Title: Roadtrip Retreat Pt. 2
Authors: Eaglewolf & Milk
Feedback: Well, Betsy needs feed to keep living. We need it to keep writing. No feed = Dead cow. See what we are getting at?? *eg*
Disclaimer: Betsy belongs to US and no one else, but we will rent her out for Country fairs .. if held at night and Joss and his mates own everything else.. apart from the space vampire - that's Dee's <G>
"Giles! Um, I didn't see you there. Uh...." Buffy realized she still was holding the black corset up and hurriedly dropped it on the bed and turned to face Giles.
"Buffy, what were you doing with that?"
"With what?" Buffy tried to block the view of the outfit, but only succeeding in making matters worse when the fishnet stockings slid off the bed landing between Buffys feet.
As if in a trance, they both slowly looked down to see the stockings as they lay in a puddle on the floor. Buffy began to try to discretely push them under the bed with her toe.
"NO! You'll rip them! " Giles exclaimed frantically as he lunged to save them. Buffy froze in mid-motion as Giles dropped down to kneel before her. Gathering them in his strong hands, he started to look them over to see if anything had happened to them.
Buffy stood motionless as she watched this display from Giles. Had he snapped? They were only black stockings after all, and she was still going to kill Willow for doing this. Hesitantly she asked, "Giles? .... Um, whatcha doin' down there?"
Realizing what he had just done, he raised his head to look at Buffy. "If you aren't careful with these, they tear horrendously. It's quite difficult to find this type around here," Slowly he stood and towered over Buffy. "Where did you find these?" He asked in a low voice.
Buffy let it slide that Giles knew so much about stockings, he was a Watcher after all, they had the oddest knowledge base. "Willow. She told me when I was packing I should bring a little 'something' along, just in case I met someone... you know.... As in 'meet' someone? Anyway, since I didn't, she did. Willow was having some fun and I guess decided to stuff this in the bag. AND before you ask, no this is mine."
"I know. Because that's not your bag. It's mine." Giles stepped to the side of Buffy and placed the stockings back on the bed with the rest of the contents of the bag. Turning back to face her, he took off his glasses, closed his eyes, and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "What I want to know is... why is it here and why are you going through it?"
"Good one Giles. You almost had me there. What, did Willow put you up to this? "
"No. Though I wish she had. Answer my questions Buffy. Why is this here?" Giles opened and locked eyes with his Slayer.
"It was in the car. You said to grab your bags, so I did. Well, kinda."
"Kinda? What do you mean by 'kinda'?" Giles could tell by the look on her face that there was more to this story, so he pressed on. "Where are my other bags Buffy? Please tell me this is not the only bag of mine you packed into the Jeep."
"Oh, it's not. I grabbed the weapons bag too. Couldn't forget that." Buffy looked at Giles as she began to notice the tips of his ears turning a pinkish tinge. Then she realized........"Wait a minute, are you telling me THIS is the only thing you packed to wear?"
"NO! THAT was NOT the ONLY thing I packed to wear! That was the reason I had OTHER bags. They held clothing. THIS." Giles grabbed the corset from the bed and shook it between himself and Buffy, "this, was not suppose to be along on this trip, or for you to even see...." He was cut off by Buffy.
"So..what? Now it's MY fault?!? Maybe if you didn't have something in the car that you didn't want me to see, you should have packed the Jeep up yourself! It looked like a harmless bag; it looks just like one of mine. THAT is the reason I even opened it up... I thought it was my bag." Buffy said the last in almost a whisper.
Calming his tone, Giles took in the effect the yelling was having on her. "Of course it looks like your bag, you're the one that gave it to me. Don't you remember? You told me 'a Watcher and Slayer should match when they went to the gym.' Giles reached out to touch Buffys shoulder; she sidestepped his touch and moved to wrap her arms around his chest for a hug. Giles folded his arms around her and tucked her head under his chin. "We'll deal with it. It's all right Buffy. Its late, let's say we get some rest."
Buffy squeezed him tighter to her. She liked the feel of his strong arms around her and just wished she had become tactile with him sooner than just recently. Wiping a tear on his shirt as she pulled away from him, she looked up to find Giles above her with his eyes closed and a small smile on his face.
"Sorry Giles. I should have fit all your bags in. Now you don't have anything to change into. Well, you do. But I don't think you will...not that I'm saying you can't if you want to....really....." Buffy trailed off with what one could almost consider a whisk of hope in her voice. She had considered doing the 'pout look' she knew he couldn't resist, but hadn't.
"Yes, well, I don't think that is really an option here. Even if it was, I still wouldn't. Don't even think that pout you have will work on me, because it won't. I will suffice with what I'm wearing tonight, tomorrow we'll stop and get a few things someplace."
"Shopping? Really?? Oh, I can help you with that! What do you need?" Buffy looked down at the bed. "Everything, I take it. Ok, not a problem, we can do this. You did bring your credit card, didn't you, Giles?"
He thought about the cruelty he could do to Buffy if he told her 'no'. But he opted to keep the smile on her face and himself alive. "Yes, I brought it along. But neither of us will be able to shop if we don't get a little sleep. So, go change while I figure out how to work this, all right?"
"Yes Giles." Buffy reached and grabbed the bag on the bed that she knew, this time, was indeed hers. "I'll be out in a couple." She headed off towards the bathroom and closed the door behind her.
Giles scanned the room to see what he could come up with to sleep on. There was no chair, but there was a table, which he stopped considering immediately. He had done that once before and didn't want to relive that incident. But other than the bed and the table, there wasn't much more to chose from, except the floor. He looked to the floor and cringed, maybe he could squeeze into the back of the Jeep.
Buffy popped out a few moments later and watched as Giles stared at the floor. Approaching his side and looking at the spot he was pondering. "You can't be serious." Buffy said as she looked on.
"I'm not sure there's much choice in the matter. Look around Buffy." Buffy raised her head up to take a quick inventory of the options.
"You're missing the obvious one, the bed. It is meant for two, hence the title 'double bed'. We can share." With that Buffy turned away from Giles and went to place her bag on the floor by the nightstand. Gathering up the empty bag, she moved to the end of the bed and looked at Giles. "You sure you don't want to wear this tonight?"
