Title: Bring Me Into the Light (20/?)
AUTHOR: Mistress Ace & Em
E-MAIL: rosewood@inreach.com & vslayerbuffyv@yahoo.com
FEEDBACK: Is the butter on our bread. We write because the story begs to be told. Feedback lets us know if we struck a chord with you.
DISTRIBUTION: Our site, Fandom Writers (http://www.fandomwriters.com), of course. FINNatics, Vamps-N-Slayers, the other list archives as well. Anyone else interested, we'll be happy to share.
RATING: NC-17
CATEGORY: Story: Romance, Angst
SPOILERS: As You Were
PAIRINGS: B/R/Sam, m/f, f/f
DISCLAIMER: Don't own the characters at all. (More's the pity) They belong to the Great God Joss Whedon et al. We are just borrowing them for a little bit. That's all. No BtVS characters were harmed in the writing of this fic. Well, maybe just a little.
SUMMARY: Not back for long enough. Not nearly long enough and there were too many things left up in the air. But isn't that the purpose of fan-fiction?
 

Chapter 20

"Well, I did. Just took me two tries to figure out what I wanted back..." The only thing he really wanted in Sunnydale was Buffy. With a quick look at Sam who nodded, Riley moved his hands. The game was abated for now, they could pick it up later. He held one out to her, the other one threaded through his wife's hair. "Come here," Riley offered and requested at the same time.

Honestly, he was taking possession again and he knew it. Like he'd done the night before but without the fierceness. He needed to hold both of them for a moment, to hold and reassure Buffy and Sam that they each had a place in his life. Not one before the other but each with a equal share of his heart. Sam leaned easily into his welcoming touch and watched and waited. Waited for Buffy to take what was being offered.

With a smile, Buffy moved into his embrace, her hand finding his and wrapping his arm around her. Claiming herself for him as much as he claimed her for himself. She held her hand out to Sam, where she sat on Riley's other side. Completing the circle, making things right. Again.

Two soft sighs of relief made Buffy smile a bit more. There was no way she could possibly have refused what was being offered to her. The thought of doing so had never entered her mind. This was what she wanted; demonstrated last night, this morning, and again now. But she understood the need for reassurance. She needed it herself, sometimes desperately.

"Yours," Riley murmured into her hair, only to have that sentiment echoed by Sam a heartbeat later. They both kissed Buffy in turn, Sam lingering a little longer than Riley, lingering so long that he finally lifted his head and kissed the corner of their mouths. Nuzzled them and was greeted by a sound of surprise from Sam as she pulled back to look at him.

"Impatient, aren't you?" she teased, tolerance woven into every word as she fondly watched Riley take her place and claim another kiss from Buffy rather than answer her. That did it. Quiet time was over. It was time for the game to begin again. "Finn, hands."

He obeyed, chuckling as he let go of both of them. Locked his right hand around his left wrist and laid them back down on the pillow. Even hooked his fingers under the headboard. "Will this do, sir?" Laughter in his voice, laughter in his eyes which after a minute or two darkened as Sam's hand on him tightened, moving again, slow and hypnotic.

Buffy giggled softly, hearing the laughter in his voice and being pleased by it. Didn't matter what the cause was, he was happy and that pleased her. "Why do I get the feeling you two do this a lot?" she commented lightly, feeling the playful atmosphere of the game and sensing familiarity in their words and reactions. She idly wondered if she and Riley had ever given others that impression; she didn't think so, but it was hard to say for sure.

"Whenever we get the chance. Can't do it in the field," Sam tilted her head to one side, watching as Riley's eyes closed and he thrust up into her hand. The long arch of his neck invited a kiss or a bite, both of which she held back. "Finn, stay still. Don't make me tie you down." He quieted, stretching out a little more but staying silent while Sam continued to stroke him and talk.

"Should have seen him the first time I figured this out. I thought he was gonna jump out of his skin." While Sam explained, Buffy moved closer, her hands skimming down his chest. Riley shivered and bit his lower lip. Buffy's hands combined with Sam's were almost enough to drive him crazy. He was probably gonna have to have Sam tie him down.

