TITLE: “One Thing Leads to Another”

AUTHOR: Alessandra “Pamela”

EMAIL: destructo-girl@...

RATING: NC17 overall

DISTRIBUTION:  My sites… anyone else, just ask.

PREVIOUS PARTS: Can be found at my site - http://destructo-girl.com

FEEDBACK:  I would love it if you were so inclined. :)

SPOILERS:  This takes place after “The Gift” except Buffy didn’t die.

SUMMARY:  Buffy and Graham run into each other and find out they get along *really* well.  But will their loyalty to Riley keep them apart?

DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of the “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” characters or situations (I will even give my story ideas to Joss in exchange for a day on the set).  I am borrowing them, without permission, and I mean no harm to them.  They all belong to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, Fox, and Warner Brothers.  I wrote this purely for entertainment and not at all for profit.

NOTE: This has not been beta read, so please excuse any mistakes. 

***

“How’s your chicken?” Riley asked.

Buffy smiled, “Delicious.  How about your salmon?”

“It’s great, I’ll have to thank Tom for telling me about this place.”

He had taken her to a hotel in Santa Barbara that was reputed to have one of the finest restaurants in all of the U.S.  It also had a great view of the beach and had a *very* romantic atmosphere.  Riley was even considering returning with Buffy to stay in the hotel for a romantic weekend sometime in the future, but he figured it was much too soon to even broach the subject at this point.

“Yes, thank Tom for me too.  This is *exactly* what I needed.”

“Good, you deserve it.  Especially considering how stressful your life is.”

“You’re not kidding about the stress!  I swear, one of these days I am going to decapitate Larry with a butter knife,” Buffy groaned.

“Damn, I never should have said that.  The point of tonight was to make you *forget* your troubles for a while.”

She smiled, “That’s right, I’m sorry.”

“Just close your eyes and think about the fact that you and I are in a great restaurant with good food and no responsibilities for the evening.”

Buffy did as he said, “That’s better.  Much better.”

“Good,” he grinned.  “After we eat, I was thinking maybe we could have a walk on the beach?”

“I like that idea,” she told him, honestly excited, “God, Riley, do you realize that I have never had a night like this?  I always dreamed of a super romantic date, but it just never happened.”

“Well, that’s a shame.  But then again, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t glad to be the one on the date with you.  We’ll have to work on doing all the stuff you wanted to do but never did,” he said, before realizing the implications of his statement.  “Um, well, I didn’t mean…”

Buffy laughed, “Don’t worry, Riley, I know what you meant.  And it’s very sweet.”

“Good,” he said, relieved.

“Let’s see… I believe at one time, you promised to take me driving someday.”

“On our first date,” he recalled.

“Yup.  And you started making with the naughty talk then, too.  Why, Mr. Finn, you are *constantly* referring to sex around me?” she teased.

It was Riley’s turn to blush.  “You’re an evil woman.”

They enjoyed a comfortable silence and Buffy tried to shake the feeling that this wasn’t quite right.  This was *Riley*, who she cared so much about and had wanted a second chance with so badly.  She loved Riley, when she had chased after his helicopter, she had been sure of it, and she still had feelings for him.

So why did she keep thinking about Graham?  Why did it matter that she loved him too when Riley was the one who wanted to be with her?

***

After they finished their meals and enjoyed a cup of coffee as they talked and digested, the twosome made their way out to the beach.  Sitting down on a bench, Buffy pulled off her sandals as Riley removed his shoes and socks.

“Oh, did you want to use my phone to check in with Dawn?” he offered.

Buffy shook her head, “I’m sure she’s fine.  If not, she would have called.  I must learn to trust her.”

“Very good,” he grinned.

“Well, I’ve left her alone before, so that’s not new.”

“No, but it’s the first time you left her with a friend.  It wasn’t *that* long ago that I was her age.  It’s a lot easier to get into trouble when you’re with a friend.”

“Are you *trying* to make me nuts?” she joked.

“Sorry,” Riley smiled.

“I’m sticking to my guns and trusting her.  Besides, Lisa’s a good kid too.”

“You’re absolutely right,” he nodded.  “Ready to walk?”

“Sure,” she agreed, taking his hand as they walked closer to the shore.  “It’s such a beautiful night.  It couldn’t be more perfect.”

