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Into every generation, there are Chosen Ones. A Slayer will stand against the vampires, the demons, and the forces of darkness. With each Slayer comes a Guardian. They are protectors of the innocent.

Same Day - Same Scene

Day One

Morning - Alley

Buffy, Brooke, Alice and Carmen faced off with Kendra and Sofia, ready to continue their fight.

"Okay, one more time," Buffy told them. "You're the who?"

"I'm de Slayer," Kendra answered. "Sofia is de Guardian."

"Nice cover story," Brooke told them. "But here's a tip. You might wanna try it on people who are not the real Slayer and Guardians."

"You can't stop us," Sofia told them. "Even if you kill us, other Slayer and Guardian will be sent to take our place."

"Could you stop with the Slayer and Guardian thing?" Carmen asked. "Alice and Brooke are the Guardians. Buffy's the Slayer."

"Nonsense!" Kendra told them. "Dere is but one Slayer, and I am she. One Guardian came before Sofia to train her to be the one she is now."

Carmen tried to freeze Kendra and Sofia, but was unable to. "I can't freeze them. They're telling the truth."

"Okay," Alice told them. "A scenario. You back off, we'll back off. But you promise not to go all wiggy until we can go to our Watcher, my father, and figure this out."

"Wiggy?" Sofia repeated.

Buffy nodded. "You know. No kick-o, no fight-o."

Kendra and Sofia exchanged a look, considering, nodding to each other, relaxing, crossing their arms.

"We accept your scenario," Sofia told them.

"So, you were sent here?" Brooke asked.

"Yes," Sofia answered. "By the Guardian who trained me and our Watcher."

"To do what, exactly?" Carmen asked.

"To do our duty," Kendra answered. "We are here to kill vampires."

∞

Willy's Bar - Backroom

The camera panned from the window over to the cage. The sunlight had advanced past the cage door, and was only about three feet from the far wall. Angel was crouched in the far corner, cowering, trying not to be burned alive, looking up at the light coming through the window.

∞ Slayers and Guardians ∞

Sunnydale High School - Library

Buffy, Brooke, Alice and Carmen had brought Kendra and Sofia to Zoey, Willow, Brady, Eric, Wyatt, Giles and Layla in the library. Kendra and Sofia stood at attention. Giles and Wyatt were pacing. Buffy, Brooke, Brady and Alice sat on the stairs. Zoey leaned on her chair with her left hand, having her right hand on her hip. Carmen and Brady were sitting at the table. Layla was standing, watching.

"And your Watcher is, i-is Sam Zabuto, you say?" Giles asked.

"Yes, sir," Sofia answered.

"We've never met, but he, he's, he's very well-respected," Giles told them.

"What?" Layla asked. "So he's a real guy? As in non-fictional?"

Alice and Giles nodded.

Wyatt looked at Kendra and Sofia. "And you are called..."

"I am de vampire Slayer," Kendra told them. "She is the Guardian."

"We got that part, hon," Zoey told her. "He means your names."

"Oh," Sofia said. "Dey call her Kendra Young. Dey call me Sofia Valeska."

"Uh, there's obviously some--some misunderstanding," Giles told them.

Willow came bouncing into the library with a smile on her face. Eric followed behind. "Hey."

Kendra and Sofia marched to intercept them.

"Identify yourselves," Kendra told them.

Willow was taken aback and her smile faded to a frown.

"Back off, pink ranger," Brady told her. "These are our friends."

"More friends?" Sofia asked.

"Yeah," Zoey answered. "As in person you hang with? Amigo?"

"I don't understand," Kendra told them.

Brady sighed, shaking his head. "You try. I'm tapped."

"Uh, Kendra, Sofia, uh, there are a few people, who know Buffy, Brooke and Alice's identities," Wyatt explained. "Besides Buffy and Brooke's brother Brady. Other than people who have secret powers and secret identities as well. Like Zoey, Layla, Carmen and I. Civilians, if you call them that, know about us. Willow and Eric are two of them. And they also spend time together socially."

Sofia looked at Giles. "And you allow dis, sir?"

"Well, uh..." Giles trailed off.

"But de Slayer and Guardians must work in secret for security," Kendra told them.

"Of course," Layla told them. "But with our given situation, considering that we have powers and knowledge that they can use in order to protect innocents, we were allowed to know so we could help them fight the evil."

Willow was confused. "Hi, guys."

"What's going on?" Eric asked.

"Apparently, there's been a really big mix up," Buffy answered.

"Uh, it seems somehow, that, uh, another Slayer and Guardian have been sent to Sunnydale," Alice explained.

"Is that even possible?" Willow asked.

"Two Slayers and how many Guardians at the same time?" Eric asked.

"Not to my knowledge," Giles answered. "Um, there were originally only supposed to be two Guardians in existence at a time so that the more experienced Guardian could train the next one, and if both would die, two more would come to take their place. And the new Slayer is only called after the previous Slayer has died."

Eric realized, in shock. "Oh, my God. Buffy, Brooke and Alice all died."

"We were only gone for a minute," Brooke told them.

"Clearly it doesn't matter how long you were gone," Layla told them. "You were physically dead."

"Causing the activation of the next Slayer and Guardian," Willow agreed.

"They died?" Kendra asked.

"Just a little," Carmen answered.

"They were fed on and drowned," Brady explained. "But we revived them."

"So there really are two Slayers and four Guardians now," Willow told them.

"It would seem so," Giles agreed. "This is completely unprecedented. I'm quite flummoxed."

Giles sat down.

"What's the flum?" Buffy asked. "It's a mistake. They aren't supposed to be here. They go home."

Brooke looked at Kendra and Sofia. "Look, no offense. We really don't mean this personally. But we're not dead. And frankly having you around creeps us out just a little bit."

"We cannot just leave," Sofia told them. "We were sent here for a reason. Mr. Zabuto and the Guardian that trained me, Destiny Zenith, said all de signs indicate date a very dark power is about to rise in Sunnydale."

Alice stood, walking closer calmly. "Destiny Zenith. She was the one that trained me, as well. And what's your great plan for finding this dark power? Are you just gonna attack people randomly until you find a bad one?"

"Of course not," Kendra answered.

"Then why did you attack us?" Alice asked.

"We tought you were protecting a vampire," Kendra answered, nodding to Carmen.

"Carmen?" Alice asked.

"You thought Carmen was a vampire?" Zoey asked. "Oh. A swing and a miss. For the rookies."

"We had good reason to tink she was," Sofia told them. "Did we not see her kissing a vampire?"

Willow stood up in her defense. "Carmen would never do that." She remembered Angel. "Oh." She looked at Carmen. "Except for that sometimes you do that." She looked at Kendra and Sofia. "But only with Angel." She looked at Carmen. "Right?"

Willow sat down.

"Yes," Carmen answered. "Right." She looked at Kendra and Sofia. "Look, you saw me with Angel. And he is a vampire, but he's good."

"Angel?" Kendra repeated, confused as to who he was, until she figured it out. "You mean Angelus? We've read about him. He is a monster."

"No, no," Eric told them. "No. He's good now. Really."

"He had a gypsy curse," Brady explained. "A curse ironically done by Zoey and Layla's ancestors."

"He has a what?" Sofia asked.

"You know what?" Brady asked. "Just trust us on this one."

"He's on the home team now," Wyatt told them.

"We cannot believe you," Sofia told them. "He looked to us just like anodder animal when we..."

They looked at them, confrontational.

"When you what?" Layla asked. "What did you do to him?"

"We..." Kendra trailed off.

Carmen stood to confront them angrily. "What did you do?"

∞

Willy's Bar - Backroom

Angel leaned against the back wall, weakened by the ambient light. Willy walked in, looking at him, touching the Guardian energy in front of him to try to push it away, which dissipated by the touch, fading away. Relieved that he could make the energy fade, Willy opened the cage door, walking in, using his body to shade Angel from the direct sunlight, dragging him out of the cage, into another storage room, opening a hatch in the floor to the sewers below, dropping Angel down into the shallow water.

∞

Sewers

Angel was too weak to get up on his own. Willy lowered himself through the hatch, dropping to the water, unhappy by the fact that his shoes had just been ruined. Bianca walked into the light from the shadows.

"There you go, friend," Willy told her. "He'll be as good as new in a day or two." Two more vampires walked closer to drag Angel away. Willy held up his hands to stop them. "Uh, hey, wait. We had a deal, right?"

Bianca pulled out a wad of cash, handing it over. "What's the matter, Willy? Don't you trust me?"

