Title: Coming Home
Chapter 1: Tahitian Holiday
Summary: On vacation Giles meets someone intriguing.
Setting: One year post Chosen
Disclaimer: I do not own the Buffy characters, but dammit I am going to play with them!
Rating: R to NC 17
Feedback: Sure, if it ever gets posted.

The sun beat down on his bare back, alerting Giles to the distinctly Englishness of his skin. Bloody Hell, this is going to be painful tomorrow. He growled to himself. This enforced vacation was just bloody well marvelous, if he did say so himself. Whatever made his Slayer think that he needed one was beyond his more than capable mental abilities. But, he had assured her that he would by God have some fun on this vacation and he was bound and determined to do so if it killed him. Judging by the feel of his tender skin, that was a distinct possibility.

So engrossed was he in his thoughts, he failed to notice the young women noticing him. That is until he heard a definitive sound of appreciation in the form of a wolf whistle. He looked up from his supine position into the face of agelessness. His eyes widened at the black hair and even blacker eyes grinning at him. She looked to be about 30, which while still young, was respectable. He smiled up at her, “Can I help you miss? Or do I have smut on my back?” Fun was just around the corner, and if she wanted to test him, he was more than up to the task.

“Maybe, if you keep talkin like that, you can definitely help me.” The beautiful brunette almost leered at him, but kept a lady-like smile serenely pasted to her lips. “My name’s Kelly. My friend and I were just debating - ”

Giles sat up. “Wait, let me guess. You were debating how old I am, and whether or not I would be interested in joining you ladies?”

Kelly laughed. “Umm, no, actually not. We were debating on whether or not you were a librarian or a professor. I say librarian. We know how old you are, honey. It’s written in the lines on your face and the scars on your arms and hands.”

“Hmm, observant you girls are.” He thought he could use those abilities on the new Council. Heaven only knew how non-observant the new candidates were. Well. Heaven and himself. And why couldn’t he just let the job go for once and relax? He tossed the idea aside, thinking he’d make a mention of it later, when the notion struck him. “Well, Kelly, let me just say that you are both right and wrong about my profession. I was a librarian. Now, I am - let’s just say I am the CEO of a very old and quiet corporation.” He grinned. Then, “How did you determine I was a librarian and not a professor?”

Kelly indicated an interest in sitting with him, and he nodded his permission. “Well, I am a college professor. I teach 20th Century British Literature at the University of Florida. We professors have a tendency to mark up any text we are ingesting at any given moment. You know? Red ink for class ideas, black for personal observations? Anyway, you weren’t marking in your book, and you were caring for the book itself, almost inhaling its contents, but revering the form. If that makes any sense. So I figured, he loves books, not necessarily narrative, ergo, Librarian.”

Very good instincts this Kelly person had. Her strange eyes had him captivated though. “Again, I say very observant. I’m actually quite impressed.”

“Be impressed, but keep talkin. I don’t get much interaction with real British people, despite my profession. I like it.” She cocked her head to the side, really looking at him. “You have really nice eyes - ” She frowned. “Ahh. You know my name, but I don’t know yours.” She looked pointedly at him.

“Giles. Rupert Giles. And thank you.” He held his hand out to shake hers. Kelly laughed lightly as she took his hand.

“Is that like Bond, James Bond?”

Giles laughed self consciously. “No, quite far from it actually.”

Kelly moved to stand again. “That’s too bad, Rupert.” She started to walk back to her friend, who was waiting a few yards away. After a few steps she turned back, “It was lovely meeting you. I’m sure you’ll be seeing me again.” Giles noticed that she didn’t say she’ll be seeing him. He eyed her retreating form thoughtfully. She was quite beautiful, lithe, graceful, intelligent and just this side of flirtatious. He grinned. Oh yes. He would be seeing her again.

His back burned slightly, but the soft linen button up, that seemed to be the uniform on this particular island, didn’t irritate so much as make Giles aware that he spent too much time in the sun. He strode loosely up to the outdoor bar, asking but not expecting, if there was a good single malt there. He was pleasantly surprised when the bartender asked him if he wanted Glenlivet or Glenfiddich. He chose the latter and smiled appreciatively when the tumbler of amber liquid was set before him. “Run me a tab, I may enjoy a few more of these.” The bartender nodded, got his name and turned to serving the other patrons.

