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.

Zoey's Dream

Night - Francis House - Zoey's Room

Zoey was sleeping fitfully without her necklace on, leading to believe that she was having a psychic gypsy dream. She put a hand to her head, reaching over to her lamp, turning it on, letting out a sigh, taking her glass from the nightstand for a drink, finding it nearly empty, getting up to fill it.

∞

Hallway

Zoey walked out of her room into the hall, holding her glass. Behind her, Spike was stalking her. Zoey seemed to sense that he was there, turning to look, barely seeing Spike before he disappeared, frowning in confusion, opening the door to the bathroom, walking in.

∞

The Bronze

(Song:) Anything - Shawn Clement and Sean Murray

Zoey walked in, looking around in confusion, finding Willow sitting at a table with a large cup of cappuccino and an organ grinder's monkey.

Willow was speaking French to the monkey. "L'hippo a pigue' ses pantalons. [The hippo stole his pants.]"

The monkey spoke. Zoey walked up to the table, looking at them curiously. Willow smiled, waving. Zoey raised her hand back, remaining confused about the monkey, remembering when Oz had told her that all monkeys spoke French, but not knowing why it was showing up in a psychic dream. She continued on, finding Layla and Jenny, holding large cups and saucers. Layla and Jenny saw Zoey coming, turning to face her.

"Do you really think you're ready, Zoey?" Layla asked.

"What?" Zoey asked.

Layla seemed to be hit with a vision, which made her drop her saucer. Zoey and Jenny watched it fall in shock as it shattered on the floor. Jenny turned around, walking away slowly.

Zoey watched them for a moment, looking around the room, walking past where Oz was sitting at a table. They smiled, waving to each other.

Zoey walked through the crowd toward the stage. There was no band that night but music was still playing.

Zoey saw the couples that were dancing on the dance floor. Buffy/Eric, Brooke/Wyatt, Brady/Alice, Carmen/Angel, Xander/Cordelia, Giles/Layla.

Angel appeared to vamp out and bite Carmen on the neck, feeding.

Bianca appeared between Brady and Alice, grabbing Alice from behind, feeding on her until she died in her arms, looking up, vamped out, smiling, laughing psychotically.

Zoey was confused and horrified.

Seeing Bianca, Spike and Drusilla in the crowd, after seeing Angel/Bianca vamp out and feed on Carmen/Alice, Zoey was getting worried and anxious and concerned, trying to wake up from what she knew was a nightmare, turning around, seeing Jenny approach her from behind.

(Song Ends)

Drusilla suddenly appeared behind Jenny, vamped out, grabbing her by the head.

Zoey couldn't stop her, horrified, in denial. "Aunt Jenny!"

Drusilla snapped Jenny's neck, letting her fall to the floor, lowering her arms, taking a few steps over to her descendant. "Happy Birthday, Zoey."

∞

Day One

Morning - Francis House - Zoey's Room

Zoey woke up from the nightmare with a start, quickly sitting up, surprised and confused, touching her chest to feel that she wasn't wearing her necklace, looking around until she found it sitting on her nightstand, realizing that it really could have been a gypsy psychic dream, in shock.

∞ Slayers and Guardians ∞

Summers House - Brady's Room

Brady sitting on his bed, hearing something outside, standing, walking closer, seeing Alice using her red energy to fly up to the roof, smiling, opening the window. "Hey, there, Alice."

Alice let the energy fade, climbing in through the window, sitting next to him. "Hey, you three still grounded by your mom?"

Alice smirked.

"You can make it a little less obvious that you're enjoying it," Brady told her.

Alice smiled. "Why would I do that? You and your sisters are a main part of everyone's enjoyment, Brady. In the best way possible."

Brady smirked in amusement. "Well, I'm glad I could be here for your entertainment." They smiled, looking at each other. "Why'd you come by?"

"I wanted to make sure you were okay after the run in with the Gorch brothers, who almost killed you," Alice answered.

"I'm fine," Brady answered. "I'm not the one that was pulled into the mama pink pool and nearly eaten alive. I know Brooke, Zoey, Carmen and Wyatt are okay, but are you?"

"Yeah," Alice answered.

"Let me guess," Brady told her. "You also came by to make sure that Bianca wasn't lurking around my house."

"I've seen her lurking around it before," Alice admitted. "I just wanna make sure that she's not around in case she tries to trick your mom into inviting her in. Since your mom knows and likes Bianca."

"Yeah," Brady agreed. "I worry about Bianca tricking my mom into inviting her in every time I leave the house at night. Buffy, Brooke and I keep trying to find a way to tell our mom the truth about us so she can know not to invite Bianca in, but we don't know how to, and even if we did, our mom would react very badly."

"I get it," Alice told him sadly. "And I'm sorry about everything happening to you and your family, or what could happen, because of Bianca."

"Well, it's not your fault," Brady told her. "And Bianca's not gonna hurt me. Not really, anyway. She's already proved that, but she does want to kill you."

"Well, that's not your fault either," Alice replied. "It's not even Bianca's actually, because she was sick before all of this happened, and everything with Ford manipulating her as a tool, and it turned her insane. No one can really be blamed by it except for sickness and Ford's sociopathic tendency to use his own sister for his gain."

Brady looked at Alice in wonder. "Thank you, for being so understanding even given everything."

Alice smiled slightly, somberly. "It's part of my job. If there was a way that we could help Bianca, you know that we would, right?"

Brady nodded, sighing. "I know. But you know what? I can't keep being afraid of what Bianca will do. I can't let her stop me from living my life. And being with who I want to be with."

Alice already knew what he was going to say and do, smiling slightly. "And what are you going to do about it?"

They looked at each other for a long moment. Alice bit her lip slightly. Brady placed a hand on her cheek, looking at her questioningly. Alice nodded slightly. They kissed slowly and gently at first, then deeply and passionately, continuing to kiss endlessly.

∞

Day Two

Morning - Angel's Apartment

Angel, shirtless, heard a knock on the door, walking toward it. "Hold on." He answered the door, seeing Carmen outside. "Hey. Is everything okay?"

Carmen walked in. "Yeah." Angel swung the door partially closed, walking over to grab a shirt. "You don't have to put that on for the account of me." Angel chuckled in amusement. They held each other as they kissed passionately. "I'm sorry. Were we talking?" Angel leaned to kiss her again, as they continued to hold each other, pulling away. "I'm sorry, I have to go to school."

Carmen turned, quickly walking toward the door.

Angel followed. "I know."

Angel took her arm, turning her around, kissing her again passionately, taking hold of each other again, pulling away, leaning their heads together.

