Disclaimer: Buffy and co' are owned by Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy. I own  nothing

Teaser:  Things begin to go awry when Giles begins to see Cordelia in a whole new light at a  reunion and inadvertently sets a chain of events in motion that may cost her her life.

Assumptions:  Spoilers for Homecoming. Assumes W/X each break up with their perspective others to be with each other. The others don't take it well.

Notes:  Well, got inspired on day, and decided to write a Giles/Cordy piece, mostly stemming from my freaked out reaction to the events in Homecoming.  Was supposed to be just a short piece, mostly from Giles POV, but then I got longwinded.  Meant to be only for fun, enjoy! Also serves the grand ole purpose of venting my anger on Xander. I'm still C/X all the way, but while I was writing this story, I fell in love with it. Hope you have as good a
time reading it as I had writing it. :)
 

 She gave him a sad sheepish smile.  "Can I say something?" he nodded.  "I think I love him." she chuckled uncomfortably. "it's weird, I know, but-"

 "Nah, it's not weird." Xander said, feeling his heart sink, but still managing to smile for her benefit. "It makes sense. He's never done anything but be there for you."

 "Yeah, but me and the librarian?" she  repeated.  Xander grinned.

 "Why not? You made the school dork a  happy man, why not Giles?"

 "And look what happened to that!" Cordelia joked.  Xander cocked an eyebrow.

 "Something tells me Giles won't do anything to screw it up."

 She smiled at his meaningful look, and squeezed his hand.  He swung the school library doors open, and they were greeted by smiles all around.

 "Hey guys!" Buffy said perkily.  "It's been a hell of a reunion, hasn't it?"

  Cordelia rolled her eyes. "Don't even go there, Buffy." She remarked, sitting down slowly.

 "Still." Willow remarked. "We won't ever forget it, will we?" she said.

 "Always the optimist Will." Xander piped up. "Let's forget I nearly killed half of you."

 "Xander do stop beating yourself over the head about that." Giles said, walking down the stairs.

 "Yeah!" Buffy quipped. "That's his job." She turned to Xander. "Though I DO have to tell you, Xandman, it's nice to know you aren't really an ass like we all thought you were."

 "Ah, gee thanks Buff."

 Willow grinned, and got up.  "Well, I'd love to chat, but my flight leaves in an hour." Xander sighed, and rose too.

 "Yup. Ditto.  But with a train."  Buffy nodded.

 "Cordy? You good to drive?" Cordelia flinched, but nodded.
 
 "Yeah, I'm just a little sore, but nothing hindering my superb driving skills." Willow rolled her eyes, but said nothing.

 "Just don't kill us, okay, Cordy?"  Cordelia smiled at Xander, and then turned to look back at Giles.  They hadn't really had much of a chance to talk about their relationship, but she could read the unease in his eyes.  He was so unsure.  God help her, she thought it was cute!!  Sighing, she looked up and saw that he was watching her.  They caught eyes, and then blushing, Giles turned away. Cordelia realized this was not going to be easy.  Would they ever make this work?  Cordelia felt uncomfortable even now. Giles had seen everything, all her vulnerabilities, her weaknesses, her faults.  She was going to be a lawyer, he was a librarian.  And he WAS older than her. A lot older.  Everything was against this.  All the laws. All the norms.

 Then  why did it feel so right?

 "Cordelia?"  She shook herself alert.

 "What?" Buffy rolled her eyes.

 "Drive. You. Car?"

 "Oh! Sure."  The group got up. Willow gave Giles a big hug.

 "Bye Giles!  Be good."He grinned.
 
 "You too, Willow. I expect an invitation to this wedding of yours."

 "Giles, you are going to be head usher!" she proclaimed.  Giles gave her a shocked look.

 "Usher? I uh... "  Willow grinned.  Xander got up and shook Giles' hand.

 "Hey... uh." He chuckled uncomfortably, as he leaned in and whispered. "You're the better man, Giles."

 Giles said nothing, but just shook his head and smiled.

 "Xander, make sure you visit."  He nodded.  They headed to the door, and then looked back when Cordelia stayed put.

 "Cordy? You coming?"  Cordelia looked up at them, and then back at Giles.

 "Actually, I'll be right out."  Willow and Buffy smiled understandably and chattering together, left the library.  Xander stayed back, glanced at the two of them, smiled sadly, and followed his two friends out.

 There was a long silence that followed, as the couple stared uncomfortably at each other.

 "So... what are we going to do?" Cordelia suddenly asked.  Giles looked up.

 "Hmm?"

 "You  know what I mean."

 He nodded, pulling off his glasses.  "I'm not sure.  You don't come down very often."

