Title: Rainfall
Author: Sweetness
Rating PG – some swearing in it.
Pairing: Buffy & Giles
Disclaimer: It all belongs to Joss Whedon and Co.
Distribution: BTVS Inspiration, otherwise ask.
Notes: Set after BTVS Season 7.
In response to BTVSInspiration Challenge #28: A romantic scene in
which two people realize their attraction/feelings for each other
while trapped out in the rain.
Feedback: Yes Please


Part One:

Buffy had not wanted to go to England, she was happy in
beautiful, sunny Rome, sure the city was crowded in a way that
Sunnydale had never been. But overall both her and Dawn were happy in
the sun. She would patrol cemeteries at night and train the few
Slayers that had come with her but overall the days and nights were
free for her to do what she wanted. She had never had this level of
freedom in her life, before she had been a Slayer; she had been too
young to go out at night. Now she could go to a swinging nightclub if
she wanted, or take in a show. Usually she didn't, she was relishing
the fact that she could stay in and help Dawn with her homework. Not
that Dawn normally needed Buffy's help; she merely let Buffy think
she did. However, when Giles called and said that there was a serious
situation that required her, she knew that she had to go. After all,
Giles and her were rebuilding the Watcher's Council, along with
Xander and Willow. But everyone knew that the show was really being
run by Buffy. But if Giles needed her, she had to go. So she made
arrangements with the girls who had come to Rome to learn under her,
to keep an eye on Dawn so that Dawn wouldn't have to miss any school,
and she caught a flight to England.

Part Two:

Giles had hated to call Buffy away from Rome, he knew that
for once in her life, his Slayer was extremely happy, and living the
life she had always deserved to have – a life in the sun. Even though
there were numerous Slayers all over, he still continued to think of
Buffy as his Slayer. He knew that he shouldn't, after all she was a
woman now, and no longer needed him. His involvement with Robin to
destroy Spike had shown him how much he had misjudged her and her
abilities to lead the group. After all Spike had proved the one to
destroy the Hellmouth. From what he had heard from L.A., and from
Andrew, Spike was apparently still alive. However the British vampire
had personally informed Giles to not tell Buffy about his
resurrection. He didn't want her coming to him out of some misguided
sense of loyalty or love. As far as Spike was concerned, Buffy was
better off thinking he had died and had remained that way. However
Giles knew it was only a matter of time before the news would reach
Buffy. In fact, he was slightly worried what she would say and do if
she were to find out that almost everyone else knew besides her that
her lover had been resurrected. But he had to respect Spike's wishes,
and he could understand why the blond vampire had not wanted her to
know. They had both moved on and whether they liked it or not, what
they had had was over and done with. Perhaps, he had seriously
miscalculated the vampire, especially since Spike seemed to realize
that Buffy deserved a normal relationship with a human and not some
immortal vampire that was and would always remain her enemy. Even
Angel seemed to realize that. Giles had been devastated when he had
received the news of Cordelia's death, and then on top of that he
found out that Spike was still alive. Things were definitely not
going good in L.A., however there were more important matters in
London, which Giles was more concerned about. There was an elder
vampire, running amok in the town of London. Normally it wouldn't
have been a problem, however Giles knew that the only Slayer who
could take this vampire down would be an experienced Slayer. The only
two experienced Slayers he had were Faith and Buffy. He normally
would have called Faith to do the job, however she still need to
build up more experience, after all being in prison for three years
had really slowed her down. Furthermore, the brunette Slayer was in
New Orleans, so Giles had been left with no one else but Buffy. He
had called her, hating himself for disturbing her, but she had agreed
to come. And it had warmed his heart. He hadn't seen her in so long,
even the sound of her voice was like the sound of heaven to him.

