RATING: PG
COUPLING: Buffy/Riley Willow/Graham
SUMMARY: A/U - Riley has left Buffy, and this is 10 years into the future.
DISCLAIMER: All BtVS characters belong to the wonderfully talented mind of Joss Whedon. However I do own Riley's daughters and Sam the nanny.
FEEDBACK: Pretty pretty please! I really hate to beg, but will .
SPOILERS: All of Season 5, and my own little universe.
AUTHOR'S NOTES: 1) I share the writing credit of this chapter with Chris!!! She’s such a great friend, and an amazing writer. I owe so much of Willow and Graham’s great night to Chris’s wonderful imagination.
2) Ladies and gentleman please put your hands together for my wonderful Beta reader, Anne-Marie!! Chris, thanks so much for all your wonderful feedback, you're such a good buddy! To all the wonderful authors out there who inspire me - Ace, Sam, Amy, Jesmin, Ginger, Holli, Nicole- thank you for challenging me everyday. Thank everyone who finds the time to send me feedback!
Riley followed Buffy and Steve into the den. Upon entering the room, he noticed that the lights had been dimmed.
<Why do I suddenly feel like I'm back home in Paul Harvey's basement at one of his famous basement parties, and why isn’t ‘Stairway to Heaven’ playing!>
Riley watched as Buffy took Steve's hand and he spun her out onto the make shift dance floor that Graham must have cleared. Buffy and Steve seemed to float around the room but it was the other dancing couple that drew his attention. Willow and Graham swayed slowly in each other's arms in front of the fireplace.
"I don't think I've ever seen him look so happy," Nicole said, coming up behind him.
"Will you stop doing that!" Riley exclaimed as Nicole’s quiet voice startled him. "I swear it was the Viet Cong that trained you and not the Initiative. You keep scaring the shit out me. I swear I'm going to make you start wearing a cow bell around your neck."
"Only if it's from Tiffany's. And don't give me grief because I passed Stealth class while you guys failed it," Nicole smirked. Watching Riley jump out of his skin was a favorite past time of hers.
"And stop reading my mind while you’re at it."
"I'll try," Nicole smirked again but dropped her head so he wouldn't see. Riley's mind was usually quite easy to read. All you had to do was look into his eyes because they revealed everything that was going on in his head. It made him a terrible poker player.
"Would you like to trip the light fantastic with me, madam?" Riley asked, offering his arm to Nicole.
"With you, sir?"
"I'm the only one asking."
"In that case I would love to."
"Well don't feel that I’m pressuring you or anything," Riley said, trying to look hurt.
"Shut up Finn and dance with me," she laughed, throwing her arm around his waist.
Willow placed her head on Graham's shoulder leaning into him as they swayed seductively to the music. His fingers ran up her and down her back stopping at the base of her neck. She could hear him chuckling as she groaned at his touch.
"You keep doing that, and I'll jump you right here!" Willow whispered in his ear seductively, and to emphasis her point, she stuck her hand down the back of his pants to smack his butt.
"Oh I've been naughty have I?" Graham asked, the amusement evident in his voice.
"Yes and no," she gasped as his tongue licked the spot just below her ear.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"I'll have to tell you later when we're alone," she whispered, catching his earlobe between her teeth and playing with the short hairs at the base of his neck. He shivered a little as her ministrations sent shivers up his spine.
"Let's go now," he whispered urgently as his hands wandered down the back of her skirt, pulling her closer to him so that she could feel the bulge in his pants. Looking up she saw nothing but desire and want in his eyes and she knew her own eyes mirrored his. Dropping her eyes, she kissed his neck feeling him shiver again at her touch.
"Would be rude," she mumbled against his neck, licking him back slowly. She loved the taste and smell that was Graham.
"Probably," he agreed, stoking the crack in her ass with his index finger. Willow gasped at his bold touch and pulled back to stare into his dark blue eyes. She gulped and wondered if he actually had been joking earlier about taking her here.
<Here in front of our friends!>
"If you two don’t cool it down over there by the fireplace, I'll throw out into that snow bank. And don't think I won't do it!" Buffy cracked, watching the way the couple's slow dance was turning more and more intimate by the second.