Giles glared at her, "Yes, I'm certain. I really think the bed is not an option, either." Giles joined Buffy at the bed. Picking up the corset, he folded it as he placed it in the bag Buffy held open. Gathering up the rest of the outfit, he also placed them in and Buffy closed the bag setting it on the floor beside hers.
"We're adults Giles. We can share a bed you know. I'll sleep under both blankets, you sleep under the top one if it makes you feel better. But there is not a chance in hell you are sleeping on the floor. What was that anyway??" Buffy stood and waited for Giles to realize she was right.
"I...don't quite know what that was ..." Looking at Buffy; Giles tilted his head and took in what Buffy was wearing.
Noticing his look Buffy asked. "What? What's wrong?"
"That's my shirt! What are you doing with my shirt?" It was his dark gray t-shirt, his favorite, and he couldn't remember the last time he had seen it. He stared as he moved further down her form and noticed she was wearing boxers.... And nothing else.
Realizing she had been caught, Buffy rolled her eyes. "Yes, it's your shirt. Happy now? I accidentally mixed it in with my stuff one night after training at the Box. I just never brought it back. I liked it."
"Well, so did I. That is the reason I bought it to begin with." Shaking his head, he gave in and sat on the bed to remove his shoes. He could hear Buffy scuffling about behind him and finished his task. Just as he was about to peel off his socks, something hit him in the head.
"Hey! What the bloody hell was that for?!?!?" Turning sideways on the bed, he saw Buffy pulling the covers up to her chin and felt the bed sink a bit. Looking down on the bed beside him, he saw what it was she had hit him with.
"Buffy, I didn't mean I wanted it back at this moment. Here," he picked up the shirt and began to offer it back to her when a pair of boxers dropped from the tangled up shirt. Throwing him for a loop, all he could muster was a weak, "Umm."
Buffy liked seeing the comprehension dawn on his face as he put all the clues together. Taking pity on him, Buffy sat up clutching the blanket about her chest with one hand and picking up the fallen boxers. "Relax, Giles. You need them more than I do tonight. I'll just stay under these. Go on Giles, take them. You can't sleep in your clothes; you'll just be grumpy in the morning."
Knowing she was right, he took the garment from her outstretched hand. "You sure about this?" Giles watched as she nodded her head. Trying not to think too much about the fact that his slayer had just stripped these off her warm body and was laying not two feet away from him naked, save for a blanket or two. He thought back to the last time someone had given him their boxers.....
"Giles? Yoo-hoo, Giles?? Go change first, then you can zone out and fall asleep, ok?" Giles came back to the here and now and gathered the clothing and headed into the bathroom to change.
Closing the door over, Giles began to strip. It only took a few moments before he was standing in all his glory. Holding the grey shirt up to his face, he breathed in and could smell the scent of his Slayer. Even though the shirt had only caressed her skin for mere moments, her fragrance was imbedded into the fabric. He slipped it over his head and bent to grab the boxers that had fallen to the floor from the sink edge where he had placed them. The boxers were a woman's style with a drawstring around the waist, no fly, and higher cut than what he was accustomed to. Made of a soft flannel, the boxers warmed his skin as he slipped them up his thighs. As he got them settled, Giles realized they might be a bit too high cut. After a moment of readjusting, he noticed if he 'packed to the left and up,' he wouldn't have to deal with an unexpected appearance from the bottom of the boxers.
Gathering his discarded clothes, he made his way back out to Buffy snuggled up in the bed. Propping her head up with her left hand and holding the blankets to her with the right, she took in Giles' new attire. Letting out a low whistle, she couldn't keep the laughter at bay and began to laugh aloud. Collapsing to lay on her back, she kept her eyes on him.
"Ooooh, Giles. If only I had a camera with me. The gang would love to see you wearing that." Buffy watched as he ignored her and went to the table to lay his clothes down. Seeing as he wasn't in the mood for all the teasing she had prepared. "Come to bed, Giles. I'll behave and I won't tell the gang. Though I think it would only be Xander you'd have to worry about teasing you." With a little wink, she patted the bed and saw he wasn't as moody as he was before.
Moving to the right side of the bed he picked up the top blanket and climbed in. "Thank you, Buffy. For the use of your clothes." Laying on his back and curling his arm below the pillow, he closed his eyes.
"Anytime. You do look better in that outfit than I do. " Reaching over to hit the light, Buffy got an idea. She was going to wait and do this in the morning to wake him up, but the temptation was too much to wait. She turned the light off and then snuggled back down to wait for it to start.
She didn't have to wait long until the vibrations began. Then the moaning. "Buffy......what on god's green earth possessed you to turn that on?"
"Giles, it's...relaxing. I was going to wait until the morning to do it, but you looked like you needed a little help in that department tonight." Then, it happened.
The relaxing vibrating turned into a violent shaking catching them both off guard. Buffy was flung towards the center of the bed as Giles bounced to the same spot. Slamming into one another they, out of reflex, grabbed hold of each other, trying desperately not to be separated. Giles pulled her to him into a bear hug of sorts as she held on tight to his arms. Together they were flung from one side to the bed to the other and tossed into the air. Losing his grip on her after a particular nasty toss, they both flailed helplessly until they were bounced back together again.
This time it was Buffy that managed to grab hold of Giles into a bear hug and held him tight. The violent actions of the bed began to subside after about five minutes and eased back into its relaxing vibrations, before stopping. Gasping for air, the two of them just laid on their sides facing one another with Buffy still clutching him.
It was Buffy who regained air first. "Whoa, now THAT was a ride. You still alive Giles? I didn't think it was going to be that way, really. I think something was wrong with this."
"Really?? And what gave that away, hmm? Could it have been the way we hurled into one another? Or perhaps just perhaps, the way we had to hold onto each other to stay on the bed?? The next time you get one of your 'brilliant' ideas, talk it over with me first! Now, switch sides. I'm keeping you as far away from the controls as possible."
"Um, Giles? Uh, have you noticed anything? As in, oh I don't know, maybe a little colder than you were before? "
"What are you.....Oh. Buffy, what happened?"