"Why? What happened?" She'd thought Riley would jump out of his skin? Buffy was hit by an intense wave of curiosity. She was so interested in hearing about what had happened that the bit of jealousy that had been starting to creep into her mind evaporated almost as it formed.

"It was during one of our down-times. They're kinda rare... Shut up, Ry." Sam glared at Riley who was chuckling and had the good grace to look chagrined. For about a minute. Brat. "We'd been sparring and I had him pinned on the floor. Grabbed his hands and pushed them over his head because he was about to get away and..." She looked down the length of his body to where her hand gently stroked him. Watched the slick rounded head disappear and reappear within the circle of her fist.

"He was like this. Ready..." Hitch in her throat as she remembered his eyes that night. The way he moved under her, at first embarrassed by his reaction and then even harder as she sprawled on top of him. Good thing they were alone when that happened, just the two of them in an empty gym. "I grabbed his wrists, cuffed him and he was begging in ten seconds flat. Pretty powerful stuff."

"We had more than a few rather intense sparring matches, ourselves. It always was rather fun." In more ways than one; Riley hadn't been kidding when he said he loved a girl who could kick his ass. He'd always loved her strength, even when she'd had to hold back for fear of hurting him. She'd never made him beg, though. Never taken advantage of the power she knew she could have had over him.

Never knew that might excite him.

And, seeing how happy Riley and Sam were together, how good they were and how well they knew each other, perhaps that had been part of her problem. That she refused to let the potential power go to her head. But that could have been dangerous, so she'd never risked it. They'd never talked about it, really. Maybe they should have...

"We should try it sometime. Tie him up..." Sam grinned when Riley's eyes snapped open. His gaze was focused and yes, there was begging. A whole lot of begging, just not with his mouth. Arched back, breath drawn in so quick that even Buffy noticed as lean hips rose sharply into Sam's next stroke. "Make him watch us."

The sound Riley made was indescribable. Somewhere between a moan and groan and a cut-off curse. He turned his head to the side and wiped his forehead against his arm, sudden sweat stinging his eyes. "Just remember... turn-about's fair play, Sam." The tension was palpable, his jaw and arms tight, mute evidence of his internal struggle. Obviously torn between the game and the need to grab one of them, either of them and make the hard and heavy ache go away.

Buffy shrugged and made a soft noise, not quite an agreement but not disagreement either. She was intrigued by the idea, and Riley and Sam both seemed interested, but she was worried about the risks involved in exploring her own darker side. But they could talk about all of that later. For right now, she was still edgy and wanted to do something to stop the ache between her thighs.

When she felt like this, talk was pretty over-rated anyway.

Buffy looked up at Sam, the look in her eyes showing that she was more interested in action now and talk later. She reached out her hand to where Sam's was, on Riley's cock, and began feathering her own caresses around the other woman's slim hand. An idea crept into her mind, but she wasn't sure if she could actually put into words what she wanted to do.

"Buffy, what do you want?" Sam and Riley both said it at the same time and with the exact same inflection. Riley surged upward, craving her touch, the contrast between Sam's sure stroke and Buffy's more hesitant one alluring. His active imagination kicked into overdrive, he had no real experience at this beyond last night but that didn't mean he couldn't figure out the logistics involved with three people and one bed.

Sam eased up a little, moving her hand further down to give Buffy room. She watched as their lover became bolder in her touches, started imitating what Sam herself was doing. "That's it," she encouraged when Buffy didn't answer them. "He likes it when you do this." Thumb up over the little slit, rubbing the slick pearl over the head, nail pressing into the slit. More interesting and interested noises followed that action as the headboard creaked in protest.

"I think I remember," Buffy replied softly. It had just been so long... he was so warm in her hand; she'd almost forgotten how good the warmth could feel. As she mimicked Sam's motion over the head, her fingertips fluttered over the length of his shaft; a move she remembered from what seemed like forever ago. One that he'd always seemed to enjoy, the contrast between the soft touches and the firmer one.

