'Something Blue' Story Code '4ABB09' by Tracey Forbes

Willow is in Oz’s room, comforting herself by being near to his belongings. Meanwhile, Buffy and Riley decide to go on a picnic together; later that evening, Buffy confides to Willow that she likes Riley, and that there is definitely something between them. At Giles’ house the next day, Spike is chained up in the bath while Buffy attempts to get more information from him concerning the Initiative, although Spike is concerned that once he tells her everything, Buffy will stake him, having no further use for him. Willow suggests a truth spell, and promises to return the next morning with the necessary ingredients. Spike observes that Willow is barely coping with Oz’s departure. Willow visits Oz’s room, but is shocked to find it empty. That night, she tearfully tells Buffy that Oz sent for his belongings, and the realisation that he is not coming back has devastated her. The following day, when Willow fails to turn up with the things for the spell Giles tries to call her, but gets no answer. Meanwhile, Buffy and Riley are enjoying their picnic together when a depressed Willow appears and ruins their mood. At ‘The Bronze’ that evening, the gang are commenting on Willow’s depression when then they see her dancing her heart away; they realise that their friend has started drinking to cope, and she tells Buffy she just wants the pain to be over. Later, while Buffy is asleep, Willow sneaks into their bathroom to perform a spell to mend her broken heart; however, the next day, nothing happens. Giles arrives, angry with Willow for not showing up to perform the truth spell on Spike. Willow admits that she has been distracted, but claims that Giles and the others are unsatisfied with her efforts to get through her pain; when Giles fails to see how she could feel that way, Willow argues that he does not see anything - her eyes flash as she speaks, and Giles suddenly seems as though his eyes are bothering him. He leaves, bumping in to a student on his way down the hall. Later, Giles tries to perform the spell himself, but has trouble reading, and unknowingly dropping the key to Spike's chains. The vampire is able to free himself, and as he escapes, knocks Giles to the floor. Willow complains to Buffy that she is not a good witch, however, unobserved by either of them, she transforms Amy back into human form - but only for a few seconds, as the girl then turns back into a rat. Giles contacts them, informing them that Spike has escaped; Willow tells Buffy she will find Spike in two seconds - her eyes flash once more, and Buffy suddenly appears in a clearing on campus, right next to Spike. The vampire hits Buffy, but instantly feels the pain in his head, and when she hits him back, he experiences yet more agony. Buffy takes Spike back to Giles’, and finds her ex-Watcher is putting in eye-drops. Willow visits Xander and is annoyed that they cannot let Spike go; she angrily comments that if Spike is so important, then Buffy should marry him. Her eyes flash, and Giles walks into his living room to see Spike down on one knee proposing to Buffy - who ecstatically accepts. Willow continues to complain to Xander, accusing him of being a ‘demon magnet’, and her eyes flash again. Deducing that the problem with his vision is the result of a spell, Giles tries calling Willow; meanwhile, Buffy and Spike discuss their wedding, and Buffy asks Giles to give her away. Giles then goes completely blind. Spike suggests a reversal spell, and so Buffy goes to ‘The Magic Box’ for supplies. She runs into Riley, and scares him by talking about getting married. Xander and Anya are attacked by a demon that bursts through the front door; the two of them manage to drown it, and are only just able to escape when more of the creatures arrive. Buffy returns and tells Giles there is an ingredient missing, but they will get it tomorrow. Anya and Xander burst in and are amazed to see Spike and Buffy holding hands; when Buffy tells them that they are getting married, Xander remembers that Willow made a similar comment, before calling him a demon-magnet. After Giles recalls that she accused him of being blind they realise that Willow must have done a spell, but that she is unaware of what is happening. Just as they decide to go in search of her, Willow enters her dorm and is kidnapped by a demon. Later, Buffy and the gang arrive at the dorm room, where Anya recognises the burn marks on the floor as a portal of D'Hoffryn's, her old demon boss; she speculates that he must have taken Willow to become a vengeance demon. Willow is shocked to learn of the things she has caused and asks D'Hoffryn to free her; he teleports her back to the gang, and she undoes her spell, leaving Buffy and Spike horrified to find themselves kissing. The next day, everyone is back to normal; Buffy is baking cookies for all her friends, when she suddenly remembers all the things she said to Riley…

Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy Summers), Nicholas Brendon (Xander Harris), Alyson Hannigan (Willow Rosenberg), James Marsters (Spike), Anthony Stewart Head (Rupert Giles), Marc Blucas (Riley Finn), Emma Caulfield (Anya), Elizabeth Anne Allen (Amy), Andy Umberger (D'Hoffyrn)
Directed by Nick Marck

TX (US): 30th November 1999
TX (UK - Sky One): 3rd March 2000
TX (UK - BBC): 7th December 2000

Notes:
*Featuring Buffy, Xander, Willow, Giles and Reily