Still clutching the front of him, "My guess is that last time we got tossed, so did the blankets. You know, I'm really not all that cold. You're good for body heat."
"Yes, well, um, perhaps we should think of gathering back the blankets........"
"Chill Giles. I'll get them." Buffy let go of Giles and got up on all fours and leaned over the edge of the bed to retrieve them.
Giles had felt Buffy release him and slammed his eyes shut. 'Nonononono, why is she trying to do this to me?' "Please hurry Buffy."
Buffy straightened the blankets and covered them both back up. Sliding back down beside Giles, she decided to stick with his body heat for her warmth, rather than rely solely on the coverings. "It's ok, Giles. You can open your eyes again." Buffy smiled as she said that and then turned to watch him.
"Buffy, you seem to have forgotten I'm supposed to be only under the one blanket, not the two."
"No, I just like you better for holding and snuggling than these blankets. We're adults Giles. Remember? We can handle this, can't we?"
"Yes, indeed we can. Uh, you comfortable now?" Giles queried as he realized this wasn't affecting him as one would think.
"Yeah, I think so. You ok with this? I mean, if you aren't then we can go and do what we were before all this began...." Buffy trailed off as she watched Giles with her hopeful eyes that he really was indeed ok with all this.
"It's fine Buffy, really. Now let's get some sleep." He snuggled down to think about what had happened to give this non-reaction to all of Buffys touchings and sighings.
"Night Giles. Sooo...when do I get to see you in the corset? Or at least get to hear why you one to begin with?" Buffy couldn't help but to ask. She'd been good since she saw it, but just could not restrain herself any longer.
"You don't. Night Buffy. Sleep well." Giles closed his eyes and thought about the events of the day. Of all the incidents and occurrences with Buffy, the one place his mind kept traveling to was the one memory brought up by the boxers. Not hers, but the boxers of a long time ago that were given to him by someone special. He loved those boxers, and the one that they belonged to. It had been a long time since he thought about that time in his life.
Buffy brushed up against him yet again and still, felt no sign of a reaction from him. Was it her? They had been flirting for a few months now. Only lately, on a more frequent basis. Could she have been reading him wrong all this time? Buffy decided to stop brushing against him and just settle back against his chest in a spoon like manner. 'Maybe he's a slow riser.' Buffy thought as she burrowed in a little deeper to the pillow and tried to sleep with dreams of him in and out of that black corset.
'She's doing it again. Maybe I should just tell her now that I'm not the man she always believed I was. Have I been leading her on with all our harmless flirting? It's not like I planned on that between us, it just sort of developed of its own accord. She became full of life when we would do that, how could I have denied her that, or myself, for that matter?' Giles pulled his sleeping Slayer closer to him and draped his arm around her waist and drifted off to sleep.
~ ~ ~ ~
Buffy awoke to find herself lying on her stomach. Under her was Giles, and his arms wrapped around her tightly. His shirt had risen up to uncover his stomach and Buffy felt a wave of excitement as she felt their skin contact. Watching him sleep was a rare thing, he did so little of it when she was around. Buffy decided she liked watching him for a change and studied his face. He looked so relaxed in his sleep. No worries, no fears, just a peacefulness that was missing the rest of the day. Moving her thigh, she came into contact with the cottony flannel boxers. Unlike when she was with Riley though, she felt nothing more. 'Aren't guys suppose to be hard in the morning? First no interest from him last night and now this?'
Buffy 'accidentally' woke Giles. "Oh, sorry Giles, did I wake you?" Try as she might, she couldn't quite hold the anger out of her tone.
Groggily, "Buffy? Just a little tired still. What were you saying?" Giles picked up and rubbed one of his hands over his face in an attempt to stimulate it.
Realizing she shouldn't be angry with him, she lightened her tone. "Wake and shine, Watcher! Time to hit the road. It's........" Buffy reached over Giles to get her watch from the nightstand. In so doing she grazed her bare breast against the exposed flesh of his stomach. "....8:30. We gotta get moving."
"Yes, we do. Why don't you grab a shower if you dare, while I wake up a bit more? Hmm?" Giles rolled Buffy off from him and began to dig at both eyes with his fist, like a kid, to get the sleep from them.
"All right. Sounds like a plan." Giving up on modesty, Buffy shook the blankets from her and grabbed her bag before heading to the shower. Looking back, she could see Giles still rubbing his eyes and missing the show she was giving him as she made her way across the room.
It was 9:30 by the time they made it back to the Jeep and heading out on the road. Giles was taking the first leg of the drive while Buffy leaned back and perused the paper they had picked up with the coffee and tea they had gotten.
"What road are we on?" Asked Buffy suddenly, breaking the comfortable silence that was between them.
"Why? It's route 9, if you must know." Giles gave her a quizzical look then turned back towards the road.
"I thought so, good. I found a place to look for clothes for you. It's a grand opening and they have tons on sale. It shouldn't take us long, it should be on the intersection of route 9 and 32." Buffy went back to looking at the sale flyer that was stuck inside the paper.
"That should be coming up soon. There's going to be a lot of people there, won't there? Can't we find a nice, sedate store to look in?"
"Sedate? That was old you, let's see what we can come up with to modernize you. You look good in jeans; I want to keep you in them."
"There it is...." Giles trailed off as they pulled into the large parking lot.
******************
"Wow." Buffy looked in the shop window at all the camping gear on display, in the middle of the display was a large red colored rock, taking up most of the window. . Her brow furrowed and she called to her watcher, "Giles! Come here!"
Giles wandered over, and smiled as he looked in the window. It brought back memories of camping under the stars on one trip to Australia many years ago. "Oh That's a representation Ayers Rock, which is in the middle of the Northern..."
"Territory, and it's real name is Uluru." Buffy practically crowed, she was rewarded with a smile of surprise and pride on his face. She knew the Discovery channel was good for something.
Giles' eyes glazed over, as he was assaulted by memories. He'd stayed out near Uluru on an archeological dig. His eyes misted over as he remembered laying with Danielle watching the stars, talking about life in general. It was that night, he remembered, when they'd both made some life changing decisions. They'd never looked back, he wondered just how much she'd changed since that night.
