Title: Too Much Grief 1/10
Authors: Eaglewolf & Donna (aka-Cashew)
Date: May 2001 (or shall we just say we started this at the dawn of time and now well It's almost the end.)
Spoilers: We'll say S5 to be safe but not really
Summary: Giles has lovely memories
Rating: NC-17 over all
Pairing: B/G
Distribution: Please feel free to take it, just let us know where.
Feedback: Please. It's always appreciated.
Disclaimer: Joss, Fox, and everyone else in their sandbox own it.
Dedication: Sav, PJ, Tori, Dee who encouraged this fic from the start. And especially Milk who not only observed EW's descent into the dark side, but practically pushed her. *G* and Jac who decided no matter how bad and disgusting it was gonna get she was willing to beta it. Thanks guys.

Note1: While these chapters aren't dark, the forth coming ones are so you may wish to avoid them if certain things make you queasy. (Basically you name it we have it in here *somewhere*) We will only be posting a couple of non-quesy chapters onlist, and the rest will be archived by the wonderful Dee. EW wanted to explore the darker side of ficcing, but she didn't want to do it alone so she asked Cashew if she would be interested into a forage on the dark side. What started out as something dark, and fairly plotless soon developed into a fic which demanded just a simple plot, with a lot of angst and darkness thrown in.

Note 2 :As the fic goes on it will become angstier but Chapt 1 is totally angst free.. and could easily be read as a stand alone. So even if you want to avoid the rest of the fic, chapter 1 is a lovely fic all on it'sown.

His lashes fluttered closed, a hundred thousand images and memories played, crowding his mind, all of them Buffy. Smiling, happy, crying, pouting, angry, coldly determined, brave, orgasmic... his smile was pure joy, so sweet, so loving, it would have made anyone weep.

Her laughter echoed in his mind as she smiled at him in the fading glow of twilight. Her smile, as always took his breath away. Shadows played across her body stretched out on his bed, her eyes sparkling with love for him. His heart started to beat faster and faster as he read the love in her eyes, something so pure and so right. How could they ever have doubted each other? They were meant to be; she was his eternity, his destiny.

He touched his lips to hers softly, reverently. He never thought he could love this way. He was an open book to her... his heart... his soul. She trembled, amazed at how much she loved this man. Her head tipped back as he traced his mouth down her throat, lips slightly open. She shivered as she heard a carnal growl escape from his throat, his tongue slowly caressing her. A moan escaped her own lips and she felt him harden against her leg through his slacks. She arched up, ever so slightly, her legs parting to make a cradle for him to rest. His hands softly caressed her delicate mounds, lightly tugging at her turgid nipples. She sighed with pleasure at the contrast of gentle touches and his calloused fingers.

Her hands lightly traced his back, enjoying the smooth hard flesh and rippling muscles. It was as if he was trying to read her skin through his touch, to learn all he could about the spectacular woman underneath him. He lowered his head to kiss her gently, his lips seeking contact with hers before he allowed himself to trail an open mouth kiss down to her breasts. He could feel her heart beating rapidly under his ministrations. A Ripperish grin passed over his face as he gently breathed on her, not allowing her the contact she craved so intensely. She arched up towards him, trying to get his tongue to make contact with her nipple, her fingernails digging into his back, pulling him down towards her.

"Please."

It was a breathless moan, an entreaty. He swirled his tongue in wide circles around her nipple, letting them grow smaller and smaller until he rasped his tongue across the hardened tip. A mewl escaped her as she pressed herself into him. He stopped teasing her and sucked the tender tip into his mouth, sucking with the pressure she craved. He turned his attention to the other and offered the same treatment. Buffy lightly scraped her nails across his nipples, grinning as he jumped.

Softly he rested his head against the soft skin of her concave stomach, reassured by her heartbeat. This wasn't a dream, it was true, they where finally together. Face tender, Buffy reached down and gently ran her hands through his soft sandy hair, understanding perfectly. With a sigh, he turned his head and pressed a kiss to her fragrant flesh.

She sighed, stretching underneath him, adoring his weight, the feel of him.

"Mmm" Giles whispered. "If we stay here, we'll miss our dinner reservation."

He had made reservations at Sunnydales’ finest restaurant, knowing Buffy would enjoy the meal ambience and dessert cart. Plus it had a perfectly romantic balcony table that he had assured was reserved for them, thanks to his gold card.

Buffy purred and considered, too content where she was too worry about food.

Giles grinned down at her content expression. She looked like a well-fed cat, purring and stretching against the silk sheets.

"Lobster."

He whispered hotly against her ear. "Oyster Rockefeller, or even succulent steak, done just the way you like it."

Then he pulled out the big guns. "Dessert cart."

Buffy’s eyes slit open.

"Chocolate?"

Giles grinned down at her, eyes gleaming jade.

"Hmm." He purred, "Sinfully rich chocolate."

Buffy laughed huskily as she squirmed to get up.

"All right! I'll get up." Giles laughed.

He shifted in the chair, memories flooding his mind. He sighed in his sleep, the dreams every bit as vivid as the moments themselves had been. "Buffy....I...." Giles looked away unsure of himself.

Buffy looked up at him puzzled. "What Giles?"

He took a deep breath and reached into his dinner jacket pulling out a red velvet box. He lithely slid out of his chair and lightly dropped to one knee before her. As if on cue, the small combo began playing, 'From this Moment.' Capturing her disbelieving eyes with his.

"Marry me?" he whispered hoarsely and flipped open the box. Tears trickled down her cheeks as her breath caught in her throat.

"Yes." Buffy whispered back without hesitation.

A laughing sob escaped her as joy flooded her being. His answering smile could have blinded the world. He carefully took the ring out of the box and reached for her hand.

Buffy dragged her gaze from his incredible eyes and glanced down at the ring. Her breath caught, it was the most beautiful ring she'd ever seen. Her eyes filled with tears as she made out the design. The center stone was an emerald, marquis cut flanked by diamonds set in platinum. Around the stones was delicately etched with stylized crucifixes. The inscription simply read, B&G = Destiny.

Buffy’s eyes swam with tears as Giles slid the ring on her finger; his own eyes were suspiciously moist. Smiling, Buffy had to try two times before she could say.

"Let's get outta here?"

Giles smiled. Standing up, he threw enough money on the table to cover their delectable dinner and reached out a hand to Buffy. Smiling shakily, she took his hand and let him lead her into the night.

He turned, a frown marring his brow, as the confines of the chair didn't allow for much movement. The memories drifted back and his face smoothed out into a peaceful smile.

They wandered down the street, Buffy wrapped in Giles coat against the night air and Giles was wrapped around Buffy. They murmured plans to each other, lost in their own special world. Giles asking if she wanted a new house, Buffy thinking it might be better to stay in the old one for awhile, for Dawn. They laughed and cuddled hips bumping, the breeze tousling their hair.

Buffy stopped and whirled to him, her eyes shining.

"A dog? Can we get a dog? Something cute and fluffy that follows us around and makes messes?"

Giles laughed and gathered her back into his arms. "Yes."