Buffy was utterly exhausted. She barely had enough energy to stand on her feet as she walked out of the Doublemeat Palace. She knew she should be thankful for the job, for the money it was bringing in, but right at that moment, all she wanted to do was go home and sleep for hours and hours. Or as long as Connor would let her. He was teething at the moment, and not very happy about it. His incessant crying was keeping everybody up. Dawn had invested in a set of ear plugs, and Buffy didn't blame her at all.
"Hey Buffy!" A coworker called from his car window. Chuck, Buffy remembered. "Do you want a ride?"
Chuck was a nice guy, despite working at that terrible job, and Buffy liked him. And she was absolutely sure she wanted a ride with him. She was just about to accept, when she remembered that she had to swing by the 24-hour grocery and buy diapers for Connor before she went home. She stifled her groan of annoyance. Connor was almost out of them, and she couldn't put it off. It was a good thing Wesley had left her money, or she wouldn't have been able to afford all the stuff a four month old needed.
"Thanks but no thanks, Chuck," she said reluctantly. "But it was really sweet of you to offer."
Chuck peered at her from his car window.
"Are you ok, Buffy?" he asked. "You look like you're sleepwalking."
"Haven't been getting much sleep," Buffy admitted. What with Connor crying most of the night, and patrols eating up her other night hours, 'not getting much sleep' was an understatement. And while as the Slayer Buffy could function on less sleep than a normal human, she did require some. Right now she was getting almost none.
"Insomnia?" Chuck asked.
Buffy made a face.
"Baby."
"I heard about your bundle of joy. Congrats." Chuck smiled at her. "Well, er, see you tomorrow then."
Buffy waved as he drove off. She'd had to tell her manager about Connor, and it had somehow gotten around to everyone at the restaurant. She had wanted to keep it a secret, at least so people didn't think that's why she dropped out of school, but now that her coworkers knew, it wasn't so bad. At least now she didn't have to invent reasons to look like a zombie.
Buffy was so exhausted she felt almost dizzy. She bought the diapers she needed from a sympathetic looking clerk and walked home, dropping the shopping bag into the kitchen counter.
"Buffy, do you…" Willow walked into the room, holding Connor. She took one look at Buffy, and then shook her head. "No, never mind. You sleep. You look like you might pass out."
"Need… to… patrol…" Buffy's words were beginning to slur together.
"I'll do it," Willow offered. "And Spike will help."
Spike. He'd been weirdly helpful with the whole Connor thing, covering for her in patrols. She wondered idly what he expected in return. Since she had been giving Connor, their self-destructive relationship had not continued, much to his disappointment and her relief.
"Dawn can look after Connor," Willow continued.
Dawn gave a squeak of protest, but Willow shot her a silencing look.
"Go to bed," she instructed Buffy.
Buffy nodded.
"Night," she said absently.
She barely made it up the stairs before collapsing on her bed, fully clothed, and falling asleep instantly.
Buffy was woken by the clanging of her alarm clock. It was 2 in the afternoon, time to get up for work. Stupid weird shifts screwing up her internal clock.
She blinked. She had slept all evening, all through the night, and all morning. Why hadn't anyone woken her?
She showered and dressed, putting on causal clothes that she could throw her uniform over.
"Hey," Willow greeted her from the kitchen. "Feeling better?"
"Yeah," Buffy said, rubbing the back of her neck. "Why'd you let me sleep so long?"
"You're dead on your feet," Willow said, then winced at her words. "You know what I mean."
"Where's Connor?"
Willow pointed to the bassinet set up in the corner of the kitchen. Since Connor had to be wherever they were, the bassinet got hauled to every room of the house.
"He sleeping?" Buffy asked.
Willow nodded.
"Guess he had to do it some time. He cried most of the night."
"How come I didn't hear it?" Buffy said, surprised.
"You were out like a light," Willow said. She smiled at her friend nervously. "I wanted to make sure you slept properly for once."
Buffy smiled.
"Thanks, Wil. I appreciate it. I feel much better."
Willow nodded.
"Good. Your shift starts in an hour, you'd better eat something."
Buffy nodded, and set about making herself a sandwich.
"When do you have class?" She asked between bites.
Willow checked her watch.
"Half an hour ago."
Buffy winced.
"I'm sorry I made you miss it. You should have woken me."
"Some things are more important," Willow said warmly. "Besides, she teaches out of the book. I hardly need to come to class at all."
Buffy put her sandwich down, and came around the counter to hug her best friend.
