Discovery

Rating:PG, I guess.
Disclaimer:I do not own the characters used within this story, probably with the exception of Iain and Brighid, cuz I made them up. But Buffy and Angel don't belong to me, they belong to the evil Joss monster, the WB, FOX, and whoever else owns a piece of them.
Author's Notes: Look guys, no song!! I know, practically every story in this series has one, I must be losing my edge. Naw, it just didn't call for it!
Summary: Sequel to Written in the Stars

I was visiting you tonight, Iain was with me, when I found out what it was about Riley that seemed so familiar to me. Mom knew his father. Apparently they even dated a little her first year of college. But when you found out Iain was on his way, that was the end of it. So, the awkward moment was definitely there, because Iain knew who he was. He recognized him. We were visiting you....

"I left the flowers in the car," Iain looked around for a moment, trying to determine if any creatures of the night were about.

I looked up at him as I took the dead flowers from the vase in front of your grave. "I'll be okay, go get them."

"I don't want to leave you alone here," he admitted.

"Your little sister can take care of herself, Daddy and Spike made sure of it," I told him.

"Okay," he finally relented. "Wait for me here."

"I'll be fine," I told him, watching as he made his way back for the roses he had brought.

Boy was I ever wrong. Apparently there were a couple vampires hiding nearby, waiting for the poor defenseless girl to be alone. But you don't get to be the daughter of a Slayer and an ex-vampire and not have a few perks in the strength department. So I wasn't expecting to be jumped by vampires at your grave, and I also wasn't expecting Riley and his father to come and try and save me.

I'll skip to the interesting parts, so you get the gist of it. I'm fighting vampires, and I hear noises, but I know better than to be distracted. Spike knocked me unconscious the last time that happened. Okay, so fighting for my life here, stake one vampire, one to go. Then the thing explodes into dust in front of me and Riley and his father are there. Iain comes running up, asking if I'm okay.

When Riley and I have talked to each other, we've never brought up the fact that we both know the forces of darkness exist. Iain was worried, but I told him everything was okay, that Riley had saved me. He looked at Riley's father for a long moment before speaking. "Riley Finn?" he asked.

"Yes," the older man replied.

"Dad," Riley began, "this is Brighid, the girl I was telling you about."

"This is my brother, Iain," I said, introducing him.

"Mr. Finn and I know each other," Iain replied.

"I don't think so," Riley's dad said.

"You knew my mother," was all Iain said.

Riley's dad looked us both over, then down at your grave. He whispered mom's name, then looked back at us. "You're Buffy's kids?"

"Yes," Iain replied. "Let's go Brighid."

"But Iain," I tried to stop him. I didn't know what was going on, he still won't tell me. He just placed the flowers he had brought in the vase, then took my hand and led me away. He asked me not to see Riley again, told me it was better not to get involved with him.

Needless to say I felt like I was fifteen again, sneaking into the house from seeing a boy the two of you had told me not to. I asked him what was going on. He told me that Mom and Riley's dad had dated a little in college, and their breakup had not been pleasant. He wouldn't elaborate. So now I'm looking through Mom's journals, diving into my own world of research for answers.

I wonder if maybe he found out that you and Daddy had been involved, and at the time he wasn't, well human yet. But I don't see how that could've led to a bad breakup. Not that I wanted you with him Mom, oh no, cuz then no me! And that would be bad! Humor, it's what I do when I don't now what to say, I know.

I just wonder what happened between the two of you that was so bad that makes my brother, who likes everyone, dislike him to this day. Iain was only a little boy when Daddy came back, so unless your paths crossed after you two got married. I wonder what happened. So much has happened in the last eight months, it's hard to believe we've been without you for that long. I miss you. I love you both.

Love,
Brighid

On to: On Sweet Day