Hair of the Dog 

'Paste. Fuzzy paste. Someone's put fuzzy paste in my
mouth,' Giles thought in a haze.

Slowly he opened his eyes, and the ceiling came into
focus. Like a thousand suns the dim light of morning
shot into his eyes. "Uhhh," he groaned. His head felt
like a lead balloon.

He tried to pull it up off the back of the sofa, but
the muscles had set in the night and any movement
caused his temples to throb.

With a Herculean effort, Giles finally managed to
lift his head. "Ohhh," he sighed in pain as his brain
sloshed forward. He started to attempt the painful
standing up process, when he noticed there was
something or someone in his lap.

He looked down slowly and blinked. And blinked again.
"Willow?"

She stirred in his lap, snuggling closer to his chest.

"Oh--- my---God," he breathed. In a whirlwind of music
and well, other things, last night came rushing back
to him.

He'd invited Willow over to teach her the dangers of
drinking. It hadn't quite worked out that way. If he
remembered properly, he'd gotten tanked and well---
said things, and done things, things with Willow. "Oh,
dear God."

Willow squiggled in his lap again and Giles knew he
had to remove her and quickly. The effects of the
Scotch had worn off and the effects of her body on his
were just beginning.

As carefully as he could, he lifted her and set her
down gently on the sofa. He looked down at her
sleeping so peacefully and he sighed. Last night had been
a mistake. He'd meant well. Had good intentions. But,
somehow, things hadn't gone according to plan. Not
that he hadn't enjoyed it; on the contrary, it had
been wonderful. It was such a relief to finally be
relaxed around her, to tell her the things he'd never
dared to say. But, to do it in such a way was
shameful. He'd taken advantage of her in a weakened
state. It was deplorable.

Giles ignored his own throbbing headache and began to
pace. How could he be such a bounder? With Willow, at
least, he'd always managed to keep a strangle hold on
his baser instincts, but last night - the drink, the
music - The music! He moved swiftly to the record
player and took off the album.

Marvin Gaye? Good lord! 'Have I no shame at all?'

Willow groaned from the sofa and started to stir.
Giles fought down the sense of panic and tried to
formulate a plan. He'd embarrassed them both. Yes,
best to pretend nothing happened. Maybe she wouldn't
remember anything.

Willow opened her eyes slightly, just slits. "Ohhhh,"
she groaned. "Wh-what --- ohh," she grabbed her head
and tried to keep if from rolling off her shoulders.

"G-g-good m-morning," Giles said stammered.

"Giles?" Willow eeped. "Ohhh, my head."

"Y-yes, you- you see that's one of the ill-effects of
too much alcohol," he said sternly.

"Alcohol? Oh? Oh!" She covered her eyes. "Oh." Death
would have been a welcome companion. She felt
terrible. Her body shivered, her mouth was dry and
thick, her head was surely going to explode and her
stomach had migrated to somewhere in the back of her
throat.

She managed to squint in Giles' general direction, and
a blush rose in her cheeks. "Last night --"

"Last night was -- I hope you learned a valuable
lesson," Giles said avoiding her eyes. "I'm afraid I
wasn't the best example. I- - I'm afraid I don't--
uhm-- I don't really --"

Willow's heart sank. He hadn't really meant those
things; he'd just been drunk and she'd been
convenient. She nodded slowly and regretted
even that small movement. "It's kind of a blur,"
she said letting him off the hook.

She could hear his sigh of relief and wanted nothing
more than to crawl into some hole and die. She
struggled to her feet and stood on shaky legs. Her
shoulders were hunched forward and she took tiny
steps.

"I'm just gonna--" she said pointing toward the
bathroom.

"Yes, of course," Giles mumbled. She didn't remember.
But instead of feeling relief, he'd been surprised by
the stab of disappointment. It was better this way,
and yet--

*****

Willow managed somehow to get back to the dorm without
hurling. Buffy wasn't there when she arrived,
thankfully. She drank as much Gatorade as she could,
the electrolytes would help her body recover from the
dehydration, took four aspirin and crawled into bed.

