Xander walked through the kitchen quietly. He made his toast without a sound hoping that Anya could get a bit of sleep, the baby had kept them up most of the night. He lunged for the phone on the first ring, praying it didn't wake anyone up. "Hello." He whispered.

"Xander?" Buffy whispered back in to the phone.

"Yes, it's me." He answered still whispering.

"Are you okay? You're whispering?"

"I'm good, just trying to let Anya get some sleep, the baby was up all night. Why are you whispering?" He asked as he pulled a bar stool up to the counter by the phone.

"I'm trying to let Riley sleep." She whispered back.

Xander grinned, "Riley is sleeping at your house? Uh...Buffy, I thought you were going slow?"

"We ... wait how did you know that?" Buffy asked her voice rising to a squeak before she lowered back to a whisper.

"Well, Riley may have mentioned it. So how is everything with you two?"

"Well, it was nice... very nice. But... " Buffy frowned as she twisted the phone cord in her hand.

"But what?"

"We made love... but neither of us mentioned love." Buffy sighed into the phone.

"Do you love him Buffy?" Xander asked as he poured himself a cup of coffee.

"Yeah, I do, but what if he...isn't sure? I mean I don't want to pressure him."

"Buffy, you've wasted lots of time in your love life because you were scared to say how you feel, you lost Riley once and then when you found Spike it took you ages to admit you loved him... don't do that again. You have to tell Riley how you feel - even if you're scared." Xander looked at the clock,"Buffy, I hate to do this but I've got to go."

"But what if... I mean if he doesn't feel the same way?" Buffy sighed again.

"Buffy, you'll never know if you don't tell him. You'll be fine. I love you...talk to you soon." Xander hung up the phone and smiled to himself, he'd done all he could the rest was up to Buffy and Riley.

Riley rolled over in the bed reaching for Buffy, his eyes opened when he felt the bare space where she had been. A quick look around the room confirmed she wasn't close by. He got up and walked softly towards the living room, he could barely hear Buffy talking to someone on the phone. He stood in the hall straining to hear what she was saying. He smiled when he realized it was Xander she was talking too.

HIs smile quickly faded when she mentioned the non use of the "L" word. So she had been worried about that too, he'd known that last night had gone too well. He leaned against the wall and concentrated on hearing what else she had to say... maybe it was better if it ended now, before he was head over heels again. Oh,hell who was he fooling? He was already head over heels.

He heard her small soft voice, "Yeah I do..but what if he...isn't sure? I don't want to pressure him." What was she talking about? She didn't want to pressure him? Could she? Was she afraid to say she loved him?

He started to go into the living room but stopped when she asked Xander "But what if...I mean if he doesn't feel the same way?" He'd heard her sigh and his heart was pounding in his chest. Surely she had to know how he felt? Maybe it was time to tell her?

He waited for her to hang up the phone before walking into the living room, "Good morning." He smiled at her curled up in the corner of the couch. She looked tiny and vulnerable but he knew that underneath the small exterior was a strength like he'd never known before.

"Morning." She looked up and smiled brightly at him, "Hungry?"

"Yeah, a little." He answered as she stood and walked towards the kitchen

He watched as she pulled a waffle iron from the lower cabinet, "Waffles? My mom used to love these." Buffy chattered nervously.

He smiled at her nervousness, finding it somehow sweet, "Waffles would be good."

She pulled the dry ingredients from the cupboard and went to the refrigerator for the rest. "Uh...did you sleep well?" She finally asked softly.

"Yes, the best sleep I've had in a long time. You?"

"Yes, the best sleep I've had in a long time too." She sighed as she reached for a large bowl and measuring cup.

"Buffy... "

"Riley..."

She began to measure ingredients, "You go first."

"Okay... I just wanted you to know how wonderful last night was...I know we said we would wait but..." He started and was soon interrupted.

"But... but as wonderful as it was it was a mistake...I understand...I'm sorry I didn't mean to rush you." She stirred the bowl of batter furiously. Tears stung her eyes.

He reached for her hand to still the stirring motion. Taking her chin in his hand he raised her face to look at him eye to eye, "You didn't rush me, Buffy. It wasn't a mistake. I'm sorry if I made you feel that way. The only thing missing from last night was...this." He gently kissed her lips.

"No..I think there was plenty of that." Buffy laughed softly, pulling away from him slightly.

"Okay I agree, but you didn't let me finish." He rested his forehead against hers, "I love you Buffy Summers."

She laughed then, putting her arms around his neck and kissing him soundly."I love you too, Riley Finn."

He pulled back from her is face full of awe, "Do you know how long I waited to hear those words?"

She lowered her eyes, "I know, I'm sorry I couldn't say them before."

He shook his head, "Don't be sorry. It wasn't time then, we were both given the chance to love two special people if only for a short time. And we won't ever forget them. But now that it's our time to be together, I don't plan on ever letting you go again."

She leaned against him, "I'm glad you didn't give up on me. I was afraid you might not give me another chance."

"Well you know what they say, once bitten, twice shy." He grinned at her.

She rolled her eyes at him and shook her head.

"Okay maybe not the best analogy in our case. But I was scared."

"And now you're not?" She asked soflty, "If you are you can tell me. We have to be completely honest with each other from now on."

"Not so much." He kissed her on the nose, "I'm starving show me some of those culinary skills of yours."

After breakfast was over he smiled over his coffee cup, "You are a skilled cook, that was delicious."He diipped a strawberry into the bowl of whipped cream.

"I have other skills too." She raised her eyebrows seductively.

"Do they include whipped cream too?" He replied wickedly.

"They could." she called out as she ran back to the bedroom.

He followed her quickly realizing that he would follow her anywhere now.

Several hours later

Xander dialed Buffy's number,he hoped everything was okay at her apartment.

He laughed out loud when he heard the message.

"Buffy can't come to the phone right now. If this is Xander do not worry and please DO NOt drop by to check on me. I"m very busy! "

The message ended with a fit of giggles and in the background a deeper masculine laugh.

Xander nodded and smiled.

"Do you think he got the message?" Buffy sighed as she curled up closer to Riley.

"I'm sure he did." Riley kissed the top of her head before she reached for him, pulling him down to her and deepening the kiss.

"The message said I was very busy... we want to keep this relationship all about honesty right?" He laughed against the softness of her mouth and all was well in the world.

The End

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