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By Jessica

Break Up

Willow looked up from her book as Buffy entered the room with a frown upon her face. Willow also noticed that her shoulders were slumped and she had an air of sadness surrounding her. Willow sat up from her position lying on her bed studying, she was surprised because Buffy was rarely seen in her own dorm anymore and worried about what was worrying her best friend.

"What's wrong?"

"Riley and I broke up tonight."

"What? Why?"

"Well we were talking and I said that I thought it would be nice if he came over and had dinner with my mum, not in the commitment way but just so she has meet my boyfriend you know the general thing done when things become serious. He said that would be fun and asked when I thought it might happen so I told him I don't know. But this was a week or so ago the real reason we broke up happened tonight. We went to my mums and had a really nice dinner, and we were sitting around having a drink afterwards and we were talking about where he comes from. Then he was telling mum about Iowa and telling of that farm his family had and well he said how he was going back in the break. Then he asked me if I'd like to go with him and well I didn't know what to say so I told him I'd tell him later. So anyway later after we left he asked me again and I told him the truth I wasn't ready to do that and also that I couldn't really leave because of my slaying duties? At that point he accused me of always using my slaying as an excuse not to do things I don't want to do. Then we got into a fight and I told him it was over and left and I don't know what to do. And are you her I thought you spent all your time with Tara these days."

"That's terrible and Tara and I broke up a week ago."

"Oh my god why didn't you tell me why didn't I notice something."

"Well you were preoccupied."

"Well no more I am here for you from now on I promise."

"Thanks but I was just about to go out you want me to stay and wallow in self pity with you?"

"Always, but you got other things to do."

"Nothing important I was just gonna go to see my parents since they are here on one

of their rare visits."

"Well you should go see them and do the informing thing."

"Nah there gonna be here for a couple of weeks so I'll go some other time so want me to go out for chocolate?"

"Sure let's go."

They both grabbed their coats and left the room.

Proposal

Willow fell onto her bed exhausted the finals were finally over and summer break was upon her. She looked over to the bed next door and wondered where Buffy was she should have been back already, her last final finished over four hours ago. Then it hit her Buffy would have already left for her dad's. Willow thought back over the last two weeks in which her and Buffy had spent more time together than they had since high school. It was bad that her and Riley had broken up but she couldn't deny that she was secretly happy because she had got her best friend back.

Willow stood grabbed her bags and headed out the door on the way to her parents place.

She was half way there when a car pulled up next to her; she slowed but didn't stop until she saw who was inside the car, Riley.

"Willow, can I give you a lift I want to talk to you?"

"Okay, if you're sure it's on the way."

"Well where are you going and I'll tell you if it's on the way."

"12 Bordello drive."

"On my way," he said as he reached over and opened the door. "Jump in."

"So where'd you get the car?" she asked when she was firmly seated in the car.

"It's mine, my parents bought it for me before I left to come to Sunnydale."

Willow checked out the car. It was similar to Angel's a black convertible by the same company but a later model and it had real leather seats. All in all it was a fine automobile and a very comfortable one at that.

"So what did you want to talk about?"

"We have become friends right?"

"Yeah except for the fact you kinda broke Buffy's heart."

"Yeah well I want to apologise to her for that but she won't return my calls or she just hangs up on me."

"Really, she told me you hadn't tried to contact her."

"Maybe she just thought it better if you thought that."

"Yeah well. Was there something important you wanted to talk to me about?"

"Yeah do you wanna come with me?"

"Where?"

"Well, I was gonna go straight home but I actually feel like going for a drive around

the country wanna come?"

"Why?"

"Because I know Buffy doesn't want to go out with me anymore but while we were, I really enjoyed the time we spent together you and me I mean and I really valued your friendship. Then when I realised what I wanted to do this summer break I was wondering who to ask and I have to say you were the first to pop into my head. I realise that you probably won't want to come but I wanted to ask you anyway, in the hope that you might say yes."

Willow began laugh at the fact that Riley Finn, army boy extraordinaire had just babbled. "I'd love to."

"What?"

