The Song Remembers When

<5:00 am>

All those years of growing up on the farm followed by the military and now raising 3 girls alone had made Riley an habitual early riser. Okay, so maybe this last week he'd been sleeping later than usual but having a warm body next to his seemed to soothe him. Riley turned his head to look across the pillow and he smiled fondly at the beauty that lay next to him. Buffy's blonde hair spilled over his pillow, as well as her own in a tangled mass. It always amazed him how someone so tiny could take up so much of the bed.

Riley didn't want to wake her so he slowly tried to pull his arm out from under her shoulders but Buffy mumbled something at the loss of his body heat and snuggled closer to him.

"Baby, I have to get up," he whispered lightly into her ear as he kissed her lobe.

"No, stay," she muttered sleepily.

"I promised Evan that I'd be there when he woke up," Riley rubbed her back in soothing circles as he talked to her.

"It's too early," she protested as she looked at the clock

"Go back to sleep and meet me at the hospital later. I have to meet my parents at the hanger this afternoon. Go back to sleep," Riley kissed her shoulder as his fingers brushed across her skin.

"Can't without you," Buffy sighed contentedly at his touch and cuddled under the blanket.

"Well you'll have to get used to it because once my parents get here."

Riley laughed at himself. It amazed him that at 33 he still sought his parents approval and felt he needed to live by their rules even under his own roof.

"I know.so stay here with me and I promise to give you enough memories to keep you warm while you're sleepin' alone," Buffy smiled seductively up at him.

"You're so bad," he grinned at her, knowing perfectly well that if he stayed in bed with her, she'd go out of her way to give him more than his share of memories. It was so tempting!

"Please..."

"Nope, our son's waiting for me."

"He's still asleep," she challenged as she ran her hand up his bare chest.

"Not by the time I have a shower, change, and drive down to the hospital. He'll be wide awake and waiting for me," Riley said, removing her hand and climbing out of bed.

"Well you tell him once he's better that you're all mine," Buffy pouted.

"Go back to sleep Buffy," Riley laughed, tossing his pillow at her.

"Your pillow! See I knew I'd eventually score your pillow," she giggled.

"Method to your madness, huh?"

"Yup, all part of my sinister plot! So what time do your parents get in?" She asked, placing his pillow behind her head and arranging the other pillows behind her so that she was half-sitting and half lying down.

"12:30," he said, walking into the bathroom.

"Good. I can't wait to meet them."

"I'd reserve that decision until after you've met my father," Riley said acidly. "You might change your mind."

"Riley he's your father! How could I do anything but love him?"

Riley snorted from behind the bathroom door.

"He may be my father, but even I wonder if I love the man.fear him yes, love I'm not so sure," Riley said re-entering the bedroom and leaning against the doorjamb.

"Riley, is there something about your ideal life that's not so ideal?" Buffy asked, with mock seriousness.

"There is so much about me that's not perfect."

"Not in my eyes."

"You're biased."

"You can bet your sweet butt on that one."

"Go back to sleep Buffy," Riley said and shook his head at her devilish grin.

****

Buffy stepped off the elevator at the Paediatric ICU floor and ran directly into Steve.

"Well if it isn't my favourite patient's mother. Good morning," he said, placing a kiss on her cheek.

"Good morning yourself Doctor. So how is the patient this morning?" Buffy asked as she gave Steve a quick hug.

"I don't know. I haven't been in to see him yet but he's my first stop this morning. Wanna join me?" Steve said, offering her his elbow.

"I'd love to," Buffy smiled

"The nurses told me that Riley was here at the crack of dawn this morning."

"Yeah. He promised Evan he'd be here when he woke up this morning. Is he making a pest of himself because I can take him home," she said, falling into step beside Steve as they walked down the hall toward Evan's room.

"On the contrary, the Finn men always seem to win the heart of every woman they meet. The nurses almost fight over who's gonna answer Evan's buzzer, and trust me that doesn't happen often! And Riley and Marc. well let's just say that I wouldn't be surprised if the nurses aren't trying to take pictures of them for their lockers."