Carmen left her eyes closed, smiling slightly. "Oh, God, you feel..."

Angel guided the way to door, amused, smiling slightly. "You have to go to school."

Carmen nodded. "Right, I know. This is me." She backed into, closing the door. "I'm going."

They kissed one last time, pulling away, looking at each other, smiling.

"I considered what you asked," Angel told her. "About going to Zoey's birthday party. As your date. And yes. I will go with you."

Carmen smiled. "Thank you. This is nice. I like seeing you first thing in the morning."

"It's bedtime for me," Angel replied.

Carmen chuckled. "Well, then I like seeing you at bedtime. Um, you know what I mean."

Angel was amused, confused, nodding. "I think so. What do you mean?"

"I like seeing you," Carmen answered. "The part at the end of the night where we say goodbye is getting harder."

Angel nodded in agreement. "Yeah. It is."

∞

Sunnydale High School - Outside

The girls were walking together.

"I like you at bedtime?" Buffy asked. "You actually said that?"

Brooke laughed. "And Brady and Alice finally kissed again. Alice, are you two actually together now?"

Alice shrugged sheepishly. "We'll have to see."

The girls smiled.

"Man," Willow told them. "That's like... I don't know. That's moxie. Or something."

Buffy gave Alice and Carmen a teasing look. "Totally unplanned. Right? The kiss. The phrase. The kiss just happened. The phrase just came out."

Brooke smiled. "Alice, I'm glad you and Brady are trying to see the good side of Bianca. I mean, she wasn't always like that. Everything with her sickness? Ford's influence. Turning into a vampire. It really did a number on her."

"Yeah, and Brady and Alice are willing to defy crazy Bianca to be together?" Willow asked. "That is so romantic."

"Carmen?" Zoey asked. "Angel was into what you said? I mean, he wants to see you at bedtime, too? I think he would want to. You said that he was cool about what you said."

"Well, of course he is," Willow told them. "'Cause he's cool. I mean, he would never... you know..."

"Push," Buffy finished. "Right. He's not the type."

"Very true," Brooke agreed. 

Buffy smiled. "And Brady waiting this long to finally make a bold move on Alice? That is a long time coming. But, Alice? What are you gonna do about Bianca?"

Brooke sighed. "What do you wanna do?"

"I don't know if any of us know what we're gonna do," Buffy admitted. "I mean..." They sat down on a bench. "Brooke, Brady and I were close to Bianca up in LA. And she wasn't always crazy. Not until she got sick and Ford manipulated her."

"Right," Brooke agreed. "So maybe there could be away that we could help her."

"That is also very true," Willow told them. "But Bianca is crazy right now. And we don't know what she could do. So what if she lashes out because she sees that Brady and Alice are together?"

"Well, they shouldn't let that hold them back," Zoey answered. "Carpe diem. I told you guys that once."

"'Fish of the day'?" Carmen asked.

"Not carp," Zoey told them, smiling. "Carpe. It means 'seize the day.'"

"Right," Alice agreed. "I think we're going to."

"Seize it?" Buffy asked.

"Once you get to a certain point, then seizing is sort of inevitable," Brooke told them.

Willow's eyes widened. "Wow..."

Carmen smiled. "Yeah."

"Wow..." Willow trailed off.

The school bell rang.

"Oh..." Buffy trailed off, standing and walking toward the school.

The others stood, following.

Brooke stood, following. "Wow!" They walked inside. "Wow."

Carmen smiled. "Yeah."

Zoey looked around, as the girls were walking past where Oz was sitting at a table with his guitar. They smiled, waving to each other. Zoey's smile faded when she realized that had had happened in her dream at the Bronze, lowering her hand.

Buffy had noticed the waves and smiles. "Zoey, speaking of 'wow' potential, there's Oz over there. What are we thinking, any sparkage?"

Zoey shrugged slightly. "Sparkage meaning going ninja and saving his life twice, or..."

Zoey smiled.

"Oh..." Brooke teased.

Willow seemed unsure. "Are you sure about this, though? I mean, he is a senior."

Alice smiled in amusement. "You think he's too old for Zoey 'cause he's a senior. Brooke and Carmen's boyfriends Wyatt and Angel had bicentennials."

"That's true," Carmen agreed.

Brooke was teasing Zoey. "I just don't think you're gonna go through with it."

"I mean, you told all of us that you liked being single because a guy couldn't tell you what to do, Zoey," Buffy pointed out.

"And because the last guy that tried to date you, Tom, tried to feed you and Carmen to a big snake monster," Willow added.

"And then the one before that, Jesse, tried to turn you into a vampire, before Darla tried to give you to Luke to feed you to the Master," Carmen agreed.

Zoey nodded sarcastically. "I'm very well aware of my track record, thank you."

"Yeah, but Oz doesn't seem like the bossy murderous type," Alice told them.

Zoey looked at Brooke. "You think that I don't do it, watch me."

Zoey turned around, walking toward Oz.

Carmen smiled. "Go, Zo!"

Oz was practicing with his guitar.

Zoey walked around the bench and stood next to him. "Hey."

Oz looked up. "Hey."

Zoey looked at the guitar. "Do you guys have a gig tonight?"

"Oh, no," Oz answered. "Practice. See, our band's kinda moving towards this new sound where... we suck, so... practice."

Zoey smiled. "I think you guys sound good, comparing to my dad, so..."

Zoey sat down.

"Thanks," Oz told her. "I think. Who's your dad?"

Zoey smirked for a second before answering. "Todd Francis."

Oz turned to face me in surprise. "Your dad's Todd Francis?"

"Yeah, I get that a lot," Zoey told him. "Creator of skateboard art and in the rock music, and when I visit him, it's all-summer long tours throughout the U.S., and sometimes even out of the country."

"That's awesome, Zoey," Oz told her.

Zoey nodded. "Yeah, so, if you need help..."

"I know where to go to," Oz finished.

Zoey smiled. "But you're not so bad yourself, and I bet you have a lot of groupies."

Oz nodded. "It happens. Now, I'm living groupie-free nowadays. I'm clean." Zoey smiled. "I'm gonna ask you to go out with me tomorrow night. And I'm kinda nervous about it, actually. It's interesting."

Zoey smirked slightly in amusement, nodding. "Oh, well, if it helps at all, I'm gonna say yes."

"Yeah, it helps," Oz told her. "It-it creates a comfort zone." Zoey smiled. "Do you wanna go out with me tomorrow night?"

"Can I pick the place?" Zoey asked.

"Yes, you can," Oz answered.

