Pairing: W/S, eventually. Just give me time.
Rating: PG, I guess. PG-13, tops
Dedication: To Fayth, for her birthday, and Inell, thanks for reading my ramblings and building my ego!
Distribution: Angelic Vamps, Bite Me, Please? and Soulmates, if they want it. Anyone else, if you want it, just ask. I always say yes.
Disclaimer: The basic premise and characters belong to lots of people who aren't me.
Spoilers: The Gift
Summary: A visit from an old friend has unexpected results
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~Part: 1~
It had been a long day. They all seemed like long days, now that Buffy was gone. It had been a little more than a month since the slayer had thrown herself off that tower, saving the world yet again. Willow missed her every single day, but forced herself to put her feelings aside to concentrate on taking care of the group. They were her responsibility now. They had voted on it and had unanimously elected her to be the Boss of Them. She even had a plaque. With sparkles.
Of course, there was less of the group to take care of than there used to be. After Buffy's funeral, Tara had left. She was grateful to Willow for restoring her sanity, but she had had enough of having her sanity and her life and her loved ones put in jeopardy on a daily basis. She decided she couldn't stay on the Hellmouth any longer. She asked Willow to leave with her, but wasn't too surprised when Willow said no. The Scoobies always came first with Willow. Tara was used to that. So she had packed her bags, bought a used car, kissed Willow goodbye and started driving. She said didn't care where she was going as long as she didn't find a hellmouth when she got there. She called to check in every now and then, just to let Willow know that she was alright. Last they heard from her, she had found a nice little town in Arizona with a good-sized coven and she thinking of staying. Willow missed her, but, as with the pain of Buffy's death, she pushed her feelings to the side. She was too busy to deal with them then.
While Tara packed her bags for her road trip, Willow moved in to the Summers' house. Her immediate concern was to take care of Dawn. The girl had been practically comatose for a week, refusing to speak and moving only when led. She didn't cry, not even at Buffy's funeral. She just stood where they put her and stared straight ahead with a glazed look in her eyes. Willow had seen to it that she ate and showered and always had someone with her. She stayed up every night to hold the girl, whispering in her ear that she was loved and missed and that she wasn't alone. Finally, her efforts paid off one night when the girl broke down and came out of her trance. After crying herself to sleep in Willow's comforting arms, Dawn had managed to pull herself together. Neither of them smiled much, and it had been weeks since anyone had heard either of them really laugh over anything, but they held each other up and kept each other moving. Between the two of them, they ran the house fairly smoothly.
Thanks to the Buffy-bot, Dawn still appeared to be living with her guardian. Willow was pushing the paperwork through to get joint custody of Dawn with Buffy. It was a bit of a stretch, but they were in California, after all, and it wasn't all that impossible for a same sex couple to win custody of a minor. The Buffy-bot obediently signed the papers she was given and told the social workers whatever she was told to say. The state wasn't kicking up much of a fuss. After all, Dawn's father obviously wasn't pushing for custody, and no one feels right about taking a teenage girl from the family she obviously adores to put her in a foster home.
Anya, Xander and Giles helped out. They came forward as character witnesses, attesting to Willow's responsible nature and describing how much Dawn loved and trusted her. They also helped out babysitting Dawn while Willow was at work. She had found a job as a waitress at a cafe on Main Street. It didn't pay very much, but it covered the most pressing of the bills, the hours were flexible, and the leftovers guaranteed that she always had a decent meal for Dawn. She was also taking some summer classes and had doubled up her course load for the fall semester. The sooner she became a college graduate, the sooner she could get a decent, full-time job. She was hoping to have her degree within the year. Until then, the Summers' house became Scooby central so they could have research meetings while babysitting Dawn.
Though none of them would admit it, Buffy's death had actually brought them closer together. Never before had they needed each other this much. They truly became a family, leaning on each other and helping each other out. They worked together not just to slay things but to help pay the bills, make repairs, repaint someone's apartment, and all the other projects that families do together. They were the twenty first century, demon-hunting equivalent of an all-American family (even though Giles and Spike objected to the term all- American).
Spike was a bit more of a wild card. He flat-out disappeared for the first few days after Buffy died. They didn't know if he had left town or greeted the sunrise. Four days later, he showed up on their doorstep looking like he had spent the past year or so crawling out of hell, and asked to see Dawn. She was still in her comatose state, but he sat with her for a few hours, holding her hand and talking to her gently. He told her how he had promised Buffy that he'd take care of her, and how he always kept his word. He kissed her on the forehead, then left, without saying a word to the others. He came back two days later and did the same thing. He spoke only to Dawn.
When Dawn came out of her trance, she forced him to talk to the others. He was edgy around them, convinced that they blamed him for not saving Buffy. When he realized that they didn't blame him any more than they blamed themselves, the tension eased a little. Gradually, he regained something of a comfort level around them. No one questioned his devotion to Dawn, and Dawn's obvious dependence on his visits forced even Xander to stop giving him such a hard time. He and Xander never became friendly, but they built a sort of tolerance for each other. Xander accepted that Spike would do anything for Dawn. Spike accepted that Xander would do anything for Willow. And since it was obvious to anyone with eyes that Dawn and Willow would do anything for each other, Spike and Xander made an effort to put aside their differences and at least try to get along, for the sake of the girls.
It was easier with the rest of the group. Spike and Anya had always gotten along. They respected each other's pasts. Besides, nothing Anya said ever shocked Spike, and nothing that Spike threatened ever annoyed Anya. Spike and Giles, despite all their theatrics, also got along pretty well, though they never would have admitted it. Willow, as always, took it upon herself to smooth the path. She and Spike built a friendship and, with both Dawn and Willow determined to make Spike part of the group, he gradually became part of their family circle.