"Oh, yeah, like a sister," Willy told her sarcastically.

Bianca slapped him across the face. "Talk and I'll have your guts for garters."

"Wild horses couldn't drag it," Willy told her.

Bianca held up the last bill, crumbling it, dropping it into the water, smiling tauntingly, tilting her head. "Oops. Sorry. Friend."

Willy bent over to pick the bill, looking up as the two vampires grabbed Angel and dragged him off. "What are you gonna do with him anyway?"

"I'm thinking maybe dinner and a movie," Bianca told him sarcastically, mockingly, tilting her head. "I don't want to rush into anything. I've been hurt, you know. My last boyfriend staked my brother in the heart. But then again, my brother and I had tried to hand Brady over to Spike. Tried to have him turned into a vampire. It's been a busy last few weeks. Being able to cheat death by turning into a vampire. Still being insane and all, but... And having to watch your ex-boyfriend fall in love with a Guardian. Losing a brother in the process." She smiled impishly, shrugging. "Whatever. It doesn't matter. I'll figure out what to do next. Thanks, Willy. I'll be seeing you."

Bianca followed the vampires where they were taking Angel. Willy was unnerved by how out of her mind she was.

∞

Summers House - Living Room

Norman's case was open.

Cordelia was going through the samples. "Do you have anything in raisin? I know you wouldn't think so, but I'm both a winter and a summer."

"9.99, tax included," Norman told her.

"You said that already," Cordelia told him. "Do you have anything in the berry family?"

Norman looked around. "Are there any more ladies in the house?"

"Oh, no, they're not home," Cordelia answered, turning to face him. "You know, nothing personal, but maybe you should look into selling dictionaries, or some..."

Cordelia saw a mealworm out of his sleeve and onto his hand, slowly backing away.

Xander walked downstairs to see them. "Hey, what's up?"

"Um, he's a salesman, and he was just leaving, right?" Cordelia asked. "Uh, okay, buh-bye. Thank you."

Xander reached up to guide him out. "Okay, Mary Kay, time to..." Another mealworm crawled across Norman's cheek and into his right hear. Xander backed away. "Time to run!"

Xander broke into a run, guiding Cordelia away with him. Norman transformed into a mass of mealworms. They quickly crawled across the floor.

∞

Kitchen

Xander and Cordelia ran into the kitchen for the back door. Norman was already there, reassembled and waiting for them. Cordelia screamed. Xander grabbed Cordy by the hand, pulling her back into the hall.

∞

Basement

Xander and Cordelia ran into the basement, closing the door behind them. The mealworms tried to come under the door, but they stomped on them.

"Find something to cover the crack under the door," Xander told her in a panic, grabbing a broom, sweeping the mealworms back under the door with in.

Cordelia looked around, finding a roll of duct tape, handing it to Xander. "Here. I don't do worms."

Xander gave her an exasperated look, grabbing the roll, shoving the broom into her hands. "Cover me."

Cordelia swept at the mealworms while Xander pulled a length of tape off of the roll, sticking it to the bottom of the door. Cordelia was making 'ew!' noises.

∞

Willy's Bar

Buffy, Brooke, Zoey, Alice, Carmen, Brady and Wyatt walked in, looking around.

"Angel?" Buffy called.

Kendra and Sofia walked into the cage where they left him, looking around.

"No ashes," Wyatt told them.

"What?" Brooke asked.

"When a vampire combusts, he leaves ashes," Kendra told them.

"Yeah, we know the drill," Zoey told her.

"So they didn't kill him," Alice told them.

Carmen looked at Kendra and Sofia. "And I don't need to kill you."

Willy showed up at the door. "Whoa! There's a lotta tension in this room."

Kendra and Sofia attacked him, pushing him out of the backroom onto the floor.

"Doesn't anyone just say hello where you come from?" Buffy asked.

Sofia turned Willy over on the floor, grabbing him by the shirt, ready to punch. "Dis one is dirty. I can feel it."

"That's really good for you, Percepto Girl," Brooke told her.

"But we're not gonna get anything out of him if he's, oh, say, unconscious," Zoey told them with honest sarcasm.

"Willy," Wyatt told him, slamming him onto the bar.

"Hiya, Wyatt," Willy told him nervously.

"Where's Angel?" Alice asked.

"My buddy Angel?" Willy asked. "You think I'd let him fry? I saved him in the nick. He was about five minutes away from being a crispy critter."

"Where'd he go?" Carmen asked.

"Uh, he said he as gonna stay underground," Willy told them. "You know, recuperate."

"Are you telling us the truth?" Brady asked.

"I swear on my mother's grave," Willy told them. "Should something fatal happen to her, God forbid."

"Den he is all right," Kendra told them. "We can return to your Watcher for our orders."

"We don't take orders," Buffy told them. "We do things our way."

Sofia looked at Buffy, Brooke and Alice. "No wonder you died."

"Shut up," Brooke told her in annoyance. "Let's go."

They turned to leave.

Willy stepped away from the bar. "I have to ask." They turned back. "Have either of you girls considered modeling? I have a friend with a camera. Strictly high class nude work. You know, art photographs, but naked. There's some jobs for you boys, too." They exchanged an annoyed look, walking out without a word. "You don't have to answer right away."

∞

Spike's Warehouse

Drusilla was asleep. Spike laid next to her, stroking her hair, waking her.

"I was dreaming," Drusilla said dreamily.

"Of what, pet?" Spike asked.

"We were in Paris," Drusilla answered. "You had a branding iron."

Bianca pulled Angel into the warehouse, having him tied up. "I brought you guys something."

Spike smirked, impressed. "Good work, Bianca."

Drusilla was still talking about her dream. "There were worms in my baguette."

Bianca pushed Angel to the floor. "One sire. Coming up. Or did come up. Whichever."

Drusilla smiled. "My Angel?"

"The one and only," Spike answered. "Now all we need's the full moon tonight, and he will die, and you will be fully restored." He took her hand, whispering. "My black goddess." He kissed her head. "My ripe, wicked plum. It's been..."

"Forever," Drusilla finished. They kissed passionately. Angel looked away, all tied up and gagged, straining against his bonds. "Let me have him, hmm? Until the moon."

Bianca smiled. "All right. Let's play."

"But don't kill him," Spike told them. "He mustn't die till the ritual."

Drusilla looked at Bianca, smiling. "Bring him to me." Bianca picked Angel up from the floor, forcing him over to Drusilla. Dru grabbed him by the chin, looking him in the eye. "You've been a very bad daddy."

Drusilla slapped him across the face. Angel was powerless to do anything.

∞∞

Sunnydale High School - Outside

The Scoobies, Wyatt, Giles, Layla, Kendra and Sofia were walking along. (minus Xander)

"Kendra, Sofia, I've, uh, conferred with your Watcher and the trainer Guardian, Destiny Zenith, and, uh, we all agree that, uh, until this matter with Spike, Drusilla and Bianca has been resolved that you two should stay here," Giles told them.

"Oh, that'll be great," Eric told them.

"So you believe dat Spike and Bianca are attempting to revive dis Drusilla to health?" Kendra asked.

"Bianca's helping Spike and Drusilla because she feels indebted to them for saving her life by turning her into a vampire," Eric explained.

"And we think that's the, uh, the dark power that your Watcher and Destiny Zenith referred to," Layla answered. "You see, uh, Drusilla and Bianca are not only evil. They are, uh, well, also quite mad. And if she's restored to her full health, then, with Spike and Bianca, well, there's absolutely no telling what they might do."

"Den we will stop Spike and Bianca," Sofia told them.

"Ooh, good plan," Zoey told them sarcastically. "Let's go. Charge!"

Layla gave her daughter an amused look. "Zoey."

Alice looked at Sofia. "It's a little more complicated than that, John Wayne."

"Yes, I'm afraid it is," Wyatt agreed. "Spike is my brother." Kendra and Sofia looked at him in surprise. "He's tried to kill me and everyone I've loved more than once. And now he's also called out the Order of Taraka to keep us all out of the way."

"De assassins?" Kendra asked. Willow nudged Zoey. Zoey rolled her eyes, smiling. "Sofia and I read of dem in de writings of Dramius."

"Oh, really?" Giles asked. "W-w-which volume?"

They walked along the colonnade.

"I believe it was six, sir," Sofia answered.

"Um, how do you know all this?" Willow asked.

"From our studies," Sofia answered.

"So, obviously you have a lot of free time," Willow told them.

"We study because it is required," Kendra told them. Giles and Alice nodded. "The Slayer and Guardian handbook insists on it."