"They appear to sell clothing, Buffy. Let's go in so I can get myself out of the predicament you put me in." Giles was itching to get out of his dirty clothes, and into something clean.
"OOh grand opening! Everything's on sale." Buffy squealed as Giles held the door open for her, his smile taking the sting out of his words.
"Ah huh!" Giles headed straight over the clothing section, leaving Buffy standing in the doorway looking around with her mouth agape. She felt like she'd just left the United States behind and walked straight onto the set of Survivor in the Outback. There were trees standing in pots throughout the store, in one corner there was even a large indoor pond set up with what appeared to be a crocodile sunning itself on a rock in the middle. Buffy shuddered it was a little too realistic, she jumped when she saw it move. She quickly rushed over to Giles' side, and took in what he had picked up to try on. Then she imagined him in the clothing he had in his hand, and her heartbeat sped up. Oh he had good taste when it came to outdoor wear she decided. She started to follow him as he walked to the change room, and almost bumped into him as he turned to draw the curtain across.
"Umm Buffy?"
"Yes Giles?" She asked as she stared at his chest, covered in the shirt she'd been sleeping in for the past week.
"I can dress myself you know. I don't need help."
"But I'd like to.. help." Then Buffy looked up into his intense green eyes and made an eep sound before hot footing it over to have a closer look at the croc.
Giles shook his head at his retreating slayer before closing the curtain. He loved her, but she'd been acting a tad strange lately. He pulled off the shirt he was wearing; he hadn't known what to think when Buffy had handed it to him out of *her* bag. He pulled the new shirt over his head, he loved the feel of new flannel against his skin. Then he pulled his jeans off, no luggage had meant no clean underwear. He wondered if they'd sell boxers in this store, or if he was going to be hanging free the whole time they were on this retreat. He pulled on the new jeans, they fit snugly as if they were made just for him.
He pulled the curtain open a tad, and called out to Buffy. She turned away from the pond, having ascertained that the crocodile was just animatronic and walked back to where Giles was standing. Her eyes raked in his appearance. She started at his bare feet, and slowly let her gaze drift upward, over his jean clad legs, her gaze lingered for a moment at his crotch as she ascertained they were not button fly jeans, and up to his torso. She gasped, as she realised he'd left the top few buttons undone so his chest hair was visible. Then she looked into his intense green eyes.
"Umm Yes Giles? Do you need something?" she gulped.
"Does this look okay? I don't want to spend so much if I look stupid."
"No, No you look great Giles. You only buying them? Or did you want me to go and grab you some more shirts... and jeans?"
"Please." Buffy wandered off to pick out what she thought her watcher would look best in. Giles didn't even twig that she hadn't had to ask his size at all.
Buffy walked over to the clothing section, and as she examined each article of clothing she allowed her mind to wander, imagining him in everything. She finally picked up what in her mind he looked the sexiest in and took the clothes back to the dressing room where Giles was waiting. For a brief moment as she considered opening the curtain without calling out, but as she raised her hand to do so Giles poked his head out to look around the store for her. He jumped and let out a gasp as he saw her standing there in front of him.
"Here you are Giles. Try these on. I'll wait here in case you need anything. You sure you don't need a hand with anything?" Buffy sat down on the seat next to the change room.
"No, I'm quite alright now thank you." Giles brow furrowed, this was the second time Buffy had hinted that she wanted to help him get dressed. Now he was all for slayer/watcher bonding but that was taking things a little too far. He closed the curtain and blushed as he noticed Buffy had included 3 pairs of boxers in her selection of clothes for him to try on. He held up the other shirts and pants she had chosen. He smiled, she might have strange taste in music but she had good choice in clothing. He pulled on the black jeans she had provided him with. 'Nice fit' he thought to himself, 'she really does have an eye for dressing me.' He opened the curtain as he pulled the shirt on over his shoulders.
Buffy looked up to smile at her watcher, and yet again found herself staring at his bare chest, after a few moments of admiring his muscles she realised he was saying something to her.
"...if you wouldn't mind?"
She forced her gaze upwards and found it focused on his lips. "Sorry Giles, I was just admiring your chest.. I mean what did you say?"
Giles gave Buffy the strangest look, and once again asked Buffy to take the clothes to the counter for him and pay while he finished dressing himself.
"Oh, No that's fine. I'll go over and get it all sorted out for you. But I need to get those tags---if you want to stay in those clothes." she allowed herself to zone for a moment thinking of Giles out of those clothes, before shaking her head and moving towards him to cut off the tags.
"I-I can do that Buffy."
"Nonsense, it's fine Giles. Besides with my slayer strength it's easy to get the tags off." she said as she pulled the tag off the jeans. "Is that all of them?"
"No," Giles' voice was low. "and *I* can get the last one."
"Giles, why on earth wouldn't you let me.. oh!" Buffy had the decency to blush, though she stood there looking at him her eyes challenging him.
Giles looked back into her eyes, she thought he wouldn't do it. She thought he would shut the curtain. Normally he would have, but being in this store had brought back memories, memories of a Giles that hadn't been so prim and proper. He wanted to shock her, he smiled and grabbed her wrists, guiding her hands to his waist and said "You do it, but you're going to have to fish for it luv."
Buffy laughed nervously, and ripped the tag that was sticking out from the top of the jeans.
"No, I have it right here. Give me the rest of the clothes will you?"
Giles snickered, and reached back into the change room for the rest of the clothing pile. As he handed them to her he said,
"Would you mind grabbing me another pair of jeans on your way over to the counter? I think four pairs should suffice."
"No problemo," Buffy answered as she took the clothes and held out her hand for Giles' MasterCard. She picked up a pair of blue jeans on the way to the counter and stopped as a pair of khaki pants caught her eye. She glanced back at the change room, where Giles had pulled the curtain back across and back at the MasterCard in her hand.
Without further thought she picked them up and noticing the stack of gray t-shirts sitting next to them, she just picked up three without any thought at all. She wanted *her* t-shirt back, he could have these ones. Giles in a gray t-shirt and Khaki pants. Gone were the days of tweed and she intended to make sure it stayed that way.