Blushing, Graham remembered that the two of them really weren't alone, even with the comment both made about appearing rude in front of their friends. He heard the group burst out laughing and hung his head.
<Okay I've just embarrassed Willow in front of everyone.>
Glancing up, he prepared to apologize but he noticed that Willow was laughing as well.
"You look even cuter when you blush," she said, leaning in to kiss him quickly on the lips.
"I think we better get going Nick so these people can go to bed," Steve said as he twirled his wife towards the door.
"I think it's a good idea if you and I go to bed. Wanna play doctor tonight?" Nicole replied and waggled her eyebrows suggestively at her husband.
"Race ya to the car!" He laughed as he followed her toward the hallway.
"Geez, married 4 years and they still can't keep their hands off each other," Riley snorted.
"At least I don't have to play with myself," Steve retorted, pushing Nicole out the door and down the hall.
"Hey I resemble that remark," Riley grumbled with mock offence, pulling Buffy out the door with him to say good night to their guests.
Now alone in the room, Willow and Graham stood awkwardly staring at each other. Gone was the teasing and caressing and in its place were nerves and fear.
<Okay I'll take the lead here.> Graham decided, but before he got a chance Willow spoke up, the tremor in her voice obvious.
"To quote my favorite Tom Cruise movie 'Take me to bed, or lose me forever,'" Willow said, taking a step towards him placing her arms around his neck.
"Wasn't that Meg Ryan's part?" Gray answered placing his arms around her waist and holding her close.
"So what you have fantasies about Meg Ryan?" Willow quipped looking up at him, trying to hide her insecurities.
<Great first Russell, now Graham!>
"Nope. You’re the star in all of my fantasies."
"So take me to bed big guy," she whispered into his ear, as he swung her up into his arms prepared to carry her upstairs to bed.
_______________________________________________________________________
Riley stood in the library by himself after Buffy had kissed him good night and gone to bed. They had agreed that they wouldn't spend another night together until they could do so without fear of interruptions from little people. He'd need to book a hotel room for them both soon. Watching Willow and Graham earlier had drove him to near distraction. Dancing with Buffy, he had wanted nothing more than to be doing exactly what the other couple had been engaged in, but no, they had decided to wait.
"You okay?" Graham asked from the doorway.
"Thought you'd be upstairs with Willow making mad passionate love right about now," Riley said turning around to face his friend.
"That can wait a bit. Besides women take forever getting ready for bed. I thought we could talk for a bit," Graham said coming into the room and sitting in the overstuffed chair next to the couch.
"You'd put Willow on hold for me?" Riley laughed.
"Well not really on hold, just… Look we just need to talk," Graham said turning business-like on him.
"So what do you want to talk about?" Riley asked, noticing the serious look that suddenly appeared in Graham’s eyes.
"What? You worried about the girls going out shopping tomorrow? That the psycho’s
out there waiting for her?"
"No that wasn't it, but thanks for bringing it up," Graham said sarcastically as he began to fidget in his seat.
"Graham if you need to pace then just do it, would you?" Riley said notice his friends discomfort. Whatever it was that need talking about was making him uneasy.
"I got a call on my cell just now, it's about New Orleans."
"What about it?" Riley asked suddenly not liking the direction that the conversation was taking.
"The army has moved in and are taking over the case."
"What!" Riley exploded. This was their case! They'd done all the hard work, and now the US army was taking over! Over Riley’s dead body would that happen!
"Reece says they’ve marched in and put up a perimeter around the hellmouth. Won't let any of our men near it."
"Who's in charge?"
"Some captain named Bryant. Reece says this guy and his men have no idea what they’re doing. He says they're all going to get themselves killed," Graham sighed.
Since he and Riley had walked away from the Initiative 6 years ago, the place had gone down hill. Colonel Masters, who'd been in charge since the team had been reinvented, had died of a heart attack, and the new commander had proven to be an ass. The man spent his time challenging every call that the his senior officers made, so instead of striking a senior office, Riley and Graham resigned their commissions and started RAGE Inc.
It wasn’t long after the two resigned and took most of their trained staff with them, that the army realized how much they needed Finn and Miller. By then both men had realized that having a life and providing for their comfortable old age was far more pleasing. Now they called their own shots and made millions. What could be better than that?
"Shit! Did he call General Howell?"
