Let's Change Everything
By Dria14

Title: Let's Change Everything
Author: dria14
E-Mail: filmindie@hotmail.com
Rating: G- it's real safe.
Spoilers: I used the name Olivia because I heard it's Giles's girlfriend's name this season.
Prom's in there too.
Distribution: You want it you got it just tell me where it is. I love looking at my stuff.
Don't sue me I own nothing, nothing I tell you.
Feedback: Please e-mail me with your comments. I beg.  I plead. Nada. Please send me
something this time. I'm begging and pleading again.

Year: 2009

The gym of the rebuilt Sunnydale High was brightly decorated. Over the doorway was a huge sign that read: Welcome back, the class of 1999. Buffy Summers took a deep breath before walking in. She looked around. Everyone was there. Some people she recognized, some she didn't. She felt kind of silly walking in dateless.

"Wouldn't want to break tradition," she quietly told herself.

Her face lit up as she spotted her favorite red headed (at least sometimes) duo- Willow and Oz. That evening his hair matched hers almost identically. Willow waved her over enthusiastically. She walked over to the happy couple. Willow greeted her with a big hug, Oz with a nod.

"Buffy you look so great."

"Thanks, Will, and you look-"

"Pregnant, I know." She beamed as she clutched her husband's hand. "Our fourth."

"Congratulations."

"Thanks."

"Ooh, chips and the extra bonus of dip," Xander said from the other side of the table they were standing by.

"Xander!" Buffy shouted in surprise.

He rushed over to the other side of the table, and brought her into a bear hug.

"Buffy, I almost thought you wouldn't make it." They seperated, and walked over to Willow and Oz.

"What, and miss all of this? Not for the world."

The foursome smiled at each other. Buffy looked around again. The new highschool was an exact replica of the old one. Everything looked newer, of course, and slight details were different, such as, the floor boards were a different shade.

"Dip!" came an enthusiastic female voice. They all recognized it immediately, but turned their heads just to be sure.

"Cordy?" Xander asked.

"Well, yeah, who else could look this good after ten years?"

"We're not exactly senior citizens, we're not even thirty," Buffy said.

"You look great, Cordy," Xander told her. They all turned to look at him. He wasn't gawking, but, instead, admiring.

She smiled. "Thank you, Xander. Here with anyone?"

"Yes, my wife, Anya."

They all giggled as they saw the dumbfounded look on her face. Xander had grown very handsome in the past ten years. He had also matured a great deal which made him even more attractive. It was very obvious that Cordelia was jealous.

"What about you?" Willow asked.

"I'm married, but he didn't come. He's an actor. He's taking care of Lauryn who has an ear infection."

"Oh, I hope she gets better."

"Mmm, dip," came a voice from the other side of the table.

"Okay, what's with the dip? Is there something I should-" She stopped when she looked at the person who had said it. He was smiling widely and obviously speechless. "Giles!"

Buffy ran over to the other side of the table, and hugged him tightly. She felt tears approaching. He held her very tightly as he felt his own.

"Oh god, Buffy. I have missed you so much."

"I missed you, too."

She backed away from him afraid she would crush his ribs if she got the opportunity to squeeze him any tighter.  She hit him playfully.

"Why didn't you visit me? Everyone else visited. Well, except Cordelia."

"I'm sorry. I tried- I mean I- I wanted to. I just didn't get the chance. So, how was Europe?"

"It was beautiful. I loved it for the two years I was there. I'm glad to be back."

"Are you staying here?"

She nodded. "Yeah, I mean, it was great, but I missed everyone way too much."

"Did you go to England?"

"Of course I did. Nice, kinda rainy. Beautiful though."

"Good I'm glad you liked it. I wish I'd been with you."

"So do I."

She smiled at him. He looked terrific. There were a few more grays throughout his hair, and a few more lines on his face. No doubt they were caused by her and the rest of the Scooby Gang.

"So, here with anyone?" she asked trying to be nonchalant about it.

"No, no, I'm not. Are you?"

"Nope, I'm single. Since you didn't bring... anyone can I assume that you are too?"

He nodded. "Olivia left me a few years ago, about a week after you left for Europe actually. She said that she felt that she always came second in my life. She was right." He smiled, but he still looked sad.

"Second to what? And please feel free not to answer that."

"Second to you, of course. Any woman that would want to be close to me would have to settle for second best even while you're across the ocean. However, I wouldn't want anyone to settle."

"That's because you're such a great guy."

She felt horrible. <You've done a great job at destroying your own love life, but you've also ruined Giles's. Great going, Buffy>, she told herself. She couldn't help but wonder what would have happened if Jenny had lived. Would they have broken up too? However there was a difference. Giles had loved Jenny, and she knew about his past and who he really was. Olivia, first of all, diddn't have Giles's love, and she didn't know.

Buffy couldn't get over how great Giles looked. 'Wow' and 'amazing' were two words that kept running through her mind.

"You look terrific, Buffy."

"Thank you. You look... wow."

He smiled, and blushed a little. "Thank you. Coming from you that's a great complement." Giles then turned his attention to the rest of the group. "Hello," he said as he watched his feet as he shuffled them.

"Well, gee, that was full of excitement. Yeah, I'm real glad to see you, too," Cordelia said.

