The Song Remembers When
Chapter Thirty-Six
RATING: NC-17
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 Karin does own Riley's daughters and Sam the
nanny, Nicole and Steve Bishop.
FEEDBACK: Pretty pretty please! We really hate to beg, but will .
SPOILERS: All of Season 5, and our own little universe.
AUTHOR'S NOTES: 1) Thank you Amy who is Beta'ing this for us will
Anne-Marie is settling in.
2) To all the wonderful authors out there who inspire us - Ace, Sam,
Amy, Jesmin, Ginger, Holli, Nicole- thank you for challenging us
everyday. Thank everyone who finds the time to send us feedback!
Buffy heard the bedroom door open and looked to see Tristan peeking
through the crack. Glancing at her watch, she noticed it was only
1:30 am. Smiling to herself, Buffy pulled the blankets back and
patted the mattress next to her. Tristan pushed the door open and
raced across the room like a demon was on her tail and crawled into
the bed beside her.
"You okay, sweetheart?" Buffy whispered, as she wrapped little girl
into her arms.
"I had another scary dream, but I woke up this time before it got too
scary." She said, snuggling into Buffy's embrace.
"Two in one night? I thought Uncle Graham scared all the monsters
away." Buffy asked, making a mental note to ask Riley about
Tristan's dreams.
"Nope, Grandpa Giles came in and did it, but Uncle Graham should have
cause he knows where they hide. Some night I have lots of scary
dreams, but lately they've stayed away. They know you're here."
"They?" Buffy whispered looking over at Riley and Evan to make sure
they hadn't woken up.
"The scary people." She whispered, looking around the room.
"Do they follow you?" Buffy smiled in the dark as she remembered
Evan's bout with nightmares when he was Tristan's age. Evan would
insist on sleeping in Buffy's bed since the monsters couldn't leave
and follow him down the hall to Buffy's room.
"No, they're not allowed out of the scary place, but sometimes I'm
not sure if I'm awake or not."
"Really."
"Yeah, I don't know until Daddy's with me. He makes all the scary
people go away."
"So, does he look under the bed and in the closets?" Buffy smiled.
"Oh no, once he wakes me up they leave, they're afraid of Daddy."
"Look, why don't you try and go back to sleep and I promise you that
they won't come back."
"Promise." Tristan said, holding out her pinkie for Buffy to do a
pinkie swear with her.
"Promise." Buffy said, wrapping pinkies with her.
"I love you, Buffy." Tristan yawned and snuggled closer still.
"I love you, too, Tristan." Buffy smiled, kissing the little girl's
curly head.
Before Buffy knew it, Tristan was asleep, her little body complete
relaxed in Buffy's arms. Looking over her shoulder, she saw Riley,
holding Evan, then looked down at Tristan.
"You do make beautiful children, Mr. Finn." She whispered.
"They'll never be yours." Whispered a female voice.
Buffy looked around the room for a person, but saw no one.
<Okay my mind's playing tricks on me.>
Settling back against the pillows with Tristan tucked safely against
her, Buffy closed her eyes, and willed herself to fall asleep. Just
as she was drifting away, she felt someone sit on the end of the bed.
Buffy's eyes flew open and she looked around the room, but saw
nothing.
"Don't get too comfortable in my bed. He'll have you packing by this
time next week." The voice whispered again.
"Okay, this isn't funny." Buffy whispered, sitting up slightly and
looking around the room.
"Who said it was funny? Leave my family alone."
Buffy looked to Riley again, but he seemed oblivious to the voice and
presence in the room, he actually seemed to be smiling in his sleep.
"Riley." She whispered.
"What you need my husband to protect you for?" The voice laughed.
"Claire?"
"Who else? I just wanted to thank you for bringing me home, and to
tell you not to get too comfortable." The voice laughed.
"What do you want?" Buffy felt her fear mounting.
"You to leave my husband and daughters alone. You can leave Evan,
but you will bring Riley nothing but pain."
"I love him." Buffy whispered, but there was no response and just as
suddenly as she felt the presence in the room, it was gone.
<Okay that makes it official I'm over tired.> She thought as she
tightened her hold on Tristan.
"Just inhale slowly and get your heart to slow down. Deep breaths."
She whispered closing her eyes and taking a deep breath of all things
Tristan.
<Besides who's gonna believe Claire's ghost is paying me late night
visits.>
***
The kitchen was in full swing by the time Riley and Evan came
downstairs the next morning. Buffy had woke them both up, because
Holly the nurse had to check Evan' vitals.
"Morning, Gentlemen." Kate said, swooping down to kiss her grandson,
then her son.
"Mornin', Mom." Riley replied, looking for Buffy in the crowded
kitchen. Buffy looked tired to him, but as beautiful as ever. Today
her hair pulled back in a ponytail and she wore a red turtleneck that
just seemed to make skin glow, but it couldn't hide her tired eyes.
She sat next to Kristie eating her breakfast, and she laughed as the
little girl blew her a raspberry.
"Who taught her that?" Buffy asked, turning in her chair to look at
Cordelia.
"Take a guess." Cordelia said, waiting for the microwave to signal
that Kelly's oatmeal was ready.
"Spike."
"No. Her father."
"What! You can't tell me Angel taught her that."
"He sure did, was almost one of the proudest moments in his life."
Cordelia chuckled.
"Fatherhood changes even the most proper of gentlemen, Buffy. When
Kevin and I were first married, he use to hate to get messy, drove
him nuts, must have been his military training. Anyway, after Travis
was born, it didn't' seem to bother him, even when little peanut
butter hands marked his dress uniform." Chris smiled warmly,
catching her husband's eye.
"Yup, I learned that some things are just more important than being
up to code." He said, as he cut up Tristan's pancakes.
"Evan, come sit next to us!" Myles yelled, pushing out the empty
chair that sat between him and Mason, for both boys had insisted the
chair remained vacant until Evan came down for breakfast.
"That's sounds like a great offer there, Ev." Riley said, escorting
Evan over the empty chair.
