Switching the Scripts (BtVS Collection)

[Flightless Man]

Switching the Scripts​

This is an anthology of two-shots, each pair of stories exchanging an episode's plot line and the character it focused on. Instead of Xander making Amy do a love spell, he gets her to erase some memories. Instead of Willow mind wiping Tara, she does a little love spell.

Forget Me Not​

As the dark haired teen's eyes slid away from the girl who just last night was his and back towards the wary witch waiting for his verdict, Xander Harris let a dark smirk spread across his face. The way his eyes narrowed with devious intent did nothing to settle Amy Madison's nerves.

"You and me Amy." His voice was low enough to almost be called a whisper and full of more than enough heartbreak to make Amy nod in sympathy. "We're going to do a little spell."

Blinking in shock, the witch who owes him at least one favour decides to take advantage of this two-for-one deal. "And you aren't going to tell the others about what you saw?"

"All depends on if this works." Shrugging at the words in an attempt to appear in control of something in his life, Xander's stare loses the edge.

Sensing a shift in her blackmailer's mood, Amy follows him down the hall and away from the whispers without any prodding. The gossip around his very public dumping was something even Amy had heard about.

Once the pair reached the stairs, Amy demanded answers as soon as they had some breathing room. "What kind of spell did you have in mind?"

"Cordelia thinks it's so easy to just forget someone you care about." Xander's face contorted with pain. "Well I want me some of that!" His voice rose with each word and was punctuated with his fist slamming against the door to an empty classroom.

"Come again?" That doesn't sound like revenge.

"What could get under her skin worse than being completely forgotten?" Hissed Xander with his aaw clenched tight to conceal his true feelings. I just want to stop thinking of her every five minutes.

"Probably easier if you just come over after school. This kind of thing can take a while." Weighing her options, Amy didn't take long to realize she was lacking in some of the more exotic supplies. "And I'll need you to pick a few things up at the Dragon's Cove, most of my mom's stuff got thrown out in the move."

"Clearly not all of it though..." Smirked Xander, his eyes seeming to bore right through the girl he used to consider a friend.

A red shade crept up Amy's neck and covered her cheeks. "Was hard enough hiding a few books. Was no way I could hide any of the smelly stuff."

After nodding at the fair point, Xander's expression suddenly went right back to a scowl. "I saw you just look at our teacher and mess with her mind. Why can't you just do that to me?"

"You've known Cordelia for how long?" Amy asked pointedly.

"Since the first day of kindergarten." His response was automatic and tinged with more than a little confusion. "Does that make a difference?"

"If I screw this up..." Amy let the suspense build in hopes it would convince him to change his mind. you'll probably think that's how old you are again."

That news froze Xander in place and really made him think things through. Or at least it would have if he wasn't such an impulsive person and currently filled with so much anger.

"How much money will I need?" I can always get the necklace back from Cordelia and pawn it on the way.

Seeing that he wouldn't be dissuaded, Amy gave him the shopping list along with her new address. "Don't be late. My dad gets home just after six and I need time to air out the place."

The rest of the day did nothing to convince Xander his plan was foolish. All that his last two periods accomplished was to renew his conviction in forgetting Cordelia. Even the teachers are laughing at me now.

It was awkward as could be when he confronted Cordelia about the gift. But with how much he had spent on it, it was the only way Xander could afford such expensive ingredients on short notice.

He practically ran the entire way once the bell rang at the end of the day. Not even stopping to talk with his friends, Xander just promised to meet them at the Bronze with a shout over his shoulder.

The receipt was enough to get a full refund on the necklace and at least the clerk finally gave him his first expression of sympathy. Even Willow seemed a little too happy with what happened.

When he arrived at the magic shop and tried to pick up everything on the list, the owner very quickly pieced together the intent. The balding and slightly overweight man chuckled in a way that gave Xander pause, making him realize the clientele had to be made up of the kid of people his friends fought.

As he hustled out of the shop, Xander made a mental note to warn Willow about the owner. The guy sold to Angel. Recalling the few times in the past the current threat had shown up with supplies, Xander hissed in annoyance. Can't be the only vampire he does business with.

That bitter thought bounced around inside his skull the rest of the way to Amy's new house. But once she answered the door and the smell of incense wafted over him, Xander's pain returned in full.

"Let's do this."

Being worried about screwing up and having Buffy's fists demand answers wasn't enough to stop an incredibly excited Amy from taking part in such an intensive spell. How can I resist the chance to have a willing test subject?

Even if I mess up, I should still be able to learn enough to make his friends forget I was with him tonight. Maybe I should make him forget what he knows about me while I'm at it. Smirking to herself, Amy was quick to let the blackmailer inside. I guess I'm the one holding all the cards.

Unaware of his prior history with magic and how often spells go wrong around him, Amy Madison was completely unprepared for the spell's backlash. A cloud of thick purple smoke exploded out of the sauce pan being used as a cauldron and coating the white furniture with residue.

But Xander didn't wait around long enough to discover that fact. Instead he pulled his shirt over a torso covered in blue symbols and escaped before Amy demanded he try cleaning the burns in the carpet. "Thanks for the help Amy. Consider us even."

As the other teen dashed out of her living room, Amy could only feel her dread build at the mess around her. She would have blamed Xander for everything when her dad got home. At least if she could remember who that name belonged to.

While Amy did her best to make it look like a robbery, Xander didn't stop running until he was three blocks away. The sight of an unknown teen fleeing the house ended up being just enough for the witch's last minute lie to be believed.

Panting for breath near a hedge, Xander didn't spare the girl another thought once he realized the magic was a bust. The memories of Cordelia still filled his heart with pain and he cursed himself for daring to try something so stupid.

"Got anymore bright ideas?" He kicked a discarded shoe into the street with a frustrated growl. "Still know a few girls I haven't completely pissed off."

Not really wanting to watch his former flame have another great time on the dance floor, Xander steered his feet in the direction of home. "Not really fair to make Willow cheer two of us up tonight."