Part Three:
Buffy's flight arrived in Heathrow without any delays or
problems; Andrew met her at the airport with one of the new Slayers.
Buffy had a hard time dealing with some of the Slayers who didn't see
her on a regular basis. They all seemed to hero worship her, and she
was uncomfortable with it. This particular girl was about fifteen and
she looked at Buffy like she was some movie star. The ride to Giles'
place just outside of London was quite uncomfortable for Buffy. She
didn't want to be rude to the girl, but at the same time, it was hard
hearing about all your exploits as if it had been on television for
the last seven years. When the car finally pulled up outside of the
estate that Giles had bought to house the Slayers and the new
Watcher's Council, Buffy breathed a sigh of relief. She smiled at the
girl and turned to leave.
"Hey Buffy, do you think I can train with you?"
"Well I don't know, depends on how busy I am with Giles."
"Oh ok." Joan's face fell with disappointment.
"I'm sure I might have an hour or so to spare later this evening
though." Buffy said, not wanting to disappoint the girl too much.
"Oh that would be great."
Buffy turned and followed Andrew into the house. The house
was still being moved in, Giles was spending his time between this
place and his flat in London. Buffy smiled as she found Giles
overseeing some of the Slayers training, at least this time he didn't
have to be the target like he had when he had trained her. She smiled
in fond remembrance of the time the two of them had spent training in
the library of Sunnydale High School and then in the Magic Box. She
knew that he had always hated it, and that he had always liked it
when she was training with Angel. She was surprised to see Kennedy
actually training the girls. The last she had heard was that Kennedy
and Willow were in South America, so she was surprised to see Kennedy
here in England. She was hoping that it meant that the two had broken
up, and not because the problem that Giles had called her to England
for was so serious that they would need the red-haired witch. It was
bad that she was hoping that her best friend had been dumped again or
had dumped the other woman, but she didn't think she could deal with
an evil so bad that it required someone as powerful as Willow was.
Giles turned around when Buffy cleared her throat.
"Hey Giles."
"Buffy." Giles hugged Buffy.
"So, uh, what's Kennedy doing here?" Buffy giving her former Watcher
a lopsided grin.
"Well, err…" Giles looked towards Kennedy and then back at Buffy.
"Come on Giles, not as if I am asking for state secrets."
"Well, it seems as if Kennedy couldn't cope with Willow's magickal
abilities, after all. It's quite sad. Willow decided to head out to
New Orleans and see if Faith and Robin needed her help. She's either
sent most of the Slayers that her and Kennedy found here or to Faith
already."
"Hmm… I can't quite picture Faith and Wills getting along that good."
"No, she said that she would rather make sure that Angel didn't lose
his soul again, but didn't want to go to L.A. without your
permission."
"Why would she need my permission?" Buffy looked at Giles slightly
confused.
"Well Buffy, quite frankly it's because you are in charge of the
Slayers and the Council now, whether you like it or not. And well you
made it quite clear that you don't quite trust Angel and his team now
that they are working for Wolfram and Hart."
"Yeah, but if Wills is making sure that everything is okay in L.A.
and keeping Angel on track, then what's the deal?"
"Buffy, you have to understand that Willow still feels like she needs
guidance from us. Especially after the events when Tara died. She's
getting stronger and more confident, but she's not ready to go it on
her own."
"Ah… so in other words, she still wants approval and to make sure
that we still trust her."
"Well, yes." Giles looked uncomfortable.
"Well I guess I should call her and let her know. I mean I trust
Willow with my life, I know that she went dark and all, but that's
all past us. She's one of the most powerful people we have on this
new Council and if she wants to make sure that Angel and his team
aren't playing on the side of evil, then I am all for it."
"Good, I think we should contact her this evening after patrolling."
"Yeah sure. So what's the deal with this vamp that you need me for?"
"I think it might be best if we go to my office."
"Sure."
The two left the training room, with Buffy not really aware
of the awe that she had inspired in the girls that were training with
Kennedy. As soon as Buffy and Giles left the room, all training
stopped as the all of the girls started pestering Kennedy with
questions about Buffy, the longest living Slayer in the history of
Slayers. Kennedy laughed as she fielded questions from the girls, she
told them all that she knew, some of it was from experience of
working with Buffy, some it was from stories that she had picked up
from Willow and the others. Some of the Slayers seemed just as
interested in Buffy as they were in her friends. One of the girls
made the comment about how stuffy and stupid the previous Council
must have been if it had forbidden Slayers from working with their
friends, after all how else did Buffy manage to survive as long as
she did. With the new Council under Buffy and Giles, none of the
Slayers ever went out on their own; they always went out in teams.
The only two Slayers who would ever dare to break the direct order of
patrolling in teams were Faith and Buffy. Even Kennedy didn't dare
patrolling on her own anymore, she had in South America when she had
been with Willow, but even then Willow would always cast a protection
spell on her. She sometimes missed the redhead but she felt that she
was doing better work in England than she could ever have done in
South America.