It wasn't a great life, but it was the only one they had. They all worked (even Dawn worked part time at the Magic Box for spending money), they all drew together to make ends meet, and they all learned to lean on each other. And in their spare time, they continued to save the world a lot. It was strange patrolling without a slayer, but Willow's magic and Spike's strength came in handy, and their increased closeness as a group allowed them to work together as a unit. It was, no doubt, too soon for them to be happy but they were, at least, content. Life was as peaceful as it gets in Sunnydale. That should have been a warning sign.
It was early Tuesday evening and it had been, as always, a long day. They had had to call in the plumber again to fix a leak in the basement. He told them that they should replace the pipes and Willow spent most of the day going over her finances trying to figure out how she was going to afford it. But her shift would be starting in nearly an hour, so she had no time to worry about it anymore. Willow had just finished dressing in her uniform when she heard the knock on the door. She was expecting Xander and Anya who were supposed to watch Dawn while she was at the cafe. Though Xander and Anya had keys, they might have brought over a pizza for Dawn, or had their hands too full with research materials to be able to open the doors themselves. Dawn was in her room, chatting with some friends on-line, so Willow headed for the door, trying to brush her hair, eat a sandwich, and put everything she needed in her purse (wallet, keys, cell phone, stake, holy water) all at the same time. She jerked open the door as she juggled her stuff and even managed to say "Hey, guys, you're a little ear—" before she realized who was standing on the front stoop.
Willow expected to see Xander and Anya. Or maybe Giles. It could have been Janice, coming to visit Dawn. Or Spike. Or some vampires. Perhaps a demon, even. None of these options would have surprised her. It was, after all, a Tuesday, and Willow always knew to expect the unexpected in Sunnydale, especially on Tuesdays. But whatever she might have expected, she didn't expect to see him. Willow wasn't the betting type, but she would have laid odds that she would never see him again. But there he was, looking awkward and nervous and slightly desperate all at once.
"Hello, Willow," he whispered.
Willow calmly put down her sandwich and her hairbrush on the table near the door. She sighed as she ran a hand through her hair.
"Hello, Riley."
~Part: 2~
Willow stepped out of the doorway, making room for him to pass through the entryway.
"The door's open," she commented, quietly.
At first, he started to smile a little at the familiar Scooby precaution, but the smile quickly faded as he remembered why he was there. He followed her inside, wondering whether or not it would be appropriate for him to give her a hug. While he was making up his mind, she shut the door behind him and led him in to the living room, gesturing for him to sit on the couch while she seated herself in a chair. The grim look on her face confirmed his worst suspicions.
"So, it's true?" he asked.
"Yes," she answered, simply.
"When?"
"About a month ago."
"How?"
Willow opened her mouth to answer, but was cut off by the door opening.
"We have come and we bear food!" Xander announced as he barreled through the door carrying a pizza box in one hand a stack of books under his arm. Anya followed behind him with the board games she insisted on bringing whenever they babysat for Dawn. None of them (not even Anya) enjoyed board games, but some book or magazine had convinced Anya that board games were essential for babysitting, and nothing they told her could persuade her otherwise. "Hey, Wills, the steps on the front porch are sagging. Remind me to take a look this Satur—" Xander came to an abrupt halt when he saw Riley in the living room.
Riley got up when he heard them come in. He stood, silent, trying desperately to think of something to say. He and Xander had always gotten along. Xander had understood, better than anyone, Riley's reasons for leaving, and while Xander was obviously shocked to see him, he didn't look angry, but still, neither of them could think of anything to say. It was Anya who finally broke the silence.
"Is the Initiative back?" she asked. "Because we could certainly use the help taking care of demons now that we don't have a slayer. Of course, I think you should kill them instead of locking them up somewhere because we all know how badly that ended last time, but maybe this time—"
"No," Riley interjected. "The Initiative isn't back. Just me. I… I heard about Buffy. I had to come back and see for myself." Riley's eyes dropped to the floor as he made an obvious effort to hold himself together. Willow quickly crossed the room and squeezed his hand. He looked up at her and managed a weak smile. She smiled back, squeezed his hand again, and slid into take-charge mode.
She walked over to the stairs; bring Riley with her by the hand she still held.
"Dawn! I need you to come downstairs now!"
"Coming, Willow!" a muffled voice yelled back from upstairs. Soon after, they heard the door open and then the sound of footsteps on the stairs.
"So, what's the wha—" Dawn started to say, then stopped speaking and moving abruptly as she saw who was standing at the foot of the stairs.
"Hey," Riley said. Mentally, he was cursing himself for not coming up with something more intelligent sounding, but at the moment, "hey" was about all he could manage.
"Agent Finn returns," Dawn replied coldly, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Dawn. Geez, look at you. I think you grew a foot and a half."
"A lot can happen in six months."
"Has it been that long?" Riley asked softly, more to himself than to Dawn.
"You left just before Christmas," Dawn answered, her voice growing colder each minute.
Riley looked down, unable to maintain eye contact.
"Well, it's good to see you," he mumbled.
Dawn came the rest of the way down the stairs. "So. What brings you back to town after you left suddenly with no word?" she asked.
"I-I heard about Buffy," Riley managed to say.
"Did you hear about the rest?" Dawn asked quietly, and this time, the venom in her voice was almost tangible.
"The rest?" Riley asked, looking up, confusion written over his face.
"Did you hear that I was the key that Glory was after, and did you hear that Mom died with no warning not long after you left, and the Knights of Byzan-something-or-other wanted to destroy me, and Glory kidnapped me, and tied me to the top of the tower to slowly bleed me to death? Did you hear about any of that?" Dawn walked closer to him as she spoke. By the time she finished, they were toe to toe. Dawn had tears streaming down her face as she stared him down, waiting for some kind of answer, but none came. At least, none came from him.