"No, I just did. Seems this is out of his hands as well. The Joint Chiefs want it taken care of their way."
"Yeah and someone else will pay the price," Riley spat. He was disgusted with the way the military was handling things but that was nothing new.
"Why do I have a feeling we're looking at a repeat of Texas?"
"Because we are," Graham replied grimly.
Riley sighed. Two weeks before, the army had moved into a little town north of the Mexican boarder to clean up a nest of vamps, out of 30 men, only 2 survived. The captain and his radio man. Riley had argued with the higher ups about the raid until he thought he would turn blue but it had been useless. He had known that the sect was particularly old and strong and that the situation had called for a more experienced group of demon hunters, but his warnings fell on deaf ears. Riley and the General had both blamed themselves for the high losses though neither was there. With General Howell now back on their side, Riley and Graham had thought that they could stop another massacre from happening but the General’s authority had been undermined after what happened in Texas and he had no influence over the current situation.
"I've told Reece to pull the men back, but to keep the Abbey safe. They
need the blood of 9 nuns for it to work, and they've killed 5 already."
"Good," Riley mumbled lost in thought for a second. "I'll call the Vatican."
Riley wondered how he was going to explain to the Cardinals that he'd just lost complete control of the situation.
"Why do I have a feeling that it's going to be a long night?" Graham sighed, moving towards the security computer at the far end of the library to log on.
"No! Back away from the computer! You have a certain little redhead upstairs waiting for you," Riley said, moving to intercept Graham before he could reach the computer.
"I told her I'd be back."
"Then back you will go," Riley said, pointing to the door.
"Rye, c’mon, she'll be asleep by now!" Graham said. As much as he loved Willow and wanted her, Graham also had a duty to protect the world.
"Go wake her up then! Look, if what I saw tonight in the den was any indication of what's waiting for you upstairs then you better take the stairs two at a time," Riley said, trying to steer Graham back towards the door.
"No. I’m staying and I could point out to you all the times I tried to make you go home and you wouldn't."
"Yeah and then think about all the nights I did," Riley smirked at his
friend. "Gray! Go upstairs."
"I don't know."
"Don't know what?" Riley was beginning to get exasperated with his friend.
"Rye, I've never in my life been nervous about being with a woman, but right now…" his voice trailed off as he raised his eyes to the ceiling.
"You're worried about being with Willow?"
"Yes! Do you have any idea how many women I've been with since I last sleep with Willow?" Graham asked feeling disgusted with himself.
"Well I know there's been a lot, but I don't think you're in Wilt Chamberlain's league," Riley quipped.
"Ha ha! I'm serious here, Riley."
"Will you relax! I mean it’s not like she's a virgin or anything. She's had her own share of partners."
"Yeah, let’s talk about that, shall we? How about we start with Russell Crowe?" Graham grumbled. The fact that Willow had lived with one of Hollywood’s great lovers wasn’t lost on him and he wondered how he could ever measure up.
"What this? Am I seeing your insecurities in the bedroom peeking out?"
Riley asked shocked. Hell if he hadn’t been friends with Graham for years he
would have thought that the guy was a bit of an asshole. Graham’s list of
conquests was quite long, but Riley knew that each woman had just been a
band-aid over his wounded heart.
"No…"
"Graham…"
"Look, what happens if it's not good?"
"What the sex?"
"No. I mean us… together," Graham said, his voice becoming soft. "When we made love in the past we were so in sync, Riley. I've never experienced that with anyone else."
"That's because you loved her."
"No it's more than that…"
"Graham, when you love someone and they love you the same way… well the sex can be truly beautiful. When I used to be with Buffy, we were so in tune to each other that pleasing just came naturally. As much as I loved Claire, it was never the same."
"So what do you suggest I do?" Graham asked, looking to his friend for some serious advice.
"Go upstairs and relax!" Riley chuckled. "Have fun!"
"So if you hear any screaming or laughing that doesn't sound appropriate, will you please come running and pull my ass out of there?"
"Promise. Now good night."
" Night," Graham sighed, as he walked out of the room. He looked like a man going to the gallows, the way his head hung down and shoulders slumped forward, not one who was on his way for a great night of sex with an incredible beautiful and sexy woman. All Riley could do was laugh at his friend and anticipate the night that this might be him.