Knowing his friends would understand the lack of appearance, he let himself into his house with a hiss of frustration. Without even bothering to shout hello the distraught teen climbed the stairs to his rather messy room.

With his mind still full of racing thoughts, Xander actually did his homework without any need for Willow to pester him into it first. The headache brought on by math problems at least gave him a respite from the burning pain in his chest.

Xander didn't even glance up when his confused father poked his head into the room. The irritation on display was quickly replaced with confusion at the sight of open text books and an actually visible carpet.

"Your mom said someone broke in." Anthony Harris narrowed his eyes and stared at the baskets full of old clothes. "Guess that was just you cleaning up?"

"You keep telling me to grow up." The disgruntled son's eyes locked onto the box of comics in the pile. "Seems like the girls agree with you."

Even through the thick skull his family is known for, Anthony managed to stop himself from making a crude joke and tried to think back to the last girl his son was talking about. "Get turned down by that Buffy girl again?"

"You know about that?" Shock and shame mix in Xander's voice as he glances back to his father.

Returning the look with a snort of amusement, Anthony revealed his source of knowledge. "You listened to country music half the summer. Knew it was just about some girl when you didn't even bother getting a hat."

"I didn't get rejected..." Anthony was ready to play along with the fib until Xander revealed a surprise of his own. "I got dumped."

"Well good for you," Cheered a proud father as his son's face scrunched up in bewilderment. "Finally started playing the game."

"Wasn't on the field for very long." Annoyed at the good mood on display, Xander was not willing to join in.

The relieved tone to Anthony's voice is enough to make Xander hesitate in the sudden hug."I'm just glad you're playing for the right team. Was starting to really get worried about you."

"Well don't worry, I'll keep the music down this time." It's not me you care about, just making sure I'm 'manly' enough.

"How hot was she?" His father paused at the door and made an attempt to give his son a break. "Because as long as she was an eight, you can blare the country as loud as you like tonight."

Xander's growl of annoyance just made his father smirk with toxic pride. "That's my boy."

Somehow the heartbroken teen managed to stop himself from starting another fight with his father. He even managed to finish all of his homework before he usually got home from patrol, getting an early night for the first time since September.

Without the exhaustion that normally forced his eyes shut each night, Xander rose with the sun pouring in through the blinds he forgot to close Not ignoring the alarm a few minutes later, he whipped through his morning routine before his parents door even cracked open.

Ready as he ever would be to face the scorn of his classmates, Xander decided to waste some time digging his skateboard out of the junk in the garage. Jesse got it for him last year and since his death in the spring, Xander hadn't touched the thing more than a handful of times.

But a glance at his watch lets him know that it will be more than an hour before even Willow arrives on campus, Xander figured he may as well keep himself busy. Otherwise I'll probably just try doing something even stupider.
He got distracted by Jonathan and his friends by a heated debate over the upcoming relaunch of Alpha Flight. It was so passionate that he missed the arrival of his redheaded best friend, being forced to chase after Willow when she passed his gaggle of geeks without a second glance.

Calling after her in the now crowded hallways, Xander was frozen with shock by the expression on her face when she finally did spin on her heels. It's like she doesn't even recognize me.

When he doesn't have anything else to say, the annoyed Willow hustles into the library and leaves Xander forgotten in the hallway. "Guess I should have told her I was bailing. Maybe I should try talking to her at lunch instead."

Cordelia and the other cheerleaders turn that maybe into his for sure answer as they round the corner with snarky words being thrown at all around them. He tenses up in preparation for the tirade to turn his way and is shocked when it's only his ex that gives him the stink-eye.

His confusion isn't given time to peculate into any possible theories before the morning bell rings and Xander is forced to hurry to English class. "Actually did my homework for once. I'm going to shock the world when I have actual answers for Miss Cooper."

About to slip into his usual seat right behind the Slayer, Xander was once more frozen in place at a strange sight. Amy had taken his usual seat and didn't even spare him an apologetic glance.

Swallowing a worried lump, Xander started to think Amy had revealed his little blackmail plan. Of course they'd be mad at me for being such a jerk. Probably going to get the silent treatment all day.

In his distraction Xander must have missed the role call. It took a waving hand an a rather vocal complaint to get the teach to correct the sheet in her hand.

"New student?" The teacher's remark stunned him into yet another moment of frozen stupor.

"Just changed my seat today." With a shake of his head, Xander glanced at his friend in hope she would finally make eye contact this time.

His hopes are dashed though as Buffy does give him her full attention at last. The same look of confusion on the face of the blonde was mirrored in about half of his classmates and Xander's foot began to tap nervously.

A cold chill crept down Xander's spine as he started to understand that something Hellmouthy had gone wrong with the spell yesterday. In hope that his theory was just paranoia run wild, he followed Buffy to the library for answers only to wish he hadn't.

Mid conversation, his friends pause stiffly as he passes through the swinging doors not even a minute later. "Hey, sorry I was a no show last night. Had some stuff to take care of."

He let the greeting hang awkwardly in the air, hoping one of the girls would at least tell him how much trouble he was in. Need to know if I'm just apologizing for ditching them, or if they got told I was trying to give myself a magical lobotomy.

Both blink in confusion and exchange quick looks before Willow breaks his heart a thousand times worse than a mere dumping ever could have. "Who are you?"

"Alexander Harris," Buffy explained for him as Xander gaped like a dead fish. "He's in first period with me apparently."

"So you don't know him?" Willow turned her frown on a sweating Xander. "So Alex, you must be the guy Cordelia was whining about last night?"

"I can see why she kept you a secret..." When she realized her words could be heard out loud Buffy flushed pink. "No offence. You just aren't anything like Cordelia's usual fare."

Unable to formulate a coherent response that would convince either of them, Xander shuffled back out into the hallway in awkward silence. All the girls in Sunnydale forgot who I am.

