__Beginnings__
By Jolene Beasley
"I've never seen so many palm trees in my life." Buffy commented as they drove along the quiet street. Massive date palms lined every foot of road, casting flickering shadows across the windshield of Giles' car. They were passing enormous mansions and vast acres of well manicured lawns on their way to what Buffy had described as "your belated birthday present." She hadn't know when his birthday actually was, so she had missed it, and had just picked a day to celebrate, and he had good-naturedly gone along with her. She had gotten the idea several weeks ago, and had done considerable research to find this place.
She had actually listened when he spoke longingly of the Watchers' retreat among the Cotswolds, and wanted to find something recreational nearby that would help him relax and enjoy himself. He was taking on so much, what with the new slayer falling under his care. Enlisting her mother's help, she had put together what she thought would be the perfect getaway for her much-abused Watcher. She smiled a tiny smile, anticipating his reaction. He had, at first, plied her with questions, but she had given away nothing. Finally, he had stopped and relaxed a bit, enjoying the quiet drive and the lovely weather.
Watching him as he drove, Buffy began to think about all the things he had done on her behalf...leaving his home, putting up with her reluctant attitude toward her calling, patiently teaching her the finer points of martial arts technique, overlooking her teenage idiosyncrasies, intervening many times to literally save her life, accepting her somewhat irreverent friends, enduring torture by her former lover, Angel. And, looking at him, she could hardly see the scars...
She sighed, deciding that her present was a very good idea. Her focus shifted abruptly as Giles spoke.
"Well, this is California, after all. Tropical foliage is to be...expected. Haven't you lived here 'all your life?'" Giles replied, as he squinted against the bright autumn sun to see the current address. Before she could reply with a witticism, he exclaimed, "Ah, here we are!" They turned into an impressive entry under a large, wooden hanging sign that read, 'Elysian Fields.' "Just what is this place?" he asked, knowing he would probably not get a straight answer.
"I'm still cryptic girl. You'll have to wait and see." was all she said.
They drove up to a large circle drive with parking spaces off to the side. Parking the car, Giles turned and gazed at her inquisitively. "Well, shall we?"
"Let's shall!" She quipped, and hopped out of the car. Nervously, she waited until he stood beside her. They both gazed around the grounds, taking in the cottage style house, the fields, and the gleaming white picket fences surrounding both.
After a moment, Giles inclined his head slightly and listened. In the background, he thought he heard familiar sounds. He concentrated, trying to remember what they represented. Before he could grasp the memory, a door slammed behind the house. They both turned to see a tall, slender brunette striding toward them.
"Welcome to Elysian Fields! You must be Mr. Giles. I'm Deborah Roberts. But call me Deb, please." She extended her hand and shook it firmly, smiling a welcoming smile. Giles smiled a tentative smile in return. "And you have to be Buffy. Your mother and I are old college chums. But, don't hold it against me, please!"
Buffy responded, "Okay, I won't!" She could hardly restrain her enthusiasm. 'This is going to be GREAT!' she thought.
The fleeting memory came to Giles all in a rush as he rounded the house and started toward the buildings out back. "It's a riding stable!" He blurted. Then he smiled as he realized to what lengths Buffy had gone. "You are a devious child. However did you find out that I loved riding?"
She answered, a little bit wistfully, "For once, I listened to you." She patted his arm affectionately.
Deb interrupted them by saying, "We'll need to select a mount for you two. Buffy, have you ever ridden before?"
Buffy's eyes grew round. She took a step back, and said, "No, wrong idea, very wrong. I don't do horses, they're too big and...horsy. I'll just watch."
"Nonsense!" Giles stated. "You can ride with me. Ms. Roberts..." seeing her look of warning, he amended, "Uh, Deb, do you have a gentle horse that will ride double without a fuss?"
"Actually, I do." She replied. "And he's a beaut, too. His name is Breeze, and he's a retired champion. I think he'll suit you very well. Anyone can ride him, but he knows his stuff, too."
They walked down the wide center stable breezeway and stopped at the first stall on the right. Buffy's eyes grew even larger as she looked at the animal inside. Breeze stood well over 16 hands. His gentle, liquid eyes greeted them, his gleaming chestnut coat shining like burnished copper where stray rays of light touched it. "Gee, he's pretty. And BIG." Buffy said as the horse lifted his nose toward her in greeting. She shyly touched his nose...soft, like velvet, she thought.