Her answer came in soft, strong arms wrapped around her and Willow holding her close, like she had so many times before, and Willow's soft voice whispering in her ear, "It's over now, Dawnie. It's in the past, and we're here, and I've got you. I won't let you go. I won't let you go." Dawn broke down and started crying on Willow's shoulder. Willow held her close and stroked her hair and kept whispering soft words of comfort to her. Even Anya got teary eyed, and Xander wrapped his arms around her, clinging to her and letting her cling to him. Riley stood there, awkward and hurting, and cursing himself for showing up and causing them all so much pain.
"Maybe I should just go," he whispered, and turned to head for the door. He stopped when Willow caught at his hand again and held it tight. Riley looked up at her, surprised, but stopped obediently. Willow squeezed his hand again, and asked gently, "Stay?" Riley nodded. Willow smiled at him, squeezed his hand again, and then released it, turning back to Dawn.
She whispered in the girl's ear, too quietly for the others to hear what she said, but they saw Dawn nod, and dry her tears. Willow placed a gentle kiss on her forehead, and then led Dawn over to Xander and Anya, who hustled her into the kitchen. Willow grabbed her purse and a sweater, and then turned to Riley.
"I need to get to work," she said, matter-of-factly. "Want to walk me?"
"A-alright," Riley stammered, mentally berating himself again for being so awkward. He was a soldier, a commander. He was known for keeping a cool head during a crisis and always facing any situation with calm detachment and expertise. Why did all of that suddenly fly out the window when he set foot in Sunnydale? He sighed in annoyance at himself, and quietly followed the redhead out the door, closing it behind him.
Wordlessly, she took his hand and led him through the quiet streets. Riley followed her unquestioningly, waiting for her to speak. She didn't. Neither did he. The silence between them stretched for five minutes, then ten. Surprisingly, it didn't feel awkward. It felt comfortable and almost natural to be walking once again through the streets of Sunnydale, silent and relaxed, hand in hand with Willow.
Although the streets were still familiar, Riley didn't realize where she was taking him until they arrived at their destination. It was a simple headstone, reading:
BUFFY ANNE SUMMERS
1981-2001
BELOVED SISTER
DEVOTED FRIEND
SHE SAVED THE WORLD
A LOT
Riley stared at the stone for a minute, almost unable to process what he was seeing. He had known it, expected it even, but he hadn't believed it. It hadn't seemed real, until that moment. Then his eyes flew back up to Willow.
"Won't you be late for work?"
She shook her head. "I told Dawn to call the owner and explain that I would be a little late. He's pretty understanding. I doubt he'll mind. This is more important right now."
Willow seated herself on the ground next to the grave and began to talk. She kept the story brief and to the point, describing what happened after Riley left. She told him about the history of Glory and the key, and how the fight escalated after he left. She told him about Joyce, and the Knights of Byzantium, and Tara, and running away in a sun-proofed van, and Ben and Glory and the final, heartbreaking battle and Buffy's sacrifice. And then she sat silent, giving Riley time to work through the beginning of his grief.
~Part: 3~
It took Willow nearly an hour to tell her story. By the time she finished, Riley had his face in his hands and was sobbing, audibly. He cried for Buffy and Dawn and Joyce and the Scoobies and all that they had been through, and he cried for himself and his guilt for not having been there. He hadn't cried like that in a long, long time. Willow's eyes were dry. She gave him a few minutes to cry, not interrupting his mourning but letting him lean on her shoulder and take comfort in knowing that she was there. Finally, the tears stopped. Willow stood up, pulling him up with her by the hand she still held. He looked at her in confusion.
"I need to get to work," she replied to his unspoken question, "and you shouldn't sit here alone after dark when you're so upset. You can come back tomorrow and pay your respects in the daylight."
Riley nodded, not yet trusting his voice to speak. She was right, of course. Obediently, he stood and followed where she led him. Five minutes later, they arrived at the cafe. Willow seated Riley at a booth and then went to check in the owner. A minute later, she came over with a cup of coffee and placed it in front of him.
"Drink this," she ordered, "and think of your questions. I have to work, but I'll join you whenever I get a break. Will you be alright?" Again, Riley nodded. He sipped absently at the coffee and noticed that it was black with two sugars, just the way he liked it. He was touched that Willow remembered. As Dawn had been so eager to point out, it had been a long time.
His eyes followed her as she made her rounds at her tables. It upset him, in a way, to see her working as a waitress. She was one of the smartest people he had ever known and it bothered him to see her working for minimum wage at a mindless work, just so she would be able to pay the bills. But he had to admit, she was good at her job: polite, organized, patient, and unobtrusive. She handled the orders with calm efficiency and seemed to know instinctively when her help was needed without drawing attention to herself or intruding on anyone's privacy. She had been the same way at the Scooby meetings, he remembered. Quietly and efficiently researching her way through books or computer sites while listening to Buffy, and making sure that Giles had his tea and Xander had his snacks. She'd always been the one that everyone turned to for help, or comfort, or if they needed someone to confide in. And she had always been quiet and unobtrusive, never pushing her way into the spotlight and always providing instinctively whatever anyone needed.
She checked on him several times during her shift, bringing him more coffee and a plate of food that she insisted he eat. He smiled at her resolve face when she put the food down in front of him. He remembered that face so clearly. Not that Willow wore it all that often. In fact, its rarity was what made it memorable. Her natural expression was so sweet and pliant that you forgot how very strong and determined she could be. He knew better than to argue against it. If she was so determined to take care of him, he'd let her.