"Well I didn't plan anything and I like you you’re a nice guy and I think it would be fun. I mean I have never been out of Sunnydale so if you take me to my parent's house then back to the dorms to collect some clothes. We can get going."

"Alright then lets go."

Riley the continued to drive her to her parent's house.

Explanation

When they arrived at willow house they both got out to tell her parents because they agreed that Willow's parents should at least meet the boy that Willow was to be traipsing around America with. Willow let them into the house, and was shocked to smell chicken soup cooking, her mother hadn't cooked in years.

"Mmm, something smells nice."

"Yeah, it's strange."

"Why?"

"Well my mum doesn't cook that often."

"Oh, I'd call that stranger I remember my mum always in the kitchen cooking

something delicious."

"Is your mum a house wife?"

"Kinda, she helps a lot on the farm but also does all the cooking, but then again dad almost killed us when mum went to visit her mother once, so ever since she has left food in the freezer."

"I don't think my dad has ever cooked."

"Really."

"Yep, well lets get this over with."

"Okay, what are my orders Cap'n?"

"Act sweet, look responsible, and just go with what I say. Basically what you're doing

now will be fine."

"Aye, aye, cap'n," he said mock saluting.

They walked into the kitchen to find Ira and Sheila Rosenberg sitting around the island in the middle of their kitchen eating chicken soup. And looking much like average parents that were always home for their children and who thought travelling the world something only done by young business people and retired couples.

"Hey mum, dad. This is Riley a friend from uni," she said giving both her parents a peck on the cheek.

"Hi Riley, how are you doing?"

"Good thank you Mrs Rosenberg and how are you this afternoon."

"Fine thank you, please have a seat would you like some soup, it's fresh and homemade."

"I'd love some, thank you."

"You're quite welcome, Willow would you like some too."

"Yes please."

Sheila set two bowls in front of the remaining chairs and gestured for them to sit down.

"Thanks mum."

"Thanks, Mrs Rosenberg."

"You're both quite welcome.'

"Willow?"

"Yes dad."

"Is there something you want to tell us?"

"Yes, there is Riley comes from Iowa and it planning on going back for the break with a short detour to see America and asked me to go along with him and I accepted. But I realise that you have come back and were hoping to see me quite a lot +and if you want I will stay."

"Nonsense we asked you to come by to tell you that we have decided to move back permanently and not travel nearly as much so there will be plenty of time afterwards."

"Dear if you are going at least stay long enough for up to get to know Riley a little better. Also please take our American express with you and buy whatever you need. I know we have been very distant parents but let us start with that to begin to make up, okay."

"Sure, if you're sure you can afford it."

"Of course."

"I'll just go get it." Ira said as he got up to retrieve the card.

"But please do be careful not to lose it or anything because it had no limit. And make sure you use the thing okay.'

"I will run up a huge bill if that will help."

"I'm sure it would begin to.'

Two hours later on the way back to the dorms, Willow was explaining a few things about her parents to Riley.

"They were so weird usually they never do that."

"What?"

"Take and interest in what I do, it was so very weird, but really nice. I hope they stay

this way.'

"I'm sure they will.'

Riley turned off the car and jumped out to go and help Willow pack.

An hour later they passed the 'You Are Leaving Sunnydale' sign and where on their way around America.

First Stop Gas Station

"I gotta pee."

"Willow, such, crude language and we have only been driving for a few hours."

"I don't care there is a gas station, stop okay."

"Yep, I gotta fill up anyway."

Riley pulled into the station and parked next to a pump. Willow jumped out and walked over to the ladies toilet. He filled up the tank; by the time he was finished Willow had also and had gone in to the shop to pick a few things up. He followed her in there to pay for the fuel.

"Hey, Riley do you have any tunes?"

"Yeah I have about 50 tapes in a my bag and one or two in the glove box."

"Cool, what type?'

"All, plus you grabbed some didn't you?"

"Yep, I was just asking. You want anything to drink?"

"Yeah, sure grab m e a coke, k?"

"Okay."

