He couldn’t stay inside, not tonight, no matter how hard he tried. Xander had called him earlier that day and told him that tonight was the night: Willow was going to do the spell. And maybe, just maybe, it would bring Buffy back. But all he could think of was the millions of ways it could wrong. That’s why he needed to be out and about, distracting himself.

He had contemplated inviting Spike for a drink but after some consideration had dismissed it – he didn’t think he’d be able to sit with the vampire and not tell him. Willow should have told him, damn it. She should have told Giles too, who knew so much more about this sort of thing. She was convinced of her own skill, her own power and there was nothing that was going to stop her. He just hoped no-one got hurt in the process.

This Willow was something new, something he had never seen before and it worried him. She was only a few steps away from power-crazed and he didn’t know if this spell might just be the thing to push her over the edge. He couldn’t keep thinking about this though, couldn’t let himself ponder the possibilities. He sped up his pace through the town and headed for the nearest cemetery, eager for action.



His wish for action, something to fight, was coming back to haunt him now. Demons on motorbikes was far too much action and there was little he could do but try to take them down one by one. They were marauding through the streets, destroying everything, causing chaos – and it was only when he saw them circling the robot Buffy that he realised what they had come here for. The Slayer, of course. A magnet for demons with an attitude and something to prove.

He didn’t have time to worry about her though and he moved on through the town, doing all he could to calm this madness. He managed to take out two demons with a taser gun but there always seemed to be more. This was too much to handle and he was close to calling in backup. He hurried through an alleyway and finally found the phone box he had been searching for – only, it was completely destroyed.

With a groan, keeping a wary eye on the demons at the far end of the street, he crossed over and cut through another alleyway. He needed Spike’s help – there were just too many. Perhaps the quickest way would be to go to the crypt. Or, no, he would be with Dawn if all the others were out. Turning his steps towards that side of town, blocking out the thought of why they were all out, he hurried along, fists clenched tightly.



He rounded a corner and almost collided with the Scoobies, all looking shaken and spooked.

“Riley, man!” Xander called out, “Have you seen all this craziness?”

“They’re taking over the town,” he replied, throwing a glance over his shoulder as the sounds of screams filled the air.

“We- we have to go,” Willow got out shakily and for the first time he noticed the witch’s condition: cheeks bloodstained, hands shaking, nose bleeding ever so slightly.

“What happened?” he asked sharply.

“It – it worked,” Willow breathed, causing his heart to miss a beat. He had been so sure of the contrary. He wouldn’t believe it, couldn’t even begin to think about it.

“We saw her,” Xander got out dazedly, wide eyes fixing on Riley’s, “But she was… she ran away.”

“She’s traumatised,” Anya added with a nod, “From the Hell experience.”

What Anya had said barely registered as he found himself gripping the wall nearby for support, taking several deep breaths.

“We need to find her,” Willow got out miserably.

He jerked his head up at that, the reality finally starting to sink in. Buffy was alive. And scared. And wandering around Sunnydale in a state of shock, no doubt.

“We’ll find her,” he said certainly, struggling to keep his voice even.



They spread out, fanning through the town in search of Buffy. He went off alone, lost in his thoughts, his memories. He just couldn’t bring himself to accept the truth, couldn’t believe he was really looking for a woman who had been buried in the ground earlier that day. He wouldn’t believe it until he saw her. Which could be a problem, because if she stepped out in front of him now, he probably wouldn’t even notice, so caught up in his shock. He walked the streets like a sleepwalker, vigilance lost to this awe. She was alive. She was back and she was still Buffy, by all accounts. She was here.

He was drawn out of his daze by the buzz of his pager and with a glance, he turned and headed back through the town. He met up with the rest of the group – all as unsuccessful as he – as he left the main part of town and they headed together towards Revello Drive. He could see Buffy in his mind, could see her how she had looked all those months ago and he felt his chest tighten with anticipation. He would see her again. It was a dream, too surreal to be true. She was alive and in the world again.



He followed the Scoobies blindly, only coming round when he finally caught sight of the Summers’ front door. What if Buffy was just inside there? He couldn’t seem to work his feet, couldn’t bring himself to move from his spot, just a few metres away from the door. Xander took a step back towards him and laid a hand on his arm, drawing his attention. The other man said nothing but his own wide-eyed look said enough. He was as scared and as excited as Riley felt. His head was spinning and he stumbled after Xander up the path, into the house.

He stepped over the threshold and was surrounded by the sound of incessant questions, shock rippling in every voice. There was a group in front of him staring into the living room and he knew. He knew before he rounded the corner what he would see. Buffy. He took a shaky breath and forced his leaden feet forward, coming to a jerky stop and turning his head. And there she was. Buffy.