September 21, 2006
600 words (five 100 words drabbles)
Written for slash_100
Prompts: 026 - Smell, 027 - Sound, 028 - Touch, 029 - Taste, 020 - Her, 030 - Sight (in that order)
Follows I Can't Be Your Friend. The quotes before each sections, as well as the title of the fic, are taken from The Goo Goo Dolls' 'Iris'
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The smell of autumn was in the air as Xander sat on the stairs, waiting for all of them to arrive. He had forgotten how peaceful autumn was. The colours of the trees, the fallen leaves; everything glowed. None of the harshness of winter, or the sounds of spring, or the energy of summer; there was only peace.
Xander fidgeted, anxious. He wanted to tell them, he really did.
He just couldn't. Not now. It was still so new, so-special. He didn't want to share.
Xander didn't want to have it all ruined before it could even truly start.
Giles sat on his chair, bringing his teacup to his lips. He sipped silently, listening to the sounds coming from outside. He couldn't look.
He heard Buffy laughing, and Willow cheering, and Dawn yelled something that sounded a lot like 'stop', her voice almost drowned by her squealing. Xander was with them, outside, playing in the fallen leaves. It was the first time they were all together since the demise of Sunnydale. Andrew was in the kitchen, already thinking up ideas for tonight's feast.
He thought it wouldn't make a difference, whether or not Xander told them, but it did.
They were in the kitchen, handing out plates while the girls chatted at the table, their smiles bright and happy. Xander couldn't remember the last time he had seen Buffy grin so much, or Dawn, or Willow.
Giles' smile wasn't as bright, or as happy, and Xander's chest hurt; it was his fault. Xander knew Giles would respect his decision, but that didn't mean he liked it.
Suddenly more confident, Xander accidentally touched Giles' hand while the girls weren't looking, and squeezed it. When Giles looked up, Xander smiled and nodded. It would be difficult, but Giles was worth it.
Giles' homemade apple pie had a slightly bitter taste. He was quite certain he'd put enough sugar into it.
Xander had seemed ready to speak, tell the girls-young women, rather, about their relationship. It was two hours later, now, all of them were eating dessert, and Giles had yet to hear Xander speak a word of it.
Xander had only been home for three days, and things had changed so fast. Of course, the feelings had been there before. It didn't make their relationship any less new. So very new, and private; Giles couldn't blame Xander for being afraid.
Dawn squealed. Buffy yelled. Willow blinked. It was exactly what Xander had expected.
"Oh my God!"
"You and *Giles*?"
"Xander-"
Willow sounded hurt. Buffy shocked. Dawn happy. Xander paced the room a few times, letting the girls vent for a moment. "I'm sorry," he whispered, coming up by Willow's side, and touching her shoulder. Buffy and Dawn, they wouldn't be too much trouble. Okay, maybe Buffy would give them both a hard time, but she loved them, and they loved her, it would pass.
But Willow--Xander should have talked to her. And he hadn't.
She would need time.
Giles stood in the dark of the hallway, looking through the half opened door. Xander was kneeling by Willow's side, and they were whispering. Giles could still hear Dawn's voice, and he wished he could smile at the girl's obvious cheerfulness.
The door was pulled open and Buffy stood there, not looking at all surprised to find Giles on the other side of it. Giles looked at her. His muscles softened with every seconds that passed in which she didn't accuse him of seducing or manipulating her best friend.
"You don't have to stay out here, you know?"
Giles smiled.