Forgetful

Dawn and Xander felt Willow's spell roll over everyone in the Magic Box, wiping their memories clean. Fortunately, their time in Hogwarts learning occlumency allowed them to easily brush it aside. It never failed to amuse the pair as they watched the rest of the Scoobies pair off, forming couples just as they had in their first life. Well... except for Anya and Giles, but they fit together pretty well. Xander sat in a chair and watched them try to puzzle things out. Dawn climbed onto his lap with Willow's black crystal in her hand.

"I-I'm gay," Willow realized as she and Tara held hands.

"Me too," Tara agreed.

"I'm a cradle robber," Giles said as Anya beamed at him.

"While I can't say I'm happy my soon-to-be step-mother is the same age as my girlfriend," said Spike, who believed his name was Rupert Jr. and he was a vampire, fighting his nature to assist his girlfriend, Joy, "I have to say you look happy together."

"They really do," Buffy, who thought she was a super hero named Joy, said with a smile.

"So everyone's happy with who they are?" Dawn asked, drawing everyone's attention to her.

"Yes, though I feel a bit guilty about fleecing the gullible who believe in magic," Giles admitted.

"People need belief," Anya told him solemnly before smiling, "and we need their money!"

Spike laughed. "She's good for him," he said firmly. "I'm not too wild about being a vamp, but the rest more than makes up for it." He wrapped an arm around Joy, who leaned into his embrace.

"That's my boy," Giles said proudly.

"Aren't you a little young for him?" Willow asked Dawn.

"Depends on what we're doing," Dawn said honestly. "Now don't change the subject. Is everyone happy?"

"I am," Tara said softly, making Willow smile.

"I'm a superhero with a kick ass boyfriend, what's not to like?" Joy asked. "Though my little sister could start dating boys her own age."

Xander pulled out a small glass vial filled with a glittering red liquid and took a sip, causing him to lose a few years.

"Pass that this way," Anya said, seeing the vial was still mostly full and seeing the possibilities.

"Sure, but you don't need it," Xander said.

"Thanks, kiddo," she said, handing it to Giles who took a small swig and shed a couple of decades.

"Where did you get that?" Joy asked.

"I got a lot of odds and ends," Xander replied with a grin, his clothes baggy on his now teenage frame.

"Why are you asking if we're happy?" Rupert asked Dawn suspiciously. "Did you have anything to do with what's happened to us?"

"I know what's happened, and why, and even who," Dawn admitted. "I could even undo it, but you guys are all a mass of mental problems most days."

"You all are a lot happier now," Xander agreed, pulling out a vial of green liquid and tossing it to Rupert Jr. who easily caught it.

"What's this then?" he asked curiously.

"It cures vampirism," Xander replied.

Rupert looked tempted but didn't drink it. "As a vampire, I can watch Joy's back. As a human I'd just be in the way," he said sadly.

"You should take it," Joy said. "It's what you've always wanted and what we fight for." She actually had no idea if this was true or not, but it sounded right, and like something you'd read in the comics.

"I can get you a radioactive spider later, if you like," Xander offered.

"Really?" Spike asked, perking up, as he figured what Xander was hinting at.

"Yeah," Xander assured him. "You'll be sick for two or three days and wake up with abs of steel."

"Alright then," Rupert said. "Bottoms up!" He popped open the vial and quickly downed it, making a face of dislike. "Tastes like fermented socks and toe jam."

"Your hands are getting warm," Joy said as she held one of his hands to her cheek.

"Can you give us our memories back?" Tara asked.

"Easily, but it'd make you all really unhappy," Dawn said. "All you've lost is your excess baggage and personal identities," she said. "You still have all your skills and knowledge."

"So do you want to be happy and build better lives?" Xander asked.

"How are you doing all this? What's the cost?" Anya asked suspiciously. "Everything costs something. Nothing is free."

"I know a lot of secrets and I'm doing this because you're all our family," Xander told them. "The cost is your former identities. That's all."

"Can I be Spider Woman?" Tara asked, causing everyone to look at her. "What? Spider Woman's cool!"

"I can give you the same powers Peter Parker got," Xander told her. "Jessica Drew's abilities require a decade-long coma and a formula I don't actually know."

"That's fine," she answered him with a smile.

"Can you give my Rupert the abilities of Mister Fantastic?" Anya asked hopefully.

"That requires cosmic rays and is really random," Xander said with a shrug. "Not something I carry with me."

"Can you give us all Spiderman's powers?" Anya asked.

"Everyone?" Dawn asked, surprised.

"You'd have to be pretty stupid to turn them down," Anya said bluntly, causing everyone to agree after a moment's thought.

"Everyone but Joy," Xander said. "She's already empowered so the most I can do is give her a magical weapon."

"Are you a genie?" Giles asked.

Dawn laughed.

"No, I'm just older than I look," Xander teased.

"So, just to be sure," Dawn said, "everyone will be happy as they are but with Spiderman's powers?"

"And a magical weapon," Joy reminded him.

"Witchblade," Xander said, tossing her a bracelet.

"What's it do?" she asked slipping it on.

"A drop of blood bonds it to you and then it acts like magical armor and claws on command," Xander told her.

Giles looked around. "Yes, we appear to be happy with this situation."

"Good," Dawn said, pocketing the crystal. "I'll ask again when Sunnydale is swallowed by the sea."