Laughter poured out of the library before he could come up with anything halfway believable and made Xander pause a final time. Only for once it wasn't shock that caused it.

"They sound happier than than ever do when I'm around." Bitterness filled Xander as he made a choice that would alter his entire life. "Why make them miserable again?"

...

Despite Xander's depressing decision to walk away from his friends. He hadn't quite picked up on the fact that some people would still remember him and not agree with another choice being made for them.

It took most of the afternoon for Oz to convince his girlfriend she had somehow forgotten her oldest friend. But when he had nearly given up on finding a way, Willow opened her locker and revealed his proof.

"See!" Ecstatic at the pictures taped to the door, Oz was showing enough emotion to show this was serious. "That's from the dance last spring."

"Oh..." Willow went pale at the thought of her mind being messed with. "We need to talk to Giles."

With the resident genius now on board, Buffy quickly caved to the mounting evidence. "I think we need Miss Calendar's help."

"Truly?" Shock and hope mixed in Giles voice. "You would be alright with asking her for help?"

"She's the only person we know who could fix this." Trying to keep her own feelings out of it was incredibly hard for Buffy. "I'd rather get to the bottom of this before we forget who you guys are." But the unsettling feeling of not knowing was too much and forced her hand.

Jenny was shocked at the chance to help and fully on board once it was clear her memories had also been altered. Rage at whoever was responsible had the estranged women united in righteous cause.

With none of the needling over her terrible romantic choice, Cordelia knew something freaky had happened. She demanded answers from an incredibly relieved Buffy and actually got one without any snark.

"He's not freaking out and demanding you fix it." Cordelia scowled at the librarian in disappointment. "Is he?"

"Right." Point made, Giles realized the obvious place to start would have been with the lad involved. "Does anyone know where he is right now?"

"Probably at home..." Cordelia waited in vain for somebody to volunteer, sighing when she realized it was all up to her again. "Which neither of you can remember the location of. I'll go get him."

She raced across town, turning into a neighbourhood she had avoided like the plague. But today she was beyond caring and pulled up right behind the beat up pick up truck in the driveway.

Expecting the door to be opened by someone resembling trailer trash, Cordelia was quite surprised when a smiling Jessica Harris let her inside and up the stairs. The confrontation with Xander didn't even take an entire sentence before her ex caved.

"What the hell did you do?" She pushed past him and made Xander give his whole attention to her.

"You can remember me?" The shock on quickly becomes desperate relief. "I never thought I'd miss one of your insults so much."

Before Jessica even had time to even wonder about the pair, her son was practiaclly pulled from his room by the ear. "This is all your fault. You're damn well going to help fix it."

"I already said okay!" Whined Xander as he was at least given time to slip on shoes.

"Sorry for bothering you with this." Watching Cordelia flash a stunning smile his mother, Xander couldn't "Xander just forgot we had a group project."

"I can see why he was so upset." Anthony let out a snort of amusement when he heard the engine rev outside. "She's definitely out of his league."

Cordelia was completely caught off guard by such a put together family and demanded answers the second her passenger door slammed shut. "What happened to being ashamed of your family? That was practically normal."

"Mom kind of had a breakdown when she 'realized' she didn't have a single sober memory of me. She's promised to quit and I actually believe her this time." Even asking that much without bitterness took most of Xander's willpower. "Not you really care though." Willpower that didn't quite last.

"I came to get you, didn't I?" Her return glare was full of all the passion Xander finds irresistible. "So tell me what you did so this can all get wrapped up before dinner. I have plans tonight."

Rising to the bait, he snapped right back at her with a somehow equal amount of the emotion. "And I'm so heart broken over you, I already pawned that necklace for pocket change!"

Faces almost pressing right against each other, Cordelia could feel the electricity build between them. It's not like anyone cares what I do with him anymore. That thought was all the push Cordelia needed to close the distance between their lips.

...

When they did finally return to the school, it was eventually discovered that which was lost couldn't just be returned so easily. Without a receptacle meant to store the memories, Jenny explained they would be nearly impossible to recover.

"The best chance would be sharing Xander's own memories." Her answer at first seemed promising.

But Giles was quick to dash those hopes. "That would just give you all an exact copy and likely have bleed over with his own opinions."

Wasn't really so keen on sharing all my dirty little secrets." Xander eventually shared his relief when the girls decided against that plan.

"Just make new memories." Wise words from Oz had everyone realize a simple solution was already present. "It's not like I knew any of you a few months ago."

"It would seem that is the best course of action for now," Admitted Giles with a frustrated glare directed solely at the cause of his current troubles. "Only a true imbecile would just mess around with memories."

"Good thing we don't have any of those here." A pointed glare from Jenny accompanied the salty words she had for Xander.

Not willing to just forgive the teacher just yet, Buffy turned her glare onto the techno-pagan. "At least Alexander just screwed up because he was hurting." She could easily see the desire to just remove the pain and couldn't quite hate him. "You lied to all of us for months."

Xander's eyes widened at the use of his full name even as Cordelia smirked in thought beside him. But even he knew it would be stupid to interrupt with a correction right now.

"And I've spent weeks trying to make up for my betrayal." Taking full blame for her disciet, Janna Kalderash met the furious stare of the Slayer.

"How you planning that?" Doubtful at that even being possible, Buffy was at least willing to hear her out for Giles' sake. It's hard to ignore how much the silent treatment is hurting him.

"The soul curse may have been lost to my people." Jenny let herself smirk with pride at what she had nearly accomplished. "But my translation program should be finished in just a few days."

While everyone else made relieved sounds, Cordelia brought up another good point. "Can you at least change the escape clause? Because I'm really not liking how happy Buffy looks at that news."

"Can you do that?" Desperate for a yes, Buffy needed to sit down when she got a cautiously positive nod from Jenny.

"Maybe curse the demon this time." With another pearl of wisdom for his friends, Oz pointed out Angel wasn't even the original target.

