The Song Remembers When
Chapter 30
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, Nicole and Steve Bishop.
FEEDBACK: Pretty pretty please! I really hate to beg, but will .
SPOILERS: All of Season 5, and my own little universe.
AUTHOR'S NOTES: Ladies and gentleman please put your hands together for our wonderful Beta reader, Anne-Marie!! To all the wonderful authors out there who inspire us - Sam, Amy, Jesmin, Ginger, Holli, Nicole- thank you for challenging us everyday. Thank everyone who finds the time to send us feedback!
Buffy woke up slowly and looked across her pillow to see Riley's head lying next to hers. It was nice waking up next to him. It was something she knew she could get used to. Even in his sleep, Buffy could see how tired he was and she sighed quietly. The last couple of weeks were definitely taking a toll on him. After a few minutes of watching him, Buffy rolled away slowly, knowing how much he needed to sleep and trying not to wake him. Easing herself out of the bed, Buffy reached for her nightgown, which she found next to the bed and smiled as she thought of last night's adventures. The man could still make her scream and her body hum. Pulling her nightgown on, Buffy grabbed her robe and left the room, leaving the Prince of Orgasms to get some much-needed sleep.
Closing the bedroom door, she could hear that the house had come alive and she couldn't believe that both of them had slept through it! She hadn't failed to notice how late it was when she finally woke up. Buffy thought she heard a slight noise and looked up to see Dawn standing down the hall smiling at her.
"Morning," Buffy said as she walked into her own room, her face turning scarlet at her sister's knowing look. How had they both managed to sleep in? Any of the kids could have walked in on them. Buffy quickly walked through her bedroom to the bathroom and ran the shower.
"Damn!" She said to herself as she shrugged out of her robe and nightgown and climbed into the steaming water. The warm spray quickly warmed her skin and she closed her eyes as the water sluiced over her. It reminded her of the warmth that she'd felt last night as she lay underneath of Riley. Okay maybe that was after she'd managed to warm him up but it was semantics really...
Buffy giggled and sighed as she felt heat flood her from the inside out.
"Damn he's good."
When Buffy finally made it downstairs only the adults remained at the kitchen table and there was still no sign of Riley.
"Good morning," Willow smiled slyly. She knew exactly where Buffy had slept last night and couldn't have been more pleased about it.
"Morning," Buffy smiled sheepishly at her friends.
"So did Riley warm up last night?" Dawn asked and giggled behind her newspaper.
"Seems body heat works better than a hot shower," Graham snickered as he set a mug of coffee in front of Buffy.
"Apparently the Iceman did cometh," Willow said, trying to keep her composure as Dawn and Graham broke out laughing.
"Okay I have this coming, don't I?" Buffy said, suddenly finding the pattern on the placemat very interesting. Her face was bright red and she could feel her ears burning.
"Oh yeah, and wait till the iceman wakes up. It'll just get better!" Graham howled. He was enjoying watching Buffy blush because she and Riley definitely had this coming. Definitely!
Other than constant teasing that went right over the heads of the kids, the rest of the day went off without a hitch. Riley and the girls dropped Sam off at the airport, wishing her a very Merry Christmas before heading to a Christmas party at their school. All the while Riley floated around as if on cloud nine. He was amazed at how his life had changed in the last week and a half and he felt as if he had turned a corner, a very happy corner around which Buffy and Evan were waiting for him. As he thought of these happy occurrences, Riley realized he was happy. Good friends, a larger family and conversation and laughter surrounded him. It was good to be Riley Finn, he decided.
"I can't wait for Mason to get here," Evan said excitedly to his mother. Mason Harris was his best friend despite the year age difference between the two boys.
"Is Mason anything like Xander?" Riley asked. He remembered Xander as the only person that seemed to notice that he was falling apart at the seams during those final dark days and during the last 10 years, he'd often thought of picking up the phone to thank Xander for his friendship. He never had found the courage, as he was always afraid of the reaction he would have received from the other end.
"Mason? Yes and no, he looks more like Anya but he has Xander's sense of humor," Buffy said reaching for the dish of broccoli.
"And he's a heck of a lot smarter," Dawn said dryly.
"Hey, do I need to remind you that you used to have a huge crush on him?" Buffy asked as she pointed her fork at her sister.
"She was a kid, cut her some slack Buffy, right Dawn?" Riley said winking at Dawn from across the table.
Dawn looked at Riley and smiled and was more convinced than ever that having him back in their lives was right.
"Thank you," she mouthed to him.
"So how smart is this kid?" Graham asked, surprised that Xander and Anya could produce a smart child.
"Well he skipped two years in school," Buffy said passing the broccoli to Riley.
Just then the famous bat phone rang.
"Can't I just sit down and enjoy a meal anymore?" Riley sighed as he pushed away from the table to answer the phone.
"I'll take it," Graham offered and started to rise.
"Nah, I'm up already. If I need you I'll call," Riley said as he left the kitchen.
"I'll make you up a plate and put it in the microwave," Dawn said taking his plate.
"Thanks Dawn."
"So what's so important in the world of security that Riley would get called away from dinner?" Dawn asked spooning rice onto Riley's plate.
"Probably some big client, they're the only ones who have our home numbers," Graham said shooting Buffy a look.
