Takes place in “Something Blue”.

Wanting to prove to Spike that she’s over Angel, Buffy calls him up and tells him that she’s over him, and is now marrying Spike. An angry Angel instantly makes his way to Sunnydale in order to find out what’s happened. He arrives before the spell is broken and tries to stake Spike, but Buffy stops him.

In a rage, Angel admits that he wants Buffy to have a normal life with a normal guy, even though he knows that’ll never happen because Buffy isn’t a normal girl. He then accidentally tells them about the day he took back and his reasons for doing so, admitting it just as the spell ends. Buffy is both hurt and angered that Angel gave up their chance to be together simply because he couldn't “protect” her.

Buffy realizes that Angel has always had issues with her standing on her own two feet, and doesn’t stand for her doing anything that he doesn’t want her to do. He still sees her as a little girl who needs to be protected, and that’s just wrong. She tells him to leave, now sure that she and him can never work out.

She and Riley don’t work out either, Buffy having realized that she was only dating him because Angel told her to date someone normal, and to fill the empty hole Angel left behind.

She realizes that while under the spell, Spike never expected anything from her, and loved her for just being her. They start a relationship when they both realize that their feelings haven’t gone away.