"There's a Slayer and Guardian handbook?" Eric asked.

"Wait," Brady told them. "Handbook? What handbook? How come Buffy and Brooke don't have a handbook?"

"Is there a T-shirt, too?" Willow asked. Eric gave her a look. "'Cause that would be cool."

"After meeting Brooke and Buffy, Alice and I realized that, uh, the handbook would be of no use in their case," Giles explained.

"Well, what do you mean it would be of no use in our case?" Buffy asked. "Wha-what's wrong with our case?"

Alice changed the subject. "Kendra, Sofia, um, perhaps you'd like to show us, the part in, uh, Dramius Six where it refers to the Order of Taraka. Really, I seem to have never been able to get through that book. It was a bit stodgy."

Sofia smiled. "It was difficult. All dose footnotes."

Giles, Alice, Sofia and Kendra laughed.

Brooke sighed. "Hello. And welcome to planet pocket protector."

Eric looked at them. "Oh, hey. Remembered something. Principal Snyder was snooping around for Buffy, Brooke, Zoey, Alice, Carmen and Brady."

Carmen remembered, sighing. "Ew. Career fair."

"Best to make an appearance, I think," Layla told them.

"Right," Zoey agreed. "Mom, as long as you stay here at school so we can protect you."

"Of course," Layla answered.

"Dey're students here?" Kendra asked.

"Yes," Willow answered.

Sofia nodded. "Right, of course. And I imagine de girls are cheerleaders as well?"

"Oh, no," Carmen answered. "Well, actually, Buffy, Brooke, Zoey and I had to give up on cheerleading."

Kendra and Sofia gave them a look.

"Uh, it was quite an amusing story, actually," Wyatt told them.

"Uh, let's go find the book shall we?" Giles asked.

Giles and Layla led Kendra and Sofia away toward the library. The others continued to walk.

"Get a load of other versions of Giles and Alice," Brady told them.

"Creepy," Willow told them.

"Hey," Buffy told them. "Alice? I bet you and Giles wish Brooke and I were more like book geeks. Like you two, Sofia and Kendra."

"My father and I are enough of book geeks for the rest of you," Alice replied.

"Yeah, but did you see how Giles was vibing with Sofia and Kendra?" Brooke asked. "And you, Alice. Volume six. Ha, ha, ha."

Wyatt looked at her in amusement. "Brooke. Buffy. No one could replace either of you. You two and Alice will always be Giles' favorite."

"I wonder," Buffy told them.

Zoey gave them a look. "Of course. You will. You're Alice and Giles' Slayer and Guardian. The real ones besides Alice."

"No, I wonder if it would be so bad being replaced," Brooke told them.

"What do you mean?" Carmen asked. "Like, letting Kendra and Sofia take over? Maybe. I mean, maybe like after this thing with Spike and Bianca and the assassins being over?"

"What are you gonna do?" Eric asked. "Just go up to them? What do you say? 'Kendra, Sofia, you slay. We're going to Disneyland'?"

Buffy and Brooke shrugged.

"But not forever," Alice told them. "Right?"

"No," Brady answered. "Disneyland would get boring after a few months. And we have all of you to worry about. But with Kendra and Sofia, maybe we would have time to do other stuff, too."

"That is true," Alice agreed. "And it would be nice."

"Yeah," Willow agreed. "I bet. You could do career day stuff. Maybe you could even have halfway normal lives."

∞

Summers House - Basement

Cordelia was pacing.

Xander watched nervously. "Could you sit down or change your pattern or something? You're making me queasy."

Cordelia leaned on the washer. "Because you're just sitting there. You should be thinking up a plan."

"I have a plan," Xander told her. "We wait. Buffy, Brooke and Brady save us. Zoey, Alice, Carmen and Wyatt too if we're lucky."

"How will they even know where to find us?" Cordelia asked.

Xander gave her a look. "Cordelia, this is Brady, Brooke and Buffy's house. Odds are they'll find us."

"Well, what if they don't?" Cordelia asked. "What am I supposed to do? Just waste away down here with you? Ha, ha, no thanks."

Cordelia walked toward the stairs.

Xander stood to stop her. "What are you doing?"

Cordelia stopped, facing him. "Going to see if he's gone."

"That's brilliant," Xander told her sarcastically. "What if he isn't?"

Cordelia nodded sarcastically. "Oh, right, you think we should just slack here and hope hat somebody else decides to be a hero?" She walked toward the washer. "Sorry, forgot I was stranded with a loser."

Cordelia leaned against the washer, crossing her arms.

"And yet I never forgot that I'm stuck with the numb brain that let Mr. Mutant in the house in the first place," Xander replied.

Cordelia gave him an annoyed look. "He looked normal."

"What, is he supposed to have an arrow with the word 'assassin' over his head?" Xander asked. "All it took was the prospect of a free makeover and you licked his hand like a big, dumb dog."

Cordelia walked toward the stairs. "You know what? I'm going." Xander just raised his eyebrows, ready to let her go. Cordelia stopped at the foot of the stairs, facing him. "I'd rather be worm food than to look at your pathetic face."

"Then go," Xander told her. "I'm not stopping you."

"I bet you wouldn't," Cordelia told him. "I bet you'd let a girl go off o her doom all by herself."

"Not just any girl," Xander replied with a nod. "You're special."

Cordelia raised her voice incredulously. "I can't believe that I'm stuck spending what will probably be my last few moments on earth here with you!"

Xander stepped closer. "I hope these are my last few moments. Three more seconds with you, and I'm gonna--"

Cordelia stepped closer. "I'm gonna what? Coward."

"Moron," Xander replied.

"I hate you!" Cordelia told him.

"I hate you!" Xander told her. They looked at each other for another second, before grabbing each other and engaging in a mad, passionate kiss that went on for several seconds. They suddenly released each other, looking at each other in shock. "We so need to get outta here."

Cordelia nodded in agreement. "Mm-hmm." They ran upstairs, stopping at the top, crouching down, giving each other anxious looks. Xander grabbed one end of the tape, pulling it off. There weren't any worms on the other side. Xander moved the broom aside, opening the door slowly. They both looked out into the hall for any sign of the mealworms. "He's gone."

∞

Dining Room

They walked into the dining room, making a dash for the front door. Mealworms began falling onto Cordelia from the ceiling, making her scream as they fell on her en masse, running for the door.

∞

Outside

Xander threw the door open, dashing into the front yard.

Cordelia followed, screaming. "Xander, oh, my God, get them off of me!" Xander turned to look, running for the hose. "Get 'em off, get 'em off of me! Oh, my God, get 'em off me!" Xander grabbed he hose, starting to spray the mealworms off of her. Cordelia kept screaming, turning her back to him, then her front again. Xander kept spraying her as she brushed them off. Cordy turned around to let him spray her back again, reaching down to the back of her dress to get some mealworms out, turning to face him. "Okay, okay, let's get outta here. Xander, let's go!" Xander kept spraying in spite of her protests. "Okay, let's go!"

Cordelia ran for her car. Xander followed her with the hose for another instant, dropping it, following her. They got into the car. Cordy floored it, burning rubber into the street as they drove down the block, screeching around the corner.

∞

Sunnydale High School - Hallway

The other Scoobies walked along past the career fair displays.

"My tests say that I should look into law enforcement--duh!--and environmental design," Buffy told them.

"Environmental design," Brooke told them. "That's landscaping, right?"

"We checked the 'shrub box," Alice told them. "But landscaping was yesterday, so law enforcement it is."

Carmen looked around, looking behind them, and then at Zoey. "Hey, Zo, don't look, okay, but..." Willow looked. "No, Will, don't look." They looked at her. "That guy over there is totally checking Zo out."

"Oh, that's Oz," Willow told them. "He's expressing computer nerd solidarity, but what would you say about being set up?"

"I think if he's a nerd, you're more his type," Brooke told her. "Not Zoey's."

"No, I know Oz," Eric told them. "He's in a band, like Zoey's dad. And Zo could easily be a musician."

"I don't think so," Zoey told them.

"Really?" Buffy asked. "Then why is he on his way over here right now?" Zoey looked toward him. Oz was walking closer. "Told you, Zoey."

"Hey," Oz told them.

Willow smiled. "Hey, Oz. This is our friend Zoey I was telling you about."

Zoey pointed at him. "You're the guy from Halloween."

"Yeah, and you're the ninja," Oz replied.

"I prefer the term 'assassin'," Zoey told him.

"I also saw you at the exchange program dance, when you were dressed up as the gypsy," Oz added.

