When Riley first kissed Dawn, and she decided to kiss him back, he knew it was going to complicated. How in the world was he going to tell her about the vampires? About the darkness that almost overtook him?

Their first kiss was short but passionate. When they let go of eachother he saw the happiness in her eyes, but also fear. Fear of being like her sister. He knew that because that was what he feared too. He feared she would run if she found out about his past.

She was a bit insecure, though he found her adorable in her towel. He went in the shower, she dressed, and they ate pizza.

He wondered why it had taken him so long to notice her, and then realized she was just fourteen when the whole Buffy-thing began.

He wondered if things would have been different if she had been the eldest, if she had been the slayer and if they had been together. He wondered to which extent she was like Buffy.

He would find out. But not now. Right now he was happy just watching her eat her pizza. Gazing into her beautiful eyes and see the love that was obviously for him. He already knew she was different in that. She loved him, only him, she needed him. But he also felt a bit guilty. Did he need her in the same way as she did? Or was this faith backfiring him? Was she going to be the Riley in the Buffy-Angel situation?

The next morning he woke up and for a moment he thought he was still dreaming. There was somebody in his arms. Not the blonde girl he was used to, but a smaller brownhaired girl who was still peacefully asleep.

He tried to recover what happened the night before. They kissed, and ate pizza. But after that it all become sort of blurry. That probably had something to do with the three bears he drank. And with the gorgeous girl next to him whose kisses made him dizzy.

She stirred and opened up her eyes. She was still a bit sleepy but her smile already made him feel weak. He leant over and kissed her softly. She responded quickly, her lips parting and her tongue finding his. He pulled her closer into his arms and felt her warm fingers running over his arm.

Running over his...he couldn't help tightening his muscles. The two little round scars reminded him of things he didn't want to be reminded off.

She didn't notice, or pretended not to notice. She kept on kissing him until he forgot all about the scars and actively kissed her back. They kissed until they were both breathless.

They spent the day in bed.

Talking about their pasts, about things that had happened while he was in Belize and she was stuck in Sunnydale.

They talked about their futures. He didn't know what he was going to do now. The Initiative in Sunnydale was no longer there, and without Graham or Forrest he didn't feel like being there anyway. Perhaps he could become a Psychology professor. He had his degree after all.

She responded happily that she was planning on studying Psychology. They laughed and kissed again.

She told him she was still a virgin and he replied there was a time for everything. He wasn't planning on rushing into anything.

The whole day was like heaven. They didn't even think about food until she heard his stomach protest. She quickly got out of bed and fixed them some sandwiches.

He stayed in bed watching the ceiling.

He was really lucky to have stumbled upon Dawn again. She made him happy and for the first time after he left Sunnydale two years ago he dared to dream about a future.

He only had to tell her some things first. He wanted to have a fair chance with her, but to have that he needed to tell her everything about his past.

She came walking back into the room and asked him what he was thinking about. He smiled and took her hand. This wasn't the right time or place. He kissed her softly and she seemed to forget her question.

He sighed inwardly. He was going to tell her. One day. When the time was right.