"Thanks for saving me a seat." Evan smiled, taking his seat between
his best friend and cousin. Buffy watched, hoping that god would
give her son more days like this.
"Hey, where's Willow and Graham?" Riley asked, noticing that other
than Angel they were the only people missing from the table this
morning.
"Bob Villa was on last night." Buffy said simply, playing airplane
with Kristie's oatmeal.
"Oh, really?" Riley smirked.
"Oh yeah, and you know what a fan of his Willow is. Seems he was on
several late night channels last night." Buffy smirked again, glad
that Chris had filled her in early this morning about the noise in
the room next door.
"Willow likes Bob Villa? I'll have to talk to her later, maybe she's
seen the renovations he's done on those old plantation homes in the
South. They're my favorite episodes." Bryan Finn said, not sure why
half the group around the table had burst out laughing.
"Oh, yeah Dad, she's a huge fan." Marc snorted.
"I'm positive we can find a show on somewhere with that satellite of
yours, Riley. It amazes me how many channels you can get with that
thing. Do you have one in L.A., Rupert?" Bryan said dismissing the
fools around him.
"So, I was thinking maybe we could do some tobogganing this
afternoon, anyone up for it?" Riley asked, as he took his place at
the table next to Buffy.
"Oh could we, Daddy!" Tristan called, jumping up out of her seat to
throw her limp body into her father's arms.
"God, you're heavy when you do that." Riley said, as her light body
suddenly seemed to weight 1000 pounds.
"The twins do that when they're throwing a temper tantrum. One minute
they're all arms and legs thrashing, and next they're a limp rag."
Cordelia said, sitting down next to Kelly's chair.
"I remember Evan used to do that, too, but Lindsay broke him of
that." Buffy laughed.
"Lindsay?" Riley asked, but his request for information was
forgotten as Buffy and girls talked about tobogganing.
"It's the coolest thing, Buffy! We have this huge hill in the south
meadow that's great, isn't it Myles!" Jordan said, excitedly looking
from Buffy to her cousin.
"Yeah, it's huge, and Uncle Riley has all these sleds and stuff.
It's the best thing about Christmas." Looking at Evan, he smiled
sadly, "Too bad you'll have to miss it."
"Well he won't next year." Bryan Finn said, ruffling his grandson's
hair as he walked behind his chair.
"Right, Grandpa!" Evan smiled, hoping his grandfather was right.
"Okay, tobogganing it is. I'll go out to the barn and pull the sleds
out since I'm finished eating." Marc said, pushing back from the
table.
"Dawn, you wanna help?" Marc asked, hoping Dawn would say yes. Over
the last week, Marc had realised that he really enjoyed Dawn's
company, okay truth of the matter was, he was starting to see her in
a different light. No longer was she just Buffy's little sister, but
a smart, funny, charismatic, sexy woman who Marc could see himself
spending his time with. Yesterday, watching her flirt with some guy
at the hockey game who was seated in the next box had drove him to
distraction, and he couldn't enjoy the game. Marc couldn't figure
out if she was doing it on purpose to piss him off, or if it was all
innocent. Sure, he'd done some innocent flirting with the nurses at
the hospital, but not enough to warrant Dawn's revenge.
"Sure, Hope you wanna help?" Dawn said, smiling at the red head
that sat next to her. Yes, Marc was playing right into her hands
perfectly, best to keep him on his toes and invite one of the kids so
they wouldn't have any privacy.
"Yeah."
"I'm coming, too!" Jordan called, pushing her chair away from the
table.
<Great.> Marc felt like grumbling.
Leaving the kitchen with Dawn at his side, Marc and she inadvertently
walked under the mistletoe that hung from the chandelier in the front
hallway.
"Uncle Marc, you're supposed to kiss Aunt Dawn 'cause you're both
under the mistletoe!" Hope cried, clapping her hands together as she
jumped up and down. The poor child had anxiously been waiting for
someone to get caught under it. Okay, so she'd caught Dad and Buffy
under it like a million times, but they didn't count. She'd been
hoping to catch Uncle Graham and Willow under it, but they'd always
walked the long way around it. She heard him say something about
their kiss wouldn't be PG, but she wasn't sure what he meant by that.
"Yeah, Uncle Marc, you have to kiss her!" Jordan called, rushing out
of the kitchen to see her uncle and Buffy's sister standing there.
"What's this?" Buffy smiled, coming out of the kitchen with Riley
hot on her heels, both had been guessing for days that something was
happening between their siblings, but both denied it.
"Nothing, just go back to getting your breakfast so we can take the
kids tobogganing." Marc cracked, walking away from Dawn, leaving her
standing there alone. She didn't like the disappointed feeling
growing in her stomach at Marc's response. True, she wasn't too keen
on kissing him either yet, but it was for the kids, or was she just
fooling herself.
"Kids have a point Marc, you gotta kiss her." Riley smiled and gave
Buffy a squeeze, "Want us to show you how?"
<Why does he have to kiss her so often, I wish it were Mommy.> Hope
pouted, disappointed that her father and Buffy would be the ones
kissing under it again. However, things were looking up when Aunt
Dawn jumped in to stop them from kissing, maybe they were making her
sick,too.
"Uh, no thank you, the two of you are gonna wear this thing out.
Thank you very much." Dawn laughed, trying to hide her
disappointment.
"Look, if you're too shy, little brother, we'll leave you both alone,
but you have to kiss her." Riley said, giving Marc a look that gave
him a clear warning.
Marc crossed back across the hall and kissed Dawn quickly on the
lips, pulling back abruptly.
"You call that a kiss? If I were Dawn, I'd be a little offended."
Buffy said, turning back into the kitchen.
"Damn, Marc, are you sure you're a Finn man." Riley laughed,
following Buffy into the kitchen with the girls running up the stairs
to brush their teeth.
"I thought we were gonna be seeing a good kiss." Hope sighed, her
little shoulders sagging.
"Maybe Uncle Marc doesn't like to kiss women like Dad and Uncle Kevin
do?" Jordan said, looking over her shoulders at her uncle one last
time.