"Oh, Zoey's totally the gypsy assassin," Brooke told him.

Zoey gave Brooke a look for telling Oz the truth but he wouldn't know that it was the truth. The girls smiled.

Oz broke the silence, looking at Willow. "So, uh, did you decide? Are you gonna be a Corporate Computer Suit Guy?"

"Oh," Willow said. "Uh, well, I-I think I'm gonna finish high school first. What about you?"

"I'm not really a computer person, you know," Oz told them. "Or a work of any kind person."

"Then why'd they select you?" Alice asked.

"Oh, I sorta test well," Oz answered. "You know, which is cool. E-except that it leads to jobs. I heard that you were considered for this gig, too, Alice, but they passed you over because some guys told the guys that recruited us that you were off limits."

Alice nodded knowingly. "Guys from London?" Willow and Oz nodded. Alice whispered to her friends. "Council."

"Well, what about you, Oz?" Brady asked. "Don't you have some ambition?"

"Oh, yeah," Oz answered. "Yeah. E-flat, diminished ninth."

"Huh?" Eric asked.

"What is that?" Brooke asked.

Zoey was the only one that understood what he meant. "Well, the E-flat, it's doable, but that diminished ninth. You know, it's a man's cord."

Zoey rolled her eyes teasingly, making her voice exaggerate.

Oz smiled. "Hey, don't mock. You could lose a finger."

The others nodded, pretending to understand, smiling at the fact that Zoey and Oz were hitting it off because of their music knowledge.

Carmen smiled, winking at Zoey. "You two have fun."

Buffy, Brooke, Alice, Carmen, Willow, Brady and Eric walked away, smiling. Zoey gave them a sarcastic look as they left, looking at Oz.

"They're not very subtle, are they?" Oz asked.

Zoey shook her head, whispering. "No."

They smiled.

Wyatt and Layla walked into the hall to check on the others.

The recruitment officer from the police booth was named Patrice. "All right, listen up and answer when I call your name. Brooke, Brady and Buffy Summers. Zoey Francis and her mother Layla. Alice Giles. Carmen Chase. And a worker for the school, Wyatt Pratt."

When she called their names, they knew that she was another assassin, making way to get out of the way before they or anyone around them could be hurt, knowing that Brooke, Zoey, Alice, Carmen, Wyatt and Layla couldn't use their powers because otherwise they would be exposed in front of everyone.

Patrice drew her guns, aiming at them. Buffy and Eric pushed Patrice's hands and weapons up into the air as the first rounds went off.

Panic set in throughout the hall, and people started to run and duck for cover.

Buffy and Eric kept struggling with Patrice, and rounds went into the ceiling. Buffy kneed Patrice in the gut, and she dropped the guns and fell to the floor, but she quickly picked them back up. Buffy ran toward Eric to tackle him out of the way before he could be shot by Patrice. As Patrice fired shots at Buffy, Brooke, Zoey, Alice, Carmen, Brady, Wyatt and Layla, they took cover behind walls, pillars, tables, etc.

Layla called out to everyone. "Get down! Look out!"

Oz was taking cover nearby Zoey. Patrice found them, trying to shoot Zoey, not caring that she was going to shoot Oz as well. Grabbing Oz, Zoey spun them behind the trophy case, ducking, the glass shattering above their heads as the shots fired at them, making them duck their heads. Oz had gotten shot in the shoulder instead of the chest.

Brady ran toward Patrice to push her away from Zoey and Oz, making her shoot off the cranium of a skeleton.

Everyone took cover and hid from Patrice, knowing they couldn't expose themselves in front of everyone by showing them how they had powers or how well they could fight.

Carmen was leaning against the wall, breathing heavily, waiting for someone to make the next move.

Patrice was getting too close to Layla.

Buffy leaped over a table, tackling Patrice to the floor, making her drop her guns.

Brady and Eric kicked the guns away from Patrice.

Buffy stood, adopting a fighting stance. Wyatt, Alice, Brooke and Carmen ran closer to help.

Layla ran toward Zoey and Oz. "It's okay. I'm a doctor. I can help you." She nodded to Zoey. "It's okay. Go, Zoey. Help them."

Zoey nodded, running toward her friends to help. Patrice pulled out two more guns, but before she could get off a round, Zoey kicked the guns out of her hands. She followed it up with a kick to her face, making her fall flat on her back.

Patrice grabbed Jonathon as a hostage, pulling out a short blade, threatening him with it. Everyone watched her slowly back toward the door at the end of the hall with Jonathon in tow. Halfway there, she dropped Jonathon and made a dash for the door.

Buffy, Brooke, Alice, Carmen, Brady, Eric and Wyatt didn't hesitate to give chase.

Zoey ran over to Layla and Oz again, kneeling next to them. "How is he?"

Willow ran up to them.

"He's shot," Layla answered. She looked at Oz. "Are you okay?"

"I, uh, I'm shot," Oz told them. He took his hand away briefly and chuckled. "You know." He laughed. "Wow! It's odd. And painful."

The others ran up to them.

"She's gone," Wyatt told them.

"W-was that a demonstration?" Jonathan asked.

Everyone looked around at the scene.

∞

Library

They went to the library. Giles had the first-aid kit out, and Eric was wrapping Buffy's knee.

"She was definitely one of the Taraka gang, guys," Wyatt told them. "And way gun happy."

Giles looked at Zoey and Layla. "This, um, Oz chap? He, he, he's all right?"

"Yeah," Layla answered. "It was only a scrape."

Zoey looked down, sighing.

"Don't make with the guilt face," Willow told her. "Zoey, if you hadn't moved him, he would be dead."

"Yeah, well, he wouldn't have been shot if it wasn't for me being one of the targets of the Taraka," Zoey replied.

"But you saved Oz," Wyatt told her. "And you saved us. If you hadn't stood up to that girl, one of us would have been shot. Most likely killed."

"Yeah, same goes for you, Eric," Buffy told him. "You two were pretty badass out there."

Brooke smiled as if she had gotten an idea. "I know. Zoey and Eric can do our jobs for us."

Zoey couldn't help a smile. Brooke smiled because her goal was to get Zoey to smile. The others were amused.

Cordelia and Xander walked in.

Kendra and Sofia tried to head them off.

"Down, girls," Brady told them. "Xander's our friend. Cordelia is Carmen's sister. They know."

"Who sponsored career day today?" Xander asked. "The British Soccer Fan Association?"

Giles walked toward them at the table. "We had a--a rather violent visit from the Order of Taraka."

"You wanna talk Order of Taraka?" Xander asked. "We just met the king freak of the..." He saw Kendra and Sofia. "Hello."

Kendra looked at the floor, humbling herself before Xander. Sofia smirked.

"Oh, forgive me," Giles told them. "Uh, Xander, Cordelia, this is Kendra and Sofia. Uh, i--it's rather complicated. But Kendra is also a Slayer. And Sofia is also a Guardian."

"Another Slayer and Guardian, huh?" Xander asked, looking at Buffy, Brooke and Alice. "I knew this 'We're the only ones, we're the only ones' thing was just an attention-getter."

Eric smirked. "Just say hello, Xander."

Xander looked at Kendra and Sofia. "Welcome. So, you're a Slayer and Guardian, huh? I like that in women."

Kendra was nervous. "Uh, I hope... I tank you... I mean, sir, um... we will be of service."

"Great," Alice told them. "Good. It's good to be givers."

Xander walked toward them.

"Xander, um, this, this, uh, assassin you encountered, what, uh, what did he look like?" Giles asked.

Cordelia found a mealworm in her hair and freaked out. She dropped it onto a book on the table and stood. "Uhh! Uhh! Oh, my God, I'm showering!"

Cordelia ran out of the library.

Xander gestured to the mealworm. "Like that."

"You and bug people, Xander," Brady told him. "What's up with that?"

"No, but this dude was completely different than praying mantis lady," Xander told them. "He was a man of bugs, not a man who was a bug."

Xander slammed the biology book shut on the mealworm to kill it and sat down.

"The, uh, the important thing is everybody's all right," Wyatt told them. "Still, it's quite apparent that we're under serious attack."

"These Taraka are definitely serious," Eric told them. "Fortunately for us, so are Kendra and Sofia."

"And, uh, I fear the worst is still to come," Giles told them. "I've, I-I've discovered the remaining keys to Drusilla's cure. The, uh, the ritual requires that, the presence of her sire, and it must take place in a church on the night of the new moon."

Brooke and Wyatt suddenly looked very concerned.

"The new moon," Sofia repeated. "But that is tonight."

