As Joyce pulled away, Giles unlocked the door to his... their place, and scooped Buffy up in his arms; startled, she threw her arms around him for balance, and asked, "what... oh. Carrying me across the threshold. D'uh. Do you think they're watching?"

He gave her a startled look as he put her down gently. "No, actually, I don't. To quote Anya, 'it's tradtional'."

"Oh," was all she said as he went out to retrieve their luggage and gifts. He led her upstairs, and they started to settle their things. They had already moved the majority of her things before they left, including her dresser and an amoire for his clothes, now that she had taken over his closet.

They got it all situated and Giles fixed dinner. After dinner they sat, mostly quiet, as Giles read and Buffy did her nails.

Bedtime found them awkwardly laying side-by-side in Giles' big bed. Finally, they fell asleep, and in the morning, Giles awoke cuddled up to Buffy's back in the center of the bed. Again. He went to take his cold shower. Also, again.

This set the pattern for the days ahead. They cooked, they cleaned, they did the grocery shopping, they did laundry (which wigged Buffy out the first time she was folding clothes and came across his boxers. She didn't even want to think about his reaction to her underthings.). They shared a bathroom. Which Buffy discovered was almost as intimate as sharing a bed. Which they did at night. And in the morning, Giles took a cold shower.

Mr. Corwin contacted them about their interviews, which they aced. They were a little surprised actually at just how well they did know each other. And even if Giles couldn't name the brand of shampoo Buffy used, he certainly knew the smell of it. And he didn't realize how his expression softened when he talked about her. When it was her turn to talk to them she didn't miss a beat, no matter how personal the question. She was, after all, used to telling Giles everything; from her dreams to her monthly cycle.And again, there was genuine affection in her voice when she talked about Giles. She giggled when discussing his little foibles. Mr. Corwin also dropped by unexpectantly a few times. He was unfailingly polite and respectful.

It was about six weeks after their wedding that Buffy woke up first. This was due to the warm hand gently kneading her left breast, and a long leg thrown across her lower half. As she woke more fully, she also became aware of something hard pressing against her hip. She looked up at his face. Sound asleep. <now what?> She hesitated, then gently rolled him off of her onto his back. Her eyes were drawn inevitably to his groin. Her eyes widened and she swallowed audibly.

She bit her lower lip, and searched his face for any signs of wakefulness. She stared at his erection; battling with her curiousity. It won, and she reached out a tenative hand. She ran her fingers gently down his hard length. He sighed in his sleep, and she froze.

After reassuring herself that he wasn't waking up, she cupped him. He moved into her hand and made a low sound, half moan and half purr. Encouraged, she moved her hand up and down. He mumbled something in his sleep but the only thing she could make out was her name. She clearly heard him say "Buffy" as he thrust against her hand. She gasped and jerked away as if burnt.

Her eyes flew to his face in shock. He was dreaming about her? And got that way? <Whoa!> That knowledge , combined with her own growing arousal, made her bold. As she reached out and encircled him through his pajamas, he moaned and she felt an answering thrill down low. Her hand tightened convulsively around him, and his eyes flew open.

She released him immediately. Still not certain that he wasn't still dreaming, it took him a minute to speak. When he did, his voice was husky from sleep and arousal. "Buffy? What in the hell are you doing?" He demanded.

"I-I...well, you see...it's...well. I'm not sure, really. I was... well... curious, I guess, and... well, I'm sorry. I just hadn't thought about you... and..well..that," she said with a gesture at his erection. "I was.. well... surprised, and... well... I was curious."

"You said that."

"Well...I am sorry. It was thoughtless. I shouldn't have...touched you." She was shocked to see his erection twitch when she said "touched you."

"Thoughtless is the least of what it was, Buffy." He said sternly. She hung her head. He saw this and relented. "Let's just move on, shall we?" She nodded, grateful, and he left to take his shower. His cold shower she now realized.

<Poor Giles. Forced to take a cold shower. Because of me> She was embarrassed that it excited her that he had been that way because of her.

That night, Buffy woke up from a disturbing dream. She didn't think it was prophetic, but it had bothered her. She scooted toward Giles for reassurance and warmth. That's when she realized that she was all the way on his side of the bed, and he wasn't there. <must be researching> she thought sleepily. In the morning he woke her up after his shower as usual, so she thought no more about it; until it happened again.

In fact, the next several nights were the same. She slept restlessly, and woke from vaguely disturbing dreams alone in the bed. On the fifth night, she got out of the bed and went in search of him. She found him sleeping on the living room couch. His clothes were layed neatly across the back of a chair, he had a pillow cuddled to his bare chest, and the crocheted cover thrown over his lower half, one pajama clad leg, uncovered.

She stood staring at him for a few minutes, then with a tender smile, moved the pillow and smoothly slid into it's place. It was precarious, but she scrunched as close to him as she dared.

He was still in the place between asleep and awake (mostly asleep), but it seeped slowly into his awareness that the pillow he had fallen asleep holding was now warm and curvy. Then it wriggled against him and all parts south sat up and took notice.

She moaned as he clasped her hip and pulled her rear flush with his growing erection. As she felt him harden against her, she felt an answering tightening deep within herself. She heard him murmur her name, increasing her excitement. She carefully turned over in the narrow space, and pressed her front against him.

She studied him as he slept. She's always known that he was handsome. But that knowledge was abstract. It hadn't really meant anything to her. And she couldn't put her finger on just when that had changed. That moment when she realized just how sexy her Watcher was. Maybe it was on Prom night, when he had smiled so warmly at her and her stomach had given an odd little thrill. That was the first time she could really remember, although there had been times since. And she had felt a strange jolt when he had placed the wedding band on her finger, and vice versa. And her knees had quivered when he had kissed her.

Up until a few nights ago, she had thought she was the only one that kiss had affected. No matter how expert it had been. How thorough. She wondered how he would kiss her when he meant it.

She shivered, and out of pure reflex, he wrapped his arms around her and drew her to his warm body. She snuggled closer. Almost awake now, he moaned as she burrowed her cheek against his bare chest; he could feel her warm breath ruffling the hair there. Finally awake, he realized that she was listening to his heartbeat. His arms tightened involuntarily around her small body. She raised her eyes to meet his as he spoke.

"What are you doing here? You should be in bed." His voice was harsh, although he didn't release her.

"So should you. This can't be comfortable."

"I'll manage."

"We agreed that we could share the bed."

"That was before,"

"Before what, Giles?"

"Before we actually tried to do it," he replied awkwardly. Still keenly aware of her warmth pressing against him.

Her reply cut him to the quick and destroyed any plan he had of sleeping on the couch. "I don't sleep well without you. I get cold and I have weird dreams." She looked at him, eyes wide and sad. Mouth pouting. He knew that even if she hadn't spoken, that he could deny her nothing when she used The Pout on him.

He nodded, and she scrambled off of the couch, and held out her hand. He stood and took her hand. She led him upstairs. As they got into bed, Buffy made no pretense of staying n her side. She immediately snuggled into his warmth. He hesitated briefly, before he enclosed his arms around her. She gave a sigh and was asleep in seconds. Not so for him.

He lay awake for awhile, thinking about how complicated this had gotten. She shivered in her sleep and he brought the blanket tighter around her. Finally he dozed off.