Dawn burst out laughing as Jordan's words caught her attention.
"Your niece seems to think you'd rather kiss Graham." Dawn snorted.
"For your information, I not only like kissing girls, but I'm good at
it." Marc boasted, pulling Dawn into his arms and laying a kiss on
her, startling her completely. As he shifted her slightly in his
arms so his lips could get better access to hers, he felt his heart
skip just a little. Dawn's arms, which had been crushed between
their two bodies, worked their way out and around his back. Somehow
the two ended up against the living room wall with Marc pressed
against her, and Dawn rubbing herself against him.
"Shit." Dawn croaked, as they parted, shocked at the passion one
simple kissed had held, and their tongues hadn't even been involved.
<Okay, would anyone miss him if I dragged him upstairs right this
second and pulled all his clothes off?>
"Yeah, thanks for the kiss." Marc said gruffly, pulling back to rub
his hand through his short dark hair before he turned around and
disappeared down the hall toward the mudroom.
<Damn, that girl can kiss.>
"No problem, sport." Dawn called, seeing that she wasn't the only
one affected by the kiss.
<Yup, it wouldn't take much work on my part to get you up stairs, now
would it? Get hold of yourself, Summers, this is the family
Christmas gathering, not some rock group's tour!>
***
The Finn and Summers' families were gathered in the family room
enjoying a traditional Christmas Eve by the fire and Christmas tree.
Eggnog and good cheer filled the room. They were waiting for Bryan
Finn, Jordan, Myles and Travis to return from the Christmas Eve
children's mass, while the adults prepared to attend the Midnight
candle service.
Willow couldn't help but feel safe and loved as she looked around the
room at the faces of the people she loved, and the faces of the
people her lover called his family. Everything seemed so perfect.
"Okay, so if we get to Midnight mass, we could be back here by 1:00
and then settle in to putting the 'Stuff' together." Kevin said,
trying to speak in parent code around the smaller children.
"Why do we even have to go." Marc grumbled.
"Tradition." Riley and Kevin answered in unison.
"Besides, it's a beautiful service, so stop complaining." Katie Finn
said, clipping her youngest in the back of the head.
"Look, not everyone here's Catholic, Mom." Marc tried, hoping this
argument would work.
"You maybe have a point, my son, but you are and so are your
brothers." Katie reminded him, sitting down next to Joyce on the
couch.
"I may not be Catholic, but I'd love to go." Joyce offered.
"Someone's gotta stay home with the kids." Marc tried again.
"I am, and so's your dad." Willow smiled at Marc sweetly.
"Why wasn't I bore Jewish." Marc grumbled.
***
"Daddy! Do we get to open one present before we go to bed?" Hope
said, rushing over to stand in front of the huge Christmas tree that
seemed to be overflowing with gifts already.
"Not until your grandfather gets back from church with your sister
and cousins." Riley countered.
"It's not fair. First, I can't go to mass cause Grandpa says I'm too
little, then we can't even open a present cause we have to wait for
them." Hope sulked.
"Hope, come watch the Grinch with us." Evan called to his sister,
patting the space on the couch next to him. Since he'd rested all
day, Evan almost seemed to have some of his strength and color back,
and had been allowed to stay up late to wait for the others to come
back from church.
Hope was hanging around the tree looking at the beautiful wrapped
presents, as the lights seemed to twinkle off the foil wrapping
paper. She'd noticed earlier a present on the right hand side that
had her name on the tag, and she'd been dying for days to know what
it was. Looking over her shoulder, to make sure no one was looking she
picked up the box and gave it a fair shake.
"Hope, honey, if you don't put that down and wait for the other's to
get back, I'll have to call Santa and tell him." Buffy teased,
wrapping her arms around the little girl's shoulders. Buffy couldn't
get over the progress she'd made with Hope over the last couple days,
and was quite tickled. Hope was really starting to warm up to her,
and was actively seeking her out. Earlier that day they'd been
tobogganing buddies, and after Buffy had shared the Summers' secret
recipe for hot chocolate the night before, the two upon returning
from their fun out doors had made hot chocolate for everyone.
"Yeah, and I'll tell Grandma and your mom about you kissing Daddy's
pee-pee under the Christmas tree!" Hope pulled away from Buffy and
challenged in a very loud voice, her green eyes blazing.
With Hope's challenge hanging in the air, all the conversation in
the room stopped and eyes swung to a very embarrassed Buffy and
Riley.
Buffy's hands flew up to her mouth.
<Hope saw us!>
Buffy did the only thing she could do when every eye in the room is
on you in an embarrassing situation, she rose from her seat and
walked proudly out of the room. Sure, she walked out of the room, but
the whole way she wished the floor would open and swallow her up.
"Shit." Riley exhaled as his mother levelled him with a look that
made him wish she were back in Huxley. Knowing that if he looked up
at any of the adults in the room they'd burst out laughing, so Riley
turned his attention to his daughter.
"Hope, I think we need to talk, right now, young lady." Riley's
said, reaching for his daughter's hand.
"I'm sorry, Daddy." Hope said, tears already in her eyes.
"Yes, I know you're sorry, but I think we still need to talk." Riley
could be heard as his voice trailed down the hall.
Once Riley and Hope had left the premises, the room erupted into
laughter echoing through the house behind him. He had to admit that
probably in a year's time he and Buffy would find it funny, but at
that moment he knew she was horrified and embarrassed in front of his
family. Riley ushered Hope into his office and sat down on the
couch, patting the leather seat next to him. He almost burst out
laughing at the pitiful look presently on his daughter's face; it was
like she was being lead to the gallows.
"Hope, honey, you know what you just said to Buffy was wrong, don't
you?" Riley said, trying to keep the smile from his face. He hated
having to be the bad guy, which had always been Claire's job in their
marriage.
"Yes, I know it was bad, but…." Hope stopped and looked down at
her hands that lay folded in her lap.
"But what?" Riley asked gently.