"Exactly," Layla told them. "And I'm sure the assassins were here to distract or kill us before we could put a stop to things."

"They need Drusilla's sire," Wyatt told them. "The vamp that made her."

"Yes," Buffy agreed. "Why?"

"Wyatt?" Carmen asked. "What is it?"

Brooke remembered what Wyatt had told her, looking at Carmen worriedly. "Angel. He's Drusilla's sire."

"Man, that guy got major neck in his day," Xander told them.

Eric hit Xander hard on the shoulder, looking at the others. "Will this ritual kill him?"

"Yes," Alice answered. "I'm afraid it will."

Brady sighed worriedly. "We need to find this church. We need to find where this ritual is gonna take place."

"Agreed, and we must work quickly," Giles told them, checking his watch. "We have five hours before sundown."

Willow opened her laptop. "Don't worry, Carmen. We'll save Angel."

"Angel?" Sofia repeated. "But our priority is to stop Spike, Bianca and Drusilla."

"Angel's our friend," Eric told them. Kendra and Sofia raised their eyebrows. "Except Xander doesn't like him."

"Look, you've got your priorities," Buffy told them. "We've got ours."

"Right now, they mesh," Brooke told them. "So are you gonna help us, or are you gonna get out of our way?"

Kendra and Sofia exchanged a look, nodding, sighing.

"We're wit you," Kendra told them.

"Good," Zoey told them. "'Cause I've had it. Spike is going down."

Carmen was angry, protective. "You can attack me. You can send assassins after me. That's fine. But nobody messes with my boyfriend."

∞∞

Spike's Warehouse

Bianca ran her hand across the lid of an elegant wooden box labeled 'Holy Water'. Drusilla was singing quietly. Bianca lifted the lid, taking out a small crystal pitcher.

Drusilla sang. "The lamb is caught in the blackberry patch." She approached Bianca. "My mummy ate lemons. Raw." She knelt next to Angel. Angel was tied to the posts of her canopy bed by both wrists high above his head. "She said she loved the way they made her mouth tingle."

Bianca ran her hand down and up Angel's chest. "Little Anne." She let some of the holy water trickle onto his chest. It steamed and burned like acid. Angel jerked his head back in pain, stifling a scream. Bianca smiled. "Billy's favorite was custard. Brandied pears."

"Dru..." Angel trailed off. "Bianca..."

"Shh!" Bianca told him, walking along. "And pomegranates." She laid on the bed behind Angel. "They used to make Billy's face and fingers all red." She reached over Angel's shoulder, letting more holy water dribble onto his chest. Again Angel gritted his teeth in pain, but wouldn't let himself scream out loud. "I remember. Hmm. Little fingers. Little hands."

"How does it feel to know that your ex-boyfriend Brady is the one that killed your brother, Bianca?" Angel asked. "You know that, don't you? The hunter that you still love. Brady. He killed your brother. So maybe you can move on from this twisted little fantasy of yours involving Brady and Alice. You know something? You're just as crazy as Drusilla is. But I suppose that makes the two of you feel better. Being friends with someone just as mad as you are. Makes you feel less alone, doesn't it?"

Bianca angrily poured more holy water onto him, making him groan in pain as he continued to burn, taking a knife, stabbing it through his tongue as punishment to get him to shut up, making him groan a yell of pain. "Bite your tongue." She looked at Drusilla, taking the knife out of his tongue, no longer angry as if she hadn't just stabbed Angel. "What about your family?"

"They used to eat cake, and eggs, and honey," Drusilla answered. "Until Angel came and ripped their throats out."

Bianca smirked. "Bad Angel."

Bianca poured the rest of the holy water onto Angel's chest, into his mouth for making the remark about Brady killing Ford, making him scream out loud in agony.

∞

Sunnydale High School - Library

Giles walked out of the stacks and headed toward the stairs with a large volume full of pictures. Willow was sitting on the steps websurfing on her laptop.

Eric looked down at her screen and sat down next to her. "There are forty-three churches in Sunnydale?" He pulled out a roll of mints. "That seems a little excessive."

"It's the extra evil vibe from the Hellmouth," Willow explained. "Makes people pray harder."

Eric offered Willow a mint, and she smiled and took one.

Giles walked toward the others. "Well, check and see if any of them are closed or abandoned."

"Yeah, yeah," Eric told them. "We got demons. But no bug dude or police lady."

Giles set the volume down in front of them and opened it. "Well, you should have better luck with this one. There's a whole section devoted to the Order of Taraka."

∞

Giles' Office

Buffy, Brooke, Alice, Zoey, Carmen and Wyatt were in the office with Kendra and Sofia, setting up weapons, preparing power.

Sofia looked at Xander and Cordelia. "And dose two? Dey also know your secrets?"

"Considering that we've saved Xander's life more than once?" Carmen asked sarcastically. "And the fact that Cordelia is my sister? Yeah, they know."

"Did anyone explain to you what 'secret identities' mean?" Kendra asked.

"Nope," Buffy told them sarcastically. "Must be in the handbook."

"Right after the chapter on personality removal," Brooke told them, noticing that Sofia picked up a crossbow. "Be careful with that thing."

Kendra smirked. "Please. We are experts in all weapons."

The bolt flew off of the crossbow, breaking a lamp, starting everyone.

"Is everything all right?" Layla asked.

"Yeah, it's okay," Alice answered. "Sofia killed the bad lamp."

"Sorry," Sofia told them. "Dis, uh, trigger mechanism is different." She placed it down. "Perhaps when dis is over you can, uh, show me how to work it."

"When this is over, I'm thinking pineapple pizza and teen video movie fest," Brady told them. "Possibly something from the Ringwald oeuvre."

They walked out of the library to join the others in the main room.

Eric found what they were looking for. "Oh, here we go. I am the bug man. Coo coo ka choo."

Wyatt looked at the research. "Okay. Okay. He can only be killed when he's in his disassembled state."

"What?" Xander asked.

Zoey looked from Cordelia to Xander. "Disassembled. That means when he's broken down into his little buggy parts."

"I know what it means, dorkhead," Cordelia told her.

Zoey took mock offense. "Dorkhead. You slash me with your words."

Giles rubbed his eyes. The others smirked in amusement.

Layla looked between them. "I take it by your reactions that Zoey and Cordelia fight like this all the time."

They nodded. "Oh, yeah."

Zoey and Cordelia smirked.

"Your lives are very different dan ours," Kendra told them.

"You mean the part where we occasionally have one?" Buffy asked.

"Yeah, I guess it is," Brooke agreed.

"De tings you do and have, we were taught, distract from our calling," Kendra explained.

Sofia nodded. "Friends, school, even family."

"Even family?" Alice repeated.

"Our parents, we are not related, but dey sent us to our Watcher when we were very young," Kendra told them.

"How young?" Giles asked.

"I don't remember dem, actually," Sofia answered. "I've seen pictures, but, uh, dat's how seriously de calling is taken by our people."

"Our mothers and fathers gave us to our Watcher because dey believed dat dey were doing de right ting for us, and for de world," Kendra explained. They looked at them sympathetically. "Please, we don't feel sorry for ourselves. Why should you?"

"I don't know," Layla told them. "I guess it just sounds very lonely."

"Emotions are weakness," Sofia told them. "You shouldn't entertain dem."

"Kendra, Sofia, our emotions give us power," Buffy told them.

"They're total assets," Brooke agreed.

"Maybe for you," Kendra told them. "But we prefer to keep an even mind."

Alice nodded. "Mm. I guess that explains it."

"Explains what?" Sofia asked.

"Oh, well, when we were fighting, uh, you're amazing," Alice answered. "Your techniques? They're flawless."

"We know," Kendra told them.

"You were distracted with protecting Carmen from us," Sofia told them. "See, emotions."

"But we would've kicked your butts in the end," Carmen told them. "And you know why? You have no imagination."

"Really?" Kendra asked. "You tink so?"

"Oh, I know so," Buffy answered. "You're good. But the power alone isn't enough. A good fighter needs to know how to improvise. To go with the flow."

Brooke nodded in agreement. "Uh-huh. Seriously. Don't get me wrong. Any of us wrong. You really do have potential."

The others were amused by their competitiveness.

"Potential?" Sofia repeated. "We could wipe de floor wit you right now."

"That would be anger you're feeling," Wyatt told them.

"What?" Kendra asked.

"You feel it," Wyatt told them. "Right? How the anger gives you fire? People like us need that."

Kendra was eyeing Xander, obviously having a crush.

