‘I don’t believe I’m doing this,’ Giles sighed as he picked up the microphone.
“Way to go G-man,” Xander shouted, as Anya looked on wondering what all the fuss was about.
Surely just because Giles was going to sing, that could hardly be the reason her boy... Anya paused, ‘I guess he is my boyfriend,’ she thought, looking at Xander and seeing how happy he seemed. ‘I could do worse.’
“Xander, you know he doesn’t like it when you call him that,” Willow told him, Xander just shrugged and clapped louder.
“Come on Will, deep down, I think Giles likes it, he just doesn’t want to say anything,” Buffy said.
The music began, and they turned their undivided attention to Giles, who was waiting for his cue.
“Cupid, draw back your bow, and let your arrow go, straight to my lover’s heart for me,” he sang. He’d always liked this song, and thought it was a tragedy that Sam Cooke was taken in the prime of his life.
“Cupid, please hear my cry, and let your arrow fly, straight to my lover’s heart for me...” A round of applause from Buffy, Willow and Xander greeted Giles after he’d finished the song. Anya just sat there, shaking her head when he finally reached the booth they were seated in and sat down.
“Way to go Giles,” Buffy said, feeling rather proud of his accomplishment.
“Tha... thank you Buffy,” he said as he drank from the glass of water he had ordered earlier.
“Except, tell me this... why is it that when most people with an English accent sing, they sound American?” Buffy asked.
“Did I?”
Willow nodded her head in agreement.
“Way to go soul man,” Xander said, wondering why everyone was glaring at him. “What?”
“I guess it was okay... for an old man,” Anya ventured, she still hadn’t seen what the big deal was.
“Honey... do you remember that talk we had, Giles is not old...”
“Of course he’s not,” Willow jumped in defending him.
“He’s mature... for his age,” Xander finished.
“Well... I’d like to stick around, but, all fun and no slay makes me a dull girl. Will, do you want me to swing back around?”
“That’s quite alright Buffy, I’ll take her back to the dorm,” Giles said quickly, “If... if that’s acceptable with you?” he turned and asked Willow.
“Sure... if... if you don’t mind?” she replied.
“No... not at all,” he said smiling.
“Not again. Xander, take me home, I don’t think I can stand anymore politeness,” Anya told him, getting out of the booth.
“Um... I’ll catch you guys later,” he said, following Anya out the door.
“Okay, I’ll see you later Wills, bye Giles,” Buffy said heading out.
“Be careful,” he told her. “Ah... um... I... um... I gather you didn’t like my rendition of the song?” Giles asked.
“Oh no... wait! That’s not... that isn’t what I meant... I liked it, really,” Willow gushed.
“You’re not telling me that to spare my feelings, are you?”
“No…” she replied, “It did seem kind of sad though,” she said.
“Well, it does have a certain element of unrequited love,” he answered. “So... um... how... how are your studies going,” he said, cringing internally. He never seemed to be able to relax around Willow when they were alone, he was always on alert, he would never take a chance of letting how he felt for her manifest itself. At least he had asked the right thing, considering the way her face lit up.
They talked for another how or so before deciding it was time to leave. Giles pulled out her chair; they had been asked to switch to a table when the manager explained they needed the booth for a larger group of people, and he escorted out of the club and towards the dorm room she shared with Buffy.
On the way, Giles began whistling, he knew he would have never even attempted singing, if Willow hadn’t placed her hand on his arm and asked him to. ‘Now, I don’t mean to bother you, but I’m in a mess... There’s a danger of me losing all my happiness... For I love a girl who doesn’t know I exist, and this you can fix,’ Giles thought the lyrics were especially true, he was in love with a girl... No, she wasn’t a girl any more, she had grown into a beautiful woman almost before his very eyes. A woman who didn’t know how he felt for her.
So... Cupid draw back your bow,
and let your arrow go,
straight to my lover’s heart for me.
Willow wished she had Cupid’s fabled bow and arrow, she’d need only one shot, and her aim would be true.
Cupid, please hear my cry,
and let your arrow fly,
straight to my lover’s heart for me
They both sighed.
“Giles?”
“Yes Willow?”
“Did... do you? Never mind.”
“Willow, what is it?”
Willow chewed on her bottom lip before deciding to ask the question. “Do... do you think Cupid was real?”
“Why, is there someone you’d like to shoot?” he replied jokingly.
“Oh... no. I was just wondering,” she replied, her face turning red in embarrassment.
“I... I’m sorry Willow,” he said.
“For what?” she asked, stopping and facing him.
“I... I shouldn’t have brushed off your question so casually. I apologize,” he replied.
“That’s okay Giles, really,” she said, linking her arm through his. “Shall we go?”
He nodded. “Cupid with your arrow make a love storm for me, I promise I will love her until eternity, I know between the two of us her heart we can steal, help me if you will,” he sang softly as they continued their walk.
‘All he’d have to do is ask. My heart is his already,’ Willow thought.
“Cupid, draw back your bow,
and let your arrow go,
straight to my lover’s heart for me...
nobody but me...”
Giles knew he should enjoy the sensation of Willow’s body next to his, it was probably his only chance to get this close to her without someone’s life being in danger first.
“Cupid... please hear my cry... and let your arrow fly, straight to my lover’s heart for me...” Giles stopped in his tracks when he heard Willow singing. He turned and stared into her eyes, knowing full well that he was capable of becoming easily lost in them. He also knew he’d never want to find his way out.
“Cupid... don’t you hear me? Calling you?” Willow whispered.
“I need you... Cupid... help me,” Giles finished.
“Too bad it’s over,” Willow said.
“I’d... I’d like to think its just begun,” he replied, taking her hands in his and placing a kiss on them, waiting for the sign that his feelings weren’t returned.
Her smile found its way straight to his soul, knocking on the door and demanding to be let in, which he did gladly. He bent down, closing the space between them and kissed her.
They didn’t wonder about the jolt they both felt, when his lips met hers...
They both figured Cupid had finally found his mark.
The End