“You’ll get no argument from me.  I want to pinch myself, make sure I’m not really stuck in the middle of a jungle having a really great dream.  I have to tell you, waking up to find out that I haven’t bathed in days and have nothing but bugs to eat would be more than a little disappointing.”

“Bugs?!”

“Well, not *bugs*, but a lot of the stuff I had to eat didn’t taste much better.”

“I don’t care, as long as it’s not bugs.  I don’t know if I could kiss you, knowing there had been bugs in your mouth.”

Deciding to take a chance, Riley paused, smiling at her flirtatiously, “Does that mean you want to kiss me?”

“Maybe…” she teased.

He slowly dipped his head down until their lips made contact.  Buffy’s mouth opened and bid entrance to Riley’s tongue.  Her hands moved to his upper back, clinging to him tightly while he gently stroked her lower back.

When oxygen became an issue, they both pulled back and smiled.

“That was very nice,” Buffy commented, getting a nod from Riley.

Content to just be together without saying anything, they continued their walk down the beach.  She found herself filled with unease yet again.  She’d had high hopes for their first kiss after getting back together.  Not that it was a bad kiss – Riley had always been a great kisser.  She had just thought perhaps once they had kissed, things would get easier.  She wouldn’t have feelings for Graham, or at least her feelings for Riley would be reinforced and she would be more confident about their relationship.

But everything just felt wrong.

***

“Did you want to come in for some coffee?”

“Uh, I’d better not.  I have an early day tomorrow,” Riley said.

“Okay, well, I’ll see you tomorrow night.  Don’t forget, the party starts a seven,” Buffy told him.

He nodded, “Want me to walk you to the door?”

“Actually, no.  The way Lisa and Dawn have their faces pressed against the glass like those little Garfield dolls people hang in their back window makes me think it might be uncomfortable.”

Riley laughed when he saw that the two teens were indeed staring at them through the large bay window in the living room.  “What is up with that?”

“I have no idea,” Buffy shrugged, also amused, “Maybe they get a vicarious thrill?  I have to be honest, if I have the choice between my sister spying on us or dating herself, I’m going with her being a big weirdo.  It’s easier.”

“God, you’ve changed so much,” he smiled.

“Hopefully I am not *too* boring and mature,” she joked.

“No, you’re just right,” he promised, leaning over to kiss her.

She returned the kiss, gently massaging the nape of his neck before the two broke apart breathlessly.  After another kiss, she grabbed her purse and opened the door.

“Thanks again for a wonderful evening.”

“Thank *you* for your company,” he smiled, “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Okay,” Buffy nodded, climbing out of the car, “Bye.”

As she walked up to the front door, Riley waited in his car in front of the house to make sure she got in.  Opening the door, she turned and gave him a small wave before he drove away.

***

“Is kissing a very big deal when you are, say, twenty, and have a few boyfriends under your belt?” Dawn attempted to casually ask Spike as they sat in the living room.  Buffy was busy in the kitchen finishing up with the snacks, leaving the two of them alone until the rest of the guests arrived.

“Did Buffy kiss Soldier Boy?”

“Yeah,” she sighed.  “Lisa and I saw them last night in Riley’s car when he brought her home.”

“They went at it right there?” Spike asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Not exactly ‘went at it.’  More like a goodnight kiss.  But when Buffy came in she was all giddy so I have a feeling that wasn’t the only kiss.”

“Don’t worry, Niblet, Buffy’s not quite shackled to the living Ken doll quite yet.  She kissed me once, you know.”

“She kissed you?  When?”

“After Glory kicked my ass.  Big Sis was full of gratitude,” he smirked.

“Really?” Dawn replied, honestly shocked.

Spike was slightly offended.  “I’ll have you know that I am a bloody great catch!”

“Sorry Spike, I didn’t mean it like that,” she apologized.

“I know,” he nodded, “Point is, just because Buffy’s snogging the bloke doesn’t mean you have to lose hope.  And you invited this Graham fellow here tonight too, right?”

“Yup, and he promised to come!”

Just then, the doorbell rang and Dawn jumped up, eager to see which of her guests had arrived, praying it was the man in question.  Then he and Buffy could have some time alone together.

Opening the door, she was disappointed to find Xander and Anya on the other side of the threshold.  “Oh, hi guys.”