It's amazing what six hours of sleep can do. When she
awoke, she felt almost human. Almost.

"Hi there, sleepyhead," Buffy said with a smile.

"Hi."

"So, umh, did you learn anything last night?" Buffy
asked with a grin. But instead of seeing blushing
smile on her friend's face, she saw a pained sadness.

"Nothing I didn't already know," Willow said softly.

"Oh?" Buffy said in confusion. What was going on? When
she'd last seen Willow she was curled up Giles' arms
purring like a kitten and now -- "But I thought--"

Willow sighed softly. "I thought maybe -- I was just
being stupid."

"Wills, I know how you feel about him and I saw you two
this morning. Trust me, he feels the same way."

Willow shook her head. "Let's not talk about it
anymore, okay?"

"But-"

"Please, Buffy."

"Okay," she agreed. "But no moping. We're going out."

"I don't really-"

"No arguments. There will be no mopage," Buffy said
firmly. 'I've got a plan.'

Willow sighed. "All right, but only cause your
stronger than I am."

"That's the spirit."


*****

"Here, drink this," Buffy said as she put a glass down
in front of Willow.

"What is it?" Willow yelled over the din that was the
Bronze on a Saturday night.

"Hair of the dog that bit you," she answered.

"You got bit by a dog?" Xander squealed.

"No, it's a hangover cure. You drink a little to ease
the transition."

Xander nodded skeptically. "Good plan. And how, might
I ask, did *you* got a beer in here, missy?"

"Percy's older brother's a bartender. Told him it was
for Wills. Your reputation proceeds you," Buffy said
with a wink.

Willow noticed that Buffy was still standing. "Why
don't you pull up a chair, stay for a while."

"Okay," she said absently as she scanned the crowd.
Seeing what she was looking for she left without
explanation.

"Strange girl, our Slayer," Xander said.

Willow shrugged and sipped her beer.

*****

"You're late," Buffy said.

"Yes, yes. I'm sorry," Giles sighed.

Buffy frowned. "Let me see your shoes."

"My what?"

"Your shoes, lemme see 'em."

Giles rolled his eyes and lifted his left foot.

"Yup, those are the ones," Buffy announced.

"The ones what?"

"That made the footprints all over Willow's heart."

"Buffy," Giles said warningly.

"What? Are you going to tell me nothing happened? And
even if it did, it didn't mean anything?" Buffy
ranted. "You are such a pain. I don't know what's more
annoying. You pretending that you don't love her, her
pretending she doesn't love you, or you pretending
that you don't know that she's pretending, too."

"I don't know what you mean," Giles said tightly.

Buffy grunted in frustration. "What is your problem?"

"Not that it's any of your business," Giles said
evenly. "But I thought it best to pretend nothing
happened. I didn't want to cause Willow any further
embarrassment."

"So you do the Macarena on her heart instead?"

"I-- I suppose I may have miscalculated things, but--"

"Miscalculated? Do you have any beads on your abacus?"

Giles sighed heavily.

"Do you know how lucky you are?" Buffy asked
seriously.

Giles laughed bitterly.

"I mean it. You love her - don't even try and deny it
- and she loves you - trust me I know."

"Buffy-" Giles started.

"No," Buffy said firmly. "A little reality check. You
love her, she loves you. You're both human - what the
hell are you waiting for?"

Giles shook his head, at a loss. "I--- I don't --"

"You'd better do something. Or someone else will,"
Buffy warned him and brought his attention toward
Willow.

Giles followed her gaze and saw Percy sitting down
next to Willow, close to Willow, too close.

He frowned. "I see your point." Taking a deep breath
Giles headed over to Willow's table.

"It's a miracle," Buffy mumbled.

"Hello, Willow," Giles said formally.

"Giles?" she said in surprise.

"G-Man, what are you doing here?"

"I came to speak with Willow."

Percy noticed the tension and glanced at Willow. "Is
this guy bothering you, not that you need my help, but
do you want me--"

"Perhaps you should run along," Giles said tersely.

