Title:They sent him home.
By Lady Sirona

Rating: G with angst B/R
Spoilers: none
Disclaimer It all belongs to Joss and Co and whoever bought it lately...
Summary: Riley is finally coming home from Belize

They sent him home.

"Telegraph: Riley Finn returning from Belize Oct 4th 2001. Pickup Fort
Jumpier airport 430pm."

Buffy jumped up and down and squealed to Willow. "He's coming home!
Riley's coming home!" She hugged willow and immediately set out to try
and pick out what to wear. Should she look cool and sophisticated? Maybe
soft and loving in warm colors of passion? Oh Willow I am so excited I
can't think!"

Willow laughed to finally see Buffy so happy. "Wear what you want I
don't think he will be judging your clothing Buffy." She smiled and
nodded and went back to picking out what she would wear.

Buffy spent the remaining week planning things to do, and a romantic
candle filled night for him. It would be just them where she would
admit
her lover and tell him she did love him. She fell asleep every night
slick in anticipation and ever in her mind, what would she wear?

She woke the morning that she would pick him up and made sure the
candles were set and her sister was out of the house for the night.
She licked her lips nervously and she chose a nice flowing skirt with a
warmrusset top to accentuate her skin and lapis lazuli necklace to
accentuate her eyes. She wanted to be beautiful for him. Her body was
slick in anticipation and she bit her lip and headed for the military
base in keen anticipation.

The soldier who took her telegram was somewhat confused at her
excitement and happy demeanor, and she soon found out why. As she
stood in horror as reality crashed her world she realized the actual meaning
of their telegram.

They sent him home from Belize in a small metal box, which bellied his
massive frame. She stood at the airport in the darkening dusk staring
in horror at the dark gray/black box, which held the ashes of her dreams
and fantasies.

"Ms. Summers?" A clipped military voice called her from her reverie.
"Please sign here." She was handed a clipboard that summed her
nightmare in several sentences. 1] Remains of Riley Ryan Finn 2] belongings of
Riley Alfred Finn… tears blurred the rest of the list showing that he
had sent her everything he had and was.

"How?" she looked up at the military man. She was devastated. She had
always fantasized he would come home, they would make love and make up
and make a life together.

"Classified. His family requests that if you do not inter him, that
you will ship him to them so they may place him in their family cemetery.
The address is in his file." She could only just nod as he turned and
walked away leaving her with his duffel bag and small box of remains.

Now she knew what she would wear. She would wear black.