Return of the Ex's
Buffy, Dawn, Willow and Xander sat at the dining room table playing a quiet game of Monopoly when a knock came from the door. Buffy excused herself and went to answer the door. She couldn't imagine who would be knocking at her door at eight o'clock at night; all her friends were already there. "Hmm, that's a sad thought." she said to herself. She reached for the doorknob and swung the door open but was left speechless when she saw who it was.
"Riley? What are you doing here? Again." She asked. Riley stood in the doorway, a patch on his forehead and his arm in a sling. He looked tired and pale; like a bus or something had hit him.
"Can I come in and talk to you?" he whispered. She welcomed him in and led him to the living room. There they were met with the questioning looks of the Scoobies. Riley sat down on the edge of the couch and began to talk.
"It was horrible. The helicopter crashed over a river on its way to Nepal and Sam was killed instantly. I barely made it out alive. After I recovered enough to be let out of bed I came straight here, back to Sunnydale." Everyone muttered their apologies and silence overtook the room. Finally Riley broke the silence. "Um, so, Willow, how's Tara? And you're still cold turkey with the magic?"
Willow's head snapped up and Buffy could see the tears starting to form in her eyes. Willow excused herself and ran up to her room. Riley was confused but continued trying to make conversation. "Xander, how was the wedding?" Xander said nothing but followed Willow upstairs. Desperate to say something right, Riley turned to Dawn. "So, kid, how goes life? Have you got a boyfriend yet?" Dawn stood up and looked at the floor for a minute, and then turned and also ran up the stairs.
Frustrated, Riley turned to Buffy. He was about to say something when Buffy cut him off. "Look, Riley. Before you ask me a question that will force me to follow everyone else upstairs let me fill you in. Tara was shot and killed and Willow took out magical revenge on her murderer. Xander left Anya at the altar and Anya's back in the world of vengeance. Dawn got her first kiss earlier this year but the guy turned out to be a vampire. And, you'll be happy to know that I broke up with Spike and he left town."
Riley looked withdrawn as he pondered the damage he had just done with his innocent questions. When Buffy thought he had fallen asleep with his eyes open, he finally spoke up. "Buffy, I am so sorry for leaving when I did. It was wrong and I know it. But, if you'll let me, I'd like to make it up to you." Riley got down on one knee in front of Buffy. "Buffy Summers, will you be so kind as to marry me?" Buffy looked far from excited at the proposal and was frantically thinking of something to say when she heard a noise in the kitchen. "I should, uh, go see what that was. You know, being in a town full of demons and vamps, can't be too careful." Riley stood up and Buffy rushed into the kitchen…and practically collided with Spike.
"Oh my god, Spike, you're back!" she said as she backed up towards the doorway, shock overcoming her. Spike stood in the center of the kitchen, looking deceptively innocent without his leather duster. His eyes were dull, but seemed to be brightening as he simply stared at Buffy.
"Where the hell have you been?" She asked, barely audible. "Went to Africa, pet. Had to see a demon about taking care of my slayer, getting her what she deserves." Buffy didn't get it. "Buffy, luv, I've got a soul." Buffy's eyes widened try to process the new information. Spike watched her trying to read her reaction when he was taken off guard by her hug. He embraced her and nuzzled into her hair, which he noticed had grown considerably since he left. "I've missed you so much." She said.
And of course Riley picked that moment to follow Buffy into the kitchen. Spike looked up and tensed when he saw Riley lumber into the Summer's kitchen. Buffy turned and silently cursed herself for forgetting about Riley. Staying where she was, she tried to explain. "Riley, Spike just came back." Then, turning to Spike, "Riley just showed up about a half hour ago." Both men seemed to ignore the blonde slayer's comments as they glared at each other from across the room.
Suddenly the piercing ring of the telephone broke the tension. Buffy picked it up and said, "Hello, Buffy speaking." She was met with a soft timid voice on the other end. "Hi, this is Fred. I work with Angel. He wanted me to call you and tell you to answer your front door, if you're not busy, but I hope you're not 'cause that would be too bad. So, um, have a nice day. Goodbye Buffy." Buffy heard the click and put down the receiver. She glanced at Spike, than at Riley, and back to Spike before leaving them to go open her front door.
