__Willow's Diary, Day One__
By Monique and David Barton
Dear Diary,
It's 6:54am, London time, or at least I think it is. The plane
only took off about an hour ago, but I thought I'd switch my
watch now. You know, be all English-ready when I step off
the plane.
When I step off the plane! Like it isn't mind blowing enough
that I'm going to England, but to know that I'm going to see
Rupert in just under... 10 hours... I can barely stand it... and
the flight is going to be long enough.. I mean, I already had
to switch seats, but that's another story.
Buffy, Xander and Anya all took me to the airport and they
even gave me going away gifts. Xander was so adorable. He
got all choked up and everything, like I was going away forever
instead for the weekend. He made some joke about the jet fuel
getting in his eyes and gave me a paper bag full of banana
and peanut butter sandwiches. He heard that English food
was lame and he didn't want me starving. Anya made some
comment about Giles that I will not repeat, cause I'm not even
sure I really understood it, but judging from Xander's horrified
expression.. it was dirty.
Which leads me to Anya's gift. Now, I wasn't expecting anything
from anybody, much less from Anya. But there it was, a small
beautifully wrapped package... one of her many talents... I didn't
open it until I was on the plane.. mistake number one.
I opened her little gift and let out a loud enough eep that the man
next to me actually jumped and knocked the package out of my
and onto the floor. Which wouldn't have been so bad if it hadn't
been a box of condoms that the stewardess then ran over with the
drink cart and got stuck in the wheel and then asked really loud over
the speaker system... "Who's condoms are these?"
The man next to me pointed to me and the stewardess came over
and asked me if these were my condoms. I could have died. I think
I nodded and grabbed them and stuffed them into my bag. Then the man
next to me winked and gave me his honey roasted peanuts.
A little bit later another stewardess took pity on me and helped me find
another seat, away from the humiliation zone. I know Anya meant
well, I do.. but well... I don't need them. I feel silly talking about it
even in here, where it's just you and me..I mean, I shouldn't be
embarrassed, right? The human body and things ... it's beautiful...
But I still feel silly... But I went to the doctor and I'm protected..
if.. I mean.. should Rupert and I.. you know.. I didn't want to have
to use a condom.. it's... anyway... if we do... and boy, I hope we
do... we won't need Anya's gift.
Anyway, where was I? Oh.. gifts.. right.
And then Buffy... she gave me a hug and slipped a note into my
pocket. And I think her gift was the best of all. It was her blessing.
She told me that there were no two people more perfect for each
other than Giles and me.. and.. I couldn't agree more... And having
Buffy's stamp of Slayer Approval... well, it just made everything
perfect.
So, here I am.. on my way... 9 hours and 45 minutes to go. I
wonder what the movies are? Doesn't matter really. I'm going to
try and sleep. That way, I can dream about Giles...
Okay, sleep is not happening. Not that I'm real surprised. I didn't
sleep last night either. I'm just too excited. Maybe I'll try and read.
11:46am
Man oh Manechevitz! 5 hours to go. And I thought the last five
days were hard. The last five hours are going to kill me. Okay, I've
got to get my mind off things, or I'm going to nutty. I've got to stop
thinking about Giles... Maybe I'll do some Latin conjugation?... amo,
amas, amat, amamus, amatis, amant... cupio, cupias, cupiat,
cupiamus, cupiatis, cupiant... okay.. this is *not* helping...
4:42pm
We just touched down!!! I don't know if this is even legible my hand
is shaking so much. I can't believe I'm finally here. Okay... Breathe,
Willow. Breathe. Do not faint.
Saturday
Well, I didn't faint... but I did fall asleep. Not on the plane, but later...
could I be more of a dufus? I'll tell you that whole tragically
embarrassing tale later... but for now.. the update is... I am
sitting at a small dining table in the most charming cottage you have
ever seen watching Rupert make breakfast. Oh, yeah... it's
Saturday morning now.. so.. time to fill in the gaps... cause I want
every detail written down.. so when I'm old and my memory is
starting to fade ... I can reread this.. and know it wasn't all just a
dream.
So.. back the beginning... the airport.
I got off the plane.. and my heart was just pounding in my chest.
I looked around but I couldn't see Giles. Sometimes I hate being
short. The plane was really full, so there were lots and lots of people
getting off, waiting for people... and somewhere out there was
Rupert... waiting for me.
And then I saw him. Can I just take a moment to say how incredibly
handsome he is. I mean, wow... If I close my eyes right now, and
for the rest of my life, I'll be able to remember every nuance... He
was wearing a black leather coat and deep forest green shirt, the
top two buttons were undone and fantastic black jeans. His hair was
sort of mussed, like he'd been running his hands through it... And
his eyes.. He has such incredible eyes. So many nights I fell asleep
dreaming of him looking at me just the way he was at that moment.
Where was I?
How handsome Rupert is... well... I could go on and on about that.
I mean, he is absotively, without a doubt, close your mouth you're
catching flies gorgeous.
And.. he must be psychic... cause he just tried to sneak a peak at
this. Shame on him.. and if you are reading this Rupert.. you know
I'll find out.
Anyway... across the terminal... his eyes caught mine and... it
sounds so corny, but the rest of the world just melted away. The
noise from the crowd, all the other people, everything... was gone.
I walked over to him... he had to wait behind some ropes.... and I
walked around and I... I could barely breathe.... There he was. And
it was really him. Not some fake, but the Real Genuine Rupert
Giles (RGRG).