...

The rest of the school year was a piece of cake once the threat of Angelus was put on a new leash. A simple rewording of the curse and it was the demon who couldn't experience the moment of happiness.

With that being something Angel assured everyone was decades away, they all enjoyed a spring dance free from an apocalypse. Once they confirmed Spike and Drusilla had left town, even the vampire with a soul was able to enjoy the night of well earned revelry.

Taking advantage of the chance to reinvent himself, Xander happily let his girlfriend replace his wardrobe. The only thing he really insisted on keeping was the name he was given by Willow. Even if she now thought it rather childish, that just made cemented his choice.

The friendships Xander had thought lost did grow strong again. But it wasn't magic that fixed everything, simply had work and dedication to making sure the relationships didn't wither.

Without memories of sleepovers in footie pyjamas, Willow wasn't quite ready to prepare for the dance with Xander. Instead she got ready at Buffy's house and this simple change ensured that no illicit smooching ever took place.

When Faith made her appearance in the fall, it was a sad call to Jamaica that confirmed the Council had yet again left Giles in the dark. This is what ensured he gave England a call when Gwendolyn Post arrived claiming to be Faith's Watcher.

This was quickly dismissed as false and the new addition to the Sunnydale team never had her trust broken. Faith was even willing to give Wesley a chance when he arrived, not yet having her trust in the Council shattered beyond repair.

Still trusting her friends, Faith didn't ignore Buffy's shout in the alley. The deputy mayor was able to share what he knew of the mayors plans and the Boston born girl never became a wanted criminal.

At graduation while they watched the serpentine body of the mayor smoulder, a haze of celebration overcame the group. As Faith watched Cordelia discuss her upcoming road trip with Xander, she realized her time in Sunnydale was at an end.

What Faith didn't realize though, was that the pair didn't plan on returning either. But with no ill will towards the lovers, Faith had no problem offering them work.

Xander was so happy with his life, he didn't even have a rude remark when it was revealed Angel had been turned human by Mohra blood. He was simply smug that his name is what convinced Angel to keep his beating heart.




Note: The next pair of chapters is going to be Willow casting a love spell instead of a memory charm. I have about 8 more planned swaps, so please feel free to suggest more.

 

[RichardWhereat]

I liked it, odd though. Never seen that one before.

 

[Kylia Quilor]

Being worried about screwing up and having Buffy's fists demand answers wasn't enough to stop an incredibly excited Amy from taking part in such an intensive spell. How can I resist the chance to have a willing test subject?

Even if I mess up, I should still be able to learn enough to make his friends forget I was with him tonight. Maybe I should make him forget what he knows about me while I'm at it. Smirking to herself, Amy was quick to let the blackmailer inside. I guess I'm the one holding all the cards.

Click to shrink...

Ooof. But totally fits Amy of this period. And Xander kinda deserved it, given the blackmailing. Kinda.

Anyway a really nice bit. I like it. I like it a lot. I wouldn't have thought of anything like this, but it's a fascinating take. I'm curious to see what other swaps you have planned.

 

[Flightless Man]

I liked it, odd though. Never seen that one before.

Click to shrink...

Never seen the episode or never seen the switch up idea? Because the idea only came about due to me making three misunderstandings in a single day on the DC thread. MY 3 confused suggestions all followed the same theme of just switching up a plotline but leaving everything else the same(Billy Batson/Shazam but with all of Sider-man's plotlines kind of thing).

Ooof. But totally fits Amy of this period. And Xander kinda deserved it, given the blackmailing. Kinda.

Anyway a really nice bit. I like it. I like it a lot. I wouldn't have thought of anything like this, but it's a fascinating take. I'm curious to see what other swaps you have planned.

Click to shrink...

If Amy hadn't just messed with a person's memories, the episode probably would have made me hate Xander (at least for a while). I feel that Amy would have been working for the Mayor in S3(probably good friends with Faith), if she hadn't been turned into a rat.

Thank you. I only came up with the idea because I was very confused one day in the DC thread. I have about 8 more planned swaps and am more than willing to hear suggestions.

These are the ideas I have so far:

Spoiler

Moloch/Miss French, Swim team/Cheerleeder Tryouts, Buffy/Angel Spin off swap (she gets the spin off), Master/Kakistos get swapped, The Primals/Eghyon, Ampata/Ford, MArcie/Jonathan, Swap the two frat parties and secret organization, Ted/Wesley, Oz/Doyle, Allstar/The Wishverse.

 

[RichardWhereat]

I hadnt seen the idea of Amy using anything other than a love spell, or her just talking him out of it then the two working together on something. Yeah, despite years of reading fanfic of that scene, I'd forgotten what she had done to have Xander turn on her.

And given what her mother had done, and her using magic for something like that, it's understandable.

 

[Flightless Man]

I hadnt seen the idea of Amy using anything other than a love spell, or her just talking him out of it then the two working together on something.

Yeah, despite years of reading fanfic of that scene, I'd forgotten what she had done to have Xander turn on her.
And given what her mother had done, and her using magic for something like that, it's understandable.

Click to shrink...

Oh, that would be really neat too. Amy talking Xander out of it and into a more suiting vengeance. Something like making her have constant split ends.

The first part of the scene is usually forgotten But Amy was the real villain that episode and her comeuppance was purely by accident. She kind of deserved to be turned into a rat (She didn't deserve Willow basically forgetting her for a year and a half though).

 

[Kylia Quilor]

I feel that Amy would have been working for the Mayor in S3(probably good friends with Faith), if she hadn't been turned into a rat.

Click to shrink...

Well, we'll have to disagree on that.

She kind of deserved to be turned into a rat (She didn't deserve Willow basically forgetting her for a year and a half though).

Click to shrink...

Except the part where she got stuck as a rat is from a completely different episode, so it's hardly connected to her actions in this episode.

 

[Flightless Man]

Well, we'll have to disagree on that.