"Really?" Buffy shook her head and laughed as an image of a nurse with a spy camera entered her head.

"Well no, not really but they think they're really cute and Riley has definitely won the father of the week contest."

The pair stopped as they reached Evan's room. On the bed sat father and son, their heads pressed together as they worked on a puzzle. Buffy smiled when she noticed that they both wore the same look on their faces. She'd always wondered where Evan got that scowlly face when he was concentrating and looking at his father, she now knew. She could remember teasing Riley about how he would screw up his handsome face when he needed to really think.

"God, they do look alike don't they? I thought only the girls made that face."

"You noticed that too?" Buffy asked, turning around to look at Steve.

"Oh yeah, Forrest used to tell him that he looked like one of those old apple dolls," Steve and Buffy burst out laughing and Riley's head shot up suddenly aware of their presence in the room.

"Hey guys," he smiled, his face changing back into the handsome one that she'd fallen in love with.

"Hey Mom, Uncle Steve," Evan's face changed as well as he beamed at his mother. "Oh look what dad brought back for me from New Orleans yesterday."

"How 'bout showing your mother later Ev, so I can check you over now. If you play your cards right, I might be able to send you home today," Steve told the boy, smiling and taking the stethoscope from around his neck as he approached the bed.

"Home? Really?" Evan just about jumped out of bed at the news.

"Yeah, sound good?" Steve laughed and turned to Buffy and Riley. "Now if you could go down to the cafeteria, I'll meet you there when I'm done."

"You don't want us here?" Buffy asked, surprised at being asked to leave.

"No, you guys go have a coffee or something. I'll be awhile here."

"Come on Mother, I think we've been dismissed. Let me buy my best girl a coffee," Riley said, as he slung his arm over Buffy's shoulder.

"Sounds good Father," Buffy replied, slipping her arm around his waist and letting him lead her from the room.

*****

Buffy and Riley sipped their coffee in the cafeteria while they waited for Steve to come and talk to them about their son. They hoped that Evan was well enough for them to take him home today.

"The night charge nurse gave me a list of private nursing agencies that the hospital recommends. I've asked Rebecca to call and make arrangements to hire the best nurse available," Riley told Buffy. "Steve also gave me a list last night of the things that we'll need for Evan at home, so I dropped that off on her desk with a note last night."

"You'd be lost without Rebecca, wouldn't you?" Buffy smirked.

"I'm not good with the little things," Riley said and shrugged. He smiled sheepishly over the lip of his coffee cup at Buffy.

"Well I am, so."

"You don't know the city Buffy and Becca does. Let her handle it."

"Riley, I'm his mother."

"Yes, and your exhausted, so stop worrying and let someone else do it for a change. Can you do that?" He asked, reaching across the table to take her hand in his.

"I'll try," Buffy sighed. She smiled softly as he lifted her hand up to his lips and kissed her fingertips.

They sat in companionable silence until Riley began to speak again.

"So do you think we've created a monster?" he asked, watching Buffy play with her coffee cup.

"Monster? What are you talking about?" She said looking around the room.

"Marc and Dawn. They seem to be joined at the hip," Riley said, looking down at their entwined fingers.

"I don't know. I think they're just getting along because they're so close in age and we're all so old," Buffy said, placing her other hand over his.

"Your only 4 years older than Marc. That's not old Buffy," Riley said to her.

"Riley? Riley Finn?" A breathy voice from behind Buffy addressed her lover.

"Well Dr. Amy Hatfield, how are you?" Riley said, rising from the table to kiss the cheek of a beautiful woman in scrubs.

"I'm absolutely fine. And you?" the lovely doctor asked, her hand lingering on Riley's arm.

"Good, good," Riley smiled until he felt Buffy kick him in the back of the calf.

"Ow!" He cried startled by the contact. He looked at the simmering blonde still seated at the table and swallowed quickly.

"Oh I'm sorry, how rude of me! I'm Dr. Amy Hatfield, and you are?"

"Buffy Summers, Riley's girlfriend," Buffy smiled pleasantly although it didn't quite reach her eyes.

