do you?"

    "No." Giles said, more certain. He'd been aware of it longer. He ran a finger down her soft cheek. "Beautiful." She had just leaned into the caress when the phone rang. Giles gave her a tender smile, then turned, walked over and answered the phone. "Hello." He looked uncomfortable and flushed. "Oh, hello Joyce."

    Buffy flushed as well.

    "Y-yes. We've settled in." Giles said. "W-we just returned from dinner." If possible his face became even redder. "Two." Pause. "I have no idea." Buffy went over to the couch, sat down and put her face in her hands. "All right." Giles said. "I'll tell her. Goodnight Joyce." He hung up the phone.

    "Do I want to know?" Buffy asked without lifting her face.

    Giles walked over and sat next to her. "Buffy." When she wouldn't look at him, he reached over and gently lifted her face. "Buffy. Don't be embarrassed."

    "My Mom just called to check up on me Giles." Buffy said.

    "I rather think that she was checking up on me." Giles commented ruefully.

    "You?" She asked, bewildered. "Why?"

    Giles wondered briefly if he should be insulted. "You're thousands of miles from home, in a hotel with a man very attracted to you. She's concerned for you certainly. But she's worried about me."

    "But..." Buffy began, at a loss. "I didn't know ... How could she?"

    "Mothers tend to have a sixth sense about these things." Giles explained.

    "But. How could she think that you would ever hurt me?" Buffy asked.

    "I have hurt you Buffy." Giles pointed out gently, sadly.

    "And that's how I know that you would never do it again." Buffy said.  "My birthday. What we went through, it was hard. What I put you through with running away and then Angel ... We learned from them." She took his hand. "I trust you with everything that I am."

    Giles was touched beyond words. And humbled. Would she ever cease to amaze him? He squeezed her hand. "I-I don't know what to say Buffy."

    "Then don't say anything." Buffy told him. "Just accept it." She leaned over and gave him a quick kiss. "I'm going to go change." She stood, grabbed a few things and went into the bathroom.

    When Buffy came back out of the bathroom, dressed in pale pink satin, short pajamas, she found the bed pulled out and made for her. She let herself wonder if it was Giles' idea of a hint or reassurance. She decided on the later. And the fact that he was just being nice.

    She put her things away. She tried to decide if she should go say goodnight, when the bedroom door opened.

    Giles came out, self conscious in his robe and pajamas. "Buffy, are you sure about ... the ... bedroom?" He couldn't help but stare. She looked wonderful. The color of her pajamas suited her perfectly.

    Buffy couldn't help the smile or the blush that resulted from his admiring gaze. "I'm sure Giles. Besides, with your height, your feet would probably dangle over the bottom of the bed." She shrugged. "Not a problem I'm ever likely to have."

    "Um ... Yes, ... If you're certain." Giles said unsteady. It wasn't that the pajamas were all that revealing. They weren't. But they were pajamas. For to sleep in. In bed.

    "I am." Buffy said again. "I was going to watch some TV. You wanna' watch with me Watcher guy?" She asked.

    Giles eyes strayed to the bed. Big mistake. Unbidden, images came in to his mind. <Don't. > He warned himself sternly. "N-n-no. I don't think I ... I think I'll just go read for a while. " His eyes fluttered between Buffy and the bed. They settled on Buffy. "Goodnight Buffy." He turned and headed back in to the bedroom, her soft voice followed him.

    "Goodnight. Pleasant dreams."

    Oh he didn't doubt that they would be. Very pleasant. But just dreams. Again. With one last look, he closed the bedroom door wit a soft click.

   Well, Giles thought, as he woke up the next morning. He'd been right. His dreams had, indeed, been pleasant. Very pleasant. He threw back the covers and looked down at himself. So pleasant that he'd have to start the day with a cold shower.

    And he wasn't the only one.

    They made a fairly early morning of it on Saturday. They both wanted to see something of the city. They breakfasted and went to enjoy the day.

    The Staten Island Ferry. The Statue of Liberty. The Empire State Building. Giles even managed to get her in to the Metropolitan Museum.They laughed; they held hands and even kissed. They gloried in the feeling of anonymity. They knew it would be gone once they returned home.