Giles turned and glanced at himself in the mirror, a smile slowly crept across his face. He turned to make sure the curtain was completely closed and then turned back to admire himself in the mirror. He struck a few different poses before sighing, putting his boots back on and picking up the dirty clothes. God it felt good to be in clean clothes instead of in what he'd been wearing when they got there. He gave himself one final look in the mirror and left to see just how much damage Buffy had caused to his credit card; after all this whole thing was her fault.
Buffy finally reached the counter and dumped all the clothes down on it. She smiled at the young man behind the counter and glanced at his nametag. 'Jack Aroo'. Strange name she thought to herself.
"We'll take all of these and he's wearing a couple of things, the tags are here," she said as she put them on top of the other clothes.
She felt a hand on her shoulder and she smiled up at Giles before she turned back to watch Jack go through the motions of ringing up her purchases. She stepped back as Giles leaned over to sign the receipt and admired his assets while his attention was diverted.
"Here ya are, it's our grand opening today. Please feel free to enjoy the festivities. Rex Hunt will be making a guest appearance, mate. You don't wanna miss that," the shop assistant, with a strong Australian accent, said as he handed back the MasterCard to Giles and packed all the clothing into a bag, which he passed over the counter to Buffy.
"We'll be starting some competitions up soon, you should give it a shot. Here you are, six tickets to enter them."
He was dressed in khaki pants and a khaki colored shirt, all he needed as an Akubra to top of the Aussie look.
"Oh and because it's our grand opening, we are giving everyone in the store a free can of beer. Here you are sir, a can of Fosters."
He handed Giles the blue can, and turned to Buffy to hand her a can of the amber liquid. Buffy opened her mouth to refuse, she'd had enough of beer back in college, when Giles leaned down and whispered
"Take it luv," so she smiled and took the proffered can. Giles took it from her and slid it into her jacket pocket.
"Save it for me, for later." he whispered. Giles turned back to the shop assistant and said,
"It's been so long since I had a chance to crack open a tinnie. But FOSTERS???"
Giles looked at the young man's name tag and chuckled at the pun. He'd been mates with a few jackeroos back in the old days.
Jack smiled.
"Sorry mate, we didn't realize we'd have any Australian beer connoisseurs in today. If you are actually interested in a carton--- then we have Coopers and VB for sale as well. You can actually win some at the competitions today."
Buffy wondered at the boyish smile that crossed Giles' face as he looked at his watch.
"Do we have time to stay?" she questioned.
"Yes, I believe we do. I'd love to win some of that beer," he answered. With that they smiled at Jack, said thank you and wandered around the shop a little while longer.
The few people in the shop had congregated near the crocodile’s pond.
It appeared there was to be a kind of fishing game.
"Okay mates, my name's Bluey, are you ready to play? What you've gotta do is take this 'ere rod and have yerself a fish."
The shop assistance smiled at the small crowd as he tipped his Akubra hat. He too was dressed in khaki, his red hair just seemed to finish off the look. Giles smiled as he remembered the Akubra he had owned so long ago, complete with hanging corks to stop the flies from getting too tiresome.
" Just look under the fish to see if you've won a great Aussie prize."
Giles smiled and lent down to whisper in Buffy's ear, as he handed her one of the tickets.
"Go on, go test your co-ordination."
Buffy flipped her hair back over her shoulder, stepped forward and handed the ticket to Bluey before picking up one of the toy rods. She frowned as cast, and being the slayer easily hooked one of the fish. She lifted it from the water and turned it over.
"Giles, what on earth is a swag?"
"You won a swag?? Congratulations Buffy. Just a minute, I want to try for some of that Coopers." He drained the last of his beer and handed the empty can to Buffy. He stepped forward and took one of the rods, after handing Bluey his ticket.
He hooked one of the fish and hauled it up.
"A koala. Hmmm."
Giles turned to Bluey.
"Mate, how many cartons are in here?"
"Three mate. Three cartons of Coopers."
Giles smiled and his eyes narrowed.
"Coopers. It's been at least ten years since I've had any."
He handed over another ticket. Giles decided that a little magic wouldn't go astray and muttered a guiding spell under his breath, hoping Buffy didn't notice. It had been too long since he'd had a decent Australian beer and his morals were loosening under the influence of the strong Australian beer. He lifted the fish and smiled. He'd won his carton.
"Just go see Jack to claim yer prizes mate. You'll be having a piss-up tonight with your Coopers I'm guessing."
"Bloody Oath!" Giles replied with a grin.
"Let's go get our stuff Buffy." He pulled her to his side and rifled through her pockets, looking for the second can as they walked over to Jack. He let go of Buffy and opened the can.
"You know, I used to drink a lot of beer when I was in Australia. After one beer I always felt quite mellow, after two I was the most agreeable fellow around. You see; most of our beer here in the States is around 2% (light). Theirs over in Australia STARTS at 4.9%---their average street beer - and can go as high as around 7.5%. Oh I'm so happy I've won a carton--of Coopers no less."
Buffy frowned at her watcher, grabbing his arm and pulling him to a stand still.
"A carton Giles?? A CARTON?? Why are you so excited about winning a carton of smokes? Don't you know what those things do to you?? Cigarettes are little cancer sticks that destroy your lungs. You don't need that muck on your lungs. You need to stay healthy. I need a watcher who can keep up with me instead of one who has to stop and pant all the time because of his filthy habit."
Buffy paused to take a breath before continuing her tirade, but Giles jumped in before she could start again.
"If you are quite finished, Buffy?" He affixed her with his special Buffy is saying something silly glare.
"No. I will not have you polluting your body, which I happen to enjoy pummeling, with chemicals like nicotine and paint stripper."
"Buffy! Stop! For one - I am an adult and if I want to destroy my body that is MY business and no one else's, but thank you for caring. And for two, in Australia a carton is a case of beer."
He grinned at Buffy, took her hand off his arm and walked away.
"Oh," was Buffy's reply to Giles' retreating back.
The she ran to catch up with him, smiled sheepishly and said,
"What is a swag anyway?"
They'd arrived back at the counter by this stage and Jack smiled at them.
"I can put one up for you if you like?"
