In answer to your final question, no way!

On the whole, I think Riley has been a passive aggressive jerk throughout this whole story, emotionally abandoning his wife throughout the whole marriage without ever taking responsibility for his actions or showing real concern for her feelings.

He ought to have acknowledged his part in their marriage breakdown more openly to Dawn, and shown some remorse for his longstanding emotional infidelity with Sam. In this chapter, he's obviously playing an understandably upset Dawn to make Buffy look and feel bad, and on top of this scummy behaviour he gets her mother's house too? He's been nothing but selfish right up to the end and yet he's horribly priggish and self-righteous about it.

Ugh! I truly believe that you have written one of the most distasteful, loathsome Rileys that I've come across in this fandom.

Riley aside (sorry for the diatribe), I love this story. It is so angsty and real, that it is quite compelling, and there was a lot of powerful writing throughout the whole thing. You really should write novels. I bet they'd be painful, sweet, intense and pack a powerful emotional punch, just like this story does.

Author's Response: Thank you! I would love to get paid for writing novels and your compliment is very sweet. I guess I failed in my characterization of Riley, then. I was going for a guy who is emotionally numb but loves his wife and daughter. He is to blame for shutting Buffy out, but he doesn't do it on purpose. He and Buffy never had the type of marriage where they confided in each other about everything. They weren't best friends. When he got hurt, that intensified. Loathsome, really? I was going for messed up. Sorry I failed you, but I appreciate your comments.

I have to admit, in this chapter, I do have admiration for Riley. Unfortunately, there are times when people divorce, one person tends to divorce the children as well (even when it's their own children!) Riley considers Dawn his child, even though biologically she isn't. That takes a big man to do. I also admire how he defended Buffy when Dawn called her a slut. In addition, I admire how he took responsibility for his part of the deterioration of their relationship. Looking forward to more. Have a wonderful New Year!

Author's Response: Thank you! I'm so glad you could like Riley in this chapter. He's not the same character from the series, and I don't think it's a spoiler to say I'm writing him as someone genuinely trying to do the right thing by his splintering family. Have a wonderful New Year yourself! I wish you and your family all the best.

Nope not one bit....he should have encouraged Dawn to listen to her mother not just agree to what she wanted and make everything buffy's fault....that was Buffy's house and he just made a decision with Dawn and didnt even consider Buffy if he truly didnt blame her completely he should have tried to be better with Dawn not just give in and make Buffy leave....

Author's Response: I saw him as standing up for Dawn when she felt like nobody else was, and I think he did stand up for Buffy when he said things weren't entirely her fault. On the other hand, it's Riley. He's hard to like. In future chapters I'll try to do a better job. THanks for the comment!

Absolutely not! Your Riley is a passive aggressive jerk. It's understandable that Dawn is angry, and that she wants to live with her dad, but for Dawn's sake he should have encouraged her to at least listen to her mother's side of things. But Riley aside, I'm enjoying this story. You write conflict very well and your characterizations are excellent.

Author's Response: Thank you! Is Riley really a passive aggressive jerk? He was on the show, but I thought in this story he was a bit more understandable. I guess I wasn't doing a very good job. But thank you for the kind words and glad you're enjoying the story!

Loved the extra long update - thank you - but have to say there was no falling for Riley. Nope, not a bit.

Author's Response: Yeah, the kicking out part was awful, but I mean the discussion in Dawn's room. I guess I failed, because I was trying to really make you understand what Buffy was giving up there.