"Excuse me?" Percy said standing up.

"Giles-" Willow started.

He noticed the beer in her hands. "Is that a beer?
Willow after - Where did you get it?"

"I got it for her," Percy said proudly. "And I think
you're the one who should be running along, old man."

"Oh, really?" Giles said with a constricted smile.
"Serving alcohol to children?"

"I am not a CHILD!" Willow yelled. Both men stopped
and stared. Willow glared at Giles. "Haven't you done
enough?"

"Willow, I-" But she ran off before he could finish.

"What's your problem?" Percy demanded.

Giles stepped forward menacingly. Xander jumped
between the two men. "Giles, you are such a jerk."

He let go of them and headed off after Willow.

"Xander, wait!" Giles called out. He caught up with
the younger man. "You're right, I--I am a jerk. I--"

Xander fixed him with a searing gaze. "Don't make me
regret this. -- Go," he said pushing Giles toward the
exit Willow had run through.

Giles found Willow just outside the door.

She looked up at him, tears welling up in her eyes.
"Oh, leave me alone."

"It's not safe here," he said.

"I don't care.--- Okay, I do care. God, I hate this
place. You can never storm out. Someday I want to make
a dramatic exit and not have to come back in and ask
Buffy to walk me home."

Giles chuckled, but it died quickly. "I'm sorry I
embarrassed you. Tonight. Last night. That was never
my intention."

"What was?"

"What do you mean?"

"You kissed me," she said softly and then looked up to
meet his eyes.

"I shouldn't have, but--"

"And you said things."

"Yes, I--I --."

"You said there were things you wanted to tell me."
She was so achingly beautiful.

"Yes," he whispered.

"Tell me now."

Part Two

"Tell me now," Willow said softly.

"Oh, Willow," Giles sighed as he gently took hold of
her shoulders.

"Yes," she whispered.

"I-- That is -- There's something I'd like to--I've
wanted to--to say to you for--- for so very long."

Willow smiled up at him. Encouraged, Giles tenderly
ran his fingers along her cheek, finally resting his
palm against the side of her face.

"I've always wanted to tell you -- Duck!" Abruptly,
his hand covered her face and shoved her to the
ground.

"Oof!"

Before she knew what was happening, the attacking
vampire had tripped over her and landed on Giles,
sending them both sprawling to the pavement.

Willow scrambled to her feet and looked frantically
for a stake, something, anything. She saw an empty
crate and quickly ran to it.

"Hang on, Giles!" she called out.

She grabbed the crate and tried to heft it, but it was
a lot heavier than it looked. She tried to slam it
down, to break it into pieces, but it was too
unwieldy.

"Uh, Willow!" Giles cried from somewhere underneath
the big vampire.

"I'm trying!" she wailed. She tried giving the crate
the some of that movie Kung-Fu. "OW!" She cried and
limped around for a minute. "OW!"

"Willow!" Giles yelled again.

"Coming! OW!"

Willow dragged the infernal crate over toward Giles
and the vampire. She positioned it next to them and
tapped the vamp on the shoulder. The vampire turned to
look at her. As soon as he was distracted, Giles
slugged him, sending him crashing into the crate.

"Thank you," Willow muttered as she picked up a broken
shard of wood and staked the vamp.

Giles struggled to his feet. "Are you all right?"

"I think I broke my foot," she groaned. "Are you
okay?"

"I'm fine. Let me see your leg." Willow hopped over to
him. Giles hurried to her side and swept her into his
arms. He gently set her down on the hood of a nearby
car.

He knelt in front of her and held her leg. He probed
her ankle and foot.

"Ooh, pain!" Willow gasped. Giles winced, but kept
gently rubbing. "Ohhh, not so much pain."

Giles smiled, and Willow returned it shyly. His hands
kept massaging her leg, slowly, inching their way up.
His warm hands caressed her calf, enticingly brushing
the sensitive back of her knee. "Ohhh, hmmm, no more
pain," she purred. "But other things. Mmmmm... good
things."