"Tomorrow's my birthday, and me and my friends are gonna be hanging out at the Bronze," Zoey explained.

"Tomorrow's your birthday?" Oz repeated. Zoey nodded. "Well, I would be happy to come. I mean, I don't wanna crash."

Zoey shook her head. "No, it's fine, because the birthday girl is inviting you, and if I'll let Cordelia in, I'll let you in."

Oz smiled in amusement, nodding. "All right, I'm in."

Zoey smiled.

∞

Student Lounge

Brady, Eric, Xander, Wyatt and Cordelia were sitting at a table, talking.

"So," Eric told them. "Zoey's party. Manana."

"Well, just because she helps save the world and everything, we have to make a big deal?" Cordelia asked. "I have to cook and everything."

"You're cooking?" Wyatt asked skeptically.

"No," Eric answered. "She's chips and dips girl." He mocked gasped. "Horrors. All that opening. Stirring. And shopping. Carrying."

Wyatt smirked. "Well? Then you should have a person. Who does such things. For you."

Cordelia went on like she didn't care about them mocking her. "Well, that's what I've been saying to my and Carmen's father, but does he listen?"

Cordelia walked away.

Xander followed to a place where the other boys couldn't hear them. "Um, so, uh, you're going, and I'm going. Should we maybe go?"

"Why?" Cordelia asked.

Xander shrugged. "I don't know. This thing with us, despite our better judgment, it keeps happening. Maybe we should just admit that we're dating."

"Groping in a broom closet isn't dating," Cordelia told him. "You don't call it a date until the guy spends money."

"Fine," Xander told her. "I'll spend, then we'll grope. Whatever. I just think it's some kind of whacked that we feel we have to hide it from all our friends and your sister."

"Well, of course you would wanna tell everybody," Cordelia told him. "You have nothing to be ashamed of. I, on the other hand, have everything to be ashamed of."

"You know what?" Xander asked. "Nuff said. Forget it. It must've been my multiple-personality guy talking. I call him Idiot Jed. Glutton for punishment."

∞

Library

Xander, Eric, Brady and Wyatt walked into the library.

Giles looked up. "Oh, good morning. Is everything in order for the party?"

"Absolutely," Wyatt answered. "Zoey thinks she, Buffy, Brooke, Alice, Carmen, Willow, Brady, Eric, Xander and Cordelia are gonna hang out at the Bronze tomorrow night. She doesn't know that you, Layla, Jenny, Angel and I will be there too, Giles."

"You guys ready to get down?" Eric asked. "You funky party weasels?"

They looked toward the door, seeing Zoey, Layla and Jenny walking toward the library through the windows with the other girls.

"Here comes Zoey," Giles told them. "Now remember. Discretion is the better part of valor."

"You could've just said 'shh'," Wyatt told him.

Eric looked at Giles. "God. Are all you Brits such drama queens? You. Alice. Wyatt. Spike."

Giles gave him a look.

Wyatt smirked sarcastically. "Hilarious, Eric."

The girls walked in.

"Hey, Zoey," Xander told her. "I feel a pre-birthday spanking coming on."

"I'd curb that impulse if I were you, Xander," Layla told him. "You don't want a pissed off gypsy assassin on your hands."

They all smiled in amusement.

Xander spoke into his shirt like a radio. "Check. Cancel spanking."

"You all right, Zoey?" Wyatt asked. "You look a little tired."

"Zoey was just telling me and Jenny that she had a rough night," Layla explained. "A bad dream. She had a dream that Spike, Drusilla and Bianca were still alive. Stronger than we think they would be. You know, after what Zoey did at the church."

"Well, is everything okay?" Wyatt asked. "I mean, what's up? What happened in this dream?"

"Zoey saw Angel feeding on Carmen," Layla answered. "She saw Bianca kill Alice." Brady looked at Alice worriedly. Alice sighed. "She saw Spike stalking her. And she saw Drusilla kill Jenny. All of it? They did it right in front of Zoey."

"Well, it was just a dream," Eric told them. "It wasn't real."

"Right?" Xander asked.

"Zoey said it felt real," Jenny explained.

"Well, that explains why you're freaked out, Zoey," Wyatt told her. "I mean, this has happened before. The dreams that you had before? They came true. So you think it was more of a premonition?"

"The psychic power that comes with being a gypsy?" Giles asked.

"See, we don't know," Layla told them. "We don't want to start a big freakout over nothing."

"Still, best to be, uh, on the alert," Giles told them. "If Spike, Drusilla and Bianca are alive and well, and stronger than we think they are, it could be a fairly cataclysmic state of affairs."

"Again, so many words," Brady told him. "Couldn't you just say, 'we'd be in trouble'?"

"Notice the economy of that phrasing," Xander told them. "Simple. Direct."

"Brady, Xander, I know you two are trying to make Zoey feel better," Eric told them. "But probably not the best time for those jokes."

"Eric's right," Buffy agreed.

Alice looked at Zoey. "Still, not every dream you have comes true."

"Yeah, what else did you dream last night?" Brooke asked.

"Uh, I dreamt that Willow was teaching a monkey French and Xander and Cordelia were dancing," Zoey answered.

Xander and Cordelia exchanged a look, busted, secretive. The others were amused, skeptical.

"See our point?" Carmen asked.

"It doesn't mean that this dream will come true," Willow told her.

"But it also doesn't rule out the possibility that it will come true," Wyatt countered. "So, like Giles said. Best be alert."

"Uh, don't worry, Zoey," Jenny told her. "I'm sure it's nothing."

Zoey looked at Carmen, Alice and Jenny worriedly because they got hurt (in Carmen's case) and killed (in Alice and Jenny's case) in her dream, walking out of the library.

"Zoey doesn't want to lose any of you," Layla told them. "She's scared about what could happen. I don't blame her. I mean, I don't want to lose any of you either."

They all nodded in understanding, concern.

∞

Spike's Warehouse

Bianca walked in, carrying a large wooden box. "I have your package."

Spike rolled into view in a wheelchair. "Just put it on the table near the other gifts."

Bianca walked toward the table. Drusilla followed Spike, guiding the chair toward Bianca and the table.

"Are you dead set on this?" Bianca asked. "Wouldn't you rather have your party in Vienna?"

"But the invitations are sent," Drusilla told them.

Spike scoffed. "Yeah. It's just I've had it with this place. Nothing ever comes off like it's supposed to."

Drusilla leaned in, putting her hands on Spike's chest. "My gatherings are always perfect. Remember Spain?" She crouched next to him. "Hey, the bulls?"

Drusilla walked her fingers up Spike's arm.

