As the Music Ended 

"Don't you have anything stronger than champagne?" Giles asked
wearily.

"Uhm..." the young hapless bartender's brow furrowed. "I dunno...
Is uhm... brut stronger than extra dry?"

Giles sighed heavily and shook his head impatiently. "Just give me
a bottle.. of anything."

"I'm sorry, sir. I can't do that."

Giles narrowed his eyes and leaned in. "I don't think you understand,"
he ground out.

The young man blanched but shook his head. "I-"

"It's okay, Jimmy," Xander said appearing at Giles' side. "Go ahead."

"I thought that was against the rules," Jimmy said as he handed
Giles one of the bottles of champagne.

"It is... if anyone in my family asks... and they will," he added with a
sigh. "Don't give it to them."

Jimmy nodded. Xander put his hand on Giles' shoulder. "Come on,
let's sit down."

They made their way to one of the empty reception tables and Giles
sat down heavily. "Don't you have other responsibilities? I don't need
a nursemaid, you know."

"All evidence to the contrary aside," Xander said with a meaningful
look at the bottle and then smiled to lighten the mood. "It's nice to
get a break from it.. and after all you stood up with me, least I can
do is sit with you."

Giles smiled weakly and nodded. "I promise to behave."

"Good, cause my I figured all the embarrassing drunks would be
blood relatives."

Giles smiled ruefully and looked at the loud table where Xander's
Uncle Rory was currently regaling a people with his latest bawdy
tale.

"I just," Xander started fitfully and then frowned. "I just wanted to
thank you... for everything.. and.. uhm.. for being here."

"I wouldn't have missed it for the world," Giles said sincerely.

"Thanks. I know how hard this must be -"

Giles shook his head and poured himself some champagne. "You
have no idea."

"I think I might."

Giles arched his eyebrow in question.

Xander shrugged. "I've loved Willow my whole life, Giles. I know
it's not the same, but.. believe me... I think I understand."

Giles sighed and nodded, his eyes unerringly finding in her among
the crowd. "If only she didn't look so damn beautiful," he mumbled
and took a deep drink from his glass.

Xander followed his gaze. "Why don't you talk to her?"

"No."

"Giles, it's been-"

"No," Giles said too loudly and then lowered his voice. "No.. I...
I don't think there's much left to say."

"You could tell her you love her."

"Please, Xander.. you know that-"

"Yeah," Xander said tiredly. "I know."

Giles nodded, looking down into his drink. "You should..
uhm.. enjoy yourself." He straightened and forced a smile
to his face. "Today's a wonderful day. I'm..I'm very happy
for you... both you... sincerely."

"Thank you," Xander said with a genuine smile. He considered
pressing the issue, but thought better of it. Giles had been
about as much fun as a mouth full of dirt since Willow had left and
judging from his dark expression, now was not the time to try
and talk some sense into him. "Right, well.. I guess I should get
back to it."

Xander stood and looked around the bustling reception. He really
did have obligations, but he hated to leave Giles alone. Luckily,
he caught Buffy's eye across the room and she moved to join them.

"How are my two favorite guys?" she asked brightly. On cue, they
both sighed heavily. "Right.. you two are just a few monkeys short of
a barrel full, huh?"

"I've gotta get back," Xander said with a toss of his head. "But..."

Buffy caught the gist. "Right." She smiled at Xander in understanding.

"Well, back into the lion's den," he quipped as he made his way back
to his family's table to save Anya.

Buffy watched him go and then sat down next to Giles. "You look very
handsome."

He smiled wanly. "Thank you.. and you don't have to do this."

"Do what? Sit with the best looking guy here?"

"Buffy," Giles said tiredly and then mustered a smile for her. "I'm
fine... Really," he added distractedly as his attention was drawn
away. His eyes darkened and his jaw set before he caught his
lapse and controlled his emotions.