Upon opening the front door, Buffy was greeted by Angel and another guy, maybe a few years younger than she was. She said nothing as Angel introduced Connor and gave a short, edited version of his origin. Before she could respond, Spike and Riley appeared in the hallway. Confronted by all her ex's at once was too much for Buffy and she stood motionless as the scene played out before her.
Hearing all the commotion, Dawn came running down the stairs, stake in hand, ready for action as she usually was since she had learned to fight. As soon as she saw Spike she dropped the stake and ran to him, hugging him so tight it would have left him breathless if he weren't already. He hugged her back, and Dawn turned to face Buffy. "So, are you guys gonna get back together?"
It was then that Dawn noticed Riley, Angel and…a really hot guy standing in the foyer. And Angel hadn't missed a syllable of what the teen had spilled. Dawn noticed the look of disgust in Angel's eyes as he realized what had been going on between Spike and Buffy, and he lunged at Spike, knocking the two vampires through the open doorway and onto the front lawn.
Dawn was waving her hand in front of Buffy's face when Connor attacked Riley. Evenly matched, the two fought, knocking over lamps and tables as they moved from the foyer to the living room.
Outside, Angel had Spike pinned against a tree. "What did you do to Buffy?" Angel hissed. Releasing himself form his elder's grasp, Spike sent a hard kick to Angel's abdomen. "She came to me, ponce." He was about to punch Angel when a familiar voice came from the side of the house, and Drusilla appeared.
Both vampires stood in awe as Drusilla approached them. "My two boys. The stars told me you would be here. But you're not the same. You're not really mine anymore. You're both corrupted by love. And love for the slayer no less. But Ms. Edith picked a new boy for me, and he's going to tear your precious slayer into pieces until there's nothing left." Drusilla continued to ramble on in an incomprehensible tone when she was take unaware by a pissed off brunette teenager from behind.
The solid kick sent Drusilla to the ground. Dawn advanced but Drusilla's punch swatted her away. Dawn took the blow, and rolled. Standing up again, she approached Drusilla. She stopped short when the vampires grabbed her by the shoulders. Waving her hands and whispering chants, Drusilla lulled her opponent into a trance, much like she did to Kendra. She was about to deliver deadly blow when the amateur slayer sent a stake to her heart. While Spike's dark princess crumbled to dust, Dawn stepped past the ashes saying "That crap only works in the movies."
Angel and Spike stood dumbfounded as the fifteen year old took Dawn the vampire that even Buffy and Kendra couldn't. Angel was torn out of his stupor when Dawn punched him in the face, shouting something about Riley and Connor. Angel rushed back into the house (passing Buffy who had slid down the wall she was leaning on and now sat wordless in a corner) and reached out an arm to pull Riley off his son.
As Riley turned his face as discovered, the face of a vampire. Angel hesitated a minute before punching the ex-commando in the face. From the doorway, Spike chimed in. "So, I'm guessing Dru turned you to get revenge on Buffy?" Riley nodded. He was about to speak when a stake erupted through his chest, turning him to dust and revealing Buffy who stood behind him.
A hush overwhelmed the room as everyone crowded around Riley's ashes. Angel was the first to speak.
"Buffy, Spike's a soulless demon. How could you…?" his questions faded as Buffy announced that Spike had been rewarded with his soul. Another uneasy silence over took the room and Dawn couldn't help but glance over at Connor, who she discovered was also glancing in her direction. Dawn blushed and turned back to face her sister and Connor ducked his head and shoved his hands deeper into his pockets.
No one was sure if it was minutes or merely seconds that passed before Angel murmured, "Well, I'm human." Buffy's eyes widened as she took in yet more miraculous news that night. But then her joy for Angel was replaced by confusion. Spike or Angel? She looked up at Spike who was uncomfortably leaning against the wall and then at Angel who was yearningly watching her every move.
Buffy broke yet another uneasy silence, "Guys, we have to talk."
