(notes and disclaimer with part one)

Riley was waiting when Buffy reached her dorm room.

"Hey." He let loose a huge smile when he saw her and bent down to kiss her. She kissed him but with little emotion, her preoccupation was evident.

"Hi," she replied.

"Is something wrong?" Riley asked.

"Uh...no. Everything's hunky dory." She tried for enthusiasm but failed.

"Buffy, I can see that's not true. Can I do something?"

His concern was genuine, Buffy could tell, but she knew he'd never understand. He was already confused by her relationship with Giles. He had asked a lot of questions after the Fyarl demon thing, having only just met Giles the day before at her birthday party. She talked about the library being the Scooby hangout but she never quite got around to the Watcher word. It seemed too personal. She wasn't ready to share that much with Riley. Giles was more than she could explain to him, or to herself, it seemed.

"Riley, I know we planned to do something today but would you mind if we didn't?" She looked up tentatively.

"That's okay, if you don't feel like it. We can do something another time...are you feeling sick?"

"Uh, no. I just feel the need to see my mother." 'How lame is that?’ she thought, except it was completely true.

* * * * *

"Mom! I'm home!" Buffy bellowed as she entered her house. While wandering in she inhaled deeply. It smelled safe, like home.

"Buffy. I wasn't expecting you...was I?" Joyce wondered if she'd forgotten something they had planned.

"Nope, I just thought I'd be a goodly daughter and drop by."

Buffy noticed her Mother didn't react.

"Why...do you have something better to do? Gallery stuff...a man?" Buffy's eyes grew wide.

Joyce chuckled. "The man just hightailed it out the back door, so I'm all yours, daughter dearest. Just consider me a pleasantly surprised Mom. Shall I make hot chocolate?"

"Mmm, yeah...and you are just kidding about the man, aren't you?" Buffy had been leery of her Mother’s choice in men since the Ted experience, and the candy incident. She shuddered thinking about it.

Joyce gave her patented 'mom' look and headed for the kitchen with Buffy tight on her heels.

"Speaking of men..." She trailed off, trying to find words.

Joyce's heart gave a slight lurch at the mention. Buffy rarely talked to her about the boys in her life.

"Yes, dear, what about men?" She continued making the hot chocolate as nonchalantly as she could.

"Uh...well...you know, are they...?" she sighed before continuing, "I mean...do you understand 'em? Cause I sure don't anymore." She looked as defeated as she felt, leaning against the counter.

"Oh. Did you ever?" Joyce asked with a smile.

"I thought I did, but right at this moment I don't."

"Problems with Riley?"

Buffy looked shocked at her mother. "How do you know about Riley?"

"I overheard you and Willow talking about him the other day." She was quick to add, "I wasn't eavesdropping. You were right there, I couldn't help it."

"It's okay, Mom. No big. I guess I shoulda mentioned him to you." She looked sheepish. "It's not him. Another guy."

"Just how many boys are you dating, Buffy Summers?"

"Only Riley." Upon seeing her Mother’s skeptical look she added, "Really!"

"So what's the problem?"

"There's this other guy, a friend. I've known him a long time, since we moved here. But he's kind of mad at me right now, and I don't understand why. I mean, I did something nice for him today and he took it all wrong, like it wasn't nice but something else. Now he's being all moody and stuff and I don't know how to get him to change his mind about being mad."

"Hmm. Well, you know, Buffy, as much as I hate to admit this, guys aren't really very different from you or me. They get hurt feelings, but they don't like to admit it. They can also be very inscrutable, much as women are often accused of being. You just have to talk to him."

"I wanted to talk but he wouldn't. He told me to get lost, in so many words. And he has no reason to be mad at me!"

"Apparently he thinks so. Maybe what you thought was a nice gesture didn't come across that way to him. Guys can be like that. You have to be careful of their egos. They don't like to be told what to do." Joyce had a second thought on that comment and added, "Unless, of course, they want to be told what to do. Just like they don't like to be helped, except when they want to be helped. And they don't like to be…"

"Okay, okay, I get it, already, Mom!"

"That description sounds a lot like you, doesn't it?" Joyce flashed Buffy a knowing grin.

"If that's the case, then I should be able to figure him out in a second...or maybe not. I guess I'm not exactly miss self-knowledge, am I?"

"When you pay attention you are. And you can do the same thing with others. It just takes some listening skills and patience."

"But what if he won't talk!"

"Then you have to make him talk. Don't give up. Be gently persistent."

Buffy threw her head back and groaned, "Oh Mom, why can't life ever be easy?"

Joyce chuckled. "Here, drink your chocolate."

"He's changed, that's the problem." Buffy interjected emphatically, after taking a sip of her hot chocolate. "I used to have him totally figured out. But now, since graduation, nothing's the same."

"How so?" Worry washed over Joyce as she remembered Buffy talking about Angel changing.

"I dunno...lots of stuff. He dresses different for one! Better actually, but still. And all of a sudden he's dating. Well, more than dating, really. Never did that much before." Buffy glanced at her mother remembering she had been one of those dates, sort of. "I don't see him as much as I used to. And earlier this year he practically ignored me...told me to go figure out my problems by myself. He used to always listen to me and help. In fact, he wanted to hear my problems. And, well...there's more, I just can't think of it now." Buffy's frustration level hadn't diminished.

"He sounds like a good friend," Joyce mused. "It's not easy to find people to listen to you whenever you want and spend a lot of time with you, especially as you get older. Maybe he's expanding his horizons since school's let out. Just as you are, with college and all...and I wonder, Buffy, am I hearing just a hint of jealousy from you, with the dating women thing?" She added.

Buffy looked away and scuffed her feet while thinking what to say. "Maybe. I don’t know...It's just that he's always been mine and now..."

"I see, now you don't like having to share him." Joyce saw the light. "Maybe you should re-examine your feelings for him."

"What?!"

"Don't look so shocked. Relationships change...evolve over time. It's completely natural."

"It is?"

"Honey, of course. Do you think things stay the same forever?"

"Well, no I guess not, but...?" Buffy looked at her mother. "I have been sort of wondering about him lately. Something happened a few weeks ago that made me see him differently, and I’ve been going over it in my mind. But, I mean, I'm dating Riley. How can I suddenly be interested in another guy?"

"It happens. Especially if Riley is a nice, safe boy who might be more of a transitional relationship...after Angel." Joyce looked hesitantly at her daughter.

Buffy grimaced. "Maybe," she said quietly.

"Besides, you're young, much too young to feel you have to find the 'right' guy. You have loads of time. Explore. Experiment. Date...safely, of course," Joyce admonished at the last minute and then continued. "Have fun with your friends. Don't let yourself get tied to Riley. The right guy can turn up where you least expect it and he can be who you least expect. It could even be someone who's been a friend for a long time."

"So Mom, what you're telling me is: stop whining, never assume, and never give up?"

"Precisely." Joyce laughed and gave Buffy a hug. "You always were a perceptive child."

Buffy hugged her Mom in return. "Thanks, Mom."

Joyce pulled back and looked questioningly at her daughter. "Uh, just out of curiosity, Buffy, are we, by any chance, talking about Xander?"

Buffy chuckled and grinned at her mother. "No, Mom. It's not Xander."

After a leisurely dinner with her Mother, she headed back to the dorm feeling much better. Energized and ready to make Giles talk...tomorrow. Right now she had to study and then patrol, and it occurred to her that a good night’s sleep might put him in a better mood, or so she hoped.