Buffy and Giles worked out for a couple of hours in the spare room. Buffy used it to work off her tension. It was also one of the few things she’d done recently that let her forget. She had to focus so completely on the training that she couldn’t think of the other night.

When they finally called it a day Buffy felt much better. Not only because she’d had a few memory free hours but also because she’d taken a huge step here.

She thanked Giles and took a shower.

She was healing well. Her pain was almost gone, just a slight twinge now and then.

While she showered she thought about what else she could do. She felt empowered and didn’t want to stop. She decided the next thing that she needed to do was see Riley.

She wasn’t sure how it would go but she felt she could handle it now.

As she came out of the shower she called him and arranged to meet him that afternoon.


Angel smiled as Buffy came down stairs. She was smiling a genuine smile, something he’d missed the last few days.

“You look good.” He said. He couldn’t smile back at her, he was too ashamed of the things he said earlier.

“I feel good.” Buffy paused for a second. “Look, thank you… And just so you know. I know you didn’t mean any of those things. You were trying to help me. And I don’t agree with your methods.” She admonished. “But I have to say they worked.”

She took his hand reassuringly.

“Good. I’m glad.”

Buffy went to get something to eat from the fridge. “Oh, I called riley, he’s coming over later.”

“He is?”

Buffy turned back to him, nibbling on a chicken leg. “Yeah, I asked him to. One more thing out of the way.”

“That’s… that’s good.”

“Yeah, it is.” Said Buffy as she almost skipped through into the dining room to see Willow and Giles.

Angel didn’t like it. She seemed too happy. OK, he knew exercise could produce feelings of bliss but he hoped she wasn’t going too fast and wouldn’t come crashing back to earth again.

He also had to admit he was a tad jealous.

He cast his feelings aside though. If Buffy thought she was ready then she would have nothing but his support.


Riley arrived with a bouquet of flowers. Buffy still seemed to be on her high from earlier.

She took the flowers. “Aww, their beautiful. Thank you.”

Riley leaned into kiss her. Buffy stiffened and turned her cheek to him for him to kiss instead.

“I’m sorry.” Riley apologised.

“No, it’s not you Riley.” Buffy put he flowers down on the hall table. “Come on, let’s take a walk.”