Buffy will always be at the centre of the Scooby gang. Riley compares her to a bright light shining on everyone and everything around her, but the further away you get from the source the dimmer the light gets and the harder it is to see. That's why when Buffy tells him that they're invited to Tara's birthday party it takes Riley almost a full minute to remember who Tara is.

He doesn't decide to go until half an hour before the stores close, the staff glare at him because he's holding up closing, but he's never really talked to Tara so he doesn't know what she'd like. But he imagines the look his mom would give him if she knew he was going to turn up at a birthday party without a gift and decides to keep trying.

He's glad he decided to go to the party if only for the pleased look on Buffy's face when she sees him.

With Riley making up with Buffy and Tara being distracted by her friends the bronze is emptying out when Riley gets Tara alone to give her his gift.

"Y-you didn't have to.." she says without looking at him.

"I did, it's your birthday. You don't already have it, do you?" he watches as she unwraps and turns over a paperback copy of 'A Brief History of the Occult.'

She looks up through heavy lashes, "Uh, yeah," she offers an apologetic lopsided smile, "but it's a good book, it's can't hurt to have two copies."

Riley smiles back. He's always admired honesty in a girl. He makes a silent promise that he'll talk to her more this year, get her something better next time.