Except the part where she got stuck as a rat is from a completely different episode, so it's hardly connected to her actions in this episode.

Click to shrink...

For me it comes down to whether the bad action was planned or impulsive. Amy and Willow both planned to mess with peoples memories. It was cold logic with the intent to continue doing it and I find that far worse than impulsive screw ups. It might have only been homework that Amy was erasing from her teacher's mind. But that to me is a clear sign of a villain's first steps. But actually, I think it would have worked just as good for Amy to be kidnapped by Angelus/Dru so they had a witch to perform any rituals.

Since the show decided to make her a villain in later seasons(minor one), I really just wish we could have explored the why and what she could have done instead of ratting her for so long. Evil Amy (as a side villain, not the big bad) could have been a good parralel/foreshadowing for Dark Willow. It could have been neat for Faith to have her own dark scoobies (Amy/Willow, Trick/Angel, Tucker Wells/Xander).

But with Amy's direction (lack of therapy/care from the scoobies), she was on a downward slide from her second appearance.




Amy hadn't done anything wrong in Gingerbread. Her comeuppance was almost definitly a hold over from this episode and how she got away scott free. That's why I said she just gets accidently dealt with, since Xander never even told anyone what Amy was doing, nobody knew she was on a downward spiral.

 

[Kylia Quilor]

It can only be comeuppance if it's actually linked, literally or symbolically, to prior bad behavior, and what happened in Gingerbread is hardly connected to BB&B.

While I don't disagree messing with someone's head is bad, it's hardly an inevitable path into evil or anything even close, and working for the Mayor willingly requires levels of deliberate malevolence I don't think Amy had. In Season 7, her bad behavior was all motivated by very specific grievances against Willow, rather than a general sense of evil.

 

[Flightless Man]

It can only be comeuppance if it's actually linked, literally or symbolically, to prior bad behavior, and what happened in Gingerbread is hardly connected to BB&B.

While I don't disagree messing with someone's head is bad, it's hardly an inevitable path into evil or anything even close,


and working for the Mayor willingly requires levels of deliberate malevolence I don't think Amy had. In Season 7, her bad behavior was all motivated by very specific grievances against Willow, rather than a general sense of evil.

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I would disagree about the comeuppance part. The audience knew she had done something bad and never got punished for it. To me this was tying up a loose end. By having her crime be mind wiping her teacher, it felt very fitting that rat amy was forgotten about. (I just don't think she deserved to be forgotten for so long.)


Messing with memories intentionally is the only thing any of the Scoobies do that I personally could never forgive. Other people have different things they find the worst/unforgivable and I understand that. But this is my red line and anyone who crosses it is instantly in the dark grey morality.

I'm talking about this more from a narrative position and you seem to be talking about this more from the characters perspective. With writers eventual decision to have Amy return as an antagonist (and then a villain in the comics), I think the writers would have had Amy be an antagonist in S3 if she wasn't a rat (since the mind magic stuff made it apparent the writers wanted her to dabble in the dark). Her character could go in a bunch of directions and I don't nescesarily think she's any more evil than the Scoobies (Anya did have a soul the whole time she was a demon), I just think that's what the writers would have done with the character for drama.

 

[RichardWhereat]

Honestly, my memory of the character is massively warped by the fic Blood and Chaos, by Aetheron.

 

[Flightless Man]

Honestly, my memory of the character is massively warped by the fic Blood and Chaos, by Aetheron.

Click to shrink...

She's a character we only get to check in on like once a year. I could onestly believe pretty much anything a writer wanted to do with her. But knowing Joss and how his crew don't let anyone be happy, Amy never had a chance. She was either going to get killed off or turn evil.

 

[Kylia Quilor]

She's a character we only get to check in on like once a year. I could onestly believe pretty much anything a writer wanted to do with her. But knowing Joss and how his crew don't let anyone be happy, Amy never had a chance. She was either going to get killed off or turn evil.

Click to shrink...

On this, we can certainly agree.

 

[Flightless Man]

Amore​

"Has anyone else noticed something..." Giles searched for a word that wouldn't reveal how little he really knew of her. "Off with Tara?"

His attempt to inform the group about his flight back to England had been interrupted by the normally reserved woman brushing right past him.

The others at the table followed his worried gaze to the pair of witches perusing the shelves. While Willow was her usual self,

With her own slew of problems lately, Buffy easily admitted she wasn't really one to judge. "I thought it was just left over happy feelings from the whole Glory mind whammy thing last spring." Wouldn't mind me some of that right now.

Her heated glare was immediately turned back on Giles as she realized he was just trying to delay the goodbye. But before she had a chance to call him out on the act, the others started voicing agreement.

"Do you think she's drunk?" Dawn's suggestion didn't bring instant rejection, making Buffy really focus on the odd behaviour on display.

Gone was the strength of will Tara had built up over the last few months. Now she followed after Willow like a love sick puppy, dreamily agreeing with every single suggestion the redhead made.

"Now I'm not normally an expert with the whole magic thing." Finally poking his head out of his own nuptial troubles, Xander felt a chill run down his spine. "But that seems an awful lot like-"

"A love spell," Anya answered conclusively for her fiancé, bringing out a testy hiss from her British co-owner.

"You didn't see a reason to mention this before?" Annoyance surged within Buffy.

Shrugging off the glare, Anya revealed how long this had been going on. "I thought you all knew. Tara's been like this for most of the week."

Awkward glances got traded between all present, the mood only shifting when a smoking vampire burst through the door behind him.

Spike's sudden distraction kept anyone from confronting Willow before her spell burning back at home went just a little... Wrong.

The spell meant to replenish Buffy's love for life sparked aflame, the sparks spreading to a wreath of willow branches entwined with dirty blonde hair. The charm on Tara's heart caught fire and the magical fumes of both effects combined into something else.

The backlash of such a powerful witch as Willow's spell knocked the entire room out for hours. Even the fuse box was blown, the dark store turning away any potential customers until well after the usual closing time.

