Challenges: CHALLENGE ACCEPTED
by Monkey Pants
-Buffy/Angel Pairing.
-Post Season 7
-Buffy is living with Riley. . Angel comes back and steals Buffy.
-violence between Riley and Angel
Angel lurked. He liked to lurk. And tonight was the perfect way to do it. There was no full moon in the darkened sky, and besides not having to worry about Nina, he could rely on almost total cover whilst he spied through the prickly bushes in the garden of Them. Into the window that represented his worst fears.
Buffy and Riley. Living together in a dream home, in Florida....with PICKET FENCES. This was horrifying to the angst-ridden vampire on so many levels. Not only was he surrounded by really pointy wooden fencing and a usually sunny climate, but Buffy, his one true love, was living with Captain Cardboard, just when he'd thought she could do no worse than the Immortal.
Thinking of the Immortal, Angel kicked a tree next to him. Buffy, who sat on the sofa next to Riley in her dream Florida home, run to the window, Slayer senses tingling. Angel quickly dived out of sight.
******************************************************
Buffy stared out of the window for a few moments, until Riley eventually joined her.
'Buff, is there anything wrong?', he asked worriedly.
She forced a smile. 'No, no, I just thought i heard something, that's all.'
He smiled goofily back. 'Feeling a little edgy from Rome, huh?'.
Buffy sighed. She wanted to forget about her less-than-fun time in Italy as soon as possible. She also regretted using Riley's divorce as a means to do so. Buffy knew she was being a little unfair to Riley, as she still didn't love him. Well....she loved him, but more in the way she loved Xander...she just didn't feel that spark like she had with-
Riley brought her in for a hug, interrupting her thoughts.
'Lucky we met, we may never have seen each other again. I can't quite imagining you settling down in Florida'.
'Riley, why did you want to move here?', she said, pulling away gently. 'Why not still roaming around, like the Incredible Hulk-', he winced. '-or not', she added quickly. 'You know what I mean-'.
But she knew why. Riley thought he'd met his fate, and was destined to live out his days in a relaxed enviroment with the one he loved. The one he'd rescued from death in Rome. Buffy knew it must have been hard, first for Sam to leave him for another, more muscular man, and then to leave his secret government missions. She also knew that by finding her, Riley had thought he'd found himself.
She had led him on. Buffy was aware of that. But although she didn't melt when he touched her anymore, he gave her comfort, security...love....
Dawn believed Buffy and Riley were made for each other. Trouble was, Buffy often doubted her sister's opinion.
'Buffy, you know I know what you mean', Riley assured. 'And the answer is...you...'
Buffy stared out of the window silently.
*************************************************
Angel looked at his watch. 11pm. He still had time. Maybe if he just rung the doorbell, Buffy's answer, they could talk things over, catch up, suss how much the cookie dough had baked.
But what if Buffy no longer wanted him? She hadn't even called Spike, and although this delighted Angel, it also worried him. He was afraid. Buffy had opted for a normalesque life. No apocalypses, no vampires, no darkness. And for that, Riley was practically perfect in every way.
Angel felt a red hot fury boiling within him, almost warming his cold frame.
/Why/, he cried silently. /Why....Buffy.../
Taking a slight moment to gather his wits, he walked to the door and knocked.
**************************************************
The was a noise at the door. Buffy jumped.
'Who the hell...?', Riley wondered aloud. Buffy moved to answer, but Riley stopped her. 'Buff, I can take care of it. Don't know what weirdos could be out there at night.'
'Really?', she groaned, rolling her eyes. But she couldn't be bothered to argue, and sat down.
*********************************************************
Angel waited, as the door slowly opened. Any moment, and he'd see her. Would she..
'Angel?'
Riley stared at him suspicious and shocked to see his nemesis on his doorstep.
Angel cleared his throat. 'I'd like to speak to Buffy'.
Riley looked tortured. 'Okay, but I'm not inviting you in.'. He smirked. 'We're kind of busy right now...'
'Cut the crap, Scarecrow, and let me speak to her. It's important'.
Riley glared. 'How come i get the feeling this isn't Apocalypse related?'
Angel shrugged. Riley really annoyed him. 'You're not wrong...'
'We're happy', Riley said in a hushed voice. 'I'm not going to let you influence her with your...influence'.
'Grow up', Angel snarled. 'Buffy's still baking, ON HER OWN, I might add. She's her own person. Not yours. I just want to see how she is. Let me see her'.
Riley crossed his arms in defiance. 'Like to see you try'.
Angel sighed. 'Is that all you can do? Use low tricks like non-invitations to defeat me? Not that it comes as a complete surprise...'
'Shut up', Riley whispered.
'I have more strength than you, sharper teeth, more muscles, and hey, I even have better hair. No wonder you're afraid of Buffy seeing me. You're afraid what she might do...what she might choose...'
'Shut up!' Riley snarled.
'Make me!' Angel invited.
Riley dived at Angel, and they rolled around the garden path, fists flying. Angel pushed Riley against a tree, hitting his head in the process. Riley retalliated and threw a punch. Angel growled as he was hit in the eye. He kicked his rival across the garden, and heard the distictive sound of Riley hitting the garbage can. A cat wailed.
Angel strided over, coat billowing in the blackness of the night, and yanked Riley up by the collar. Riley's nose was bleeding, and one of his teeth was missing.
'Now, how about letting me in', Angel offered. Riley, to his confusion, smiled at him sourly.
'Riley, no!', Buffy run across to the two, fear in her eyes. 'No!'
Angel looked slowly downwards, and saw a stake jutting out of his chest.
Buffy hit Riley to the floor, and yanked out the stake.
'Maybe you should take slaying tips from your girlfriend', Angel groaned, clutching his chest. 'Like where you normally find the heart?'
'I'm NOT his girlfriend', Buffy said, shaking her head. 'Not from now on'.
'Wha-?', Riley said groggily.
'I'm leaving. Now. You can't just go around hurting my ex-boyfriends like this. Unless they're evil and unsoulled.'. She took a double take. 'You ARE you, right?'
Angel smiled, and she needed no further answer.
'Take me with you' she whispered.
'I don't know, Buff, it may be dangerous, a lot of perils and fights...'
'Angel...I love you', she whispered.'I thought about you every night since Sunnydale kerboomed. But I was afraid to look for you.' She stopped, and looked into his eyes. 'Did you ever look for me?'
'Always'.
He smiled as they walked off together, leaving Riley to curse and moan.
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