Zoey smirked in amusement, leaning closer to whisper. "I'm guessing dating isn't big with your Watcher either."

"We're not permitted to speak with boys," Kendra explained.

"Unless you're pummeling them," Zoey told them. She had a realization. "Wait a minute."

"What?" Brady asked.

"That guy," Zoey answered. "The sleazoid we nearly decked in the bar."

"You think he could help us?" Willow asked.

"I think we might make him," Carmen answered. "If we find out he's lying? Brooke, Alice or Sofia could get into his head."

"Right," Willow agreed. "I forgot that Guardians could get into people's heads. They could... Well, Brooke, Alice and Sofia could get into his head. Make him tell us the truth."

"Oh, more than that," Brady told them. "If Brooke, Alice and Sofia get into his head? We can make him lead us to where we need to be."

"Zoey?" Layla asked. Zoey looked at her. "You're a genius."

Zoey smiled.

"Well, what are we waiting for?" Eric asked.

"Well, the reason why Rupert told me that you all are hesitant to use their powers to get into people's heads is because it's wrong," Layla answered. "That's why Guardians only use that power to get into their heads if they have to. But this looks like a have-to situation."

Giles nodded in agreement. "Indeed. I don't like the idea of violating someone's head. Neither has Alice or Brooke. Or Sofia I assume. But this is something that we need to do. Because we're running out of time. And we have none to waste."

∞

Spike's Warehouse

Drusilla was kneeling between Angel's spread apart legs. "Say uncle." Laying on the bed behind Angel, Bianca held up the pitcher of holy water. "Oh, that's right, you killed my uncle."

Bianca poured more holy water over Angel.

Spike walked in. "That's it, then." Drusilla, Bianca and Angel looked at him. "Off to church."

Bianca stood, smirking. "It makes pretty colors."

Spike scoffed. "I'll see him die soon enough. I've never been much for the pre-show."

Spike reached up to untie one of Angel's bonds. Bianca put away the holy water. Drusilla grabbed Miss Edith.

"Too bad," Angel told them. "That's what Drusilla likes best. As I recall."

Spike stepped over to the other bond. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Ask her," Angel told him. "She knows what I mean."

Drusilla stood behind Spike's shoulder.

Spike turned his head to look at her. "Well?"

Drusilla looked at Angel. "Shh! Bad dog."

"You shouldn't let me talk to him, Dru," Angel told her. "Sounds like your boy could use some pointers. She likes to be teased. Apparently so does Bianca."

Spike had finished untying the other bond, throwing it to the floor.

"Keep your mouth shut, puppy," Bianca told him.

"You're drawn to the crazy ones, aren't you, Spike?" Angel asked. "Take care of them. The way they touched me just now? I can tell when they're not satisfied. Bianca's not your problem. But Drusilla is."

Spike grabbed Angel by the throat, lifting him to his feet, pushing him against the bedpost. "Shut up!"

"Or maybe you two just don't have the fire we had," Angel told him. "Just don't let your eyes wander over to Bianca there. Pretty sure that would make both girls go even madder."

"That's enough," Spike told him, pounding his other hand into the wooden railing of the bed, grabbing the piece that broke off, holding it up to stake Angel.

"Spike, no!" Drusilla told him.

Spike stopped. Angel tried to goad him on with a stare. Drusilla gently put her arm on Spike's shoulder, snuggling up to him.

Bianca started to laugh, speaking in a singsong voice. "He almost got you. Just like he almost got me earlier. Isn't he a 'throw himself to the lions' sort of person when he has his soul? Well, the lions are on to you, Angel baby. See, if we kill you now and you go quick, and Drusilla hasn't got a chance. And if Dru dies, your little Rebecca of Sunnyhell Farm and all her friends are spared her coming out party. Taunting me about Billy? About Brady? And Alice? Taunting Spike about everything? Didn't work out the way you wanted, did it?"

"Spike, Bianca, the moon is rising," Drusilla told them. "It's time."

"Too bad, Angelus," Spike told him. "Looks like you go the hard way. Along with the rest of this miserable town."

Bianca kept Angel pinned against the bedpost. Spike and Drusilla engaged in a passionate kiss.

∞

Willy's Bar

Buffy pushed Willy against the shelves of liquor bottles.

"Ah, honest, I don't know where Angel is," Willy told them.

"What about this ritual?" Buffy asked. "What have you heard?"

"Just let Alice, Brooke and Sofia into his head," Zoey told them. "That'll tell us everything we need to know."

"If you tell us, then we won't have to get into your head," Brooke told him. "And then maybe we'll take it easy on you."

"Maybe," Alice repeated. "That's the key word."

"But if you don't tell us the truth and make them get into your head?" Carmen asked. "It's not gonna be pretty for you."

"You know, maybe I did hear something about this ritual," Willy told them. "Yeah, it, it's coming back to me. But, uh, I'd have to take you there."

"Really?" Brady asked sarcastically. "Then what are we waiting for?"

"Let's go," Wyatt told them.

"First we must return to de Watcher," Sofia told them.

"While we run to Giles and the others, this whole thing could go down," Wyatt told them.

"But it is procedure," Kendra told them.

"It's brainless, you mean," Buffy told her.

"If we don't go now, Angel could die," Carmen told them.

"Is dat all you're worried about?" Sofia asked. "Your boyfriend?"

"No, it's not all," Carmen answered.

"But it's enough," Zoey told them.

"It's as we feared," Sofia told them. "He clouds your judgment. We can't stop dis ritual alone."

"Are you listening to us?" Brooke asked. "He could die."

"He's a vampire," Kendra told them. "He should die. Why are we de only people who see it?"

"You go get my father and the other," Alice told them. "We're going now."

Buffy, Brooke, Zoey, Alice, Carmen, Brady and Wyatt turned to leave.

"Are you dat big of fools?" Sofia asked.

"No, but we're running out of time," Wyatt answered. "Like Alice said, go get them. We'll be getting there."

Kendra sighed. "Fine."

∞

Church

Willy was leading them down an arched hallway. "Here you go. Don't ever say your friend Willy don't come through in a pinch." They rounded a corner. Patrice and vampires were waiting there. "Here you go. Don't ever say your friend Willy don't come through in a pinch."

Norman and other vampires blocked their escape from behind.

∞∞

Bianca walked up the main aisle from the altar with a burning incense censer, toward where Spike, Drusilla and Angel were set up on stage. "Eligor. I name thee. Bringer of war, poisoners, pariahs, grand obscenity." She turned back to the altar. Spike was strapping Drusilla and Angel together to a chain that hung from the ceiling. Angel's right hand was tied to the chain above his head. "Eligor, wretched master of decay, bring your black medicine."

Spike and Drusilla repeated. "Black medicine."

Bianca set the censer down on the altar. She picked up the Du Lac Cross with a gloved hand. "Come." She held up the cross upside down. "Restore your most impious, murderous child."

Drusilla repeated. "Murderous child."

Bianca grabbed the downward pointing tip of the cross with her other hand, yanking down, pulling out a dagger, laying the rest of the cross on the altar. "From the blood of the sire she is risen." Spike took Drusilla's left hand, raising it to Angel's, holding them together. "From the blood of the sire, she shall rise again."

With one swift stroke, Bianca stabbed the blade through their hands. Angel screamed in agony. A blindingly bright pink light emanated from their wounds. A pulse of energy spread out, dying back down to a faint glimmer as Angel's strength began to ebb from him into Drusilla. Dru dropped backward, feeling Angel's energy flow through her.

Spike smiled. "Right, then. Now we just let them come to a simmering boil, and remove to a low flame."

Willy barged through the door and strode into the nave with the vampires and assassins escorting Buffy, Brooke, Zoey, Alice, Carmen, Brady and Wyatt close behind.

"It's payday, guys," Willy told them. "I got your Slayer, Guardians, hunter, one of the gypsies, and both witches."

Bianca turned to face them, smiling when she saw her ex for the first time since becoming a vampire. "Brady. Hello, my love." She gave him a look, walking closer. "You've been a bad boy. You killed my brother Billy." She glanced at Alice. "What can I take from you in return in retaliation for you taking Billy away from me?"

Spike strode up the aisle to meet Willy angrily. "Are you tripping? You bring them here? Now?"

"You said you wanted them," Willy told him.

"I wanted everyone but Wyatt in the ground, pinhead," Spike told him. "I wanted them dead."

"Now, that's not what I heard," Willy told him. "Word was there was a bounty on them dead or alive."

"You heard wrong, Willy," Spike told him.