During her break, she came and sat with him, sipping a glass of lemonade (when she took the job, she promised her friends that she wouldn't drink coffee at night. They knew what it did to her) and talking. With Willow skillfully navigating the conversation, they didn't talk about Buffy or the Initiative or Glory or any of their past. She told Riley gently, but firmly, that there was nothing they could do to change the past and that she didn't want either of them wasting time with regrets. Instead, she told him a book she had just finished, the movie she had taken Dawn to see, the new shopping mall that had been built just outside of town. She told him about how the new mayor seemed like a good man and had actually done something about all the empty warehouses downtown. And she let him talk. He talked about his travels, and all the places he had seen, and the guys on his team that he had gotten to know.
Shortly after that, the cafe closed for the night. The owner of the cafe lived in the apartment above the restaurant. He put the deposits and receipts in the safe until he could go to the bank in the morning, then wished Willow and Riley goodnight, and told them to lock up behind them. Willow tidied up the cafe, checking to see what needed to be restocked, and wiping down the tables. Riley helped, and they continued to talk, just enjoying each other's company. Once they had the place to themselves, they were able to compare notes about the creature features they had encountered in the months since they had seen each other last. Willow was so wrapped up in a story that Riley was telling her about a mission in the South American rainforests to track some Laity demons that she didn't notice a figure standing outside the locked doors, highlighted by the lights at the entryway and looking in at her through the window.
Spike hadn't exactly planned to come to the cafe to walk Willow home. He and Willow never actually made plans for him to walk her home on the nights when she had the closing shift. But it usually ended up happening anyway.
Spike clearly remembered the first time he had walked her home. It was during Willow's first week on the job, and it was the first time she had been asked to close up. Spike had been visiting with Dawn when she had mentioned that Willow would be walking home alone, and that she was worried about her. Spike knew that Willow could take care of herself, but Dawn had only come out of her trance a week before, and Spike was still so relieved to see her talking again, that he would have promised her anything to make her happy. So, to make Dawn feel better, Spike had promised to swing by the cafe on his patrol and make sure the witch got home alright.
Normally, he tried to avoid Willow. She had been the one who had trusted him the most, during that last battle with Glory. When she had seen that Doc was attacking Dawn, she had pulled all her power to get him a clear path up to the top of the tower, so he could protect Dawn. She had had such faith in him. He had failed her. He wasn't able to forgive himself for betraying her trust. But Dawn hadn't told him to talk to the witch, just to make sure that she got home alright. He had planned to follow her from a distance, just to make sure that no one bothered her.
He watched her lock up from his position in the shadows. Suddenly, she stilled, then turned and stared in his direction.
"Spike? Is that you?"
Pouting, Spike slid out of the shadows. He was annoyed and more than a little embarrassed that she had been able to spot him so quickly. He was a master vampire, after all. He was supposed to be good at being stealthy. He was, in fact, so wrapped up in berating himself for getting caught that he didn't notice the hopeful smile that lit up her face when she saw him.
"How did you know I was there?" he whined.
"What are you doing here?" she countered, working desperately to keep herself from grinning at the sight of him, sulking over the failure of his stealthiness.
"Niblet sent me to make sure you got home alright," he answered. Since he hadn't noticed her smile when she saw him, it's not surprisingly that he didn't notice how it started to fade with those words. "You didn't answer my question. How did you know I was there?"
"I did a spell to up my perceptions," she replied. "It makes me more aware of the auras around me. I figured it would come in handy on patrol. Then, as I was locking up, I felt the vamp aura. At first, I was waiting for someone to attack me, but no one did, and once I smelled the cigarette smoke, it wasn't that hard to guess who it was." Sheepishly, Spike's eyes dropped to the cigarette in his hand.
Sensing his embarrassment, Willow didn't say anything else, but simply started walking home. Spike fell into step beside her.
"Spike, you don't have to walk me home if you don't want to," Willow stated, a moment later. "I can take care of myself."
Spike shrugged. "Don't mind so much," he answered.
"So," Willow said, in her endless effort to get Spike to open up and relax more around her and the others, "what did you and Dawn do tonight?"
He started telling her about his evening. Her questions and comments got him to open up even more. It was an unusual experience for him. He wasn't used to having anyone to talk to. In his century traveling with Dru, he learned that trying to hold a serious conversation with her was a waste of time, and master vampires couldn't confide in their minions. It would screw up the balance of power. He grew accustomed to keeping his thoughts and opinions to himself. Since he settled in Sunnydale, the closest thing he had to a sounding board was Dawn. Although the girl was always eager to talk to him and to listen to him talk, a fifteen-year-old girl does not always make the best confidant.
Willow was a great conversationalist. She seemed so eager to talk to him and to listen to what he had to say, and she was the first person in a long time who truly understood his sense of humor. He found himself enjoying his talk with her. Unconsciously, he slowed their pace, dragging out the walk, not wanting it to end. When they finally got to the Summers' house, she had invited him in for some hot chocolate, but he had refused. Willow seemed disappointed that their conversation had to end, but she hadn't insisted that he come in. She said goodnight, assuming that that was the last chance she'd have of really talking to Spike for a while. Then, two nights later, she had had the closing shift at the cafe again. When she went to the door to lock up, Spike had been there, waiting to walk her home.
It had become their habit. They never prearranged to meet. In fact, she never even told him when she had to work the closing shift (he had gotten Dawn to give him a copy of her work schedule) but every time she closed, she would find him standing there, cigarette in hand as he leaned against the side of the building, waiting for her. Lately, he had started coming before her shift ended. He'd grab a cup of coffee or hot chocolate and a slice of pie, and then he'd help her clean up after the customers left. They would talk as they wiped down the tables and put things away. They talked about anything and everything, comparing tastes and preferences, discussing what they had done during the day, analyzing demons they came across on patrol, you name it. They didn't seem to have much in common, at first, but before long, Spike would find himself reading a book that she had recommended, or Willow would tune in to the radio station that Spike liked, and they learned to appreciate what the other enjoyed.