    They returned to the hotel at 5:30pm. Since the Awards Banquet began at 7pm, Buffy told Giles to take advantage of the bathroom while he could. Once she started to get ready, it would be off limits.

    So Giles took a quick shower to clean up after a day in the city and retreated into the bedroom.

    Buffy gathered her things and went in to the bathroom. She couldn't prevent a smile of anticipation at the thought of Giles' reaction to her dress. Or the thrill she felt at the thought of seeing Giles once again in a tux.

    At 6:45pm, Giles began to wonder if she were ever going to come out He was just about to go knock on the door when he heard it open. He turned and caught his breath.

    The dress was red, spaghetti straps, a V neckline that hinted at more than it revealed. It skimmed her body without hugging it. The slit up the side showed one perfect leg.

    Giles finally remembered to breathe. "Breathtaking." He managed to utter aptly.

    "Thank you." Buffy said. She walked over to him and smoothed down the lapels of his tuxedo jacket. "And you look sinfully handsome."

    He thought that she had the first part correct anyway. "W-we should go then."

    Buffy grabbed her matching bag and looped her arm through his. She smiled up at him, "Let's go." They left the room, arm in arm. Smiling.

********

They made it to the Grand Banquet Hall just before 7p. They were shown to their assigned table. Surprised to find that Elaine was also at the table.

Giles held Buffy's chair and seated her at the table. Then he sat between the two women.

<She better not ruin tonight for Giles. > Buffy thought. As if he'd read her mind, Giles smiled at her in reassurance. She smiled back. "Are you nervous?" She asked quietly.

"A bit." Giles admitted. "The idea of getting up in front of all these people is rather daunting."

Buffy looked around the room, then leaned over and whispered in his ear, "I'll protect you."

Giles didn't quite laugh.

"Rupert." Elaine said, she felt that she'd been ignored long enough. She waited for him to look at her, then asked, "How do you like sunny California?"

Giles glanced at Buffy and took her hand in his. "It has its advantages."

Elaine's mouth tightened. "Do you miss the seasons?"

"Occasionally." Giles told her. "But we had snow for Christmas last year."

"It was beautiful." Buffy added.

"So, what do you do in California, Rupert?" Elaine asked as she ignored Buffy.

"I teach." Giles said vaguely.

That's the way it went. Giles would try to talk with Buffy; Elaine would interrupt and try to hold his attention.

Once dinner arrived, conversation moved around the table. The discussion centered on Mythology.

Giles was pleasantly surprised at Buffy's comments during the discussion. Apparently, she did listen upon occasion.

Dinner was cleared away and the Awards presentation began. There were twelve awards to be given out. Giles was somewhere in the middle.When his name was called, Giles made his way to the podium. There, he saw that there were more people than he had believed. He'd rather take on a Vampire than speak publicly. He looked at Buffy and she smiled back at him. He said his thank yous, mentioned names of the people that had assisted him. At the mention of Elaine's name, he saw her throw Buffy a triumphant look. Buffy ignored it. Giles didn't. "My final thanks goes to Buffy Summers." He saw Buffy's surprise and Elaine's anger. "For without her, I wouldn't be here."

Giles, award in hand, returned to the table. Deliberately he gave Buffy a quick kiss as he sat down.

"My hero." Buffy said for his ears alone.

Elaine was not amused. She fumed.

Once all the awards were given out and all the speeches given, the divider that opened to the Ballroom was opened. Some of the guests sat and talked. Some danced. Elaine started hinting.

Elaine interspersed hinting with attempts at conversation. Attempts filled with "do you remember's" and "when we's". When the instrumental band began it's next number, Elaine sighed. "Wouldn't that be lovely to dance to Rupert?"

"Yes, it would." Giles aid.

<Finally. > Elaine thought.

Giles looked at Buffy and put his hand out to her. "Would you dance with me?" He asked.

Buffy took his hand, "I thought you'd never ask."

They stood and headed for the Ballroom hand in hand.

A man sat down next to Elaine. "I think it's time to give up." He had a British accent.

"Don't you know Roger?" Elaine asked. "I never give up. When we were in England, I worked on him for three years."