Xander frowned, “Gee, don’t be so excited to see us, Dawnster.”

“Sorry, I was just expecting someone else.”

“Hello Dawn!  Happy birthday!  You’re fifteen now, which is actually nothing special.  When you are sixteen, you can drive a car, but it’s not until you are eighteen that you can do fun things, like vote and legally have sex,” Anya nattered.  ‘However, Xander has informed me that many times, young people have sex *before* it’s legal.”

“Anya,” Xander warned.

“Oh, but that is wrong,” Anya pointed out, trying to appease her boyfriend.  “Buffy most certainly would like you to wait, although from what I understand, she had sex with Angel when she was only seventeen and that was illegal so if you choose to do so, what can she really say?”

“Do you guys want to come in?”

***

“So your dad sent Dawn a card?” Willow asked as she helped Buffy fix some snacks for the party that was getting started in the living room.  Some of Dawn’s friends from school had arrived and pop music was now blaring.  “I mean, I guess it’s not weird of him to send her something since it’s her birthday, but considering the fact that he hasn’t even acknowledged your mom’s death…”

“He doesn’t know yet.  I’ve left a ton of messages at his office, saying it’s imperative he calls me, but they either don’t give him the messages or he doesn’t call.  Maybe I should quit trying to be sensitive and just leave a message that his ex-wife is dead,” Buffy sighed.  “I’m just happy he remembered Dawn’s birthday.  Or maybe his secretary-slash-midlife-crisis did.”

“How’s Dawn handling it?”

Buffy shrugged, “I’m sure that she wishes he would be her father and come be here to help us in some way besides sending his child support check every month.  And he doesn’t even do that, his accountant does.  She didn’t really say anything when she saw the card in the mail… she knows what’s going on.”

“Well it sucks, for both of you.  I know he’s your dad and no matter what he does, you love him, but I would really like to put a nasty spell on him,” Willow griped.

Her friend smiled, “Thank you.  Now, we’d better get this stuff out there.  I don’t think Spike will be able to handle the Backstreet Boys for too long before he goes on a killing spree, chip be damned.”

Giggling, Willow grabbed a couple platters and followed Buffy out of the kitchen.

***

Graham walked with his best friend up to the front door of the Summers’ home, filled with dread and excitement as the same time.  He was seeing Buffy.  Good, yes, because he very much liked Buffy and enjoyed spending time with her, but he had to be around her and adore her but act like she was nothing more than his best friend’s girlfriend that he got along with very well.  And he had to see her with Riley, who had not shut up about how happy he was with their date the previous night.  He’d even told Graham about how they had kissed, thus giving him endless images that made him feel extremely jealous.  Which then made him feel extremely guilty.  Riley was a great guy who deserved happiness.  Buffy was a great girl who deserved the same.  She deserved Riley, a guy with a solid background, a great family, the perfect all-American guy… unlike him.

Fortunately, Dawn was the one who opened the door.  If he’d had to witness Buffy and Riley kiss each other hello, he might have just turned tail and run.

“Hey, happy birthday!” Riley greeted, offering her a brightly wrapped present.

Dawn found that when he came bearing gifts, it was a lot easier to be genuinely happy to see him.  “Thank you!”

She stepped aside to bid the men entrance, taking their gifts as they walked through the door.

“Wow, quite a party,” Riley found was the nicest thing he could say as he heard what he assumed Dawn thought was good music.

“Thanks,” she grinned, “And thanks for coming, you guys.”

“Wouldn’t have missed it for the world,” Graham smiled at the girl.

 “Graham, Riley… you wouldn’t believe how great it is to see two other men who were alive when ‘1984’ came out,” Xander said as he approached them in the foyer and Dawn scurried off with her gifts.

“Actually, ‘1984’ came out in the 1940’s,” Riley pointed out.

“Whatever,” Xander said, “The point is I finally have someone to talk to.”

Riley grinned and patted his back, “Sure, just let me say hi to Buffy first.  Where is she?”

“In the dining room with the food.  Enter at your own risk,” Xander warned him.

As Riley walked away and unbidden images of him greeting Buffy entered Graham’s mind, he decided he needed a drink, “I don’t suppose we could get our hands on some beer?”