"I remember, sweet," Spike answered. "But Sunnydale's cursed for us. Wyatt and his friends see to that."

"So you're the first one to admit that you were in over your head?" Bianca asked in amusement, smirking. "When you thought you could kill all Wyatt's friends. His girlfriend Brooke. So you could try to make him lose his mind again."

"Well, it nearly worked in the past," Spike replied.

"Yeah, because you had Dru here at her full strength helping you play mind games on Wyatt," Bianca told him. "After you killed his first love. And his friends back then. But then again... his friends and girlfriend back then didn't have powers or super strength. Did they?"

Spike sighed, slightly annoyed. "No."

"But you thought you could still go through with your plan," Bianca told him. "After you got Drusilla back to full strength. Since she's still psychic from her gypsy days. And since she killed a Guardian before. Meaning she can get into their heads. So you're thinking that you two can try again. But after Spike gets his strength back."

"Are you leading up to a point, Bianca?" Spike asked, more annoyed.

Drusilla smiled. "Bianca wants to help, Spike."

Bianca smirked, nodding. "I do. I still think that Brady could be key. Turn him without the others knowing. They trust him. Love him. If he's a vampire without his soul, he won't care if he kills his sisters or soulmate or friends. And they wouldn't be able to stop him from killing them. Not if they didn't know he was a vampire. See, they're always gonna be on guard and ready to fight back whenever they see one of us. But if it's one of them? They'll never see it coming. They'll be vulnerable."

Spike and Drusilla were impressed, smirking.

"I told you we've both got good games for everyone," Drusilla told him, licking Spike's cheek. "You'll see." She walked over to the table, inspecting the roses and other red flowers that had been woven into the high backs of the chairs, stepping up to one. "These flowers are wrong." The decorators looked worried. "They're all worried." Spike and Bianca frowned. "I can't abide them."

Drusilla screamed, ripping at the flowers.

"Let's try something different with the flowers, then," Spike told them.

Drusilla looked at Spike, calming down a bit, eyeing the boxes on the table, slowly walking around to them. "Can I open one? Can I?" Spike smiled. Drusilla smiled back. "Can I? Ooh..."

"Just a peek, love," Spike told her, wheeling himself over to her. A view from inside the box showed Drusilla lifting the lid. Dru inhaled in wonder, smiling. "Do you like it, baby?"

"It reeks of death," Drusilla told them. She sighed, kneeling in front of Spike. "This will be the best party ever."

"Why is that?" Bianca asked.

Drusilla stood, leaning toward the box. "Because it will be the last."

Drusilla slammed the lid closed.

∞∞

Day Three

Morning - Francis House - Kitchen

The day of Zoey's birthday, Zoey was sitting at the island counter, looking across to where Layla and Jenny were drinking tea from large cups, holding saucers.

"Mall trip for your birthday on Saturday," Jenny told her. "Don't forget."

"Space on a Mom/Aunt Jenny sponsored shopping opportunity?" Zoey asked. "Not likely."

Layla smiled. "Hmm, so does 17 feel any different from 16?"

"It's funny you should ask that, Layla," Jenny told her. "Zoey was trying to get me to talk to you about something important. About feeling more responsible, mature and levelheaded."

Layla looked like she already knew where this was going, amused. "Really? It's uncanny."

"And how she now possesses the qualities one looks for in a licensed driver," Jenny told her.

Zoey smiled.

Layla gave them an amused look. "Zoey. Jenny."

"We did promise Zo that we would talk about it when she was 17, Layla," Jenny pointed out.

"Do you really think you're ready, Zoey?" Layla asked.

Zoey looked at her in surprise because she had said the same thing in her dream. Layla seemed to be hit with a vision, which made her drop her saucer. Zoey and Jenny watched it fall in shock as it shattered on the floor. Jenny turned around, walking away slowly to get the broom and dust pan. Zoey stood, backing away, obviously overwhelmed and in denial.

Jenny realized what she was thinking. "That's one of the things that happened in your dream." Zoey swallowed, nodding. "Exactly like that?" Zoey nodded. "Zoey, the rest of it is not gonna come true."

"Not if we can stop it," Layla agreed. "Okay?"

Zoey didn't answer, looking too overwhelmed to.

"Layla, what did you see?" Jenny asked.

"Bits and pieces of what Zoey saw," Layla answered. "It was weird to say the least."

A man named Enyos in a dark suit and hat walked in, stopping to look at them. "Jenny Calendar. Zoey and Layla Francis."

They jumped when they heard him, startled, looking at him in surprise.

"You startled us," Jenny told him.

"You look well," Enyos told them.

"Yes, we're fine," Jenny told him.

"I know we haven't talked since you helped train me and Zoey for our powers over the summer," Layla told him. "We've been busy."

"Working and ensuring safety of this small little town," Enyos finished. "Yes, I know. I know about your dreams, Zoey."

"Is that why you're here, Great-Uncle Enyos?" Zoey asked sarcastically. "For my dreams and not because of my birthday?"

Enyos didn't answer.

Layla scoffed, shaking her head. "Right. Well, I've got to get Zoey to school. Thanks for stopping by because of her dream and not because of your great-niece's birthday."

Layla and Zoey left the house.

Enyos looked at Jenny. "You haven't told them the complete truth."

"You didn't want me to," Jenny replied. "I don't like lying to my family, but they're too close to this."

"Indeed," Enyos agreed. "And Zoey isn't the only one that has had dreams such as she's had. The elder woman has been reading signs. Something is different."

"Nothing has changed," Jenny told him. "The curse still holds."

"The elder woman is never wrong," Enyos told her. "And she's not the only one predicting it this time. Although Zoey doesn't understand the signs in her visions. His pain is lessening."

Jenny looked down. "There is..."

"There is what?" Enyos asked.

Jenny looked up. "A girl. Zoey's best friend."

Enyos sighed in disgust. "How could you let this happen?"

"I promise you, Angel still suffers," Jenny told him. "And he makes amends for his evil. He even saved Zoey and Layla's lives."

"So you just forget that he destroyed the most beloved daughter of your tribe?" Enyos replied angrily. "That he killed every man, woman and child that touched her life? That doesn't matter to Zoey and Layla as much as it does to you and I, because they didn't know what they were until we told you to tell them not even a year ago, but you've known most of your life. But vengeance demands that his pain be eternal as ours is. If this--this girl, this best friend of Zoey's, gives him one minute of happiness, it is one minute too much."

Jenny looked away, trying not to be emotional. "I'm sorry. You told me that I couldn't let Zoey and Layla know. Or anyone else. And Carmen being Zoey's best friend... I thought..."