"Oh so you're the reason I haven't heard from this scamp," Amy said, almost dismissing Buffy before she turned back to Riley.

"I haven't heard from you in a month! I was afraid that after those couple of dates, I had scared you off."

"Well things got kind of busy with the girls..." Riley said, looking for an explanation for why he hadn't called. It wasn't easy telling someone things had been moving much too fast. Amy had their whole life planned by the third date!

"Of course it did! So how are they? Did Jordan's science project turn out well?"

Buffy could feel herself growing jealous. This blonde-haired Amazon knew the girls?

"Oh yeah, she got an A+ and she wanted me to thank you for her. Tristan misses you too," Riley said, looking around the room. He was hoping that Steve would show up and save his butt. Riley knew Buffy was furious and he could feel her eyes burning holes into his back.

"Yeah, I've missed taking her skating."

"You took Tristan skating?" Buffy asked, reaching up to take Riley's dangling hand in hers.

"Oh yeah, Amy used to be on the U.S. Olympic team," Riley supplied enthusiastically.

"No, I was the alternate Riley," Amy turned to Buffy and rolled her eyes. "He makes it sound like I won the gold or something."

"Yeah well I'm sure he's just being..." Buffy began, her voice saccharine sweet.

"Buffy, Riley. Oh hey Amy, how's tricks in Cardiology?" Steve called as he joined the group. Riely said a silent prayer, thanking the Powers for getting him out of an increasingly sticky situation.

"Fine, but can we meet later this week to discuss the Harmon case? I think a transplant may be too drastic at this point," Amy said, also grateful that Steve had rescued them from the awkward situation. Awkward wasn't really the word Amy would have used, hostile might have been more accurate.

"Sure. How 'bout lunch at the Harvard club, and you buy?" Steve suggested.

"You do love going there, don't you? Too bad you went to Yale," she sighed.

"Hey, if I'd known about their Veal tenderloin, I would have transferred! I'll call your secretary and set something up, ok?"

"Sure," she nodded, turning back to Riley and Buffy. "Nice to see you again Riley, and tell Tristan that anytime she wants to go skating to call me. Buffy, it was nice meeting you."

Amy turned and floated away from their table toward the door of the cafeteria.

Buffy's brain screamed.

"Now there goes one of Boston's finest sights," Steve smiled appreciatively, watching Amy's ass sway as she walked away.

Buffy shot Riley a dirty look.

"What? I'm not even looking!" he exclaimed.

"Hope, I'm sure glad there's somebody else in this family with red hair. It's you and me against everyone else, isn't it sweetheart? All these blondes and brunettes and it's only you and me with Irish red," Bryan Finn said, hugging his beloved granddaughter.

"Don't forget Grandpa, Mommy had red hair too," Hope answered, looking up into his green eyes. "I miss Mommy."

"I miss your Mommy too Hope. She was a mighty fine woman."

Riley shifted on the couch. He was uncomfortable with his father's continuous talk of Claire and he just hoped the older man would drop the subject soon. Riley loved the idea that the girls knew so much about their mother, but now was not the time for his father's walk down memory lane. Hope was just starting to accept Buffy in their lives, and the last thing he needed was for her to slam the door shut. It was obvious Bryan Finn had loved his late daughter-in-law and Riley hoped he would learn to love Buffy just as much.

Bryan had old-world values where family, morals, religion and one's life's destiny were concerned. Back in Ireland, he had been raised to know right from wrong and he had learned that the family patriarch decided the future for you, with no straying from that designated path. Unfortunately, Riley hadn't accepted this lesson and as such, was a huge disappointment to his father. From early childhood, Riley had been destined for the priesthood. It had been Bryan's fondest wish for his middle son but it was one thwarted by Riley's defiance and the military.

Riley entered the seminary upon Bryan and Father Maguire's urgings but he wasn't happy there. He tried for his father's sake but Riley just couldn't find happiness in his studies. Riley didn't believe that being a parish priest was his calling. He knew something bigger dictated his destiny. Riley wanted to save mankind and the military provided the best opportunity for that so at the age of 19, Riley walked out of the seminary and into the local recruiter's office to join the Marines.

