The Song Remembers When
Chapter Eight
DISCLAIMER: All BtVS characters belong to the wonderfully talented
mind of Joss Whedon. However I do own Riley's daughters and Sam the
nanny.
RATING: PG
COUPLING: Buffy/Riley
SUMMARY: A/U - Riley has left Buffy, and this is 10 years into the
future.
FEEDBACK: Pretty pretty please! I really hate to beg, but will .
SPOILERS: All of Season 5, and my own little universe.
AUTHOR'S NOTES: Anne-Marie thank you so much for proofing this for
me, I appreciate it. Also thank you everyone who has kindly sent me
their feedback, it makes my day.
They walked down the terminal together holding hands neither
mentioning it, but they both kept sneaking peeks at their entwined
fingers. How could 10 year disappear with one touch? Riley noticed
the looks men were giving Buffy, and it wasn't hard to understand
why, she looked amazing. She was dressed very simply, a black pair
of ants and a red turtleneck, but it was the way they hugged her
curves. That was the work of art! Her hair was swept up into a loose
bun,and he knew from past experience, that pulling one bobby pin
would send it cascading down through his fingers.
<Ah! Old memories! >
"So if you and Graham could take us to the hotel, we'll get
directions and meet you at your house later." Buffy said, dreading
the idea of his being out of her sight for even a second.
"I thought maybe you could stay at the house," he said crossing his
fingers and hoping she'd say yes. When she didn't say anything, he
continued his argument to persuade her to stay with him. Now that
she was back he didn't want to let her or his son slip through his
fingers so quickly.
"I mean this is about me getting to know my son after all. And how
can I get to know Evan if you're staying half way across town. The
house is huge, so there's plenty of room if you want to get away from
me. But Buffy, I need this time with Evan." In his heart he had
included her as well in the last sentence.
"Okay, I'd like that too. I mean it's important for the two of you
to spend as much time as possible together." She said recovering
quickly from her slip up. She didn't want him to think she was here
just for him. Part of her was, but the biggest part was here because
of her son.
"That's settled then." He said smiling triumphantly, glad she'd been
so easy to convince.
"Looks like my son has made a new best friend, even before he's
gotten to know me." Riley could tell, even from behind, that Evan
was hanging on Graham's every word.
"Knowing him like I do, he's probably questioning Graham about you.
He's been doing this to everyone since he found out about you when he
was 7. The only people I don't let him talk to are Spike and Angel.
Seems neither of them have very fond memories of you."
"Ah yes! Spike and Angel. How are they? Still dead I hope." Riley
said recalling the vampires that were part of Buffy's life. Then it
dawned on him, from what Buffy said, they were still part of her
life. And that meant part of his son's life too.
"You let Angel and Spike around Evan?" he asked feeling the panic and
anger rise up in him.
"Relax! They're great with Evan! They totally respect the
boundaries I've set, I don't let them bad mouth you in front of him,
and their not allowed to get all Grr in front of him. When I was in
law school Spike used to come down all the time just to baby sit for
me. Could you ever picture Spike babysitting? Turns out he loves
kids. Even Anya and Xander let him baby-sit for them. Evan loves
them both, and I think he's been good for them. I have no fear of
leaving Evan with either of them, because I know Angel and Spike
would lay their undead lives on the line for him. Just like Graham
would lay his life down for your daughters. Seems your children have
a way of stealing peoples' hearts." Buffy said rubbing the back of
his hand with her thumb. It felt so good being close to him.
"You went to law school?" he asked proud and awed at the fact that
she'd managed to go to school and raise his son.
"Not without a lot of help from my mom, Giles, Willow, Angel and
Lindsay." Buffy smiled because she could hear how proud he was of
her in his voice.
"Who's Lindsay?" He asked
"My partner in the law firm."
"She was helpful then?"
"No, he was helpful." Buffy said, correcting him.
"Lindsay's a he." Riley said, feeling a dislike for a man he hadn't
met grow.
<Hell! At this point I'd hate any man who's spent time with Buffy
and my son. >
Buffy nodded her head in response as they joined the others at the
luggage carousel. She could almost sense a note of jealousy in
Riley's voice, but that would be too much to hope for.