Giles turned away from the bar and looked over the young crowd. He didn’t feel out of place, exactly. His main companionship for the last eight years had been youngsters, so the youth of the crowd didn’t disturb him. What did disturb him was the abandon with which they relished life. He shook his head in wonder, wishing, not for the first time, that Buffy and the rest of the Scoobies - he couldn’t believe he’d taken to calling them that - could enjoy their lives with that same sense of abandon. He sighed into his glass, draining it quickly and signaling the bartender for another.

“Careful, you don’t want to end up drunk and sunburned, do ya?” The familiar voice caressed his ear despite being a few feet away. Giles turned toward it.

“Ah. Hello, again Kelly. How are you this evening?”

“Good, and gettin better every minute. If you can believe that.” She grinned slowly at him, her black eyes shining in the dim lights.

Giles observed her youthful glow and the shine of her onyx eyes. “Yes. Actually, I can believe it. Makes me wonder what is making you better, though.” Two could play the flirting game, he thought. It may have been a while - ok, a LONG while - but he could still turn on the charm.

“Well, seeing you of course, Rupert.” She closed the distance between then, sidling up to the bar to order a shot of tequila. “Cuervo, double. No salt, no lime.” His eyebrows shot up at her order. He was expecting her to order something frilly and fruity, but tequila was good too. “Now, Rupert, don’t go all shocked. I may look pretty and girly, but this chick has an edge.”

“I’m noticing, and am glad to hear it. You can call me Giles.” He lifted his glass to her when she turned with her tequila.

“Now, why would I want to do that, when Rupert is so much better. Rupert fits you somehow. Or maybe some derivation thereof?” She asked then swallowed her tequila. He grinned wickedly at her, thinking of the nickname he used in his youth. No way was he going to reveal that to her. “Ooh, now I have to guess, don’t I?”

“I’d really prefer you didn’t. It’s really rather embarrassing, if you must know.” He finished his scotch and placed his glass on the counter, shaking his head no at the bartender’s questioning glance.

He felt her hand settle on his arm, fingers wrapping themselves around his forearm. He looked at her questioningly. She blinked slowly at him. “Come dance with me, Ripper.” Her casual use of his youthful pseudonym had him snatching his arm out of her grasp.

His voice took on the harsh quality of supremely pissed off watcher. “How did you know that name?”

She looked genuinely dazed. “What name? Ripper?” At his abrupt nod, she shrugged. “I heard it floating around the air. I do that sometimes. Things float around the atmosphere around me. Things people don’t want others to know. You didn’t want me to know your nickname, and it just jumped into the air around me. Kinda like if you try not to think of something, it becomes the only thing you can think of?”

“Not buying it, Kelly. If that is your name.” The casual yet friendly voice had been replaced by that of Head Watcher. “I don’t know who sent you here, but I am telling you now to stay the hell away from me. You won’t like what I do to those that irritate me.” He moved abruptly away from her, walking out into the night away from the bar and away from her.

Kelly sighed audibly. “Dammit.” She took off after Giles, catching up to him outside the lights of the bar. “Rupert.” He kept walking, not responding to her. “Please, Rupert, let me explain.”

He stopped but didn’t turn towards her. “I am not in the mood to play games. This is my vacation, dammit, and as much as I hated to have to take it, I am bound and determined to enjoy it. So, if you are here to fuck with that, then I suggest you leave now. Or you genuinely will not like the consequences.” He turned to her fully. “What is it that you wish to explain, and you had better damn well tell the truth!”

“No one sent me to you. I am here on vacation, but I am so not like other women.” Her syntax reminded him of Buffy and he felt some of his anger fade. She noticed and took it as a sign that she could move closer to him. “I see and hear things. I pick up on secrets. I honestly didn’t think anything about your nickname. It seemed to suit you and so I used it. That is all I know. I could sense that you are very guarded, you have secrets, and are very adept at keeping them. I’ve never run across that before, and it intrigued me. Do you know what it is like to know everything about someone before you know them? You were, I don’t know. Refreshing. Able to keep your secrets secret.” She sighed loudly. “Can you understand this at all?”

He walked over to her. “I’ve worked a long time in less than ideal circumstances for keeping secrets. It made me good at it. But how could you pick up on “Ripper” but nothing else?”

The tension she didn’t know she had been holding released. “I think you wanted me to know about the nickname. Maybe to be flirty and dangerous? Does that make sense?”