"You thought what?" Enyos asked. "You thought you could allow Zoey and her best friend be happy, by allowing him becoming happy? You thought that you, Layla and Zoey could live normal lives? You are still of the Kalderash people. You're still gypsies. Layla and Zoey don't know the full meaning of that, but you do."

"I know, Uncle," Jenny told him. "I know. But the only reason Zoey and Layla don't know is because you won't let them. How is that fair to them? To anyone?"

"This isn't about fairness," Enyos replied. "Your time for watching is past. The girl and him, it ends now. Do what you must to take her from him."

Jenny hated the thought of hurting Carmen, because she knew it would hurt Zoey in the end, but knowing that if she didn't, a lot more people could end up being hurt. "I will see to it."

∞

Sunnydale High School - Library

Buffy, Brooke, Brady, Alice, Zoey, Carmen, Wyatt, Giles and Layla were talking.

"So Layla broke the plate," Buffy told them. "It was just like Zoey's dream."

"Every gesture?" Alice asked. "Every word?"

Zoey nodded.

"I'm sorry, Zo," Brooke told her. "That's gotta be so creepy."

Giles nodded in agreement. "Yes, well, I'd imagine it would be... fairly unnerving."

"Wait," Wyatt told them. "What's this deal with your uncle Enyos arriving?"

Zoey and Layla shrugged, sighing. The other Scoobies walked in, celebrating Zoey's birthday.

"Hey," Eric told her. "It's the woman of the hour."

"It's Happy Birthday Zoey!" Willow cheered, jumping over to the table, hugging Zoey, giving her a big smile. She let go, standing next to the others. Zoey just looked down and pulled her hair behind her ear. "Not Happy Birthday Zoey?"

"It's just that, um, part of the nightmare that Zoey had the other night actually happened," Brady explained. "So she's freaked."

"Well, Angel's not gonna hurt me," Carmen told them. "So there's no reason to be freaked by that part of the dream, Zo."

"But what about the part of the dream where Bianca kills Alice?" Xander asked. "And Drusilla kills Ms. Calendar?"

They gave Xander a look. Zoey stood, turning away.

"Zoey, it's okay," Buffy told her. "In your dream, you were alone."

"Yeah," Brooke agreed. "With us all together, we can stop anyone from getting hurt."

"Nothing's gonna happen to Carmen," Eric told them. "Nothing's gonna happen to Alice. Nothing's gonna happen to Jenny."

"Look, you said they blindsided you in the dream," Brady told her. "And it was all over before you knew what happened."

"But here in reality?" Alice asked. "You're not alone, Zoey."

"Even if Spike, Drusilla and Bianca are alive and well and stronger than we believe?" Giles asked. "We can still protect everyone. Dreams aren't prophecies, Zoey. You dreamt that the Master had risen. But we stopped it from happening."

"Well, we stopped him after he rose," Carmen agreed. "But still."

"We ground his bones to make our bread," Xander told them.

"That's true," Willow told them. "Except for the bread part."

"You're scared because you think it's a psychic gypsy dream," Wyatt told her. "And you have every right to be."

"But we're one step ahead," Buffy told them. "And we're gonna stay that way."

"So we're gonna stop Spike, Bianca and Drusilla," Zoey stated.

"Absolutely," Giles agreed. "Wyatt, we're going to need you to tell us everything you know about Spike and Drusilla. Especially if they have any particular patterns. Brady, we're going to need to know everything you know about Bianca." He walked toward his office. "Why don't you meet me here at 7:00? We'll map out a strategy."

"Okay," Brooke told them. "What are we supposed to do until then?"

"Go to classes," Alice answered. "Do our homework. Have supper."

"Right," Brady agreed. "Be normal us."

Zoey didn't want to say anything, not the least bit reassured, grabbing her bag, heading out of the library while the others watched her go in concern.

Xander pointed after Zoey. "Well. That's not a perky birthday puppy."

"So much for our surprise party," Willow told them. "I bought little hats and everything."

Eric nodded. "Mm-hmm."

"Oh, well," Carmen told them. "I guess I'll tell Cordelia and Oz. Cancel it like Zoey wants to cancel the friend gathering."

They walked toward the door.

"No, you won't," Giles told them. They stopped. "We're having a party tonight."

Wyatt was surprised. "Looks like Mr. Caution Man. But the sound he makes is funny."

Everyone frowned, nodding in agreement.

"Zoey's surprise party will go ahead as we planned," Giles told them. "Except I won't be wearing the little hat."

"But Carmen, Alice and Jenny..." Buffy trailed off.

"May well be in danger, as they have been before and I imagine, will be again," Giles told them. "But we don't know by what exactly. These psychic dreams can be interpreted and misinterpreted over and over again. One thing I've learned in my tenure here on the Hellmouth is that there is no good time to relax. And Zoey's turning 17 just this once, and after sacrificing her life and freedom for doing a job that she doesn't have to do but chooses to, she deserves a party."

Everyone smiled.

"You're a great man of our time," Layla told him.

Brooke nodded. "And anyway, Carmen, Alice and Jenny are all gonna be there."

Willow smiled. "So we'll be able to protect you guys and have cake."

"Exactly," Brady told them.

"Well, when you put it like that..." Xander trailed off.

Eric smirked. "Let's protect people and have fun."

∞

Night - Sunnydale High School - Hallway

Zoey was walking down a hallway, running into Buffy, Brooke, Alice, Carmen, Brady and Wyatt, who pretended to be surprised to see her. "Zoey."

Zoey relaxed, sighing. "Oh, my God, I didn't see you there."

"Sorry," Buffy told her. "Um, Giles wanted us to tell you that there's been a change of plans."

"Uh, Giles wants to meet us someplace near his and Alice's apartment," Brady told her. "He had to run home and get a book or something."

"'Cause Heaven knows there aren't enough books in the library," Alice told them sarcastically. "But he's very thorough."

Brooke chuckled. "Oh, which is not to bag. It's kind of manly in an obsessive compulsive kind of way, don't you think?"

"Mm-hmm," Carmen answered. "Um, you know, our cars are here. Why don't we drive you, Zoey?"

"It's on our way," Wyatt told her. "And with everything going on, none of us should be alone."

Zoey nodded, walking past them. They followed, smirking slightly.

∞

Loading Area

They arrived to a loading area, pausing when they saw something off.

"This looks funky," Zoey told them.

A truck was parked in an adjacent loading area. A man jumped off of the truck bed while another walked across the loading dock. The others walked up, stopping by the cab, seeing Dalton carrying a wooden box.