"Riley has invited us to stay with him. What do you think Evan?
Willow?" Buffy said, looking her son directly in the eye trying to
judge his reaction. She didn't have to analysis it do deeply as he
reached up and took Riley's hand in his.
"Well looks like I better find a phone to cancel the hotel
reservations. Damn cellphones don't work in these airports," Willow
said trying to find a phone in the area.
"We could go down to the VIP First Class lounge, there's phones
there," Graham offered his out stretched arm to her.
"Sure."
Turning to Buffy, Willow said, "We'll be right back."
Willow hooked her hand under Graham's arm and they went off in search
of a phone. Riley and Buffy both looked at each other and laughed.
"Seems like old times again. Hopefully he won't go running off
scared again," Riley said smirking at his friend's retreating back.
"Yeah. Willow could use a good man like you or Graham in her life."
Buffy said frowning as she thought about how she could use Riley in
her own life.
"Riley?" Evan said pulling his attention away from his friends
departing backs
"Yes, Evan?" He said, dropping down to sit on the floor beside his
son.
"What am I supposed to call you?"
"Whatever you want. Riley or Graham calls me Rye," he wanted to say
dad, but he was afraid it was too early for that.
"Can I call you dad?" Evan asked looking at his father through his
lowered lashes.
"I'd really like that Evan, Riley told him, reaching over and doing
something he'd wanted to do since his son had gotten off the plane.
He hugged the boy.
Buffy stood watching the two of them sitting on the floor, her tears
flowing freely again as they hugged. Riley had truly accepted Evan as
his. It was a good thing she'd worn the waterproof mascara that
Cordelia had bought here before she'd left!
Evan pulled back from the hug, but took Riley's large hand in his.
Evan didn't want to let go of his father in case he disappeared from
his life again. From what Uncle Graham and others had told him, his
father was a special man, and there was no way he'd let him leave
again.
"Uncle Graham said I have sisters. Will I meet them?"
"Yes, you do indeed have three younger sisters. Jordan's 8 years old
and you two could be twins you look so much alike, except she's a
girl. Hope's 6 years old, she's the musician in the family. And
then there's trouble, that's Tristan and she's 4 years old. I know
Graham loves them all, but Tristan is his favourite." Riley said,
smiling as he thought of his girls.
"I never thought I'd have sisters," Evan said to himself.
"And as soon as we get the luggage, and Willow and Graham get back,
we'll head home so you can meet them. What do you think?"
"Sounds good dad," he said, looking up at his mother.
_____________________________________________________________________
The drive to the house had been full of questions from Evan about his
new sisters. He's already decided that he and Jordan would be the
best of friends, Hope would teach him how to play the piano, and
Trist-tie he would protect. He liked the idea of being a big
brother.
Pulling up in front of the gate, Riley reached out the window and
punched a code allowing the gate to swing open to reveal a huge house
at the end of the driveway.
"You live here?" choked out Willow, shocked at the size of the house.
It could easily have held two Hollywood mansions in it.
"No this is where the gate-keeper lives, wait till you see where he
lives," laughed Graham.
"Smarty pants," replied Riley as he remembered to temper his response.
"You weren't kidding when you said you had lots of room," Buffy said
in awe staring up at the house.
"Yeah, well, yeah," he said, not sure what to say next.
"This is cool dad!" Evan said, leaning over Willow to get a better
look at the house his father lived in.
"We didn't always live here. Our old house was much, much smaller,
but after Claire passed away I bought this one. It has just about
everything the girls could ask for, plus a top of the line security
system."
"Security systems are very important." Graham said, knowing Riley's
fear about their business affecting his girls.
They finally pulled up in front of the house and the door flew open.
"Daddy!"
"Dad"
Riley was hit hard as both girls went plowing into him, almost
knocking him off his feet.
"Hurry up and come in side we made cookies with Mrs. Drake!" Jordan
said, pulling on Riley's hand and completely forgetting about their
guests. Hope, however, stood staring at the pretty blonde haired
lady that was getting out of the front passengers side of her
father's truck.