Buffy considered their earlier question for a moment. Their mingled voices had made her shiver, and she wanted very much to tell them... if only she could find the words. She knew they'd said she could have anything she asked for... but would her idea appeal to them? Still, she would never know unless she asked...

"I want... I want to have him inside me and still be able to watch you, Sam, how you react when his tongue is inside you. I want to be able to reach you both at the same time, and everyone to be involved at once." Her cheeks felt hot, she was blushing so brightly. But she'd managed to say it, and it was a start. She looked at them a little apprehensively, waiting for their reaction.

Riley groaned and the headboard creaked even more as the muscles in his arms and chest stood out in high relief. Jesus, he was gonna come. Buffy's suggestion was enough to make him come, right here... right now. He had to stop this, had to put on the brakes. "Oh God... honey, squeeze tight."

Sam didn't hesitate. It was second nature to obey Riley. Her hand tightened around the base of his cock and she felt the heavy pulse there. Even saw the beginnings of an orgasm sweep across his face, heard the catch of his breath followed by another low groan as he slowly came back from the brink. Buffy watched both of them wide-eyed and a little stunned when Sam grinned and nodded. "I think that qualifies as a resounding yes."

Buffy canted her head slightly to one side. She'd seen Riley squeeze the base of his cock before, but she hadn't ever been aware enough to realize what effect it had. It startled her just a bit; she hadn't known that it was possible for him to delay his own orgasm like that... didn't know why he would want to, unless it was for her sake.

Or, rather, theirs - hers and Sam's.

Slowly letting out a breath that she hadn't realized she'd been holding, Buffy relaxed and smiled when Sam also agreed. Her eyes closed briefly and she sent a silent thank you to whatever Power was watching over them. They'd done amazing things last night, but it had mostly been two of them focusing on the third. This would, or so she hoped, involve them all in the same amounts of attention. Divide things more equally.

Not that there'd been anything wrong with last night, far from it. She just wanted a way to unite them all at once.

"You okay now, Ry?" Looking up at him, Sam saw her answer in his eyes. He was calmer, less likely to explode even though he didn't seem able to speak right now. Interesting to have her husband at non-verbal stage; she liked it. Sure didn't happen very often.

Riley nodded, clearing his throat as his heart continued to run the 440 by itself. The thumping pulse was nowhere near as fast as it had been when Maggie's legacy caught up with him last year but the damned thing was still threatening to beat its way out of his chest right now. It'd been awhile since he'd been brought back from the brink when he was that close. The ache was worse, deeper and harsher. Worth it though, worth it to have this chance.

"Let's get you ready," Sam reached across Buffy and fumbled a little with the box. It was hard fishing one out with only one hand but she wasn't ready to lose contact with him yet. In a few minutes, this part of him would belong to Buffy. Be buried deep, sliding in and out of her... having their lover in a way Sam would never be able to experience.

Buffy used her free hand to help Sam as she could... it was a two-handed job, but perhaps it could be accomplished with one hand from each of them. It was a little more difficult than it perhaps should have been, but they managed, and after a few moments, Sam had the rubber in her hand.

She released Riley and sat back on her heels, leaving Sam free to do as she wished for a few more moments. They were indulging her idea, so she was inclined to be patient until it happened. She could wait, and she did enjoy watching the two of them.

Sam knew Riley couldn't stand more stroking and if she did what she really wanted to do, he'd be coming in a matter of seconds. So instead of taking him into her mouth, she deftly rolled the condom down his length, pinching the tip so there would be a little bit of room. He grimaced at the feel of the latex, clearly not his favorite thing, but it was necessary. For now.

"Buffy," finally able to speak, Riley caught her attention. He sounded hoarse, almost unsure of his words. "Come here, please?" Hitch in his voice, quiet plea in his eyes as he waited for her response. He was frankly amazed that his grip on the headboard remained steady through all this because the game itself had faded away. This was no longer a game, it was reality and he wanted her.

Buffy went to him immediately, her eyes soft and a touch concerned. He sounded tentative, as if he wasn't sure of himself or her and so was pleading with her. She bent down and kissed him softly at the same time as she moved to straddle his hips. Then she sat up with a smile for her female lover as she left Riley's mouth for Sam.

