GENRE: SERIOUS Giles/Cordy. What about Olivia you ask? In Nickle's words, to hell with her, you snooze, you lose. ;-)
RATING: R. very R. Don't say I didn't warn you.
DISCLAIMER: Giles and Cordelia belong to Joss the crackhead, but he's never pair them together so what's the point?
SPOILERS: Shanshu
DISTRIBUTION: Decaf Land, Reality is Nothing But a Collective Hunch, anyplace else, email me.
NOTES:  I'm in the middle of writing this huge Xena story, but Nickle was getting frisky and more or less commanded me to whip this up, so she basically literally sat by me while I wrote this all night,and it meets her stamp of approval. She wanted a smutty Giles/Cordelia. But since I don't do smut, I had to settle for racy. Here's for you, Nickle, my evil twin.

Oh, and btw? I had to include the following items; Nightime, the beach, wine, a blanket, no clothes

~*~

She exhaled, closing her eyes, thanking whoever it was that had arranged this perfect day, with the perfect sunset, and the perfect weather, and the perfectly warm sand, and her perfect tan.

It was perfect.

She slid the glasses on, smiling to herself as she leaned back on the blanket, stretching her arms out and turning over. She looked up, and again smiled at the fact that this was a private beach, and therefore, no one would be coming by with their wet and dirty feet to stomp on her blanket, or squirt her with waterguns, or do anything of the sort.

Because it was a private beach.

She sighed again, and then slid her hands up, glad she still had the nimbleness that her cheerleading days had assured her as she quickly snapped the top of the bikini, letting the straps slide off of her smooth back,  making sure the sun hit as much skin as it could.

That done, she closed her eyes, and laid her cheek on her palm, giving a soft hum of contentment.

It really was too perfect.

Her good luck had finally turned, and Cordelia Chase was forever thankful that for once, there hadn't been a vision, or a horrible demon, or a brooding vampire, or a frumpy watcher that spoiled her decidedly selfish plans to spend the day with the dorky little rich man who had invited her to his private beach house.

Angel had had his doubts, but Angel ALWAYS had his doubts, and Cordelia knew that while he loved her, sometimes he was just a LITTLE too overprotective. Okay, not a little too overprotective... a lot over protective, but considering that she usually NEEDED that protection, she really couldn't say a damn word.

But he was wrong about this. She smiled. While he was right about what an idiot Mr. dorky rich guy was, what Mr. Vampire didn't KNOW was that David Nebbit was only a friend, AND Cordelia had conveniently arranged for him to be called back to work as soon as they got here.

And now, here she was, basking alone on her own private beach for the day because little dear man Nebbitt had to go back to town on business, and being the gentlemen he was, insisted she stay and make herself comfortable until he got back.

Who was he kidding? Of COURSE she was going to stay and make herself comfortable! Duh!

Making a mental note to turn herself over in roughly twenty minutes, she let her mind relax, feeling the very picture of heaven as she remembered that this man not ONLY had a private beach, but a Jacuzzi.

"Mmmmm..." she mumbled, smiling to herself.

The scatter of sand on her arm brought her back to reality very quickly. Cordelia felt her heart freeze, and her eyes snapped open, scrambling to sit up.

"Oh, excuse me I..." the voice died as the shadow above her was suddenly stock still. "Cor... Cordelia?!"

Cordelia's eyes widened, and she squinted her eyes to try and view the shadow above her, cursing the sun. "GILES?!" she squeaked.

His mouth was wide open, his face was beet read, and it was then that Cordelia realized he wasn't staring at her face.

Her gaze traveled down, and suddenly she yelped. "GILES?! GOD!"

He was jerked out of his daze, and suddenly his palms flew to his eyes as Cordelia reached for the top to her bikini, trying to divide her time between glaring at the older man, and scrambling for the top, deciding it wasn't big enough, and grabbing the blanket to cover her torso instead.

"Good Lord, Cordelia! I'm so sorry! I didn't realize- AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING ON THE BEACH HALF NAKED, ANYWAY?!"

The anger in his voice forced her to look up, and the former cheerleader gave him a smoldering glare. "It's a PRIVATE beach, Giles. The reason for the word private? For keeping out PEEPING TOMS like YOU."