"That'd be great." Buffy smiled one of her one thousand watt smiles at the young Australian.
"Come this way then, guys." Jack led them over to the camping gear.
"Okay you won a double goanna."
"I thought that was a big lizard?" Buffy looked worried.
Jack and Giles both laughed.
"It is, but it's also the name of a brand of swag. I take it you've never been to Australia?"
The young shop assistant smiled.
Buffy shook her head and said,
"No, but I've always wanted to go."
"I'm from Adelaide." Jack said as a wistful smile crossed his face.
"Oh. I lived in Adelaide for 3 months, while we did our training course, before the dig out near Uluru." Giles interjected.
"Salisbury. Although we stayed in a dug-out for two weeks in Cooper Pedy too."
"Oh I lived near there. Just a suburb or two up, did you know Enfield?"
"Oh yes. Jack, would you mind getting my carton for me, before we show Buffy what a swag is. I miss those nights under the stars, with a tinnie in hand."
"Sure not a problem mate, you sure you want the whole carton now or just a can or two?"
"Oh if you wouldn't mind keeping it in the fridge, just a coupla cans'd be great, cobber."
"No worries mate," Jack said as he grabbed a couple of beer cans and handed them to Giles. "Right then, just let me set this up for your pretty sheila," Jack said with a smile to Buffy.
"I'm Buffy actually, not Sheila" Buffy said as she smiled at the young man.
Jack and Giles both hid their smiles and Jack set about putting the swag up.
"I think I'll leave this one up on display after I get it set up."
Jack was bending over on all fours as set up the display swag. Buffy, being a hot-blooded young female, admired the view.
Giles cracked open his third can, took a sip and whispered,
"How come you've never looked at me like that? I used to turn quite a few heads when I wiggled my assets years ago. I don't think I've lost it. Have a look and tell me what you think?"
"Giles! You're wigging me out, acting all band candy-ish on me."
Then Buffy thought about what she was saying.
"Okay wiggle your butt for me."
"My god, if it isn't the old whinging pom!! Howya going ya old bloke? Whatcha doing here?"
Buffy turned to look at the large bearded man with the booming Aussie accent approaching.
"You can show me that ass wiggling later," she whispered to her watcher.
Giles just grinned drunkenly at her and winked before he turned to the newcomer.
"REX!! How the hell are ya mate? It's been donkey's years!"
He wrapped his arms around the bearded man in a big hug and slapped him on the back. For a moment he allowed him to think about the coincidences that had brought them here. He hadn't even known Rex was in the country, hadn't spoken to him for a couple of years. He'd always meant to ring the crazy fisherman but something Hellmouthy always got in the way every time he went near the phone to do so.
"I haven't seen you since you bailed out on us, after your barney with Danielle. How is she doing these days? I hear she's been through a few changes."
Rex winked at Giles and his grin was lewd. Buffy chose this moment to step up next to Giles, waiting for an introduction.
"Oh, who's this sheila then? Your daughter?"
"Buffy, this is Rex, an old friend from when I was in Australia, out in the never never. Rex, I'd like you to meet my *friend* Buffy."
Rex chuckled.
"I didn't really think you could be his, love. A lush like you coming from a nong like Giles here."
Buffy looked at Rex, trying to decide whether she should be offended on Giles' behalf or not. He smiled down at her and drunkenly whispered,
"Oh don't worry about old Rex here he's just got a few kangaroo's loose in the top paddock you know. He kisses Barra on a daily basis."
Giles laughed at the memory of a video Rex had sent him - ‘Rex Hunt's Fishing Show’. Rex had caught a fish, kissed it and then let it go. It had become something of a trademark for the man.
Rex guffawed out loud and noticed the can in Giles hand.
"You on the liquid diet today, mate? You know they've got pie floaters out the back."
Buffy turned to look at Rex, wondering if she should now be offended on *his* behalf and who was Barra anyway?
"A pie floater?? Ripper Rita! Reckon ya could nick us a couple?"
Giles asked the fisherman eagerly.
"Some tucker'd wash down well with another couple of tinnies."
"Sure thing mate, I'll just go rustle a couple up."
Rex smiled at Buffy and his tone became politer.
"Buffy would you like a feed or a drink? I'm sure they have something other than the nectar of the gods out the back."
Jack looked up from where he was putting the finishing touches on the swag and nodded.
"You name it we've probably got it. Is there anything you'd like Buffy? There, all done. You can crawl in and try it on for size if you like. Rex, if you wouldn't mind helping me out cobber? Bluey's still busy with the fishing."
"Sure thing mate. Buffy?"
"Errr... I'd like a Coke."
Rex and Jack left to get Giles his pie floater and Buffy's soda.
Buffy grabbed Giles' hand and dragged him over to the swag. It was green in color and she had noticed before Jack began assembling it that it was no larger than a rolled up sleeping bag. Now however it had sprung up to look like a small, odd shaped, pup tent for two.
"You know Giles, if I didn't know better, I'd call this a Transformer."
Obviously the beer was getting to Giles when he didn't ask about the pop culture reference.
"Jack said it was a double right? Climb in with me? I wanna see how well it fits two people." Giles drained the last of his Fosters and put the can on the ground before looking at it quizzically and stomping on it, crushing it completely. He smiled as he pulled off his shoes and climbed into the swag.
"Well come on love, you want to get in the sack with me don't you?"
Buffy smiled as her heart sped up, 'Mmm you'd better believe it Watcher-mine.' she thought.
"Do you promise to keep your hands to yourself?" she asked with a giggle in her voice.
"Waaaashtchers honor."
Giles put his hand against his heart and snickered, the wicked gleam evident in his eyes.
"I'll keep my hands where they belong; which at the moment is around a can of beer but my slab is too far away. Oh well it can wait a few minutes. Come on, climb in here with me and get cozy."
Buffy sighed and decided that after sharing the bed last night, this couldn't be much different and besides, she was relishing the opportunity of getting so close to her watcher and feeling his body warmth against her own. She pulled off her sneakers and wriggled down into the small contraption with her backside towards him.
"Hey Buffy... You know how I promised to keep my hands to myself? I lied. I gotta show you how good these things are for pursuits other than sleeping."