"It's been more than three years since he left." Roger said. "Move on already. I believe he's very much taken."

"She's just a child." Elaine stated. "She'll bore him soon."

"I rather doubt that."

Giles held Buffy close as they danced, her hand in his, held to his chest. His other arm around her, rested low on her back. He looked down at the top of her head.

Buffy felt his laugh rather than heard it. She pulled back just enough to look at him. "Share the funny."

Giles smiled down at her amused. "Well, when we train, I never really notice the difference in our heights."

She grinned, wickedly, up at him, "That's because you're usually looking up at me from the floor." She batted her lashes at him.

"Very amusing." Giles responded. He pulled her back against him, ending the conversation.

"I was just kidding Giles." Buffy said softly, apologetically.

"I know." He returned, unruffled.

Buffy was confused until she felt him lightly run his fingers up her spine, then back down. She shivered.

Giles felt her response and smiled. That number ended and another began. Buffy and Giles never released each other.

When they finally went back to the Banquet Room, Giles introduced her to the few people there that he knew.

When they made it back to the table, they breathed a sigh of relief that Elaine wasn't there. They sat back down and Roger joined them. "Hello Rupert." Buffy and Giles both looked up at the cultured British voice.

"Roger." Giles said, happy to see him. He stood up and shook the other man's hand. He saw Roger look at Buffy. "Oh, um. Roger, this is Buffy Summers. Buffy, this is Roger Barrett. My God, it's good to see you." Both men sat down.

Buffy watched with an indulgent smile as the two men discussed artifacts and curses. She looked at Roger. He was probably around 35, dark hair and blue eyes behind his glasses. He reminded her a bit of Wesley, only not as stuffy. She looked at Giles, his face animated with interest. <God, he looks handsome. > Buffy thought. She sat back and watched him and let their voices flow around her.

When the photographers called for the Award winners to assemble for a group picture, Buffy laughed at the look that crossed Giles' face.With a groan and a quick look at Buffy to make sure that she would be okay, he picked up the Award and went.

Buffy looked at Roger, who had remained. "You worked with ... Rupert at the Museum in London?" Buffy asked. She'd consciously tried to use his first name all night. At least in front of his friends.

"You could say that." Roger said. "Except that I didn't actually work for the Museum as Rupert did. I just occasionally work with them,"

"You free lance." Buffy concluded.

"Yes." He responded. "So, how long have you known Rupert?" He tried and failed to sound casual.

"A while." Buffy said vaguely. No way was she telling anyone that she'd met him when she was 16.

Roger was uncomfortable. "Do you mind some friendly advice?" He asked.

"Depends on the advice." Buffy commented warily.

"It's about Elaine." Roger said uneasily. "She wants Rupert."

"I've noticed." Buffy said.

"She won't give up." Roger said, then swallowed. "Her pride..."

Buffy was even more wary. "Did she send you over here to warn me off?"

"No." Roger said, horrified by the notion. "It's just ... Well, I've seen the damage she can cause."

"She does this for sport?" Buffy asked.

"Yes," Roger said simply.

"Why are you telling me this?" Buffy asked, still unsure of his motives.

"I like Rupert." Roger said. "I don't want to see him hurt."

Giles and Buffy managed to avoid Elaine for the most part. They danced a little more, then decided to call it a night. They stopped by the table and grabbed his award. They said goodnights on their way out. They were about halfway down the hallway, away from the Banquet Hall, when they heard Elaine.

"Leaving so soon?" Elaine asked sweetly. Buffy and Giles turned to face her as she joined them.Elaine leaned into Giles and put a hand to his chest. "What about our dance?" She asked. She looked at Buffy and asked conspiratorially. "Isn't he just the most oblivious man?"

"Only when he wants to be." Buffy told her. "Of course, he's never like that with me."

Giles closed his eyes. Buffy's patience only lasted so long. He was surprised it had lasted this long, aware that she'd held onto it for him. But Elaine's luck had just run out. He opened his eyes as he felt Elaine's hand be removed from his chest.

"Try a street corner." Buffy said, finally losing her temper. "You know, at first, I felt sorry for you, You're pathetic. But, I'm over it." Elaine seethed, She slapped Buffy.