Once Willow got Spike accustomed to spending time with her, she worked, slowly but surely, to get Spike to be part of the group again. Gradually, he started to join all of them on their group patrols, he came to research sessions, he took his turns babysitting Dawn, and he even helped all of them with the home repair (where they gladly put his vamp strength to good use). Willow and Dawn even managed to convince him to join them for some of the movie nights. But those walks home from work remained something special, something for just the two of them as they gradually became friends. Spike had not missed a single closing shift.
He was running a little late on that Tuesday night. He had planned to get there about half an hour before closing and get a slice of apple pie before the registers closed. He really liked their apple pie, especially the way Willow always fixed it for him: an oversized slice with extra ice cream and some cinnamon sprinkled on top. But he had run into a pack of fledglings on a power trip while he was on his way there. They were too young and far too stupid to realize that they were challenging a master vampire. He dusted them easily, but it did take some time. By the time he reached the cafe, it was already closed to customers. He knew that Willow would still be inside, cleaning up. He ran up to the cafe, planning to knock on the window and have Willow let him in so that he could help. He'd tell her about the fledglings and then he'd walk her home, and she could tell him about her customers and her day.
He had starting planning the conversation in his head while he walked to the cafe, deciding how he would describe the idiots he fought, trying to figure out the right way to phrase his story so that it would make her laugh, or at least give him one of those big smiles. She smiled pretty often, whenever it was expected of her, really, but they weren't the full-out "the hills are alive" kind of smiles he used to associate with the redhead. (She was the one who called them "the hills are alive" smiles. She said it was something her favorite teacher used to say. As their friendship developed, Spike had, unconsciously, picked up several of her expressions.) Her slightly forced smiles seemed designed mostly so no one would worry about the fact that she never smiled. But sometimes, if he phrased something just right, he could get one of those "the hills are alive" smiles out of her and, for some reason he studiously avoided trying to analyze, making her smile like that made his entire day.
He was smiling to himself as he approached the cafe, pleased with himself for having just decided on the perfect way to describe the head of the fledgling pack. Maybe this time he might even be able to make Willow laugh. He'd love to hear her laugh. He'd love to be the one *making* her laugh. His smile quickly faded as he reached the entrance and looked into the window. Willow was there, but she wasn't alone. There was a man in there with her. Spike's eyes widened in shock and horror as he realized who it was. Riley Finn. The long-time bane of his existence; the man that he hated in every single way possible. The only thing Riley had ever done that Spike approved of was leave town. But now he was back. And Spike now had a new reason to hate Riley. While Spike was stuck outside, Riley was in there with Willow, talking to her. And she was smiling at him, with that "the hills are alive" smile.
Willow didn't see Spike standing outside. But the growling caught her attention.
~Part: 4~
Willow's spell-heightened perceptions registered Spike's growl before Riley noticed. She turned to face the window, curious to see the source of the sound. There were hardly any wild animals in Sunnydale, except for werewolves (most other wild animals made all-too- convenient snacks for various types of creatures of the night) and the sanctuary spell she had placed on and immediately around the cafe kept it mostly safe from any violence from demons and vamps. But she could feel the vamp aura just outside the window, and the growl sounded downright hostile. She tensed as she turned, preparing herself to fight. She relaxed when she realized that it was Spike.
Even watching her face in profile, Riley saw how she lit up when she saw the bleached blonde vamp. Riley couldn't help but smile at the sight. He'd had fun talking to Willow throughout the evening, but he had been saddened to see how the events of the past year had changed her. It wasn't exactly that she was cold or closed-off, but her sadness seemed to cover her like a veil. Even as she smiled, and listened to his stories, and questioned him about his adventures, her happy interest seemed ever so slightly forced. The events of the past year had taken their toll on her formerly continuous cheerfulness. The unabridged enthusiasm that had always been so much a part of her character had been noticeably dimmed. It hurt Riley to see Willow without it. The first trace he saw of it all evening was the smile of unabridged joy that covered her face at the sight of Spike. He was glad that there was still someone in her life that could make her that happy. He just wasn't pleased that it was Spike.
It was no secret that Riley had never liked Spike. At first, the vampire had represented Riley's failure at his mission: Spike was the only hostile ever to escape from the Initiative lab. It had been Riley's assignment to recapture him and bring him back and for the first time, Riley was unable to successfully complete an order. Riley had always been Walsh's golden boy, her favorite. She had had such complete confidence in him. After he failed to recapture Spike, that confidence was severely damaged. She never believed in him quite so implicitly again. Riley hated Hostile 17 for putting him in that position.
Later, Spike represented the failure *of* his mission. The Initiative had been designed to protect the civilian population from the dangers of the demon world. But when Riley finally figured out who Spike was, instead of Riley being able to protect civilians from the dangerous vampire, the civilians chose instead to protect the vampire from him. Buffy and her friends had preferred allying themselves with a demon rather than trusting the Initiative. It had upset Riley more than he had ever admitted, to anyone. After all, he had always thought of himself as the good guy, the white knight, the silent protector type. It hurt him that the people he was trying to protect saw him, instead of Spike, as the true threat to their safety. It hurt even more that they were right. In the final battle, the brainchild of the Initiative tried to kill them all, while Spike protected them. Riley owed his own life and the life of the girl he loved to the soulless demon he had tried to destroy. That obligation to Spike made him hate the arrogant vampire more than ever.