 "I know." She said nodding.  "I never had a reason." She finished pointedly.  "And you've become the troll of the Sunnydale library."

 He chuckled at that thought.

"Well, you know I'm only forty minutes away." Cordelia said thoughtfully, getting up and stopping two feet away from him. "You have an email account?" Giles looked stunned and was about to respond before she waved a hand in his face.  "Never mind.  I should have known better than to ask."  She reached into her bag and fingered her cell phone.  "Unlimited weekend minutes." She said, pointing to it.

 Rupert put his hands in his pockets and stared at her half smiling face.  The bruise had been meticulously covered by make up, her cut barely visible on her lips.  A turtle neck concealed the bruises on her neck.  She looked almost normal.  And she looked so beautiful. Her hair was shining, her smile was dazzling.  She was so beautiful.  And so young.

 'This is insane." He whispered out loud.  Cordelia raised an eyebrow.

 "Don't I know it." She commented, crossing her hands.  "You don't think Daddy's gonna freak when he finds out his little lawyer to be  has fallen for the high school librarian?"

 Giles eyes grew bright with surprise.  "Pardon?" he stammered.

 "Yeah, you heard me, you old fogie." She continued.   "What do you think our life is going to be like?  In twenty years I'll be helping you pee for Chrissake."  Giles' jaw fell open.

 "Pee?" Cordelia frowned.

 "And you know what?" She added.  "I wouldn't have it any other way." Her mouth suddenly creased into a dazzling smile.

 Giles was shocked into silence.  "I'm sorry?" He stammered again.

 Cordelia rolled her eyes.  "I swear Giles, how long is it gonna take you to get it?  Are you going to kiss me or am I going to have to start getting physical?"

 Giles needed no more encouragement.  Suddenly with a speed that contradicted his age, he closed the distance between then and pulled her close, kissing her harshly and passionately.  What was so bloody delightful was that she was kissing back just as hungrily.  A soft moan came from the base of her throat and absently her arms went around his neck and her fingers entangled themselves in his hair. He was lost in the kiss, reveling in the feel of her body, and as his passion began to take control, his hands began to roam. He held her tighter, and then suddenly came to his senses when Cordelia gasped in pain.  His eyes widened and he immediately let her go. Dammit, her back!

 “I’m sorry.” he whispered urgently, rubbing his fingers up and down her arms absently as he stared at her intensely in concern.  “Are you alright?”

 Cordelia managed to smile through her pain. "Damn, Ripper, you're strong."  She said, nodding. "But I'm good."  To prove her point, she slid her arms around his waist and smiled up at him, reaching up, she kissed him softly on the lips. A welt of emotion flooded him, and he sucked in his breath, and using both hands, cradled her face in his palms, using his thumbs to carress her now swollen lips.

 "You do know how I feel for you, Cordelia?"  he asked thickly.

 She raised her eyebrow, and nodded.  "Yeah, I do. I'm not dense, Giles, contrary to popular belief."  She smiled again, and gave him one last hard squeeze before stepping out of his arms.  "I gotta go." Suddenly her face had a look of tenderness and she said softly, "I never told you how beautiful I think you are."  Suddenly aware she had said those words out loud, she laughed nervously.  "Course when I was little I also had a thing for New Kids on the Block."

 Rupert knew her too well to be fooled by her attempt at a playful insult. He had seen into her heart.  And it filled him with raptorous joy.

   "I hate to contradict, but I believe the comment should be vice versa."  Cordelia looked at him searchingly, and smiled.  Giles reached and captured her lips tenderly once more.
 
 "Augh." They looked up to see Buffy standing in the doorway a strange look on her face.  "You guys, if you two want me to get used to this, your gonna hafta cut down on the sucking face."   Cordelia raised an eyebrow.

   "Look who'se talking, Miss I have a demon Lover." Buffy shrugged.
 
 "Yeah, okay. You win. Anyways, Willow wants to know if you'll give a ride to the airport." Cordelia nodded.
 
 "Sure, I'll be right out." Buffy nodded, winked at Giles, and walked out.  Cordelia turned back  him, kissing  him back once, and squeezing his hand, let him go, turning with her straight poise to the doorway.  At the entrance, she stopped, her figure wavering.

 "Hey Giles?"

 "Hmm?"  he asked.

 "If I don't hear from you within the next two days, I swear I'm going to come back and go Stalker Girl on you." And with that, she walked out of the library, letting the door swing shut behind her.

 Giles stood in silence, staring at the closed doorway.  Suddenly his mouth creased into a smile, and he began to laugh.  He didn't stop for a long time.

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