"Thank you," she whispered.
Willow hugged Buffy tightly.
"For you, anything," she replied.
The two friends separated, smiling at one another.
"Right," said Buffy. "If I change for work right now, and you get your bag, you can get to class in time for the last half, and I can drop Connor off at the Magic Box in time for work."
Buffy tried to swallow her disappointment at the rejection letter she had picked up on her way out the door, and get on with her work. While Pretentious Todd babbled about something or other, Buffy couldn't help thinking about college – her life had been good then. She had had a mother, a boyfriend, no baby to look after. Not to mention she hadn't been dead. Well, she had been once, but it was only for five minutes, and that hardly counted. But this was her life now, and she would have to get used to it.
"We're out of the special sauce," Todd sad, cutting through Buffy's thoughts.
She sighed.
"I'll get it." Anything to get away from his incessant pretentious chatter.
"No, your turn up front," said Todd. "I'll deal back here. You take the customers."
Oh goody, thought Buffy sarcastically. The joy of her uninterrupted night of sleep was wearing off, and she felt the ever-present exhaustion creeping back in. Without looking up, she walked to the cash register. Show time.
"Welcome to Doublemeat Palace," she said in a lifeless voice. "How may I help…"
It was only then that she glanced up. And nearly passed out. Her head swam and her vision blurred and her knees felt weak. If she hadn't leaned heavily on the counter, she would have tripped.
Riley. It was Riley, standing there in front of her. He looked… different. He wore all black, and a long scar ran from his right temple to his left cheek. He gave her a slight smile.
"Hey," he said.
Buffy's mind was still not working.
"Huh?" She said. Then, she collected herself. "Riley."
"Sorry to drop in on you like this, Buffy," Riley said.
He was sorry?
"It's you," Buffy said, her brain still refusing to come to grips with what she saw in front of her.
"It's me."
"You're here."
"I know," said Riley.
"And…" she leaned up, peering at his face. "Were you always this tall?" she managed.
Riley leaned on the counter.
"Look," he said earnestly. "This isn't the way I wanted it. But something's come up, something big. We don't have much time. You understand?"
Buffy nodded.
"Not a word you've said so far," she said brightly. Her brain was beginning to work, its wheels to grudgingly start turning.
"Right. I should have known, anticipated. You're working."
Buffy glanced over his shoulder, to the line that was forming behind him. She was the only one on the counter.
"I wanted to explain," Riley continued. "I just don't have time. I've been up for 48 hours straight tracking something bad, and it's come to Sunnydale."
Great. Big surprise there. Buffy's mind was slipping into Slayer mode. Then, with a jolt, she remembered where she was.
"My hat is a cow," she whispered, shame flooding her.
"I know that I'm putting you on the spot," said Riley. "But, you know, here we are. I need the best. I need you, Buffy. Can you help me?"
Buffy looked into his honest, trusting blue eyes. How long had it been since anyone had needed her? Anyone that was over the age of one, anyways.
Pretentious Todd was suddenly at Buffy's elbow.
"Hellooooo, earth to Buffy," he said, annoyed. "People are waiting."
Buffy made another of her snap decisions.
"Todd? I have to go," she said, whipping off her Doublemeat hat, and grabbing her black coat from under the counter. "Family emergency."
"Connor?" Todd asked.
Buffy nodded, letting him continue with his misconception.
"Cover for me, please?"
Todd, who may have not been so bad after all, nodded.
"Sure."
Buffy followed Riley out of the restaurant.
"So, who's Connor?" Riley asked.
Buffy had changed into black clothes on their ride, and they were now driving down a side road. Buffy busied herself with pulling her hair back into a pony tail.
"Hmm?" She asked innocently.
"That guy, the one at the restaurant. You said family emergency and he said Connor."
"Oh," Buffy said. She scrambled desperately to think of a story. She really, really didn't want to explain her adopted son to her ex-boyfriend, especially when he was all handsome and James Bond. Thankfully, he pulled over at that moment, cutting the engine.
"I don't see our demon," Buffy said, scanning the horizon for the demon that Riley had filled her in on on the way there.
"It's not here," replied Riley.
"Let me guess," said Buffy, tapping her chin thoughtfully as she surveyed the low stone buildings they were walking past.
Riley grinned.
This felt good, Buffy realized. It felt good to be patrolling like this, to be working as a team, the playful chatter. To not view patrolling as a chore, but as fun. It hadn't felt like this in a long time.