His palms still affixed to his eyes, he nevertheless found the energy to huff at her, and shoot back, "I am NOT a peeping tom."

"Tell that to the judge, Pinnochio," she muttered, folding the top corner of the blanket over the side, keeping it in place. She looked up, and shook her head irritably, "and you can put your hands down now, you look like an idiot standing there like that."

She waited with barely contained patience as the British man slid his fingers partway, and peered through them.

"Oh, GOD. Giles, the last thing I would do is lie to you about it, okay? It's safe, I promise! It's not like I want to give an aging degenerate a peep show."

At this comment, the palms came down. "Degenerate?" His eyes squinted and he glared at her. "I'll have you know, Ms. Chase, that I am nothing of the sort. Was it my bloody fault I come sauntering across the beach to find YOU half naked with NO regard for who might come by?"

"It's a PRIVATE BEACH, GILES!" she yelled back, getting to her feet and poking a finger to his chest. "That's what it's HERE for!" She poked him again, and in her poking, found herself finally able to look at the man fully. She narrowed her eyes, letting her gaze drift from his bare feet, to the tan dockers, to the blue silk shirt that was unbuttoned and swaying easily in the breeze. Sunglasses were resting on his head and the wind that was ruffling his shirt all sexy like was also doing the same thing to his bangs.

Wow. This was NOT the Giles she had left in Sunnydale.

Shaking herself, and drawing the blanket tighter around her, she stepped back and stared at him. "And what are you doing here, anyway?" she muttered, turning her back to him and reaching down to pick up her discarded talk. "Shouldn't you be in Sunnydale catering to Slaygal's every whim?"

His answer was a dry tone, as he slid his hands in his pockets and watched her passively. "Contrary to popular belief, I do have SOME vestige of a life, Miss Chase."

"Since when?"

He grit his teeth, and narrowing his eyes, forced himself to keep going. "I'm here, or rather, I WAS here, visiting a friend."

"Let me guess, some guy on the beach had some sort of evil antique or book with mystical powers and you just HAD to come down here and pick it up yourself because you didn't trust Xander, or Willow or any other Scoobie to do it themselves?" She turned and gave him a raised eyebrow.

He narrowed his eyes, "not...exactly," he hedged. "It was a sword."

"Uh huh."

"And speaking of which, Cordelia, I could ask the very same of you?"

"Hullo? I live here."

"Not on a topless beach you don't."

She rolled her eyes, and then picked up the bottle of wine on ice that had lain forgotten beside her. "Hold this," she said, thrusting the wine to him. He gave her a surprised look, but since it appeared he had no choice, obliged, carrying the melting bucket with him as she began to head to the large house that was about a hundred feet off.

Staring at her in puzzlement, Giles could only stand and watch, until she turned, and said pointedly, "Well? You coming?"

His eyes widened, and still, he had no idea what she was saying. "Pardon?"

She rolled her eyes, and indicated to the house. "Inside. The house? You? And here I thought you were Mister Learned."

He shook his head and finally sighed, nodding, following the woman as she turned and sauntered to the house as if he had never seen her... chest... area.

Blasted chit. Rupert Giles took a deep breath, fighting a very real anger at Cordelia Chase as she led him up the sandy shore. What the bloody hell was she thinking? If HE had been lax enough to stumble upon a private beach, then that meant ANYONE could of and there was no telling what kind of person or.. or.. creature could have come and seen her in all her glory and she hadn't the bloody sense to even cover herself up-

He stopped himself, wondering if perhaps the wind had gotten a bit hotter. Shaking his head, he reached into the melting bucket of ice and wet his hand thoroughly, splashing the icy droplets on the back of his neck and around his face, thankful for the cooling refresher. His heart was beating tremendously, though if it was because of the shock of seeing one of HIS former students half naked on the shore or the anger of thinking what could have happened if anyone OTHER than he had found her, he didn't know, and at that moment, he didn't particularly CARE to know.

Bloody hell.

A simple vacation, that was all he wanted. A simple, bloody vacation.

Muttering grimly to himself, he nevertheless followed the former "Queen" Cordelia up the marble stairs, and promptly lost all train of thought.

"Good Lord," he whispered, eyeing the immense house he had just stepped into with an awe in his voice that he hadn't used in a long time.