It was a look that Dawn didn't miss. Something was definitely going on here and it wasn't some CEO's need for security. Last night she'd heard it was a call from the Vatican, but what would RAGE Inc. have to do with the Catholic Church? Her reporter radar was going off big time!
By the time Riley returned to the kitchen they were finished dinner and cleaning up.
"So?" Graham asked. He could tell from Riley's posture that something big was going down.
"We'll talk later," Riley said knowing that Dawn was looking for any tidbit she could gather. Riley sighed and wondered if it was a good idea to have a reporter in the house, future sister-in-law or not.
"You want your dinner?" Buffy asked, coming up behind him and wrapping her arms around his waist.
"That sounds great. Where are the kids?"
"Playing video games in the game room," Willow said as she handed Graham a clean pot to dry.
"You know I like this new side of you Gray, very domestic," Riley said as he watched his friend dry the dishes.
"Yeah right, Iceman. I can't wait for Nicole to hear your new nickname and the explanation for it," Graham retorted.
"You wouldn't."
"You sure 'bout that?"
"Bastard," Riley grinned at his friend. He knew full well that the teasing wasn't going to be stopping any time soon but to tell Nicole would just prolong it until, well, death!
"So what's a guy gotta do to get a drink around here," said a male voice from behind them.
"Marc!" Graham yelled seeing Riley's kid brother standing in the doorway of the kitchen.
"Hey Gray! Big brother! Do I get an introduction to these beautiful ladies or do I have to remind you of your manners outside?" Marc asked as he checked out the women standing in his brother's kitchen.
"If you give me a minute! Why didn't you tell me you were flying in tonight? I would have come to get you," Riley said, hugging his brother in that one-armed guy way.
"Decided to catch a flight at the last minute. I thought I'd get to know my nephew before Mom arrived and claimed him as her own."
"Yeah, Mom's gonna eat him up all right," Riley smiled, knowing how his mother felt about her other grandchildren.
"No kidding," Marc said taking the beer that Graham handed him.
"So are you going to introduce me to these ladies or do I have to do it myself?" Marc asked again as he smiled at Dawn. He wasn't stupid and he realized that she was probably the only single one in the room.
"This here, ladies, is my very shy kid brother Marc Finn. Marc, this is the woman of my dreams, Buffy Summers, the famous Willow Rosenberg, and the irrepressible Dawn Summers," Riley said placing his arm around Buffy and Dawn's shoulders.
"It's a pleasure to meet you all," Marc said smiling that famous Finn smile and turning the Finn family eyes upon Dawn. This caused the normally confident young woman to blush to the very roots of her shiny, hi-lighted hair.
"Marc are you hungry? We just finished dinner but there are left-overs in the fridge," Buffy said, pulling his attention away from her sister. The resemblance between the two brothers was strong. Both were tall, handsome and well built but where Riley was blonde, Marc was dark and the effect with his bright blue eyes was devastating.
"Buffy, I'm starving! Riley, where did you find her? A woman who offers me food before anything else is one worth keeping! I may have to steal her from you," Marc grinned devilishly, reminding Buffy very much of his older brother.
"You try and I'll wipe this floor with your worthless butt," Riley smiled fondly at Marc.
"Damn I missed you," Marc replied sarcastically looking at Riley
Riley just grinned and nodded at his brother.
"Sit down and I'll make you up a plate," Buffy said going to the fridge to pull out the left over roast beef.
"How are things in Toronto?" Riley asked sitting down across from Marc.
"The same. I love it there! Sending me to run the Canadian operation is the greatest thing you could have done for me," Marc said as he watched Dawn bending over to put a pot away in the cupboard.
"Yeah, guess all the girls here in the States had caught onto your games," Graham snorted as he took another pot from Willow.
"You should talk, oh wise one. If I remember correctly, you taught me everything I know," Marc said, his eyes following Dawn as she put glasses up into the cupboard.
"So how's the team going to survive without you there for a whole week?" Riley asked, referring to Marc's dedication to the Toronto Maple Leafs hockey team.
"The Leafs will survive without me sitting in my seats for a week. Besides they break for Christmas. You should be concerned about your Bruins, big brother," Marc said turning his attention back to Riley.
"Oh ye of little faith. Don't worry! Come playoff time the Bruins will be there, mark my words. Hey while you're here, we should check out a game or maybe the Celtics. We could take Evan," Riley said, suddenly excited by his brainstorm.
"He'd love that," Buffy said coming to stand behind Riley's chair as she waited for the microwave to nuke Marc and Riley's dinner.
"You think?"
"Sure, he and Lindsay go the Lakers' games all the time. Ev loves basketball," Buffy said as she walked back to the microwave kicking herself all the way.
"Yeah that would be fun. We could take Jordan too, and maybe Xander and Mason," Graham offered, trying to deflect the look he'd just seen flash over Riley's face.
"Only if I can go," Dawn said coming to sit down next to Marc.
"You like sports?" Marc asked her, noticing the way her eyes twinkled.
"No I go to watch their asses," she smirked at him, before winking at Riley.
"I'll have Rebecca make sure that our box is available while everyone's here," Riley said stiffly as he took his plate from Buffy.
Marc and Riley had finished eating and were enjoying a cup of coffee while sharing every embarrassing story they could think of about one another when Riley final changed the subject.