"Inside with you both! You don't have coats or boots on!" He said,
shooing them into the house.
"What a homecoming! Are they always that excited to see you?" Buffy
teased, as she walked around the truck to help with the luggage.
"Nah, just when they make cookies."
"Who's super dad kidding? That's mild! Tristan's not here. She'd
usually be attached to his leg by now," Graham said, handing Willow
her carry on.
Buffy noticed that Evan still sat in the back seat of the truck, and
had started back to the truck when Riley placed a hand on her arm.
"Let me. Gray, could you please show the ladies inside while my son
and I have a conversation. Did you hear that! My son!" Riley
sounded like a little kid as he walked over to truck.
"I think he's in love," Graham said to both women, happy for his
friend. "Let's get you California girls inside before you freeze to
death."
______________________________________________________________
Riley got into the backseat beside his son and closed the door. Evan
still sat in the same place that he'd been sitting through the ride
from the airport.
"Wanna tell me what's wrong?" Riley asked, placing his arm across
the back of the seat behind Evan.
"Not sure. Maybe I'm a little nervous about meeting them," Evan
said,indicating to the house with his head.
"Don't worry Evan, they don't bite. Okay maybe Tristan does, but
she's not home right now," Riley teased.
"Do they know about me?"
"A little bit, I told them about you this afternoon. Tristan
doesn't, she missed the family meeting but I'll tell her when she
gets home."
"Do they want me?" He asked finally looking up to meet his father's
gaze.
What did he tell him? Yes, they were happy, but Hope didn't want
Buffy to be part of this new family. Hope didn't want a new mommy,
she was happy with the one she'd had. Jordan on the other hand took
the news well, and was looking forward to meeting Buffy and Evan.
"Yes, they do. Do you know that Tristan even asked me this morning
for a brother for Christmas? Weird huh? I think she wanted a baby
brother, but I think you'll do."
Evan smiled up at his father and reached for his hand.
"You won't leave me, once we get inside there."
"Wild horses couldn't drag me away. I will always be here for you,"
Riley smiled, totally aware for the first time what his absence must
have meant to his son during his life. How would they handle his
going back to L.A. with Buffy? Riley didn't want to think about
letting his little boy go.
"We can go inside now. I'm ready to meet my sisters."
______________________________________________________
Inside things weren't going as well. Graham had hold of Hope who
would not let Buffy enter the house. She was crying and screaming
that just because her mother was dead didn't mean she needed a new
one. Buffy hadn't been prepared at all for this type of reaction.
Why had she been so selfish? She should have realised what this
would mean to Riley's daughters. They had just lost their mother two
years ago, and here she was walking into their life with her son.
"Hope, honey it's okay," Graham said, holding the little girl gently
in his powerful arms. Willow was mesmerised at how sensitive and
gentle he was with children. First Evan, and now Hope.
"I don't want a new mommy," she wailed against Graham shoulder.
"It's okay baby, she's not going to be your new mommy. She's only
Evan's mommy," Graham said, rocking the little girl in his arms.
Looking at Buffy, he could tell that she understood what was
happening.
"That' right Hope, I'm not here to take the place of your mommy. I'm
just Evan's mommy."
"Really?" she sniffed, looking up into Buffy's hazel eyes, trying to
figure out if Buffy was telling her the truth.
"Yeah, silly. She's Evan's mom. We already had one of our own. But
now we have a big brother." Jordan said, standing beside Graham and
trying to help her sister with this new development in their lives.
"Yeah. You have me, Hope," Evan said, standing behind them all
holding Riley's hand.
Nobody had noticed Riley and Evan enter the house behind them. Riley
stood listening to his daughter cry and his heart ached for her.
He'd thought they'd settled this during their talk this afternoon, but
he'd been wrong. As wonderful a day as it was for him and Evan, he
knew it would be difficult for Hope. He'd just wished that he'd had
more time to prepare her for the changes that were about to take
place in their lives.
Buffy turned to Riley and gave his a sad sympathetic smile. This was
not going to be easy.
The story continues in chapter 9
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