"Buffy ... " Giles said. He turned on Elaine. "How dare you?" He said venomously.

Buffy put out a hand to stop him. Giles would never forgive himself if he hit a woman. Buffy however didn't have that problem.

Elaine was chilled by the cold glare that she received from the other woman. She took a step back as Buffy took one towards her, then another. "Listen carefully, because I'm only going to say this once." Buffy told her. "He doesn't want you. He doesn't need you. He is not going to be a notch on your pathetic little ego. Now, go away before I hurt you."

Elaine looked at Giles. "Rupert?"

"You'd better go Elaine." Giles told her. He knew quite well how much Buffy was holding back. He took Buffy's hand. "Come Buffy, let's go to our room."

Elaine watched them go and knew that she lost.

Giles waited until they reached the elevator. Fortunately, it was empty. "God Buffy, I'm sorry." Giles said. "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine." Buffy assured him. "Giles, that wasn't your fault." He wouldn't look at her. "Giles." When he still wouldn't look at her, she put a hand to his cheek and gently made him. "It's not your fault. Don't let her ruin tonight. Then, I'd have to kill her."

"Buffy..." Giles began. He was cut off when Buffy pulled him down and kissed him.

Buffy felt his arms go around her. She tried to keep in mind that they were in an elevator, but it was difficult.

Giles heard the ding that announced their arrival at their floor. He broke the kiss and led her out.

They made their way to their room. Once they were inside and he closed the door, he found Buffy once again in his arms.

<God, I could get used to this. > Giles thought. Of course, there in laid the danger. Despite his best intentions, he held her tighter. Buffy moved her hands up his chest and pushed his jacket off. When he felt her undoing his buttons, he took her hands in his. "Buffy? What are you doing?" He asked, his breathing harsh.

Buffy looked up at him with wide eyes. "Did I do something wrong?"

"Things are moving just a little too quickly." Giles said.

Buffy looked at him confused. She didn't know what to think. Or, what to do.

"Buffy?" Giles asked concerned. "Are you all right?"

"Yeah." Buffy said softly. "I just..." She couldn't look at him.

"Goodnight Giles." She extracted her hands from his. Without looking at him, she gathered her things and went in to the bathroom.

Giles watched her. He was confused himself now. What had just happened?

*********

In the bathroom, Buffy leaned against the door. What an idiot. She thought that Giles had felt the same way. Apparently not.He probably thought that she was no better than Elaine was. God, what a horrid thought.

But, why else would he stop her? She didn't want to let the tears start, but they did.

Giles waited for her to come back out. When twenty minutes passed and she still hadn't come out, he decided to get ready for bed. He went into the bedroom and tried to figure out what had happened.

He methodically removed the tuxedo and hung it in the closet. He put on his pajamas and sat on the edge of the bed. He was lost in thoughts of a small, green eyed, blonde.

He wasn't certain how long he sat there, but he didn't think it had been that long. He decided to check on Buffy again.

Giles went out of the bedroom and found the other room dark. After he gave his eyes a chance to adjust, he moved towards the bed. "Buffy?" She didn't stir, but somehow, he knew that she wasn't asleep. She was curled on her side. He moved around to the side that she faced and sat down. "I know that you're awake." He said. "Buffy?" He put a hand to her cheek and found it wet. She crying.

Buffy rolled away. "Go away." She said, her back to him once again.Giles put a hand on her shoulder. "Tell me what's wrong."

"I'm tired." Buffy said.

"I am not going anywhere until you tell me the truth." Giles said firmly.

"Please, just go away." She whispered.

"I can't." Giles said gently. "Somehow, I've done something to hurt you."

"It's not your fault." Buffy said. "You can't make yourself feel things that aren't there."

"What things?" Giles asked. He became more confused by the minute.

"It's okay Giles." Buffy said more calmly. "I understand."

"Well, I don't." Giles said. "Buffy, what are you talking about?"

"I know you don't ... Want me." Buffy said in a small voice.

Giles opened his mouth and then shut it, stunned. "What?!" He rolled Buffy over so that she faced him. "What do you mean, I don't want you?"