"Would you ladies mind if I stole my brother and Graham for some guy talk and a cigar?"
"Of course not," Buffy said knowing perfectly well that there was more to be discussed than the goals against average of the Bruins. She watched Dawn's reaction and saw the same knowledge flicker across Dawn's face. Buffy knew instantly that she'd have to find a way to keep Dawn preoccupied or she'd be snooping around Riley's office.
"Good, we'll see you later than," Graham said, bending down to kiss Willow before following Marc out of the kitchen.
"Just an hour and we'll be all yours again," Riley said kissing the top of Buffy's head before following the other two men from the room.
"So what?" Dawn started to say but Buffy interrupted her quickly.
"Was it my imagination or was Marc totally checking Dawn out?" Buffy asked the room in general, as she got up to take Marc and Riley's empty plates to the sink.
"No, I thought it was pretty obvious," Willow said, watching Buffy for a cue. She knew Buffy was up to something but wasn't sure what yet.
"You think?" Dawn asked, flushing slightly at the thought that Riley's gorgeous brother was checking her out. She quickly sobered, however and remembered that she was a serious reporter. She shouldn't be getting all excited at the prospect of some totally hot guy checking her out.
"Yeah! And if I wasn't with Graham, we'd have a cat fight on our hands," Willow laughed.
"You know I could so take you," Dawn giggled as she thought of the tall, dark-haired man.
Riley walked into the library and closed the door behind him.
"So what was that call all about?" Graham asked before Riley could sit down.
"I'll have a scotch neat," Riley said to Marc, who was already pouring drinks for himself and Graham at the bar.
"So?"
"Reece wants us down there first thing in the morning. He thinks that I need to come down and speak with the Cardinal and Mother Superior. They're getting jumpier by the minute. Apparently the Vatican can't pacify the man from that far away so Reece thinks if I take a meeting with them it might calm them down. The readings off the portal are way out of proportion and the local vamp-demon community is going nuts. Reece thinks a visit to the young lieutenant from the infamous Col. Miller might get him and his team back on track."
"So when do we leave?" Graham said, becoming businesslike as he accepted his brandy from Marc.
"First flight out of Logan that I can get us on. Fred's picking up the California gang."
"Rye should you be going?" Graham asked wondering if Buffy would take his departure in stride, as Claire would have.
"I don't have much of a choice, do I? We'll take the first flight out and be back in time for dinner. I've already checked into flights from New Orleans back to Boston," Riley said lighting up his cigar and inhaling deeply.
"What about Willow?" Graham asked worried about leaving his girlfriend alone with her stalker still on the loose.
"We have around the clock security on the place Graham. Marc will be here and Angel will be here by two, so don't worry," Riley replied. He wondered if he was trying to convince himself or Graham of Willow's safety while they were away.
"What is this all about?" Marc asked taking the lighter from his brother to light his own cigar.
"Willow has a stalker. He has been terrorizing her for awhile now. Most recently, he sent a dozen dead roses here and broke into her house in L.A. and vandalized it," Riley said looking at Graham to see if he was okay with their plans.
"The bastard is just sick, Marc. He stabbed her bed over two hundred times, and wrote messages on the wall in blood," Graham told the younger man in a tight voice.
"Shit, he really is sick," Marc said quietly, trying to figure out why anyone would want to hurt such a sweet woman. True, she was beautiful and one of the women that he'd fantasized about in the past but he'd never imagined anyone would want to hurt her.
"Don't worry Gray, I won't let her out of my sight while you're away," Marc said hoping he could ease Graham's distress. Marc loved Graham and thought of him as another older brother and he might have well been by the way his and Riley's mother fussed over him.
"Thanks Marc, you're offer is just what I needed to hear. There's no way I'd leave her if I thought that freak could get to her," Graham said running his hand over his short hair.
"Hey! Why did you chop all your hair off?" Marc asked suddenly noticing the change in Graham's appearance.
"Nick asked him the same damn question," Riley laughed.
"Did she put you up to this?" Graham demanded, his eyes slitted in irritation.
"No, not at all, great minds just think alike," Marc said puffing on his cigar.
"I don't know if I'd call you and Nick great minds," Riley said, leaning back into the couch to enjoy his time with his brothers.
"Oh really? Would you be saying that if she was here?" Graham laughed knowing that Riley secretly feared Nicole, just like he did.
"You two know you'd be lost without me and Nick, so knock it off," Marc grinned. Although his words were playful, he knew he was right. It was part of the reason Marc had been sent to run the Canadian arm of the company. Riley and Graham wanted someone they trusted close by to run the company if anything happened to the two of them and that honor had been bestowed on Marc. At 26, Marc was a carbon copy of Riley when it came to his work ethic, intelligence, and killer instinct, not to mention his natural leadership skills. Men twice Marc's age natural looked to him for leadership, and it was a mantel that he wore comfortably.
"You know Marc, you're seldom right, but this time? your wrong again," Riley cracked.
"You know mom told me the other day that she's glad she had me, being the only son that lived and all."
"In your dreams," Riley snorted.
"You both know I'm her favorite," Graham piped up from his chair where he was twirling his cigar. "All because I call to say hi once in awhile, unlike you two ingrates."
