Chapter 2

Riley Finn arrived home from the secret FBI headquarters in Sunnydale around 5 in the evening. He collapsed on the couch, thinking over everything that had happened that afternoon. He was mentally exhausted, but he couldn't help wondering why he had agreed to go back to the FBI. It was almost as if his mind was being controlled. However now, he was more worried about how he would tell Buffy that he was leaving. He didn't want to hurt her, but he figured that there was no way to leave without her heart being broken, again.

He still remembered the day she had agreed to go out with him. She had done it only after he promised to give her a good warning before he broke up with her. It was an absurd idea, but he had been too much in love to disagree. She had explained about how her love had been used and abused by an asshole named Parker Abram. He had slept with precious Buffy and then acted like it was no big deal. Buffy had been devastated and had promised herself to never date again. But then Riley had broken down her wall.

About half an hour later, after the musings about Buffy's past, riley walked to the kitchen to get a glass of wine. He knew that he was incredibly tense and he didn't want Buffy to notice. He wanted her to think that he sincerely meant it when he said he wanted a separation and time to think. Also, he just felt like a glass of alcohol. He sat at the kitchen table drinking and thinking, until he heard a noise in the front hall around 6:15.

*Hmm. I guess Buffy's home early. She usually works until 7, but I guess not tonight. Well, I better go meet her. No time like the present for a good argument.* as he was thinking this, Riley walked slowly to the living room. He noticed that Buffy hadn't hung her jacket up, but still casually entered the room. He was shocked by the figure he saw sitting in the chair.

"Hello, Riley." The woman sitting in his chair was calm and collected.

"You!" he gasped. "What are you doing in my house?" The woman said nothing, merely smiled and waved, but not to him. A few seconds later, Riley Finn was hit over the head with a very blunt object. He crumpled to the floor.

"How could you do this to me? I thought you needed me."

"Oh, shut up!"

Riley's head spun ash he gazed at Maggie Walsh. Her evil grin was the last thing he saw before the world dissolved into blackness.