"Nice, huh?" Cordelia said, dropping her slippers and heading to the couch, sitting on the white leather and smiling at him. "David has great taste... or his decorator does anyway."

"David?" Giles queried, looking back at Cordelia as she sprawled across the couch smiling at him in a way that appeared both smug and seductive.

SEDUCTIVE?!

What the bloody hell was wrong with him?! This was Cordelia Chase, and just because he had caught a glimpse of her bare chest for two seconds he was suddenly thinking she was seduc-

Get that OUT of your head, Ripper. NOW.

"Nebbit. A dorky, painfully sweet rich guy who is worth MILLIONS," Cordelia nodded and sighed, looking around. "Pity huh? All this money and it's all going to waste on a loser like him. NOT like he's not nice, cause he is, but still... I could do SO much with a place like this." Her voice was almost wistful, and Giles was quiet, watching her, feeling a bit of sadness fall over him as he realized that Cordelia Chase was really NOT the girl he knew.

She was poor, he had known that, and yet still had that unbreakable spirit he had feared had been lost when she had lost her money.

Apparently not, because she shook herself and rolled her eyes. "There I go again. Feeling sorry for myself. When that's NOT going to help me at ALL." She sighed. "Besides, I've got a good life here. I've got a purpose, helping the poor and the sad and the pathetic."

Giles mouth pursed in confusion, and it parted slightly. "I"m... are you being sarcastic or -"

"Get a grip, Giles, and put down that ice, will ya? It's dripping all over David's floor." He looked down and suddenly cursed, hobbling the bucket to the kitchenette and depositing it on the sink. Wiping his hands on his trousers, he turned back to see the blanket slipping as she walked casually up the stairs. "I'm going to put this on," she said, waving her little skimpy top. "You feel like going for a swim?"

When on EARTH did he fall into Wonderland? Giles felt his mouth go dry, and slammed a hand into the side of his head, trying to get the ringing out of his ears to make sure he heard right. "Umm... pardon?"

Her voice drifted from the second floor. "Swimming! David's got a Jacuzzi, and I want to catch up. It's been forever since I've seen you, and I want to swim, so are you in or are you out?"

Again, his throat seemed to not allow a word at all, and he coughed, running a hand through his hair. "I'm afraid I don't have any... swimming trunks."

"Well you've got boxers on, don't you?" Cordelia emerged, shaking a hand through her long lustrous hair and staring at him curiously, now donning the skimpy top that looked significantly smaller once it was ON her. Giles found himself staring at THEM again, and closed his eyes, almost kicking himself. What the bloody hell- she's not trying to seduce you, you bloody pervert.

Good Lord. He had always thought Cordelia remarkably pretty, but the sensuality she was oozing at that moment... It had only been a bloody year!

His mind was whirling so much he actually had to check. "Uh... yes..." he said after a moment, to his great relief. "Yes I do."

"Good, then just wear those." Cordelia flashed him a brilliant smile and motioned to the wine. "Bring that."

His eyes shot to the wine and he gulped. "Cordelia are you absolutely sure we need... wine?"

"Giles, stop being a librarian and bring the wine, please," she said, with remarkable patience considering her intolerance of his stammering before. "Oh, and here," she tossed a towel without looking, making it land consequently in his face.

He plucked it from his face, and looked at the towel. Lord, it was soft. His eyes followed the initials, trimmed with gold lace, and his chest tightened a bit. David Nebbit... and his money. The thought had a very suspicious ring. Walking to where he saw Cordelia disappear to, he stared thoughtfully at the towel, and pursed his lips.

"Cordelia?" he called out.

"Uh-oh," she returned, "he's got the parent tone." He followed her voice, and found her sitting in the bubbling Jacuzzi with her arms sprawled back against the rims, gazing at with a droll face. "What's up, Giles?"

"I- uh..." he found himself again at a loss for words as she merely smiled at him, splashing one shapely leg and motioning with it. "Umm... nevermind."

"Whatever. Come on, Giles, get in! Strip."

Strip?! He gave her a good glare, but when she only raised an eyebrow, he sighed, taking a breath, and sliding off his shirt.