They came to the edge of the path, with a high fence. Glancing over it, Buffy saw that they were on the top of a high dam. Far below, she could see water glinting off the lights.
"Down we go?" she guessed.
"Looks that way," Riley said. He began to fiddle with his equipment.
"That's a big step," Buffy joked. "So, Agent Finn, you got an extra jet pack for a girl like me?"
"Sorry," Riley chuckled. "Fresh out of jet packs. Looks like we'll have to share." He attached one end of the grappling line to a tree. "Hold on." He put his arm around Buffy, and together they walked towards the edge. Buffy had forgotten how tall he was, how broad his shoulders; how good it felt to have his arm around her.
Their descent down the dam was a rush. Buffy wished it was a ride, so she could go back up and do it again.
The demon attacked just as they reached the bottom. It rushed at Riley, who threw it off, ducking a swing of his arm. Buffy leaped into action, kicking the demon, who lashed out a Riley. Buffy was shoved aside roughly as Riley was hit in the stomach. He reeled in pain.
"Riley!" Buffy called, concerned.
She grabbed ahold of him, using him as leverage to swing both feet off the ground and kick the demon in the back. It tumbled to the ground.
Riley turned in Buffy's arms, pushing her against the wall. Was he going to kiss her? Is that what she wanted? So much had happened since he had abruptly taken off. She wasn't sure.
Over Riley's shoulder, Buffy saw a black-clad figure slide down a grappling line, landing gracefully nearby. It was a woman. She looked over at the two of them.
"Hey," she said.
Riley broke off immediately, moving away from Buffy. She tried not to feel hurt.
"Hey there," she smiled at Buffy. "What exactly are you doing with my husband?"
Buffy blinked. It was almost too much for her tired mind to process.
"Husband?"
She glanced over at Riley, who nodded a little stiffly.
"I'm guessing those aren't code names."
Riley winced.
"Buffy, meet Sam. Sam, Buffy."
"Pleasure," said Sam warmly.
Buffy caught a flicker of movement over the woman's shoulder.
"Demon," she replied.
While they had been talking, the demon had recovered from the blow Buffy had dealt it.
Sam grinned.
"Mine," she said. She rushed at the demon, grabbing both its arms and delivering a powerful kick.
"She's good," Buffy said, scrutinizing the other woman's fighting style.
"She's special," Riley agreed.
"How long have you been married?" Buffy asked snarkily. "Any children yet?"
Riley sighed.
"I meant to tell you," he said. "She caught up to us faster than I thought. She exceeds my expectations a lot."
Buffy didn't know what to think.
"You guys do this often?" she asked. "Tag-team demon fighting?"
"It's what brought us together," Riley admitted. "I almost feel sorry for the demon."
At that moment, the demon lashed out a Sam, hitting her across the face. She went down.
"Not quite," amended Riley. He leapt into the fray, catching the demon's hand as it reached out to strike Sam, and stunning it with his taser. Sam turned from her blow, kicking the demon in the back.
Buffy watched them fight, her mind still spinning.
The demon flung them both off, and Riley handed in a heap at Buffy's feet. She woke up to her situation, the demon in front of her. Sam was holding the demon's arm and kicking it. Buffy grabbed the demon's head.
"Consider this your wedding gift," she grunted. She twisted with all her slayer strength, snapping the demon's neck. It crumpled to the ground.
"I'm really sorry about the demon-slayage," Buffy said again, wincing.
"It's totally not your fault," Sam said reassuringly from the front seat. "We didn't tell you we wanted to follow it."
"I'm sorry anyways," Buffy said. "Being a slayer, I regularly, you know, slay the demons."
She could feel a headache building up behind her eyes. Seeing Riley again had been hard enough, but now she'd made a fool of herself in front of his new wife, and she was bone tired.
"We really need to find those eggs before they hatch," Riley said tightly. "Can we regroup at your house?"
"Yeah, sure," Buffy said, rubbing her eyes in a vain attempt to ease the pressure there.
"You alright?" Sam asked, leaning around her seat in concern.
"Huh?" Buffy lifted her head to see the other woman peering at her. "Yeah. Fine… just, it's been a long day. With work and Dawn and slaying I've been getting zero sleep lately."
"You never needed much, if I remember," said Riley, allowing himself a small smile.
"The joys of slayer physiology," Buffy replied. "I actually am built to stalk graveyards at midnight. But lately I've been getting less than usual."
"Stress?" Sam asked sympathetically.
"Connor's Teething," Buffy corrected absently.