Giles laughed at himself. “Yes. It does actually.” He rubbed her arms softly. “Ok. I apologize for jumping down on you at the bar. Do you want to go back?” She shook her head no, indicating that they keep walking along the beach. “So, can I call you Ripper? It seems to fit you better than Rupert or Giles.”

He gave it some thought. Shaking his head, he said, “No. It isn’t who I am anymore, though I will admit it was me for a long time. It may still be a part of me, but not all of who I am. So, just call me what you will.”

“Alright, Rupert it is then.” She nodded forcefully. “So. Tell me a little about yourself, since I can’t just suss it out of the air like I do for most others. What exactly is it that you do?”

He grinned down at her again. “Well, I hail from England”

“A big duh, here big guy,” she laughed. “You want to hear this or not?” He half mocked her. “Yes, do go on, English.”

“Anyway, I had a misspent youth, depending on which of my acquaintances you talk to, and Ripper was what they called me. I was very naughty.” His tone became conspiratory. “You know, drugs, too much punk music, illicit activities,” he said glossing over the demon summoning and magics. “Ripper just seemed to be adequate.” He cleared his throat. “However, I have matured a great deal, and I no longer do any of those things. Yes, I have become quite staid in my old age, I must say.”

“Oh, Rupert, if you’re old, then I’m crazy.”

“Jury’s still out you know.”

She smacked him lightly. “Ha ha, very funny. Seriously, though. Your what? 46? That ain’t old, just well settled.” Kelly grinned up at him, her black eyes crinkled at the corners mischievously.

“Good guess.” He raised his eyebrows at her. “And you’re what? 30? Which brings me to my next question. Why are you so damn interested in me?”

“I’m actually 35. And I already told you. You are a puzzle, and that is new, unexplored territory for me.” She tentatively took his hand in here. “You don’t mind if I explore it do you?”

He thought for a moment, weighing the options. Beautiful, mature woman, interested in him, in taking the time to figure him out. Granted, a little on the weird side, but he’s lived on the Hellmouth for over five years. Weird is a step down, definitely a situation worth the risk. He nodded, and closed his fingers around hers. “I don’t mind, Kelly. I don’t mind at all.”

They walked and talked for hours, each sentence, each minute making his attraction to her more prevalent. There was something mystical about her, and if Giles knew anything about himself, he knew that he could be smitten by the mystical. The way her jet eyes shone in the moonlight, almost reflecting it back to him, and the melodic quality of her voice, served to weave a spell of contentment around him.

When they found themselves at his hotel door, he found himself asking her inside, thinking she would say no, astonished when she smiled shyly and stepped past him to go inside. Taking a soda from the fridge in the room, he offered her a glass, and poured one for himself. They chatted a bit more, and he noticed himself getting lost in the black pools of her eyes. He had never seen eyes so much like onyx before. They mystified him.

“From whom did you inherit your eyes, Kelly? They are quite magnificent.” He found himself asking out of the blue. “Oh. I am sorry, that was rather impertinent of me. You don’t have to answer that.”

“No, it’s ok. My father was - oh god, you are so not going to believe this and I can’t believe I’m telling you this but you seem safe for some reason. My father was a half demon.” She closed her eyes. “I know. Kelly you’re crazy, demons don’t exist. You’re just nuts.”

“What kind of demon?” Her eyes shot wide open at his honest acceptance. She wasn’t sure what to make of him now, having got used to his seeming to be quite a normal individual.

“Umm, well. Mnemnoche.” She kept a guarded eye on Giles as he assimilated this information.

“Ahh. Benevolent, clairvoyant demons, descending from the race of ancient ones known for powers of great perception and infiltration.” He nodded thoughtfully. “Good genes you have there, I’d say.”

She raised a dubious brow at him. “Who the hell, and what the hell are you that you could know something like that?”

His turn to look a little sheepish. “Well, being of demon descent, I assume you’ve heard of the Slayer? You know, the one girl in all the world, and so on?”

“Yes. I have heard stories of the Slayers. Stories that turn my stomach, I can tell you that.” She frowned at him. “Why?”

“Hmmm, well, here’s the difficult part. I am the Slayer’s Watcher. I serve on the Council of Watchers as a guardian to the current Slayer, and I’ve lost you. I can tell.”

“No, I’m still here. So. You’re a watcher? A friend of the Slayer? Whose sole mission in life is to eradicate demons?” She laughed harshly. “Well, this vacation just keeps getting better and better!”