Graham climbed the stairs slowly, a little angry that Riley didn't understand his pain. Okay maybe he was being slightly neurotic, but his and Willow's sleeping together again was a big thing! What happened if he didn't measure up?
Stopping in front of his bedroom door, Graham noticed the light was still on. She must have left it on for him. Graham walked quietly into the bedroom, shut the door and locked it not wanting to disturb Willow as she slept.
"You don't have to tiptoe in, I'm not asleep."
Looking over to the bed Graham saw Willow reclined against the headboard, her back propped up with pillows. She was still dressed and reading a script and it was obvious that she had been crying, as her eyes were red and puffy.
"Sorry I had to leave Will, but New Orleans is in the middle of a crisis and... well, it couldn't be helped," Graham explained softly.
When she didn’t answer him, he just continued,
"I thought you'd be asleep when I got back."
He reached out to touch her shoulder but Willow moved so he couldn't reach her and Graham drew his hand in sharply.
"Wills, what wrong?"
"I think I'll sleep in my own room tonight," she said icily as she got up. She couldn’t move as quickly as usual and so before she could step out of his range, Graham had her hand in his.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing, my ankle’s throbbing and I just want to sleep in my own bed."
"What have I done?" He asked, turning her so she'd look at him, but she refused to raise her eyes from the floor.
"Nothing, it’s just me."
"No, I've done something."
"Look, I made a mistake," Willow said, trying to pull her hand gently out of his grasp but still not looking at him.
"What mistake, Wills? You know I think your perfect."
"Do you Graham?"
"Oh course I do," He blinked trying to get what she was not saying out loud.
"Then why did you dump me here and run off?" She asked in a little voice as she sat back down on the side of the bed.
"It was a emergency phone call from New Orleans. It’s a very important case."
"So why didn't you just tell me that?"
"I don't know…" he sighed as he watched her prop herself back up onto the pillows, grateful that at least she wasn’t leaving the room anymore.
Willow picked up her script and flipped back to where she’d left off. As hurt as she was, she couldn’t actually bring herself to walk out on him. She hurt and she wanted an explanation, damn it! Had the call been Graham's way of leaving her here? None of it made sense. He'd carried her upstairs and they were kissing, her hands were pulling his shirt out of his pants, and then the cell phone rang. She had watched as he pulled away from her, wiping his mouth as he answered the phone. His eyes never once left hers and the smoldering look he'd given her downstairs was back. Then before she could roll across the bed to reach him, he was hanging up and he was out of the room. A minute later she could hear him on the cell phone in the bathroom talking to someone else. He came back in the room and then disappeared again, this time out the bedroom door.
"Forget it, no problem," she said curtly returning to her script.
Graham walked across the room and sat on the edge of the bed.
"Willow please, what's wrong?"
Willow wouldn't look at him.
"Willow?"
"What?"
"I asked what's wrong?"
"Nothing."
"It's not nothing, what is it?"
Looking him straight in the eye, the haughty actress facade appeared.
"I *think* you know."
"But I don't know."
"Yes, you *do*."
"No, I don't!" Graham was rapidly losing his patience.
"God, this twenty-question game isn't getting us anywhere," he mumbled. "For
the last time, what's wrong?"
"It's obvious that you don't want to take the time to be with me so, I decided to spend my valuable time doing more constructive things… like painting my nails and reading this script, while I waited for you to decide to come back," Willow replied, a hurt tone in her voice.
Pulling the script out of her hands, Graham closed it and threw it into the wastebasket.
"Hey!" she yelled as the script hit the rim of the wastebasket and then slid in.
"Constructive, huh? I'll show you constructive, lady," Graham rumbled at her in a low, sexy voice.
Leaning over, he placed his hand on the back of her head and pulled her towards him, passionately kissing her mouth.
"How's that for constructive?" He growled.
"It's fair I guess, as kisses go but remember, I've been kissed by the most famous lovers in Hollywood."
<How can I forget?>
"Well, I think it's about time you stopped with the comparison shopping sweetheart, because you just found yourself the best there is."
His hands grasping her waist, Graham pulled her away from the pillows and pinned her to the bed with his taut body. He kissed her long and hard, almost bruising her lips. Their tongues dueled for position as they penetrated each other's mouth and their breathing coming in rapid gasps.