"Every time I see you, you're stealing something," Wyatt told him.

Dalton growled.

"You really should speak with someone about this klepto issue," Brooke told him.

The truck's engine started. They turned around. Dalton made a hasty escape. The truck door swung open. A vampire kicked out at them, hitting Buffy in the arm hard. Buffy grabbed him, pulling him out of the cab, to the ground. Dalton lifted the box onto the back of the truck. More vampires ran closer from all sides.

Brady punched his vampire in the face, kicking him in the chest, making him fall.

A vampire ran up behind Alice, grabbing her by the jacket, pulling her up, grabbing her in a full Nelson hold. Alice sent Guardian energy through her own body into the vampire behind her to burn him enough to back him let go, turning him to ashes.

Carmen used her telekinesis and levitation powers to knock around vampires, turning to freeze four at a time, making them immobile in air. Buffy and Brady staked their vampires in the hearts thanks to Carmen freezing them, while Carmen used her power to decapitate the other two.

Zoey headbutted another vampire, punching him, turning to punch another behind her, spinning to kick the one in front of her, magically throwing him onto a crate, making him roll to the ground. She held her hands toward five vampires, wrapping magical bonds of purple power around them, closing her fists to make the power constrict until they burst into ashes.

Wyatt blocked a swing from a vampire behind him, grabbing his arm, shoving his head into a crate, putting his hand on the vamp's chest to magically burn him alive from the touch, watching as he burned to ash within seconds.

∞

The Bronze

Everyone else was in the Bronze, hiding for the surprise party.

"Where are they?" Willow asked.

"Shh," Eric told them. "I think I hear them coming."

∞

Outside

Buffy punched one of the wooden bed retainers, breaking off a piece, jamming it into a vampire's chest, making him burst into ashes.

Brady grabbed a vampire, lifting him up, throwing him onto a loading dock, hitting him in the face with a makeshift stake, plunging it into his chest.

Wyatt used orange magical energy to destroy a vampire in a single burst of ash, creating an ice burst in his hand to throw into a vampire, knocking him down, freezing him alive so he couldn't break free, making an explosion gesture with his hand that made the ice explode into pieces, killing the vampire all the same.

Alice used red energy to shoot into a vampire's chest, throwing him down so hard he was sent flipping backward, using her energy to fly closer, standing above him, making a circling motion with her finger to surround him with red energy that burned him out of existence.

Brooke walked across the dock, raising an arm to her side, shooting red energy into a vampire to pin him, waving her hands together and sending them apart to rip the vampire apart into ashes.

Carmen used her power to freeze a vampire, levitating closer to kick him and punch him down, telekinetically throwing him into stakes to kill him.

Zoey create a sphere of purple power to throw a vampire into the wall of the Bronze, tearing it down.

∞

The Bronze

The others heard the fighting outside, looking outside to see what was going on when the vampire that Zoey threw through the wall fell into the club. Buffy, Brooke, Brady, Alice, Carmen, Zoey and Wyatt followed him in. Everyone else stood up to look.

Zoey magically levitated a drumstick from a drum set, spinning it around in the air, magically throwing it into the vampire's chest, making him explode.

Oz watched in astonishment.

Cordelia jumped up from behind the pool table with her arms raised high. "Surprise!"

They all looked back at her.

"That pretty much sums it up," Oz told her.

Xander shook his head at Cordelia. "Tsk."

Zoey was surprised, looking at them, realizing that Oz saw everything, in shock.

Angel walked over to Carmen. "Carmen? Are you okay?"

"Yes," Giles said. "W-what happened?"

Buffy pointed behind her. "Uh, there were these vamps out..."

Zoey looked around. "What's going on?"

"Oh, um... a surprise party," Layla answered, blowing on a party favor.

"Happy Birthday," Cordelia told her.

Zoey smiled. "You guys did all this for me? That is so sweet."

"You sure you guys are okay?" Angel asked.

"Yes, we're fine," Alice answered.

Xander looked at Oz, who still seemed in shock. "You okay?"

Oz snapped out of it. "Yeah. Hey, did everybody see that guy just turn to dust?"

"I thought you saw Zoey do that on Halloween," Willow told him.

"Yeah, I just thought it was a hallucination induced from the concussion I got," Oz told them. "And I didn't see Zoey use powers."

"Nope," Xander told him. "It was real."

Eric nodded. "Vampires are real. A lot of them live in Sunnydale."

"And a lot of us have powers, actually," Xander agreed. "Zoey, Layla, Brooke, Alice, Wyatt, Carmen. Buffy and Brady are hunters. Zoey will fill you in."

"Layla too?" Oz asked.

Layla held up her hand, removing her necklace, allowing her hands and necklace to glow purple. "Yeah, me too."

"We know it's hard to accept at first," Giles told him.

"Actually, it explains a lot," Oz told them.

Jenny walked into the Bronze carrying a giant wooden box. "Hey, can somebody give me a hand here?" Angel and Giles took it from her and set it on a table. "Those creeps left this behind."

"What is it?" Brady asked.

"I have no idea," Giles told them.

Zoey looked at Oz, gesturing to Giles. "You will almost never hear those words come out of my mom's boyfriend's mouth."

Oz smirked. Giles and Layla gave Zoey a halfhearted look. Zoey smiled innocently.

Giles looked at the box. "Well, can it be opened?"

"Yeah," Brooke answered. "This looks like a release right here."

Buffy worked the latch and opened the box. Inside was an arm clad in armor. Buffy looked over at Eric in disgust. Suddenly the arm raised up, grabbed Buffy by the throat and began choking her.

∞∞

Buffy struggled with the arm. Eric tried to pull it off of her. Brooke and Alice used their Guardian energy to pull the arm off of Buffy instantly, putting it back in the box. Eric pulled Buffy back, trying to help her as she caught her breath. Brady slammed the lid shut. Buffy coughed as Eric helped her aside.

"Well, clearly the Hellmouth's answer to 'what do you get the girls who have everything'," Xander told them.

"Good heavens," Giles told them. "Buffy, are you all right?"

Buffy caught her breath. "Man. That thing had major grip."

"What was that?" Willow asked.

"It looked like an arm," Oz told them.

Wyatt and Angel were horrified.

"It can't be," Wyatt told them. "They wouldn't."

"What?" Eric asked. "Uh, vamp and witch's version of 'snakes in a can'?"

"Wyatt, Angel," Brady told them. "Do you two care to share?"

"Angel?" Alice asked. "Wyatt?"

"It's a legend," Angel explained. "Way before our time... of a demon brought forth to rid the Earth of the plague of humanity. Separate the righteous from the wicked. And to burn the righteous down. They call him the Judge."

