Title: Stalking
Author: Rari

(notes and disclaimer with part one)

Stalking: Part 5

Anya watched Giles as he paced around the store again muttering to himself. He had been doing it all day. She was sick of it.

"Giles." He kept pacing. "Giles."

He looked up. "Yes?"

Anya rolled her eyes. "What is wrong with you?"

He frowned. "Excuse me?"

"Why won't you just have sex with Buffy."

His eyes got wide. "This is….I can't even….I won't discuss this with you."

"Why not? You had your tongue down her throat right in front me last night."

He blushed. "I..er…that…this is none of your business."

"It is my business when it makes you all crazy and you make my work day extremely unpleasant."

"Oh, well, let me offer my deepest apologies to you. Especially as you have never allowed your attitude to affect this place."

"Look, she wants you. It was pretty clear last night that you aren't completely averse to the idea. You're both adults. What is the problem?"

"Anya, I'm her watcher."

"So, I've seen watchers and slayers get together. It's no big deal."

"You've….I didn't know that."

"Oh, yeah. You're the first watcher I've known who wasn't sleeping with his slayer."

"Really?" He considered this for a minute then he frowned. "You're making this up."

"I'm not."

His eyes narrowed. "How many watchers have you known?"

She made a face at him. "Four."

He rolled his eyes. "How many?"

"Okay, three. And all three were busy having orgasms with their slayers. Don't you think that if the three watchers I met are doing that that most of the rest of them were too?"

"Three including me?"

She stamped her foot. "Okay, fine, three including you, but you want to have orgasms even if you're not getting any yet so that counts." She glared at him. "If Xander had been like you he and I would never have gotten together. I mean, if it's what you both want, who's gonna care that you're her watcher? I mean who cares? You're not that important."

"You have such a lovely way of getting your point across, Anya."

She snapped at him. "Listen, if that is the only thing that's stopping you, it's just stupid."

He snapped back at her. "I don't know what she wants."

Anya snorted. "If you can't figure out what she wants there is no hope for you at all."

"For heaven's sake Anya, do give me some credit. That's not what I mean. What does she want with me? What is this to her? You saw her last night, the way she was with…" He scowled. "The way she was on the dance floor. She was leaving with one of them when I caught up with her."

"She was just desperate. She's been thinking that she's lost all her sex appeal seeing as you've been completely ignoring her as she flaunts herself at you. She wanted to make sure everything was in working order."

His eyebrows rose. "Buffy was wondering if her sex appeal…" He shook his head. "I have a hard time believing that."

"Yeah, well even you have to believe that as soon as you showed up she certainly wasn't paying any attention to anyone else. Of course, neither were you. Both of you were practically having sex right there in front of everybody."

Giles blushed. "I don't know why she would want me."

Anya scowled at him. "You believe too much what everyone says about you. Giles, you're a good-looking guy. You're nice. You're good to her."

He waved his hand at her. "Thank you Anya but I wasn't meaning to come across as so self-deprecating. I know women are interested in me. I get hit on regularly here; you've seen it." He looked at her for confirmation.

"Yes, I do see women come on to you and you ignore all of them. You won't date anybody. Why?"

"It's too complicated to try and fit dating in with my life."

"Exactly, the same is true of Buffy, that's why you guys are perfect for each other."

"Just because our lives are complicated and dating is awkward doesn't mean she should end up with me as a consolation prize. I am a lot older than Buffy. I saw her last night. Any one of those younger men would have paid money to spend time with her." He stopped, shook his head. "That didn't quite come out right. But, nevertheless, I saw how much she was enjoying herself. I'm never going to get out there on a dance floor like that with her. I don't care how much I've had to drink."

"What I saw was that she couldn't take her hands off of you."

"Desire on its own isn't sufficient reason to risk a friendship and a future that requires us to be together and work well together. I am afraid that if she and I…uh…that if we get together that sooner or later she will come to her senses and realize that she's started something that she doesn't want to finish. I am afraid that it will destroy our relationship in the long run." He looked down, embarrassed that he had spoken of his concerns so freely.

She stared at him a long time. He started sifting through the papers on the counter. She walked over to be closer to him.

"Giles?" He looked up. "Are you afraid she's going to break your heart?"

He looked down. He picked up a crystal from the basket by the register and ran his fingers down its rough edges. His lips tightened. "I suppose I am." He looked up at Anya, a rueful smile on his face.

"She loves you."

His eyes widened. She nodded. "She told us that last night."

"She told you that she loves me?" He watched Anya nod. "Really?" Anya nodded again.

Giles started to grin and then he got a concerned look on his face. "Maybe she meant she loves me like a father or a brother?"

"Yeah, right, that's why she's been trying to have sex with you."

"Oh, well, there is that, isn't there." He caught Anya's nod and he smiled at her. She smiled back.

"So, you'll have sex with her now?"

Giles nodded absently, then he shook his head. Then he caught himself. "Anya, that is still none of your business." He sighed. Anya frowned.

"I didn't like the sound of that sigh. Giles, you need to get over this watcher thing. None of us have traditional relationships, why should you be any different?"

The bell over the front door rang and Buffy walked in. She saw Giles and Anya talking together and frowned. She stopped and Giles wondered if she was going to leave. She straightened her shoulders and stalked over to the counter.

She opened her mouth to talk and Giles beat her to it. There was something he could do. He didn't want her doubting herself. "Buffy, you look lovely today."

That stopped her. "I do?"

Giles nodded. "Quite lovely."

"Oh, well, thanks. I guess."

Giles eyebrows rose. She spoke hurriedly. "You're not usually big on the compliments, that's all."

"Yes, and I've been quite remiss about that." He turned to Anya. "You look lovely today too."

Anya grinned. "Thank you." She looked back and forth between the two of them. She opened her mouth to speak but Giles put his hand up to stop her. "Don't even think about saying whatever it is you are planning to say."

Anya frowned. "But..."

"No buts. The rest of it, as I have already said, is really none of your business. Assuming you still want a job in the morning."

"I was just trying to help."

"I know, and I'm grateful, truly, but it's time to stop helping now."

Buffy was trying to follow the conversation. She looked at them both. "What are you guys talking about?"

Anya opened her mouth to speak again but she caught Giles' look and snapped her mouth shut. "Apparently nothing."

Buffy looked at Giles, a question still on her face. He ignored the unspoken question. "Have you come to train?" Buffy nodded. "Good, why don't you get warmed up and I'll be along shortly." Buffy headed into the back room, looking back over her shoulder at the two of them, her brow furrowed.

Anya looked at Giles. "Go have sex with her now. I'll make sure no one goes back there." She wiggled her eyebrows, a silly grin on her face.

Giles gaped at her. "No, Anya, I am not going to…. even discuss this with you."

"Well at least shut the door behind you. It will give you a couple seconds warning."

Giles rolled his eyes. "Thank you, Anya, I'll keep it in mind." After assisting a customer he walked into the back. He shut the door behind him.

End of Part 5