Title: Through Everything
Author: Michelle
Email: mrsdrake@sff.net
Rating: PG
Pairing: Buffy/Giles
Summary: Jonathon helps Buffy see what’s always been right in front of her.
Spoilers: Set after ‘Superstar’ in season four.
Disclaimer: These are not my characters. They belong to Joss, Twentieth Century Fox, UPN, WB & Mutant Enemy. This is purely for fun.
Thanks to willowschild and marsterslady for the quick betas.
Author’s note: This is written for the BtVS Challenge Ficathon at http://magical-worlds.us/
My Assignment: Name: shelley Email: shelchrisbarnard@earthlink.net Max rating will accept: NC17
Challenge: In "Superstar," Buffy is feeling very unsure of her relationship with Riley. The only thing that makes her get over this is Jonathan telling her that they have "something very special." What if Jonathan had used his superpowers for good, and told Buffy that she could do a lot better? That there was someone in her life who understood her and loved her far more than Riley ever could. Riley-bashing is not only allowed, but even encouraged!
You're free to take this idea in a B/X, B/W, B/G (my personal fav), or even B/Jon direction, but NOT B/S or B/A. I'm sorry, but I just don't enjoy stories with human/vampire sex.
* * * * * *
“There was something. I should've picked up on it. I should've just . . .” Riley said.
It took a moment for realization to strike. “You slept with her.”
“I slept with you.”
* * * * * *
Buffy thought about her conversation with Jonathon. "It's all Faith's fault,” she said. “She's like poison. No worse, she's like acid that eats through everything. Maybe she's a bomb. The point is everything was going along great with Riley and then she comes along and messes everything up.”
"Buffy you know what I think? I don't think this about you being angry with Faith, I think you're angry with Riley. I mean you have this amazing connection with him, and then at the one moment when it matters the most, he looks into your eyes, and he doesn't even see that it's not you looking back at him."
"There's no way he could know. I mean you don't just look at someone and say 'Hey that's not your body, get out of that body with your hands up!'"
"No, but I’m sure there were signs. If he couldn’t see that it wasn’t you, then you don’t know each other as well as you thought,” Jonathon said. “You know, Buffy. You could do a lot better than him anyway.”
“Really?” Buffy asked.
“Really. There is someone else in your life, someone who cares for you, someone who understands you completely. He’s been there for you through everything.”
“Who?” she asked.
Jonathon raised an eyebrow. “Do you really need to ask?”
“You don’t mean Giles, do you?”
Jonathon nodded. “He’s been waiting for you, Buffy, and he loves you very much.”
“But I’ve hurt him so much. I’ve done things. . . He can’t want me after everything I’ve done."
"He does. It's not going to be easy Buffy, but you guys are very special together. That's worth a little hard work."
"But I'm not even sure if I know how to talk to him anymore. How do I approach him?"
"If you really want it, you can make anything happen."
* * * * * *
Even though things were back to normal, she could still remember her talk with Jonathon. She couldn’t remember much else, but that conversation had stayed with her. It was like it was just Jonathon and not Super Jonathon that had given her advice. Now she stood outside Giles’ door, debating whether she should knock or just open the door.
The decision was made for her as the door swung in before she could touch it. Giles stood in the doorway, startled.
“Buffy, I wasn’t expecting you.”
“Is this a bad time?” Buffy asked. “I can come back later.”
“I was just going to check my mail. It can wait. Please come in.” He followed Buffy inside and shut the door. “Has something happened?”
“Yes— I mean no. Riley—” She spun around and looked at him. “Giles, when Faith was in my body, did you know? Could you tell it wasn’t me?” She paused a moment. “Maybe you didn’t know it was Faith, but did you know I wasn’t myself?”
“I could tell that something wasn’t right. You were acting quite odd. Buffy, what’s really troubling you?”
“Riley. He. . . he slept with Faith when she was in my body, and he doesn’t think it’s a problem. He thinks I should forget it and move on. Giles, he couldn’t tell that it wasn’t me. How could he not know?”
“Maybe he didn’t want to.” He took a deep breath. “You don’t need someone like him. In fact, you could do a lot better.”
“Like you?” she asked.
Giles sucked in a breath and gestured to the couch. “We should sit.”
“You didn’t answer my question,” Buffy said as she walked over and sat on the couch.
“I thought it would be easier to discuss this if we’re sitting.” He sat at the opposite end of the couch.
“What’s to discuss? I’ve been told by two different people that I should dump Riley. I’ve even been told that someone has been waiting for me for a long time.”
“Buffy, I never said you should dump Riley.”
“No, but it was implied.” She scooted closer to him. “Now, I want you to answer my question. When you said I could do a lot better than Riley, who did you mean? Is it you?”
Giles stared at her for a while before saying, “Yes.” He stood to move away from the couch. “Buffy, I know what you must think, and I’m sorry. I never wanted you to know.”
Buffy grabbed his arm and forced him to sit down next to her. “Why do men always assume they know what I’m thinking? Whatever you think I’m thinking, you’re wrong.” She scooted even closer to him. “Now, listen to me. I know I’ve done some pretty stupid things, and I’ve hurt you more than once, but don’t you ever think that I don’t care about you.”
“Buffy, you don’t have to let me down easy.”
“Okay, if you really want it, you can make anything happen.” she muttered under her breath. “Words have never been my strong point. Let’s try something different.”
“Buffy, what are you. . .?”
Buffy grabbed Giles’ head in her hands and pressed her lips to his in a passionate kiss. She put all her emotions, all her pent up frustration, into the kiss. Soon, she felt Giles put his arm around her and pull her tight against him, causing her to moan.
Then, abruptly, Giles pushed away. “Buffy, we can’t do this. You’re confused and don’t know what you want.”
“I know exactly what I want, but if it would make you feel better, we can take things slow. I know you probably have some proper way of doing the dating thing. You’ll want to court me or something like that.”
“So, you really are serious about this?”
“Yes, I am.”
“Then you would allow me to take you on a proper date this evening?”
“Yes, I would love to. Where are we going?”
“That, my dear, is a surprise.” He took her hand in his and lightly kissed the back of it. “Now, you should go and get ready. I’ll pick you up at six.”
“That doesn’t give me much time.” She gave him a peck on the cheek before standing and walking to the door. “I gotta go if I’m going to be ready.”
Giles joined her at the door as she was leaving. “Oh, Buffy. Be sure to stop and say ‘Thank you’ to Jonathon on your way.”
*******
The End
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