"Everybody ready?" Buffy felt she had to ask, just one more time. She didn't know why it seemed important, but it did. And she didn't question herself about it, but back in the furthest part of her mind she still couldn't quite believe that all of this was real.

How could it be? Happy endings like this didn't fall into the Slayer mix.

"Mmmm-hmmm," Riley hummed, barely able to stay in place. Like the time Sam mentioned earlier, he was about ready to jump out of his skin. Especially when Sam took her spot, rising up on her knees and straddling his shoulders. So close and she smelled so good.

"Ready when you are, Buffy," Back straight, head up, Sam watched as Buffy encircled Riley's cock with her hand. Held him gently and rose up on her knees. When Buffy sat back and took him in, Sam would follow that motion. Probably delay it a second or two so he could enjoy the sensation fully before adding another layer to this.

Buffy closed her eyes for a moment, needing to gather her control. When she was ready, she slid back easily. Riley slid smoothly into her, not too fast but not too slow either. The time for teasing was past; neither of them had the patience for it. Buffy moaned softly when he was buried fully inside of her, savoring the sensation of being completely possessed before beginning to rock her hips.

She found an easy rhythm after a moment, and followed it. Her hands rested on his chest for the moment, needing to lean on them for balance and a little extra leverage. To get the angle just right.

Heat and tight and right there. Riley groaned as Buffy took him in, welcomed him back into her body the way she'd welcomed him back into his heart. There were no words that could describe how grateful he was for that acceptance. He didn't deserve it - God, he didn't deserve it - not after what he'd put her through but that didn't mean he wasn't grateful.

Fortunately, Sam took away the ability for him to speak. She sank down slowly and he rose to meet her with equal gratitude. Much like he rose to meet each of Buffy's downward strokes. His mouth, hot on the inside of her thigh, made Sam shiver. When it moved and settled on her sex, she crooned his name. "Riley... Oh Ry... Love you."

Head down, eyes closed, Sam put a hand out to balance herself and it landed on Buffy's. That touch reminded her she was not alone in riding her husband. Not that there was any chance of Sam actually forgetting that. Without opening her eyes, Sam leaned forward, found Buffy's throat and then her chin. Sought her mouth blindly, needing that extra connection. Needing to close the circuit between the three of them.

Buffy moved her head slightly, finding her lover's mouth and kissing her. She lifted one hand from Riley's chest to rest on Sam's hip, careful not to lean on her too hard. When Riley began to move, her moans were muffled by Sam's mouth, just as Sam's soft sounds were muted by hers.

This was what she'd wanted, what she'd needed. All three of them under the same spell, caught up in the same pleasure and the same desire. This, Buffy decided, was a piece of heaven all by itself. Nothing could compare to it, nothing at all.

His grip on the headboard gave him leverage, even though each thrust made it creak a little more. Riley let go of his wrist and hooked his other hand around the same edge. Much better. He could go deeper, raise his head higher, do more to please his ladies...

Sam tasted so good and Buffy... Buffy felt like paradise, even through the condom. They'd never had sex without one and he wondered what it would be like to actually feel her there. No barriers, just them. Someday, they'd give it a try... after they got Buffy on the pill. No little Finns. Not yet.

Sam's free hand was in Buffy's hair, stroking and petting while they kissed. After a moment or two, Sam picked up Riley's pattern and echoed it in her kiss. Every time he thrust into her, she did the same, her tongue sliding into Buffy's mouth. When he retreated and licked, Sam retreated, pulling back a little but not so much that their mouths parted.

This was the three of them. Not Buffy with Riley or with her but all three of them together. And it was the most sublime thing that had ever occurred in Sam's life. Nothing could compare to this perfection. Nothing ever would.

Buffy slid her hand up Sam's side, finding her arm and gliding down it to her hand, the one not in her hair. She twined their fingers together, clasping tightly. She needed that feeling, that final reassurance. Needed it badly. Her world was beginning to spin out of control and her hips thrust faster out of pure instinct. She moaned her lovers' names into Sam's kiss, instinctively sharing with them how good she was feeling.