As they lead the horse from the stall, Giles and Deb launched into a strange new language, full of words Buffy had never heard. She felt a pang of jealousy as the animated conversation continued; horse details, tack, technique, riding styles...what the heck was a 'crupper'?...but quickly brought her thoughts under control, since she was doing this for him, not herself. Deb, satisfied as to Giles' riding abilities, soon had Breeze properly outfitted and ready for the day.
Deb led them to the back of the barn, where three distinct trail heads began.
"The trails are well marked, and you shouldn't have any trouble finding your way around. There are only two other people riding today, and they are practicing jumps on Trail Two. So, if you don't want to run into them, take One or Three. At the end of Trail One is a refreshment stand, and on Trail Three there's a cabin. You can take a break and eat lunch before returning, if you like. You've basically got all day, but be considerate of the horse, since he has to bring you back..." She said this with a smile, "When you return, one of my people will take care of Breeze for you. So, enjoy yourselves, and come back again!"
Giles swung easily into the saddle. He extended a hand to Buffy and said, "Well, come on, then, let's not waste a single minute of this." She glanced at Deb, who was watching from a discreet distance.
She stepped cautiously closer to the horse, keeping a doubtful eye on Giles all the while. "How do I get up there?" she said in a small voice.
"Just put your foot there, in the stirrup, and use it like a step stool. Grab my arm, and I'll swing you around behind me. Nothing to it."
"Yeah, sure, Giles...nothing to hopping up onto a critter the size of a small building..." Giles laughed out loud, and the sound surprised her. She didn't recall ever hearing him laugh that way before. Gritting her teeth in determination, she obeyed his instructions, and was astonished to find herself securely seated behind him, arms around his waist. She let out her breath with a whoosh. "Made it in one! Yay me!"
Breeze shifted his weight slightly at the added load, and Buffy made an uncertain noise. "Maybe he doesn't like two people sitting on him...maybe he wants to stay in the barn...maybe..."
Giles interrupted, "Buffy, dear, do shut up and let's go." It was her turn to laugh as they started down Trail Three at a easy walk.
"I do hope our hours of training together have kept my leg muscles in good enough shape to endure several hours of riding without the usual 'consequences'." Giles speculated as they started down the well marked trail.
"Consequences? What consequences?" Buffy asked with a worried frown.
"Extremely sore inner thigh muscles, for one." He laughed again at her groan.
"And a sore...behind, for another."
"We'll have to walk part of the way, then, won't we?" She paused. "But that isn't a bad thing...just look at this place! It's so to die for!"
Giles gazed around him at the fall colors, saw the well kept pastures, heard bird song coming from everywhere, and agreed. "It is beautiful, isn't it. Not exactly the Cotswolds, but beautiful just the same." He felt himself beginning to unwind, bit by bit. And Buffy seemed more at ease in his presence than she had been in quite some time. 'Encouraging,' he thought, 'perhaps she is truly back with us.'
They rode along the trail for over an hour, conversation at a minimum, content with each other's company. Buffy head was resting against Giles' back, when suddenly he veered Breeze from the path and guided him past a stand of gold and red trees toward a small fenced-in field.
"Where are we going now?" She said, hanging on tighter as the terrain grew rougher.
"I just had an idea ...how would you like a free riding lesson?" He dismounted, swinging his leg in front of him with practiced ease, and left her on the horse.
Buffy grabbed the saddle fearfully, but before she could protest, he said, "Hop forward into the saddle, and I'll adjust the irons for you. She complied, confident that he would control the animal from the ground, but with some trepidation, nonetheless. To her surprise, after quick stirrup adjustments to compensate for the difference in their leg length, he swung himself up behind her. Handing her the reins, he began giving simple instructions on how to communicate with and control a horse 'the size of a small building.' Her face lit up as she realized she was in control, and was soon taking Breeze through basic paces like a pro.
"Can I try the trail now?" She asked, craning her neck to see his face. He smiled down at her.
"Absolutely. You're a natural. And, I'm right here if you get into trouble."
She snickered. "Me? Trouble? Must have me mixed up with someone else!" She urged Breeze back the trail with growing confidence.
Buffy had almost forgotten about the cabin. They rounded a bend in the trail, and there it was. She let out an involuntary gasp, and stopped the horse short.