Reaching down to untie the wrap around sweater, he slid it off revealing her full creamy breasts. Tracing a finger down her body, Graham lightly brushed the tip of a rosy nipple sending waves of desire throughout her body.
Pulling his head down and arching her back, Willow thrust her breast upward to make full contact with his eager mouth while his hand fondled and squeezed her nipple.
"Graham, I need your hands and your mouth on me. I want to remember how you used to make love to me," she panted, her voice a seductive whisper.
Wanting to feel all of her body, Graham's hand slid down Willow's stomach while he continued to nuzzle her breast with his lips. He unzipped her black skirt and slipped it over her thighs. Willow raised her hips to ease the way for its removal and then anxiously grabbed the hem of Graham's shirt, deftly pulling it up and over his head and throwing it to the floor. She reached up and lovingly touched his broad muscular chest and rippling biceps.
"You always had the most beautiful body," she said admiringly.
"No, you're wrong there. It's you, who’s beautiful," he answered, leaning down to catch her mouth in another mind-blowing kiss.
Graham had always enjoyed undressing Willow and he loved it when she did it to him as well. Their lovemaking was more passionate when undressing became part of foreplay.
Wanting to continue, Graham reached down to remove her panties, stopping when
he met an obstacle never before encountered. Looking down he saw that she was
wearing a black garter belt and hose.
"Were you planning on seducing me tonight?" He asked, flipping the first snap and Willow gasped at the sound. The strap snapped back against her skin, leaving a mark on the delicate skin of her thigh. Leaning down, Graham kissed the red spot, laving it with his tongue. Willow gasped again as his tongue traced across her flesh ‘til it reached the next strap.
"Well, I was hoping," she replied shyly since it was Graham who was now in control of the situation and not her.
"So the garter belt was part of it?" He asked reaching to undo the next snap and then kissing her leg again.
"Not really. I got Buffy to buy it the other day, since I can't get my jeans or pants on with the cast. And my tear-aways aren’t exactly the sexiest thing… I own," she gasped again as he blew on her flesh where he'd just licked.
"So this wasn't about seducing me then?" He said, raising his head to look her in the eye. He loved it when she babbled like this.
"Kind of?" She trailed off as he undid the next one. She knew that if he didn't hurry up and undo the belt she was going to come just from his teasing. The mere touch of his fingers and his talented mouth were telling her that she was a lost cause tonight.
Rolling them over, Willow straddled his hips and grabbed the zipper of his jeans and slowly lowered it. Bringing her head down, Willow parted the fly of his boxers with her fingers and reached inside with her tongue licking the entire length of his hardening cock.
Graham growled deep in his throat when her tongue tasted his head and she pulled his jeans and boxers down his legs, dropping them next to the bed.
"God I want you so much!" He said, panting and rolling them over again so that Willow was beneath him.
Gently pushing her body back down on the bed, Graham prepared to make this night of love the most memorable night of their lives.
Kissing her lightly on the stomach, Graham separated Willows legs and climbed
onto her slender body. He fingered her clit lightly with his thumb, trying not to send her over the edge, as he wanted her to come while he was inside her.
Wrapping her legs around Graham's waist, Willow was more than ready to meet his need and desire with her own. But in the midst of their excitement, Willow had forgotten one little thing: her cast. It came crashing down onto Graham's back.
"Ow! Geez, watch that thing!"
"You okay?" Willow giggled. "We can stop if you'd like."
She rubbed Graham's back where the cast hit him, praying to the Goddesses that he wouldn't want to stop. Hell if he did, she'd do whatever she had to do to make him change his mind.
"No way!" he growled at her. "I've wanted this since the first second I laid eyes on you."
"So you wanted to fuck me in the airport?" she asked, only half joking. Her stomach turned for a minute at the thought that he might just want a role in the hay and nothing more.
<Isn't that what all men want, just to sleep with Willow Rosenberg?>
"How could you ask that? Willow, I've loved you for so long, you've ruined me for other women. I want to make love to you. There's a big difference between that and fucking my dear," he said tenderly, cradling her face between his hands. He leaned down and captured her pert mouth with his but as he shifted his position, he knocked her cast with his leg and she grunted against her lips. Willow pushed on his chest and turned her head, freeing her lips for a moment,
"Graham?"
