Loving an older man was never going to be easy, especially when you tried to keep it private. Not only private but also secret. Secret from friends, family and The Slayer.

The Slayer was after all the centre of attention, she was the one that commanded attention well, most of the time. Willow had no problem with that, as she was The Slayer�s best friend. It was what The Slayer would say when she found out her Watcher was �involved� with someone other than her. There had to be a line or two in the Watcher Code of Conduct about sleeping with your Slayer�s best friends�.

Hence the need to keep it secret. Not an easy task, by any means. They all worked so closely together. Research sessions and training, followed by patrols at night. Someone was bound to notice changes in behaviour. Or maybe not� they weren�t an obvious pair. They bickered a lot and had an easy camaraderie at the same time.

It had happened after one crisis too many. After one bottle of wine too many and too many nights spent alone. Willow found herself telling him things she�d kept even from Buffy and the night had suddenly felt less scary and less lonely. She was not alone anymore.

What did it matter that she was now involved with someone twice her age? He wanted to be with her as much as she needed him, right? Still, the nagging thoughts seemed reluctant to leave.

Age had so much to offer youth. What did youth have to offer in return? Would she be taking from Giles without giving anything in return?

Willow smiled at the memory of their first night together. It had been free of doubt. They had only held one another, waking up on the couch in the early hours. They grinned sheepishly, imagining the type of excuses they could have come up with if anyone had caught them.

Willow did convince herself that nothing had happened that night but she was wrong. She knew that for certain after the next research session, when Giles asked her to stay behind.

�He says, �Jump� and I ask �How high�?� She�d muttered to Buffy.

In return she got a pat on the shoulder and a quick peck on the cheek. �Don�t stay up too long!� Buffy laughed merrily as she rushed towards freedom and another date with Spike.

�Huh!� Willow sighed, watching the door close after the last Scoobie. They all seemed in such a hurry to leave! She was still facing the door when she felt his presence behind her. It was strong and magnetic and she could not stop herself from leaning into him.

Another sigh escaped her lips. This time it was one of relief. His hands came round her waist, taking her weight and worries into him. Willow thought she was on the brink of melting. It felt so right and safe.

�Giles.� She turned to face him.

�Hmm�� He smiled as he studied her closely. Beautiful freckles, stunning green eyes and shining red hair. The girl was so alive he could just hold her forever.

�What�s going on� between us, I mean. Are we friends? Are we something more�?� Willow felt that with each word she uttered his grasp on her tightened, so in the end she could not utter another sound.

�We�re friends.� Giles whispered in her left ear. �And we�re more than that�� he whispered in the other, his lips brushing the ridge in a gentle cares. How did he know this turned her on so?

His kiss was warm and over too quickly. �We are definitely more than that!� END