"Angel," Carmen whispered worriedly.

"Yeah," Spike told her, stepping over to them. "It bugs me, too, seeing him like that. Another five minutes, though, and Angel will be dead, so... I forebear. Don't feel too bad for Angel, though, he's got something you don't have."

"What's that?" Zoey asked, angry.

"Five minutes," Spike answered. More vampires made their way into the room. "Keep Wyatt separated and occupied. Make my little brother watch as every single one of his friends here are slaughtered."

"It's not gonna be that easy, Spike," Wyatt told him.

"Oh, it never is with you, Wyatt," Spike replied.

Wyatt scoffed. "Yeah, I could say the same about you."

Patrice let go of Alice, drawing her gun, shooting. To avoid being shot, Alice used a barrier of red energy as a shield. Her eyes were glowing red. She used the red energy to throw into Patrice, making her fly back to the ground.

Brooke broke free from the vampires holding her, holding her hands toward them, shooting Guardian energy at them to envelope them completely and turn them to ash within seconds.

Wyatt, Zoey and Carmen broke free with their magic, killing the vampires that were holding them by magically throwing stakes into their hearts.

Buffy and Brady struggled to get loose from the vampires holding them. The other door suddenly burst open. Kendra came in doing a series of backflips, ending in a flying double kick, one foot to the back of two vampires' heads, making them fall to the ground, pushing Zoey into Spike, knocking them both down. Zoey hurriedly got up.

Sofia used her red Guardian energy to fly into the room, over a group of vampires, spinning around to shoot ten vamps with her energy, turning them to dust, landing on the ground by the others.

Layla walked down the aisle, pulling off the necklace that blocked her powers, glowing with purple power that she used to throw into the group of remaining alive vampires, making them fall, killing ten with the gypsy energy by burning them out of existence.

Everyone faced off with Spike, Bianca, Patrice and vampires that were still alive.

"Who the hell are they?" Bianca asked.

"Spike, Bianca, it's your lucky day," Zoey told them, punching Spike in the face.

"Two Slayers," Buffy told them, kicking Bianca in the chest.

"Three Guardians," Brooke told them, using her red Guardian energy to throw Spike and Bianca to the floor.

"Not to mention the two witches and gypsies," Brady added.

Brooke smirked.  "One of those gypsies, Zoey, currently fighting like an assassin. Eric gaining fighting and weapon knowledge too."

Alice looked at Brady, smirking. "And a hunter."

"No waiting," Layla told them.

Spike and Bianca quickly got up. Wyatt and Brooke were fighting with Spike. Brady and Alice were fighting with Bianca. Buffy and Zoey were fighting with Patrice. Layla, Carmen, Kendra and Sofia were going after the vampires.

Spike tried to roundhouse kick Brooke in the face. Brooke ducked, shooting Spike in the chest with red Guardian energy, making him fall back into Wyatt, who used his magic to throw Spike to the floor.

Zoey and Buffy faced off with Patrice. Patrice extended her arms down, drawing a blade in each hand, trying to stab them repeatedly. Zoey and Buffy were easily able to duck every knife stroke, Zoey because of the assassin muscle/mind memory and Buffy because of being a Slayer.

A vampire was about to attack Buffy from behind. Eric stood behind him with a crossbow, firing a bolt into his heart from behind, watching him as he fell dead into ashes.

Patrice thrusted one blade at Buffy, then the other at Zoey, but they caught her arms, holding them up while Buffy kneed Patrice in the stomach. Zoey kicked her in the face, magically throwing her back into the wall, making her fall.

Spike landed a punch on Brooke, pushing her down. Brooke used her Guardian energy to block a kick from him, pushing her arms out to send the energy toward him to flip him back through the air. Wyatt magically threw Spike into the wall while he was midair. Brooke stood.

Bianca spun to kick Alice in the face, trying to punch her. Alice used her energy to block the move, punching Bianca in the stomach, kicking her in the face, throwing her toward Brady. Brady caught Bianca, flipping her to the floor, kicking her in the side, making her roll away.

A vampire ran toward Eric. Eric hit him in the face with his crossbow. The vampire grabbed it, trying to take it. Eric punched the vampire in the face. Willow jumped onto the vampire's back to distract him, choking him with her arm. Eric staked the vampire in the heart, killing him, catching Willow before she fell to the floor.

Xander spotted Norman and taunted him. "Hey, larvae boy. Yeah, that's right, I'm talking to you, you big cootie." Norman smiled and started after him. Xander scrambled for the doors and carefully stepped through as he closed them behind him, carefully stepping through as he closed the door to avoid stepping into a puddle of liquid adhesive Cordelia had poured there. Cordelia had the bucket in her hand. "Welcome, my little pretties."

Norman came under the door as a mass of mealworms.

Carmen punched a vampire in the face twice, using her power to freeze a couple vampires, but couldn't freeze all of them at once because her power had a limitation. Eric, Willow, Giles, Carmen, Kendra, Sofia and Layla were able to easily stake, kill or magically turn vampires into ash while they were frozen.

Wyatt jumped over Spike when he tried to knock his legs out from under him, doing a roundhouse kick to his face. Spike tried to kick Wyatt. Wyatt used his power to block it. Spike used the momentum of the block to spin around and hit Brooke in the face. Brooke wrapped her Guardian energy around Spike, throwing him to the floor, torturing him magically.

Patrice stood, going back for Buffy and Zoey, ducking a kick from Buffy, lunging at Zoey with her blades. Zoey handily blocked her with magic or hand to hand. Patrice swung at Buffy's face with a blade. Buffy ducked out of the way.

Layla picked up a sword she found nearby the altar, throwing it toward the gypsy assassin she had for a daughter. "Zoey!"

Zoey caught the sword, spinning it around, using it easily to block the counteract blade moves from Patrice. "Thanks, Mom."

The mealworms had gotten stuck in the adhesive. Xander and Cordelia began to stomp on them.

Kendra and Sofia were taking out vampires easily with Slayer and Guardian power, along with the power of Layla, Carmen, Zoey, Wyatt, Brooke, Alice.

Zoey was using the sword to block more moves from Patrice, fighting at the same level as she was, because she was boosted with magical help, sending a shock of purple gypsy power through the sword to shoot into Patrice, sending her flying into the wall and falling to the floor.

Brooke punched Spike in the face. Wyatt followed up with a roundhouse kick. Spike hit the floor, scrambling back up, punching Brooke in the face, kicking Wyatt in the stomach.

Bianca stood to face Brady and Alice again. "Out of everyone here, I'd rather be fighting with you two anyway."

"Mutual," Alice replied.

Bianca lunged at Brady, punching him in the face, kicking him in the chest, spinning to backhand punch him. Brady blocked the move, punching Bianca in the face. Instead of getting offended, Bianca was amused, smiling, laughing. Alice kicked Bianca in the face, shooting a burst of red energy into her chest, making her double over and fall to the floor. Bianca flipped up to a standing position, spinning to kick Alice. Alice used her energy as a shield, but Bianca landed punches to her stomach and face, spinning to backhand punch Brady in the face. Brady blocked her next swing, holding his arm out when she ran toward him, knocking her down.

Bianca stood, grabbing Alice, pulling her around, throwing her into Brady, making them both fall. "There. If you two want to be together so bad, why doesn't fate just throw you together? But if that's what fate wants, I'll be happy to stand in the way of it."

Cordelia and Xander were still stomping on mealworms.

"Die!" Cordelia told him. "Die, die, die, die!"

Xander put his hand on her lower back to calm her down. "I think he did, Cordy."

Cordelia dropped the bucket. They ran off to join the others.

Behind a pew, Willy got up.

Spike growled as he stood back up and saw Willy trying to sneak out of the church. He rushed over and grabbed him by the back of the neck. "Where are you going?"

With most of the other vampires dead and everyone else distracted, Carmen ran toward the altar, pulling the dagger out of Angel and Drusilla's hands.

"Now, there's a way in which this isn't my fault!" Willy told him.

"They tricked you," Spike told him.

"Mm-hmm," Willy told him. "They were duplicitous."

"Well, then I'll only kill you just this once," Spike told him, going in for the bite.

"Spike!" Drusilla told him weakly.

Spike stopped before biting Willy and looked over at her. He saw Carmen trying to untie them. He let go of Willy and rushed over to the altar, grabbed Carmen and pushed her to the floor. He backhand punched her as she got back up, knocking her down again.

Willy wasted no time running out of the church past everyone else.

