***************************************

She watches him at first as she moves. She wants to see his expression. She raises herself up and then slowly moves back down. Her hair, slicked with sweat, sticks to her cheek, and she hisses as he pushes up to meet her. His eyes open then, and he grabs her waist, says her name.

The first time was slow. He seemed to want to learn her body, and he took it slow. This time she is in control, and she is urgent. He doesn't seem to mind. He says her name again, whispers it like a prayer, and she covers him like a blanket, bare chest to bare chest. He tastes her neck and she shudders with pleasure. She clenches herself around him and she smiles when he gasps.

"Anya, wait."

"No." It feels too good to wait, she thinks. But then he grabs her and rolls so that he is on top. She stares up at him, trying to catch her breath.

"Yes," he says, his voice low, and then he pulls away and spreads her legs slowly apart with his hands and his head dips down to taste her, and Anya tries hard not to cry out. It doesn't work. She hears her voice as if from far away, calling his name.

***************************************

Anya stays curled around him, listening to his heartbeat. She feels very, very drunk, and very, very happy. And really hungry, actually. Her stomach rumbles, loudly, and Giles puts his hand on her flat belly.

"Does fantastic sex make you hungry too, Giles?"

"Fantastic?" Giles says. Anya looks up at him and nods. He looks flustered and happy. He simply nods back. She smiles brightly.

"We're naked. Me and you. Naked! This is so much fun." Anya sits up. "Can I tell you something?"

"Of course."

"Well. wait. Why are you grinning at me like that?"

"Because you're lovely, and I never thought I'd ever be sitting here, or rather, lying here like this. With you."

Anya raises her eyebrows. "Never? You never thought about it?"

Giles bends his arm and puts it under his head as a pillow. "Of course not. That would be improper." His eyes are teasing.

"Come on," Anya teases back, waiting. Finally Giles sighs.

"Alright. There have been a few times, working along side you here in the shop, and you'd dress in those skimpy clothes."

"Skimpy? I always dress in the appropriate Southern California fashion."

"Anya, dear, your Halloween costume last year was not exactly subtle. I saw almost as much of that beautiful behind in those shorts as I do right now."

"Well, would you rather have me covered in tweed all the time?"

"What's wrong with tweed?"

They stare at each other, frowning, and then Giles starts laughing. He sits up and kisses Anya full on the lips.

"What am I going to do with you?" he says.

"What do you want to do with me?"

"Everything. I want to do everything."

"I think we did everything, Giles."

"Then we should do it again."

"Okay!"

***************************************

"Stop fidgeting."

"I'm not fidgeting," Anya says, fixing her knee-length skirt. Giles looks pointedly at her hands, and Anya sits on them.

"You look very nice," Giles comments, putting his hand on her shoulder.

"Thank you. I sold all my skimpy clothes and only packed tweed."

"Very funny."

When the door swings open, Giles slowly moves his hand away. Anya takes a deep breath and watches Xander, Buffy, and Dawn enter the store. She and Giles had cleared a space for them to sit amidst the broken rubble.

"Let the Scooby meeting begin. We have snacks," Xander announces, putting a vegetable tray on the table.

Xander shrugs at the look of confusion on Anya's face. "Buffy's been getting after me to eat healthy. She said she'd eat more if I ate less."

"I so did NOT say that, Xander!" Buffy shoots back. Anya smiles. Once upon a time, their banter would have made Anya feel jealous or insecure. Now, she just finds it oddly comforting. They'll have each other, she thinks, always.

Giles sits across from Anya. Their eyes meet and hold. He looks so handsome in his black shirt. She misses the glasses. She likes the shorter hair. She wants to kiss him some more. He seems to read her thoughts since her stare has been concentrating on his mouth, and he shakes his head slightly with a very knowing look in his eye. Anya tries to look innocent. She is still sitting on her hands.

"Well, I will cut to the chase, as you Americans say."

"Where does that saying come from, anyway?" Dawn says, frowning. "And what is the British equivalent?"

"I think the British equivalent is 'shh'," Xander says.

"Guys? Not allowing Giles to cut to the chase, here," Buffy interrupts, munching on a carrot. "Please. Continue, Giles."

"It is at times like this that I miss wearing my glasses so I could take them off and clean them while you all expound on God-knows-what," Giles sighs.