"So tell me about Dawn," Marc said, shifting in his chair to look at Riley.
"You stay away from Dawn. The last thing I need is you seducing Buffy's kid sister."
"Hey! I take great offence to the fact that you thought I would seduce Dawn," Marc replied, vaguely insulted by his brother's insinuation.
"Oh and you didn't think that?" Riley asked.
" Okay? for a second or two," Marc conceded with a wolfish grin. "But then I saw this great girl. She seems like she'd be a lot of fun and she's the type of girl a guy would want to settle down with."
"Settle down with!" Graham choked on his brandy.
"Hey I'll be 27 next year, its time to settle down and find the right girl. You seem to have done it and Riley's onto number two," Marc said defending himself from their laughter.
"Marc, the longest relationship you've had was two weeks and that's because she went out of town the day after you met her," Riley laughed.
"We can't all be Captain Monogamy like you are but yeah, it's time to start looking at settling down."
"Mom's pressuring you again, isn't she?" Riley said, knowing that his mother Kathleen 'Katie' Finn wouldn't be happy until all her little ducks were married with children.
"Don't worry Marc, she's even taken to bugging me," Graham said flicking his ash into the ashtray.
"Yeah, but you've managed to score a dream girl! Not many guys get a chance with a woman like Willow Rosenberg."
"That's true, but I knew her when she was younger than Dawn is now. Willow's the one who got away and I'm not prepared to let that happen again."
Marc looked from Graham to Riley too see if Graham was telling him the truth, but seeing no laughter in either man's eye's, he knew his leg wasn't being pulled. Graham was settling down with a superstar. He was one lucky guy.
"So tell me about?" Riley started but was interrupted by a loud banging on the door.
"Dad! Buffy told us Uncle Marc's here! Can we come in?" Hope's excited voice could be heard over the hammering
"You ready for them?" Riley asked cocking an eyebrow at his brother.
"Bring it on," Marc replied, placing his glass on the table and cigar in the large astray on the coffee table.
"Sure thing?.." Riley had even finished his reply when the double doors to his office burst open and the hurricane that was the Finn sisters attacked Marc.
"Baby," Riley finished looking at the pile of arms and legs that represented his daughters.
"Honestly Gray, I don't know whether I should be happy or offended that my girls don't greet me the way they do you and Marc."
"Your are just jealousssssssssss," Marc hissed out as Tristan's little elbow made contact with his ribs.
"And you were saying?" Riley replied with another raised eyebrow.
"Uncle Marc, you promised at Tanks Given that you'd come see us more," Tristan accused as she looked up at him. Her curly blonde hair hadn't stopped bouncing yet, and her big blue eyes held his with just a hint of tears.
"Honey, that was just last month that I saw you and see, here I am again," Marc smiled kissing her forehead.
"Yeah but to her that's a long time Marc. Years in fact," Graham replied. He knew Riley's girls almost, if not better than Riley did at times
"But honey, Uncle Marc has to run Daddy and Uncle Graham's crummy company. They're very mean to me you know," he said pulling back to grin at Riley and Graham.
"Hey that crummy company pays for your lifestyle, little brother," Riley reminded him before looking to the doorway and seeing Evan standing there.
"Uh Marc there's someone I'd like you to meet," Riley said getting up out of the chair and motioning for Evan to come to him.
"Evan this is your Uncle Marc. He's my little brother," Riley said introducing the two.
Marc stared at the little boy and was shocked beyond words at the resemblance between father and son. For all Marc knew this could have been the Riley he remembered from their childhood. Moving the girls from his lap, Marc slid forward on the seat so he could look his nephew in the eye.
"Riley, he's you!" Marc replied in awe.
"Yeah there's no mistaking who his father is," Graham said helping Tristan up onto his lap.
"Evan, I am so happy to finally meet you. I have a feeling you and I are gonna get along really well."
Evan looked up at his father than back at his Uncle Marc and smiled a little shyly.
"I'd like that. I don't have any real Uncles. I mean I have Uncles, but none that are Mom's brothers. I only have fake ones."
"Well I say that this is the coolest day ever," Marc told him.
"You mean cooler than when we were born?" Hope asked
"Most definitely, 'cause girls are yucky!" Marc said scrunching up his face for his niece's benefit.
"No way! Boys drool, girls rule," Hope shot back, lunging at her uncle.
"Oh you think so, do you?" Marc said tickling her.
"Help me!" Hope called to her sisters who rushed to her aid to take their uncle down.
"Evan man, I need your help here to defend the Finn name!" Marc called as Tristan's full weight landed on him. Evan joined the fray, tickling his younger sisters.
Riley thought reaching for Marc's scotch glass as Hope's left foot kicked the table leg.
"Do you get the feeling that our meeting is over?" Riley asked Graham over the din.
"It was over the minute Marc arrived," Graham laughed.
Riley crawled into bed next to Buffy and pulled her up against his hard chest so that her head rested on his shoulder. Wrapping his arms around her he held her tight against his chest, her ass pressed against his crotch. Slowly she started rubbing up against him.
"Can we talk?" He asked, pulling them both into a sitting position against the headboard.
"What? You don't want to play first?" Buffy pouted as she ran her hand across his chest.