Layla wrapped a purple cord of gypsy magic around a vampire's neck, restraining him with ease, so that Giles could stake him in the heart from behind, making him burst into ashes, leaving Giles and Layla all dusty. They looked at each other, continuing to fight the vampires.

Xander and Cordelia ran into the back of the nave.

A vampire threw Kendra over a knocked over pew to climb over after her, swinging at Kendra twice, but missed both times when Kendra ducked, slashing into her arm.

Kendra grabbed her wound and looked down at it. "Dat's me favorite shirt! Dat's me only shirt!"

Now Kendra was really mad, and she kicked the vampire in the back of the knee, making her lose her balance. She grabbed the vampire by the arm and threw her into a cabinet in front of the organ, smashing it to pieces. Sofia used her Guardian energy to rip vampires to pieces around them.

Spike took a torch from its wall hanger and threw it into a pile of old drapes, setting them ablaze.

"Look out!" Eric told them.

Spike unstrapped Drusilla from Angel. "Sorry, baby. Gotta go." He lifted her into his arms and started down the aisle. "Hope that was enough." With nothing holding him up anymore, Angel fell to the floor behind them. Carmen crawled over to him. "Bianca, let's go!"

Bianca threw Brady and Alice into Wyatt and Brooke, making them fall back into Buffy and Eric, knocking them all down, so that they couldn't stop her and Spike from leaving with Drusilla, distracting them and the others long enough to try to make an escape. Giles, Layla, Willow, Xander and Cordelia ran to help them up.

Zoey saw them trying to escape, using the sword to kill Patrice, grabbing the censer from the altar, swinging it around her head by its chain a few times, launching it at Spike. It hit him in the back of the head, making him fall into Bianca with Dru still in his arms, making them all stumble into the church organ. The keyboard console collapsed under their weight.

"Wow," Layla told them, impressed by her daughter. "Zoey, you're good."

A moment later the organ superstructure collapsed onto Bianca, Spike and Drusilla, with its huge brass pipes clanging and rolling everywhere.

Carmen turned her attention back to Angel and helped him sit up. She cradled his head with her arm. "Hi."

Carmen brushed Angel's cheek. The others watched them through the flames.

Willow ran over to help Carmen get Angel. "Let's get him out."

Angel moaned as they began to help him up.

"Careful," Giles told them.

"Come on," Eric told everyone.

"Brooke?" Willow asked. "Alice? Sofia? Can we have some Guardian energy carrying thing so we don't hurt him more?"

Brooke, Alice and Sofia used their Guardian energy to help them support Angel in the air so he wouldn't have to walk and weaken himself more. They all made their way out of the church.

∞

Day Two

Morning - Sunnydale High School - Hallway

Zoey saw Oz getting a box of animal crackers from a vending machine. His arm was in a sling. He stood straight when he saw Zoey.

"Oh, hey," Oz told her, offering the box. "Animal cracker?"

Zoey smiled. "No, thanks. How's your arm?"

Oz tried to open the box. "Suddenly painless. It's better than the chest."

"You can still play the guitar okay?" Zoey asked.

"Oh, not well, but not worse," Oz told her. They started to walk down the hall. Zoey took the box from him to open it. "You know, I never really thanked you, or your mom."

"Ooh, yeah, please don't," Zoey told him. "I don't do thanks." She handed back the open box. "I get all red. Have to bail. It's not pretty."

Oz smiled. "Well, then forget that thing. E--especially with the part where I kind of owe you my life. Not once, but twice. But your mom's a hell of a doctor." Zoey smiled, nodding in agreement. Oz pulled out a cookie and stopped. "Oh, look. Monkey. And he has a little hat. And little pants." Zoey smiled. "The monkey's the only cookie animal that gets to wear clothes, you know that?" Zoey laughed. "You have the sweetest smile I've ever seen." Zoey raised her eyebrows, surprised. Oz continued down the hall. "So, I'm wondering, do the other cookie animals feel sorta ripped? Like, is the hippo going, 'Hey, man, where are my pants? I have my hippo dignity!'" Zoey laughed. "And you know the monkey's just." Oz spoke with a French accent. "'I mock you with my monkey pants!' And there's a big coup in the zoo."

"The monkey is French?" Zoey asked.

"All monkeys are French," Oz told her. "You didn't know that?"

"You're weird, anyone ever tell you that?" Zoey asked.

"Yeah, but is it a good weird or bad weird?" Oz asked.

Zoey debated it. "Good weird."

Oz nodded. "I can live with that."

Oz started to walk away. Zoey smiled, laughing silently.

∞

Another Hall

Cordelia was walking, seeing Xander, immediately turning and walking the other way.

Xander ran around her to stop her. "We need to talk."

Cordelia rolled her eyes, crossing her arms, walking into an empty class. Xander looked back and forth down the hall to make sure no one saw them going in together, following her.

∞

Classroom

Xander and Cordelia stood a distance away from each other, fidgeting with their hands.

"Okay, uh, here's the deal," Xander told her. "We don't have to run every time we see each other in the hall."

Cordelia nodded. "Right. Okay. Why shouldn't we run?"

"What happened, there's a total explanation for it," Xander told her.

"You're a pervert?" Cordelia asked.

"Me?" Xander asked.

Cordelia nodded. "Yeah."

Xander took a step closer. "No, no, no, no, I seem to recall I was the jumpee, my friend."

Cordelia took a step closer. "As if. You've probably been planning this for months."

Xander nodded sarcastically. "Right, I hired a Latvian bug man to kill my friends so I could kiss you. I hate to burst your bubble, but you don't inspire me to spring for a dinner over at Bucky's Fondue Hut."

"Fine, whatever," Cordelia told him, starting to leave, but stepped back, closer. "You know, the point is, don't try it again."

"I didn't try it," Xander told her. "Forget about the bugs, okay? The memory of your lips on mine makes my blood run cold."

Cordelia stepped closer. "If you dare breathe a word of this..."

"Like I want anyone to know," Xander replied.

"Then it's erased," Cordelia told him.

"Never happened," Xander told her.

"Good," Cordelia replied.

"Good," Xander retorted.

They stared into each other's eyes for a moment, grabbing each other in a mad, passionate kiss. This time they didn't break it off.

∞

Outside

Buffy, Brooke, Zoey, Alice, Carmen, Brady and Wyatt were walking Kendra and Sofia to a taxi.

"Tank you for de shirts," Sofia told them. "It was very generous of you."

"Hey, they look better on... well, us, but no worries," Buffy told them.

"Now, when you get to the airport..." Brooke trailed off.

"We get on de plane with our tickets, and sit in a seat," Kendra finished. "Not de cargo hold."

"Very good," Alice told them.

"Dat it not traveling under cover," Sofia pointed out.

"Exactly," Wyatt told them. "Relax. You earned it."

Zoey nodded. "Sit in your seats, you eat your peanuts, you watch the movie."

"Well, unless it's about a dog or Chevy Chase," Brady told them.

Sofia looked at them in amusement. "We'll remember."

"I just wanted to thank you for helping us save Angel," Carmen told them.

"Mm, we are not telling our Watcher about dat," Kendra told them. "It is too strange dat a witch loves a vampire."

Buffy smirked. "Tell us about it."

"Still, he is pretty cute," Sofia admitted.

They smiled.

"Well, maybe they won't shun me for dating him," Carmen told them.

"You always do dat," Sofia told them.

"Do what?" Brooke asked.

"You talk about slaying, being with powers, like it's a job," Sofia answered. "It's not. It's who you are."

"Did you get that from your handbook?" Alice asked.

Kendra shook her head. "From all of you."

"I guess it's something we really can't fight," Buffy told them. "We're freaks."

Wyatt smirked. "Not the only freaks."

Buffy and Brooke went to give Kendra and Sofia a hug, but they stepped back.

"We don't hug," Kendra told them.

Brooke nodded. "Right. No. Good."

"Hate hugs," Carmen told them sarcastically.

Kendra and Sofia smiled, getting into the cab. The others waved goodbye as the taxi drove away.

∞

Church

The fire had burned itself out. The camera panned over the scorched rubble of the pipe organ to Spike, unconscious but breathing. Bianca was awake, waking up Drusilla. Drusilla woke up, vamped out, turning toward her unconscious lover.

"Don't worry, Dru," Bianca told her, pulling Spike off the floor, holding him up by his arm. "We'll see that he gets strong again." Drusilla stood completely, lifting Spike in her arms. Bianca smiled. "Like you."

Drusilla smiled. "Thank you, Bianca."

Bianca turned around, leaving the charred remains of the church. Drusilla followed with Spike in her arms.