"She made me mad. She…"
"You mean Buffy." Riley corrected his daughter.
"Buffy, she threatened to tell Santa that I was peeking."
"Well, you were, Hope, and you know you weren't suppose to do that."
"I know, but she was going to get me in trouble with Santa, so I
thought I'd get her in trouble. I know what you say about being a
tattle tale and maybe you need to tell Buffy, too, but Daddy I'm
really sorry."
"Hope, honey, how did you know that Buffy's kissing my pee-pee was
wrong?"
"Tyler Carmichael had dirty pictures he stole from his older brother,
and he showed us at recess one day. Sister Mary Catherine saw him,
and took the pictures away from him. After recess she said that only
bad girls did what those pictures showed." She said, her eyes
growing bigger and bigger as she told her story.
<Great and this is what I'm paying big dollars for my daughters to
attend a private school for! She's 6 years old and learning about
sex in the schoolyard!>
"Well, honey, when you're a little older we'll have a talk that and I
will explain all that in a little bit more detail, okay?"
<Shit maybe Nickie can help me here. Or maybe Buffy… she'd be so
good talking to the girls about this. Finn! Concentrate here will
ya!>
"Do I have to apologise, Daddy? I mean really?" She whined.
"I thought you were starting to like Buffy?" Riley said, positive
just yesterday his daughter and Buffy had bonded over their shared
love of hot chocolate, Buffy had shown her how to make her mother's
secret recipe. Then today tobogganing, Hope had insisted on being
the one to go down the slope with Buffy.
"I'm trying."
"But Hope, saying hurtful things like that isn't trying to like
someone." Riley said.
"You want me to like her so you can marry her, don't you?" Hope
said, as her tears started flowing.
"Baby, I'm doing no such thing at this moment. I love Buffy…."
"But you love Mommy!" The child whispered.
"You're right, I do love your mommy, but she's not here anymore."
"So, you're gonna marry her, aren't you?"
"Hope, sweetheart, I can't tell you what I'm gonna be doing in a
year's time, but I hope Buffy will be apart of our lives still. I
love you and your sisters beyond the moon and stars and back, but I
have Evan and Buffy to think about now, too. You do want Evan to be
part of our lives, don't you?" Riley was starting to feel like he
was lying to his daughter, cause if he had his way he'd be married to
Buffy by summer. Riley loved Buffy.
She nodded her head.
"And if I decide I want to marry Buffy one day, we'll have a family
discussion. Is that okay? I promise, Buffy won't be your new mommy
tomorrow morning."
"Then why are Tristan and Jordy throwing themselves at her all the
time. Tristan asked God last night in her prayers to make her our
new mommy." Hoped pouted, as she climbed up into her father's lap,
all her anger suddenly forgotten.
"Because they like her and want to spend time with her. And your
sister asks God for a new mommy or puppy almost every night, and she
still hasn't got her puppy." Riley answered, trying to lighten the
mood by tickling his daughter.
"We both pray for a puppy. But I'm starting to think God doesn't
have much to do with who gets a puppy or not. I've tried telling
Tristan that, but she's still a baby and doesn't understand about God
and all." Hope said, looking at Riley with a very serious face.
"And you understand about God?"
"Yeah, he only gives people things like baby brothers, and he helps
the Celtics win games."
"Where'd you hear that?" Riley chuckled.
"Dominic asked God to help them beat the Raptors the other night,
something about spreading some on something else, but I didn't
understand it." She said tilting her head to the side.
<Mental note to self… remind RAGE Inc. staff that we have
children living in this house.>
"So, what are you going to do when it comes to Buffy?" Riley prompted.
"Well, I'll be nice and try to like her." Hope grudgingly offered.
"I'm happy to hear that, Hope." Riley said smiling.
Suddenly her little face took a very stern appearance and she looked
her father in the eye.
"But if I don't, you can't make me."
***
Riley and Hope came back to the room 10 minutes later with a promise
of an apology to Buffy and never to sneak around when Daddy and Buffy
were together.
"So, Rye, you okay with everything?" Chris asked, looking at her
brother-in-law.
"Embarrassed that all our families and friends know about Buffy's and
my love life, but okay. Hope wants to apologise to Buffy for what
she said and for spying on us." He sighed, looking around the room
for Buffy.
"Gee Rye, that gives I saw mommy kissing Santa Claus a whole new
meaning." Graham snorted, laughing at his friend's expense.
"And you and Willow are all innocent?"
"Hey, at least none of the kids have seen us."
"You mean Tristan almost didn't see anything. So where's Buffy?"
Riley asked, still looking for her.
"She hasn't come back yet. Maybe I should go look for her." Joyce
offered, getting up off the couch.
"Actually, Mom, I think you and Mrs. Finn are about the last people
Buffy wants to see at this minute." Dawn snickered from her place
next to Riley's adorable baby brother Marc.
"Oh, you're probably right." Joyce sighed, remembering what Hope had
just dropped on them.
"I'll go find her. And when I bring her back, no smart comments."
Riley levelled the group with a look that showed he was serious.
"Why, Riley, Mason's done that to Xander and I several times. Xander
just told him that we were wrestling." Anya said, shrugging her
shoulders.
"Oh, Harris, like your style." Angel laughed, glad that the twins
were too young to get out of their cribs yet.
"Yeah, it worked really well until he started ripping his own clothes
off and jumped onto my back." Xander laughed. "After that, we had
the conversation about knocking on Mommy and Daddy's door."
"Hell, it happened to Kevin and I, too. Travis I think it was. Once I
managed to pull Kevin from the ceiling. I mean we didn't even hear
him come into the room until he was up on the bed beside us wondering
what we were doing." Chris laughed, remembering Kevin's face.
"It wasn't' that funny, Chris." Kevin pouted.
"You had to be there. Oh, I forgot, you were."
As the conversation continued on, Riley excused himself and went in
search of Buffy. Running up to her room he knocked on the door, but
when she didn't answer he opened the door to find the room empty.
