Hi guys,
I have been rewatching seasons 4 and 5 and getting very frustrated with Riley in general (big surprise) and so i started searching for a fic in season 7, or better yet, post-series that would feature soldier boy coming back in the picture, in some way. Even briefly.

I'd love to read the dynamics between him, Spike and Buffy once Spike isn't a neutered vamp he can stomp on anymore. Anything with those three in that timeline will do.

Thanks!

This is may be a little AU for what you want because it jumps forward a lot from S6 and I'm pretty sure Spike isn't souled from what I remember...

Coming Through by hulettwyo
Picks up from when Buffy beat the crap out of Spike outside the police station in Dead Things then goes seriously AU. General disclaimers apply. I own nothing. Just having a bit of fun.

Crap - had this 2/3 done and it disappeared on me while I was looking things up.
Closest to what you're asking for is probably "If I'd Only Known" which is for the "ten years gone" prompt at sb_fag_ends. Not sure if it's on here (if it isn't, I'll fix that ASAP) but it is on my website, possibly under the prompt name rather than the title. Spike finds Buffy, they talk, kiss and make up, and Riley, who knew Spike was alive and guesses who she's going out with, shows up. Doesn't go well for him.
(ETA - ok, I can't get the formatting right for it to go up here, but it's on my web site in the Future Fics section)

"Old Friends" is more of a future gen fic, so I think you can only find it on my website (or AO3). Riley tries to keep Buffy from rescuing Angel and Spike from the new version of the Initiative.

And "Things That Go Bump in the Night" is all about Buffy and Spike finding each other again, but Riley makes an appearance toward the end and thinks he's going to pick up where he left off with Buffy. Spike doesn't take that well, and Buffy straightens Riley out.

In all of these, it's more Buffy who tells Riley to take a hike. Spike never really gets a chance to fight him.

A lot of my season 4 and 5 fics also have interaction between Buffy, Spike and Riley and Spike does get a chance to give Riley a taste of what it's like to fight a real vampire. Too many to list here, but he almost always either isn't chipped yet, or the chip has come out. "Just a Little Spell" has unchipped Spike and that one definitely goes poorly for Riley.

Hope you find something you like.

The ultimate betrayal by jamies_ladyThe ultimate betrayal by jamies_lady

This is post series but Riley is actually pretty decent in it.

Barb Cummings (Rahirah) third novel "Parliament of Monsters" has the best Buffy/Riley/Spike reunion. From chapter 5. You should, of course read the entire 'verse, if you haven't already

...Buffy's hand flew to her mouth, penning in a gasp that was half relieved laughter, half guilt. "Oh. Oh, God, I forgot. You don't know. Spike--the chip's been gone for a year now. Willow took it out. It's a really long story, and--Riley, don't be stupid! He'd break you in two."

There were tones of voice that could have made those words palatable, even romantic, but Buffy was only a little impatient. And concerned. Always concerned. Riley's knuckles blanched around the stake which had appeared in his hand, muscles knotting across his back and shoulders. Half a parking lot away, the bobbing coal of Spike's cigarette dipped out of sight as the vampire bent to check under the hood of a sporty little Jaguar by the simple expedient of lifting the whole front end of the car off the ground. Riley tucked the stake back into his belt. "He probably could," he agreed.


I love that soooooo much.

Oh - It's been so long, I'd forgotten about this scene. How wonderful. As is the entire 'verse' of course. It's a must-read for anyone.