Buffy Summers leaned against the kitchen counter, arms crossed, her eyes locked on the young woman sitting awkwardly at the dining table. The resemblance was uncanny—like staring into a mirror. But the woman, introducing herself as Anna, avoided direct eye contact and fidgeted with the hem of her jacket, clearly uncomfortable.

Bella Vaughan stood between them, the peacemaker, hands raised defensively. "Okay, Buffy, before you freak out—"

"Freak out?" Buffy interrupted, her voice sharp. "There's a clone of me in my house, and you think I'm not going to freak out?"

"She's not a threat," Bella insisted, stepping closer. "Her name's Anna. She's not trying to replace you or anything. She's here to help."

Anna nodded timidly. "I—I don't want any trouble. I just... I want to be free. To make my own choices."

Buffy's eyes narrowed. "And you expect me to just believe that? What are you, some Initiative science experiment?"

Bella bit her lip, glancing at Anna. "...Yes. But she escaped. And she's nothing like what they wanted her to be."

Anna spoke up, her voice soft but resolute. "They made me to mimic your abilities. Your strength, your instincts, everything. But I'm not you, Buffy. I'm not anyone's puppet."

Buffy shot Bella a glare. "And you just brought her here? Without telling me?"

Bella shrugged sheepishly. "Well, where else was I supposed to take her? Besides, I figured you'd want to know. And—uh—this isn't the weirdest thing you've dealt with."

Buffy threw up her hands. "Oh, please. Tell me how this isn't weird."

Bella hesitated, then mumbled, "I mean, you're going to deal with worse later..."

Buffy's brow furrowed. "Worse? What's worse than a clone?"

Bella sighed. "Okay, so, um, there's something I should probably warn you about. It's... in the future. Spike builds a robot version of you."

Buffy froze. "He does what?"

Bella grimaced. "He, uh... makes a robot called Buffybot. It looks like you, talks like you, fights like you... but also... he programs her to, uh, love him."

Buffy blinked, her face contorting in disbelief. "He programs a robot version of me to love him?"

Bella winced. "Yep. Calls him 'handsome man,' hugs him, kisses him, the whole nine yards. Even actually has sex with him. It's... kinda creepy, but also kind of funny if you think about it—"

"I don't think about it because it's horrifying!" Buffy cut in. "Spike seriously makes a robot version of me to be his girlfriend?!"

Bella held up her hands. "Hey, don't shoot the messenger. I'm just telling you what happens. And technically, Buffybot ends up helping you guys out in a big way later, so... silver lining?"

Anna frowned, visibly confused. "Why would he...?"

Buffy groaned, pacing the kitchen. "Because Spike is a lovesick vampire who doesn't understand boundaries! That's why!" She stopped mid-step, turning to Bella. "And you're telling me this now because...?"

"Because Anna's not Buffybot," Bella said quickly. "She's real, she has free will, and she's on our side. I thought you'd want to know the difference."

Buffy turned to Anna, her gaze sharp. "So, you're not programmed? No creepy Spike stuff? No 'handsome man' nonsense?"

Anna shook her head firmly. "No. I'm just me. I didn't ask to exist, but I do, and I want to use what I've got to help."

Buffy studied her for a long moment before sighing. "Okay. Fine. You can stay—for now. But I'm keeping an eye on you."

Anna nodded solemnly. "I understand. So... I'm not the weirdest thing you've dealt with, then?"

Buffy groaned. "Not by a long shot."

Bella grinned, trying to lighten the mood. "See? You're practically normal compared to Buffybot."

Buffy shot her a glare. "Don't push it."

Anna managed a small smile. "I'll take it."

Buffy shook her head, muttering as she walked toward the living room. "Clones, robots... what's next? An evil twin with a goatee?"

Bella leaned toward Anna and whispered, "That actually might've happened already."

Anna smirked. "You've got an interesting life."

Bella sighed. "You have no idea."