If you want to you can

AUTHOR: Gabriele Schulz
EMAIL: gabrieles_sd@yahoo.com
RATING: PG
DISTRIBUTION: Dria14, Solo, Cap, Eskalade, Jess. Others please ask first.
SPOILERS: not really
FEEDBACK: You bet!
SUMMARY: When Giles saves her life Buffy realizes a couple of things. B/G
DISCLAIMER: The characters are the property of Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, Sandollar Productions, Kuzui Enterprises, 20th Century Fox Television, the WB Television Network, and whoever else may have a hold on them. I do not mean to infringe upon any copyrights.
NOTE: Dria14's first challenge: "Giles saves Buffy's life and she's extremely grateful." Somehow 'extremely grateful' only translated into NC17 in my sick mind, so it's just Buffy's reaction to Giles saving her life.
DATE: 9/25/99 + 10/21/99

It was over. Three and a half years as the Slayer. Now her time had come. She wasn't afraid. She just felt sad that it would be just a normal vampire. She prepared to feel his fangs and closed her eyes. The last thought she had was < What will Giles do without his Slayer? >

Then she felt dust instead of fangs. She opened her eyes.

She wasn't dead.

"Buffy, are you all right?"

The dust settled and she saw Giles kneeling in front of her looking down worrieed.

She just stared at him. How could this be? This was supposed to be her end, wasn't it? She had faced death too often to not know the difference. Why was he here? Where did he come from?

And suddenly it meant more than just 'Where did he come from today?'. It was 'How did he come into your life?'. 'What did you do to deserve him?' 'Why is he always there when you need him?' < And why did you never before ask yourself these questions? >

She still hadn't spoken and he reached out to cup her cheek. The worry was clearly visible in his eyes.

"Are you hurt?"

She propped herself on her arms and he removed his hand.

< No! >

She struggled until she was kneeling in front of him looking at him, not sure what she wanted. < His hand... >

Suddenly tears filled her eyes.

"Buffy."

He took her in his arms and she sighed. < Yes. > She cried into his jacket, enjoying his embrace.

Then the shock of near death finally hit her and she cried more viciously. He had saved her from death. He had given her life. She knew that he had saved her so many other times, but this was somehow so different. She felt like she had jumped off a cliff and someone had pulled her out of the air back to solid ground. Right into his arms.

She felt safe in his arms. She stopped crying and when she was under control again, he withdrew. Not only physically, also emotionally. She could almost see it.

"No, Giles."

"What?"

"Don't stop holding me. I..."

He looked at her a little confused and she took his face in her hands.

"You can. If you want to you can. I like it. I think I need it sometimes. And not only, when one of us nearly dies. Giles. Hold me. Touch me. Put your arms around me once in a while. You're one of my best friends. You can show me, you know."

They looked at each other for a long moment.

Then he turned his head and kissed the palm of her left hand.

"I'll try."

He leaned forward and kissed her forehead.

At that moment she knew, that this wasn't where he wanted to kiss her. He wanted... and she wouldn't mind.

She flung her arms around his neck and pulled him in for a kiss they both wanted. She could feel him responding before 'responsibilty' took over again.

"Buffy, we shouldn-"

"Why not?"

"You are..."

"I am what?"

"You are still in shock..."

"Maybe I am. Maybe I'm not. But there's one thing I'm sure I am: In love with you."

"Buffy..."

"Yes, Giles?"

"I... I love you, too."

"I know."

He looked slightly confused and surprised, but definitely cute, so she just went ahead and kissed him again, before he could speak.

And this time, nothing kept him from filling his actions with all the love he felt for her.

END