He was just staring at me not saying anything. Finally, I managed to
whisper a soft, "Hello.".... and he got this look in his eyes... it was so
beautiful... and he reached out.. and touched my cheek.. just barely
with the back of his knuckles you know? And then he leaned down
and kissed me.
And let me tell you ... forget Buttercup and Wesley... this was The
Kiss... and as long as I live.. I will never forget any part, not one
millisecond, of that moment. The years of dreaming about what it
would be like, none of it came close to the real thing. It was so soft
at first, so tender... and then it sort of blossomed like a flower...
like we both opened up to each other at the same moment.
He just kept his hand lightly cupping my cheek.. and finally he stood
back up and smiled.. and in a low gentle voice he whispered, "Hello."
Boy oh boy.. just thinking about it.. writing it down makes me all
googley. We both stood there for another long minute before he
laughed a little and kissed me again.. just a quick one, but we
needed something to break the spell or we wouldn't have moved
from that spot.
He put his arm around me and I leaned into his side and knew
that was where I was meant to be. It's strange you know. How
when something is just so right, you can't remember feeling any
other way. That's how it was. Like I'd never been away from him..
ever.
We got my luggage and went to his rental car. And.. okay... driving
on the left side of the street is against the very laws of nature! Every
time a car passed us going the other way on the *right*... I thought
we were goners. It took me about half an hour not to jump each time
we met oncoming traffic.
I ended up snuggling up against his side and closing my eyes... and
that way, I got feel him... and hear his heart beating. I never realized
what a contented sound that really is... I think I even started to drift
off, but I didn't fall asleep.. oh no.. I'd save that swift move for later...
so I could make a *complete* ass out of myself... no partial ass
here... no, no...
Sigh.
Okay... so we drove along the M-something... it's like a freeway..
sort of.. and after about 2 hours, I think... we arrived at the cottage.
The cottage is amazing... thatched roof, huge open fireplace... all
wood and stone and leather and stuff... the kitchen is really nice
and Rupert already had it stocked with everything we could ever
need... and the bedroom... wow... a big four poster bed.. big
poofy comforter and pillows... and so romantic. From the fire in
the hearth to single rose on the nightstand. I could feel him in
every room... safe and loving... It's the perfect place.
After the obligatory Willow running around like a fool time...
I freshened up.. cause eleven hours on a plane and two more
in a car make for an icky Willow... so while I did that, Rupert
warmed dinner... lasagna... mmmmm... it was yummy.. and we
had a glass of wine... I think it was the second glass that was
a mistake...
After dinner, Rupert had built up the fire, till it was just blazing..
And I guess he could tell I was sort of sleepy so he suggested I
go change into my nightshirt... heehee... Nightshirt... is he not
just the cutest thing?
So... I was sort of tired... and went into the bedroom and changed...
and when I came out I thought I had forgotten to get dressed or
something. He nearly dropped the fire poker and just stared at me.
I even looked down to make sure. I was wearing his shirt.. I'd sort
of gotten in the habit of wearing it to bed.. and some long socks.
Okay, so it's not exactly Victoria's Secret, but I wasn't thinking
clearly... It was that second glass of wine.. and maybe the fact
that I'd been up for about 36 hours...
Anyway...
I walked out and he sort of frowned a little for a second and
then whatever it was seemed to pass and he smiled again.
Then he went to the bookcase and pulled out an old leather
bound volume. He took me by the hand and led me to the
sofa. He sat down and eased me onto his lap. Oh boy... that
felt good. I just snuggled right in. He coughed once and I
thought I'd hit him in the ribs, but he said it was nothing.
He put an arm around me and kissed my forehead. It was
just perfect. He sighed happily and tucked my head under
his chin and started to read Wuthering Heights. My fantasy
come true. And his voice.. well... it's sexy to begin with.. but
the fire... the wine... the everything... it was like heaven...
and that's when I did it...
I still can't believe I did it. But I did. I fell asleep. Here I am in
the arms of the man I love.. in the most storybook setting you
could ever ask for ... and I fall asleep.
I woke up in the morning and had that moment of panic when
you don't know where you are... but then I remembered. I was
in England... with Rupert... and I had fallen asleep. I think I
could have died. I remember flopping back down onto the bed
and I could smell him on the pillows. He must have slept beside
me and I don't even remember it! Okay, not exactly my plan.. but...
I decided I was not going to cry over spilled milk.. and waste
any more time... and besides, I smelled breakfast cooking.
I slipped out of bed and cracked open the door and that's when
I heard him. He was in the kitchen cooking breakfast and singing.
I'm not sure what it was... I think it was Peter Frampton.. you
know that song..."I'm In You"... whatever it was.. it was the sexiest
most wonderful way to wake up. I didn't let him know I was there
at first... I just wanted to listen to him... cause he sounded so
happy. I don't think I've ever heard him like that... just happy.
And I wanted to cry.. just cause.. but I didn't. I figure falling
asleep he might forgive.. but a sleeper *and* a crier... not
gonna risk it.
He finished the song and he must have heard me sigh cause
he turned around, nearly sending breakfast to an untimely
death and blushed...
Just for the record... sexy, singing, cooking, blushing man...
Good Thing!
And then we kissed again... and again... and finally had some
breakfast... and I guess that catches you up.
He's just about done with the dishes (would *not* let me help)
and I've done the diary thing.. so I'm gonna jump in shower..
Rupert has the day planned. I don't know what we're doing
or where we're going.. but I can promise you one thing... I
am *not* falling asleep!
* * *