<Maybe she's in mine>
After checking, finding his own room empty, he charged back
downstairs. In the pit of his stomach he felt his panic starting to
rise, where would he find her in this monster of a house, and when he
found her, would she tell him it was over. Hell, she'd just been
totally embarrassed by his daughter in front of both their families.
Briskly, he walked towards the games room and ballroom hoping to find
her there, but the rooms were empty. Just as he was prepared to
leave the games room, Riley looked out at the falling snow and noticed
fresh footprints leading away from the house toward the stables.
Buffy! Riley grabbed one of Evan's discarded blankets off the back of
the couch and flew out the door in search of her.
Stumbling down through the snow, he cursed himself for not having had
the maintenance guy shovel the path here, since it was almost up to
his knees. Following her trail through the snow, he'd thought maybe
she'd gone into the stable, picking up his pace he reached the stable
and pulled open the door. Walking inside only the usual lights were
on that they kept on for the horses. Brushing the snow off his
shoulders, Riley stomped his feet to knock off the snow.
"Buffy!" He called, but the only answer he got was from the horses.
"Buffy! Come on, sweetheart I know you're embarrassed, and so am I,
but you need to come back to the house before you freeze to death."
He called, urging her to come out.
He was met again by barn sounds only.
"Shit, Buffy, where are you?" He whispered. Walking into the tack
room, he found an old barn coat and pulled it on, hoping the light
jacket would help cut the wind a little bit and keep him warm. It
was so cold out here that he was afraid she'd freeze to death; Buffy
wasn't use to the East Coast winters
"Shit!" She mumbled out loud as she looked around her. "How the hell
did I get out here?"
Feeling snowflakes falling on her face for the first time, she
reached up to brush them away and felt her tears. Since she had no
memory of the minutes after Hope's little announcement, Buffy prayed
to God that she hadn't flown out of the room in tears in front of
Riley's family, it would be hard enough facing them already.
"So where...am I?" She asked, sniffling and trying to get her
bearings. In the snow everything seemed to insulate her against the
world. She could hear something in the distance, and she couldn't
tell if it was a car, a noise from the house, or an animal in a
nearby bush. Now standing here, she kicked herself for running off
without thinking. She was starting to get cold, thank God she had on
Riley's thick ski sweater, and she unrolled its sleeves and pulled it
down over her cold hands to keep them warm. Her feet, however, were
a different story; they were frozen, since she'd only had on a pair of
loafers.
Looking in the distance up over the hill, she could see the glow of
what must have been the house. She'd have to thank either Riley or
the grounds keeper for insisting the house be covered in Christmas
lights. Huffing, she headed in that direction, her tears still
falling freely.
So Hope had seen them having sex that night under the tree! More
accurately she'd seen Buffy giving Riley a blowjob. She cringed as
the thought ran through her head. Okay, the child was definitely
going to need therapy now. Not caring there was hip deep snow, she
dropped to her knees, and let out an agonizing cry. They were
through; Riley would drop her like a hot potato. Hell, he was probably
packing up her stuff right now. She wondered how long it would take
before she'd die of exposure, it was cold but not enough so she'd die
tonight.
"Buffy!"
Buffy's head popped up as she thought she heard her name being
called,but figured it was the wind playing a trick on her.
"Buffy!" The voice called again, and she looked through the darkness
to see where the sound was coming from.
Riley waded through the snow, hoping she'd wandered this way if not,
he was wasting precious time. He'd already checked the pool house,
and the stable, and not a sign of her. Riley was starting to worry.
He knew she'd gone off in this direction away from the stables,
because he'd seen her footprints in the snow. Yet the further Riley
moved away from the house, the harder it was to see in the dark and
the snow now seemed to be coming down harder. She must have been out
here at least a half hour, he thought as he wandered up the hill in
the east meadow. Maybe if he got to the top of it, he'd see her in
the meadow, but he held no hope of that with tonight's cloud cover.
So,he just kept calling her name, hoping she'd hear him.
Cresting the hill, he looked below and saw nothing. Riley was
starting to feel the cold himself through the barn coat, and he knew
she'd be freezing by now. At least she had on his ski sweater; it
would offer her some warmth.
"Buffy!" he yelled again, hoping she'd hear him, but he knew he'd
have to head back to the house soon for help and his down winter
jacket. Where could she be? Maybe she'd headed back. Standing on the
slope he thought he'd try calling her one more time, and if he heard
nothing he'd head back to the house.
"Buffy!" He called again, crossing his fingers, hoping she'd hear
him. Holding his breath, he waited.
"Help!" Came a muffled voice that seemed to be coming from the
meadow's valley.
"Buffy!" He called again.
"Help me!" Came the voice.
Riley strode down the hill, his speed increasing as he came down the
slope.
"Buffy!" He called again, hoping it was her, hoping it wasn't the
wind playing tricks on his mind.
"Riley!" Came back a voice, a very familiar if not terrified voice.
"Buffy, keeping talking to me, I can't see you out here!"
"Riley, I'm so cold!"
"I know, baby, but I have a blanket with me; keep talking to me!"
"I love you, Riley!"
"I love you too, baby!"
Buffy could hear his voice drifting off in the opposite direction.
"No, Riley, I'm over here! The other way, away from the trees!" She
yelled, panicked that he'd walk away from her.
"Okay! I'm turning around. Now just keep talking to me, I won't see
you until I'm almost on top of you. Buffy, tell me a story."
"What do you want to hear?"
"Surprise me." He smiled knowing perfectly well that she would.
"Okay. Once upon a time there was this girl..."
"A princess." Riley called back to her.
"Okay, a princess. Anyway, this princess fell madly in love with this
knight in shining armour."
"So, I'm a knight in shining armour, am I?" He smiled again, hoping
he'd find her soon.
"Yes, you are, especially tonight."
Just at that moment as the words came out of her mouth, he saw a
shadow that he knew was hers. Increasing his speed, he was in front
of her in seconds and she was in his arms.
"Don't ever do that to me again! You scared the hell out of me!" He
said, shaking her slightly.