"Willow!" First to wake with the rising moon, Spike flailed off the counter as he regained awareness.

His own formerly pressing concerns shoved aside for the moment, the terribly disguised Spike practically floated across the floor. Not showing any concern for a slowly stirring Tara, the vampire instead picked up his prize with a gloating grin.

"Easy now. I got you." Smug as can be, Spike attempted to stroke her out of place locks back into place.

That of course became rather difficult when a startled Wiccan started slapping Spike in shocked protest. "What are you doing? Let me go!"

"Anything for you Darling," Spike's response was instant and full of sickly sweet charm.

His following whispers to Willow are filled with promise of sensuous love. But even though he kept his voice low, it wasn't enough to keep him safe from the Slayer's fury.

In the time it took Willow to get her feet back under her, the rest of her overly concerned friends had crossed the room to her side. Buffy was quick to shove the smug vampire away and stand protectively between the pair.

"I knew all that stuff you said was garbage!" The Slayer didn't seem upset for herself, more triumphant at being proven right about the talking corpse and his intentions. "And now you're going to try the same song and dance with Willow? You really have no class."

"Thanks." Grateful to have those rather descriptive whispers over, Willow could sense something about the air was charged. "Only two of those things even sounded physically possible and I'm pretty sure I don't ever want to find out."

"You sure about that?" Leered a lovesick Spike. "It's been a while since you've had a man. I think you're just repressing how much fun it can be."

Crowding a little too close for Willow's comfort, Giles lead the rest of the group in lambasting the vampire. "Oh sod off Spike. No one in their right mind would ever touch you."

"Explains Drusilla and Harmony," Chuckled Xander as he readied more of his already prepared insults.

While the others kept Spike busy, the youngest among them tried to get Willow alone. "I have a pretty big test coming up. You promised to help make sure I didn't fail this one."

"Or we could do a double date." Xander cut in with a heat filled smile that made Willow take a half step backwards.

"Good idea!" Clapped Anya with far too much excitement.

"Tara and Anya can hang while we catch up." That comment had his fiancé's proud grin turn into a scowl. "It's been way too long since it was just me and you."

"Because you can't keep your hands off her." Willow's girlfriend finally spoke up with a passion rarely heard from her. "I can see the way you're looking at her."

"You're looking at Willow the same way?" Intrigue shone in Anya's eyes as she ran scenarios through her head. "I guess I wouldn't mind living in Utah. Willow's worth it."

"What are you talking about now?" An uncomfortable level of understanding had the corners of Willow's mouth droop.

"Well if Xander is going to marry both of us, we need to convert and move," Explained Anya as if it was the most obvious fact in the world. "Otherwise our love won't be accepted."

"But Tara..." Confused at the sudden offer, Willow tried to deflect by pointing out she already had someone in her life.

Willing to put up with anything for her true love, Anya just shrugged at the name. "She can come with us. A third wife will just make is fit in even better."

"Hey now!" Willow was affronted at the sudden change in her life's direction. "Don't I have any say in this?"

"You can pick the flowers," Offered Anya with a teasing grin.

To the others' relief, Giles had what sounded like a valid argument. "That's terribly prejudiced of you Anya. The Mormons haven't practised Polygamy in over a century."

"The fundamentalists still do and a few of those groups don't allow underage marriage." Confident in her answer, Anya thought back fondly on some vengeance she wrought a couple decades ago. "I have a friend we can stay with while we get settled. This way you can still sort of marry Tara too."

"But I don't want to marry you and Xander," Willow tried to explain as kindly as possible.

"If Xander's the problem, I don't mind running away with you." Winked Anya as she slid off her engagement ring to prove how little the man meant to her. "We can live in sin wherever you want."

"Hey!" Taking offence at his easy dismissal, Xander had a correction to make to his fiance's assumption. "I'm the one she's known her whole life. You ever stop and think that it's you she doesn't want?"

The commotion was too much for her and Willow tried to slip away. But when she pushed open the glass door with her spine, a set of menacing growls had her spin around in shock.

Willow let out a shriek of surprise as she backed away quickly. Her call of alarm had everyone else rush to defend their sweetheart.

"Don't worry Love." Spike just barely beat the Slayer to the door and threw himself at the nearest foe. "I'll keep you safe."

"Safe from the fiends you brought with you?" Rebuked Giles as his passion was enough to overwhelm a startled enemy.

"I can fix this!" Shouting an interruption before the verbal sparring can resume, Willow took advantage of the magical love to get things done. "I just need my ingredients."

"But we have lots inside, you can just use ours." Happy to help her darling, Anya didn't even tell her to pay.

The ferocity of the lovesick was more than enough to make short work of the loan shark's vampires. Even Dawn managed to stake one of the monsters tripped by her sister.

"It's me they want." Spike's voice drew annoyed glances and no argument. "Willow isn't going to be safe until I deal with this."

"Woah! You think I'm just going to let you go and save the day?" Before the chipped vampire could vanish into the night, Buffy chased after him. "That's my job!"

Once any potential violence was moved away from the Magic Box, Willow was able to end the love spell with ease. But as the overwhelming love left her friends, Tara finally understood what had been done to her.

While Anya did her best to charge Willow for the ingredients used now that her infatuation was gone, Tara had finally had enough. In one of the few pauses Anya took for breath, Tara interrupted with a firm voice and walked out of Willow's life.

 

[Kylia Quilor]

Shrugging off the glare, Anya revealed how long this had been going on. "I thought you all knew. Tara's been like this for most of the week."

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Oh god yeah, that's 100% Anya

Well if Xander is going to marry both of us, we need to convert and move," Explained Anya as if it was the most obvious fact in the world. "Otherwise our love won't be accepted."

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I could hear that in Emma Caulfield's voice. Very well done

But oof, that ending. I feel like the odds of Tara going back to Willow in this 'verse are a hell of a lot lower than in canon, given the level of violation a love spell can be, especially the way Willow was using it here.