Buffy, Dawn, Willow and Xander sat at the dining room table playing a quiet game of Monopoly when a knock came from the door. Buffy excused herself and went to answer the door. She couldn't imagine who would be knocking at her door at eight o'clock at night; all her friends were already there. "Hmm, that's a sad thought." she said to herself. She reached for the doorknob and swung the door open but was left speechless when she saw who it was.
"Riley? What are you doing here? Again." She asked. Riley stood in the doorway, a patch on his forehead and his arm in a sling. He looked tired and pale; like a bus or something had hit him.
"Can I come in and talk to you?" he whispered. She welcomed him in and led him to the living room. There they were met with the questioning looks of the Scoobies. Riley sat down on the edge of the couch and began to talk.
"It was horrible. The helicopter crashed over a river on its way to Nepal and Sam was killed instantly. I barely made it out alive. After I recovered enough to be let out of bed I came straight here, back to Sunnydale." Everyone muttered their apologies and silence overtook the room. Finally Riley broke the silence. "Um, so, Willow, how's Tara? And you're still cold turkey with the magic?"
Willow's head snapped up and Buffy could see the tears starting to form in her eyes. Willow excused herself and ran up to her room. Riley was confused but continued trying to make conversation. "Xander, how was the wedding?" Xander said nothing but followed Willow upstairs. Desperate to say something right, Riley turned to Dawn. "So, kid, how goes life? Have you got a boyfriend yet?" Dawn stood up and looked at the floor for a minute, and then turned and also ran up the stairs.
Frustrated, Riley turned to Buffy. He was about to say something when Buffy cut him off. "Look, Riley. Before you ask me a question that will force me to follow everyone else upstairs let me fill you in. Tara was shot and killed and Willow took out magical revenge on her murderer. Xander left Anya at the altar and Anya's back in the world of vengeance. Dawn got her first kiss earlier this year but the guy turned out to be a vampire. And, you'll be happy to know that I broke up with Spike and he left town."
Riley looked withdrawn as he pondered the damage he had just done with his innocent questions. When Buffy thought he had fallen asleep with his eyes open, he finally spoke up. "Buffy, I am so sorry for leaving when I did. It was wrong and I know it. But, if you'll let me, I'd like to make it up to you." Riley got down on one knee in front of Buffy. "Buffy Summers, will you be so kind as to marry me?" Buffy looked far from excited at the proposal and was frantically thinking of something to say when she heard a noise in the kitchen. "I should, uh, go see what that was. You know, being in a town full of demons and vamps, can't be too careful." Riley stood up and Buffy rushed into the kitchen…and practically collided with Spike.
"Oh my god, Spike, you're back!" she said as she backed up towards the doorway, shock overcoming her. Spike stood in the center of the kitchen, looking deceptively innocent without his leather duster. His eyes were dull, but seemed to be brightening as he simply stared at Buffy.
"Where the hell have you been?" She asked, barely audible. "Went to Africa, pet. Had to see a demon about taking care of my slayer, getting her what she deserves." Buffy didn't get it. "Buffy, luv, I've got a soul." Buffy's eyes widened try to process the new information. Spike watched her trying to read her reaction when he was taken off guard by her hug. He embraced her and nuzzled into her hair, which he noticed had grown considerably since he left. "I've missed you so much." She said.
And of course Riley picked that moment to follow Buffy into the kitchen. Spike looked up and tensed when he saw Riley lumber into the Summer's kitchen. Buffy turned and silently cursed herself for forgetting about Riley. Staying where she was, she tried to explain. "Riley, Spike just came back." Then, turning to Spike, "Riley just showed up about a half hour ago." Both men seemed to ignore the blonde slayer's comments as they glared at each other from across the room.
Suddenly the piercing ring of the telephone broke the tension. Buffy picked it up and said, "Hello, Buffy speaking." She was met with a soft timid voice on the other end. "Hi, this is Fred. I work with Angel. He wanted me to call you and tell you to answer your front door, if you're not busy, but I hope you're not 'cause that would be too bad. So, um, have a nice day. Goodbye Buffy." Buffy heard the click and put down the receiver. She glanced at Spike, than at Riley, and back to Spike before leaving them to go open her front door.