Riley took a turn sharply.
"Pardon?"
Buffy blinked, realizing what she had said. Riley didn't know about Connor, and they were going to her house.
"There's a lot of other people living at my house now, since my mom died," she ad-libbed quickly. "Willow and Tara… but not Tara any more because they had a fight, and Dawn's stuff is all over the place, and Xander and Anya are always over, so… busy place."
"I heard about your mom. I'm sorry," Riley said, gripping the steering wheel tightly. "I guess I missed a lot."
"You have no idea how much," Buffy muttered.
They pulled up to 1630 Revello Drive, the house cheerfully lit. Buffy slid out of the black van's seat, walking towards the door. She wanted to head off whoever had Connor, but Riley and Sam were right behind her.
"Buffy! Where have you been?" Dawn demanded, flinging open the door. "We were worried when you didn't come home from work. And we can't get Connor to shut up!"
The baby's cries permeated the house. Willow hurried into the hallway, a wailing Connor on her shoulder.
"Buffy, thank goodness. He's doing that thing again where he won't be quiet till you hold him," she said, her face distressed.
Buffy felt a smile stretch over her face as she accepted the baby. It felt nice to have someone want only her, after her shock with Riley.
"Poor Connor, it must hurt so bad," she said, cuddling him to her. Connor buried his face on her coat, whimpering. "I missed you too, baby."
"Don't look now," said Dawn, "But there are people behind you."
Buffy stepped aside so Riley and Sam could come inside. She knew by the look on Riley's face that she was going to have to explain Connor, and quickly.
"Behold, the reason I was late," she said, indicating the black-clad commandos in the doorway.
Riley was staring at Connor, his eyes wide.
"Buffy… what…" he gasped.
Buffy held Connor close, as if to shield him from Riley's eyes.
"It's not what you…"
"Hey, Connor's stopped crying!" came Xander's voice from the kitchen. "That must mean mommy's home! Welcome back, Buff, we were worried about you. How was… Riley."
Riley didn't acknowledge Xander's greeting. He was still staring at Connor.
"How old is that baby?" he asked in a strangled voice.
Dawn crossed her arms over her chest.
"Why is it any of your business?" She demanded. "You left."
"Dawn…" Buffy said.
"No. He lost his right to ask about your life when he walked out of it without a second glance," Dawn said angrily.
Riley face was as white as a sheet.
"How old?" he asked.
"Four months," Buffy replied.
Riley blanched.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"You didn't give me much time to tell you much of anything," Buffy said tightly.
"Even that I had a son?"
"Would you have stayed if I had?" Buffy answered.
Sam looked from Riley's ice-pale face to Buffy holding the baby, and did the math.
"Oh," she said quietly.
"Of course I would have stayed," Riley said. "If you had told me you were pregnant of course I would have."
"So I wasn't enough, but he would have been?" Buffy asked.
"Uh, Buff, aren't you forgetting something?" Willow asked.
Buffy blinked. She was getting caught up in the argument.
"I think I have a right to know that I have a son," Riley said, his words clipped.
Buffy sighed.
"He's not your son," she said. "He's Angel's."
Riley looked devastated all over again.
"That should surprise me, but it doesn't," he said after a moment.
"I know I'm new here," cut in Sam. "But isn't Angel that vampire? The one with the soul?"
"That's right," said Dawn tightly.
"Vampires can't have children."
"There's a lot about Angel that isn't a typical vampire," Buffy said, shifting Connor's weight a little.
"I do not want to know," said Riley.
Xander made a face.
"You and me both."
"So after I left you ran to Angel and, what, got knocked up?" asked Riley, turning back to Buffy.
Buffy felt her anger flare.
"You left me, remember? And besides, you're the one who came back married." She took a deep breath, calming herself. "Connor is my adopted son."
Riley blinked.
"I don't understand."
"Angel needed to keep his son safe," Willow said, stepping in. "So we are taking care of him for a while."
"He's not your son?" Riley said, turning to Buffy.
Buffy glared.
"He is my son," she corrected sharply. "Just not by birth."
And, she realized, startled, it was true. At some point, she had fallen in love with the baby just as absolutely as she had once fallen in love with his father. He was hers, and she was never giving him up.
Buffy sat quietly on the couch, staring at her hands. In the kitchen, she could hear Willow and Sam chatting happily together. She wasn't jealous of Sam, really she wasn't. But Riley had his life completely together now, and hers was falling apart at the seams. She didn't know what to do.