It was another connection, and she wanted every connection with them that she could possibly have.

Connection, it was the one thing that would anchor them in a world of kaleidoscoping pleasure. Keep them grounded as their bodies moved and rocked and shook the bed. Power, barely reined in, evidenced by Riley's white-knuckled grip on the headboard, by the taut roll of his stomach each time he thrust blindly upward. It lay waiting in Sam's elegant frame, in the arch of her back and the way she kept her balance using only the muscles of her thighs.

Each of them was a prime example of human perfection. Bronzed and gleaming, fierce in their love for one another and for their companion. But their strength was eclipsed by Buffy's, they were pale shadows in comparison to what she could do.

They were her anchors now. They would keep her in this world and keep her from longing for what she'd lost. Keep her from sorrow, from spiraling even further into the dark. The only thing they could offer was themselves and that they gave freely. Without reservation. Without hesitation. Gave themselves completely.

It would be enough. It had to be enough.

Buffy began to tremble as her lovers pushed her nearer to the edge. She could feel Riley's strength, coiled in him as he thrust up into her body. Sam's strength was also in evidence, but softened by her gentleness. Riley, she knew, could be forceful when moved to it, freed by the fact that he knew she had the strength to take it. She'd never seen Sam that way, and didn't know if she ever would; it didn't really matter, though.

She loved the way they were so gentle with her most of the time; loved the way they made her feel so special. They never hurt or degraded her, never made her wish she was dead again. Quite the opposite, in fact. They were her reason to live. They brought her nothing but joy and love and pleasure.

This was not a game. It never had been even though they'd toyed with each other, even though his hands remained in their assigned place. To tell the truth, this was the most serious thing Riley had ever done. Yeah, it wasn't life-threatening. Not in the least. But that's what they did for fun, chasing down demons and vamps and wiping them off the face of the earth.

But this. The three of them together, holding each other, holding onto each other. It wasn't fun and it wasn't a game. It was exhilerating, it was intoxicating and it was something he could never live without. Life without Buffy or Sam in it wouldn't be living. If he lost them, if something went awry on one of their patrols and he lost them, Riley knew he wouldn't want to live afterwards.

The thought of dying didn't bother him. His dying anyway. That was a soldier's lot. Came with the uniform and he was all right with that. Them dying, his lovers dying… that he wouldn't stand for. So he'd make sure they were the best there was. That nothing could touch them. When they went out into the field, they'd have the best back up and the best equipment and everything he could muster to get them home safe.

He couldn't keep them out of the field. It was Buffy's calling, it was her destiny. And to some extent, it was Sam's too. Just like it was his. While his heart screamed at him, told him that it was a bad idea to let them walk into danger, Riley knew there was no way that he could stop them. Stopping them would mean stifling them and he loved them the way they were.

Fierce and proud and strong and God, yes... his.

Buffy's thoughts began to slow as she was caught up in the pleasure in her body. Just a little more... only a little longer and she'd be there. And she wanted it, needed it. Her body ached, reaching for fulfillment. Her kisses with Sam became more passionate, more frenzied, and she clung to her lover just a bit tighter. Her soft cries were muffled by the kiss, but she continued to voice them anyway. She couldn't quite help it anymore.

Riley could feel Buffy tightening around him and that brought him back to the here and now. His body, apparently, had been doing just fine without the interference of his brain if the sounds that Sam and Buffy were making were anything to go by. He angled his chin down, caught Sam's clit between his teeth and tugged. Yeah, that was the trick. He felt her tense, heard her gasp as she sat up straighter and knew the instant she came.

Somehow she kept from screaming. Sam wasn't sure how, but somehow she did it. Intense, the pleasure was intense, crashing into her, breaking her apart. She managed to open her eyes, managed to look into Buffy's pleasure suffused features and cry out to her, "Buffy... oh... oh..."