Back in the car Willow was rummaging through the glove box for the tape Riley promised was in there when she came across a photo of what she assumed to be a young Riley doing something weird to a cat. He was holding it as if he was about to shear it like a sheep. She turned to Riley and asked. "What's this?"

"Oh, that I cant believe its still in there. Well when I was younger my dad had a few sheep to keep the grass down on the outer paddocks. And one year when he was shearing them I got the idea to try it out on one of mum's cats. He was the only cat that would stand still. And when my mum saw what I was doing so she got out the camera and decided to take a photo. It hung on a board that hangs in our lounge room for about ten years and when I left mum made a copy and made sure I had it to always remind myself where I came from. In fact the original probably still hangs on the board. And if you want to we can go to my house and check sometime during our trip."

"It sounds like a plan."

Willow smiled again as she reached into her bag and got the blue tac that lived in there and stuck the photo to the dash then went back to searching for the illusive tape.

Plan

"So do you know where we are going yet?"

"I have some ideas, tell me what you think."

"Okay do tell, where are we heading and where are we?"

"Currently we are in the Mojave Desert, and since we are going back home I figure

that we should just head towards there, visiting placing along the way. That or, we could just head in a direction and go where ever the road takes us."

"I like the first plan. We have three months so lets do as much as we can do in that time."

"There's a map in the glove box, and please just grab the map this time," he said with a grin on his face.

"Ha ha, you're so funny."

"I know."

Willow laughed at him and relaxed forgetting about everything except the fact that she as away from everything and on the way around America.

"Okay so Iowa is over there and we are over here."

Riley pulled the car over to check out the map with Willow.

"Well we can go up or down either way we'll get to Iowa at about the same time."

"Well there seems to be more downwards so lets go that way."

"Okay well have you ever been to Vegas coz that could be our first real stop and if we go there we can head through Death Valley what do you reckon?"

"Sounds good," she said as she marked it on the map.

"After that we could head to Grand Canyon and pretend to be tourists from another country and really piss people off."

"You are such a weird boy but that would be funny."

"Okay well after that I don't know where we should head."

"Hey wanna go to Roswell?"

"Sure, I've seen demons why not aliens."

"You know they're not real."

"Aliens or demons?" he asked raising and eyebrow.

"Demons, aliens are definitely real," she said with a deadly straight face and the slightest sarcastic edge to her words. Riley burst into laughter. He hadn't laughed in a long time, not like that at least. Since he had moved to Sunnydale he had become more reserved than he had ever been in his whole life.

"Hey why don't we go to Roswell via Baldy Peaks? That way we can cut down the straight travel time."

"Okay, by the way I can drive if you ever need me to."

"You mean one of the Scooby gang passed the test."

"That I did with flying colours at that."

"Well there goes one problem."

"On to the next, what is it?"

"Where do we go after Roswell."

Willow smiled bigger than she had since Oz had left.

"Well, since we are yet to go anywhere but a tourist attraction lets keep going. How about Wichita Falls?"

"Okay and after that we could go to Texarkana."

"Why?"

"Coz I like the name," Riley said with a grin.

"Good reason," Willow said with a cheeky grin.

"And from there we go on to New Orleans."

"Okay then we could go to Tuscaloosa," at the name Riley gave Willow a look. "Oh, but you're aloud to pick a place with a weird name hey? Anyway after that we can go to Chattanooga, from which we can go to Nashville coz I've always wanted to line dance," she said doing a few upper body movements, Riley was laughing like a school girl at this and Willow broke into a huge grin.

"Listen after that can we go to Charlotte, I really liked the spider in Charlotte's Web so don't laugh," Willow didn't laugh she just smiled.

"Then we could go to Salem, and see where they hung what they thought were witches."

"Are you sure you know what with you being one and all."

"I don't think they'll try and burn me at the stake and if they try it I'll just tell that you're a solider you know they hung them first, back then." She said with a wink. Riley started laughing again.

"You know if you keep doing that we are never going to finish planning our trip."

"Well sorry but usually this is done before hand, so that you don't have people sitting on the side of the road, looking at maps and laughing," Willow said with a sarcastic drawl.