"No, I think after I tell you what I need to tell you, you'll probably wanna sleep in your own room tonight," he cringed as she turned to look at him in the moonlight.
"What could be so bad that I wouldn't want to make love to you?" She said looking at his face for clues. "Are you seeing someone else? Oh wait? It's Graham, isn't it?"
"No, look, I'm serious here. That phone call tonight was from the Vatican and I had a follow-up conference call with my main operative down in New Orleans. The case is falling apart faster than you can say Merry Christmas and they'd like Graham and I to fly down tomorrow to straighten things out a little."
"Are you serious?" Buffy asked, turning so she could see him better.
"Totally. I've called the airlines and made reservations for Graham and I to be back here by dinner time."
"No, you shouldn't have to take a commercial flight you have a company plane?" she offered but was quickly cut off by Riley.
"Yes, and you have your whole family flying in tomorrow as well. It's gonna be hard enough for us to win them over, can you imagine what would happen if I made them pay their own way?" Riley made light of the situation to try and silence her argument.
"Riley it's your company plane and company planes are meant to be used for business, not picking up your girlfriend's family," Buffy countered.
"Did you just call yourself my girlfriend?" Riley asked, flashing her that boyish smile that made her knees melt.
"I? I guess I did," she said, wonder in her voice.
"So we're official then, I mean we keep saying we're together and we love each other, but that word 'girlfriend' makes us official," he looked so dorky sitting there that she had to laugh.
"What's so funny?" He asked still smiling like a fool.
"You are," Buffy said leaning in to capture his mouth in a soul-searing kiss that left them more than breathless.
"So you're okay with me not being here when your family shows up? They'll probably think I invented this emergency so I wouldn't have to be here when they arrived, you know, trying to avoid them."
"You may be right. No man I've dated before has gone out of his way to create an apocalypse to avoid meeting my family," she smiled.
"I'm serious, Buffy."
"Riley, I'll deal! I'll take one of the girls with me, even my family won't say anything nasty about you with your daughter standing right next to me."
"Oh you think this is all so funny, just wait till my parents arrive tomorrow? wait and see how brave you are then, Slayer," he said, flipping her so she was underneath of him.
"Bring 'em on big boy," Buffy said and then she smiled her most seductive smile at him.
"You think you can handle old Katie Finn?" He asked leaning down to tug on her bottom lip with his teeth as his hand slid up her leg.
"She'll be putty in my hands," Buffy purred as his tongue entered her mouth.
They were both getting lost in the maelstrom of passion when they heard a small, quiet knock on the bedroom door.
"Shit!" Buffy squeaked as she dove under the covers.
"Dad? Are you awake?" Evan's soft voice floated through the door.
"Yeah Ev, come in," Riley said, trying to control his breathing as he grabbed Buffy's pillow and placed it over his erection. Reaching over, he turned on the bedside lamp.
"Can I sleep with you and Mom tonight?" Evan asked, stopping at the foot of the bed and rubbing his eyes.
"H-How did you know she was here?" Riley asked shocked, as Buffy pulled her head out from under the sheets.
"Well I checked her room first, and when she wasn't there, I figured she was here," he replied shrugging his thin shoulders.
"Sure sweetie, climb in," Buffy said trying to deter any further discussion about her and Riley's new sleeping arrangements. Pulling back the sheets to let him join them, she was surprised when he moved to his father's side of the bed.
"Can I sleep on your side Dad?" Evan asked, not really sure where his father stood on letting his children share his bed.
"Of course you can, or would you rather sleep between us?" Riley knew from years of experience that once a child joined you in bed, all sexual foreplay stopped and it was sometimes better to have that little body between you to resist temptation.
Evan nodded and bounced across the bed, wiggling under the sheets. Snuggling in next to him, Riley couldn't help but notice the heat coming off Evan.
"Ev, are you feeling okay?" Riley asked placing his cool hand on Evan's warm forehead.
"What?" Buffy's head shot up off the pillow. She had been so enjoying have her little family here in bed with her that she didn't notice Evan's fever.
"You two stay here and cuddle, I'll get the thermometer," Riley said, giving Buffy a look that tried to tell her to relax before he climbed out of bed. "We'll check his temperature and then call Steve."
"Riley it's late, we should just take him to the hospital," she said looking up at him, the panic clear on her face. Each time Evan's temperature spiked she panicked, she wasn't ready to lose him to some dreaded bacteria or pneumonia.
"Steve would never forgive us if we didn't call, Buffy. Besides he's used to these late night phone calls," Riley said, leaving the room to find the thermometer in the girl's bathroom.
"Honey, are you okay?" Buffy asked kissing Evan's forehead to feel for a fever. He was burning up, that was more than obvious.
"I hurt," he whispered.
"Why didn't you call me?"
"I didn't want to wake Dani up," he said simply, moving closer to his mother for her comfort.
"Honey don't worry about that, I don't think Dani would mind very much," Buffy assured him.
"Ev?" Dani was standing in the doorway watching her brother and his mother, fear plainly etched on her face.
"Dani, sweetheart, wanna join Evan and I?" Buffy asked. She was hoping that Dani's presence would help calm her own nerves.
The little girl nodded and crossed the room. Carefully she climbed onto the edge of the bed.
