"Ballet?"

"Tap Dancing?"

"Jazz Dancing?"

Willow shook her head at all three. Dancing was not particularly her strong suit.

"What about music?" she said aloud, flipping through the pages of the recreation pamphlet.

College had started less than a week ago and Willow was determined to get involved as much as possible. She wanted to do more, activity-wise than she did in High School. She wanted to meet new people, make friends and the only way she figured to do that was too throw herself into different activities. The college brochure insisted on it.

'Getting involved in campus activities is one of the easiest ways to make new friends and learn new things. It is an amazing way to meet people and make the UC Sunnydale community feel a lot smaller.!', she remembered reading in the glossy brochure that came with her orientation packet. She figured it couldn't be all that bad and decided to take the pamphlet's advice.

So, as soon as the quarter started, she checked out various clubs and committees, went to different meetings and activity fairs that were being held throughout the campus, until she had activity burnout. She, finally settled on the Rally Committee, Life Science Society, Hillel and decided to do some volunteering. Her roommate, Ivy wanted her to go look at sororities with her the following week and she agreed.

"What about advanced piano?" she thought aloud. Nah. 
She knew enough piano as it was and she wasn't about 
to pay $20 a pop to learn more. 

The idea of taking a Rec Class came about when she was 
in her dorm room and the pamphlet was slipped under 
her door. She picked it up and was immediately 
interested. She loved learning new things and there 
were so many classes offered that she was bound to 
find one that she liked. However, that was easier said 
than done. 

An hour later, after eliminating anything sports 
related or dance related, she decided to focus on 
music. She had played piano in the past and could read 
music, so she thought this was the best field for her. 
Now, she had to choose which instrument to learn. 

"Violin?" No. 

"Trumpet?" Nah. 

"AHA! I've got it!" she exclaimed. She picked up the 
application and started to fill it out. Where it said 
class name, she wrote down Intro to Guitar. 

She would learn to play the guitar. She jumped up and 
ran down to the Rec Center to pay for the class. 

********************************* 
Three weeks later: 

Willow was grumbling as she walked to Giles' place. 
He asked if she could come by and help him research, 
Nallol, a new demon. 

"Damn!" she cursed, as her guitar case fell out of her 
grasp. 

This was the third time that stupid case had fallen 
out of her arms since she left the campus. Giles had 
wanted her to come over at her earliest opportunity 
and that was after her guitar lesson. Which meant 
having to carry her guitar all the way over to Giles. 
She rang the bell incessantly with her elbow and 
tried to keep her purse, case and books from falling. 
After what seemed like an eternity, the door opened 
and Willow pushed her way in. 

"Could you help me, please?" she said, struggling with 
the case. 

"Ummm..of course." Giles replied, quickly shutting the 
door. He grabbed the case and set it against the wall, 
while she dumped her books and purse on a nearby 
chair. 

"Thanks, Giles." she said grateful and sat on the 
couch. 

"Your welcome." he smiled and headed to the kitchen. 
"Would you like some tea?" 

"Yes, please." she answered, picking up a book from 
the coffee table and flipping through it. 

Giles came over with the tea and sat down next to 
her. "Here." 

"Thank you." she replied, picking up one of the cups. 

"So, what is with the case? I didn't know you played 
the guitar." 

"I don't really. I'm taking lessons at the rec center 
on campus." she stated between sips. 

He nodded. " What made you decide to learn guitar?" 

"Well, someone slipped the rec pamphlet under my door 
and some of the classes looked interesting, so I 
decided to sign up. The only class that I thought 
would be interesting was the guitar." 

"And how are the lessons going?" 

"Okay, I guess." she shrugged. 

"What's wrong?" 

"well, it's been three weeks and I'm still having a 
problem mastering the most basic string." she pouted." 
I mean... I know which strings are which but my 
teacher said I'm plucking them wrong. she said it 
looked like I was flinging something off my fingers." 
she said, as Giles tried to stifle his laughter as he 
imagined Willow flicking the strings. 

"Have you been practicing?" She nodded. 

"For a couple of hours a day. It seems the more I 
practice, the worst I get." 

"Would you like me to help you?" he asked tentatively. 

"Really?" 

"Yes, really." he smiled. "Now, let's see the guitar." 


Willow hopped up and went to pick up the case. She 
brought it over and sat down. She opened it and 
carefully took out the guitar. She handed it to him, 
when realization dawned, " Oh my! The photo!" 

Giles looked at her curiously. "What photo, Willow?" 

"The photo of you in a leather jacket playing the 
guitar." His eyes narrowed. 

"And how did you managed to see it?" 

Willow squirmed a little."Well...." 

"Yes, Willow?" 

"Well, it was the day of the Egyhon incident." Giles 
eyes saddened somewhat. "We were trying to find out 
what was going on with you. So, Xander had to search 
your office and he found the photo." she answered. 

"I see." 

"You're not mad, are you? I mean, Xander didn't find 
any others and the picture was kinda of not bad, very 
good and you looked cute in a rebel sort of way and 
I'd better shut up, now." she said, blushing. 

"It's alright,Willow. I don't mind." he began to 
arrange the guitar in his arms. " So, what song are 
you working on?" 

"Ummm...'Can't Help Falling in Love'." He nodded and 
began to play. 

Willow watched entranced. Giles played beautifully. 
Her eyes focused on the long, experienced fingers as 
they smoothly plucked the strings. she wondered how 
those fingers would feel on her skin. How it would 
feel to be stroked by him, to be held by him, to have 
his fingers run through her hair. This wasn't the 
first time she thought about it. 
She had noticed how strong his hands were when he 
would quarterstaff with Buffy. Or how graceful they 
would move through the air during his fencing matches 
with Wesley. Even while researching his hands were 
fascinating to watch. They would smoothly flip the 
pages until they found what they needed. Then, a 
single finger would lightly glide down the page till 
it found the information it wanted. Sometimes, she 
would be so focused on him that she would space out. 
Like now. 