Bryan couldn't understand or accept his son's decision. To him religion and the priesthood were the all-encompassing reasons for Riley's existence and Bryan saw no bigger honour in life than giving one of his children to God and the Church. Bryan's hopes and dreams for his middle son had shattered the day Riley joined the Marines and so had their relationship.

Riley's life was also dramatically altered by his decision. He grew out of the protective shell the seminary had provided, he learned to know the sexual pleasures of women, the camaraderie shared with other soldiers and he received a full education and the notice of Maggie Walsh. Dr. Walsh became his mentor. She lavished attention and praise on him while she'd been alive and that had meant the world to him, mostly because it was something he had never received from his father.

Bryan suddenly rose from his chair, standing ramrod straight to his full 6 foot 5 inches.

"Riley if you would, I'd like to speak to you a moment."

Riley looked uncomfortably at his mother, Marc, Graham and his daughters.

"Sure Dad," he said getting up and leading the way to the study.

The two men walked down to Riley's study in silence. Closing the door and indicating that his father should take a seat on the couch, Riley sat down in the chair facing him.

"Riley, I'm not one to beat around the bush about things," Bryan began.

"No Dad, can't say that you are, so why not tell me what this little father/son chat is all about because we had the birds and the bees one years ago," Riley said and then cringed immediately.

Bryan looked up at Riley but did not answer him for a minute, enjoying how he could still make his son squirm.

"So Riley, tell me about this young lady and her son," Bryan finally said.

"He's my son too, Dad."

"Okay, tell me about this young lady and your son."

"Buffy's the love of my life and Evan is the son I've always wanted and now have."

"Are you sure she's just not playing you for a soft hearted sucker? You know, to get child support from you? After all the child is illegitimate and in the eyes of God, his mother is no better than a whore."

"Don't you dare call Buffy a whore! You're talking about the woman I love!"

"The woman you slept with and got pregnant, you mean," Bryan spat. "Ever since you left the seminary, you have followed a path of sin Riley. The only redeeming thing you ever did was marry that blessed angel Claire, God rest her soul, and have three saintly daughters. This Bufy would be dirt under Claire's feet and her son is blight on the Finn family name. It's obvious you met this girl while in the Marines and she seduced you to her bed."

"Enough!" Riley seethed through clench teeth. Rising out of his chair, Riley began pacing the floor. He knew exactly where this was leading.

"If you had just carried out my wishes by serving God and saving souls instead of running off half cocked, fighting for something you can't possible win, you wouldn't be in this position of having to support a sinning woman and her bastard child."

"Why can't you accept that I'd rather serve my country than God?" Riley asked.

"Because it was your path to follow!"

"My path is to fight demons and make the world safe for the pure of heart," Riley ran his hands through his hair. "Dad why can't you understand this. It is my calling, it is the path that God chose for me!"

"I don't believe that! Now you've dragged your brother into this half-baked company of yours. Where does it stop Riley?"

"Dad we're doing good work! I'm working with the Vatican on a very important case right now."

"You should have been working for the Vatican, Riley. You had so much potential and you wasted it on the military and that tramp!"

"Is that why you resent Evan and Buffy, Dad? Because they kept me from realising your dreams? Because I realised that the love of a woman was more important to me than the love of God?"

"There is nothing more important than the love of God! Haven't you learned anything? And let's not mention the innocent victim you've dragged into this mess."

"Dad! I see God's love every time I look in my daughters' faces!" Riley snapped around to look at his father. "Wait. what do you mean an innocent victim?"

Bryan smiled his most superior smile, the one that always drove his son crazy.

"Evan will be a victim of society's views, Riley. Someone will always consider him a bastard. Are you prepared to live with that? For the rest of his life he'll face mental abuse and negativity from moral people who will look down on him and there is nothing you can do to protect him."

"Don't you think I know that?" Riley snapped angrily.