 

[Flightless Man]

Oh god yeah, that's 100% Anya

I could hear that in Emma Caulfield's voice. Very well done

But oof, that ending. I feel like the odds of Tara going back to Willow in this 'verse are a hell of a lot lower than in canon, given the level of violation a love spell can be, especially the way Willow was using it here.

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She was definitely the most fun to write this chapter. I love her blunt practicality.

Thank you. The love spell wouldn't have made her stop loving Xander, she'd just love Willow more than anything. Since gay marriage wasn't legal in America at the time, polygamy would have been Anya's logical route to Willow.

No simple week off of magic is going to fix this. It would take some pretty extenuating circumstances for Tara to take Willow back. I actually forgot to post the first half of chapter one here at the same I posted it on SB (which is why chapter one is so big. It's actually two chapters). So expect a follow up to this chapter in a couple days. The follow up chapter will flash forward to a couple points in S6/7. The first half shows the changes to the episode and the second half shows the bigger changes to the season/series.

 

[Flightless Man]

Amore – Follow Up​

The feeling of betrayal was shared by many and Anya was firm in banning Willow from her store until reparations had been made. Even though life had taken a nosedive for Willow that continued for the rest of the year, the same could not be said for her friends.

Practically forced to stay in her engaged friends' spare room, any of Tara's offers to stay at a motel got firmly rejected. Any resistance the quiet witch would have offered was quickly brushed aside as Anya started to get excited about having one of her bridesmaids sleeping in the next room.

"I did spend a thousand years helping scorned women. This is just the first time it doesn't involve a wandering penis and screams of pain." Smirked the former demon as Xander carried in the suitcases.

"I really don't want to be a bother." Tara turned to Xander and ducked her head to avoid revealing how pink her cheeks had turned. "I know Willow's your best friend. It's not really fair to ask you for this."

When that didn't seem to be enough to convince the currently homeless witch, Anya turned on her fiancé, poking him in the ribs with a sharp fingernail. "Tell her it's fine."

"It's not like we're very happy with her either," Informed an emotionally drained Xander. "Besides, this is proof we're not just putting up with you for Willow's sake."

"I don't think that!" Alarmed, Tara failed to realize it was just a joke. At least not anymore.

"Oh..." His face twisted up in a show of deep thought. "So you're the one who doesn't like us."

Even more worried than before, Tara started to spout denials. But a laughing Xander just waved her concerns off and smiled. "I'm kidding Tara. Don't worry, this will be fun."

"And to repay us for room and board." Anya had walked over to the wall calendar and smiled at the kitten doing a pull up. "You can help out at the magic shop. What's your class schedule?"

Even though it was fake, the love spell did make Buffy forget about heaven for most of a night. Reality of course came crashing back down around her, as she and Spike dealt with the shark looking demon in search of cash.

Feeling the joy life could bring again was just enough to kick start her recovery. This change in mindset had her firmly rebuke when he made an advance.

With none of the doubt he could hear before, Buffy told him how things would be from now on. "Never again Spike.

"What? Did you get jealous that I was making the moves on someone else?" Affronted by the casual dismissal, his first instinct was to retaliate with casual cruelty.

"I want to be happy again Spike." Buffy just shook her head and started walking home to the drama she still needed to deal with. "We both know that's not going to happen with you."

This change in Buffy persisted each time the vampire tried to push his luck on patrol and within a few months had been relegated to the role of occasionally helpful stalker.

As Tara grew her first real friendship that didn't rely on Willow. The magic addict was left on thin ice even with the younger Summers.

Knowing his love was true, made sure Xander was waiting for his bride at the altar. The attempt to scare him off by a former victim of Anya's just reinforced exactly how far he had come from his less than terrific roots.

Standing across the aisle from her ex, Tara was able to see how much cleaner her aura was. Willow was bubbly and bright again, the way she was when they first met.

Tara wasn't quite ready to get back together yet. But she was at least willing to start studying together again and had several such sessions while the newlywed Harrises had gone on honeymoon.

Sadly the good news never lasts in Sunnydale. So when Tara arrived at the Revello Drive in late May for one such meetup, it was to a chilling sight she would never forget. One ambulance had already raced past her, while the second was being loaded outside the house.

Knowing the only way Willow would have anyone with her for the ride, Tara thought nothing of telling the paramedics that she was the girlfriend as a way to get in the emergency vehicle. Unbeknownst to her, this is what gave the struggling redhead the strength to make it through the surgery.

Without a power up witch able to essentially ignore the laws of physics, Buffy was unable to be saved. Her loss was felt by all at the hospital. But none reacted with more impulsive passion than Spike when he found out which worm was responsible.

While Tara had the unfortunate task of calling the lovebirds in New York, home of capitalism as Anya put it, the chipped vampire tracked Warren across the state. Spike cornered the sniveling coward in his motel room and cared nothing for the searing pain his assault brought him.

Every blow he struck on Warren caused him just as much pain in return. But Spike didn't stop until his final kicked snapped the murderer's neck.

The electrical overload wasn't far behind, the chip sparking inside his skull as it began the fail safe. Ecstatic that his final moment was both able to avenge Buffy and include violence, that just had him smile.

He could smell his flesh starting sizzle and didn't mind the pain one bit. "Worth it."

Buffy's return to the afterlife may have been horrible for her loved ones. But it was probably better for the world at large, forcing the First back into hibernation until someone else perverted the natural order.

While the Council worked at getting the remaining Slayer an early release, Wesley had a more direct approach. With Angelus on the loose, he knew of only one person still capable of stopping him and met with her in person.

Once she had repaid her debt and made sure the vampire was wearing the right shade of hat, the brunette beauty returned to Sunnydale with the one to cast the spell. With willow still recovering, it was Tara who reintroduced Faith to the changes in Sunnydale.