"Wow. You've been working out, huh?" she asked, nodding, approvingly, coming forward to study his torso. He suddenly felt exposed, and almost put the shirt back on.

Giving her a good glare, he said earnestly, "I would appreciate if you looked the other way."

"Oh please. You saw my boobies, I at least get to see the chest and the legs. Eye for an eye, Giles." She gave him a wink, and then leaned back, her eyes never leaving his, twinkling with amusement at his obvious discomfort.

"Boobies?!" Giles closed his eyes, and suddenly wondered if this situation would have played out any differently if Willow or Buffy had been in Cordelia's situation. No, no, of course not, because he would have never even SEEN Willow or Buffy's "boobies." "I'll have you know Cordelia, that it was not my fault at ALL-"

"You know the Amazons would have gouged your eyes out for seeing that?" His jaw dropped open and she nodded. "Seriously. I read it when I was researching the old tribal ceremonies this one time. You're one lucky man."

Really? Then why on earth was he suddenly wishing that the earth would suddenly open up and swallow him whole?

"Are you going to drop the pants and get in already?"

His eyes flew down to his trousers, and he suddenly decided that that was in fact what he was NOT going to do.

"I'm suddenly thinking this isn't a good idea." Liar, he chided himself.

"Oh, for heaven sakes, we're ADULTS, Giles." With a lightning quick movement, Cordelia slid out of the tub, grabbed his belt, and unbuckled it.

"What the bloody hell do you think you're doing?!" he gasped.

"If you're going to act like a child, then I'm going to treat you like one. I have enough of this moping, monosyllabic crap with Angel." Roughly she pulled his zipper down, and then stepped back to let the trousers fall. While the older man flushed a deep red, she slipped back in the tub and sighed, leaning back and closing her eyes. "See? Was that so bad?"

"That wasn't the bloody description I was looking for, no," he murmured, wondering what on earth brought him to the situation he was in now, down to his knickers with his pants around his ankles staring at half naked Cordelia Chase in a bubbling hot tub.

Dammit, wasn't he a bloody adult? He could handle this! This was Cordelia! A former student! She wasn't out to jump him, she was trying to be nice to an old teacher. That was IT! She worked for a vampire, her best friend was an idiot ex-watcher, and therefore was used to talking with adults. That was all there was to it!

Bloody hell.

He took a breath, and furious with himself for acting like the child she had accused him of,  he roughly yanked the pants from his feet and quickly stepped into the Jacuzzi, sucking in his breath as the heat began to spread.

"Oooh," he said softly.

She nudged him with her foot from the other side of the tub, and smiled. "Good, huh?"

"I would say so," he smiled. The water was tremendously relaxing, and now that he was actually IN the tub, he suddenly felt much better. There was nothing awkward about this at all. It was simply two old friends, talking, catching up on old times. It felt right.

"Okay, so let's break out the champagne and get this catch up party going," Cordelia said brightly, reaching up a slender arm and wiping her damp hair out of her face.

He opened one eyes and playfully assumed his most stern tone. "You know, as a minor, you aren't legally able to drink yet, Cordelia."

She returned his look with a passive stare. "Giles, I've been through more trauma this year than Buffy and Willow combined. And you can quote me. I deserve a day in a hot tub with a handsome man and a bottle of champagne, even if it IS you. So pass it."

He smiled, and reached for the bottle, before doing a double take, "Did you say handsome."

"I don't know, did I?" She smiled and splashed him, and he gave her a good natured grin before grabbing the bottle and two glasses and uncorking it.

"To what are we toasting?" he asked, crossing the tub and sitting by her as he handed her a glass.

"Mmmmm," she sighed, and leaned back, looking perfectly content as she nestled next to him. Her eyes opened and she smiled. "To friendship. To love. To family. To vampires and to Watchers, and to seers who have a new purpose in life."

The serenity in her face astounded him, and he found himself transfixed by the brightness in her eyes as she grinned at him, leaning forward and clinking her glass gently with his.  There was a different glint in her eyes that he had never seen in Sunnydale, a maturity, a warm sparkle that resonated with a depth, a beauty that he hadn't noticed before.

"Have you changed quite so much, Cordelia?" he asked in a soft whisper.