"I'm sorry." She cried when she heard the panic in his voice.
"Are you okay?" He asked, pulling her as close to him as humanly
possible.
"Just cold, scared, and embarrassed."
"Well, let's get this blanket wrapped around the two of us and I'll
take you home."
"I don't think I can face your family. Riley, your mother must think
I'm disgusting!" She cried.
"No, actually they were laughing at it. Seems my brother Marc did the
same thing to them years ago. Honey, it's okay."
<Good thing Dad was at church with Jordan and the boys.>
"Are you sure?" She asked, not sure if she should believe him.
"Look. Let's get you home and into a hot bath before you get sick."
"I love you, Riley." She said, holding him tight.
"Not as much as I love you."
The two came in the house and were met by a group of concerned women.
"The two of you could have frozen out there." Katie said, as Riley
set Buffy on her feet.
"Oh, sweetheart, you must be freezing. You're gonna end up getting
sick." Joyce said, stepping forward to feel her daughter's forehead.
"Mom, I just need a warm bath and I should be okay." Buffy answered
through chattering teeth.
"And that's exactly where I plan on taking her." Riley said,
swooping Buffy up into his arms.
"Riley, I can walk." She chattered.
"Enjoy it while it lasts, Buffy." Chris smiled suggestively at the
couple.
"Yes. We don't plan on seeing the two of you until you're well
warmed and rested." Katie added.
"Oh, and Riley, son, lock the door." Katie laughed as she and the
other women walked away leaving them standing in the hallway alone.
***
Pulling off the sweater and the rest of her wet clothing, Riley
helped her undress. Taking a huge bath sheet from behind the door,
he wrapped her in it while he ran the tub.
"Do you want bubbles?" He asked.
She merely nodded her head, not taking her eyes off of him for a
second.
"Here get in, the water should be hot enough." Riley reached out for
her with his right hand.
"No." She said, shrinking away from his reach.
"Buffy, honey, please, you need to get into this tub now." He felt
like he was dealing with Tristan right now, not a grown woman.
"You said you were going to take a hot shower, so why not join me?"
She said, reaching for the hem of his sweater and pulling it up.
"Buff." He stopped when he felt her chilled hands against his chest.
"Please. Your mother almost ordered it." She begged. Riley was
trying in vain to keep himself under control, but was failing
miserably.
"I don't..."
"Only if you promise to join me?" She said playfully. Buffy had
checked out the tub and knew that the two of them could fit.
"Buffy..."
"I want to repay my knight in shining armour for bringing the
princess home." She said, looking innocently up at him.
"Okay." He replied "But let me get something first. I promise to
be
back in a few minutes. Meanwhile, get in and turn on the spa jets."
Buffy turned on the spa jets, climbed in, leaned back and closed her
eyes.
<God, this is sooo relaxing. I hope I don't fall asleep before he
comes back.>
Ten minutes later, the door to Buffy's bathroom opened. In walked
Riley wearing a bathrobe and carrying a tray loaded with a bottle of
champagne, two filled champagne flutes, fresh fruit, a bowl of
whipped cream, cubed cheese and petit fours.
Seeing Buffy reclined in the tub, with the bubbles from the spa
rising between her legs, Riley could barely retain his excitement as
he untied the robe's sash and slipped it off allowing it to drop on
the floor.
<God, I could take her right now.>
Riley set the tray down gently on the floor next to the tub. He saw
Buffy had her eyes closed and didn't see what he brought into the
bathroom.
"Scoot up a little so I can climb in." He said.
She did just as she was told and he climbed into the tub behind her.
"Lean back against me and just relax."
Reclining back, she rested her head against his broad muscular chest
and sighed in contentment.
Reaching down beside the tub, Riley stuck the index finger of his
right hand into the whipped cream. With the index finger of his left
hand, he gently touched Buffy's lower lip. She opened her mouth.
Riley placed his right finger covered with cream into her mouth.
"Mmmmm..." She said, sucking his finger.
Next he dipped a fresh strawberry into the whipped cream and held it
to her lips. She bit into the ripe fruit, the juice dripping down
between her breasts. Riley caught the sweet liquid with the index
finger of his left hand and placed it into his own mouth and sucked.
"You were busy." She purred.
"Nope, the food is just part of the annual Finn Christmas Eve
celebration, the whipped cream and champagne were my ideas." He
said, placing a kiss on her shoulder.
"I love the way you think." She purred again.
Then lifting a champagne flute, Riley brought the glass to Buffy's
lips and she took a sip. She remained reclined with her eyes closed
as Riley took turns feeding the two of them. All too soon, the food
and champagne were gone.
"I guess the bath is over." She said as she started to climb out of
the tub.
Grabbing a hold of her hand, Riley pulled her gently back down into
the hot, bubbling water.
"No, it's just begun." He said, wrapping his arms around her waist,
pulling her close and kissing the top of her head.
Leaning down Riley started to kiss the back of her neck and shoulders.
"God, I love your neck." He said, kissing it repeatedly.
He brought his right hand up and fondled her left nipple, squeezing
it gently between his index finger and thumb. Buffy caught her
breath.
She tried reaching back to touch him.
"No." He said, "Tonight's just for you."
He lowered his hand between her legs and gently parted her sex. As he
inserted his fingers into her hot channel he started to pump her
lightly while rubbing his thumb over her clit.
"Yes, there...that's it...just push just a little harder."
He pumped in and out a little faster and harder.
She started to breath faster and beads of sweat formed on her brow.
"God, yes, touch me...don't stop, please don't stop." She panted.
"I won't." He whispered in her ear.
She started to move her hips back and forth, riding his hand.
"So close to coming...God, I'm so close..."
She grabbed his left hand and placed it against her clit indicating
she wanted more stimulation.
Reaching up she pinched her own nipples and arched her back as she
turned her head to kiss him passionately. Watching her almost caused
Riley to go into orgasm, it was the most erotic thing he had ever
seen.