And then there was Buffy. Always, there was Buffy. Even before Spike fell in love with the slayer, Riley always dreaded the thought of being compared to Spike. Spike was strong and capable and could spar with Buffy for hours without getting tired, or weak, or injured. Buffy could patrol with Spike without worrying about whether or not he would be able to hold his own. Spike had superpowers, just like Buffy, just like Angel, the first man that Buffy had ever loved. What if Buffy decided that spending her time with an average human just slowed her down? When Spike had fallen in love with Buffy, Riley's fears only intensified. He had snuck a peek at the entries in Giles' watcher's diaries about Spike. He knew the vampire was as stubborn as stone when it came to something he wanted, and that he was wholly and passionately loyal to anyone he loved. If he truly wanted Buffy, he'd never give up trying to win her, and he'd pursue her with a single- minded fidelity until she accepted and returned his devotion.
If Riley had been secure in Buffy's love, then maybe it wouldn't have mattered. If he hadn't felt like he constantly had to prove himself and earn the slayer's love and attention and admiration, then maybe the vampire would have been nothing more than a slight annoyance, easily ignored. But Buffy kept closing herself off, from him and from everyone else, and Spike's very presence only served to aggravate Riley's fears of losing Buffy. Riley knew he made some stupid choices at the end of their relationship that made things worse, but after giving it lots of thought (days, weeks, months of almost constant thought) he realized that nothing he could have done could have saved what they had. It was inevitable that eventually he reached the point where he couldn't take it any more. So he left. Loving her with all his heart, he left. And he thought about her every day. He wondered how she was, what she was doing, if she ever thought of him… And he started hating the vampire even more because Spike still got to see her every day. Maybe it wasn't fair to Spike to blame him so much for things that weren't his fault, but Riley had never cared too much about being fair to vampires. That much, at least, of his Initiative training had stuck.
Riley had been unhappy to hear from Willow that Spike was still part of the gang but the news didn't exactly surprise him. After all, he remembered how Dawn had always seemed to feel about the vampire. She had adored him, and Spike seemed to appreciate her obvious admiration. If anyone could get Spike to stay after Buffy's death, it would be Dawn. As much as he hated Spike, he knew that Spike's devotion to Buffy would extend to keeping her family safe and happy and Riley could easily imagine Dawn clinging to Spike in the aftermath of the trauma. Riley knew that in spite of Dawn, Spike had never been fully accepted into the group in the past. Buffy had been the leader of the group and she hadn't liked or trusted Spike, so the rest of them didn't, either.
But that had changed now. Willow was the head of the group and everyone else took their cues from her. Since Willow was always more open-minded than Buffy, especially when it came to forgiving people for their pasts, Riley had expected Willow to be kinder in her discussion of Spike and his role in the group. However, Riley couldn't help being surprised at the way that Willow talked about Spike. Her voice grew softer, warmer when she spoke of him, and there was a light in her eyes that simply wasn't there the rest of the time. She even smiled when she told stories about him and things they had done: gentle, wistful, completely natural little smiles as she replayed things he had said and done. Not for nothing was Riley a psychology major and the prized protégé of the Initiative doctors. He picked up on all the little signals that Willow gave off. The look on her face when she saw Spike at the window simply confirmed it.
Willow was in love with Spike.
His first thought was that she didn't know; that it was an emotion that had snuck up on the girl without her being aware of it. After all, the stories she told of Spike showed the two of them to be nothing but friends. But then he looked at her eyes when she looked at Spike. She knew. She loved him with all her heart, and she knew it. Buffy had once said that Willow's face wasn't an open book, it was a loudspeaker screaming out her emotions and responses for the entire world to hear. And at that moment, it was screaming that she loved Spike. Riley's eyes shifted to Spike, to see how he looked at Willow. But Spike wasn't looking at Willow. He was looking at Riley, and the look in his eye certainly wasn't loving. It was murderous.
Riley wasn't the only one who noticed the expression on Spike's face. The smile slipped off of Willow's face and the light faded out of her eyes, replaced with worry as she took in Spike's appearance. He seemed to be seething with barely restrained rage. For a minute, Willow was confused, wondering what could have upset Spike so much. Then, realization hit. Riley. Of course. Spike was upset over seeing Riley again. He had always hated the soldier, jealous of his relationship with Buffy. Willow knew that Spike had been thrilled when Riley left town, hoping that the loneliness would drive Buffy into his arms. Instead, Buffy seemed to hate him even more. Spike decided to blame that on Riley, too. Willow's eyes grew sad again, and she bit her lip to keep the tears from filling her eyes. Buffy was the only thing that ever got Spike that riled up. He still loved her so much. Willow sighed. It was nothing new. Spike had always been devoted to Buffy. Willow had started to think, lately, that Spike was moving on, a little. Obviously, she had been wrong. He looked ready to tear Riley apart, just because Buffy had loved him.
Spike was using all of his considerable strength to keep from vamping out. His demon was screaming to be let loose. <*My* Willow>, it growled. <*My* Willow, not his>. Spike fought against the demon, not because he didn't agree, but because he knew that as long as he managed to keep the demon under control, the chip wouldn't fire off. But gods below, it was hard. He wanted nothing more than to crash through the window, grab Riley by the scruff of the neck, and drag him as far away from Willow as possible. The fucking *bastard* always managed to take away everything that mattered to Spike. First he and his Initiative psychopaths had taken away his bite, ruining his reputation and his lifestyle and taking away any hope he might have had of winning back Drusilla. And then, when he finally managed to move on from Dru and fall in love with someone else, Riley himself had destroyed any chance Spike might have had with Buffy. And now he was inside, taking *Spike's* place, filling *Spike's* role with Willow, the first friend Spike had made in over a century. Willow's friendship was the only thing that got Spike through the day. He *would not* give it up just so she could spend all of her time with that *bastard*.