"Okay from Salem we can go to Washington DC, then on to Buffalo, that way we could see some of the Great Lakes. From there we can go to the Grand Rapids, and from there we can head to my place. If you're okay with this that is."

"Sounds good, so where exactly is your place?"

"Well about four hours out of Des Moines, that's our ranch we also have a small house on Lake Michigan that we might go visit depending on how far along in the season my dad and brothers are."

"Cool, well since your ranch is about there," she said point to the position on the map.

"We could then go to Sioux Falls."

"Sure and we could then head to Colorado Springs and from there back to Los Angeles then down to Sunnydale. Then the trip will be over."

"Okay well lets go then."

"Alright but there will only be a few more hours of light and we probably shouldn't drive tonight get some sleep and start fresh."

"Well, there is a drive in motel up there at least I think that's what the sign says anyway why don't we stop there?"

"Okay."

First Night

"Hi, can we please have two rooms," Riley said when the hotel receptionist returned to the front desk.

"I'm sorry we only have one room left will that be okay?"

"Sure," Willow said from behind Riley. The receptionist looked around to see who had said it because Riley's mouth didn't move she was shocked when Willow poked out from behind him. She had thought he came here alone, because he had completely hid Willow.

"Okay well you can have room 10," she said handing him the key. "How will you be paying?"

"With this," Willow said handing the women whom was eyeing Riley like he was a piece of meat.

"Certainly," she said doing a terrible job of hiding the fact she didn't like Willow.

"And how many nights will you be staying?"

"Just the one thank you," Riley said attempting to get this over as quickly as possible, he didn't like this women or the way she had spoken to Willow.

The women returned with the card and said there was fresh towel in the room and told them where to find the room before returning to the room she had appeared from.

Once outside Riley walked towards the car and grabbed his backpack from the backseat, while Willow grabbed hers from the front.

"I could have payed."

"Nonsense, my parents told me to spend up so I am spending, besides you did all the driving and payed for the gas."

"Well, okay. Are you sure you don't mind sharing a room?"

"Nope as long as you keep to you side of the bed."

"Oh, no I'll sleep on the floor."

"Nope. No sleeping on the floor for the driver, it wouldn't be right besides we are friends I think we can share a bed without it worrying anyone and its only for one night." Willow said leading them into their room. She put her bag down to check the place out when Riley said.

"Fine, you go get changed."

"Okay." Willow said grabbing her bag and heading for the bathroom.

Riley dumped his bag and headed back out towards the car after grabbing the key and making sure the door was locked, making sure no one could surprise Willow while in the shower.

Riley came back in carrying his discman and a cd. He sat in front of the bed and crossed his legs before popping the Savage Garden cd into his discman and pressed play. He concentrated on his breathing until all thoughts left his head and then he just sat listening to the words drift in and out of his head. Soon without realising his thought started to turn towards the women in the shower. He really had no idea what had caused him to stop he was depressed had been since breaking up with Buffy, and when he saw her walking he had just stopped hadn't really thought about it just had. Then he asked her to come he didn't really know her that well just as he really knew nothing about any of the Scooby gang or their escapades, but he wanted to and when she said yes he was more pleased than he had been in a long time. So far the trip was good and they seemed to agree on music so he was hopeful it would stay that way. He knew his parents would like her in fact he doubted if anyone who had ever met her wouldn't. Then he thought of where they were going he knew that they had picked a strange path but he also knew he would enjoy it and hopefully so would she.

The tape ended and he took out the earphones and noticed the shower was empty and the front door was slightly ajar so he figured she would be out there. So he gathered his things and went to have a shower.

When Willow left the bathroom she saw Riley sitting on the floor Indian style with his hands on his knees and earphones in his ears preventing him from hearing her. As she moved around gathering her things together to put them into her bag and grabbing two candles and her matches.

She walked out of the room leaving the door open and sat down on the pavement to the right of the door. She lit her two candles and centred herself as she began to meditate. Her thoughts didn't clear completely however but they were not in as much turmoil as usual so she was able to relax as she thought.

