Summary: Set in season five, during the episode "Into the Woods". What if Buffy had ran faster? What if she'd reached Riley before he left? Would it even matter?
Authors Note: I don't own any of the characters. They all belong to Joss Whedon, the great mind he is.
She ran. Heart beating, aching, pain. Would she reach him? She had to. He was her salvation, everything she'd ever dreamed of. If only she'd realized what she had to do earlier, if only she didn't need Xander to tell her how she felt. You know, sometimes, he could be very intelligent.
Almost there… a few more feet. Just a little further…
'Push yourself Buffy. You can't let him leave, you love him.' She told herself, fighting back the tears.
She was there, finally, her heart pounding through her ears, her side splitting, but she didn't notice it. All she noticed was the sound of the helicopter as it started its engine, and the back that was to her…
"Riley!" She managed to yell at the top of what was left of her lungs. Was it loud enough? Would he hear? Would he even notice, even turn around?
He did.
"Riley!" She called again, the wind from the helicopter beating at her hair.
"Buffy?" He asked himself under his breath. She ran again, towards him, the one she loved.
"You're not a rebound…I need you. In every way you thought I didn't, I need you. I want to be your reason. I want to be why you stay." She looked up at him, tears clouding her vision. As long as she could see him…
"Buffy… how do I know you really mean it?" He wondered out loud, looking her eye to eye
Those tears…he wanted to make them go away. He loved her more than anything, more than life itself. She was all he wanted. He wanted to believe more than anything that she meant what she was saying, that she really wanted him for herself.
"If you've never believed me before, trust me now. You are the one. I can't lose you."
He embraced her, and she was able to close her eyes, drown in him, all that he was, is, and ever will be.
A call came from the helicopter.
"Agent Finn! We have to go!" It called out. Riley let her go for a moment, and ran to the helicopter.
"I have too many reasons to stay." He called out over the helicopter noises. Buffy let herself cry, collapsing in a pile of raw emotions.
"I'm here Buffy. I won't leave you."