Buffy screwed up her nose. "Who is Giles dating now?"

Her two best friends, Willow and Xander, and her best friend by osmosis, Oz, looked anywhere but at her. All three of them refused to meet her eyes.

"Come on, guys. Tell me! I can take it."

The men looked at Willow, silently voting her as their spokesperson. She shot them both a look that said they would hear about it later.

"Uh, well, Buffy, you see... he'sdatinganymph."

Buffy looked puzzled. "Say that again. I didn't catch it."

"A nymph! He's dating a nymph." Willow turned to the others, "You know if you say that word often enough it doesn't sound like a word. More like a sneeze."

"A nymph...omaniac?" The Slayer obviously hadn't fallen for Willow's distraction technique. She looked horrified.

"Uh, not exactly," Oz came to Willow's rescue. "At least, I don't think so."

Xander's eyes lit up at the wonder of the staid ex- Watcher entering into a relationship with someone possessing an uncontrollable sex drive. "If she is, do you think she has a sister?"

Willow smacked him on the arm.

"Ow?" He rubbed his wounded appendage.

"No, Buffy," Willow told her, "she's a heretofore mythological creature who cavorts around the forests and near rivers and such."

"Oh. So she is a nymphomaniac."

"She's actually quite nice. He met her on that last retreat he went on."

Buffy dumped her purse on the steps of the college's History Building and parked herself beside it. Pouting, she said, "The last one was a sorceress. Before that he dated that female centaur. Who knew they came in female? Well, I guess they'd have to, otherwise where would the baby centaurs come from? I gotta tell you, that one really wigged me out. I mean, how much of her is girl and how much is horse?"

She fell silent while they all remembered and then conjured up matching expressions of ewwiness.

Willow said, "Well, at least it didn't last long. Two dates, as I recall, and I'm reasonably sure they didn't sleep together. After they went to the racetrack and she fell for the handsome thoroughbred colt that won the race, it was pretty much over."

Still in the dumps over her Watcher's lovelife, Buffy sighed. "Before that there was the Valkyrie. That really seemed serious for a while. And remember the faery?"

"She was cute with her pert little button nose. Kind of reminded me of Tinkerbell and I'll just shut up now." Xander sheepishly ducked his head, withering under the Slayer's glare.

"What about the shapeshifter?" Oz asked. "When she was human she was kind of cool. It wasn't until she reverted to her true form of a panther that the dynamics took a dumper."

Buffy whimpered. "Why can't he find someone normal?"

"This is the Hellmouth," Xander reminded her unnecessarily. "A guy with an active social life is bound to run into a few supernatural entities."

"At least he hasn't dated a vampire." Oz actually blushed when he realized what he'd said. "Sorry, Buffy. I didn't mean..."

"It's okay. I'm just upset because of the number of women...creatures... the number of dates he's been on this summer. He might catch something. I hope he's being careful."

Willow glanced at the guys and nonverbally elected herself to say what they were all thinking.

"Is that the only reason why you're upset?"

Buffy slumped on the steps, looking very dejected. "What do you mean?"

"It's just that, well, you sound...jealous."

Her eyes growing huge, Buffy exclaimed, "Jealous? Don't you mean envious because he has a more active social life than I do?"

"No, I mean jealous as in you're upset because he's not dating you."

Opening her mouth to protest, Buffy shut it again and pouted thoughtfully.

"I don't think so," but she said it in a tiny voice, sounding very uncertain. "I haven't thought about it much at all."

"Better think fast," Oz said. "Here he comes now."

They all looked up as Giles approached them. He was dressed casually in jeans, flannel shirt and hiking boots, a denim jacket flung over his shoulder. Stifling a yawn as he got closer, he smiled afterward.

"Hello all," he greeted them.

He hadn't looked this relaxed and happy in ages. He was even getting a healthy golden glow of a tan.

Buffy studied him carefully. He looked so handsome. A whimper escaped her lips.

"Buffy?" Giles knelt by her side. "Are you all right?"

All she could do was nod helplessly. She bravely got her emotions under control and asked quietly, "How was your date last night?"

