Thanks to the following: uskohakuchan, as absolutely always, redrider6612, who is going to get exactly what they want this chapter, as are flyersfan3588 and michebabyblue

About the chapter: As you may guess, I really like purple. Apparently that makes me a mysterious person. Ooooooh.

Shall I get on with it?

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Herbs were laid out in small piles on the floor. A blue-hot flame burned just beneath a slightly smoking pot, into which Willow was throwing the herbs, working inwards from the outside heaps. She was murmuring words under her breath, and jumping slightly every time there was a crackle or spit from the pot. She felt nervous, knowing that if it didn't work she would feel like it was her fault that Buffy and Angel couldn't be happy. She worked faster now, as the pot began to give off purple sparks.

Eventually the sparking and hissing reached a crescendo, Willow's muttering increasing in volume to a shout, and there was a blinding white light. Willow flew backwards across the room, almost to the wall. When the light shrank back into the pot, she stood shakily and walked over. The herbs in the pot had vanished, leaving a purple crystal. It was still hot, and Willow burnt her fingers when she leant in to touch it, but she grinned anyway. This meant that the spell had worked.

She ran over to the phone, sucking her burnt fingers, and hurriedly dialled Buffy's number.

-

Buffy hung up, feeling a sense of excitement that she couldn't quite explain. Willow had phoned her, telling her to go straight to her dorm room. Something about Willow's tone – which had been even more giddy than usual – told her that there was something good going on. As she power-walked over, she mused about what it could be… some sort of surprise? A party? She didn't know whether to feel thrilled or anxious, if she'd had a pulse it would have been racing.

She knocked, and Willow answered almost immediately, pulling her inside with an impossibly huge smile. Remnants of herbs littered the floor, and this and the large pot in the middle of the floor suggested that Willow had been doing magic. Oh God, thought Buffy, I hope it's not some kind of hyper-making spell; she's bad enough when she's been drinking coffee.

"Look," cried Willow, gesturing to a purple crystal in the middle of the slightly steaming pot. Buffy peered closer. It was pretty, but not unusual.

"What is it? If you've been doing some kind of excitability magic—" Willow cut her off with a wave, still with the same mad grin.

"This is a revealing crystal," she explained, "If you do a spell which has no obvious physical sign of working, you can add some extra ingredients to make one of these." Buffy felt a little confused by this explanation, but was relieved to see that Willow's grin had subsided a little, although her eyes showed that this was probably because her cheeks had been strained.

"I still don't understand," said Buffy, annoyance rising as she started to feel as though she wasn't being let in on something, "what spell were you doing that needed the revealy thing?" Willow waved her hands, jumping up and down as though she couldn't quite say it.

"Making Angel's soul permanent," she burst out, then stopped jumping and clapped her hands together.

Buffy screamed, jumping up just like Willow had a moment before.

"Please tell me you're not joking, please!"

"I'm not, I'm not!"

"Willow! You're… you're AMAZING!" Buffy gripped her best friend in a bone crushing hug.

"That's oklghc…" Willow managed to choke as the wind was completely knocked out of her. "I… can't breathe." Buffy pulled away, wiping tears from her eyes and laughing.

"Sorry Will, it's just… oh my God, I," she looked at Willow with comprehension dawning on her pretty face, "I have to go! I have to go now! I have to tell Angel and—" she broke off looking embarrassed, Willow grinned and opened the door for her. She rushed out, knocking into a student as she sailed down the stairs like a lightening bolt. Willow grinned after her, feeling thoroughly satisfied with herself.

-

Riley was going for a quick walk before turning in for the night, when he caught sight of Buffy Summers running towards him. He felt a little agitated, knowing he had been developing feelings for her, but she seemed to be in a hurry. He grinned at her as she approached him, wondering what on earth he should say.

"Oh hey, it's Buffy right? Where are you—"

"Can't talk, gotta go, there's somewhere I really have to be!" He watched her zip fast him, extraordinarily fast. Too fast. He stared after her as she disappeared around the corner, no change in her abnormal speed at all. What the hell is she?

-

Buffy arrived at the mansion feeling both exhausted and exhilarated. Angel was where he always was at this time, reading in his bedroom. She sneaked. up behind him and wrapped her arms around his neck. He smiled up at her. And she kissed him with obvious passion

"Guess what?" she said, grinning. "I have the best news ever."

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YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I feel a little sorry for Riley actually… everyone hates him.

Isn't it funny how both 'Biley' and 'Ruffy' sound completely ridiculous? Just a thought.

I'm honestly not trying to bash.

Honestly.