Willow showered quickly, anxious to be dressed again. As she pulled on a skirt and top, she decided that with a lot of concealer she'd be able to go to the bar without people noticing that she had been crying.
"Tequila, please." The barman shot her a look, but complied. Willow had a fake ID but she was glad she didn't have to use it. Willow downed the drink in one and ordered another. A man of about thirty smiled at her from down the bar. Willow smiled back. He called the barman over and gestured towards Willow. The bartender sat another glass in front of her, and Willow saluted the man. He stood up, and moved to the stool next to her.
"Hi. You looked a little lonely over here. I'm James, by the way." James took her hand and shook it, lingering slightly before letting go.
"I'm single." Willow smiled.
"That's good. Just what I wanted to know. You have a name, though?" James beckoned the bartender again.
"Willow."
"What a lovely name. It suits you. A beautiful name for a beautiful woman." James slid another drink over to Willow. Had she been sober, Willow would have fled after a line like that, but the alcohol had convinced her brain that that was the most romantic thing she had ever heard.
"Well, Jake is a nice name."
"It's James. It doesn't matter. You can call me what you want. What say we take this upstairs?"
"I don't think that's such a good idea." A masculine voice startled them both. James felt a firm hand grip his shoulder, and without turning Willow knew who it was. She downed her drink in one, and raised her head, smiling.
"Hello Giles."
Part 2
"What's going on here, Willow?" Giles's voice remained steady, but he increased his pressure on James's shoulder.
"I'm just having a drink. With my new friend." Willow turned back to James. "What's your name again? John?"
"It's James. I thought you were single!" James squeeked, the pain in his shoulder spreading down his arm.
"I am!" Willow was indignant. "Tell him Giles." Willow smiled at Giles.
"I really don't think that's the point." Giles smiled kindly at Willow, before replacing the smile with a scowl as he looked at James. "It's shameful, getting the poor child drunk and trying to seduce her."
"She was getting drunk by herself!" James's protest went unnoticed as Willow jumped unsteadily from her stool.
"Poor Child! Oh that's nice. Is that all you think I am? A child? To be humoured and pitied?" Willow walked unsteadily towards a table of guests in the corner. "Do you think I'm a child?" She asked loudly. Receiving no answer, she turned on her heel and fled from the bar.
"Bloody marvellous." Giles gave James's shoulder one last painful squeeze before releasing him and chasing after Willow.
He caught up with her as she dashed into the elevator. He jammed his hand in the doors, and stepped in behind her.
"What are you doing here?" She was angry.
"I...er...that is...I followed you." Giles gave her a nervous smile.
"You followed me?" Willow's question came out as a scream, and an elderly couple about to board the elevator on the first floor decided that they could manage the stairs quite well after all.
"I saw you taking your bag out to the car. No-one had any idea where you were going. Quite frankly, I was worried about your state of mind." Giles's face softened as he saw the defiance leave her, to be quickly replaced by the air of sadness that had beome normal recently.
"You're worried about me." Willow spoke so softly that he almost missed it. "I never meant to make you worry. I'm so sorry." Willow dissolved into tears. Giles put his arms around her and held her tightly, removing her room key from her hand. He somehow managed to get from the elevator to her room without letting go of her. He fumbled with the lock and swore as he tried in vain to open the door without disturbing Willow.
"I'm sorry." Willow repeated.
"You don't have anything to be sorry for, Willow." Giles finally opened the door and moved Willow inside.
"I've been so selfish." Willow really was heartbroken. A combination of sadness, guilt and alcohol had overloaded her system.
"No. We should have, no I should have, given you more support. Just promise me no more repeats of tonight. I don't think I could stand to see you with a man like that." Willow was still clinging to Giles, and he rubbed her back in an attempt to sooth her.
"Do you really think I'm a child?" Willow repeated her earlier question.
"Compared to me, you are. You're quite right, though. I shouldn't have called you that. I was attempting to persuade your new 'friend' to leave you alone without resorting to physical violence." Giles grimaced as he thought of James.
"I think you broke his shoulder." Willow giggled.
"I think you've had too much to drink. We'll talk more tomorrow." Giles made as if to leave.
"Where are you going?" Willow was suddenly anxious.
"To see if they have a room."
"Stay here. Please." Willow begged him with her eyes.
"I'll sleep on the floor, then. I haven't got any luggage." He smiled sheepishly as Willow gave him a blanket and pillow from the bed. As he moved into the bathroom to take off his suit, Willow felt more secure than she had in years.
"Giles!" She called. "I could easily fall in love with you." With that Willow lay back on the pillows and was soon snoring softly. Giles stood in the doorway to the bathroom with a stunned expresion on his face.
Part 3
Willow came back to consciousness slowly. She felt seasick, which made her wonder when exactly she had gone out to sea. She slowly opened one eye, closing it again quickly when the light hit it. After a minute she opened the other, and although it was a struggle, she managed to keep it open. For a moment she experienced extreme panic, she had no idea where she was. Then a few memories filtered back, and she groaned. She was just attempting to sit up when she heard a crash in the bathroom, followed by a distinctly British "Bloody hell!"