***

“Hey there,” Riley greeted Buffy warmly as he came upon her picking up several empty plates and bowls that had been set out on the dining room table for partygoers to snack upon.

Buffy looked up at him and smiled, “Hi!  When did you get here?”

“Just now, want some help?”

“Sure,” she replied, handing him a couple plates.

The two of them carried the dishes into the kitchen and set them on the counter before Riley wrapped his arms around Buffy and gave her a tender kiss.

“Finally, I’ve been dying to do that,” he grinned, “I figured it wasn’t a good idea in front of all Dawn’s friends.”

“You’re probably right.  For one thing, she would have killed us, and another, I really don’t want to give them ideas.”

“Oh come on, wouldn’t a make-out party with a bunch of fifteen-year-olds be fun?”

Buffy laughed, “That’s disgusting!”

Riley’s response was to kiss her again…

***

Hearing Buffy laugh, Graham turned his head in time to see her kissing Riley through the window in the kitchen door.  Turning away from the painful sight, he tried to focus on Xander rambling as they stood on the porch with Spike, drinking and avoiding the rest of the party.

“This is pathetic,” Spike announced.  “We need to get back in there and take over, put on some Sex Pistols and have a *real* party!  Come on, we can kick their asses!  Okay, not Buffy and Riley’s, but they won’t care!”

“What about your chip?”  Xander pointed out.

Spike frowned, then glared at Graham, “Thanks so *bloody* much.  I can’t even beat the hell out of some brats!”

“Yeah, sorry about that,” Graham replied, giving him a curious look.

“Here you are,” Buffy said, opening the kitchen door and smiling at them, “Hiding?”

Anya peered at them over her shoulder, “Were you having ‘guy talk’?  Did you discuss sex?  Xander, did you tell them about some of the positions we tried, or the time we played ‘Master and Slave Girl’?”

Buffy turned and gave the girl a disgusted look, “Anya, why don’t you go get them to turn off the music and sit down?”

“What did you need, Luv?” Spike asked, half-hoping she’d decided to kill the teens and wanted their help.

“It’s time to open presents.  Think you guys can come in and join the rest of us, or is that just too frightening a fate?”

“I suppose we can brave it,” Xander grinned, walking past her into the house, followed by Spike.

As Graham trailed behind them, she gave him a bright smile.  “I’m so glad you made it.  It was very important to Dawn.  And to me too.”

“I wouldn’t have missed it for anything,” he replied honestly, feeling his heart flutter against his will.  Try as he might, he just couldn’t stop her mere presence from affecting him.

***

“Buffy!”

Buffy stopped wiping down tables and walked over to the counter where JoAnne was standing with the phone in her hand.

“What is it?”

JoAnne shrugged, “Someone’s on the phone for you.”

Buffy frowned, wondering whom it could be.  Nobody ever called her at work.  Everyone she knew was either at school or work.  “Hello?”

“Yes, is this Buffy Summers?”

“Speaking.”

“Hello Miss Summers, my name is Dean Mathis, I am head of security over here at Dillard’s department store in the Sunnydale Pavillion shopping mall.  I am calling you because we have a situation with your sister, Dawn.  I understand that you are her legal guardian?”

“Yes, that’s correct,” she replied, her mouth suddenly dry.

“Well, I am afraid that we caught her in possession of some of our merchandise.  We’re going to need you to come down here as soon as possible.”

“I’ll be right there,” she replied, “Um, thank you.”

Hanging up the phone, she found herself face to face with Larry.

“Personal calls aren’t allowed, Buffy.”

“It was an emergency,” she replied, pulling off her apron.  “I have to go.”

“Well, that’s nice, but your shift doesn’t end for three more hours,” he retorted.

Buffy sighed, “Look, I have an emergency with my sister.  I’m sorry, but I *have* to go.”

“That’s unacceptable.  I want you to stay here and complete your shift.  If you refuse, I’m going to have to fire you.”

She rubbed her eyes, trying to figure out what she should do.  She hated this job, but she needed it.  Both she and Dawn had this nasty habit where they liked to eat and have electricity and all that.  Plus, she had car payments.  But on the other hand, she *had* to get down to the store.  Who knew what they might do with Dawn.

Buffy looked Larry straight in the eye.  “Then I guess I quit.”

TBC...