"The Judge?" Giles repeated. "This is he?"

"Not all of him," Angel answered.

Willow raised her hand. "Um, still needing backstory here."

"Um, he couldn't be killed," Alice explained. "An army was sent against him."

"Most of them died," Wyatt told them. "But, uh, finally they were able to dismember him, but not kill him."

Angel sighed. "The pieces were scattered. Buried in every corner of the Earth."

"So all these parts are being brought here?" Xander asked.

"By Drusilla," Buffy answered. "The vamps outside were Spike and Bianca's men."

"Drusilla and Bianca are just crazy enough to do it," Wyatt told them.

"Do what?" Willow asked. "Reassemble the Judge?"

"And bring forth Armageddon," Brooke answered.

"Is anybody else gonna have cake?" Cordelia asked, walking toward the pool table.

"We need to get this out of town," Brady told them.

"Angel," Jenny told them.

"What?" Brady asked.

"You have to do it," Jenny told him. "You're the only one that can protect this thing."

"What about Buffy, Brooke, Zoey, Alice?" Eric asked. "Carmen, Brady, Wyatt, Layla?"

"What, Eric, they're just gonna skip town for a few months?" Jenny asked.

"Wait," Xander told them. "Months?"

"She's right," Angel told them. "I gotta get this to the remotest region possible."

"But that's not months," Carmen told him.

Angel gestured grandly. "I gotta catch a cargo ship to Asia, maybe trek to Nepal..."

"You know, those newfangled flying machines really are much safer than they used to be," Carmen told him.

"I can't fly," Angel told her. "There's no sure way to guard against the daylight. I-I-I don't like this any more than you do, Carmen. But there's no other choice."

"When?" Carmen asked.

"Tonight," Angel answered. "As soon as possible."

Everyone looked at each other sadly.

"We'll go with you," Layla told them. "At least make sure the two of you and the box is safe. Until Angel leaves."

∞

Spike's Warehouse

Drusilla was confronting Dalton angrily. "You lost it? You lost my present."

"I know," Dalton told her in shame. "I'm sorry."

"It was a bad turn, man," Bianca told him. "We can't have our fun without the box."

"Wyatt and his friends," Dalton explained. "They came out of nowhere. I didn't even see them. They--"

Drusilla cut him off by putting her finger to his lips, staring into his eyes, lifting off his glasses, dropping them to the floor, stomping on them, grinding them into the concrete, lifting her head with her eyes closed. "Make a wish."

"What?" Dalton asked.

Drusilla held two fingers up to his eyes. "I'm going to blow out the candles."

"You might give him a chance to find your lost treasure," Spike told her. "He is a wanker, but he's the only one we've got with half a brain. If he fails, you can eat his eyes of the sockets for all I care."

"I'll get it," Dalton told them. "Please. I swear."

Bianca thrust both hands at him, pulling them back at the last instant, up into raised fists, smiling evilly. She picked up the glasses. "Okay." She unfolded them, setting them back on his nose, crooked, patting him on the head. "Hurry back then."

∞

Docks

It was pouring rain.

Buffy, Brooke, Wyatt, Brady, Alice, Zoey, Layla and Jenny had brought Carmen and Angel to the docks in case more vampires came. Carmen and Angel made their way to a ship, walking arm in arm. Angel had the box on his shoulder. Carmen leaned into him. Angel kissed her on the head. The others watched sadly. When Carmen and Angel reached the gangplank, Angel set the box. They took a few steps away from the box.

"I should go the rest of the way alone," Angel told her. Carmen nodded sadly. "But I'll be back. I will."

"When?" Carmen asked. "Six months, a year? You don't know how long it's gonna take or if we'll even..."

Angel raised her chin. "Carmen, if we'll even what?"

Carmen had tears in her eyes. "Well, if you haven't noticed, someone pretty much always wants us dead."

"Don't say that," Angel told her. "We'll be fine."

"We don't know that," Carmen told him.

"We can't know that, Carmen," Angel agreed. "That's just the deal." He reached into his pocket. "I have something for you. I was gonna give it to you before, but..."

Angel showed her a ring with an intricate design.

"It's beautiful," Carmen told him, impressed.

"My people, before I was changed, they exchanged this as a sign of devotion," Angel explained. "It's a claddagh ring. The hands represent friendship, the crown represents loyalty, and the heart, well, you know. Wear it with the heart pointing towards you, and it means you belong to somebody, like this." He showed her his own ring on his finger. Carmen touched his hand, leaning closer to kiss the ring. "Put it on."

Angel took the ring from her, slipping it on her finger.

Carmen looked at him sadly, hating the thought of them being separated. "I don't wanna do this."

Angel nodded in agreement. "Me neither."

"So don't go," Carmen told him.

"Carmen, I have to," Angel told her.

They kissed passionately for a moment. Carmen put her arms around them. They finally pulled away.

The others sensed vampires were coming. "Guys. Vampires!"

Vampires jumped them from all sides. One pulled Carmen off of Angel, throwing her back. Another began to fight Angel. Carmen was hurt on the ground.

A vampire tried to punch Buffy. Buffy ducked, grabbing him, starting to pummel him.

Wyatt created a twirl of rocks around his fingertips, twirling them around, forming them bigger into a bolder to wrap around vampires, making them unable to move and fall to the ground, trapped.

Alice and Brooke raised their arms, twisting their hands to release much red energy that they threw into five vampires each like spears, burning them out of existence.

Brady flipped another vampire to the ground. The vampire got up, trying to punch Brady three times. Brady blocked all of them, punching the vampire in the face, kicking him down.

Zoey ducked a hit, levitating herself up on the dock railing, kicking her vampire in the chest with both feet, sending him falling to the ground, grabbing him by the back of the shirt and hair to use her power to burn him with purple power until he died.

Layla formed a purple magical whip to wrap around a vampire's neck, throwing a burst of her power into his chest to throw him into a wall, making him fall, magically setting him on fire.

Dalton ran for the box.

"Guys!" Buffy told them.

"The box!" Brooke told them.

Angel ducked a roundhouse kick, grabbing a vampire's arm, flipping him over onto his back, running after Dalton, tackling him to the deck.

Another vampire pushed Buffy into a stack of crates, following up with a roundhouse kick. Buffy ducked, making him hit the crate, trying to grab him. The vampire ducked, punching her in the face.

Angel was about to punch Dalton, getting distracted when the vampire he had been fighting before grabbed the box and made a run for it.