"Did I wake you up?" Evan asked
"No," she replied pushing her blonde hair out of her eyes. "Daddy did when he stubbed his toe on my bed."
Buffy gasped and giggled slightly at the idea of Riley banging his toe in the dark, her poor knight in shining armor wounded in battle.
"Yeah, after he let out this curse and jumped around the room, he fell on my bed and that's what woke me up," Dani giggled as her father hobbled into the room.
"You okay darling?" Buffy asked looking at his right foot.
"Nothin' a little ice won't cure," Riley said through gritted teeth. He sat down on the side of the bed and pulled the thermometer out of its case.
"Here Ev, put this in your mouth," he said as Evan opened his mouth for the thermometer.
"Don't speak," Buffy reminded him.
"Does that mean me too?" Dani asked, making a funny face a Buffy.
"And no making him laugh either, young lady," Riley admonished her, as he studied his throbbing baby toe.
"You think it's broken?" Buffy asked looking at his foot.
"Nah, just bruised."
"Open buddy," Riley said gently, taking the thermometer from Evan. Looking at it he gave it a quick shake to clear it and reached for the phone.
"Buffy, help Evan get dressed will you? Jordy go wake up your Uncle Graham and remember to knock," he said dialing Steve's home number, even as Buffy was carrying Evan from the room with Jordy trailing behind them.
The phone rang three times before Nicole's sleepy voice filled the receiver.
"Dr. Bishop's residence," she answered trying to smother her yawn. Being a doctor's wife, she was used to phone calls in the middle of the night, especially since her husband was a cancer specialist.
"Nick, its Riley, I need to talk to Steve," he said trying to keep his voice even, but Riley could hear the panic creeping in.
"Riley? What's wrong?" Nicole asked, becoming fully alert.
"Nick, give me the phone."
Riley could hear Steve's muffled voice as he took the phone from his wife.
"Riley, what's wrong?" Steve asked echoing his wife's question.
"It's Evan. He has a temperature of 102 and he's complaining about being achy."
Riley wasn't sure if this was normal, but Evan's temperature scared the hell out of him.
"Okay, can you meet me at the hospital with him?" Steve asked and could hear Riley's strangled response. "Riley I need you to relax, okay?"
"Steve you know me and hospitals," Riley said as he wiped the sweat from his brow.
"I know, but we'll all be there, so you need to relax for Evan."
"I know, I know," Riley mumbled taking deep breaths.
Hospitals and Riley just were unmixy things and considering everything that he had been through, Steve wasn't surprised by Riley's fear of hospitals. This was important though and Riley needed to hold it together for Buffy and his son.
"We'll see you there, Riley!"
"What?" He snapped out of his daze at Steve's sharp tone.
"Let Graham drive."
"Sure thing," he breathed as he hung up the phone.
"I can do this!" Riley muttered to himself as he reached for his jeans.
"I know you can," Graham responded standing in the doorway, his hand resting on Dani's shoulder.
"I'm glad one of us thinks so," Riley laughed nervously as he ran his hand through his hair.
"For a guy who can walk into a vampires nest and take them out all on his own, your fear of hospitals amazes me," Graham said handing Riley his running shoes.
"Yeah well usually my loved ones and I stand a better chance in a vamp nest, than in a hospital," Riley said tugging on his sweater.
"Want me drive?"
"Yeah, thanks."
"I can go wake Marc and tell him what's happening in case we don't make it home until morning," Graham offered, watching Riley pace.
"Good idea, the girls would be upset if they woke up and we were all gone."
"Riley, he'll be fine. Let's go downstairs, and I'll pull the truck around," Graham said placing his arm around Riley's shoulders. Graham knew Riley was having a really hard time with this. He would have been fine if they could have kept Evan at home?he 'd be a mountain of strength for Buffy and Evan, but hospitals unnerved Riley.
"Sure," Riley mumbled turning back once to look at the bed he'd just shared with his son and Buffy.
Riley paced back and forth through the front hall waiting for Graham to pull the Suburban around to the front of the house. Buffy was still upstairs getting herself and Evan ready. Riley's mind was racing, and he knew he needed to calm down before Buffy brought Evan down.
"Rye, you okay?" Marc asked as he helped Willow down the stairs.
"Holding on by a thread, if you must know," Riley sighed. He was so grateful that he had both his brother and Graham here with him for this.
"Want me come and hold your hand?" Marc asked as he and Willow reached the last step.
"No, but thanks for the offer. I need you to stay here with the girls. They love Willow, but they'll need someone more familiar around them when they find out about Evan being in the hospital," Riley said as Willow moved into his arms to hug him.
"Hey don't worry, the girl's will be fine. Willow, Dawn and I won't have a problem keeping them busy. Right Willow?" Marc said noticing the redhead's concerned face.
"Don't worry Riley, the girls will be fine. And Evan's a little fighter, he'll be home before you know it," Willow said as she repeated Marc's words.
"What's taking Buffy so long?" Riley whispered, looking up the staircase.
"She went to change."
"Who's with Evan?" Riley panicked thinking his son was alone.
"Don't worry Dawn and Jordan are with him. Dawn's been through this numerous times, she knows what to do," Willow said rubbing Riley's back and hoping she could help him calm down some.
"I'm sorry, I'm just not really good with hospitals," Riley apologized as he hugged her back.