She gave him a startled glance, and then shrugged sheepishly. "I don't think so, Giles. I just think... for once... I've found my niche."

He found her smile infectious, felt the true joy in his heart at seeing the softness cascade of her face and without thinking, he leaned forward, and traced a gentle finger down her cheek, pride filling him at her remarkable peace.

"To you then, Miss Chase," he said, clinking back, and taking a sip.

~*~

"Ewww..." Cordelia stopped giggling long enough to inspect her hands thoroughly from her position at Giles side. "My hands are getting all wrinkly."

"It's what happens when one stays in a tub for... how long has it been?" Giles looked at his watch and winced. "Three hours."

"Three hours?" Cordelia's eyes widened, and giggled. "No wonder."

"Oh, Lord," Giles leaned back, sighing. "I don't want to go."

"So, don't."

"I'm expected back in Sunnydale in... an hour," he said, and shook his head. "Not going to happen now, is it?"

"Giles, have you learned nothing? You don't make a point of being late unless you're extremely late. Or else, what's the point?"

Giles gave her a lax grin and nodded. The logic made perfect sense to him, and considering he was having a marvelous time, he doubted it would have any other way. He merely sighed, and stretched back in the tub, sliding his arm out on both sides, unconsciously resting the length of it on Cordelia's shoulder as she seated next to him.

They had talked for three hours, and Giles had to admit, he had been entertained, riveted with her, the entire time. Perhaps it had been the distance, perhaps it had been Cordelia's many adventures that had changed her, or maybe it had been a change in himself, but he had never before realized just what an interesting and phenomenal person Cordelia Chase was. Learning all she had been through, from her demon pregnancy, to her visions, and her long never ending view of all the suffering in the world... it made him marvel at her strength.  A lesser person would have lost all hope, would have given up long before this, but not this precious young lady.

"Cordelia you are absolutely amazing, do you know that?" he whispered. Cordelia, who's head had been lying against his shoulder in contented silence, immediately jerked her head up, and suddenly blushed.

"Umm... thanks..." she stammered, as he gave her a long probing glance, and she shuffled quickly before flashing a large grin. "Well I mean... duh!"

He merely shook his head, and sighed. "I'm sorry I never saw it before."

"Giles I don't think I saw it before," she raised an eyebrow, and shrugged. Leaning her head back against his shoulder, she closed her eyes. He watched her nestle into him, and his heart gave a decisive thump. He was absolutely still, afraid to move at all for fear he would disturb her. Instead he merely looked away, to the where the champagne cups that he insisted they put there after one sip lay, and he concentrated on them.

"Giles?" the voice was soft, quiet, and he looked down in surprise to find Cordelia staring at him with a wide eyed gentleness that made his heart thump once more.

"Yes?" he asked.

"I... I had a good time."

He blinked, trying to see though the fog, and glad he couldn't for fear he would see the beauty and suddenly lose ALL inhibitions, and instead merely patted her shoulder awkwardly. "So did I?" he said meaningfully.

She grinned, and leaned up. "Here, you're glasses are all foggy." Gently, she took hold of the rims, turning and leaning her chest against his for a fraction of a second as she did. He felt himself holding his breath, not moving a muscles as she slid them down his nose, allowing him to see the sparkle in her eyes, as she was suddenly not smiling anymore. Instead she slid the glasses all the way off, and her gaze never left his eyes. In them was an intense, dark searching glance as her hazel orbs glinted with something he couldn't figure out.

"I umm... you're eyes. They're nice," she whispered. "I just never noticed how nice they were."

He parted his lips, tried to answer, but found to the horror of his furiously beating heart, that he couldn't say a word.

He took a breath, very aware of her body pressed lightly against his, and he groaned, summoning the very last vestiges of honor that he owned as he tried again, managing a husky groan, "Cordelia... if you don't pull away now... I'm afraid..."

"Afraid of what, Rupert," she whispered, not moving.

He closed his eyes as her hands slid to his, entwining the fingers in her own. "I mean, I know that you're GILES, and I'm Cordelia... but today... did it feel like that? Like you were librarian Giles and I was cheerleader Cordelia? I mean, am I crazy or-"

"You're not crazy." His eyes opened and connected with hers. "You're very sane right now... quite possibly more sane than I am."