Riley took a step closer to Willow, and Spike's eyes flashed amber. He closed them tightly, working desperately to rein in his fury. He was shaking with the effort it took to keep from giving into instinct and shifting to his demon face. Spike was concentrating so hard on holding himself together that he was startled at the sound of the door opening. His eyes flashed quickly over to the doorway, and there was his Willow, walking up to him, concern for him written all over her face.
"Spike? Are you alright?" she asked gently. Spike forced himself to take a few deep breaths before answering. He slowly and deliberately inhaled her scent, allowing the familiar smell of her to calm him down. The amber cleared out of his eyes, replaced with the cool blue gaze that Willow loved so much. Spike saw the relief that came across her face as she watched him begin to relax.
"I'm fine, love," he answered, when he trusted his voice enough to speak. "Didn't mean to scare you. Sorry I'm late."
She gave him a little smile. "You didn't scare me, Spike. You just had me worried for a minute. I'm glad you're here. I was starting to wonder where you were."
Spike nodded in the direction of the window. "Looks like you found someone to keep you company."
Willow took Spike's hand and led him into the cafe. "Spike, you remember Riley, don't you?"
"Soldier boy," Spike said, facing Riley with his trademark smirk, "didn't think we'd be seeing you around here again. What happened? Did they run out of damsels in distress wherever the hell they sent you?"
"Spike," Riley replied. "I see you haven't changed."
Willow rushed to jump in before the conversation grew violent. "I think I'm done cleaning up here, so why don't we head out? I just need to get my purse and sweater from the back, alright?" Spike and Riley nodded. "The two of you promise not to kill each other once I leave the room?" They both smiled, and nodded again. Satisfied, Willow disappeared into the back.
Riley saw the way that Spike's eyes followed Willow as she walked away, and realization struck once again. Spike had fallen in love with Willow. The vampire didn't seem to have realized it yet, but the redheaded witch had captured his heart. That was why he had been so upset to see Riley. He was jealous. With that realization, an idea came to Riley. A brilliant, wonderful, devious idea. He owed Willow an enormous debt of gratitude for all that she had done for him through the years. And he owed Spike a little revenge for trying to break up him and Buffy. And he needed something to occupy his mind while he was in town. Bit by bit, a project started forming in his mind, as a smirk settled across his face.
Oh, this would be fun.
~Part: 5~
Riley's internal grin grew as Willow disappeared into the back of the restaurant and his plan began to take solid shape. Willow obviously loved Spike. (Riley didn't understand why, but he wasn't going to condemn the girl. Living in Sunnydale does strange things to a person.) Spike obviously loved Willow. (This showed that Spike, if nothing else, at least had good taste.) Now if Spike would only admit that he loved Willow, they could both live happily ever after. But Spike was still hung up on the memory of Buffy and refused to admit, even to himself, that he loved someone else. If Willow wanted Spike, then Riley would see to it that Spike was what she got. He owed Willow so very much more than he could ever repay. The least he could do was try to make her happy. And if the possibility of losing Willow to Riley made Spike finally admit what he felt for the girl, then Riley would just have to make sure that Spike believed that Riley wanted Willow for himself. And if believing this made Spike miserably unhappy until he finally stepped forward to claim Willow, well then, that was just a bonus.
Willow rushed out from the back with her sweater and purse in hand, relieved to see that both the men she had left were still there just as she had left them, both of them unbruised and undusted. Of course, they refused to make conversation with each other, but she had rather expected that. She could deal with them being rude as long as they didn't get violent. With a smile of relief, she put down her purse so that she could put on her sweater. Putting his project immediately into play, Riley walked over to her and took the sweater from her hand.
"Let me get this for you," he purred in her ear, sliding behind her and holding the sweater for her so that she could slip it on. Once she had it on, he slid around in front of her and tugged on the sides of the sweater, pulling it closed and smoothing the soft material over her shoulders. "Wouldn't want you to get cold now, would we?" he whispered softly, smiling at her. He squeezed her shoulders gently and lingeringly before releasing her, hiding a smile as he heard Spike's growl escalate with every second that Riley spent touching Willow. Willow looked confused by Riley's actions, but she smiled and thanked him nonetheless.
Spike was furious, driving his nails into the palms of his hand so hard that they drew blood, but he held himself together by repeating to himself again and again that it would be over soon. After all, once they got outside, Soldier Boy would, no doubt, head off to Sunnydale's only decent hotel and Spike would walk Willow to her house, which was in the opposite direction. He would have her to himself, just the way it was supposed to be. Then *he* would be the one talking to her. *He* would be the one telling her about his day and listening to her tell about hers, and he would be the one making her smile. He'd also be sure to find out what the hell Soldier Boy was doing back in town. And how soon he would be leaving.
"Well, shall we head back home?" Riley asked, deliberately. Hours before, when they had chatted over his dinner, Willow had offered to let him stay in the house. She said that it was ridiculous for him to waste money on a hotel when they had the extra room, and that it would keep him from having to constantly go back and forth between the hotel and the house to spend time with all of them. She had called and cleared it with Dawn, and while Riley imagined that the teenager was less than thrilled with the plan, she had said that it was alright with her. So Riley had accepted. At the time, he had simply thought that it would be cheaper and more convenient. Now, of course, he planned to milk it for all it was worth in aiding him in his plan. He turned slightly before he said it, wanting to see Spike's reaction when the vampire realized that Riley was going to be staying with Willow. He was not disappointed.
Spike vamped.
