You approach the library with your headphones on, listening to your Velvet Chain CD. As you enter you observe the room lit only by candleglow, you spy Willow across the room and head towards her. Just then, Rupert springs up from behind the counter and begins waving his arms frantically, mouthing words you can't hear. You remove your headphones as you continue in. His words, "NO! WAIT! DON'T!" are the last thing you hear as your vision is enveloped in darkness.

When your sight clears again, it is to a tangle of foliage, right in your face. The sharp impact of a branch with your forehead knocks you back. Unfortunately, your equilibrium hasn't quite caught up with you yet and you fall backwards out of the shrubbery and onto hard earth.

You look up and see sky, clouds, and a tall man looking down at you. You sit up holding your bruised forehead as the man crouches down to help you. "You all right Love?" He says in a thick English accent. "Someone having a go at you in there?" He glares toward the bushes like he's ready to pounce.

"No, I-I'm okay. I just fell." His hands come to your arms to steady you as your try to stand. "I was in... Where am I?"

"Oxford Love. Do you need some medical attention?"

You look up and blink at your kind Samaritan dumbly. He is gorgeous, can't be more than 20, and unmistakably Rupert Giles.

"Rupert?" He grins at you. "What year is this?" His grin quickly fades into a worried frown.

"Uh-huh, come on." He scoops you into his arms and begins to carry you toward the main building.

You clutch at his leather jacket, his speed making you a bit dizzy. "No wait, I don't need a doctor. I just need you to listen to me."

"I'll listen. While your head's being tended to I'll hear anything you want to say."

"No. You don't understand. Dammit! Your name is Rupert Giles. You're going to be a Watcher like your Father and Grandmother before you." He stops and stares at you for a second.

"Di-did my Father send you?"

"No. I know you, in the future. I think I walked into a spell in progress, wound up here."

"And...in this future, I'm a Watcher? With a real Slayer?" You look at him and realize you can't say anymore without possibly affecting things in your time, maybe eliminating a way to get back. You slowly close your eyes and lean against his shoulder. You feel him kiss your forehead and begin moving with you again.

You open your eyes when you feel him lay you down on a bed and smooth your hair. You find yourself in his room. You smile, observing the place plastered in posters. He is laying beside you, propped up on his elbow. His smooth face is smiling down on you, his finger brushing your hair off your cheeks. A thought occurs to you. You're now the older woman. You're not so sure you like that, although Rupert's not seeming to mind. His finger paints lazy circles against your arm. "So, tell me my future."

"I-I don't know any future. I just thought you were cute a-and I heard you were into all this weird stuff."

He smiles and bends down to your ear. "I never told anyone about the Watchers." He kisses your lobe.

"Rupert I can't. I'm sorry."

"I know. There's a paradox danger...and that's the least of it." He pulls back and gazes at you. "But, you can't blame me for trying." You blush and look down, reaching your hand to his neck and trailing your finger down to his chest. He grabs your hand and kisses your palm. "So, in this future, you're my girl?"

"Yes."

He gets a mischievous grin, leaning forward till his lips are millimeters from yours. "How about giving me something to look forward to?" He kisses you deeply before you can respond. His hand sneaks over and switches off the light.

As you feel his hands and lips caress you in unison, you hear his voice in your ear. "Love, open your eyes for me please? Wake up now?" Your eyes blink open and Rupert's worried face relaxes. He touches his hand to the gray patch at his temple and runs it back through his hair. "Thank goodness. Here, let's sit you up a little." He leans you up against his chest.

"What happened?"

"Willow was experimenting with magical barriers. U-unfortunately, you walked right into one. Knocked you out cold."

"So I didn't go anywhere?"

"Go? Well where Love?"

"The past. I got to see you," you smile, "when you were all young and lovely."

"Oh dear. Were there dinosaurs about?" You giggle, then wince at the pain that engenders in your head. "Come on Love, let me get you home." He helps you to your feet and walks you to the doors.

"Rupert?"

"Yes?"

"Do you have a leather jacket?...."

Have a Wonderful Monday!

GylzGirl :-)