"Giles?" Willow's own voice sounded loud in her head, and she dropped her head back on the pillow.
"Ah. Morning Willow. How are you feeling?" Giles came out of the bathroom attempting to remove toothpaste from his shirt.
"Like I want to kill the driver of the truck."
"Excuse me?" Giles was lost.
"The truck that hit me." Willow gave him a small smile, her stomach protesting as she swung her legs over the side of the bed.
"Oh. Very funny, yes. Let me get you some water." Giles moved to get a bottle of water, and Willow stood and ran to the bathroom. She flung the door shut behind her, and lost last night's liquid dinner.
"Willow?" Giles pushed the door open slightly.
"I'll be fine, Giles. I'll just have a shower and be right out." Willow closed the door and leaned against it. In the bedroom, Giles leaned against the door, trying to work out if Willow remembered what she had said last night, and more importantly if she had meant it.
Half an hour later, Willow stepped from the shower and realised that she had left her bag, and her clothes, in the bedroom. She pondered what to do for a few minutes before wrapping a towel securely around her body and opening the door.
"Are you feeling..." Giles stopped talking as he saw Willow emerge, wearing nothing but a towel.
"I...er...just need my bag. Well, not my bag, the clothes in my bag, well and my hairbrush and stuff, so I guess I do need my bag, so I'll just take it then." Willow got redder as she rambled.
"Yes. Well. Be careful with that bag, you could easily damage your back." Giles handed the bag to her, noticing that the colour drained from her as he spoke. As she fled back into the bathroom, he realised that she had just remembered what she had said last night.
Willow paced around the small bathroom. 'I could easily fall in love with you'. How could she have said that. It must have had something to do with the Tequila, of that she was sure. It didn't help that it was true. She could easily fall in love with Giles, and thinking about it, she knew she already was.
"No more alcohol for you, Rosenberg." She muttered aloud as she opened the door. "Just pretend it didn't happen."
Giles had made the bed and was straightening up the rest of the room. He had also decided that denial was the name of the game. He gave her a nervous smile as she came into the room, and she offered him one in return.
"Breakfast?" He asked. She gave him a look.
"Coffee?"
"I think I could probably manage that." Giles opened the door for her, and she brushed against him as she walked past.
"Just pretend it never happened." They both thought simultaneously. "That'll be easy."
Part 4
Breakfast was an awkward affair. Neither of them had much of an appetite, and the conversation was hesistant. Giles raised his cup to finish his tea and looked at Willow over the rim. She was playing nervously with her napkin, twisting it around her fingers.
"Are you sure you can't manage anything? You're looking quite thin."
"Oh no. I'm fine really." Willow sunk further into her misery. He thought she looked thin, and no doubt awful. Could she have picked a worse time to confess her feelings? She attempted a smile. "Lots of calories in tequila."
"Yes...well." Giles looked uncomfortable. "Are you going back to Sunnydale this morning?"
"I suppose so. I haven't really got away from my misery. I brought it with me." Giles felt his heart sink. He was part of her misery. She hadn't meant what she said at all. It was the drink.
"Buffy will be glad." Giles decided that Buffy was a neutral topic, and they were better off sticking to neutral topics.
"I doubt she's even noticed I've gone." Willow tried to rouse herself before she sank even deeper into self-pity. Giles didn't know how to respond to this. He offered her a small smile and rose from the table.
The three minutes it took to get back to Willow's room were the longest that either of them had ever experienced. The silence between them was oppressive. The elevator seemed smaller than previously, and they consciously kept at least three feet apart. Willow had hardly unpacked, so it took her less than five minutes to pack.
"Ready?" Giles broke the silence.
"Yeah. I'll just check out. You get going. I'll follow you back to Sunnydale." Willow reached for her bag, as Giles went to pick it up. Their hands touched briefly, and they both snatched them back as if they had been burnt.
"I'll follow you." Giles took her bag and moved aside to let Willow pass. Willow was caught up in conflicting emotions. Giles thought she needed following, but at least he cared enough to make sure she got home.
Giles hovered as Willow checked out, insisting that he would pay at least half even though she tried to convince him it wasn't necessary. They made their way out into the car park in silence yet again. Giles followed Willow back to her car and deposited her bag in the trunk.
"I'll see you back in Sunnydale, then." Willow started the engine. She was just pulling out of her space when she saw Giles waving at her frantically. She pulled up beside him.
"Damn car won't start." Giles offered her an apologetic grin.
"I'll give you a lift. You can arrange a tow when we get home." Willow reached over and opened the passenger door. "Get in."
"Thank you. It's a good job you hadn't already left." Giles slipped in next to Willow. "Perhaps we can talk about how you've been feeling recently." Willow looked at him in horror. "I mean, how you've been feeling about Oz."