“Wait. There’s more.” He waited till she turned back to him. “I was really impressed with your powers of observation this morning. I was going to ask you if you wanted to join the Council. Well, maybe that is getting ahead of myself. Perhaps take a tour? See what it’s like these days. Of course, I’ll understand if you don’t wish to, but things are being run a little differently these days. Trust me.”

She looked thoughtful for a while. So long that he figured he had indeed lost her, when she looked back at him. “You said things are being run differently. How so? I mean, the Slayer is legendary. Why would I, a demon descendent, want to join her ranks? And why would she even want me to?”

Giles thought for a few minutes how best to explain the current situation to her. Kelly simply watched him with careful onyx eyes, waiting for him to speak. “Different. Things are definitely different. For one thing, Buffy,” he noticed her widened eyes and the lift at the corners of her mouth, “Yes, I am quite aware of how ridiculous her name is, but if you ever meet her, you will be in no doubt as to its appropriateness concerning her personality and how little bearing it holds as to her abilities as a Slayer.” He carried on. “Anyway, Buffy is no longer the only Slayer. She hasn’t been for about 6 years. The Master actually managed to kill her for a few minutes when she first arrived in Sunnydale, but she was rescued, brought back to life, and Kendra came. So the current situation is not unusual, except that instead of one other Slayer, there are quite possibly thousands.”

Kelly stood abruptly. “Umm, did you just say thousands? Of Slayers? Now?”

He smiled softly at her. “Yes, thousands, quite possibly, though we have only found about 100 of them.”

She sat back down, staggered by the news. “Oh my god. Thousands of Slayers.”

“Yes, well, moving on. The Watcher’s Council now works along side Buffy instead of from an ivory tower, and I, as Head Watcher, have ensured a definitive change in structure. I need a staff of capable, strong, intelligent, and compassionate people to find these girls and bring them to the Council so that they may be introduced to who and what they are, then allowed to make the choice of whether or not to train with us, or to return home with a guardian to help them cope and understand their new abilities.”

“Ok. That makes sense, but why would you have a demon descendent do this? Isn’t that against the code or something? I mean, the girl, sorry girls, do fight against demons and what not, right?”

“Generally speaking, yes, that would be the correct assumption. However, Buffy and her friends have learned that not all is black or white, there are distinctive shades of grey, and those shades are what makes the whole world possible. It’s been a hard lesson learned, fraught with loss and pain, but we have all learned the simple truth. Human does not always equal good, and demon doesn’t always equal evil. In point of fact, it was a vampire who helped us avert the apocalypse last year.”

“Ahh.”

“So. Would you be interested in taking a look at the new operation? Of meeting Buffy? And the other girls?”

Kelly stood up, and set her unfinished soda on the small table in the room. “Sure.” Her black eyes glanced about the room quickly. “But I would like to finish my vacation first, you know?” She started to move across the room.

“Oh most definitely.” He watched her walk across the small space. “I too am finding this forced vacation to be more than I bargained for, and am looking forward to seeing how it all turns out.”

“And how much longer do you have to enjoy your forced exile?” Her steps carried her closer to him, and he noticed her approach.

“Ten days. Ten tedious days of sun, sand, and surf.” He frowned thoughtfully at her. “Why?”

“What ever will you do in those ten days, Rupert?” She stopped in front of him, her eyes watching his face and the reaction she could see behind his eyes. “Such beautiful green eyes, Rupert.” She whispered.

He blinked slowly. “I suppose I’ll read a great deal, perhaps take in some sun, swim. Stroll the beach at night...” His voice trailed off at the look in her eyes. “Did you have something in mind?”

“Just a little something.” She closed her eyes and closed the distance between them, her soft pink lips touching his in a brief kiss. She thought simply to kiss him goodnight, to lightly brush her mouth across his, and be gone. It was what the good girls did. But she was unprepared for the intensity of him. The heat that emanated from him. One taste of his firm lips wasn’t enough, and she knew her mistake. She opened her eyes to meet his and whimpered so softly.

The high quiet sound was Giles’ undoing. His green eyes flared dangerously and he swooped back down to taste the soft lips that had just been on his. His mouth insistent, he coaxed hers to open and invaded the recess of her mouth, tasting the tequila from earlier and the soda. She was sweet, heady and intoxicating. And when her hands reached up to grip his arms, it took all his control to stop. He pulled back from her, green eyes meeting onyx ones. “A little something?” He repeated. “This isn’t little, not by a longshot, Kelly.” He set her away from him, putting on his control, one moment at a time.