"Hmmm?" he said, kissing her again
"Graham, this isn't going to work."
"What's not going to work?" He asked, his voice thick, his eyes glazed.
"The bed. The bed isn't going to work. We're going to have to improvise here.
We've got to find someway around the cast," Willow said frantically looking
around the room. "The couch! We have the couch."
"It's not going to work, the back's too high."
"How about the coffee table?" She asked.
"And how am I supposed to get to you, me kneeling and you sitting on the
edge? I can't aim that low."
"We could try the end table here by the bed."
Graham looked at the table, mentally measuring its height.
"Could work. Let's give it a try," he said lifting her and setting her on top of the table.
Willow reached down to grasp Graham's cock, massaging its head with her thumb while her fingers lightly brushed its length.
"Come on baby, get hard for me," she purred at him.
He reciprocated by separating her with his hand and fondling her clit.
Their breathing become more rapid and beads of sweat started to form on their foreheads.
"Yeah, that's it baby...touch me right there," he mumbled in a low breathless voice.
"Come into me, Gray. I'm close, so close. I want to feel you inside me."
Graham gently pushed his cock into her entrance. He started to thrust rhythmically, each thrust more forceful than the one before. Her leg, because of the excess weight of the cast, swung each time he thrust hitting him in the calf.
"Ooh, that'll leave a bruise," Willow giggled a bit breathless. "Are you sure about this?"
"Shut up and kiss me, Rosenberg," Graham growled through clenched teeth.
This was going to be the most amazing moment of his life if he lived to tell about it.
Suddenly a loud cracking sound filled the room. The bedside table's legs were thin and couldn't take the sideways movement as Graham thrust into Willow. He quickly lifted her before the table collapsed onto the floor.
Holding her, he looked down in disbelief at what was left of the table.
"God, Riley's going to shoot me!"
"We'll just have to buy him another end table," Willow giggled before catching his right nipple between her teeth
"No, you don't understand," Graham said shaking his head and trying not to notice what Willow was doing with her lips. "Claire bought this table for me, it's an antique! Or I guess I should say it was an antique."
"Well, we'll just have to tell him I tripped and fell into it and broke the legs. I'm sure he'll understand. In the mean time...," Willow had taken his cock into her hand and was pumping it lightly, "I still want you."
Graham looked across the room spotting his desk against the wall. It was the perfect height and it was built strong so he didn't have to worry about hitting his knees, something he'd have to consider if they used his dresser.
"Hold that thought," he said as he carried her over and set her down. Leaning in, Graham kissed her red lips and parted her legs. Wasting no time, he thrust his cock into her dripping channel and started a hard rhythmic movement but with each thrust the desk banged against the wall.
"Shit, everyone in the house is going to hear us!"
"How about the wingback chair?" Willow suggested. "You could sit down and my legs could straddle the arms. You wouldn't have to worry about being hit by the cast and sitting in a chair would be more quiet."
"Let's go for it."
Graham carried her to the chair and sat down, helping Willow to get comfortable before he slipped her body over him. His hands firmly on her thighs, Graham helped lift her up and down on his engorged cock while she squeezed her vaginal muscles, milking him for everything he had. Willow leaned towards him for better leverage and her hands gripped the back of his head, pulling his mouth to her breast. Graham suckled on her nipple, causing her to climax hard and the contraction of her muscles was enough to send him to a new high as he came.
Afterward, they held each other's glistening bodies, their foreheads pressed together. Graham brushed a stray piece of hair out of her mouth,
"That was..."
"Wow"
"Do you think we can persuade Riley to give us this chair as a wedding present someday?" He asked and the two burst out laughing.
"Hell, I'm taking it home in my suitcase!"
Graham wrapped his arms around Willow and pulled her closer to him. He inhaled deeply and caught the scent of them. He suddenly felt very humbled by the emotion of they’re joining and he leaned back against the chair to look Willow in the eye.
"Will, that was… that was better than I could have imagined. In all my dreams...you can't possibly know what this means to me."
Caressing his face, she looked down into smiling blue eyes, and the happiness and love she saw there took her breath away because she could see that he truly loved her. She was awed.
