PART ONE: THE PLAN

THURSDAY

"Please, Giles!" Buffy gave her watcher the most pitiful pout she could manage, but still he stood firm.

"No. Absolutely not. I can think of few things I’d *less* rather do." He turned from her, indicating that this conversation was over. The slayer glared at his back, knowing him well enough to know that he wasn’t going to change his mind.

Xander’s failed summer being the inspiration, the gang had decided that nothing would be more fun over their weeklong break from school than a road trip, their destination being Buffy’s father’s cabin. The cabin had been a peace offering after the latest in a series of let-downs and empty promises. However, when Oz’s van died an untimely death on the side of the road, their hopes had died along with it. No car, no trip......then they had remembered Giles. Buffy had insisted on being the one to talk to him, bragging that she could talk him into anything.

"But–it would be so fun!" She walked around, forcing him to look at her. "And you bought that big van this summer. Isn’t that why you got it? For all the slayerettes to fit inside?"

Giles didn’t even blink. "Yes, Buffy, so that we could all go fight evil together, or even make a fast getaway with room for all of our weapons. Not for some rowdy, aimless roaming around God knows where. Besides, "he added logically. "A 45 year old man driving around with a bunch of teenagers?" He shook his head, wishing he could give his slayer what she wanted, but this had "bad idea" written all over it. He had been trying to put some distance between Buffy and himself, and to take this trip would be ruinous to his so far minimal progress. It wasn’t healthy for a slayer and watcher to be so dependent on one another, especially when he wasn’t even her watcher anymore. What Buffy hadn’t figured out yet was that these attempts at detachment were due to his discomfort with *his* dependence on *her*, instead of the other way around.

"Fine." She snapped. "Don’t come."

"All right, I won’t." He replied lightly, his flippant tone aggravating her even further. She spent a few seconds glowering at him, then brushed past him, leaving without even a farewell.

Buffy knelt on her floor, rummaging through her closet for her "comfy" slippers, which she hadn’t seen in weeks. She took out her frustration with Giles on any items that got in her way, hurling them across the room. Why couldn’t he just cut loose a little? He didn’t know the meaning of the word "fun." To him, it was all just business. Was the idea of going off with the gang so terrible? A small part of her was hurt. She had thought that Giles considered them friends, and liked being around them. Apparently his friendship had its limits. But she was his slayer, and he should *want* to spend the week with her, damn it! Watching, slaying, watching, slaying, that’s all he ever thought about. She scowled.

Something caught her eye in the corner, buried under a pile of shoes. Pushing them aside, Buffy immediately recognized the box, labeled "Support your high school marching band." She removed the lid, revealing a full box of candy bars. Oops. These definitely needed to be destroyed. Buffy shuddered at the memory of her watcher under the influence of the magic candy. Creepy.

But at least *that* Giles had known how to have a good time.......... she repeated the thought again slowly to herself. He had known how to have a good time. Buffy lifted the box out of her closet, smiling wickedly even as she tried to talk herself out of what she knew she was going to do.

<This is wrong!>

<No, it’s just for fun. Everyone will have fun.>

<Giles would freak.>

<Ripper wouldn’t.>

To validate her decision, she picked up the phone, running her idea by Xander. Of course she couldn’t call Willow, who would talk her out of the whole thing, but Xander was prone to schemes of this sort, and she knew she’d find him in complete agreement with anything she said. Sure enough, he dubbed her a genius, excitedly saying goodbye so he could call the rest of the gang to tell them to pack their bags.

FRIDAY,4PM

Buffy’s fingers trembled slightly as she cut the chocolate into squares, dropping them into a saucepan. It wasn’t often that she did something so risky. The last time she’d done something so blatantly wrong, she and Faith had ended up being arrested. The chocolate began to melt, and she stirred slowly to keep it from burning.

Giles would be surprised to find her here in his kitchen when he came home from work, but he’d definitely buy her story. He walked in the door just as she finished pouring the melted chocolate into a mug of hot milk.

"Giles! I’m glad you’re here" she gave him a winning smile. "Look what I made for you! Homemade hot chocolate!"

He watched in confusion as she stirred and poured.. Her hair tumbled loosely around her shoulders, his favorite style for her, and she was wearing an outfit that he had complimented before, a conservative ensemble that made her look like a schoolgirl, and she wore an angelic expression to match. She had attended to every detail to ensure he would cooperate.

"I see you’re no longer angry with me?" He asked tentatively, sensing something amiss.

"Of course not!" She strode over to him, pushing him down onto the couch. "I’m sorry I was so mean the other day. Think of this as my apology." Giles had no choice but to take the mug from her hands, inhaling the sweet aroma. It did smell good, he admitted to himself. And the fact that she’d done it as such a loving gesture was truly touching. He couldn’t refuse.

As he took his first sip, he peeked up over the rim of the cup at Buffy, who was leaning forward, watching him intently. <She must really feel terribly about the other day> he noted. "Um, thank you. I think I can handle it from here."

"Oh! Right, sure." She smiled graciously, wanting to jump up and down in impatience. He had only taken two small sips so far, and the suspense was killing her. She reluctantly stood, still watching him, and backed away.

Buffy continued her scrutiny from the more discreet location of the kitchen. He lifted the cup to his lips, sipping a few more times, before gulping the entire contents quickly. When it was gone, he looked into the bottom as though wondering where it had gone. Buffy had to bite back a squeal of delight and distress.

"Do you want some more?" She called to him.

"No, not right now. I might like some later, though." He added. "That certainly is delicious, Buffy." He complimented her, setting his mug on the counter behind her. She studied him as he tugged at his collar, frowning.

"What’s wrong?" She asked hopefully, trying to calm the pounding of her heart in her chest. She couldn’t be doing this! It was..... dangerous. She shivered in anticipation, and made a little noise in the process.

"Are you cold?" Giles asked with concern. "I can turn down the fan."

Now Buffy was the one frowning, this sounded like the same old Giles to her. He needed more of the candy. "Well....... yes, I am kind of chilly. I’ll bet that a nice cup of cocoa would warm me right up..... but only if you join me. ‘Don’t drink alone,’ isn’t that what they say?"

Against her better judgement, Buffy then moved forward so that she was inches from her watcher, testing to see how much more he needed. "Please?" She smiled up at him, tilting her head and brushing her hair away from her neck in what she hoped would be a seductive gesture.

He didn’t move away, and something flickered in his eyes for a moment. "I guess I can’t say no when you ask me like that, can I?"

Without moving, she handed him a fresh cup of the steaming treat. He grasped it without taking his eyes from hers, drinking greedily. When he finished, he wiped his mouth with the sleeve of his white shirt, Buffy recognizing this as the first sign of his changing.

"Giles, you got chocolate all over your sleeve." She teased.

He smirked. "To hell with it..... I was going to get out of these clothes, anyway." She wondered whether the fact that he rubbed up against her briefly was intentional, as he moved away and out of the kitchen, heading for the stairs. "Care to join me?"

Buffy grinned. The candy had definitely taken effect. "Actually, I brought you some clothes I thought you might like." She held out a bag, not wanting to approach the stairs for fear that he would think she was taking him up on his offer. She threw the bag to Giles, and he caught it, nodding his approval.