Part Four:

Buffy and Giles were sitting in his office on two couches
facing one another drinking tea and eating some cookies. Buffy always
could tell if it was very serious when Giles broke out the tea and
cookies, especially since it was never her thing, but it always
seemed to comfort Giles so she went along with it.
"So spill Giles." Buffy said looking Giles in the eyes.
"Well we don't have much information on this vampire, all we know is
that he is an elder vampire with considerable power. He's already
wounded three of the Slayers, and killed two others. "
"Ouch."
"Ouch, indeed."
"So you want me to deal with the situation and take this vamp out
before he can do any more damage?"
"Yes, I would have called on Faith but I don't think she has as much
experience as you do."
"Nah, that's ok. I am glad you called me."
"Are you?" Giles looked at the youthful woman in front of him, the
stay in Rome seemed to have done her good.
"Yeah, I think I should have more of a presence here, these Slayers
need to know who Buffy Summers is, whether I like it or not."
"And what about your father?"
"Well Dawnie and I found him. He gave us money and is paying for
Dawnie's schooling but other than that he's more involved in his new
baby." Buffy grimaced.
"That bad?"
"Yeah, seems like Dad wanted a son more than he wanted a daughter,
much less two. He sees Dawnie more than he sees me, but it kinda hard
for me."
"Why?"
"Because after having you in my life for so long Giles, I can see how
weak he is."
"I see, so you still see me as a father-figure?" Giles looked
crestfallen.
"Nah, Giles, I see you as Giles. You did your best for us kids, but I
am a big girl now. You just showed me what a real man is."
"I had hoped to do better for you kids, as you put it." Giles sighed
and drank more of his tea.
"What do you mean?" Buffy was concerned.
"It's just… oh never mind." Giles looked out the window.
"No, spill Giles."
"Cordelia's dead."
"What?"
"She died a few weeks ago, apparently she had been in a coma for
almost a year, after giving birth to some deity that wanted to
control earth."
"Angel must have taken it badly."
"From what Wesley told me, the two had become very close until she
was under the control of this deity."
"Shit. I wish things could have gone better for him and her. I don't
think there's anyone else who could have made him happier."
"I am quite surprised."
"What you think I would still be mad if he moved on? Giles, I moved
on with Riley and then with Spike. I think Angel deserved that
chance, don't you?"
"Yes, I just didn't think you would see it that way."
"Dying kinda changes you." Buffy smiled.
"I suppose it does."
"Plus living in Rome and having so much spare time on my hands I came
to the realization that Angel and I can't make each other happy,
maybe we're soul mates, maybe we're not. But no matter what we are,
we can't be together. And if Cordelia made him happy, then he
deserved that. As long as he didn't become a soulless demon that we
would have to kill."
"Well apparently…"
"Don't tell me that he did."
"Well remember when Willow had to leave suddenly?"
"Yeah."
"Well apparently Angel and his team thought it would be best to
remove Angel's soul to question Angelus about some events that were
happening."
"You've have to be joking."
"No but Willow told them that if anyone ever thought of removing
Angel's soul from him again, that they should consult an expert on
it, and contact her immediately."
"So she restored his soul again."
"Yes."
"And she thinks we still don't trust her not to abuse her magick."
"Well she did hurt you and Xander the most."
"What about you?"
"And myself."
"Anyhow Giles, what's the deal with this vampire."
Giles told her of the plan that he had concocted after
speaking to her the previous day. Buffy felt that it was the best
course of action to take. And after she spent some time training one
on one with Joan for a few hours, giving the younger Slayer a tale
that she would later spread amongst all of the other Slayers, even
Kennedy was impressed, after all she had never trained with Buffy one
on one, and was slightly jealous of the younger girl. At the dinner,
Buffy also made the announcement that she was thinking of moving her
home base from Rome to London, so help rebuild the Watcher's Council.

Part Five:

It was raining as Giles and Buffy patrolled the cemetery that
Giles was convinced housed the elder vampire that Buffy was hunting
for. Sure enough after an hour of patrol, Buffy found the lair of the
elder vampire, however it was empty. Giles and Buffy decided to wait
it out, it would be easier to slay the vampire in the cemetery rather
than trying to find him outside of the cemetery. It started to rain
harder which made it uncomfortable for the two. They were both lost
in their thoughts as they waited for the vampire to make an
appearance.
Giles couldn't believe how much Buffy had grown since he had
last seen her. He kept casting side-glances at her as they stood
under the same umbrella. When they had parted company, Buffy had been
a bitter young woman still. Now she stood there, once again confident
in who and what she was. She hadn't been this confident since before
Glory, Giles thought. She had become more beautiful with her time in
Rome; her skin glowed with the sun. Obviously life in Rome had been
good for her, she had even put on a little bit of weight, which she
had lost so many years ago from the frantic pace being the Slayer on
the Hellmouth had caused. He had expected the meeting with her father
to have had a harder impact on her, but she seemed to have genuinely
brushed it off. He looked at her as she surveyed the cemetery grounds
on the watch for the elder vampire, and he realized that he had
stopped looking at her as a surrogate daughter many years ago.
Cordelia, Willow, and Xander still remained as surrogate children to
him, even Dawn was. But not Buffy. When had he started looking at her
as a woman and not as a child, much less a surrogate child? He
thought back and realized that it must have been the same year that
Dawn had come into their lives, the same year that Glory came into
their lives as well. She had handled the news that Dawn wasn't really
her sister, the loss of her mother, and the loss of her hope
admirably. She had given up but once again Willow had helped her to
find herself. And when she had leapt from the platform, Giles
realized, he mourned her not as a daughter but as a woman, and as an
equal.
Buffy noticed Giles looking at her every now and then and was
worried. How did one tell their Watcher that they didn't want them to
be their Watcher anymore? Sure she could do it in a fit of anger, but
they both knew she would need him. But she needed him more as a man
than as a Watcher. When had she started thinking of Giles as a man,
and not as a Watcher? Perhaps when Faith had first met him and had
been startled by his good looks, she had noticed that Giles was not
just a father figure, but she was too wrapped up in Angel to really
notice. Perhaps it had been during the last days in Sunnydale,
despite his decision about Spike and her reaction, he had supported
her like no one else had, well expect Spike. He had been willing to
die for her, despite her anger at his betrayal of her. Furthermore,
he had bowed down to her decisions to rebuild the Council, even
though she knew he had wanted to retire to the English countryside.
She realized that it had been her time in Rome that had done it for
her. She had missed him, and she had missed him not as a father
figure or as a Watcher, but as a man that she had fallen in love
with. And she knew that he would never see her as anything but a
daughter. She sighed.
Before either could say anything to one another the vampire
that they had been waiting for appeared before them. It was even
uglier than the Master, and that was saying a lot.
"Slayer." It hissed at her.
"Yeah that would be me." Buffy said as she pulled out her stake."
"Prepare to die."
"Funny thing, I was going to say that to you."
The two started to battle, Giles stood by the gravestone the
two had been leaning against, he was confident that Buffy would win
this battle and did not want to get in her way. Sure enough after
what seemed like a lifetime to him, but was only really ten minutes,
she staked the vampire. She moved back to where Giles was standing
and rubbed her arm.
"Sure it was uglier than The Master, but no where near the challenge
he was." Buffy grinned.
"Buffy…"
"Yes Giles." Buffy's eyes shone with her love for him.
"Please never speak of that vampire to me again."
"Why?"
"Because I…"
"Giles…" Buffy reached up and pulled Giles face down towards
hers, "Just shut up," she said and then kissed him. She was surprised
when he returned the kiss.
"Buffy…"
"Please, if you're gonna say that shouldn't have happened, I don't
wanna hear it."
"But Buffy."
"No, buts. I wanted to do that since I saw you in the training room
earlier today. I know you don't feel the same way for me. But I just
had to kiss you."
"Buffy, there's no way that you can feel for me what I feel for you."
"And what's that?" Buffy whispered, almost afraid of what he would
say.
"I love you Buffy."
"Yeah as a daughter." Buffy sighed in disappointment.
"I don't know how Hank Summers kisses his daughters, but if it was
anything like the way I just kissed you Buffy Summers, then I can see
why Joyce divorced him."
"What?"
"I wouldn't kiss my daughter like that, or like this." Giles pulled
her towards him and kissed her more passionately.
"Oh." Buffy sighed passionately after Giles had released her.
"Yes, oh."
"You know, Giles, it's not as one sided as you think."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"I think I am done baking."
"What?" Giles asked confusedly.
"Never mind, just something I told Angel about not being ready."
"What?"
"Giles, I love you." Buffy said and pulled him down for another kiss.
"As much as this is enjoyable, I think we should go somewhere warm
and dry."
"Sure. Let's go back to your apartment."
"Why not the estate?"
"Too many people there for what I have in mind for you." Buffy
grinned at him wickedly.
"The world is certainly doomed." Giles laughed as the two left the
cemetery arm in arm.

** END **