"Don't raise your voice to me," Bryan boomed, staring down his son.

"He's my son, and if I had known about Buffy's condition I never would have left her," Riley said quietly, his anger simmering just below the surface.

"She shouldn't have been in that condition."

"Christ Dad, it was the year 2000! I was 24 years old and madly in love with her! I saw the rest of my life with Buffy and being intimate with her was part of that."

"So you slept with the slut."

"She's not a slut!"

"Don't..."

Just then the library door burst open and Kate Finn rushed into the room, closing the door tightly behind her.

"What is all the noise." she began but neither man heard her as they continued to argue.

"I know that you loved Claire, but I married her because I had to! Claire was pregnant with Jordan, Dad. So if Buffy was a slut, then so was your precious Claire!"

"I don't understand," Bryan said, his brow creasing in confusion.

"Do the math, Dad.Jordan wasn't early, Claire was pregnant with her before we got married."

"Then I guess you're right Riley," Bryan said getting up from the couch and walking to the door.

"What do you mean, I'm right?"

"You sleep with sluts."

Bryan Finn yanked open the door, walked through it and slammed it shut behind him.

"I can't believe him!" Riley exploded as he turned to face his mother. "You should have heard him!"

"Riley I know exactly how your father is... I'm the one married to him, remember?" Katie smiled, trying to calm her favourite son. Although a mother wasn't suppose to have favourites, Riley had always been hers. He was the purest of heart and the sweetest of nature of all her sons, but he had the Finn edge to him. If crossed he'd kill.

"I wish he hadn't come. I mean, my whole life I've done everything in my power to make him happy. Everything."

"Except become a priest."

"Mom, you know as well as I do that the priesthood wasn't my destiny. All my life I've wanted to be one of the white hats that rode in and saved the day," Riley sat down on the couch next to his mother.

"Oh yes, I remember your Cavalry days," she smiled, forgetting for a second that it was a grown man sitting beside her and not her little boy anymore.

"And the modern version of that was the military. I was answering a call that wasn't God's."

"Or at least not from God directly," Katie smiled at him with a pair of eyes so much like his own.

"I can never please that man! Even as a kid. I got the best grades, but a 95 was never good enough for him. I lettered in basketball, baseball and football, still not enough for him. I managed to get myself through University and hold a high ranking job in the Army, still not good enough for him. I'm one of the richest men in America, and I take care of you both, but its still not enough. When will it be enough?" Riley shook his head, searching his mother's eyes for the answer to his father.

"I wish I could tell you Riley," she replied, brushing his hair of his forehead.

"He's taking out his anger on Evan, and I won't let him do that."

"No sweetie and neither will I," she soothed as Riley rested his head on her shoulder.

"The poor little guy's had such a tough road already, and I wasn't there for him. I was such an idiot," Riley dropped his head into his hands. "After the things I put Buffy through, I'm surprised she still loves me."

"Do you still lover her?" Katie asked stroking the side of her handsome son's face.

"I never stopped," he smiled sadly.

"Well, then let me deal with your father. By the time he leaves here, he'll love Buffy and Evan like they were his very own."

"I told him about Claire and I," Riley said, his face colouring in shame.

"Yes, I noticed. He didn't take it well, did he?"

"To say the least! Why does he have to be so stuck in Ireland that he can't see what's going on right under his nose?" Riley took his mother's other hand in his.

"Because sweetheart, he's of a different generation than you are. He was raised by your grandparents according to the Church's teaching and he raised you boys the same way."

"Mother, times have changed."

"I know, but your father has a very hard time letting go."

"If he causes an ounce of trouble, I won't hesitate to cut him off from the girls," Riley warned.

"You'd do that to us?"

"Never you, Mom, just him. I'm sorry but it's the only bargaining chip I have right now."

"He loves those girls, Riley. He would be devastated."

"I know he does and I'd hate to cut him off but I will not let him hurt my son or Buffy."

"You're very possessive of them, aren't you?"

"It's because I love them with all my heart and I know you'll love them when you meet them. Buffy reminds me of you."