Giles glanced up and saw Willow staring intently at 
him, with this enchanting look on her face. She looked 
beautiful. He wondered briefly what she was thinking 
about and if it had to do with him. He started to 
softly sing and smiled when he saw Willow shake her 
head slightly. She looked at him with wonder and 
amazement on her face. 

He was singing! To HER! And it was beautiful. 

He had a rich, deep voice that sent shivers down her 
spine. Giles saw her shiver and smiled inwardly. He 
knew she was enjoying his performance by the 
appreciative glances that she was sending him. Seeing 
her looking at him like that, caused his body to 
respond. A light blush appeared on his face and he was 
thankful the guitar hid his body well.He finished the 
song and smiled brightly at Willow waiting for her 
response. 

She bounced in her seat and clapped wildly, beaming 
that magnificent smile that he loved. "Giles, that was 
amazing! I knew you could play the guitar, but I 
didn't know you could sing, too." 

"Thank you, Willow." he replied as he slipped the 
guitar off his shoulders. " I normally don't come 
across moments where I have the opportunity to sing. 
When I do sing, it's usually in the shower." he told 
her, blushing as he realized what he had just admitted 
to. 

Willow blushed when her mind brought up the image of 
Giles in the shower. She coughed lightly. " Well, you 
should sing more. Your voice is too good not to be 
heard." 

He gave her a quirky grin. "Well, how about we hear 
you play?" 

She blanched. "Oh no. I couldn't...especially after 
the great performance you just did. I'm nowhere near 
as good as you." 

Giles reached out a hand. "Willow, it took a lot of 
practice to get to the point I'm at now. In time, 
you'll be there." he smiled reassuredly. " May I 
please hear you play Willow?" 

She hesitantly picked up the guitar and slipped it on. 
She began to play the same song as Giles played except 
it didn't sound the same. He cringed. Willow try as 
she might, and she tried hard if the tongue between 
her lips was any indication, wasn't that good. Her 
teacher was right when he said that she played as if 
she were flicking something off her fingers.He reached 
out a hand to stop her. 

"Willow." he softly said. She stopped and looked up at 
him in despair. Giles heart lurched as he saw the sad 
look on her face. 

"I'm horrible, aren't I?" 

"Willow, i admit you could do better," her face fell. 
Giles put his finger underneath her chin and lifted it 
up. "But, you're not horrible. you just need more 
practice." 

She looked at him hopefully. "could you show me what 
I'm doing wrong?" 

"Of course." He picked up the guitar. "Come here." 

Willow scooted closer and Giles helped her put the 
guitar around her shoulders. He arranged her hands on 
the instrument, placing one hand over the neck of the 
guitar and the other around the body. 

As he placed her hands, he felt a electric shock 
course through him and his body responded again. He 
hoped she was so preoccupied about learning that she 
didn't feel it. 
The minute Giles' hands touched hers, she was on 
fire. The strong hands gripped hers firmly, then 
gently laid them on the guitar. She felt his body 
respond and blushed crimson when she realized it was 
because of her. With Giles this close, she wondered 
how she was going to concentrate on playing. 

Giles, at the same time, wondered how he was going to 
teach her when all he wanted to do was ravish her. He 
was so close that he could smell the lavender perfume 
she wore and also hear the sound of her pulse in her 
throat. He tried to rid all impure thoughts from his 
mind and concentrate at the task at hand. 

"Alright,Willow. I'm going to guide your hands as you 
play." He breathed in her ear." Alright?" 

Willow nodded, unable to say a word, her whole being 
focused on the feel of his breath on her neck and his 
sexy voice in her ear. 

Giles began to move Willow's hands, slowly at first, 
so she could become accustomed to strumming the 
strings instead of flicking them. She moved her hand 
in sync with his, slowly, feeling her fingers glide 
over the strings. He began to softly sing the song in 
her ear. 

" Can't help falling in love with you...." Willow 
involuntarily shivered and leaned back slightly to 
rest against him, her body in close contact with his. 
His body responded and he bit back a groan. 
Their fingers slowly came to a stop and Willow turned 
her head slightly to look into his eyes. She was 
breathing heavy, her eyes glazed and she wanted 
nothing more than to kiss him. 
He stared at her, his chest heaving and his face a 
mirror of her own. Their eyes met and their heads 
slowly began to move together. They were just about to 
kiss when the door burst open and Buffy came in. 

Giles pulled back immediately , while Willow ducked 
her head. " Hey, guys. What's going on here?" Buffy 
asked a little suspiciously. 

"I'm taking guitar lessons." Willow fumbled, her face 
a bright pink. 

"From Giles?" 

Giles pulled away completely from Willow and stood up 
quickly, trying to hide his erection. "no, she's 
taking them from the university Rec Center." he 
stammered, taking his glasses off. "She was having 
trouble with some of the notes and I was helping her." 

Buffy raised an eyebrow. " Helping her?" 

"Yes." Willow interjected. "I couldn't get the 
strumming right, so Giles helped to guide me. He can 
really play." 

"Really?" Buffy asked, smirking. 

Giles looked exasperated. "Yes, really." 

"Cool." 

"I think we've had enough musical entertainment for 
one day. "He put his glasses back on and strode over 
to a stack of books. "I believe we should begin 
researching, since this demon could be a bigger threat 
than normal." Giles rambled off and the lessons were 
soon forgotten. 



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