With that he turned her over to face him and pulled her tight against him, leaving Buffy with no doubt that he knew exactly what he was talking about.
"Ahh, it hasn't changed a bit!"
Buffy felt an odd sensation crawl across her belly, this feeling she knew well. It was jealousy. Unconsciously she pulled away from him. Even in his less than sober state Giles knew somehow he'd upset his slayer. He pulled her back to him, tighter than before.
"Hey… Hey you know you're the only shl, they only shlay."
Giles took a deep breath and tried again, damn potent Aussie beer.
"You my lay, right? You my lay?" he whispered against her ear.
Buffy felt the chuckles building from her stomach and bubbling all the way up to her throat. Soon she was laughing so hard that she was shaking uncontrollably and had trouble breathing.
"Oh Giles," she gasped. He pulled her tighter thinking she was crying because of something he said. All he could hear was her gasping for breath and all he could feel was her shaking. Buffy took another breath before the laughter over took her again.
"Oh Giles. You just crack me up sometimes."
Buffy raised her hand to her face, to wipe away the tears. Giles thought over what he just said and started to laugh too.
"So?" he said his green eyes looking into her own hazel ones, "are you?"
Buffy's heart beat faster and faster, did Giles mean was she his lay, or did he mean was she his slayer? She couldn't decide what to say to the man grinning drunkenly at her. The absurdity of the situation suddenly hit her again and she grinned widely back at him.
"Of course and I hope I'll always be your only Lay, Giles."
He quirked at eyebrow at her and grinned.
Just then Rex came back carrying the requested goods.
"Here's ya tucker mate," he said as he grinned at the two of them tight in the swag. Then a wistful look came over his face. Buffy turned around to look up at Rex and see what on earth a pie floater was.
"You two look as snug as 2 bugs in a swag. You know I heard Danielle was over here... you don't happen to know where she is do you?"
Giles grinned up at his old friend.
"Acsshually, I spoke to her last week. She's in this part of town. Hey Mate, do us a favour and grab me another tinnie from the slab will ya?"
Buffy started to pull away from Giles again and make a move to climb out of the swag, but when she'd turned she had gotten herself caught on something. She growled and tugged a little harder when she felt it start to give she heard a small tear and skidded to a halt. Giles felt her stiffen. "Buffy? What's wrong?"
Even in his alcohol-fuddled mind he knew when something was upsetting Buffy. Watchers intuition he always called it. He wondered what could have upset her. It was daytime and Rex hadn't said anything he could think of to hurt her feelings.
"Nothing Giles."
Her tone was stiff and not playful like it had been just before Rex came back out.
"I'm stuck and when I pulled I heard my shirt start to rip. Can you help me get out?"
"Sure."
Giles ran his hands down Buffy's back looking for the snag. She shivered at his touch. She relaxed a little and the giggles started to build again. Soon she was shaking against him again. Giles had a thought that took a while to move through his drunken mind.
"Oh. Buffy! Wait, you're shirt has got caught on one of my buttons. Don't move."
Giles moved to undo the button, but his co-ordination was severely hampered by the alcohol in his blood.
"God, I'd forgotten how hard it was to get your clothes undone when you were in a swag. Hey Rex, you remember how much trouble we had?"
Giles stopped trying to undo the buttons and instead broke out into hysterical laughter. Buffy wasn't sure what was going on, but she wanted to turn around and glare at her watcher. She looked up at Rex, who grinned down at her, looked at Giles and rolled his eyes.
"Hang on let me give you a hand."
Rex put the pie floaters down in front of Giles, who immediately grabbed at the bowl and began to munch, as Rex reached in front of him to un snag Buffy's T-shirt. He winked at Giles who smiled back up at him. He wondered if Giles had ever told her about Danielle, or what had become of her.
"There ya go, ya drongo."
"It'sh good shtuff thish."
Giles mouth was full of the mushy pea soup the meat pie was floating upside down in.
"So good to have real tomato sauce again instead of that ketchup rubbish they have here."
He scooted back and grabbed Buffy's arm as she went to climb out and said,
"Just roll over onto your stomach and try this. It's beautiful. I used to stop at the pie cart on the way home on a Friday night, or Saturday morning rather."
Rex suddenly remembered something. He looked at Giles, then at Buffy and back at Giles again. "Giles, you remember how we always used to talk about our futures back then?"
Giles raised his head from his pie floater to look at Rex and nodded slightly.
"Is this... Buffy ?"
Buffy couldn't resist.
"Yes.. I'm his lay!"
And with that she had to put the mysterious concoction in her hands on the ground as she burst into hysterical laughter yet again.
"Oh dear, I'm sorry Rex. Giles is having some trouble with certain words."
She dropped her voice to a low whisper, "He's a little drunk."
"Hey! I object to that I am quite a large drunk thank you!"
Giles looked at the empty bowl in front of him. It had been too long since he'd had a decent Aussie meat pie. He eyed Buffy's bowl.
"Buffy, you going to eat that?" he said as he took it out of her hands and began to dig in.
"Erm I guess not. I would have liked to at least *TASTE* it though Giles. I've never had anything like it before," Buffy told him as she watched him put a spoonful in his mouth.
He had the decency to look ashamed of himself, but it didn't stop him from dipping the spoon back in and breaking off a piece of the pie with it and scooping up some of the pea soup. Buffy sighed until he held it out to her and she took the spoon in her mouth and ate a mouthful of the strange mixture. She made a face and said, "Interesting."
Giles smiled and continued to eat with a gusto.
"God that was good," Giles said as he wiped his mouth on the sleeve of his new shirt. Rex just smiled and gave him a vegemite sandwich. This time he did the gentlemanly thing and broke it in half.
"Now this is the food of kings. Be careful Buffy just take a small bite, it's an acquired taste," he said as he took a huge bite of the sandwich.
"I just love a Vegimite sanger."
Buffy took a hesitant bite, opened her mouth and spat the offensive sandwich out into Giles hand, which suddenly appeared and before she knew what had happened, he'd scooped it into his mouth and continued chewing without missing a beat.
"What?" he asked her as she looked at him. He reached out and plucked the remaining sandwich from her hands and popped it in his mouth.