Xander kissed her cheek. "OK, two spiders at a time, and no couples, as someone has to be well to care for the other. It's like a bad flu, lasting two to three days."

_After the fall of Sunnydale_

The group of Scoobs stared at the crater where Sunnydale once was and watched as the ocean started pouring in, burying the remains of the town under the waves.

"Good thing Caleb counted as empowered and was able to wear the necklace," Joy said with a grin.

"Good thing he didn't have to be willing," Rupert Jr added with a grin, his arm around her.

Giles stood next to his wife Anya; who was holding their daughter, Pearl. "I believe I'm going to have to take over the Watchers' Council — what's left of it anyway."

"I'm thinking of heading to New York," Jonathan said.

"Going to become a photographer?" Xander asked with a smirk.

"Yeah, but me and Andrew will trade off being Spiderman so no one knows," he said cheerfully, adjusting his web shooters, which he never took off.

"We'll email you any new designs we come up with for Spider gear," Andrew promised before the pair said their goodbyes and rode off on a red and blue motorcycle.

"You guys didn't even need me for this," Faith said with a sigh.

"We needed backup we could depend on, so yes, we needed you," Joy assured her.

Faith turned away. The way 'Joy' treated her made her eyes water.

"I'll help with the council," Woods said, feeling pretty good about how things had turned out, though he still kept his distance from Rupert Jr, who had returned his mother's coat and given an honest apology for things he didn't remember, but regretted anyway.

"Do you recall a year or two ago when I said I'd ask again when Sunnydale sank beneath the waves?" Dawn asked.

"Ask what?" Woods asked curiously.

"To return our memories," Joy replied. "She said we were happier without them."

"You are," Faith told her. "Of course, I'm also saying that because I don't want you to hate me," she admitted softly.

"Faith," Joy said, putting a hand on her shoulder, "I could never hate you. You're my sister in arms."

"You could. I was a monster," Faith said.

"You were a monster," Rupert said with a snort. "I was the real deal, and I'll be happy to let that person stay dead." He'd learned a lot about Spike and never wanted to be him again.

"All I can say about Buffy is," Joy paused and smirked, "the bitch was crazy."

Laughter rang out amongst the group.

"And I was a monster for five times as long," Anya added. "I think Anyanka can stay buried."

"And you three?" Xander asked the remaining Scoobs.

"My childhood sucked, from what I discovered," Tara said with a shrug. "I'm happy as I am."

"I read the personal journals I wrote as my former self," Willow said and shook her head. "I don't need to spend all my money on shrinks, thanks."

"Giles?" Xander asked.

"I... probably do need them so I can take over the council," he admitted.

Dawn brought out the black crystal and stroked one side, turning that side clear.

"Good lord," Giles groaned and looked around, seeing the concerned looks on the faces of his wife, 'son', and daughter-in-law. He sighed. "Take it back. I can manage it better than my old self could."

"OK," Dawn agreed, turning the crystal black once more with a touch.

"That's better," Giles said, looking a lot less stressed.

Dawn made the crystal vanish.

"What are you going to do with the crystal?" Faith asked curiously, relieved the others didn't remember the old her.

"I'll wait 'til time circles around again and give everyone their memories years in advance," Dawn said honestly as everyone re-boarded the bus.

"I..." Faith was used to strangeness from the group and was hesitant to call bullshit on anything being impossible with them. "Can you add mine? I'd like a chance to save... Diana."

"Consider it done," Dawn told her.

"Thanks," Faith said, going to rejoin Woods.

_Halloween_

Buffy and Willow froze as memories of another life hit them.

"Not enough time to get to Ethan's," Buffy said, "not without blowing off escorting the kids."

"We'll have to rely on Giles," Willow said. "Now let's alter our costumes so we aren't helpless when the spell hits."

Buffy threw open her weapons chest and started pulling out weapons to secrete on her person, passing a few on to Willow as well. "I'm going with magically adept vampire hunter. How about you?"

"I can become magically adept on my own," Willow said as she thought about her problems with magic and decided to do something about it. "I'm going as a witch-whitelighter from that Charmed show, but not one of the charmed ones – that carries a load of problems. I'll be myself as a half-angel, basically."

"I think we only keep knowledge, but good luck," Buffy said, straightening her dress. "Ready?"

"As I'll ever be," Willow agreed, using the ghost costume as a hooded cape. She was looking forward to making Xander's eyes pop out as he saw how Buffy had dressed her.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Faith froze as the memories hit her before running to check on her watcher. They had to get out of town as soon as possible!

The jingling of the silver bracelet that had appeared on her arm was ignored as unimportant.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Giles turned to Janna and swept her up in a kiss. Xander had gotten them to dress as Rose and The Doctor, but it looked like they wouldn't be reaching the masquerade ball tonight.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Dawn and Xander were dressed as changelings from Deep Space Nine, which wouldn't be released for a number of years. They touched up each other's makeup.

"You should have sent her a radioactive spider," Dawn said.

"Witchblade fits better," Xander replied. "Plus, she'd probably just kill the spider or end up in the hospital where the doctors would notice her being upgraded and put her in a lab."

"Point," Dawn admitted.

"Ready?" he asked.

"Ready!" she agreed.

"It's showtime!" they chorused as they grinned evilly.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Spike grabbed Dru. "We're getting the fuck out of here," he said bluntly, tossing her in the car.

Typing By: Ordieth

AN: Time Loopers have all the fun.