The sound of her name in Sam's passion-filled voice tipped the scales and Buffy tumbled headlong over the edge and into bliss. "Sam... Riley... oh, God..." she moaned as she fragmented, the waves of pleasure sweeping her away. Her expression echoed Sam's in her own way, but her eyes stayed open. She was still watching Sam; lovely Sam, her face filled with ecstasy. Buffy couldn't have torn her gaze away for anything, and she didn't try. There was nothing in the world more beautiful than this.

With those combined cries echoing in his ears, Riley finally let go of the headboard. Peeled his fingers away from it and used one hand to steady Sam and the other curved around Buffy's right hip. He held onto them, steadied them, took care of them. Even managed to ride out both of their orgasms while his body ached.

Sam caught her breath after a moment or two before climbing down from her perch. She curved herself into his side, one hand in the center of his chest, the other sliding underneath Riley's head. Sweat-dampened cotton against her skin, his chin slick and eyes narrowed to slits, breath a harsh struggle in the sun-washed room. Buffy still trembled, tiny sounds of pleasure working their way out of her throat as Riley continued to move deep inside.

The expression on her husband's face was closer to pain than pleasure but Sam knew better. She knew he was drawing it out, that Riley walked along the razor's edge and it would take very little to tumble him over. She reached for his throat, fingertips poised over the scar there but Riley shook his head. "No. This has to... God... yes... has to be pure... Just us... You and me... and Buffy... Oh God, baby. I'm gonna come."

Every word was louder than the last, each one punctuated by a hard thrust, illustrated by his hands on Buffy's hips. Broad fingers dented pale skin, nails pressed into the sharp rise of bone, strength that would leave bruises on anyone else. Holding her there as he rose up again and again and again. Breath stuttering through a half-open mouth, steady gaze fixed on Buffy who watched him in turn.

"Come for us, Riley," Buffy purred, her voice low and almost dripping contentment. She feasted her eyes on him, watching every expression, seeing the passion and pleasure in his eyes. "Come for us," she repeated, softer. Reaching down inside herself for that extra bit of control, Buffy squeezed her inner muscles tight around his cock. She released him for a moment, then squeezed again, in concert with his thrusts. She always caught him when he was deepest inside her.

That did it. He was gone, totally and completely gone. Orgasm - harsh, fast, sublime - lifted him up then slammed him back into the bed. It hit hard, the fierce ache changing to pleasure and that pleasure dragged Riley's head back and opened his mouth, loosened his tongue. The words that poured out of him shocked even Sam. She saw Buffy tense, saw her lover's face fall and Sam did the only thing she could think of. She clamped her hand over Riley's mouth and muffled his cries.

He'd lost control and Sam knew it. Otherwise Riley would never have said those things, not after figuring out they bothered Buffy. The look in the other girl's eyes was very telling. Shock and something bordering on pain, tears shimmered briefly before Buffy blinked them away.

**Spike, it's gotta be Spike that did this to her.** Sam was grasping for straws and that vamp had the longest one available where Buffy was concerned. Especially after the things Ry had told her about that particular blood-sucker. Hostile 17 was due for a world of hurt.

"Buffy. He doesn't mean it that way." Sam spoke soft and low, her voice pitched just loud enough so Buffy could hear her over Riley. Who was thrashing but not fighting the hand over his mouth. The muffled sounds tapered off as he came back to the real world.

Buffy jumped slightly at the soft tone of Sam's voice. She raised stricken eyes to meet Sam's, begging for reassurance; hazel depths filled with pain and a trace of fear. Even though her conscious mind knew without a doubt that this was a completely different situation, part of her cringed, waiting for the abuse that always followed such vehement cursing. She didn't bolt, knowing that she could never run or hide... but part of her wanted to.

It was too much, too powerful a reaction, and she couldn't prevent it. No matter how much she struggled with it, the fear still won. Her mind still dragged her back into the memories. The ravages of the last year had left her too weak, too vulnerable. And silently, she closed her eyes and bowed her head, fighting within herself for a little peace.

Still shaky from coming so hard, Riley kissed Sam's palm and she drew her hand away. He saw the fear that he'd caused, felt it tear at him with its sharp claws. His fault, this was his fault. "Oh Jesus... Buffy, I'm sorry." Riley's arms slid around her, drew her trembling body down into an embrace. Sam embraced her as well, kissing her hair, her cheek, anything she could reach.