"Hey," said a familiar voice.
Buffy looked up to see Riley standing awkwardly in the doorway.
"Can I come in?"
"Sure," Buffy said, scooting over on the couch to make room for him.
He perched on the edge of the sofa.
"Look, I'm really sorry about before. I jumped to conclusions, and …"
"It's ok," Buffy said. "I would have explained him, if they hadn't shoved him into my arms the second I walked in the door."
"I guess I didn't give you much of a chance," said Riley ruefully. "I just thought… he's the right age…"
"I know," said Buffy tiredly. "I know. It's like… my life's not confusing enough and then you have to throw in being a mommy."
"It must be hard," Riley agreed.
"Hard, yes. And confusing, and I don't know what I'm doing half the time. Gina from work tells me that's the natural state of parenthood."
Riley reached over, putting his hand gently on top of hers.
"You're doing a wonderful job, Buffy. I can see how you're holding everyone together. You mom would be proud."
Buffy felt tears burn in her eyes.
"And," continued Riley almost shyly, "I would have been proud to be Connor's father, if it were true."
Buffy blinked hard, willing her tears not to fall.
"Thank you," she said shakily.
Riley gave her a small smile.
"Riley?" It was Sam, coming out from the kitchen. "We should start looking for the Doctor. Clock's ticking."
Buffy cleared her throat, allowing her mind to switch back to slayer mode.
"The Doctor?"
"What the dealer is calling himself," said Riley, getting up to stand beside Sam. "Or herself. I put a tracker on one of those eggs, so the equipment should be up and running."
Sam pulled a small hand held device out of her pocket, and checked.
"Restfield Cemetery," she read off the map.
Buffy got up, and stood beside her, peering at the tracking device.
"Hmmm."
Over Sam's shoulder, Willow scrutinized the screen.
"Hey! That looks like right around the same spot as Spike's crypt. I wonder if he… oh."
Realization dawned on her the same time it did everyone else in the room.
Buffy burst into Spike's crypt without knocking. Spike looked up from his position on top of a coffin, a book in his lap.
"Hello, pet," he greeted her. "Thought I might be seeing you around. Rumour is Captain Cardboard is back in town."
Buffy was furious. Beyond furious. She had even begun to let herself like Spike, and now this? She seethed.
"How could you?" she demanded. "I let you near my baby!" Behind her, Riley and Sam filed in, guns raised.
"Nice place," Riley commented dryly, looking around the crypt's dusty, half-decorated interior.
Spike unfurled himself from his cross-legged position, leaning casually against the coffin.
"Soldier Boy," he greeted Riley.
"Hostile 17," Riley replied back.
"I take it you aren't here for a quick shag," Spike said to Buffy.
Buffy glared at him.
"You come near me and I'll cut it off. You'll spend the rest of your afterlife singing soprano."
Both Spike and Riley winced.
"Come to say hello, have you Captain Fantastic?" Spike asked Riley.
"Not exactly… Doctor."
"I prefer Spike, actually. No need to get formal," Spike snarked.
"I can't believe I was letting myself trust you," Buffy said, coming back to the point. "I can't believe I was treating you like a person. You're a soulless monster."
A flicker of hurt flashed across Spike's face, and then it was gone.
"What do you want?" he asked.
"We've come for your supply."
"That's what they all say," Spike smirked.
"The eggs," Sam clarified, impatient with the conversation. "We've come for the eggs you stole."
"The eggs that will very shortly hatch into at least a dozen demons," Riley added.
"You're off your nut, Soldier Boy," Spike said casually. "Must have been those drugs they were pumping into you. I warned you."
Buffy darted forward, seizing Spike by his collar and slamming him into the wall of the crypt.
"Tell me where the nest is, or I will take this place apart brick by brick."
"Now, now, luv," Spike taunted. "This is how it always starts, isn't it? You sure you want to start something in front of Soldier Boy here?"
"You tell me where those eggs are, or I swear to God I will stake you," Buffy replied.
Spike smirked.
"Promises, promises, Slayer."
"Ry," Sam called. She had found the ladder to the underground part of the crypt. She started climbing down it, Riley following her.
Buffy gave Spike a shove, and released him. She followed Riley down the ladder, and through the underground rooms. She let him lead, not giving on that she was fairly familiar with these rooms.
"You sure they're here?" she asked quietly.
Riley held up his tracker. According to the signal, they were right on top of them.
Sure enough, as they rounded the corner, a cluster of brownish-gray eggs the size of beach balls could be seen.