"Do you know for the last 10 years I've felt like someone set adrift? It took you walking out of my life for good to realize how much I loved and needed you, Graham," she whispered, caressing his stubbled cheek. "When you walked out of Buffy's backyard that day, you took the best part of me with you. You took my heart."
"I didn't...," he began but she cut him off.
"No, let me finish," she said, placing a slim finger over his lips. "Here in your arms, having you make love to me, I feel like someone’s finally thrown me a lifeline. For the first time in a long time I felt like I have my heart back, and you've given it to me."
She leaned her forehead against his, her small hand resting on his chest over his heart.
"Thank you for taking care of it Graham."
"Never doubt that I love you, Willow, never," he whispered to her fervently. "And thank you for taking care of my heart too."
She smiled at him and tears of happiness clouded her vision. The newly reunited couple sat quietly for a few moments, enjoying the peace that they had finally found in each other. Graham was preparing to kiss her again when she yawned.
"Tired?" He asked, feigning innocence.
"No."
"Liar," he smirked at her smiling face.
"Yeah, and I’m not a very good one at that!" She laughed.
There was a light knock on the door.
"Uncle Cracker, what was that pounding? Are you okay?"
"It's nothing Tristie. Uncle Graham just tripped in the dark," he said, his eyes growing wide and his face a mask of terror. Willow began to giggle. He looked like a deer caught in the headlights of an oncoming tractor-trailer.
"But your lights are on."
"Shit," he whispered and Willow laughed even harder.
**********
When she awoke the next morning, Willow found herself in the loving embrace of the only man she'd ever really loved. Some time in the middle of the night, he must have carried her to bed because she didn’t remember much after round two in the chair. She must have fallen asleep in his arms. Stretching her arms over her head, she looked up into the most beautiful smiling face in the world.
"Good morning," he grinned, leaning down to kiss her.
"Morning yourself," she said as he pulled away from the kiss. Willow’s heart sang as she saw the silly smile on his face, and she giggled.
"What’s so funny?"
"Your stupid smile. Do you always smile like that after sex?"
"Nope, just when it’s with the woman I love," he replied breezily as he tightened his embrace.
"Oh, so that smiles for me?"
"Yup," he replied suddenly feeling shy. This was the woman who had owned his heart all these years and she was lying here in his arms, the woman he’d just admitted to loving.
"Don’t go all shy on me, boy," she laughed, tracing the outline of the muscles on his arm.
"Can’t help it, you’ve always had this effect on me."
"Did not!" She laughed at the outrageous comment. "You’ve never had a shy moment in your life, Graham Miller!"
"Okay maybe not in bed, but talking to you… yeah I was always tongue tied. Maybe that’s one of the reasons we were always kissing, I didn’t have to talk then," he shrugged.
"Really? And here I was thinking it was because I was such a great kisser!" She pouted
"Oh that too!" He blurted out. He tried to cover his mistake and felt like a fool for even saying the words, but he didn’t really care.
Glancing over for the clock, he noticed the night table lying on its side. Willow watched as his facial expression changed and he extracted himself from her embrace to climb out of bed. She watched his naked form cross the room and crouch down next to the remains of the table and run his hand across the damaged piece of furniture. Willow was struck by the sad look in his eyes and she crawled across the bed, leaned over the side and reached for his hand.
"Graham…," Willow didn't know what to say at that moment. His upset over the broken bedside table was confusing her because other than his comment about Riley killing him, he hadn't said anything else and it was unsettling her.
"Claire bought this for me. She did this whole room for me in antiques cause she knew how much I loved them. She designed a place for me that felt like my own home. It was just another reason why I loved her," he said softly, looking up to meet Willow's eyes for the first time.
"Claire did all this?" She asked looking around at the decidedly 1920's influenced room. It reminded her of the Great Gatsby for some reason.
"Yeah, she knew how much I loved it," he smiled sadly as Willow ran the pad of her thumb across the top of his hand.
"But I thought Riley bought this place after she died," Willow said, her confusion increasing.
"He did, but at the old house they used to have this pool house and she turned it into a place for me to crash when I stayed there. In the early days I basically lived there with them but as time went on I felt like I was always intruding in their life, so I spent more time at my own place."
"Oh."
