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Summary: Riley's life gets just a little odder when he discovers Buffy's secret.

Riley Finn waded through the thick brush that covered the outermost reaches of the campus. He held his shock gun in a ready position, and his heat sensing goggles were strapped 'round his head. The men who would usually be on duty with him were partying hardy down at the frat house. Technically he should be there as well, but he needed time to think and clear his mind. Nothing like patrolling for monsters to get yourself grounded in reality.

A twig snapped and he jerked, then relaxed when an angry squirrel chattered at him. Ever since that night he had run into Buffy a week ago he had been wound tight as a coiled spring. She had been avoiding him, and he desperately needed to sit down and have a 'so why were you fighting monsters with a crossbow' chat.

The sound of footsteps came through the trees, and he crouched down to avoid being seen. Two figures came into view. His goggles immediately zeroed in on the left one. *Well, at least I'll get to beat up the vampire. That's uplifting at least* He shouldered the gun better, and slowly took aim. The two came closer and he picked up on the voices, causing his heart to beat faster.

"For the last time Spike, you CAN'T HAVE ANY!"

"Aww, but I've been good all day!"

"NO"

"Please? Just a little? We won't have to stop long."

"What part of NO aren't you processing?"

"But I'm hungry!"

*Hungrey? He's going to attack her! Why isn't she scared.....*

"That's just too bad, now isn't it?"

"It's your bloody fault Giles made me patrol with you. If you had kept your mouth shut..."

"Your lowering your odds with each passing second."

"Pleeeeeaaseeee?"

*Wait! That's the one we've been looking for...but, but, with Buffy?? Why's he with Buffy?*

"For the last damn time, WE ARE NOT STOPPING TO GET YOU WHEATABIX!"

"Bloody mean little....."

"Finish that thought and I will hurt you."

*Huh? Wheatabix?*

The vampire stopped suddenly and turned towards Riley's position. "Fee Fie Fou Fum, I smell the blood of a ......." He paused and sniffed the air, causing Buffy to give him her 'ewww' look "...Buffy Boyfriend!"

"Cute. Very cute. Riley?!"

Slowly he stood up and approached the pair, gun ready.

The vampire was studying him with some interest from behind Buffy. She stood with hands on hip looking miffed, and completely ignoring the fact a vampire was behind her.

"Hey! I know you! Your one of the bloody wankers who did this to me!" The vampire lunged at Riley, face shifting into a demonic mask, and he swung the gun barrel up towards it's chest. Buffy's hand smoothly darted out and grabbed the vamp's collar, then yanked him down to the ground by her feet.

"Play nice or Buffy'll send Spike puppy back to the vet to lose something else." She nudged him in the crotch with the toe of her boot to emphasize her point. The vamp snarled silently but didn't move to get up.

*Spike puppy?*

"Do you mind lowering that thing?"

"What? Oh!" He stammered and lowered the shock gun. "I think you have some explaining to do Buffy" He said using his best authoritarian voice.

"Why should I have to explain? Your the one sulking in the bushes."

"And you just called a vampire Spike puppy."

The vampire snickered, still prone at Buffy's feet. He almost looked like he was lounging there enjoying the show. His face was normal again at least.

"Buffy..." he drawled in a warning tone when it was obvious no answer was forthcoming.

"All right. I guess you'll understand at least."

"Understand what?"

"You'll find out. Come on, follow me. Spike, heel!" Riley stood uncertain while the vampire, Spike he guessed, clambered to his feet. Buffy turned and headed back the way she had come, the vamp following.

*Aw, well, what the hell. Can't get any weirder then this* Riley jogged to catch up with Buffy.

It took a solid ten minutes of walking before they came to a small Spanish-type house. Not a word has been spoken. Buffy walked confidently up to the door and opened it without knocking. The vamp quickly darted inside. Riley paused, not sure if he should follow.

"Well? Are you coming in or is Giles going to have to yell through the window at you?"

"I'm coming. I guess."

*Who's Giles? That's the second time I've heard that name* He took a deep breath and walked through the door.

He wasn't a hundred percent sure what he had expected, but this wasn't it. The vamp was busy rummaging through the kitchen cabinets, while an older man divided his attention between scowling at the vamp and blinking owlishly at him. Buffy had thrown herself on the couch next to the man.

"I take it you are Riley?" The man asked.

"Yeah. You?"

"Rupert Giles, at your service."

"Hey, nice gun."

Riley jumped slightly as a young man and a pretty dark haired woman emerged from a door to his left.

"Hey G-man, I got the last stack organized. I'm outta here."

Riley shook his head to clear it. "Ok, Ok. I think we need to stop here for a second. Who is everyone?"

"I'm Xander." The young man said, "And this is Anya".

*Anya? That's an odd name*

"You know me, I hope." Buffy spoke from behind him. "Giles already said his name. Billy Idol boy is Spike."

"What's he doing?"

"Looking for the last box of wheatabix I guess"

"He's a vampire. He drinks blood."

"And blood mixed with wheatabix, and plain wheatabix."

"I think I should take it from here Buffy. Riley, sit down." Giles commanded.

He looked around, and found a chair with the least amount of books to move. Xander and Anya left through the front door, while Spike disappeared into another room.