"Yeah I know," Willow said, remembering her own accident weeks ago and his inability to take her straight to the hospital.
"I still owe you an apology for that don't I?" he said, realizing what she must be thinking about.
"It's forgotten," she smiled up at him.
Hearing a noise at he top of the stairs, Riley looked up and saw Dawn coming down the stairs with Buffy behind her. Buffy was carrying Evan and had Jordan at her side. Riley noticed his daughter was dressed as well.
"Where do you think you're going?" Riley said looking at her pointedly.
"Evan wants her to come with us," Buffy answered Riley's question for Jordan. It was then that he noticed that even though Buffy carried him, his son and daughter still held hands. He looked back up at Buffy and she gave him a sad, pleading smile.
"Okay sweatheart, you need to get your coat and boots on then," Riley said softly, watching them as they hit the landing.
"Here let me take him," Riley said wrapping Evan in the blanket he held, and then tucking him inside the fold of his own leather coat. Riley tightened his grip on his son as Evan shivered violently against him.
"It's okay, buddy, we'll get you taken care of," Riley said placing a gentle kiss on his son's forehead.
"Daddy?" Evan whispered, "so cold."
"I know buddy, I know," Riley said swaying from foot to foot as he waited for Buffy and Jordan to put their coats and boots on.
The front door opened and Graham stuck his head in.
"I've got the truck out here and warmed up."
Riley looked at Buffy as she shrugged into her coat, and reached for Jordan's hand.
"We're ready," she replied and followed Riley and Evan out to the car.
Riley stepped up to the admitting desk in the Emergency room just as the doors behind him slid open to allow Steve and Nicole to come flying in.
"Riley! Don't bother with that, I have a room waiting for Evan in pediatric ICU," Steve said stopping in front of Graham who now held Evan.
"Hey buddy, how ya doing?" Steve asked gently as he looked at his patient carefully.
"Cold and it hurts," Evan said opening his eyes so that he could look at his uncle.
"We're gonna get you take care of okay, champ," Steve said, waving at the waiting orderlies to take Evan upstairs.
"Nick, can you take care of everything?" Steve asked his ever-organized wife.
"Sure, Jordan and I'll have Evan registered before you guys even get off the elevator," Nicole said putting her arm around the child's shoulders
"But I wanna go with you! Evan!" She screamed fighting Nicole's hold on her.
"Dani!" Evan's hoarse voice called as he stuck his hand out through the slats of the gurney.
"Go, I'll take care of this and I'll be right upstairs," Riley said to Buffy and Steve.
"Riley, I can?"
"Thanks Gray, but I have to do this. Just go and make sure that Buffy and Evan are all right," Riley smiled slightly at his friend as he joined the group on the elevator.
"I wanna be with Evan," Jordan cried as she tried to get to the closing elevator door. Grabbing her in his arms, Riley held her as she fought against him. Dropping to his knees he held her as tightly as he could, knowing that if he held her like this at least he wouldn't lose her.
"Baby, baby, sshh?" Riley said trying to sooth her upset. Maybe letting her come wasn't such a good idea.
"Daddy, Evan needs us!" She cried into his shoulder.
"I know baby, but he needs Uncle Steve to figure out what's wrong with him first, then we can see him," Riley said stroking her back
"But he needs... needs my marrow, that'll make him better," she hiccuped through her tears.
"Yeah he does Jordy, but right now he's too sick for your marrow. Uncle Steve needs to make him better so he can accept your marrow. Sweetie, this all just so hard for you to understand, I know that, but right now you need to stay with Aunty Nickie okay? You need to listen to her," Riley hated seeing his children this upset and he didn't always feel that he did the best job comforting them. Claire was the one that did that.
"'Kay. But I can see him later, right?" Jordan asked pulling her head back so she could look at her father. Riley wiped away her tears, and she wiped his.
"When Uncle Steve's finished with him," Riley promised as she kissed him.
"Daddy, don't let Evan die," Jordan whispered simply and turned away to take Nicole's hand.
Riley got to his feet and watched his oldest daughter walk away with Nicole.
"I'll try my best, baby," he whispered as he walked toward the elevators and pushed the third floor for the pediatric ICU unit.
The minute he walked into the pediatric unit he could hear Evan screaming. Riley charged towards what he assumed was his son's room, but was stopped by Graham.
"They're going to have to give him a blood transfusion, Riley, the blood sample showed that Evan's white blood cell count is way too high. I didn't hear what the count was," Graham said watching as his words hit Riley.
"I'm sorry Riley," Graham said placing a hand on Riley's shoulder.
"That's okay. He'll be fine. A couple pints and some rest and he'll be home for Christmas," Riley said trying to sound braver than he felt.
"That's what Steve said."
"How's Buffy?" Riley asked but Graham didn't get a chance to answer him as a scream pierced the quiet.
"Daddy! I want my father!" Evan screamed.
Riley quickly moved to the room and stepped inside hoping to calm his son.
"I'm right here buddy," Riley said walking over to the bed and his crying child.
"Hey Ev, what's going on son?" Riley said as he sat down on the bed next to his son and brushed his hair away from his sweat soaked forehead.
"No more Daddy, please. They wanna put the drip in," he cried burying his face in Riley's leg. Riley looked from Buffy to Steve.