She'd never been like this, not when he knew her. Vamps weren't known for having clean mouths and Buffy would laugh crap like this off. She'd spin her stake, kick them in the teeth and send them back to hell on that wooden point. Something had happened since he was gone and the biggest something - other than her dying - the biggest something Riley could come up with was Spike. Who had quite the mouth on him...

Another Sunnydale lesson - epiphanies were never fun. In fact, they sucked. Riley ground his teeth as the pieces fell into place. Spike could hit her. Spike had hit her. Jesus Oh yeah, this kept getting worse by the minute but he couldn't stop following the trail. Spike probably hit her during sex. Hit her and cursed at her and degraded her and...

Stake.

He was gonna get up out of bed - once his legs worked again - get up out of bed and go stake that bastard.

One look at Sam confirmed she'd come to the same conclusion he had. While his eyes narrowed and the muscle by his jaw jumped, his wife leaned in close. She pressed up against Buffy and stroked her hair. That gentle movement reminded Riley where he was and that anger wasn't the answer.

He was just shy of committing cold-blooded murder and Sam, his wonderful Sam, was being comforting. No wonder he loved her so damned much. She could be soft when his every instinct was to be hard as nails. "Buffy, oh honey. Nobody's going to hurt you. We won't let them hurt you..."

It took several minutes, but the soft words and gentle caresses slowly began to calm Buffy. She slowly relaxed, the fear and tension releasing her from their grip. The feelings of warmth and safety took over, stealing through her mind and banishing thoughts of pain and abuse. But as she relaxed, shame crept in on her. She should have known better; neither Riley nor Sam was anything like Spike. They would never hurt her, never abuse her.

She knew that without a doubt. But the fear had taken over anyway, and it bothered her. A lot, truth be told. Riley wasn't Spike, he'd never be Spike. He loved her, respected her...

"Buffy, what happened?" It was a perfectly reasonable question, asked in a perfectly reasonable tone. Riley was outwardly calm and coldly furious inside. All of the happy after-sex glow was gone, gone like it had never been there. His tone, more than the words, drew Sam's immediate attention.

When Sam looked up at him, she didn't find her gentle husband. Instead she was face-to-face with her commanding officer. The man she respected more than anyone else in the world – even though she'd never admit it to him. There was no softness in his expression, no compassion... until Buffy raised her head.

And his face changed. The softness was there now. Softness and sympathy, all threaded round with steel. Riley loved her, loved both of them and he'd do anything to protect them. Buffy had been hurt, been hurt badly and he was bound and determined to rectify that.

No matter what it took.

"I..." Buffy began, but she choked on the first word and shook her head. Taking a deep breath, she started again, "No one ever... ever cursed at me, or around me, during sex... until Spike." Her voice was very small, hesitant, but she continued anyway. "He would swear at me, then he would either hit me or berate me. Telling me how wrong I was, how messed up, how dark. How I was just like him, and why did I fight him when he only wanted to help me be what I really was."

Her voice broke, and it took her a long minute before she could continue, her voice even smaller and softer than before. "For a minute, you sounded a lot like him. You... and I couldn't help it... it all came back, so fast. I...I'm sorry..." She began to shiver again, just slightly, as she tried to fight off the memories again.

Buffy bowed her head and rested her forehead on Riley's chest, suddenly missing the long hair that would shadow her eyes and hide her away, if only for a moment. She'd give anything to hide from this, to hide from what she'd let happen.

"He's wrong, Buffy. You aren't dark. You never have been." Riley stroked her back, her hair, his hand meeting Sam's as she did the same. "The darkness is all around you but it's never touched you. It's not part of you. You're the light, the only hope this place's got." He felt her relax a little, her trembling easing up as he and Sam petted and kissed and touched her.

The look he exchanged with Sam a moment or two later said it all. Spike had a date, an up-close and personal date with a stake.

The only question was, which Finn would get to him first.

 
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