Buffy exhaled.
"I almost let myself believe you were worth trusting," she said.
Behind her, a muscle in Spike's face twitched.
"You screwed up, Spike. You didn't keep them frozen, did you… Doctor?"
"You can stop calling me that any time," Spike said sharply. "Thing is, they're not mine. I'm keeping them for a friend of mine, who…"
Buffy lashed out, punching him in the nose. Spike stumbled backwards, his nose bleeding.
"No more games," she snapped.
"That's bloody funny coming from you!" said Spike sharply. "Since Captain Cardboard and his merry band of Commandos put this chip in my head I haven't been able to eat proper. I've got to buy my meals, and blood costs money. Where do you think it comes from, sunshine? You got your ways of making money, and I've got mine. You know what I am. You've always known."
"Can you shut him up?" Riley asked.
Buffy shook her head, glaring down at Spike's sprawled form.
"Not so far."
Sam pulled a long, thin weapon from the holster strapped to her back.
"We'd better do this fast before those things hatch. They're really gross."
She pushed a button, and fire spurted out of the end. Efficiently, Sam scorched the eggs. After a few minutes, all that was left of them was ash.
"Hey, Sam," Buffy said, smiling grimly. "Get the record collection too. Spike loves them."
Behind her, Spike groaned in protest.
"So this is goodbye?" Buffy asked. They were outside the Magic Box. She had stepped out because Connor was crying, and had found Riley sitting contemplatively on the front step.
"Yeah," said Riley.
"Do I get to know where you're going, or is it top secret?" Buffy asked.
"Nepal."
"Ah," said Buffy, refusing to elaborate. She sat down on the step beside him.
"I'll send you a post card."
Riley took a deep breath, and then smiled.
"Can I told him?" he asked.
"Sure."
Buffy handed Connor over, and Riley cradled him against his shoulder.
"He's heavy," he complained lightly. "How do you hold him all the time?"
Buffy smiled.
"Slayer strength," she confided.
Riley balanced Connor so he could look into the baby's face.
"He's a cute little guy," he admitted.
Buffy's smile grew wider.
"Cheap brownie points praising my son, Finn." She sighed, rubbing her temples wearily. "Did you wait till your life was absolutely perfect before sending a demon here to rub it in my face?"
"It wasn't easy for me to come back here," Riley admitted. "I was terrified of seeing you again."
"Well, I guess my incredible pathetic-ness softened the blow, huh? I mean, I'm an unwed mother college drop out who works in a burger joint."
Riley smiled slightly.
"You know what I see, Buffy? I see an incredibly strong, incredibly beautiful woman who is holding her family together, who dropped out of college to take care of her little sister; who is working a crappy job to pay the bills; who saves the world on a regular basis; heck, who took in somebody else's child and loves him like her own. That other stuff, it doesn't touch you. You are still the most amazing woman I've ever known. And…" he leaned closer. "Don't tell my wife, but you're still kind of a hottie. You know, for a mom."
Buffy laughed, even though tears were gathering in her eyes.
"Thank you, Riley," she said. "I needed to hear that."
Connor babbled against Riley's shoulder.
Riley pulled him away, resting him on his knees.
"You've got one incredible mom, kid," he said.
Connor put his fist in his mouth and looked at Riley with wide eyes.
Buffy and Riley both laughed.
The door of the Magic Box opened, and Sam stepped through, followed by Willow, Anya, and Xander.
"We've got to go," she said.
Riley stood up, and handed Connor back to Buffy.
"Duty calls," he joked. His voice lowered. "Bye, Buffy."
"We'll keep in touch," Sam promised Willow, exchanging hugs with her and Xander.
Dawn glared at Riley.
"You just going to take off again, or do I get a hug?"
Riley engulfed the petite teenager in a bear hug.
"Goodbye Dawn," he said.
Dawn sniffled.
"I thought it would suck less this time," she said. "It doesn't."
"Our ride's here," Sam said, pointing to a helicopter circling the sky.
With a final wave, Mr. and Mrs. Finn walked down the street towards their ride.
Connor began to cry, the helicopter noise too loud for him.
"Shhh," said Buffy, moving into the Magic Box. She cuddled him close, comforting him as his sobs slowly died down.
Willow, Anya, Xander, and Dawn came in from the street, and moved to the table at the back of the store, where they immediately started bickering over who got the last donut. Anya moved to the till to count the day's take.
Buffy smiled to herself. Maybe her life wasn't so bad after all.