Buffy shook her head and started to climb out of the swag. This time Giles let her. He lay back and stretched out.
"Ahh this is the life. Maybe I should buy one."
"Don't be silly, Giles. You can borrow mine." Buffy said.
"I'm just going to lie here for a while. I don't fancy getting up. Here Buffy go try and win something else at the pond."
He handed her the remaining tickets.
"Cool, Thanks Giles!" the blonde said sensing that Giles wanted to have a quiet word with Rex. She brushed herself off and walked back over to the pond. Bluey looked a little bored, as most of the people had ran out of tickets and gone to have another look around the store.
Her super hearing allowed her to hear Rex say, "Does she know about you?"
She contemplated stopping to hear the rest of the conversation but she respected Giles' wish to talk privately with his old friend... mate, his old mate. Buffy chuckled at the way the Aussie expressions had just trickled off his tongue.
"Hi Bluey. I've got a couple more tickets. Are there any prizes left?"
"Sure thing... I'm sorry what's your name?"
"I'm Buffy."
"Oh great to meet you Buffy. My names Greg, but everyone calls me Bluey."
Buffy looked at the young man in front of her, tilted her head to the side slightly and asked, "Why?"
Bluey grinned and took of his Akubra and ran his hand through his ginger hair.
"My hair. In Australia, people with Red hair get called Bluey."
"Oh. We call them "Red" here. Why blue?"
"Umm, I don't know" he said with a sheepish grin, "but I've been called Bluey ever since I had hair."
Suddenly Giles' voice rang out across the store.
"I think there's something in that for all of us, don't you?"
Buffy turned to look at what on earth Giles was doing and saw that he was still in the swag, shaking with laughter again as he drained yet another beer. She shook her attention back to Bluey and smiled.
"I've never seen Giles so... well drunk. How strong is your beer anyway?"
"About twice as strong as American beer I think. I'm not sure, I just drink it" Bluey replied.
Buffy laughed and went fishing again. This time she won a packet of mixed nuts and a didgeridoo. She was very pleased with herself. Imagine the lessons she could force Giles to give her to blow the musical instrument. She thanked Bluey for his time and walked over to the counter where Jack was waiting to exchange her fish for her prizes. Rex wandered over to where she was standing just chatting with Jack as he rounded everything up for her.
"Stone the bloody crows woman! You can pack up the car! You're the strong one!" Giles exclaimed as he saw the pile of prizes.
"You know I think I'm glad you almost left me naked. It meant we had to come here and get all this great stuff. Ahh, it's like I was right back there again. OOH!!"
Giles picked up the didgeridoo and proceeded to make a fool of himself with it, just blowing raspberries instead of making the proper sounds.
"Damn it, I used to be able to play this well."
Buffy sighed and rolled her eyes.
"Come on Giles, we need to get packed and get going."
Rex smiled.
"Come on old fella. Let's get you out into the fresh air."
He turned to Buffy and smiled.
"I'll give you a hand to get him out there."
Rex and Buffy managed to get Giles out and lean him against the Jeep although he refused to get in until he knew the remainder of his beer was safe. Rex hugged Giles again and said their farewells before the fisherman went back into the store.
Buffy looked at Giles and smirked. Her watcher was as drunk as a skunk.
"Stay here" she ordered and handed him the packet of mixed nuts she'd won.
"Ooh Nuts!" he exclaimed and opened the packet to consume them all.
"I needed some munchies."
Buffy, thinking she had him occupied, went back into the store to grab the rest of the things, including Giles' new wardrobe. A shiver of anticipation ran down her spine as she once again allowed herself to imagine dressing and undressing him. She shook her head and concentrated on what she was doing.
Giles meanwhile was pulling out each nut to examine it, chanting each nut name as he did so. "Wal-nut, Pe-can, Pis-ta-chi-o, Pi-li, Cash-ew, Pea-nut, Lug-nut."
Just before he popped the lug nut in his mouth, he looked at it suspiciously and threw it over his shoulder, where it hit the unsuspecting Betsy who was standing in a dark alley between two buildings. She mooed rather loudly in objection and Giles walked towards the sound to examine the matter further. He stood and peered into the darkness. He could see Betsy's red eyes glowing back at him.
"Oh. Dat'sh okay, dat'sh just Betshy. Sorry Betshy, but there was a lug nut in the pack, shouldn't have been there."
Betsy mooed her acceptance of his apology and he walked back to the Jeep and accidentally tripped over the gutter.
Buffy came out of the store, finished packing the jeep and looked around for Giles but she couldn't see Giles anywhere. 'Oh great' she thought first I've got an unclothed watcher, then I have a drunk watcher and NOW I have a lost watcher.'
"GILES?" she called out at the top of her lungs.
"Over here Buffy" came the forlorn reply.
"I've broken my nuts."
"WHAAT?"
Buffy raced over to the where the sound of his voice was coming from and stopped dead in her tracks. She tried *not* to laugh, she really did, but the sight of her very inebriated watcher lying spread-eagle on the ground looking up at her, clutching his almost empty bag of nuts in one hand and upright can of beer in the other. She couldn't help but laugh as she went to help him up. She stepped on a few nuts in the process, crunching them further into the ground.
"Hey… Hey you're breaking my nuts! Poor little nuts, I named them, you know... Grapenut, Hazelnut, Candlenut, Chestnut...look at them, they never had a chance..." Giles' face dropped into a sorrowful look at the thought of all that was lost.
"What Giles, no Coconut or Wingnut in that mix?" Buffy held back a snicker.
Buffy's comments seemed to snap him out of it though.
"No. It's okay though coz I saved my beer!"
Then he started to giggle uncontrollably again.
"You're a nut cracker!"
Buffy shook her head and maneuvered the watcher into the Jeeps passenger seat and climbed in to the drivers seat. Giles grinned at her and said "Something Australian then?" before he started to sing.
"Kookaburra sits on an electric wire, jumping up and down with his pants on fire. Ouch kookaburra ouch kookaburra, how hot your bot must be."
Buffy banged her head against the steering wheel; never again would she leave one of Giles' bags behind.