She thought about Riley, she figured he was meditating but that just didn't fit the character that everyone had of him, the quiet soldier boy who thought of little more than fighting, psychology class and hanging with Buffy. The fact he believed in meditation was enough to make her happy she had come maybe she would finally get a chance to get to know him. In truth no one in the Scooby gang really knew him except Buffy but for some reason she thought that maybe even she didn't know everything about him. She had no idea what had caused her to accept his offer and go traipsing all over the country with him, but when he had asked she had felt drawn to accept his offer. Admitted she didn't really know him, he had broken Buffy's heart and for all she knew he could be a serial killing axe murderer out to sever her head but she highly doubted it. She also had nothing big to do this summer other than hang out with Xander and Anya while they made out or get to know her parents for the first time but apparently she would have that chance for a while to come. That also confused her she had never even been allowed to have boys in her room but it was perfectly fine for her to go cross country in a car with one alone. Though her parents had been confusing her a lot lately coming back deciding to stay giving her their credit card and just being normal parents one thing that in truth they had never really been. But at least they were finally trying.

She felt her thoughts again become fast and several so she shook herself a little blew out the candles, got up and walked inside. There she heard water running so she put her stuff in her bag and jumped into bed.

She hadn't been laying there for very long when she heard Riley exit the bathroom and walk to his bag doing the same as her just moments before. Willow turned so that she was facing him and yawned.

"Sleepy?"

"Yep"

"Listen I can sleep on the floor."

"Why? Don't answer that," she said cutting him off and continuing. "Just jump in it's comfy."

"Fine," he said giving in and walking over to the bed after checking the door was locked. He slipped beneath the covers before speaking again. "Tomorrow will you tell me about your adventures?"

"What?"

"Fighting and all I'm really interested. Would you?"

"Sure."

"'Night Willow."

"Goodnight Riley, see you in the morning."

Before another minute had passed both were dead to the world.

The Master

Ten minutes into the trip the next day Riley grabbed his drink. "So, are you gonna tell me?"

"What?"

"The stories you promised me last night."

"Oh! Of course, where would you like me to start?"

"Well, I suppose when you first meet Buffy."

"Oh that was four years ago, me, Xander and Jesse were best friends had been since we were six, also there was Cordelia who you never got to meet but she was a bitch. Anyway it was the first day of the year and Buffy had just shown up and had become friends with Cordelia when a death was reported in the school locker rooms. Buffy went to check it out and discovered it was a vamp bite so she went to Giles who she had just meet before when he scared her with a book of called 'Vampyr'."

"You mean Giles wasn't always her watcher."

"Nope she had a watcher called Merrick before him, Merrick taught her everything but he was killed by a master vampire called Lothos. She blamed herself but killed Lothos in the end and burnt down her school gym to kill all his minions. That's why she got kicked out and came to Sunnydale, a place she thought would be safe of course it wasn't."

"Hmm," was his only response as he let her continue her tale.

"Well anyways she went to Giles and she talked to him about the victim and Xander was eavesdropping so he found out she was a vampire. Then that night she went to the Bronze where I meet a vamp who tried to kill me and she saved me and Xander but wasn't able to save Jesse who had been captured by Darla and he got killed."

"Didn't she meet Angel when she first came."

"Yeah she meet him and he gave her a silver cross on a necklace that she wears sometimes."

"That one, it's nice."

"Yeah anyway he came back every once in a while to play cryptic guy that was until she found out he was a vampire. But I'm straying from my story. Where was I?"

"Jesse got killed."

"Oh, right so he was turned into a vamp and tried to kill Buffy and Xander but they got away. Then we found out about the harvest and the Master. He was a very powerful vampire who was caught underground in a sunken church, you know we have 43 churches in Sunnydale, well 44 when you count the Master's. That was where Buffy got killed," at Riley's look she continued. "I'll explain in a minute. So the Master called upon his favourite childe, and he became the Master's vessel. It all went down at the Bronze, and in the end Buffy killed the vessel and Xander killed Jesse."

"Oh that's terrible."

"Yeah, I still miss him."