"God have mercy on you then Riley," Katie smiled, kissing her son's forehead. While it was true that Riley was a grown man, he'd never be too old to be kissed and comforted by his mother

Mother and son sat for a while talking about what Buffy and Evan had been through when they heard a truck come up the driveway.

"That's them! Now Mom, please remember that he's not as bad as he looks," Riley said lifting his head from her shoulder to look out the window.

"Don't lie to me Riley, I can always tell when your lying. Remember that," she said, watching him head out of the study toward the front door. Kate worried that her son was in pain, and there was nothing she could do to help him except hold his hand.

Riley waited for the truck to come to a complete stop before he opened up the backdoor.

"Anyone in here need a lift to the house?" Riley asked sticking his head through the open door.

"Dad!" Evan's face lit up.

"Hey buddy, welcome home!" Riley said taking Evan into his arms. He felt his eyes mist over as his son's arms went around his neck in a weak hug.

"Home. I love you Dad."

"I love you too Ev," Riley whispered holding his son to him. He looked down to see Buffy smiling happily at him.

"Do you want to lie down for awhile? I know Mason's dying to see you," Riley said feeling his heart lighten now that Evan was back with them.

"I'd like to meet the rest of my family, if that's okay," Evan said looking up at his father.

"Well I know they're waiting to meet you. I'm surprised your Grandma Katie didn't make me take her directly to the hospital this morning to meet you."

Riley carried Evan into the house. He was barely in the door when Mason Harris ran up to greet his best friend. Evan raised his head from his dad's shoulder and held out his hand. Mason did a high five and slapped it hard. Evan flinched and bit his lip trying not show any pain.

Evan was so happy to see his best friend and so wanted to be able to play with him, that he tried to hide his weakened state.

Mason knew his friend well and was not fooled.

"Looks like its back to board games," Mason said sadly.

"What do you mean 'back to board games'?" Riley asked, looking at Mason questioningly.

Evan pulled back to look at his father, answered.

"When I was sick before Mom only let Mason and I play board games. She didn't want me to get tired. I don't want that Dad. I want to be able to play normal, please?"

"Ev, I can't promise you anything, you know that. Uncle Steve says you've got to take it easy so that you'll be well enough to have the marrow transplant but I tell you what, when the nurse comes tomorrow morning, lets ask her what you can do. All right? Until then I think it's Play Station."

Evan was clearly disappointed but nodded his head and agreed to his father's request.

"Okay."

"Riley? Is that Evan, I hear?" Katie Finn asked as she walked out of the playroom with Jordan and Bryan.

Riley looked at his mother in surprise. Hadn't he just left her in the study a minute ago? Shaking his head, Riley knew never to underestimate Katherine Finn.

"Come on Mason, lets go back and finish that video game on Sony Play Station 7," Jordan said.

Buffy walked through the door carrying Evan's overnight bag. She was followed closely by Giles and Joyce.

"That sounds like a good idea Dani," Buffy said, overhearing the girl's suggestion. "Mason, why don't you and Jordan go back to the play room. We'll bring Evan in a couple of minutes, okay?"

"Okay Aunt Buffy. Come on Jordan, I'll be the US and you be England in soccer," Mason said as he ran down the hall toward the playroom.

Katie held out her hand to Buffy and smiled warmly.

"You must be Buffy. I'm Katie Finn, Riley's mother and this is Bryan, Riley's father."

Bryan smiled and nodded his head, willing to let his wife take over the conversation. He knew better than to say a word right now as he had just been soundly chastised for his behaviour earlier.

"Riley's told us so much about you dear. We feel like we've known you for years!"

Buffy smiled back at the diminutive woman, liking her instantly and said,

"Riley's told me a lot about you too. It's a real pleasure to finally meet you."

Katie turned to Evan and touched his cheek,

"And this must be Evan."

"Yes Ma'am," Evan answered politely, holding his hand out for her to shake.

"Evan, you call me Grandma Katie and this is Grandpa Bryan."

Evan looked over at the towering man and smiled,

"Grandpa Bryan you're even taller than my Dad. I didn't think anyone could be taller than him!"