She gave him a confused stare, and merely shook her head lightly, not quite understanding. "What?"

"I'm quite insane now, Cordelia, for if I were in my right mind I would never, ever do this." And with the whispered words, his face leaned forward, and the gentlemen softly pressed his mouth to her soft lips.

Cordelia froze, for a moment, not moving, not being able to do anything but feel... Was this really happening? With Giles? His lips began to move, slowly, gently, and suddenly she moaned,  as the kiss widened as his tongue invaded her mouth, sinking in between her lips and gently taking possession, with a domination so without question she gave it total and complete freedom.

There was a groan that was torn from his throat as she tentatively reached out her own tongue to meet his, and suddenly she was pressed against him with a strength she had no idea he had. His mouth began to move faster, harder, and she found she had no problem keeping up, matching every movement, the water creating a friction that made her press him to her tighter. There was a shift, and suddenly it was she that was pressed against the rim, his chest pressing her body back, leaving her arms free to slide around his back and up to entangle her hands in his unruly hair.

"God, Giles," she whispered raggedly, as his mouth left hers and began a trail to her chin, gently sucking at the water dripping from it, and then trailing downwards, following the drops as she sucked in her breath, his lips dancing in tantalizing circles just under her jaw.

"Rupert," he murmured.

"What?" she asked with barely any breath.

"Please... call me Rupert..." His eyes lifted to meet hers, and she smiled, pausing to lean forward and press her lips against his nose.

"I like that," she said softly. "Rupert."

He kissed her again, a deep, passionate embrace that made her wriggle against him, a fire sliding through her as she felt the water float her body up and to gain more leverage, she wrapped her legs around his waist, bringing him in closer.

"Cordelia," he murmured, "We have to-"

"NO," she grabbed his hair and gently pulled his head back, shaking her head. "No, Giles. We're not stopping now. You're NOT taking advantage of me, I'm an adult, and I want this every bit as much as you do, you got that?"

His beautiful eyes bore into hers, and she could see the former Watcher battling within himself for the right to kiss her. Shaking her head, she made the decision for him, leaning into him and gently nipping at his ear, whispering heatedly against the flushed flesh. "Kiss me, Rupert," she whispered. "Kiss me... I want you..."

He groaned when her tongue flicked out, licked his earlobe, and then with her teeth, she gently nipped it.

Suddenly his lips were on hers again, and after a welcoming embrace, they resumed their path downward, as his strong arms kept her pinned against the tub, keeping her writhing, but in place, beneath him.

Her hands began to roam, down his chest, raking nails across the nipples of his flat chest, making him cry out at the sensation. She grinned.

"I take it I have your cooperation?"

"Bloody hell," he said, trying to contain himself, as Cordelia gently slid her palms back over his head, smoothing his hair back. He grinned, a devilish grinned that reeked of Ripper himself, and suddenly he pulled her closer, and slid her up,  as his mouth rested at the crook of her cleavage.  She found her concentration completely broken, her hands gripping the sides of his head as her head flew back.  The warmth at her groin began to spread and she shivered as she felt the thumbs of his hand caress the sides of her breasts lightly.

"Rupert," she whispered, kissing the side of his neck. "You know you've already seen them."

He took the hint, and gently slid up, sliding the straps down, and following the trail with the hot mouth, gently baring her breasts to him.

It was the sight of them that made him suddenly stop, stare at them with such wonder and awe that she felt herself smile, the way he looked up and met her eyes and there was such emotion there... she found a moistness in her eyes that didn't quite come from the water, and Cordelia just grinned.

"Just remember, an eye for an eye."

He stilled, and then shook his head, and laughed, a beautiful, resounding laugh that made her chuckle along with him, a chuckle that was completely cut out and replaced with a yelp when his mouth reached down and covered one breast.

She gasped, and held him to her, closing her eyes and leaning back.

"Giles," she slipped into saying, drowning in her sensations, "oh, God."

His heart was beating so fast he wasn't even sure if it was healthy anymore, at his age. And yet he felt remarkably virile, filled, and so full of awed wonder at the incredible woman who was whispering his name with ragged moans of pleasure.

There was no time here, and he was afraid to even open in eyes, for fear that this would all be gone, that he would wake up in bed and it would all be a dream.