Buffy turned and followed his gaze and sighed in understanding.
Willow was clearly being asked to dance by a handsome man she
didn't recognize. Willow was politely turning him down, but judging
from his smile he was putting the charm in overdrive. With an
acquiescent smile, Willow nodded and took the proffered hand.

Buffy looked back quickly to see Giles' reaction, but he was far
too lost in his own dour thoughts that lurked somewhere at the bottom
of his glass.

Buffy frowned. This wasn't right. It wasn't right two years ago and
sure as heck wasn't right now. They loved each other... all they needed
was a little nudge... Well, maybe a big nudge... a slayer size nudge.

"Giles," she said abruptly standing up. "I want to dance."

"Go ahead."

"No," she said pulling on his arm. "I want to dance with you."

"Really Buffy, I'm not in the mood for dancing."

"All the more reason you should. A dance'll do you good."

"Buffy-"

"Don't argue with the Slayer," she countered firmly.

With a beleaguered sigh, Giles gave in. "All right. One dance."

Buffy grinned and pulled him out onto the dance floor. The music
was slow and easy to move to and Giles actually seemed to relax.
He didn't even notice that she was slowly edging them across the
floor to where Willow and her partner were dancing.

She'd timed it just right and the music shifted to the Dido song
"Thank You." Buffy stepped back from Giles and pulled on his
arm. "Time to switch partners," she said and with reflexes only
a Slayer possesses she pushed Giles into Willow's arms and
moved off with her new partner.

When they'd realized what had happened, Willow took a step away
and snatched back the hand she'd laid on Giles chest when Buffy
had pulled her switcharoo.

Giles cleared his throat several times and looked down awkwardly.

Willow laughed nervously and forced herself to look into his eyes.
She needed to do that, at least once this night, just to be able to
judge for herself what they held.

Giles kept his eyes on the floor, or over her shoulder and mumbled
something about his damned Slayer.

"Rupert?" Willow asked softly.

He closed his eyes for a brief second. Hearing her say his name
again, in that gentle voice he'd dreamt of so often, went straight
to his heart. After a long moment, he took a deep breath and
met her gaze.

He'd expected anger and accusation, anything but the curiosity
he found. It was so very Willow, he couldn't help but smile.

Gods, how she'd missed that smile. Without thinking she reached
out to touch him again and laid her small hand on his chest. She
felt his breath catch and he bowed his head and took her hand
in his and so slowly pulled her body against his and began to
move in rhythm with the music.

My tea's gone cold, I'm wondering why I got out of bed at all /
the morning rain clouds up my window and I can't see at all /
And even if I could it'd all be grey, but your picture on my wall /
it reminds me that it's not so bad /
it's not so bad

Neither spoke, although there was so much to say. The last
two years of pain and loneliness seemed to wash away in the
music. Giles moved them slowly, just barely... tentative, but
with growing strength with each passing moment.

I drank too much last night, got bills to pay / my head just feels in
pain /
I missed the bus and there'll be hell today / I'm late for work again /
and even if I'm there, they'll all imply that I might not last the day /
and then you call me and it's not so bad / it's not so bad and /
I want to thank you for giving me the best day of my life /
Oh just to be with you is having the best day of my life /

Willow smiled against the tears she felt welling in her throat,
knowing somehow things were all right again. Things were
as they should be.

Push the door, I'm home at last and I'm soaking through and through /
then you handed me a towel and all I see is you /
and even if my house falls down now, I wouldn't have a clue /
because you're near me and /
I want to thank you for giving me the best day of my life /
Oh just to be with you is having the best day of my life

He knew he shouldn't, that there were far too many things that
should come first, but he didn't care. He'd been a fool for too
long.

Leaning down, he gently ran his finger along her silky cheek
and tilted her head up to meet his. With a tenderness and a longing
from deep in his soul, he kissed her... and she kissed him.

And as the music ended, the dance had just begun.

The End

"Thank You" is written by D. Armstrong & P. Herman
and is available on Dido's No Angel album.