"Oh."
"Only if you want to. I mean, we can talk about the weather, or demons, anything."
"Scary when demons are ranked alongside the weather as a topic of conversation." Willow smiled a genuine smile for the first time in a long while.
"The weather is quite a serious topic in England." Giles was beginning to feel more at ease as Willow relaxed.
"So I guess that means we're back to talking about me."
"I just want you to know that you're not alone." Giles looked at Willow, trying to gauge her reaction.
"I know that. You've shown me that." Willow turned to him for a minute before returning her eyes to the road. "I miss it, you know."
"What?"
"I miss being part of a couple. It's been a long time since it's been just me, and I'm not sure who me really is anymore."
"That's understandable. Being in a relationship changes us, sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse. I imagine it can be liberating to find out who you really are, without a partner's influence." Giles spoke wistfully.
"I just don't know how to do it."
"Neither do I. I'm not sure who I am either. I've been a rebel, a watcher, a librarian, an ex-watcher, unemployed..."
"A gentleman of leisure." Willow corrected him with a smile.
"Yes, quite. My point being that it's not just a partner who changes us. Everything has an impact, but it can't change the essence of who you are. Only you can change that." Giles stole another glance at her, but her eyes were fixed on the road, a thoughtful expression on her face. "I didn't mean to depress you further."
"What? No you didn't. I hope you're right. I kinda like who I am, I don't want to change just 'cause Oz is gone."
"I like who you are too." Giles reached out a hand and brushed her fingers with his. She turned her head slightly and gave him an inquisitive look. A moment of understanding passed between them before she reluctantly turned back to the road.
"It's very sunny today." Willow offered, her eyes glued to the road.
"Isn't it?" Giles responded, his eyes locked on her.
Part 5
It was late afternoon by the time they entered Sunnydale. Willow pulled up outside Giles's apartment and shut off the engine.
"Come in for some tea?" Giles desperately hoped she'd say yes, but attempted to keep his voice neutral.
"Well...just for a minute." Willow smiled as she jumped out of the car.
"Excuse the mess. I was in a rush this morning." Giles gave her a guilty smile as he removed books and papers.
"I live with Buffy, remember. I'm used to mess." Willow scooped up a few books and placed them back in the bookshelf.
"You know where I keep them better than I do." Giles slipped into the kitchen to put the kettle on to boil.
"Yeah. Research. It's what Willow does best." Willow followed him into the kitchen.
"I don't know about that. You do everything well."
"Except magick." Willow grabbed the teapot.
"Magick is extremely difficult, Willow. You've done very well, after all, you've only been learning for a short while." Giles took the teapot from her.
"Whereas you..."
"Don't like to talk about my experiences with magick." Giles interrupted, as he warmed the pot.
"Okay. Observe me shutting up." Willow moved back into the living room.
"I'm sorry Willow, I didn't mean it that way. It's just that that is one chapter of my life that I wouldn't really like to revisit." Giles followed her out, teapot in hand.
"No, it's okay. We all have things we don't like talking about. For me it's...well, I don't like talking about it." Willow gave him a smile, and looked down at the teapot in his hands. He followed her gaze and laughed, retreating back into the kitchen to finish making tea.
"I have some biscuits, somewhere." Giles began hunting them down.
"It doesn't matter."
"Yes it does. You didn't have any breakfast." Giles found the biscuits with a 'ah ah!'.
"Okay. If you insist." Willow gave him her resigned face as he placed the biscuits on a plate.
"I do." Giles grabbed the tray and ushered Willow into the living room.
They both sat down on the couch. Giles reached for the milk, pouring it into both cups. Willow nearly burst out laughing as she observed his serious face. He glanced at her and caught her expression.
"What's so funny?" He enquired as he replaced the milk and picked up the teapot.
"You." Willow answered. His face fell. "I mean, your face when you pour the milk." She clarified.
"Oh. Well, I'll have you know, tea is a very important business. Some people put the milk in afterwards, which just spoils the flavour." Willow really did burst out laughing at this. Giles tried to look annoyed, but her laughter was infectious, and after a minute he was laughing too. Willow calmed down first, breathing deeply in an attempt to stop the giggles overtaking her again.
"Have a biscuit." Giles offered her the plate as his own laughter subsided.
"Thanks." Willow took a biscuit and had a tentative bite. "These are nice."
"Good. I'm glad you like them." Giles reached out to wipe a crumb off her chin. His fingers lingered on her face for a minute as they stared into each others eyes. Giles leaned forward, his other hand reaching up to cup her face. Their lips touched, gently at first, the pressure increasing as Willow leaned into the kiss. Willow's lips parted as his tongue traced the bottom one, and in a moment their tongues were dueling, fighting for dominance, a fight they were both enjoying. Reluctantly they parted, both needing air. Their foreheads remained touching, and Willow said the only thing she could think of.
"Wow."