Giles inhaled deeply as he surveyed the scene. Just ahead lay a small, pristine lake surrounded by a grove of fiery-leafed trees. Gentle hills shaped the landscape, creating secret coves and hidden places. In the foreground sat a small, rustic cabin, with a front porch that faced the lake. Several comfortable looking adirondak chairs and lounges were placed to afford an uninterrupted view of the water. It looked like heaven.
They dismounted and walked up to the cabin, finding a wooden hitching post near the front steps. Remembering to remove the bit from the horse's mouth, he tied Breeze to the post and patted him gently. "There you go, old boy. Have a bite."
Inside the cabin, they found a picnic basket on the small table. Buffy almost laughed as they sat down to eat. "Could this be any more perfect? That horse lady must've taken lessons from Mr. Rourke!"
"Who?" Giles frowned.
Buffy giggled. "Fantasy Island? It was a TV show? Never heard of it?" Giles shook his head. "Oh, well, they remade it recently. About this weird mysterious rich guy that grants everyone's fantasies. But they always get more than they bargained for...oh, nevermind."
"It sounds... strange. Bizarre, actually." He smirked. "But then, who are we to talk?" They looked at each other, and burst out laughing.
After lunch, Giles sat out on the small porch, reclining in one of the lounges and feeling pleasantly full and slightly drowsy. Buffy sat in a chair beside him, willing for once to do nothing at all. As he dozed in the afternoon breeze, Buffy found herself strangely moved by her Watcher's reaction to her gift. She felt a niggling sensation that just skirted the borders of her consciousness - what was that? Sympathy? Empathy? 'After all, we've been through a lot together,' she admitted to herself. 'He's been through a lot. I really should take better care of my Watcher. I want to keep him around for a long time... Maybe what Faith said the other day in the library wasn't so 'Ewww' after all.'
"Hey, Giles?" She said softly, sitting up and leaning over toward him.
"Mmm hmm?" He replied, barely opening his eyes to look at her.
She smiled, captivated by the peace that she saw there, the acceptance, the affection. "Happy Birthday." Impulsively, she leaned over and kissed him lightly on the lips.
There was an instant, blinding moment of connection that was created between them. Buffy jerked back, shocked and embarrassed, placing her hand on his to steady herself. Instantly, the connection returned, intense, yet clarifying in its revelation. She at once knew his thoughts, felt his surprise, his intense need to protect her, his devotion and love for her. He knew her self doubt, her insecurity, her awakening understanding of what her Watcher meant to her, her stubborn determination, her vulnerability. She withdrew her hand, looking directly into his eyes for an explanation. She could still feel a humming, a subvocal electric current that stretched between them like a power cord.
"Oh, Dear Lord..." He breathed. His pupils had dilated until the clear green irises were almost nonexistent. His face was flushed, his breathing coming in short gasps.
Buffy was in a similar state...panting and tingling with residual energy.
"Giles?" she said in a whisper, her eyes wide. "What. Was. That."
Giles was overwhelmed with shock as he realized what That must be. He had heard of "the Bond" but thought it was a myth. He cleared his throat, if not his head, and tried to answer her. "If...if it is what I think it is, that is, if what I think it is is...uhm, well, There have been, in the d-distant past, of course, references made, in the Watcher j-journals, to a link, a 'Bond,' between certain W-Watchers and, and their re-respective Slayers, that, that appeared after a, well, a long association, but the, the details have been sketchy at best, as if they, they didn't matter, and it hasn't been written of at all in-in this century. It's described as quite overwhelming." He stopped, gasping again for air, winded by the long speech.
"Major understatement." She whispered, still not in full control of her spiraling emotions. Almost involuntarily, she leaned closer, some part of her mind screaming for renewed contact. He lowered his eyes to her lips, tightening his grip on the arms of the lounge. She placed a second kiss against his waiting mouth, and the Bond intensified again, and she moved against the arm of the lounge, brushing his hand again. The ecstasy doubled, painful in its intensity.
He broke contact abruptly, holding up a shaking hand to push her back slightly.
"Can't take much more of that, I think," He panted. "It's one thing to, to um, to ah, kiss..." He stopped, smiled, then tried again. "Whew...but when we multiply the p-points of contact, it becomes, well, overwhelming. As, as the journals said."
"So, if I touch you in two places at once, we blow a gasket?" Buffy said, regaining her composure, and leaning back into her chair. "Or black out several city blocks? What good is this whole Bonding thing if it messes you up?" She tried to frown, but failed. "Who thought this up? The Watcher Council? Right. I can see it now: One of those horny old geezer Watchers who wasn't gettin' any thought this up just to get a girl!"