"Now, God, yes, now." She said in a deep-throated growl. Riley pumped
his fingers into her hard. She came with her body shuddering and
vaginal muscles clamping down onto his fingers.
Turning in his arms so she faced him with her breasts pressed against
his chest, she sought out his lips, kissing him until they were both
breathless.
"I want you." She said urgently, and before she could say another
word Riley was up and lifted her up into his arms and out of the tub.
"Now." She moaned throwing her head back as his one hand settled
between her legs.
With water dripping down their bodies, Riley managed to pry the
bathroom door open and stumbled into the bedroom dropping her onto
the bed before he collapsed on top of her.
"God, remind me to thank your mother." She groaned as his lips met
the column of her throat. Oh yes, she owed Katie Finn a huge thank
you in the morning.
An hour later the two of them lay cuddled together, naked in Buffy's
bed.
"Did you lock the door?" Buffy said.
"Of course, you don't want another Bob Villa incident with Tristan do
you? Or worse, Hope watching us again."
"No, definitely not."
Reaching over to the nightstand Riley grabbed the remote control for
the TV and turned it on.
"What in the hell are you doing?" Buffy asked.
"Watching the news and weather. I always watch the news and weather
in bed."
"Not in *my* bed you're not."
"Okay next time we have sex, it'll be in my bed so I can watch the
news and weather."
"I think it's time you changed your bedtime habits, mister!" She
said, pulling the pillow out from under his head and hitting him with
it.
"If that's how you want to play..." He said, grabbing her pillow and
returning the blows.
The impromptu pillow fight continued until both were exhausted and
lay in each other's arms.
"Merry Christmas, Buffy"
"Merry Christmas, Riley."
Looking at the clock again on the bedside table Riley vaulted out of
bed!
"Shit! Where's my robe?" He said springing from Buffy's bed.
"It's still on the bathroom floor, I think. Why?" She asked, sitting
up and watching him frantically rush into the bathroom for his robe.
"I was suppose to meet everyone downstairs to go to church."
"What time is it? Mom'll freak if were late for church, it's usually
so crowded that it's impossible to get a seat."
"11:10." Buffy went to her drawers and pulled out a pair of trouser
socks and her red turtleneck sweater.
"What are you doing?" He asked, coming out of the bathroom and tying
the robe closed.
"I'm going to church. This is a Christmas Eve tradition that I don't
plan on missing out on." she smiled at him before she disappeared
under the sweater.
"Fine. I'm going to throw some clothes on and I'll meet you
downstairs." he said, heading to the door.
"No kiss goodbye?" She pouted.
"Not when we have Midnight mass, plus 5 bikes, 3 scooters, a
dollhouse, one train track, one race track and Barbie's dream camper
to put together in what 4 hours?" Riley knew the Finn children were
notoriously early risers on Christmas morning.
"Got the point. I'll meet you in the front hall."
"Okay."
"Riley?" Buffy called, as he was half way out the door.
"Thank you for the best Christmas Eve ever." He smiled, remembering
their evening alone.
"No, thank you. I know now I'll have memories to keep me warm for a
long time." He blew her a kiss and left her standing there watching
his departing back.
***
By the time Buffy joined Riley downstairs, the huge group stood in
the hallway waiting for them. Buffy noticed the only people not in
their winter coats were Willow, Angel and Bryan Finn. Buffy was
shocked to see her friends and family waiting as well.
"Wesley, Cordy, you guys don't have to do this." Buffy stammered,
looking at Katie Finn to see if the woman had strong-armed them into
joining them.
"Of course we don't Buffy, but it's been forever since I've been to a
Midnight service on Christmas Eve, that I thought I'd like to go.
The Catholic and Anglican Services are so similar…." Wesley went
on, but Buffy had already turned away from him and was slipping into
her coat that Angel was holding out for her.
Leaning in, he whispered to her, "Say a prayer for me."
Turning she looked up at him, catching his hand in hers. "Anytime,
my friend."
***
The Service had been spectacular, and for the first time in years,
Buffy felt content and at peace with herself and the world. Upon
coming home, she had gone upstairs to check on Evan and the girls.
Walking into Hope and Tristan's room, she pulled the blankets up
around both the girls before placing a kiss on each of their
foreheads. She'd had a lot to thank God for lately and here were two
of them. Buffy knew being with Riley meant loving his daughters, and
God help her but she did. Here she was, her life had almost come
full circle. She was back with the man who owned both her heart and
soul, surrounded by her family and friends, what more could she ask
for.
Coming downstairs, she could hear the sounds of elves at work trying
desperately to fight slot 'a' into flap 'b'. Standing in the doorway
of the crowded family room, Buffy couldn't help but laugh, it looked
like Santa's workshop had thrown up all over the place with half
assembled toys everywhere! Xander and Marc were bent over a
dollhouse, trying to figure out the German instructions.
"Shit, I can't read German!" Xander said, exasperated as he threw
the directions up in the air in disgust.
"Hey watch the language, you just came from church, young man."
Willow snickered.
"I thought you were the carpenter?" Marc chuckled, but choked on his
laughter as he made eye contact with Xander.
"I am, but I don't usually work in German."
"Here, Marc, I'll help Xander and you help Riley. Figure a year of
high school German couldn't hurt?" Kevin said, getting up to help
switch places with Marc.
"And if I remember right, the only reason you took it was because you
had a crush on Heidi Graft." Riley laughed, remembering the fight
Kevin had had on his hand with their father when he'd tried to drop
the course the following year.
"Yeah, she was really cute, but not cute enough to damage my class
average." Kevin smiled.
"Does Chris know about you and Heidi?" Marc asked, handing Riley the
screwdriver he'd just asked for.
"Not on your life. Heidi, now there's a woman who could make a grown
man yowl." Kevin leered.
"And from the sounds of it, I don't think it's a good thing to tell
her either?" Buffy said, watching Kevin and Marc both blush slightly
at her input. The Finn boys all blushed the same shade of red; it
was so cute!
"So, you came to help?" Graham asked from his place across the room
with Willow.