What else could she say? She didn't know what to say to give him the comfort he needed.
"Claire was like the sister I never had, so when she died I felt I owed it to her and Riley to be there for the girls. I moved all this stuff here so I could spend more time with them. The truth is I really needed them. By keeping busy I didn't have time to mourn Claire, and I’m grateful for that. Losing people I love seems to be a common occurrence in my life," Graham sighed sadly as a tear rolled down his cheek.
"I'm so sorry," Willow said reaching for him and pulling him to her.
"I don't like to think about all this too often or I get all…," he said as his voiced dropped off. Willow nodded her head and held him close to her.
"I'm an orphan, did you know that?" he asked suddenly looking up at her.
"No I didn't," she said her heart aching for the man in her arms.
"My parents died when I was 16, in a car accident. Then Forrest died, and then you… Riley was the only person I had left, so when he left to be with Buffy I felt totally alone. When he left Buffy, he gave me my family back. Riley's family is the closest thing to a family I have. I used to love the summers we spent in Iowa," Graham smiled softly as he remembered the summers of their youth. "Then when Riley married Claire, she took me in as her surrogate kid brother and it all seemed so perfect. All except my love life."
Graham smiled up at her, trying to lighten the moment.
"I'm so sorry. I wish I'd realized before it was to late what you meant to me," Willow replied lamely and wondered how she could make it up to him.
"No, don't apologize, because right now I have you, and that gives me such hope for our future. Right this moment, I couldn't picture my life without you and that's why this whole stalker thing scares the hell out of me. Willow, I can't imagine my world without you."
"I know exactly what you mean. My whole life I've waited to be loved like this, and now I have it," she said, pulling him back towards her so that their lips could meet in a soft kiss.
"I want you to be my world. I don't want to wake up without you by my side ever again," she said caressing the side of his face.
"I feel the same way, but I don't expect this to happen overnight. I know that you're not the same girl I fell in love with all those years ago, but I want you to know that I'm not afraid of finding out who you are now."
As if to seal his offer, Graham pulled her hand along his jaw and when it found his lips he place a soft kiss on her palm.
"I'm still the same girl but now I get paid to play dress up," Willow said not moving her hand from his lips or taking her eyes from his.
"So what do we do now?" She asked, unsure of where this was going to lead.
"We get dressed and we face the music," he grinned ruefully at her.
"Music?" she asked confused.
"Do you think we are really going to get away with the noise from last night?" He smiled at her, remembering the desk hammering against the way.
"Oh my God, I totally forgot!'" She groaned.
"I'd be surprised if you didn't," he said climbing up on the bed next to her.
"Tristan…" she laughed
"Yeah, it's a good thing I locked the door, or we'd be paying for the child's therapy."
He shuddered at the thought of Tristan almost catching them.
"I suggest we remember to lock the door anytime we're alone," Willow smiled suggestively at him.
"I think it's still locked."
"Care to test drive that chair again?" She asked, her hand finding it's way to his cock. She loved the way it almost seemed to spring to attention at her mere touch.
"I'd love to but I think we'll have to buy the chair then," he said, scooping her up into his arms heading for the chair.
"We may have to redecorate."
"Money's not an issue."
"Oh, really?!"
__________________________________________________________________
When Willow and Graham finally walked into the kitchen two hours later they had an identical pair of silly grins on their faces. Buffy looked up from her spot at the table where she'd been reading the paper and just shook her head at the pair.
"Good Mornin'," the pair said in unison as they joined her at the table.
"Morning yourselves, pleasant night sleep?" Buffy could hardly keep the smirk off her face.
"Perfect," Willow answered reaching for the entertainment section.
"Coffee, honey?" Graham asked going to the coffee maker. Buffy’s eyebrow arched as she watched. The man was almost skipping!
They were all sitting at the table leafing through the paper when Riley walked in, his eyes puffy and red from lack of sleep.
"Damn Gray, when did you turn into Bob Villa? Home repairs at two in the morning aren't a good thing. What were you hammering last night?" He asked yawning.
"What?" Graham choked on his coffee.
"The next time you need to nail something, you may want to use a bigger hammer," Riley smirked leaving his friend gaping after him. "Better yet, I've got a nail gun in the garage, it's real good for those hard to reach places."