A shared image of a panel of grizzled, wrinkled old men, sitting around a table, winking and discussing pick-up lines crossed their minds. To her great surprise, Giles snorted, snickered, then laughed out loud. The sound was contagious, and she began to giggle, then lost control. They both laughed until their sides hurt, until tears were streaming from their eyes. The bond flickered between them, amplifying their laughter.
They walked along the trail toward the stable, the horse trailing behind them. It was growing late in the afternoon, and the sunlight had turned golden, warming the view. The residual undercurrent between them hummed, linking them in shared emotion. Giles had come up with several theories as to the purpose of their connection, none of which completely explained the phenomenon. "I really think this could be a...a positive thing. Knowing what the other is thinking, and feeling, the ability to instantaneously communicate to the other over some distance, although we don't know those limits, yet, could actually save our lives at some point. Or, at least...."
Buffy stopped him by taking his hand. The bond leapt between them, effectively silencing his musings. "This could be good." She said matter-of-factly. "When you start into lecture mode, I'll just grab your hand, and you'll shut up." She smiled innocently at him. "Cool." He tried to give her his patented Watcher Look, and failed miserably.
"I'm sure, with careful, slow, deliberate practice, we can learn to control this bond, Buffy. And I'll be able to withstand your...intervention without completely losing my train of thought."
"That's your answer to everything, isn't it? Practice. Training. You must be prepared, save the world, yada yada, make me yawn." Her smile countered her words, and the affection flowed between them easily.
"Well, yes, in most instances, practice, training, preparation is the answer. However, nothing in my training ever prepared me for you." He stole a sideways glance at her, gauging her reaction. Buffy favored him with a heart-stopping smile, and walked on.
They drove the first several miles homeward without speaking, neither one knowing what to say next. Not until they saw the "Welcome to Sunnydale" sign did Giles venture to break the silence. "You've been unusually quiet. When you're too quiet, I tend to, ah, worry. Are you all right? Really all right?"
Buffy looked at him thoughtfully, took a deep breath, and answered, "I'm all right. Really. Just...well, thinking. About stuff. The bond...whatever it is...has changed us, hasn't it? What I mean is, we're not just Watcher and Slayer, we're Watcher and Slayer, Plus. Not that it's bad, just, I dunno, different. Than it was before. I was just getting used to before again, and now...this, and I'm...confused." she finished, waving her hand in a vague, 'I don't know' gesture.
Giles chuckled. "Not so quiet anymore, I see. Well, uhm, obviously our relationship has changed, somewhat. But I don't believe it will be a detriment to our purpose. We are a...a team, and anything that is good for the team must be embraced. We must simply...well, press on. The actual advantages and disadvantages of the Bond will be something we will have to work out."
Buffy had another thought, and shifted uncomfortably. "Do we tell the others about this? What could we tell them, that we're wired for sound? Hey, guys, don't step between us, you might accidentally get electrocuted. Or, how about, if the lights dim, don't look at us!" She looked distinctly worried for the first time. "What about Mom? Forget it, she would have a cow...a whole pasture full of cows. She'd have a Dairy Farm! She still doesn't understand...us...not really. She'd think we were perverts, or something."
"Buffy." He interrupted her stream of consciousness babbling. "We don't have to say anything to anybody. Willow and the others may find out, but we'll deal with that when the time comes. And we shouldn't worry your mother. This is simply...a part of our existence, a part of us. We've faced vampires, werewolves, the Harvest, the Hellmouth, the Master, demons, witches, and ancient curses, even death. A little thing like this should present no problem." He patted her hand reassuringly, forgetting for a moment the intensity of their reaction to contact. They froze, caught in the Bond's grip once again.
"Giles! Watch the road!" Buffy shrieked, and he swerved back into his lane in a panic. They both held their breath, then exhaled as the car settled back into a steady straight line.
"Good Lord, I almost forgot...I'll just have to learn to...keep my hands to myself."
Buffy giggled at his choice of words. "Me, too. And no kissing...people might get the wrong idea. Or you might get arrested." She smiled wistfully. "Although, the kissing was kinda nice...just forget I said that, Okay?" She looked away, shocked at herself for saying such a thing.
Giles grinned in spite of himself. "Already forgotten."
Buffy lapsed back into silence as they rounded the corner to her house. Giles began to slow the car to pull into her driveway. Both of them wondered, privately, what would happen if they ever made love....
* * *