“No, I guess it isn’t.” She shivered, and couldn’t say if it was from arousal, nervousness, or a chill. Her own body a mystery to her now. “I’m sorry, Rupert. I shouldn’t have done this. It was a mistake.” She stepped away from him and headed toward the door. “Thank you for the walk, the drink, and the invitation.” She nodded to him from the open door. “Goodnight.”

“Goodnight Kelly.” And she slipped out the door, the clip of her heels on the sidewalk receding as she left. Giles shut the door and locked it, settling down into one of the chairs around the table. This was not what he had expected to find on vacation. He was ill prepared for this sort of thing, having been single for over two years now. Kelly had somehow got under his defenses, and now, was under his skin. He unconsciously touched his lips, feeling her there still. The taste of her still on his tongue. “Damn.” He muttered into the night, rising to remove his clothes. “Damn, damn, damn.” He walked into the hotel bathroom, turning on the shower. “Cold water?” he asked himself, and looked down. “Yes, and damn again.”

Kelly entered her room, quietly, hoping not to wake her roommate. But as fate would have it, Diane was still up. “So. Did you, or didn’t you?” Diane had the smug look of one who knew her friend well.

“Umm, no.” Kelly said softly as she took off her shoes.

Diane’s eyes widened at this. “You didn’t? But I thought... I was sure that was why you were going out tonight. You wanted him, I could tell it this afternoon. What happened?”

“Yes. And I still want him, but I like him.”

“Ohhh. Not a vacation fling, then?” Kelly shook her head no and Diane simply nodded understanding. “Ok. So you like him. Are you going to hook up with him? Willing to change your plans for this summer? You know these things never work out well. You’ll figure it all out, get bored, and kick him to the curb. I know how that makes you feel.”

“No. I can’t figure him out. He is a mystery to me, completely. I even tried to figure him out, but he is well guarded. God, Diane, it was so exhilarating, not knowing. He fascinates me, and I think he will continue to fascinate me for a very long time.” She looked seriously at Diane. “He’s a Watcher.”

“What?!”

“And not just any Watcher, but Head Watcher, and The Slayer’s Watcher to boot.”

“Ok, so your ancestry won’t be a huge deal to him. I mean, at least he knows that demons and ghosts and goblins do exist. That is of the good right?”

“Yeah. But the Council of Watchers? The Slayer? This is something I never would have considered.”

Diane stared out the window for a while. “Well, at least you can be yourself, and he can be himself. There aren’t any secrets, and you don’t have to hide.” She turned fully to Kelly. “Go for it, Kell. He looked pretty damn appetizing from where I was sitting today, and you need someone like him, I think. So, yeah. Go for it. You never know what can happen till you try.”

“I kissed him, Diane.”

“And?”

“And it was like going home. Only no home I’ve ever known. But I so wanted to stay.”

“So, go tell him, Kell. You only come across that kind of thing once. I should know. I let mine get away, and look where I am now! On Tahiti, with my best friend, telling her to go after a man, instead of at home in bed with one of my own. Go. Get out of here.” She watched as Kelly struggled with the decision. Then stopped her from grabbing her shoes. “Kelly, just go. Barefooted will be good, I promise.” Kelly turned to her and hugged her fiercely.

“Thanks. I’ll see you in the morning.”

Giles was just stepping out of the shower, shivering and feeling mightily relaxed having brought himself off in order to rest properly, when the soft knock at the door caught his attention. “One second!” He called from the bathroom. Putting on pajama pants, he padded softly in his bare feet over to the door, peeking through the tiny hole. His breath caught when he saw Kelly standing there. He snatched the door opened.

“What is wrong?” He noticed the distress in her eyes, and the bare feet. “Is everything alright? Kelly?”

Her name from his lips lifted her gaze to his and she stepped closer to him, “I just wanted to see you again, right now.” He moved aside to let her into the room once again, and before he could shut the door properly, she was on him. Hands pushing against his bare chest, shoving him into the door, and her moist lips greedily falling on his. She pushed her body snugly up against his, trying to get as close to him as possible.

The desperation in her actions fueled Giles’ own desire, and her wrapped his strong arms around her waist, pulling her into him even tighter. Her groaned her name, and she whimpered his. He lifted her off the ground, walking suredly over to the bed, and putting a knee on the mattress, laid her body down, covering it with his own. Her hands stroked down his back, settling on his hips, pulling him into her. She whispered “Please. Rupert, please.”