"Sorry."

"Sorry."

"Right. As you all have probably assumed, I need to go back to England. I have things that need to be done there, several loose ends, as it were, that I have to take care of. But I plan on dividing my time between here and England as much as I can. I will bring Willow back when the time is right."

Anya watches Buffy's face as she digests the news. She and Dawn exchange a long glance, and finally Buffy nods. "Is she going to be okay?"

"I don't know," Giles says. He struggles with words. "I don't know." His voice is sad. He looks around the Magic Box. "This store, as you can see, has sustained major damage and there is little to be done for now. It will remain closed temporarily until it is rebuilt and restocked."

Xander glances at Anya. "An, I'm so sorry. It should only take a few weeks to get it back to shape."

Anya smiles softly. "I know."

Buffy frowns. "Well, what are you going to do until then? You can stay at my house. You know that."

Anya's smile becomes bigger. "Thanks, but there will be no need for that. I' m going on a, well, a business trip of sorts. Yay!"

"Huh?" Dawn says.

Anya nods in excitement. "Giles, as co-owner of The Magic Box, suggested that I accompany him back to England. I'm going to do research, and find all sorts of new and exciting merchandise to stock... I haven't been to England in so long. Since the mid-nineteenth century, I'd say. And, wow, I'm talking fast aren't I? Actually, it was my idea. Giles is just going to have to tolerate me for a bit. So, that's that for me." Anya swallows and takes a deep breath, waiting for a reaction.

"That's awesome that you're going to come back and forth, Giles," Dawn says. "Keep my big sister in line."

Buffy shoots Dawn an amused look, then turns her attention on Giles and Anya. "When are you guys leaving? That's so cool. I've never been anywhere."

Giles looks at Anya. Anya looks at Xander.

"I need to get away," she says to Xander.

Xander nods. He seems to understand and he tries to smile. "So are you teleporting or flying?"

"Flying," Anya says. "I've never been on a plane. Like, ever. But I'll be back. And I'll bring British presents for all of you. So, what's this whole duty-free concept, and is it available at all airports?"

***************************************

Anya has been living out of a suitcase in the back of the Magic Box, so she is ready to go that day. She has all sorts of identification: California driver's license, social security card, and thankfully, a passport. The Scooby gang has left, and the Magic Box is silent. Maybe she will be back, maybe she won't, Anya thinks, looking around.

"Goodbye, loyal cash register," she says, patting the metal box tenderly.

"Anya." Giles warns. He is standing in the doorway, watching her.

"Sorry. I've never been away from Sunnydale before. I'm going to miss this place."

"Come here."

Anya walks over to Giles. He puts his hand behind her head and pulls her in for a long, lazy kiss.

"Can we do that on the plane? A lot?"

"If you insist," he answers, pushing her blonde hair behind her ear.

"We shouldn't lie," she says.

"I know."

"Is it bad? What we did? What we are doing, Giles?" she asks as she pulls on her jacket.

Giles puts his hands in his pockets. "I suppose, yes, in several hundred ways, it is wrong."

"Then why does it feel right?"

Giles shrugs, his eyes studying her face until she grows warm. "I don't know. But it does."

She smiles. "I like who I am when I'm with you, Giles. Even though you're officially much, much younger than me."

She links her arm through his, and the door swings shut behind them.

***************************************

He finds the envelope when he gets home. She must have slid it under the door sometime today. The letter is brief.

I don't know what's going to happen, but I know for now, you and I just can' t be. I think back on our wedding day, and how hurt I was, and then how I hurt you. There is so much pain there. But I want you to know that I will always think of you as a friend and as a person I once loved. We loved each other as much as a couple of high school or college-age kids could love. I think we both know on some level you need someone different from me. Basically, someone non-demony. I'm sorry for all the times I embarrassed you, or acted wrong. But I feel very grown up now, and you helped me get here. I think I'm starting to like who I am.

I don't know when I'm coming back, but I was hoping you could hold onto something for me. I won't be needing it.

Take care of Buffy and Dawn. They need you, and they love you.

Thank you for saving the world, and for saving all of us.

- Anya

Xander reaches in the envelope and draws out the amulet. He hadn't even noticed she wasn't wearing it earlier at the Magic Box. He holds it up and watches the stone catch the light, and he shakes his head and smiles a little.

The End

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