This is the sweetest story, with just enough realistic touches to keep it from being cloying. The irritating siblings, the fear that Riley still has for his child (very realistic for a military parent)and the gratitude he still feels towards Buffy. Glad to see Riley having a normal life, in the best sense of the phrase, and to see that Riley and Buffy stayed on good terms. Love it!

Made me smile. Pitch perfect.

Inspired. Lovely, quiet, heartwarming, and with a point.

It's almost a relief to see Riley--to see *anyone* from Sunnydale--with a normal, lovely life.

As always, your grasp of voice, characterization and poignancy are touching. Thank you for this piece.

This is a cute story. I really liked reading it.

Wow. Holy sweetness! You even made me *like* Riley; good job!

Thank you for the Riley love. And nicely in character, and sweet. I must have 'aw'ed about fifteen times.

I also loved the line about the church ladies.

Aww...that's just so...I mean, it made me like Riley...and...so now...I hate you.

No, really. I've spent years hating Riley. You're not allowed to effect that sort of reversal with one fic!

That's great, though. V.cool.

Glory be, I'm usually all about the angst in fic, but this just warmed my cynical little heart. I'm another one on the lookout for good Riley fic, and like another commenter said, I could completely hear Marc's voice on this from the beginning. Loved the lines about the church ladies. I have a hard time seeing a happy ending for Riley, so it's nice to have this one to imagine!

Aw this was so sweet! I loved how Riley thought about Buffy and how he wanted her to be happy! He's just perfect *sigh*

Aww... Sweet. I've been looking desperately around for some non-bashin Riley fic. Glad to have found this.

Awe. this so so incredibly sweet. You handled Riley's character really well. I liked it a lot.

OMG. I love this. I know Riley is not the most liked character in the Buffyverse, but I've always been one to go against the norm. It took me a while to warm up to him, considering my B/A heart, but with one smile, he won me over. You've captured some of Riley's most endaring traits in this fic, and I couldn't get that damn smile off my face the entire time I read.
*
I love his conversation with Buffy. His concern for her happiness even after everything that transpired between them. Just great.

I can't stand Riley, I have neve rliked him and I pretty much think that he is the worse character in the history of Buffy. I don't know why I chose to read your story, but I'm glad I did. I enjoyed your story very much!

This is a very original and well written fic! I love the ones that aren't about the core characters, or are just different in some way. Which this definitely was. The characterization was spot on too. Riley really does sound like he's got everything. I've never been a Riley hater like most people, so I'm happy about that. Great work!

It's amazing how a good writter can make you absolutely love a character that typically you hate. I've never been a fan of Riley but I love this story. It's beautiful and peaceful and touching and so true to his character and the show in general. I really loved it. I had a huge grin on my face throughout the entire thing. I loved that Buffy was pretty much happy the the stuff about church ladies. You are an amazing writer and the peace and happiness Riley is feeling really comes off and the reader feels it too. This was an amazing story and breathtakingly written. I look forward to reading more of your stories because if they're anything like this, they will be amazing. I'm all fluffy feeling now. I love that feeling. And the story was right in time for christmas. I just can't get over how much I love it. Simply amazing.