Upon opening the front door, Buffy was greeted by Angel and another guy, maybe a few years younger than she was. She said nothing as Angel introduced Connor and gave a short, edited version of his origin. Before she could respond, Spike and Riley appeared in the hallway. Confronted by all her ex's at once was too much for Buffy and she stood motionless as the scene played out before her.
Hearing all the commotion, Dawn came running down the stairs, stake in hand, ready for action as she usually was since she had learned to fight. As soon as she saw Spike she dropped the stake and ran to him, hugging him so tight it would have left him breathless if he weren't already. He hugged her back, and Dawn turned to face Buffy. "So, are you guys gonna get back together?"
It was then that Dawn noticed Riley, Angel and…a really hot guy standing in the foyer. And Angel hadn't missed a syllable of what the teen had spilled. Dawn noticed the look of disgust in Angel's eyes as he realized what had been going on between Spike and Buffy, and he lunged at Spike, knocking the two vampires through the open doorway and onto the front lawn.
Dawn was waving her hand in front of Buffy's face when Connor attacked Riley. Evenly matched, the two fought, knocking over lamps and tables as they moved from the foyer to the living room.
Outside, Angel had Spike pinned against a tree. "What did you do to Buffy?" Angel hissed. Releasing himself form his elder's grasp, Spike sent a hard kick to Angel's abdomen. "She came to me, ponce." He was about to punch Angel when a familiar voice came from the side of the house, and Drusilla appeared.
Both vampires stood in awe as Drusilla approached them. "My two boys. The stars told me you would be here. But you're not the same. You're not really mine anymore. You're both corrupted by love. And love for the slayer no less. But Ms. Edith picked a new boy for me, and he's going to tear your precious slayer into pieces until there's nothing left." Drusilla continued to ramble on in an incomprehensible tone when she was take unaware by a pissed off brunette teenager from behind.
The solid kick sent Drusilla to the ground. Dawn advanced but Drusilla's punch swatted her away. Dawn took the blow, and rolled. Standing up again, she approached Drusilla. She stopped short when the vampires grabbed her by the shoulders. Waving her hands and whispering chants, Drusilla lulled her opponent into a trance, much like she did to Kendra. She was about to deliver deadly blow when the amateur slayer sent a stake to her heart. While Spike's dark princess crumbled to dust, Dawn stepped past the ashes saying "That crap only works in the movies."
Angel and Spike stood dumbfounded as the fifteen year old took Dawn the vampire that even Buffy and Kendra couldn't. Angel was torn out of his stupor when Dawn punched him in the face, shouting something about Riley and Connor. Angel rushed back into the house (passing Buffy who had slid down the wall she was leaning on and now sat wordless in a corner) and reached out an arm to pull Riley off his son.
As Riley turned his face as discovered, the face of a vampire. Angel hesitated a minute before punching the ex-commando in the face. From the doorway, Spike chimed in. "So, I'm guessing Dru turned you to get revenge on Buffy?" Riley nodded. He was about to speak when a stake erupted through his chest, turning him to dust and revealing Buffy who stood behind him.
A hush overwhelmed the room as everyone crowded around Riley's ashes. Angel was the first to speak.
"Buffy, Spike's a soulless demon. How could you…?" his questions faded as Buffy announced that Spike had been rewarded with his soul. Another uneasy silence over took the room and Dawn couldn't help but glance over at Connor, who she discovered was also glancing in her direction. Dawn blushed and turned back to face her sister and Connor ducked his head and shoved his hands deeper into his pockets.
No one was sure if it was minutes or merely seconds that passed before Angel murmured, "Well, I'm human." Buffy's eyes widened as she took in yet more miraculous news that night. But then her joy for Angel was replaced by confusion. Spike or Angel? She looked up at Spike who was uncomfortably leaning against the wall and then at Angel who was yearningly watching her every move.
Buffy broke yet another uneasy silence, "Guys, we have to talk."