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Title: Rest
Author:Green
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Giles/Anya, post Bring on the Night.(instead of immediately going out to kill things, the gang is still hanging around.)
Disclaimer: BtVS belongs to someone else, Giles belongs to someone else, Anya belongs to someone else, Sunnydale belongs to someone else... but I own the computer I'm typing this with! Don't sue, I'm just a rabid fan.

***

Anya found him sitting in a chair beside a window, facing out with a far away look. She noticed that he had taken his glasses off, so he couldn't really see out into the quiet, unsuspecting neighborhood anyway.

She knelt beside him on her knees and searched his face.

"Where are you staying?" she asked. Do you have a place to rest? You need to rest. You look so tired, so worn out, so old.

"I hadn't thought about it. My main concern was getting the girls to safety." Fat lot of good that did.

"You need a place to sleep." You need to take care of yourself. Who is going to take care of you?

"I can take the floor. I've slept in worse places." I've been knocked unconcious in worse places. Helpless sod, I am.

"You could stay with me, you know." I'll let you have the bed, I'll let you have the good down pillow and my favorite comforter. Anything, if you'll get some rest. You have to rest before you hurt yourself. I couldn't bear it if you...

His eyes met hers. She looked so concerned, waiting patiently for his response.

"I don't know if I should..." I don't know if I should let myself be alone with you right now. I'm tired, I'm emotionally drained, I'm weak and you look so beautiful....

"You need a quiet, comfortable place to rest." And right now all I want to do is lay down with you, put my arms around you and hold you close to me.

He looked around. The house was full of tired, cranky, worried, high strung people. He had endured eleven hours of flight with the girls from Heathrow to LAX, then an hour at the airport, and then several hours of driving to Sunnydale (which would have been considerably shorter if the girls hadn't had to stop every half hour for a bathroom break). Now, Buffy was bruised and battered and everyone was worried, even after her brave speech. There was no solace in this house, no safe place to rest his head and be free from the imminent danger that hung over them.

Giles looked at Anya, noticing the changes in her, the quieter confidence, the way she sat with her head up, not looking at the floor or her hands or at Xander anymore... After over 1100 years, she's finally grown up.

"I don't think any of us will get any rest until this is all over," he said quietly.

Anya smiled sadly and took one of his hands between hers. It may never be over. We may not be able to rest until we are dead. At least I can spend a few peaceful moments with you, just a few... please.

"Come with me," she said, and he thought he heard a plea within her voice.

"Anya..." If I go with you, I'll want more than rest, I'll want to forget about the fate of the world and melt into your body. I'll want to hide in your embrace, find a safe place there and never leave.

"Please, Rupert." The combination of her words and her caring voice, of her tiny warm hands, and of her bright brown eyes searching his own finally undid him.

"Alright." God help me, I don't know what I will do.

She smiled warmly and, unthinking, brought his hand to her mouth and kissed it.

"Let's go."

~END~