"Nice to see you haven't changed. How is L.A.?"

"Oh, wonderful. Life with Angel's a laugh a minute," she said sarcasm lacing her voice.

Out of the corner of his eye, Giles watched Buffy. She hardly flinched at the mention of her ex-love's name. <Has she gotten over him?> he asked himself. <It has been ten years, that's plenty of time to get over... who am I kidding? She's hasn't gotten over him completely just like I have, and will, never completely get over Jenny. No, that doesn't happen, you can't put someone you once loved completely out of your mind. No matter how long they've been gone> That, however, didn't mean that they both weren't ready to move on.

Buffy took Giles's hand. They both felt a little flutter in their hearts.

"I need to talk to you," she said.

He nodded. She led him into the back of the room.

"Now, I know this is going to sound really silly after ten years, but I've always wondered. At the Prom were you going to ask me to dance?" she asked.

He fell back into a seat behind him, and she gracefully sat in the seat next to him.

"Giles, I need to know."

"Yes, I was. Why?"

"I'm not done with the questions yet."

"Oh."

She smiled, and so did he just because she was. "I love it when you smile," she told him.

His breath caught, and then his smile got wider.

"Giles, do you think of me as a daughter?"

"No, I don't."

"Why?"

"B-because my feelings for you are different than that."

"Do you love me?"

"I-I-I don't know how-"

"This is very important. Do you?"

"If I tell you it will change everything."

"Then let's change everything."

She leaned forward, and kissed him. Softly at first, searching for the answer to her question. She got it when he returned the kiss more passionately. His tongue pleaded for entry into her mouth. She gave it to him. He heard  her whimper as he took her into his arms to bring her closer. She pulled away.

"I've wanted to do that for such a long time," she told him.

"So have I. I love you very much, Buffy."

"I love you, too." They leaned toward each other for another kiss.


***


The Scooby Gang looked on in amazement. Willow squeezed Oz's hand a little tighter, and smiled.

"What is it?" he asked.

"That's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen."

"I've had my suspicions about them for a while. It just made too much sense not to be right," Oz said.

Xander then smiled. "They need each other. He needs someone he can have fun with. Someone full of energy and vibrance. He needs a light in his life. She needs someone who would never hurt her. She wasn't happy with Angel, it was one of those tragic romance things. With Giles she can be happy. They can both be happy. Besides, anyone could see how much they love each other," Xander said getting everyone to stare at him, especially Cordelia.

"Loser extrodinaire, Xander Harris, who would've thought he would turn out so good?"

"Me." Anya came up locking arms with Xander. He kissed her forehead.

"Hey, hon, having a good time?"

"An all right time, I guess. Hey is that Buffy and Giles?"

"Yeah."

"Cool." Everyone smiled.


***


"I would've said yes you know," Buffy told Giles.

"To what?"

"If you asked me to dance."

"Not with Angel there."

"Even with Angel there, I still would've said yes."

"Really?" He smiled. "That's very sweet."

"I'll be right back."

He nodded as she stood up and walked away. The gang walked over to him.

"So, Giles, anything you'd like to share with us?" Xander asked.

His face was overcome with blushing. "What did you see?"

"Not much. You... Buffy... connected at the mouth. No big shocker," Oz said.

"Y-yes, well..."

"There's no-"

The quiet music got louder as Wild Horses by The Sundays came on. They all became silent as they heard the song Buffy and Angel danced to ten years ago at the Prom.

"Oh, poor Buffy," Giles said.

He looked up, and saw Buffy in front of a table. Some couples began to dance. Giles stood, and walked over to Buffy. Xander and Anya began to dance, Willow and Oz, Cordelia and....

"Cordelia?"

She turned around to a face she kind of recognized. No, this guy was way too good looking to be...

"It's me Jonathan. Do you remember me?"

"Yes."

"I was wondering if you'd like to dance with me."

Cordelia smiled, and slid her arm around Jonathan's waist. He wasn't much taller, but he was kinda cute.


***


Giles came up behind Buffy wondering if she thought of Angel.

"I never thought..."

As Buffy turned around, his breath caught. She was so incredibly lovely. She didn't smile, but her eyes seemed to.

"...that I would be here-"

"That children..." she said hinting at what she wanted him to say.

"That children en masse could be gracious."

She smiled now. "Every now and then people surprise you."

By instinct Giles looked up at the door. Was Angel there? No, this time it was Giles's moment. He smiled as he looked at Buffy. "Every now and then. Miss Summers would you give me the pleasure of this dance?"

"Why yes, Mr. Giles, but I think the pleasure is mine."

She held his hand as they walked away from the table. She slid her hand behind his back, and he slid his behind hers. They held hands off to the side. She put her head on his chest, and began to cry as she felt his heart gently thumping against her head. His eyes began to tear. She had recreated the experience for them. She had given him the chance to do what he had always wished he could have done. This was the dance they should've shared ten years ago. Better late than never. He heard her softly sing the words. <To me> he thought <She's singing them to me> He rested his head gently against hers. She felt his tears wet her hair.

"I love you, Giles."

"I love you, too."

She pulled back to look up at him. He leaned down, and kissed her soft lips gently. So gently. As they pulled away they saw the tears in each others eyes. Together they sang to the other, "Wild, wild horses couldn't drag me away."

END