"Where's he going?"

"To the TV. Probably to watch the ep of Passions he taped." Buffy answered.

"Passions?"

Buffy shrugged. "What can I say? He's evil."

*This is getting too odd too fast....I see cookie monster I'm leaving*

Giles cleared his throat, and Riley turned his attention back to him. "We'll keep this simple. Into each generation, a Slayer is born. One girl, in all the world, a Chosen One. One born with the strength and skill to hunt vampires, stop the spread of evil and generally beat up bad things."

Buffy giggled. "Beat up bad things?"

"Hush. I'm trying to give the Reader's Digest condensed version of things."

"I think I have finally corrupted you."

"Yes, you have. Now hush."

Riley spoke up. "What does this Slayer thing have to do with Buffy?"

"Buffy is the Slayer. I'm her watcher. I guide and train her. I think that covers it."

"You expect me to believe that?"

Buffy and Giles exchanged looks. "What should we do about him?" She asked Giles.

"Believer or not, he's not going to run to tell anyone, being a vigilante himself"

"Whoa, back up. Still here? Your not going to do anything about me."

"Riley, your group, they take a scientific approach to the vampires, do they not?"

"Yes."

"Haven't you come across things you can't explain."

"Yes."

"Hasn't it occurred to you to wonder about all these things? That maybe science doesn't have an answer?'"

"Sort of."

"Do you believe in magic?"

"Of course not, it doesn't exist."

"If I could show you magic, real power not parlor tricks, will you be willing to believe in other things you are skeptical about?"

"Heck, you do magic I'll believe anything."

"Buffy, get my books."

15 minutes later a slack jawed and thoroughly astounded Riley sat back down in the chair. Giles had opened a portal into some kind of demon realm, after assuring him it was only a one way door and nothing was coming out. Riley had never expected to see any thing like it. *What's the encore going to be, Elvis?*

"Ok, I guess I'll believe the Slayer thing for now. But I have a question."

"Fire away" Buffy said cheerfully.

"If your a vampire slayer, why is there a vampire here?"

"Well, its kinda a weird story. See, Spike was my sworn enemy, but when you guys made him into the fuzzy puppy no-biting type of vamp, he came to me for help, and I felt sorry for him. So he stays with Giles now, and eats wheatabix and cow blood I pick up for him at the butcher."

"But why don't you kill him? How many people has he killed over the years? He's evil! He's a vampire!"

"Not all vampires are evil." She said softly.

"What do you mean? Of course they are."

"I......don't want to talk about it."

"Buffy, if you plan on having a relationship with Riley he needs to know." Giles said with sympathy.

*I do NOT like where this is going*

Spike walked in to get more wheatabix from the box in the kitchen, and caught the end of the conversation.

"What's wrong Slayer? Don't want commando boy to know you slept with my sire? That you two spent all your time making doe eyes at each other? Until he turned evil, killed you friend and tried to destroy the world and you sent him to Hell, but as soon as he came back you two went all lovey dovey again? Even let him feed off of you? Is that what you don't want to talk about?"

"No, No animosity left there" Giles mumbled to himself.

"SPIKE GO AWAY" She shouted, sending the vamp scurrying out of the room.

Riley was for the second time that evening, completely astounded.

"You, you, you, SLEPT WITH A VAMPIRE?"

"Well, when you put it that way." She sighed. "He had a soul Riley. He was good guy. And I love him more then anything."

"What? Love? Not loved?"

"Yes, love. I love Angel. I will always love Angel. But I can't have Angel."

"So you'll settle for me? Is that it?"

"I like you Riley. I may even love you at some point. I have room in my heart to love more then one person. So DEAL."

"I'm sorry, but, what I've learned in the past half hour....."

"We understand Riley. It's not easy to learn what you have and accept it all" Giles spoke up. "I would give you more time to let that settle in, but I really would like to know more about your organization?"

"I tell you, I really would, but..."

"But?" Buffy and Giles said in unison.

"But I'm sworn to secrecy"

Buffy snorted "That never stopped me"

"Yeah, maybe, but I follow orders. Look, I'll talk to my superiors..." Seeing the panicked look on Giles's face he added "But I won't give any names or mention any of the abra cadabra stuff. Ok?"

"And don't mention Spike."

"I have to Buffy."

"No, you don't. He's mostly harmless. Besides, he comes in handy on vampire lore stuff."

"They have lore?" he asked weakly

"Oh yes. A whole world unto themselves." Giles chirruped entirely too happily.

"Well,I could say I saw him...... but on the other side of town?"

"That'd be good."

"I should go now. I have to report back."

"Can you come back here tomorrow night? We've got more talking to do. Or we can meet in my dorm."

"What about Willow?"

"Oh, don't worry. She knows everything"

"Aren't you afraid she'll tell?"

"Somehow I don't see a witch running to tattle on a Slayer."

"Witch?"

"Yeppers."

He rose from the chair and walked towards the door, pausing to shoulder his shock gun.

"Bye Buffy. Bye Mr. Giles"

"Bye Riley."

*This was a night to remember, I'll say that at least. My life is interesting. Nope, no dullness here*

He walked out and headed towards headquarters.