"I thought I'd make some coffee, from the mess of this place you
might get this done in time for the kids to get up." She snickered
as she turned and fled into the hallway as a pillow came sailing out
the doorway at her!
"Can you put some Bailey's in it?" Marc called.
After several cups of coffee mixed with either Bailey's or Grand
Marnier, the last screw was screwed and the last toy was given a
battery. They'd managed to assemble all the presents with at least
two hours to spare for sleeping. Trudging down the hall, Marc
slipped his arm around Dawn's tired body, and she leaned into him as
they climbed the stairs at the opposite end of the house to what use
to be the old servants quarters over the garage. Since the staircase
was narrow, Marc nudged Dawn ahead of him and watched as her tight
little body seemed to float up the stairs in front of him.
<Get a grip Finn!>
"Ah, Dawn, I think your room's down the other way." he said as he
watched her walk ahead of him into his room.
"I know perfectly well where my room is, Finn. Now get your ass in
here." she smiled seductively at him, cocking her finger for him to
follow her. A minute ago sitting in the family room she looked like
she was going to fall asleep, and now she looked like she could tear
his clothing off.
"Look, Dawn, this may not be the best..." he said walking towards
her, like his body was in complete control, instead of his mind.
"Kiss me," she said, laying her hand on his chest.
"What?"
"Kiss me." She said again, running her hand over his broad chest.
Leaning in, he gave her lips a soft kiss.
"Not like that! Like you kissed me under the mistletoe this
morning." she said, looking up at him.
"That was an accident."
"Oh, reallllly." She almost giggled.
"Well, I only meant to give you a little peck, but..."
"I'm a good kisser." she smiled, climbing up on the bed so she could
kneel in front of him, giving her extra height.
"Ah, yeah, you are."
"Know who taught me?"
"Nope?" he said, wrapping his powerful arms around her tiny waist.
God, he couldn't stop himself as he brought his lips down to hers.
"Riley."
"What!" He exclaimed pulling back, shocked that his older brother
had kissed Dawn... that had been what? 10 years ago...shit Dawn
would have been like 14.
Seeing the panic and disgust on Marc's face, she threw her head back
and laughed.
"He didn't kiss me, so relax. I heard Buffy tell Willow, that Riley
was the best kisser she'd ever kissed so I use to spy on them. I
wanted to see what he did that was so special."
"And that was?"
"Oh, baby, what I saw him do...is only best to be experienced." She
smiled at him, wrapping her hand around the back of his neck and
bringing him down to her lips.
"Ah, what that man could do with his tongue." She said, getting
dreamy eyed. "If I had only been a few years older, I'd given Buffy
a real run for her money."
Suddenly Marc felt a sharp bite from the "green eyed" monster.
<I'll be damn if I'm going to let Riley be a source of comparison.>
Sweeping Dawn into his arms, he kissed her like no other woman
before her. Marc swore he felt steam rising from her body.
Setting her back on her knees on the bed he asked. "How's that?!"
Breathless she answered. "Good, *very* good."
Reaching out, she pulled him towards her and his knees buckled
against the side of the bed with him landing on top of her as her
mouth sought out his again. He felt her hands caressing down his
back, as all other thoughts flew out of his brain. Kissing Dawn
Summers felt so right...so undeniably perfect.
Breaking the kiss she looked up into his startled face.
"Damn." He whispered as he caressed the side of her face. He needed
to think, to get hold of himself. In all his years, Marc had never
been affected by kissing a woman like this. Dawn seemed to have a
hold over him that no one else did.
"I...Make love to me Marc?" She asked as her hands wound their way
into his thick dark hair.
"Not in my brother's house! Besides Wesley's right down the hall."
Marc said, climbing off of Dawn and the bed.
"Buffy and Riley will be asleep, and Wesley's far enough away." Dawn
said, following Marc like a lioness stalking a gazelle.
"Dawn, I... Look I think your great and all..."
"You don't want me?" She asked, starting to unbutton her shirt.
"Dawn, don't do this...I thought we were going to be friends! I mean
we're practically family," He said, stopping as he backed into the
wall.
Looking around frantically for an escape, Dawn stopped in front of
him, her hand resting on his chest.
"I don't wanna be friends." She smirked, her tiny hands starting at
the buttons of his button-downed shirt.
"Dawn, this isn't right." He said placing his hands on her shoulders
to push her away.
"Marc, look me in the eye and tell me you don't want me." She said,
cocking her head to the side.
"Dawn..."
"Tell me, Marc."
"Of course I want you, but I've promised Riley."
"Promised Riley what?"
"That I'd keep my distance. Dawn, I have a tendency to leave a trail
of broken hearts behind me where ever I go and Riley didn't think
that you and I..."
"Would be good for the family." She sighed, backing away from Marc
and plopping down on the edge of the bed.
"Something like that. Dawn, I think you're spectacular and I want
nothing better than to rip your clothes off and please you in ways
that you've never considered..." Marc replied, coming to sit on the
bed beside her.
"Why do you have to be Riley's brother?"
"Cruel fate." He sighed, placing his arm around Dawn's shoulders.
"Don't think this will stop me, Marc, one day, sir, you will be in my
bed." She smiled up at him, as her finger reached up to outline his
bottom lip.
"No doubt." He sighed
"And next time you'll be the one begging me." She said, leaning into
him to kiss him one more time. As her lips slanted over his, he felt
her tongue press on his bottom lip asking for permission to enter.
Opening his mouth, Dawn took complete and utter control over the
kiss. As she pulled back, both were left breathless and shaken by
the kiss.
"Dawn, I suggest from now on you don't kiss me like this unless you
mean it, cause honey, I don't think I could take it." Marc pulled
her up off the bed and walked to his bedroom door.
"Good night, Dawn." He said kissing her on the forehead before he
closed the door on her, leaving her standing in the hallway.
Staring at the closed door, she smiled to herself as she whispered.
"Your plan's working wonderfully, Riley."
The story continues in chapter 37
RETURN TO FANFICTION
RETURN TO MAIN