__Wish I Could Stay__
By Angelwakes
"I'm ready." Buffy said, wishing she wouldn't burst into song and reveal how she really truly felt about her
Watcher.
Giles was not really surprised as he heard the opening chords of a ballad. `Oh God!' He thought, `please don't let
her hear me, I can't let my Slayer know how very much I love her. I wish…'
Neither Slayer nor Watcher noticed the figure in the alley watching through the window. "Good enough wish
granted!" Giles' slayer would not hear him, but *Buffy* most definitely would.
As Buffy began her warming up routine she felt an odd jolt and then began to panic as she felt her body move into
the usual training exercises. She wasn't in control of her own body; she couldn't make her body obey her commands.
She couldn't speak. Giles! She needed to speak to Giles; he would make everything normal again. He was her anchor
in this wacky world. The one person she counted on. As long as Giles was there her life was brighter, less
Hell-like, a simple look or touch from him and she felt able to carry on living. Then she heard the music.
Giles was totally unaware of the situation Buffy was in. He was concentrating on making the training session as
normal as possible. He watched his Slayer gratefully noticing she wasn't reacting to the music. He just had time
to breathe a sigh of relief before he felt compelled to sing.
# You're not ready for the world outside
You keep pretending, but you just can't hide
I know I said that I'd be standing by your side
But I... #
`Huh? Giles is singing? But… what?'
# Your path's unbeaten and it's all uphill
And you can meet it, but you never will #
`I will, I will for you Giles. You sound so sad.'
# And I'm the reason that you're standing still
But I...#
`No you're not, I am.'
# I wish I could say the right words
to lead you through this land. #
`You do, Oh Giles you do.'
# Wish I could play the father
And take you by the hand #
`But you're not my father; I don't want you to be my father Giles.'
# Wish I could stay here
But now I understand #
`Understand what? Giles you're scaring me.'
# I'm standing in the way. #
`You're not; I'm such an idiot, trying to hide myself from you.'
# The cries around you, you don't hear at all #
`I do!'
# `cause you know I'm here to take that call #
`I'm trying to make you feel needed, show you we… I can't do without you, guess I screwed that up.'
# So you just lie there when you should be standing tall
But I...#
`Again with the but…'
# I wish I could lay your arms down
And let you rest at last
Wish I could slay your demons
But now that time has passed
Wish I could stay here
Your stalwart, standing fast
But I've been standing in the way. #
`Oh Giles, I really did mess up. You are my stalwart.'
# I'm just standing ... in the way. #
`I love you.'
With another jolt Buffy felt herself regain control and she stumbled falling to the mat in a heap. Giles rushed
over to her.
"Buffy?"
He bent over, offering her a hand and found himself gazing into two tear-sparkling eyes.
"Whatever is the matter my dear?"
"I messed up Giles; I really messed up big this time. I was trying to show you how much you mean to me and… and
how much I… I…"
"If you cannot show me then can you tell me?" His voice was barely a whisper, his heart thrilling to the deep
emotion clearly visible in her eyes. He sank to the floor beside her not once breaking eye contact; afraid she'd
stop talking and hide herself away again.
"I love you Giles, I need you, I want you." Breathless she waited for a reply.
"And I you."
"Stay, I wish you would stay."
"Wish granted."
* * *