He mouthed tiny moist kisses along her jaw, up into her hair, inhaling the scent of the ocean from their walk earlier. “Why?” He whispered into her hair, not expecting an answer. Surprised when she whispered back, “Because you feel like I’m home.” Her admission shocked him and he stared into her dark eyes, eyes that glowed with passion and comfort. His hand came up to frame her jaw, the callused pads of his fingers rough on her cheek and she turned into the caress. “You’re home to me Rupert. And it is the first time I’ve felt it. Please?”

“Yes.” He pulled away from her, just far enough to lift the hem of her shirt up so he could place warm kisses along her soft tan stomach. His tongue flicked out to taste her skin. He tasted the tang of the ocean air mixed with the salt of her passion, and it inflamed him further. He tugged at her shirt until she lifted up and helped him remove it. His hands curled strongly around her ribs, gliding down over her curves to the waistband of her skirt, dipping under it to run the pads of his fingers over the smooth skin there. His mouth found her breast, opening to taste the hardening bud there, which puckered even further at his ministrations. She arched off the bed, inhaling sharply at the wet contact.

Her hands found the waist of his pajamas and she clawed frantically at them, pushing them down over his hips and thighs. She let her hands roam over the newly exposed, clean skin, nails digging slightly into the skin, leaving tiny fissions of fire on his skin. Giles hissed at the pleasure/pain of her fingernails, and he came up to kiss her mouth thoroughly. He felt her hands reaching for his erection, and his sharp intake of breath let her know how he liked it. She wrapped her delicate fist around him, tugging gently. “Rupert, please, I need this.” She sighed into his mouth.

He reacted instantly, reaching down her legs for the hem of her skirt, lifting it over her waist, and stepping out of his own pajama bottoms. He reached into the waist of her panties, pulling them sharply down over her legs, and tossing them on the floor. He kissed the insides of her thighs, working his way back up to her mouth, then settled between her legs. Kissing her softly, he murmured “home” against her lips and slid slowly into her warmth. “So warm, so soft.”

He made love to her slowly, at first, drinking in her sighs and sounds. Her body was welcoming him with soft shivers, and he felt her legs wrap around his hips, pulling him into her more deeply. “More.” she whimpered, “Please.” And he obliged her, increasing the speed and intensity of his movements, driving into her harder as his arousal became too much to bear.

He could feel his orgasm sneaking up on him, and he reached one hand down between their bodies, rubbing the tiny spot of sensitive flesh between her legs. He felt her jerk with the touch, and rubbed her again, bringing her to a keening orgasm first. As she came, and he felt the ripples of her muscles fluttering around him, he shouted his orgasm as well, driving into her one last time, letting her body milk his. As his body spilled his seed, he collapsed onto her, immediately rolling to his back, still inside her, bringing her over to rest on top of him.

She leaned down to kiss him, her hand cradling his jaw, thumb rubbing over his bottom lip. “Home. And I don’t know why.” She kissed him again, and slid off of him to rest at his side. Her black eyes roamed over the side of his face, looking for some clue as to why she felt the way she did. He turned his head, meeting her gaze with eyes of green. His hand found its way into her raven waves, and he seemed almost to pet her. She grinned, and he smiled at her. “I don’t know. But it was bloody marvelous.” His eyes closed briefly, and he inhaled the scent of their sex, liking it immediately. He looked at her again.

“So. What do you want to do now?”

She burst out laughing. “I don’t know, should we maybe talk some now? Or do you want to sleep?”

“Hmm, sleep? No.” He continued to look at her, sensing she had something in mind.

“Well, if you aren’t tired....?” He shook his head. “Then I could eat.” It was his turn to laugh outright.

“Eat it is then.” He lifted himself off the bed, reaching for his pajama bottoms and putting them back on. “I’ll see what I can gather up, and we can chat and eat.” He nodded, “Yes, that sounds like a fine plan.” He handed her her shirt and panties. “You might need these, don’t you think?”

“Yeah. Thanks, Rupert.” She got dressed again, and ran her fingers through her ravaged hair, futilely trying to restore some order to it. He reached a hand out to her arm to forestall her. “Don’t. It looks good like that. You look good like that.”

“Like what?”

“Like mine.”