RATNG: A big fat G
DIST: Why you'd want this, I have no idea, but email me and we'll discuss your sanity.
SUMMARY: Buffy helps Riley out with research for a paper and some things just slip out.
DISCLAIMER: The characers belong to Joss.
NOTE: This takes place just after Riley found out about the Slayer thing, I guess. It's sappy and really stupid; I got the idea from a radio commercial. That the idea came to me at all surprises me, but I told myself I was going to write what hit me, even if I don't approve. This hasn't been beta read so all mistakes are mine.

"So, you know how this goes, right?" Riley asked as he sat in the chair across from where Buffy lounged on her bed. Willow sat beside her, her computer resting on her lap. "I give you a word and you answer with the first thing that pops into your mind. Buffy, I'll record your answers."

Buffy nodded, giving her boyfriend an annoyed glance, already regretting agreeing to help Riley with his psych paper. "I get it," she said impatiently. "I got it. Get to it already."

Willow smiled at the Slayer's boyfriend. "You'll have to excuse Buffy," the redhead explained. "She tends to get cranky whenever anything learning related rears its ugly head. Especially when the learning is all about her."

Buffy glared at her friend. "What can I say? I'm a very private person."

Riley smiled in understanding. Gathering up his notes, he gave the Slayer her first word. "Sun."

"Bright," Buffy replied automatically getting quizzical looks from her friends. "Well, it is," she added with a glare. "Why else would they make sunglasses?"

Riley shook his head in amusement and continued. "Moon."

"Wolf." This reply got another curious glance from Riley, but Willow started to giggle uncontrollably and Buffy smiled.

"Sorry," the witch said when she got control of herself. "Private joke. Carry on."

Riley gave the girls uncertain looks, but continued. "Right-"

Buffy, thinking this was the next word, interrupted him, blurting out, "Left."

Willow laughed again, and this time Riley glared. "That wasn't the word," he stated, annoyed.

Buffy gave him an apologetic smile. "Sorry. Go on."

Riley sighed heavily and announced the next word. "Dog."

"Cat."

"Rat."

"Amy," Buffy replied, sharing a smile with Willow.

"Sunnydale."

Buffy rolled her eyes. "Hellmouth."

Riley nodded, jotting down Buffy's answers. "Blood."

The Slayer blinked at the unexpected word, so different from the ones previous. "Life," she answered, her tone no longer playful.

"Touch."

This time there was no mistaking the change in Buffy's expression. "Cold," she softly, her eyes taking on some faraway look that Riley couldn't read.

But Willow could. "Um, Riley, maybe we should stop now," she suggested, staring at her friend in concern.

Buffy held up a hand, stopping her friend. "It's okay, Will," she said with a small smile. "Next word, Riley."

"We don't have to, " Riley said, his gaze filled with concern. "I already have enough for my paper."

Buffy gave him a look. "There are five more words," she said unneccesarily, gesturing toward his notebook. "And those are the ones that delve deep. So ask them."

Riley looked at her for a long moment before continuing. "Evil."

"Fight."

"Destiny."

Buffy smiled. "Sucks," she replied earning a sympathetic smile from Willow. "Seriously though, duty."

"Soul."

"Good," the Slayer replied instantly. "Fragile. Beautiful."

Riley smiled. "I only need one," he reminded her.

She laughed. "Go with the first one then."

Riley nodded and wrote her response down. "Three more to go," he informed her. "Darkness."

"Home."

Riley gave her another curious glance, but didn't question her answer. "Safety."

Her gaze softened, her smile bright. "Angel," she replied sweetly.

"Love."

Riley and Willow both watched as her eyes filled with tears. "Gone," Buffy answered, her voice a whisper. Hastily, she wiped the tears away. "We done?"

Riley nodded, eying her with concern. "Are you okay?" he asked.

Buffy nodded. "I'm fine," she reassured him with a smile. "Got what you need?"

Riley nodded, his gaze drifting over some of her answers. "They're a little unusual," he admitted causing the girls to smile. "But you're an unusual person."

"I try," Buffy replied with a smile. "So, did this deep probe into my psyche provide any clues into my personality?"

Riley shrugged absently as he put away his book. "Just that your experiences shape your perception of the world," he explained. "Your answers are totally different from everyone else I asked." He stood, swinging his backpack over his shoulder. "Like when I gave you blood, you said life. Six of the other nine people I asked said red. And when I gave you rat, you said Amy. What was that about?"

Buffy and Willow exchanged amused glances. "Amy," they said in unison, pointing to the rat's cage in the corner of the room by the window.

Riley laughed. "You have a pet rat?"

Buffy smiled. "She's not just any rat," she said as she got off the bed. "Remind me to tell you the story sometime."

"I will." Riley leaned down and brushed Buffy's cheek with his lips. "Will I see you later?"

Buffy shook her head, smiling when she saw the dissapointment in his eyes. "Will and I have a bonding session coming up. How about tomorrow?"

Riley nodded and, with one last wave, he exited the room, leaving the girls alone.

"Are you okay?" Willow asked, when Buffy returned to the bed and buried her face in the pillow.

The Slayer looked up and gave her friend a smile. "I'm just peachy," she answered as cheerfully as she could. Her attempt fell flat.

"You usually hide it better than that," she said. "Guess that word association exercise really worked." Willow sighed and pulled her friend into a hug. "You miss him, huh?"

Buffy nodded. "A lot," she admitted tearfully. "All the time. Especially now."

Willow pulled away and reached out, grabbing something off the table beside the bed. "Call him," she said, presenting her friend with the phone. "It'll make you feel better."

Buffy took the phone and stared at it uncertainly. "What if he doesn't want to talk to me?"

Willow raised a brow. "Somehow I doubt that."

Buffy smiled at that. "If I do this, we go buy ice cream and Oreos and wallow in self pity all night?"

Willow smiled. "We'll even get your favorite," she agreed happily. "We'll even rent your favorite movie."

Satisfied with the offer, Buffy sat up and dialed the phone. "Angel, hi," she said when he answered a moment later, her smile bright. "Can we talk?"

Willow smiled at the happy look on her friend's face as she laughed at something Angel said, and got up off the bed and headed toward the door. She had to get a jump on that pity party.

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