A secretive little smile crossed his lips before he replied, "Actually, it started yesterday morning and I just dropped her off at the river. It went well."

Buffy whimpered again.

Frowning, Giles placed his hand on her shoulder. "Are you sure you're feeling well?"

All Buffy could do was turn her head and look at his hand warming her skin. Then she gazed back at him.

"I'm the Slayer."

"Yes?"

"Aren't I supernatural enough for you? I mean, I have superstrength and fast healing powers and stuff. I think I even have above average hearing. I may not be Wonder Woman and wear a skimpy little superhero costume, but I can do things. I can run for blocks and blocks without getting out of breath and I..."

"Buffy, whatever are you talking about?"

Willow jumped to her feet. "Come on, Oz, Xander. I think this is not a conversation for non-Watcher-Slayer types."

The three quickly said their goodbyes and left.

"Buffy," Giles prompted. "It sounds like you're applying for a job. What are you getting at?"

Straightening her shoulders, Buffy said, "I guess I am applying for something. I feel ridiculous now, but I'll keep talking anyway, and afterwards I can just go somewhere and die of embarrassment. Giles, you've been dating a lot this summer."

"Well, I've only gone out a few times..." He appeared to think it over. "Perhaps you're right. It has been rather a lot."

"That's a good thing," she hastened to add. "It's good that you're getting out. You haven't done much of that since you moved here to be my Watcher."

Giles sat beside her on the steps. He shrugged. "No, I suppose I haven't. But you did sound upset just now. Why? What's wrong and what does it have to do with my social life?"

Unable to speak, Buffy simply stared at him with her blue-grey eyes.

stared back at her, puzzled. She lifted her eyebrows and stared harder, willing him to understand.

"Oh! I, uh, that is..."

Buffy turned away, miserable in her confusion.

"B-Buffy, it's..." he stopped and then tried again. "I would like to d... Oh, hell. I thought you weren't interested in me in that way. When I met these other wom...persons... beings... When I went on those dates it didn't mean anything. I was just out to have a good time. There was never any possibility of a permanent relationship coming from any of them. Well, except maybe Rilla, the sorceress. She and I had more in common than any of the others."

"I sensed a point in there somewhere. Please find it and return to sender?"

"Ah, yes. Well, I meant to say that I've been attracted to you for quite some time. In the beginning you were too young and I didn't fancy getting arrested, or killed by your mother. Then you were involved with -- with Angel and no one else existed for you. Then, as you gained your independence and didn't need me any longer as your Watcher, I just naturally started to look around at the... possibilities."

"So I was a... possibility?" she asked shyly.

"Well, no. You weren't."

Buffy looked away, mortified, until Giles put his hand on her arm and gently tugged her around to face him.

"You weren't, but you could be if you're open to it now."

"Is it going to be a one date sort of deal and then you dump me by the river after you've had your fun, or are you willing to put some effort into it?"

He looked at her askance. "Shouldn't that be my question to you?"

"Hey, just because I'm young doesn't mean I sleep around. I've only really ever had relationships, not dates. The same can't be said for you, Mister. You pretty much gave your hormonal urges free rein." She smiled to show him she was joking.

It was Giles' turn to glance away, his face heating up just a bit. When he looked back, he was smiling.

"Very well, are you free tonight?"

Buffy stood and pulled him to his feet. "Actually, I can be pretty expensive, but I'll go easy on you to start."

"I'd appreciate that seeing as how I still don't have a job."

They began to walk together.

"I was wondering about that. How do you afford to take your um, ladies out on dates?" She grew wide-eyed as a thought occurred to her. "Giles! You didn't let them pay? You gigolo you!"

Affronted, he replied, "Why do you think I dated supernatural beings? They are either capable of conjuring up a meal and entertainment, or else prefer to commune with nature. Terribly inexpensive way to spend an evening."

Giggling, Buffy slipped her hand around the crook of his arm. "Well, you'll have to do better than that with me. I require pizza and a soda at the very least."

Giles freed his arm and put it around her shoulders. "For you, my dear, nothing but the best."

~ end ~