He couldn't help it. His demon was exceptionally possessive of Willow. Spike had explained it to Willow, saying that she was the closest thing he had to family in Sunnydale, and that vampires are very protective of family. Besides, he told her, his demon admired her strength. All of this was true. Vampires are very protective of their families, and any demon worth his salt would be attracted to the sheer magnitude of the power and strength that Willow possessed. Of course, all of this was true about Dawn, as well. The demon accepted her as family, a sort of little sister to Spike, and the power of the key still floated temptingly around her. Spike knew that the demon in him as well as the man would go to any lengths to protect Dawn. But Spike didn't bother telling Willow that the demon didn't react the same way to her as it did to Dawn. The demon didn't whisper to Spike about how stunning Dawn's hair looked in the moonlight, or how tempting she smelled and when he caught boys flirting with Dawn, he wanted to rip their hands off for touching his little sister instead of wanting desperately to be in their place, like he did when he saw men flirt with Willow.
Spike knew that his demon had a bit of a crush on Willow. It was natural, really. His demon was always drawn to power and strength and Willow was overflowing with both. But it didn't mean anything. The man in him loved Buffy. Of course he did. She had only been dead for little over a month. He couldn't possibly be over her already. Because if he was over her, then that would mean that he hadn't really loved her in the first place, that he had just been lonely and lost and confused in his post-Dru, post-chip turmoil and had clung to Buffy as the sole constant in his constantly shifting world. If he could get over her so quickly, then that would mean that it had been gratitude and admiration, mixed in with a little bit of the competitive spirit that always made him want to possess what he was told he couldn't have, and that it wasn't love. But that wasn't possible. So of course he had loved her. And he still did. Just because his demon had a little crush on Willow didn't mean that Spike cared for her as anything more than a friend. Of course not. So it wasn't that surprising that the demon came rushing forward at the idea that Riley would be staying with Willow. The surprising part was that the man in him made no effort to hold it back.
"Spike, calm down," Willow said softly, stepping in front of Riley, forcing Spike's gaze onto herself. Meanwhile, she concentrated on hiding her hurt at the further proof, as she saw it, of Spike's continued devotion to Buffy and jealousy of her ex. Why else would he react like that?
Spike shifted his gaze to Willow and felt the demon relax, slightly. He stayed in vamp face, but the blind fury faded from his eyes.
"Not a drop of fear in your scent, pet. It's kind of embarrassing. Don't I scare you at all?" he asked, smiling slightly.
Willow smiled back. It wasn't a "the hills are alive" smile, but it was warm and sincere and focused solely on him, and it made the demon relax still further. "There's no reason for me to be scared," she answered, slowly and deliberately, knowing from experience exactly how to soothe his demon. "I trust you, Spike. With my life, without hesitation. You know that."
"And you trust him, too, do you?" he asked, nodding toward Riley. "Now that he's big army man again, you're not just a little afraid that if you let him stay in your house, you'll wake up in a lab room? Bet some of those government types would sell their souls for a shot at a real witch."
"Yes, Spike," Willow answered. "I trust Riley. I don't trust the government and I don't trust the army, but I trust Riley."
Spike sighed and shifted back into his human features, but the expression on his face hardened ever so slightly and he refused to look Willow in the eye. "Fine then, pet. It's your house. You can put up the whole bloody Initiative if you want. Let's go." He turned to the door and headed outside without waiting to hear her response. With a sigh of her own, Willow fished her keys out of her purse. She and Riley headed outside where she locked the door to the restaurant behind her. Then she turned to Riley and placed her keychain in his hand.
"You must be tired," she said. "I know it's been a hellish day for you. Why don't you go ahead back to the house? I'll meet you there, later."
"Where are you going?" Riley asked, confused. He needed to talk to Willow. He had to explain to her what he was planning to do. The plan wouldn't work properly unless she played along.
"Spike and I will do a quick patrol," she answered, looking over to where Spike stood. He was pointedly ignoring them while he smoked a cigarette, but he perked up ever so slightly when she said that she'd be patrolling with him. Alone. "We won't be long. You remember how to get back to the house, right?"
"Yes, but—"
"Put this in the fridge," she said, handing him the take-out box, "and then look in on Dawn and tell her that I'll be there, soon. Tell her I'm with Spike, so she won't worry. Do you have a stake on you?"
"Yes, but—"
"I don't think you'll run into any trouble on your way, but it never hurts to be prepared. Help yourself to anything you need. Xander and Anya can show you where to find towels and stuff, if you don't remember."
"Alright, but—"
"Okay, then, I'll see you back at the house!"
"Don't I get a hug before you go?" Riley asked, pretending to pout.
Again, Willow looked confused. Riley wasn't really the pouting type. He had been acting a little…bizarre since Spike had shown up. If she didn't know better, she would have thought that he was flirting. But that didn't seem likely. After all, he'd been behaving perfectly normally all night, until Spike showed up. Willow forced the thought away. She didn't have time to dwell on it if she was going to patrol with Spike. She'd have to sit down with Riley later and ask him what was going on. But for now, there was really no reason why she shouldn't give him a hug. She stepped closer to him and slid her arms around his neck. With a grin, his arms wrapped around her waist and he pulled her close against him.
"I'll be waiting up for you to come home," he whispered, bending down so that his lips brushed against her ear while his cheek nestled against her hair. To an outsider, it would have looked almost intimate, but his voice, when he spoke, was friendly and mischievous without a trace of the seduction his body language implied. "Check in with me when you get back. There's something I need to talk to you about." Willow still looked confused, but she nodded in reply.
Spike couldn't stand it any more. Growling, he rushed over to them, grabbed Willow's hand, and dragged her out of Riley's arms.
"See you later, Soldier Boy."
Riley simply laughed. "I'll see you later tonight, Willow."