Disclaimer- I do not ownBuffy, Angel, or Riley. They belong to 20th Century Fox, Joss Whedon, and Mutant Enemy. I am using them without permission, however I am not making any money off them so please do not sue me.
Author's Notes- Okay, this is a sequel to my earlier story "Wild Horses". I was watching my tape of "The Yoko Factor" and got the idea for this. It's angsty, but mostly it's just... It's hard to explain, you'll have to read the story. Enjoy.
Feedback- Please! Send feedback but no flames.
Distribution- Buffy's Passion, Daydreams of BtVS, and Slay This! have permission, everyone else just ask me first. I'll almost always say yes.
Rating- PG
Classification- Angel, Riley, reflective, mild Buffy/Angel, mild Buffy/Riley, angst.
Spoilers- Fourth season and back.

The night before his wedding Riley spent a long time staring out the windows of his new house.

He thought about her, Buffy, and what he had done to deserve someone so perfect. He still couldn't figure it out. But even though he didn't think he deserved her, he was glad that he had gotten the chance to love her.

That in the end she had chosen him.

"But she really didn't get the chance, did she?" He asked himself with a sigh. "She wasn't the one to walk away."

No, that had been Angel. Buffy's dark, broody, mysterious ex. The man who had been her first love. Not that he had really been a man.

He was still thinking about Angel when the doorbell rang. Riley opened it only to see the object of his thoughts on the other side.

"Angel." He said coolly.

"Riley, we need to talk." Angel said quietly. "Since, I doubt you want to invite me in, can you come out here?"

Riley was quiet for a minute, then nodded. "Alright."

He stepped outside into the warm evening air and looked the vampire with a soul in the face. "Why are you here?"

"To reassure you that I'll never interfere." Angel said softly.

Riley glared at him. "Why would I need your reassurances?"

"Because you secretly fear that one night in, say ten years, I'll show up on your door step and ask her to come with me." Angel paused. "But I won't. I won't come back to Sunnydale again, not unless I'm really needed."

"Why?" Riley asked. "Why are you stepping aside like that?"

"Because I love her." Angel said quietly. "I love her enough to want her to be happy. With you."

Riley stared at him and then nodded. "Thank you." He said finally. "Does she know this?"

"Yes." Angel told him. "I went to see her, to say goodbye." He smiled sadly, thinking of the last moments he and Buffy had shared.

Riley saw the look and wondered what had been said, but he also knew he'd probably never know.

"Do you love her?" Angel asked after a long moment.

"I do." Riley said without a moment's hesitation. "More that anything in the world."

Angel smiled. "Good. I'm glad."

He looked down at his hand and caught sight of the Claudagh band he had worn for so long. He carefully turned it around so that the heart no longer faced inward.

"I may be belong to her still, but she no longer belongs to me." He whispered.

Riley followed his gaze and swallowed hard when he saw the ring. Buffy had one just like it that she wore on her neck. He now had no doubt who had given her that.

"What kind of ring is that?" He asked softly.

Angel looked out into the dark. "It's a claudagh ring." He said distantly. "The hands represent friendship, the crown loyalty, and the heart love. If you wear it with the heart pointing inward you belong to someone."

"You gave Buffy hers." Riley said softly.

Angel nodded. "Once. A long time ago." He looked up at Riley. "Riley, it was ages ago. You have nothing to worry about."

Riley sighed. "I wish I could believe that. What you had... It's so tragic, sounds so damn perfect! How can I compete with a love that survived her sending you to Hell?!"

"You can't." Angel answered bluntly. "You can't compete with what Buffy and I shared and you don't have to. It was different, separate. You and Buffy are never going to have what we did, but Buffy and I could never have what you two do."

Riley watched the vampire and then nodded. "You're right. Thank you."

Angel smiled sadly. "Just do me one favour. Love her."

"I will." Riley said sincerely. "Every day for the rest of my life."

"Then that's enough." Angel said, before disappearing into the night.

After he left, Riley stood there for a long moment and thought about what he had said.

Then, he sighed and walked back into the house.

He still didn't like Angel, but he had a new sense of respect for him. He knew how hard this had to be for him. To love her enough to watch her marry another man.

Riley wondered if he could do it if he were in Angel's shoes.

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