Buffy looked up at him. "You ... You stopped." Buffy pointed out.

"And it nearly killed me to do so." Giles responded.

Buffy looked up at him, his face shadowed by the dark. Should she believe him?

"How could you think that I didn't want you? I want you so badly, I ache." Giles told her.

"Then, why?" Buffy asked, still uncertain.

Giles looked down at her, "Why?" He wasn't sure anymore. All he could think about was the sadness in her eyes. He wanted to take it away. He leaned down and kissed her. Giles felt her hesitance and he was determined to prove to her how he felt. His touch, a feather like caress, he ran his hand from her cheek to her throat to her collarbone. He felt her shiver as his mouth followed the trail of his hand. All thought gone now, except Buffy. Buffy hadn't felt him unbutton her top, but he spread the material apart. She clutch him to her as she felt his mouth move to her breast. Giles moved his mouth from the slope of one breast to the other. She gasped when he took her nipple into his mouth and laved it with his tongue. He felt her fingers in his hair.

Buffy urged his mouth back to hers. She moved her hands to his chest, but hesitated at the buttons. Giles undid the button himself and then she pushed it off his shoulders.

His hands were at her breasts. Her fingers glided through his chest hair. He groaned when her nails raked his nipples. One of his hands still wreaked havoc on a breast, while the other slid down, over her stomach to her waistband. Too far-gone to hesitate, he pulled at them. Buffy lifted her hips to assist. They landed on the floor, by his top.

Giles pulled back to look at her. His eyes ran from top to bottom and back up. When he met her eyes, he put a hand to her cheek. "How could I not want you?" He took her hand and held it to the proof. He released her hand to let her decide what to do next.

Buffy didn't move for a moment. She looked at him. He was watching her breasts rise and fall with her breathing, his hand splayed across her stomach. When she moved her hand, he closed his eyes and hissed. His hips jerked when she moved her hand into the pajama bottoms and encircled him. It was so hot; she was surprised that it didn't burn her.

Even as he moved in her hand, his own slid between her legs. He let one finger touch her gently. Her own hips jerked and she whimpered. She was so hot, so wet. He slid a finger inside, so tight. She cried out.

She slipped his bottoms over his hips and he kicked them off. He finished removing her top and threw it.

When he rolled on top of her, she opened to him in welcome. She wrapped her arms around him and squeezed his butt in an attempt to bring him still closer. She raised her knees to either side of his hips.

Giles kissed her gently and let it build slowly. He touched his tip to her opening and rubbed it against her. Her legs clamped around him with a bruising force. He pushed in, just a bit and she whimpered again. She gripped his butt so hard that he knew there would be bruises, but he didn't care. Unable to hold back any longer, he thrust and imbedded himself in her welcoming warmth with a groan.

"Oh God." Buffy moaned and lifted her hips to and wrapped her legs around him and pulled him deeper.

"Buffy." Giles sighed. Too overwhelmed by sensation, neither moved for a moment. Then he slowly pulled back only to thrust back in. Again. Their rhythm picked up pace quickly, until they were frantically meeting each other's thrusts. Harsh breathing and moans accompanied them.

Giles knew that she was close, so was he. He took her mouth in an almost savage kiss and rolled his hips. He caught her cry in his mouth. Buffy's inner muscles tightened around him as her hips arched off of the bed and she dug her nails into his back. It sent him into his own release. One more hard thrust. Two. His seed streamed into her, with his own cry.

He collapsed on top of her. Then he wrapped his arms around her and rolled so that she was now on top. Still joined, they lay there contented. When Buffy shivered, he managed to pull the covers over them. They awoke twice during the night and made love again.

Giles awoke from what was, on one hand, a wonderful dream. But, on the other hand, it brought about a frightening realization about the night before. He and Buffy hadn't used any protection. He looked at the young woman that he held in his arms. Should he mention it? Or wait and see? He knew her cycle, probably better than she did. She had her last period ... He did a quick calculation and nearly groaned. Two weeks ago. Bloody hell. The timing couldn't have been more perfect.

He felt her stir, her cheek rubbed against his chest. "Buffy, Luv. We need to talk."