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Giles stood shocked for a few seconds as the words 'I love you any way' repeated over and over in his slightly addled head. The slam of the door snapped him out of his stupor and sent him running.
He ran out the door, yelling for Buffy as he did.She ignored him and walked faster.
Swearing,Giles picked up the pace and caught Buffy by her shirt's hem. Turning, Buffy smacked Giles hand away and took off at a dead run for her dorm.
Just as she reached the outer campus, a tackle from her left side caught her off guard and she was slammed into the ground.Her attacker landing on top of her with a grunt. Flipping herself over until she was on top of her attacker,she grabbed a stake from her waist and swung down.
A single inch from the mark, she stopped when the assailant yelled out,"Buffy, it's me, Xander. Please don't hurt me or make me dead."
Opening her mouth to reply,she was grabbed from behind and jerked off Xander.
"Thanks for the help Xander, that will be all." Smiling sheepishly at a glaring Buffy, Xander nodded while backing up,"Any time Giles, glad to be of service.I'm going to go hide now." Turning, Xander ran as if the hounds of hell were nipping at his heels.
Slowly,carefully,Giles turned Buffy in his arms so that she was facing him.Checking her over from head to toe and back again,he decided that she was, indeed, unharmed.
"If you're done ogling me,how the *hell* did Xander know what was going on?"
Giles, for once stutter free, calmly replied, I'm not sure really, but I assume Willow and the others have been spying on us from the start.Come out you two, I know you're there."
A giggle gave away the redheaded duo's hiding spot in the bushes.They crawled out looking very guilty. Willow got out a walkie talkie and clicked a button, saying into it,"Dark Prince, this is witchy woman and wolfman, we've been had. All is secure here, let's call it a night.Over and out."
She cringed when Spikes voice came crackling back,"Got it luv.Night hawk filled me in,I'm going to get some bloody nourishment.Over and out."
Giles just shook his head,not overly surprised. "If you children are quit done, I do believe I can handle it from here.A heartfelt thanks and goodnight."
Willow gave a snappy salute and Oz nodded as they headed off, leaving the two alone.The silence left in the wake was deafening. The two just stared at each other, until Buffy finally moved so that a bench was between them.
"Look Giles, I *so* can't do this right now.I've had two rough days and I need sleep. So, goodnight, and I'll talk to you later. Like next week."
Walking around the bench, but stopping a good foot from Buffy,Giles softly,intensely spoke. "Just tell me what you said again Buffy. I need to hear it once more."
Giving him a strange look, she confusedly asked,"What? Say what again? Goodnight and I'll talk to you later?"
Stealthily closing the distance, he merely shook his head.
"Um Giles.Stop right there." Putting her hand up in a stopping motion,she swallowed convulsively, very nervous by the very un-Giles like look on his face, in his eyes.
Again he shook his head. Step by step until he was close enough to touch,to feel the heat radiating off her body, he stalked. The look he gave demanding her to give him what he wanted, needed.
The soft plea when he spoke a single word, her name, broke her resolve.
"Oh Giles, don't you know? Can't you see it? I think I've been in love with you from the beginning. There, I said it. I love you. I LOVE YOU.I love you and nothing you say,or do, or yes even dream, is going to change that. So you had better get used to it mister!"
Closing his eyes in relief,speech became impossible because he grabbed her tight and crushed her body to his. Kissing her, he felt as if he had come home. As if he had finally woke from a dreadful nightmare that only she could stop. The dreams, thoughts and feelings that haunted him for so long long had turned into a reality.A beautiful one.He murmured to her between kisses, over and over,I'm so sorry, I love you,I love you,I love you, I'm so sorry.
Hands ran over bodies, searching and learning, and feeling. Tongues danced and dueled and tasted. Rational thought made a very brief appearance and Giles murmured to his love,nipping her ear softly. "Buffy, we really must take this inside.Come along and let's go back to my place."
Pouting,Buffy shook her head and motioned to the door nearby. "Too far.My room, now! Willow headed off to Oz's place so we can be alone there."
"I always knew you are the smartest woman I ever knew."
The two headed off in the right direction.
Giles never made it through the door on his first attempt when Buffy softly whispered in his ear, "I would have said yes Giles." Instead he ran directly into it.