"His veins have collapsed Riley, and we're having a hard time getting the IV in," Steve said quietly.
"They've what?"
"We can't get a line in his small veins, so we'll have to insert the IV either into his neck or his stomach," Steve told him gently.
"Honey, it's the only way they can get the blood in to bring his white count down," Buffy said seeing Riley's skin pale.
"Daddy, don't let them do this!" Evan pleaded with his father. Riley had picked him up and the boy was now totally snuggled up on Riley's lap for protection.
"Evan, please don't do this to your father. You have to let Uncle Steve do this honey," Buffy begged. She was also on the verge of tears as she hated seeing Evan this agitated.
Riley looked down at his son and his heart broke. How many other nights had he and his mother spent in rooms like this while doctors poked and prodded him, sticking in needles that caused veins to collapse? Riley tightened his hold on his crying, fevered son and looked at both Buffy and Steve.
"Is this the only way?" He mouthed over Evan's head.
Steve nodded.
Riley looked back at his son and felt his eyes tear up. How could he put Evan through this pain? His answer was simple do this or lose him now. Looking up at Steve he nodded his head.
"Give us a minute alone will you?" Riley asked Steve and Buffy.
"Sure," Steve said as he guided Buffy out the door. She took one look over her shoulder at the only men that she truly loved in her life and walked out into the hall to collapse into Graham's waiting arms.
"Ev, I know this hurts and I know you're scared but we need to do this to save you," Riley said running his hand down the back of his son's sweat soaked p.j. top.
"No, Daddy! Please don't let them," he cried and Riley's heart shattered again.
"Buddy, I wouldn't let anyone hurt you for no reason but I need you to let them do this. Ev, you know what can happen if you don't let them do this," Riley said trying very hard to hold back his own tears.
"You'd miss me?" Evan asked knowing perfectly well that his father meant he could die.
"Right you are. You can do this Ev, I promise," Riley said. "We Finn men are a tough breed, just ask your Uncle Marc. Look here."
Riley set Evan on the bed beside him and pulled up his sweater to show Evan the scar over his heart.
"See this? When I was with your mom I had a really weird heart problem."
Evan's hand reached up to touch the scar.
"I was so scared just like you are now and if it hadn't been for your mom and Uncle Graham, I'd be dead right now and you'd have never been born. Your mom helped me through that and I'll help you through this,ok?" Riley said, feeling a tear roll down his cheek.
"You almost died?" Evan's voice sounded awed as his fevered eyes stared up at his father.
"Sure did, but your stubborn mother won't let me. And buddy I'm not going to let you go either. So when Uncle Steve sticks that needle in, I'll be holding you the hole time."
"You promise?" Evan asked reaching up to touch his father's face.
"On my life Evan," Riley responded covering his son's hand with his own.
The two sat in silence a moment before Evan spoke again.
"You have to go to New Orleans in the morning, don't you?" Evan asked tracing the back of his father's hand with his finger.
"No, Uncle Marc's gonna go in my place with Uncle Graham," Riley said knowing there was no way he would ever let go of his son, he'd promised.
"I heard you and Uncle Gray in the car, Dad, I know you need to go. It's important. Something about an apoco-something," Evan's little forehead crinkled as he tried to remember the right word.
"Son, it doesn't matter, I'm staying here with you," Riley assured the boy as he settled him back into his lap.
"Dad, you need to go, and I want you to. Once this part is done, I promise I'll be okay. I'll be good," Evan's fevered blue eyes held his fathers.
"Look, let's not talk about this anymore, okay?" Riley said reaching for the sponge on the bedside table and wiping Evan's face with it.
"You're good at that," Evan smiled closing his eyes.
"Must be a natural," Riley smiled, grateful that he could give his son the comfort he needed.
They fell into a comfortable silence as Riley rocked his fevered baby boy. The door to the room opened and Buffy stuck her head in.
"Mom, can you let Uncle Steve know that I'm ready," Evan said looking from his mom to his dad and back to his mom.
"Sure thing, baby," she smiled and left the room again.
Steve and the nurse walked back into the room with Buffy trailing close behind.
"Evan, we're going to insert the needle now, son. I wish I could tell you this won't hurt but you already know it will. That's because there's no vein close to the surface. All I can say is I'll be as gentle as possible."
Evan sniffed a little and nodded his head in understanding.
"Do you want your Mom or your Dad to hold you?" Steve asked as Buffy approached the bed ready to comfort her son.
"My Dad."
Buffy looked at Evan and then at Riley. She realized her son craved the comfort from a father whose love he missed throughout his short life and she was willing to step aside to let Evan depend on someone else besides her.
Steve removed Evan's pajama top and laid it on the table.
"Riley, it would be best if you held Evan close, that way he can't move."
Riley gathered Evan in his strong arms and held him tightly. Evan buried his head into the crook of Riley's arm to hide his eyes.
As the needle went deeper and deeper into Evan's little stomach, Riley felt hot tears running down his arm but his little boy didn't make a sound, not even a whimper. Riley experienced first hand the pain and suffering his son was going through and it ripped him apart. He vowed to himself that if Evan survived this, that he would never let a day go by without showing his son how much he was loved and wanted.
The story continues in chapter 31
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