Life in Sunnydale appeared to be back to normal -- at least, as normal as life on the Hellmouth could get. On his way to the library, Giles dared to meet the eye of several of the faculty of Sunnydale high. Again and again, teachers and staff smiled guiltily and quickly looked away, skittering off into the crowds of students, hoping as Giles himself did that no one would bring up the subject of their adolescent behaviour the day before.
He gained the sanctuary of the library unaccosted and ducked into his office breathing a sigh of relief. He shrugged off his suit jacket and settled in at his desk to get back to work.
And yet, the peace of mind he needed to accomplish anything completely escaped him as he found himself thinking about yesterday. He'd behaved in an unconscionably juvenile manner. Granted it had been while under the influence of a spell but still... Dim memories surfaced of years long past in which he'd rebelled against his destiny as a Watcher; he remembered outright bad judgement and near-criminal activities. As ashamed of himself as he was for his more recent misdeeds he smiled when he remembered the sheer thrill of doing it all over again. It was not acceptable for a forty year old and yet it was fun.
Then he cringed inwardly as he thought about Joyce Summers. That was a mistake. A big one. An enjoyable one but still not appropriate behaviour from the Watcher towards the mother of the Slayer.
They'd had sex. On a cop car. He hadn't spoken to her since and wondered if she was as mortified by what they'd done as he was.
Sex on a cop car. It sounded like the name of one of those horrid drinks Americans were so fond of inventing and then foisting off on the unsuspecting public in the pubs.
Just as long as Buffy didn't find out. Joyce wouldn't tell her would she? Surely not.
"Hey, Giles!" Buffy flounced into his office.
Startled, Giles flinched badly.
"B-Buffy."
"You okay? You look a little pale. Paler than usual that is." The Slayer perched on the edge of the desk and studied him critically. "You also look a little shaky around the edges."
It was that obvious?
"What are you doing here? Sh-shouldn't you be in class?"
"Nah, I've got time. I wanted to talk to you about something. Something important." She stared pointedly at him.
"Oh? Yes?" She knows.
Buffy frowned. "Yeah. I don't think we should put this off 'cause if we do it'll only create a big problem between us."
"I see." No, he didn't. He smiled anyway. "What would that be?"
Setting her books on his desk she got up and paced the width of the office. Giles found he couldn't watch and kept his gaze mostly on anything but her.
"Yeah. Maybe it's none of my business what you do with your life and I know I gave you a hard time about this yesterday but..."
"Yes?" Oh, please just say it and get it out in the open. I had sex with your mother in public.
"I just can't sit back and not say something about it."
Giles turned to look at her, steeling himself for it.
"What exactly are you talking about?" No, my intentions towards your mother were not honorable and no, I'm not going to become your stepfather.
"Giles..."
"Buffy?"
"Giles -- please don't ever, ever smoke again. 'Kay?"
"S-smoke?" His brain was not processing the information. The words smoke and mother did not sound alike.
"Yeah. It's not good for you and I'd kinda like to keep you as my Watcher for a while yet."
She was staring at him with a pleading look on her face.
Relief left Giles limp.
"Oh, Buffy. I assure you...I...I promise never to smoke again."
"Good." She smiled, grabbed her books and headed out the door. "See ya later for training."
Giles leaned back in his chair. His only thought right then was that he could really use a cigarette.