A waiting Valentine.
A/N: A quickie, written for the http://quickie.moonlitpaths.com challenge. Pairing #16. Basically I am twisting the plot of the tv-show, and Tara never appeared. Also Riley and Buffy never got together, but other than that Riley knows that Buffy is the Slayer.
Is she going to throw the effort back in my face? Is she going to laugh? Rip my heart out and stomp on it? I look around, the candles have all been lighted, the rose petals are where they were meant to be and the CD player is playing some romantic music. I didn't dare do anything to the chocolate poster on the door, the door she'll throw me out of when she sees what I've done. I only hope she'll let me stay long enough to allow me to persuade her into seeing what I know; we belong together.
I know she'll be home from class soon. I pleaded with her friends, begged on my knees to not bring her with them tonight. Xander told me he was taking Anya 'bronzing' tonight. The rest of them have planned a video-marathon of romantic films. Oh, please let that class be finished soon. My courage is perishing, and I really am beginning to reconsider the whole thing. Who cares if it's Valentine's Day and I really want to be with her? Unfortunately me, I do. She's the best thing that ever happened to me.
Is that her walking towards the door? It is. She opens it, then turns slightly to put on the lights, but her hand stops just before hitting the switch. She looks so beautiful. She turns around, so slow. Hello, I am being tortured here. Her eyes widens as she takes in what I've done with her part of the room. Finally she sees me.
"Riley! W-what are you doing here?" She hasn't got a clue, sad but true. She continues, and the talking turns into babbling. "Have you done all this for Buffy? 'Cause I can call her and make her come over from her house. I'll phone straight away." She really hasn't got an idea. She stops babbling just before picking up the phone.
"Wait." She turns around. "I-I-I." I'm supposed to be good at everything I do, and now, at one of the most important nights of my life I stutter. Me, Riley Finn. "I did it for you." Finally, some form of coherence.
"Me?" She squeaks, before she blushes and looks away.
I walk over and grab her hands, just in case she decides to escape. "Yes, you. I figured it was time I started courting you, for real."
"Courting me?" I honestly didn't know it was possible to blush in that shade of red, or that a redhead would look that good in it. "Courting me? Why would you want to do that? I am not beautiful, popular and I can't kick your ass, I meant train with you…" She trails off. Does she think I want a training partner? Well… I do, but not the kind of training she's thinking of. Does she think I want Buffy?
"Are you comparing yourself with Buffy?"
"N-no." And doesn't just that say it all?
"Willow. Buffy is nice enough, but I want a girlfriend that I can talk to, who doesn't fade out of conversations all the time and who's actually there. I know she's your friend, and she's a nice enough girl, but don't you think she's a little peculiar?" I know Buffy is the Slayer, but who would want to date her when they could have someone like Willow?
She smiles at me, and I know that, at least for today, my heart won't be stomped on.