He didn’t go back to the library. She wouldn’t be there anyway. He headed straight to his apartment. If she was out patrolling, she’d come to him afterward. If not, well, tomorrow was soon enough.
He opened the door, surprised to find a light on in the living room. Surely he’d ensured they were all off that morning. He moved cautiously forward. It was a bit much when a man’s home was no longer safe. First Angel, then Sylvia. Now who?
His ‘visitor’ entered from the kitchen carrying a tray set with the necessary makings for two cups of tea. "I thought you might need a drink after your ordeal." She stopped at his look of surprise. "Did I do wrong?"
He couldn’t get over this new, unsure Buffy. "No. Of course not. I wasn’t expecting you to be here, that’s all."
She moved toward the couch, relieved. "Well, I did patrol for a while. But I couldn’t concentrate."
He sat down next to her, allowing her to pour the drinks. "Well this." he indicated to the pot. "was perfect timing."
She couldn’t help the blush that stole across her face. "Not really. I kept boiling the kettle until I heard your car pull up." His gentle smile told her he understood. "Is it done?"
"Yes. She’ll be gone tomorrow."
"Can she cause trouble?"
"She’ll try. But who cares about a bunch of old men a million miles away?"
She smiled as he threw her own words back at her. "Do you want to talk about it?"
"Not really. Suffice it to say, it was not very pleasant. And, I’m not proud of what I did." He frowned in remembrance of the confrontation.
She leaned forward to smooth away the furrows on his forehead. "You did what you had to do. For her, as well as us." He marveled again at her insight. Her perception. She leaned back. "Xander said we should set some ground rules."
He sighed. Someone else who’d grown up before his eyes. "Xander’s right. What happened in the library cannot happen again." At the look on her face, he amended. "At least, not in the library."
"Snyder?"
"Yes. Among others."
"But here’s okay?" At his affirming nod, she relaxed. "I don’t know how I’m gonna tell Mom."
"Your mother?"
"I’m not ashamed of us Rupert. And sneaking around, hiding our relationship will make it into something dirty. Besides, after I came back, I promised her no more secrets."
"You’re right, of course. I’m just frightened she’ll be hurt. A-and angry. You Summers women have quite a temper, you know."
As he’d been on the receiving end of some pretty good displays of temper by both women, she guessed he knew what he was talking about. "Us not telling her will hurt her more."
His pride for her grew hourly. He once again counted his blessings. For having her as both a Slayer, and now his love. He finally gave into temptation and leaned forward. She met him halfway.
They kissed gently. Reaffirming the feelings that had arisen earlier. He cupped her face with his hands. Splaying his fingers in her hair. She leaned forward. Pressing her hands against his body. They let the passion build slowly. There was no rush. They had all the time in the world.
Eventually, he pulled away. Held himself a few inches from her face. "We need...." He cleared his throat. "We don’t need to rush into anything. Until we’re both ready."
"I know." Surprising, really. How well they did know each other. "But we can still do - stuff, can’t we?"
He smiled, and leaned forward and kissed her nose. "Yes, we can do - stuff."
"Now?"
This time he laughed. He put an arm under her legs, and pulled her onto his lap. "We can do all sorts of - stuff - now."
She shivered. "Like what?"
"Like this." And proceeded to show her.