But she was still here, and he was still worshipping her... and bloody hell...

It was bloody beautiful.

~*~

He had forgotten his keys. David groaned, and slapped his head, before sheepishly eyeing the door, and leaning forward, rang the doorbell and waited a minute.

There was no answer. He gazed at it curiously, and shaking his head, tried again. This time he was rewarded when the sound of Cordelia Chase could be heard calling him to hold his horses.

He merely smiled. She was such a pretty girl. His shoulders slumped as he waited. He had hoped to charm her this evening, into at least TRYING to go out a date with him, but Cordelia had been frank with him from the start, and David now knew she wasn't as superficial as he thought she was. She DID promise to help him get more chicks though, and that was always good.

The door opened, and a fully dressed Cordelia Chase smiled at him. "David, hi! How was the meeting?"

"Oh," he shrugged, coming in, "it was stupid. No one knew what we were there for! A billion dollar corporation, and NO ONE knew."

"Gee, that's too bad."

"Oh, it's okay. Did you have fun?" She smiled, and slung an arm around him. "I had a great time, David. Thank you for letting me use this place."

He felt his throat get a bit closed, and he just nodded. "No problem, you know? Anytime. So... umm... do you want to hang out or something?"

Cordelia pursed her lips, saw the true anxiousness in his eyes, and she smiled. "I'd love that. We can play pool, I bet I can whip you."

He smiled bashfully and just ran a hand through his hair. "Nah. I'm great."

She winked. "We'll see, okay? I forgot something on the beach, I'm going to get it and then I'll be right back. Set the balls up, okay?"

He nodded, moving to the pool table in the other room.
 

Her feet sank into the cool sand, as she walked onto the beach. He was standing on the shore, his feet bare, letting the waves crash into the, wetting the bottom of his rolled up trousers. She crossed her arms, studying him, and smiled, walking forward and standing next to him.

"So you'll get home okay?" she asked, after they stood side by side. He sighed, looking over the ocean, and then gently leaned forward and took her hand, squeezing it.

"I'll be fine," he said gently. "David is back?"

"Yes he is. I would introduce you, but-"

"It wouldn't be proper, I know." The pair fell silent, and Cordelia sighed, leaning into him. He slid his arms around her, holding her close, pressing a light kiss on the top of her head.

She giggled, and he felt himself smile. "What?"

"Not like anything we did in there, was proper, Rupert."

He felt his grin grow wider, and he squeezed her gently. "Rupert. I like the sound of that."

"Me too. It's like I've got a piece of you that no one else does." He stilled for a second, and then moved back, tilting her chin up and looking seriously into her hazel eyes.

"You do."

She felt her heart tremor for a bit, and without a word, she leaned up, kissing him once gently.

"This is gonna sound incredibly forward, and umm... I really don't want you to take this... a weird way or anything but... I love you."

He gazed at  her, and the corners of his eyes crinkled wonderfully as he replied, "I love you."

He kissed her again, and then suddenly as if by unspoken agreement, both slid their arms back. He backed away from her, smiling at her tenderly as he began to walk away, turning and beginning a strong stride back the way he came on the sandy stretch.

Cordelia stayed, watching him go until the night swallowed him, and then with an odd heart, she turned, walked up the beach to where she knew David would be waiting.

It almost seemed a dream, and in a way, she wished it was...

But it wasn't... what had happened was very real, and she sighed.

It was a dream, a real life dream, and it would stay that way, in her heart, in her dreams, because now she knew.

Rupert Giles WAS the man of her dreams.
 

The Woman In me

I'm not always strong
And sometimes I'm even wrong
But I win when I choose
and I can't stand to lose

But I can't always be
The Rock that you see
When the nights get too long
And I just can't go on

The woman in me
Needs you to be
The man in my arms
To hold tenderly
'Cause I'm a woman in love
And it's you I run to
Yeah the woman in
Needs the man in you

When the world wants too much
And it seems cold and out of touch
It's a beautiful place
when you kiss my face

The woman in me
Needs you to be
The man in my arms
To hold tenderly
'Cause I'm a woman in love
And it's you I run to
Yeah the woman in
Needs the man in you
words and music by Shania Twain

for Nickle
FIN