Giles grinned up at her and met her eyes. He didn't
need alcohol to tell her how he felt. It felt right.
He'd been a fool far too long.

"Willow," Giles started in husky voice. "I'm not very
good with words." He ran his hand further up to her
thigh. "But you're so -- Bugger!"

"Huh?"

"Get your perv hands off her!" Percy called out.

"Oh," Willow sighed and followed Giles gaze. "Percy--"

"Old man, you don't know when to give up," Percy spat.

Giles growled and jumped to his feet. "I thought I
told you to run along."

"Who's gonna make me? You?!" Percy said with a sneer.

"I was hoping you were going to say that," Giles
said with a wicked smile.

"Oh, yeah!" the younger man responded wittily.

"Percy," Willow said softly. He looked at her and
swallowed hard, all his bravado melted away.

"S-sorry," he muttered, ducking his head and beating a
hasty retreat.

Giles turned back to Willow with a curiously amused
expression. "I think there's something you're not
telling me."

Willow, empowered by her inner Vamp, smiled slyly.
"Let's get back to those somethings you're supposed to
be telling me."

"Oh, right," he grinned. "Now where was I?" He took
her hand and leaned in close. He took a deep breath
and opened his mouth to speak.

"Willow!"

"Jesus wept!" Giles muttered turning to face both
Xander and Buffy.

"We saw Percy coming out and thought there might---"
her voice trailed off as she saw the fire in Giles'
eyes. "Oh."

"Did we interrupt something?" Xander put in with a
goofy grin.

"I think we did," Buffy said hopefully. "Didn't we?"

"Bloody Hell," Giles roared and turned back to Willow.
"Willow, I--" Finally, he gave up trying to tell her
and decided to show her.

With growl, Giles grabbed Willow and dove down onto
her mouth. His body followed suit and crashed down on
top of Willow, pressing her into the hood of the car.

She moaned a little against him as he devoured her.
His mouth claiming hers, as his hands tried to touch
all of her. The frustration and pent up passion poured
out of him and into this kiss. Willow clung to him, her
hands holding his head in vice grip. Now that she had him,
she wasn't about to let go.

"Wow," Buffy mumbled as she and Xander watched in awe.
"I wish somebody would do me like, I--I meant do that
TO me. You know what I mean."

"Xander Harris at your service," he said with arms
outstretched.

The car hood groaned under the pressure and Giles
growled in response.

"Jeez!" Xander said.

"Who's car is that anyway?" Buffy asked.

"Dunno," he said mesmerized by the show of unbridled
lust.

"What is it with Giles and cars?" Buffy said shaking
her head. "Maybe we shouldn't be watching this?"

"Yeah, you're right," Xander said with a sigh, his
eyes never leaving the duo.

Giles grunted as he rolled over pulling Willow on top
of him. The hood of the car gave in denting furiously,
but there was no stopping them now. Willow straddled
his hips, briefly sitting up.

"We should go," Buffy said blandly as Willow's freshly
discarded shirt hit her in the face.

"We should be coming-- I mean going. We should be---"
his voice trailed off as he tilted his head to try and
cop a glance at a nearly naked Willow. "What was I
saying?"

"That we shouldn't be watching this," Buffy said
suddenly coming to herself and turning her back on
the couple and pulling Xander around with her.

"Ohhh," Giles groaned.

"R-rupert," Willow gasped.

"Listening's much better," Xander quipped. He tilted
his head. "Was that a zipper?"

"I don't know, shhh!"

"Oh, God," Giles breathed. "W-Willow."

"I'm guessing zipper," Buffy agreed. Xander nodded
emphatically.

The sound of heavy breathing was punctuated with
creaking metal and shock absorbers, well... absorbing.

"How much longer?" Buffy asked a little impatiently.

Xander gauged the labored breathing. "Almost there."

"So you wanna catch a movie or something... after,"
she asked with a toss of her head.

"Sure."

The End