Title: Birthday Surprise
Author: Ripper's Girl
Rating: FRC
Pairing: B/G
Summary: Giles has a birthday surprise for Buffy

Disclaimer: I don't own Buffy. I'm just borrowing the characters for a little fun ;-)
Spoilers: post-Chosen, and if you don't know what happened to
Sunnydale…you must have been living there
Notes: Answer to Gileswench's 24 hour quick fic using: Buffy, Giles,
ice skates…..I took a bit of liberty with the ice skates part, but
this is what popped into my head.

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"Where are we going?" Buffy asked for what must have been the hundredth time. She knew her Watcher wouldn't answer her, but she figured she could at least annoy him.

Giles glanced over at his blindfolded Slayer. "If I told you, it wouldn't be a surprise."

Buffy tried to glare at him, but the effect was lost since he couldn't see her eyes. He knew it was there though and he grinned. "You know me and birthday surprises are unmixy things."

"Yes, but that was before the Hellmouth became a giant crater."

"Yeah, well, this is the last time I take a 'business' trip with you without checking with Willow first," the Slayer grumbled, although it was only half-hearted. She was actually a little excited to find out what Giles had planned for her. It had been a while since she
actually cared about her birthday. In fact, last year with everything going on, she hadn't even celebrated it.

"For your information, Willow had no idea that I was planning this," Giles replied.

"Then who changed the clothes in my suitcase?"

"That would be Dawn."

"Dawn? Dawn helped you and didn't tell me?" Buffy exclaimed, pouting that her own sister had been in on it.

Giles laughed at the look on her face. "Dawn is much better at keeping a secret than Willow is."

Buffy giggled. "Very true. So, are we there yet? Wherever there is?"

Fifteen minutes later the car pulled to a stop and was shut off. Buffy perked up. "Are we there? Can I take this blindfold off yet?"

"Not yet. Just stay there and I'll come around and get you."

Buffy felt her door open and she took the hand Giles put on hers and slowly got out of the car. She felt Giles' other hand on her head so she wouldn't hit it. "Now can I take it off?" she asked. "Or are you going to take funny pictures of me?"

"Who says I haven't already?" Giles asked, laughingly. "All right, I'll take off the blindfold now."

Buffy blinked for a moment, adjusting her eyes to the bright sun after having seen nothing but dark. She gasped when she finally saw where they were. She turned and threw her arms around her Watcher, hugging him tight. She pulled back after a few moments and said softly, "Thank you." Turning back around to the ice arena, she felt
the tears welling in her eyes. She hadn't been to an ice show in years. All of a sudden she grabbed Giles' hand and began dragging him towards the building. "Come on, we need to buy food and souvenirs before it starts." Giles laughed and allowed himself to be dragged along. He loved that he had put that smile and glow on her face.

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Giles pulled into the hotel parking lot and glanced at his sleeping Slayer. Gently he rubbed her shoulder. "Buffy, we're at the hotel."

Buffy stretched sleepily and grinned up at Giles. "Thank you for the best birthday."

"You're quite welcome."

Impulsively, Buffy leaned over and kissed him sweetly on the lips. Trying not to giggle at her Watcher's stunned expression, she said, "We should probably get some sleep. We have an early flight to catch." This time it was Buffy who went around to help her still stunned Watcher out of the car. He looked at her for explanation. "Don't worry. We have the whole flight back to talk…and stuff." This time she did giggle at his expression and headed into the hotel.