When the Witch got to the part about the Harrises adopting Dawn, Faith had to interrupt with a confused frown. "What happened to the dad?"

"Anya got out the paperwork from Buffy's first funeral. Threatened to have Hank charged with child abandonment if he didn't sign pretty much whatever she wanted," Explained Tara with a smirk as they pulled up outside the former Summer residence. "They got two years of child support and Dawn suddenly has enough money to go to school wherever she wants."

"And little D was just okay with that? Would have figured she wanted to get as far from this place as possible." Faith hesitated in the doorway while Tara slid off her coat.

Snorting from the couch beside a tense Willow, Dawn revealed exactly what made up her mind. "Willow hasn't been able to do anything but research the old fashioned way. She got really interested in me and decided to try tracing my arrival."

"Well don't keep me in suspense." Faith could tell the story had more to it than that.

"It was roughly a month or two after they all did the enjoining spell to take care of Adam." Dawn gave the cliff notes.

"It really helps explain the whole klepto phase." Agreed Anya, the glare she directed at Dawn mostly for show. "She's just taking after Giles and his misspent youth."

Not too many days later and Angel had his meeting with Wolfram and Hart. His deal had them alter memories in the same way as had happened a few years earlier with the Key. Only this time, it was his son Connor who was inserted into the lives of his loved ones.

Faith went to sleep an only child in June. But she woke up the next morning with a twin brother.

The explanation for Connor's strength was dismissed as an oddity of being a twin. His sudden integration retroactively gave Dawn one more reason to stay in Sunnydale.

With a slow summer in Sunnydale, Willow and Tara made the choice to move off of such a foul magical influence. Even though Willow was doing better with her addiction, they both decided to remove the temptation while they finished school.

As Anya and Xander welcomed a daughter into the world, they named her in honour of the strongest woman they ever knew. Of course Anya had convinced herself that Anne was in reference to her, no matter how many times reminded her what Buffy's middle name was.

A slow summer morphed into an equally dull year, leaving Faith yearning from some real action. She got her wish during the regular apocalypse season.

Dawn and Connor's burgeoning relationship eventually lead to discussions of memory alterations, making Connor realize he had a surprising amount of vagueness in his own history. So needing answers from the vampire who had always been oddly protective of him, Connor and his twin went to visit some lawyers.

The timing couldn't have been better for Connor's father, who was saved by the pairs sudden arrival in the lobby. Angel's fight with Hamilton was over when the trio overwhelmed champion of legal evil.

Though it was the last time he saw either of his family, Connor went back to Sunnydale no longer resenting the choices made by his father. Just like Dawn wished to carry on her sister's legacy, Connor had his own relatives to make proud.

When Lydia showed up after school to pick up one of Dawn's classmates and this resolve was put to the test. Remembering the bespectacled blonde woman as a Watcher from her sister's review, Dawn knew exactly what was in store for Amanda and made sure she wasn't alone on patrol.

 

[Kylia Quilor]

Tara wasn't quite ready to get back together yet. But she was at least willing to start studying together again and had several such sessions while the newlywed Harrises had gone on honeymoon.

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Seems fast, but the heart wants what it wants, that's true

The electrical overload wasn't far behind, the chip sparking inside his skull as it began the fail safe. Ecstatic that his final moment was both able to avenge Buffy and include violence, that just had him smile.

He could smell his flesh starting sizzle and didn't mind the pain one bit. "Worth it."

Click to shrink...

Very Spike. Spot on.

While the Council worked at getting the remaining Slayer an early release, Wesley had a more direct approach. With Angelus on the loose, he knew of only one person still capable of stopping him and met with her in person.

Once she had repaid her debt and made sure the vampire was wearing the right shade of hat, the brunette beauty retur

Click to shrink...

I do hate to nitpick here, but there's a several much lag time between the end of S6 and Angelus coming out to play on AtS S4, and how do they get Angel's soul back into his body without Willow to do the curse again?

The chapter was really good tho. ^^

 

[Flightless Man]

Seems fast, but the heart wants what it wants, that's true


Very Spike. Spot on.


I do hate to nitpick here, but there's a several much lag time between the end of S6 and Angelus coming out to play on AtS S4, and how do they get Angel's soul back into his body without Willow to do the curse again?

The chapter was really good tho. ^^

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I hope that came across as actual studying and not the metaphorical kind. Tara was testing the friendship waters out again for most of S6 and only got back together with Willow when she was shot (No Tara in the way meant Willow got shot in the lung).

I was having a really hard time figuring out how he would work in the greater story and then gave up when I realized the chip goes haywire in S7. He only had a year left with no Buffy around to convince Riley to remove it.


The Council spent the next couple months after Buffy died trying to get Faith cleared of her charges, but when Angelus got loose in the summer, Wesley just went and got her like in canon. Since Tara had come instead of Willow to do the resouling curse, Faith went back with her to repay her debt to Buffy.


Thank you, this story has really been helping me get out of a serious mental funk. I'm glad people are enjoying it. I'm always open to suggestions and if anyone is inspired, they can feel free to take any of ideas in whole or in part. They can even use most of one of my chapters as a starting point, as long as they send me a link to their version.

 

[Kylia Quilor]

I admit i'm intrigued at the possibilities of forget me not, as a diehard Xandelia shipper, but I'm far too busy with 878497384 other fics to seriously contemplate it right now. 😅 But worth saving in mind for when I'm free in like, 2026.

 

[Flightless Man]

I admit i'm intrigued at the possibilities of forget me not, as a diehard Xandelia shipper, but I'm far too busy with 878497384 other fics to seriously contemplate it right now. 😅 But worth saving in mind for when I'm free in like, 2026.

Click to shrink...

I completely understand the feeling of too many ideas and only so much time. It's a standing offer for anyone on any of my fanfic, since this is all just therapy and practice for me. I don't own any of the ideas and as long as no one tries making money off them, they can use them as they see fit.