Bryan smiled back at the boy despite his determination not to like the Jezebel and her offspring.

"All of us Finn men are tall. You will be too, just wait. Soon you'll be looking down at your Dad and calling him shorty."

Riley made further introductions to acquaint Giles and Joyce to his parents. He was pleased and grateful that Bryan was being so pleasant to everyone. Riley was beginning to relax.

After a few more minutes, Buffy took Evan from Riley and carried him into the playroom to join Mason and his sisters. Katie and Giles followed her and Joyce took Evan's bag upstairs.

Bryan stayed behind and followed Riley into the study.

"Buffy's very pretty Riley," Bryan said as he closed the door.

"Thanks Dad. I knew when you finally met her you'd,,,

"But my opinion doesn't change," Bryan interrupted him sternly. "Your both sinners and Evan's condition proves it. That poor child."

"Evan's condition! What does Evan's condition have to do with anything?" Riley demanded, surprised by his father's declaration.

"The sin of the parents are visited on the child. This is God's sign that you two have sinned in His eyes."

"Dad, you can't possibly believe that! Evan has leukemia, not a sexually transmitted disease."

"Never the less, it's God's sign..."

"This is stupid! It is not God's sign," Riley snapped. He was about ready to strike his father!

"It's a sign of his displeasure but not a sign of his forgiveness."

"What do you mean?"

"If Evan survives the transplant, it will be a sign from God that He forgives your sins and is blessing you're reunion with Buffy and I will accept His decision. If Evan survives, I'll welcome him and Buffy with open arms and defend her honor until the day I die," Bryan wandered toward the window before continuing. "If Evan dies, then it is a sign that God considers your reunion a blasphemy and she will never to be accepted as a member of my family."

"Whaaat...!" Riley sputtered out.

Bryan walked back to the door and opened it.

"I've had my say Riley and I'm leaving my decision up to God. He knows what's right."

Riley was still staring open mouthed at the space where his father's departing back had been when Graham and Marc came into the room.

"Ry? You okay?" Marc asked, knowing perfectly well that whatever bomb Bryan Finn had just dropped had scored a direct hit on his brother.

"Bastard!" Riley seethed, throwing the first thing he could get his hands on.

"Ry, what did he say?" Graham asked.

"I can't believe him! He actually blames Buffy and I for Evan's illness.says it's God's will."

"That's bullshit, and you know it," Graham said, his calm voice reaching out to his best friend.

"Are you sure about that Graham?" Riley asked looking Graham in the eye. "What if he's right about this?"

"He's wrong and you know that! The Powers didn't do this to punish you Riley," Willow assured him as she entered the conversation and the room. "You and Buffy belong together.they wouldn't have kept you apart for this long only to cause you more pain."

"Dawn said practically the same thing," Riley told her and smiled. He was so glad that he and Buffy had friends like Willow and Graham.

"The Powers reward their warriors, Riley. That means you and Buffy. They would never let Evan die, not now that he's found you and his sisters. It would be sick and unfair."

"What's she talking about?" Marc whispered to Graham.

"Shhh!" Graham hissed as he listened to Willow's wacky explanation.

"But Willow, what happens if he's right.sins of the father and all that," Riley asked as he dropped into his favourite leather chair.

"He's wrong," Graham insisted.

"Dead wrong," Marc agreed.

"You think?" Riley asked, a flicker of hope sparking in his eyes.

"Yup," Willow smiled taking Riley's hand in hers.

"Look, let Kevin and I run interference for you, okay? You just deal with Buffy and Evan and we'll handle Dad," Marc said looking at his brother.

"Sure," Riley replied and closed his eyes. He was too tired to worry about his old man anymore and he was grateful that Marc had his back.

"Speaking of the Senator, when is he arriving?" Graham asked.

"Any minute," Marc said, looking at his watch.

"I love politicians," Willow sighed rubbing her hands together and licking her lips.

"Do I have to keep an eye on you, Marilyn?" Riley asked as he opened one eye.