Carmen used her power to freeze many vampires but couldn't freeze all of them, using her telekinesis power to break makeshift stakes, magically throwing them into their hearts to kill at least five of them.

No matter how many vampires they killed or fought, more kept coming.

"There's too many of them," Zoey told them.

"Fall back," Alice told them.

They started to back away while still fighting.

∞

Sunnydale High School - Library

The others were researching the Judge.

Giles looked up. "They should be back by now."

"Maybe they got caught up," Willow told them. "Buffy, Brooke, Zoey and Alice could be comforting Carmen. Poor Carmen."

"Hmm, it's sad, granted," Xander agreed. "But let's look at the upside for a moment." He stood. "I mean, what kind of a future would she've really had with him?"

"Give her some slack," Eric told him. "We know you don't like Angel. But at least think about Carmen."

Buffy, Brooke, Zoey, Alice, Carmen, Brady, Wyatt and Layla returned.

Giles stood. "What happened?"

"Spike, Bianca and Dru's guys ambushed us," Brady answered. "They got the box."

"Where's Jenny?" Giles asked.

"Uh, she took Angel to get clothing," Wyatt answered. "We all had some here."

"And we needed clothes because..." Eric trailed off.

"Downpour," Layla answered. "Rupert, what do we know?"

"The more I study the Judge, the less I like him," Giles told them. "His touch can literally burn the humanity out of you. A true creature of evil can survive the process. No human ever has."

"What's the problem?" Zoey asked. "We send Cordy to fight this guy. And we go for pizza."

Xander gave Zoey a look. Carmen tilted her head. Zoey smirked.

"Can this guy be stopped?" Buffy asked. "Without an army?"

"No weapon forged can kill him," Alice told them. "Not very encouraging. If we could only stop them from assembling him."

"We need to find his weak spots," Brooke told them. "And we need to figure out where they'd be keeping him."

"This could take time," Brady told them. "Which we don't have a lot of."

"Better do a round robin," Willow told them. "Xander, you go first."

"Good call," Eric told her.

Xander walked toward the phone.

"Round robin?" Wyatt asked.

"It's when everybody calls everybody else's mom and tells them they're staying at everyone's house," Eric explained.

"Thus freeing us up for world slayage," Buffy finished.

Willow smiled. "And all-night keggers." They gave her a look. "What, only Brady, Xander and Zoey get to make dumb jokes?"

Xander was on the phone. "Mom, hi. Xander. Yeah, uh, my friends and I are gonna be studying all night long. So I'm not gonna be coming home."

∞

Later

The research was going hot and heavy.

Willow laid her book down. "I think I read this already."

"I can't get over how cool Oz was about all this," Buffy told them.

"Gee, I've over it," Wyatt told them.

Brooke looked up. "Wyatt? Any luck?"

They saw that Zoey was asleep.

"Shh, shh, shh," Alice told them. "Seems Zoey needed some rest."

"Yeah, she hasn't been sleeping well," Layla told them.

"Yeah, she told us," Brady told her. "Tossing and turning."

"Because of her dreams," Eric agreed. "And yours, Layla. I think it's safe to say that your dreams are not just dreams anymore."

"I have to agree with you there, Eric," Layla told him.

Xander shook his head. "Eric's right. Whatever's in Zoey and Layla's dreams is actually coming true."

"Well, we're just gonna have to make sure that they don't," Wyatt told them. "And figure out what they mean."

∞

Zoey's Dream

Night - Spike's Warehouse

Zoey walked in, looking at the party decorations. All around, candles on tall sticks had burned way down. Zoey went over to the table, walking around it. On the other side, she saw Jenny walking the other way, confused by that, but getting distracted by several boxes sitting on the floor, walking over to them.

She heard Drusilla's voice. "Now, now." Zoey turned around, seeing Dru on the upper level, holding Layla in front of her, knife to her throat. "Hands off my presents."

Zoey tried to stop her, but couldn't stop her from slitting Layla's throat open. "No!"

∞

Reality

Night - Sunnydale High School - Library

Zoey woke up from her nightmare. "Mom!"

"Zoey, it's okay," Layla told her, sitting next to her daughter to comfort her from the nightmare. Relieved to see her mother there after she had just seen Dru kill her in her dream, Zoey returned the embrace from Layla. "I'm here. We're right here."

∞

Spike's Warehouse

(Song:) Transylvanian Concubine - Rasputina

Bianca stood at the top of the spiral staircase, clapping her hands. "More music!"

Bianca bobbed her head to the gothic beat, descending the steps, dancing sensually, making her way to the head of the table.

Drusilla was poking at flowers and cake.

Spike rolled closer with a large box in his lap. "Look what I have for you, ducks."

Drusilla turned to see, smiling, stepping closer. "Ah, the best is saved for last."

Drusilla took the box from him, handing it to two vampires. The vampires took it over to where the other boxes had been assembled into the shape of a body. They raised the box, setting the head in place. Once in place, a bright light emanated through the cracks in the boxes.

Bianca smiled. "Hmm." The front of the now unified boxes opened like a pair of twin gates to allow the Judge to step out. His skin was blue, and he had small horns on his forehead. He opened his eyes. Bianca smiled in awe. "He's perfect."

Spike looked up at Dru to see her smile.

Drusilla stepped back to him, taking his hand. "Just what I wanted."

(Song Ends)

∞∞

Drusilla looked up at the Judge. "Goll."

The Judge stepped out of his box, having difficulty keeping his balance, pointing at Drusilla. "You!"

Spike rolled over to him in Dru's defense. "Ho, ho, ho. What's that, mate?"

Judge looked at Drusilla and Spike. "You two stink of humanity. You share affection." He looked at Bianca. "You harbor jealousy toward other people."

"Yeah," Bianca agreed. "What of it? Do I have to remind you that we're the ones who brought you here?"

Drusilla smiled. "Would you like a party favor?"

Drusilla indicated the guests.

Judge looked at Dalton. "This one is full of feeling. He reads. Bring him to me."

Bianca grabbed Dalton to keep him from running. "What's with the bringing? I thought you could just zap people."

"My full strength will return in time," Judge answered. "Until then, I need contact."

Judge stepped over to where Bianca restrained Dalton.

Dalton struggled in fear. "No. No. No!"

The Judge put his hand on Dalton's chest. Dalton began to smoke. Bianca and Drusilla watched excitedly. The Judge's hand began to burn into Dalton, who quickly combusted, disappearing in a flash of flame and smoke. Bianca gasped, smiling.

Drusilla laughed gleefully. "Do it again! Do it again!"

Dru smiled down at Spike. The Judge smiled as he felt his power began to return.

∞

Sunnydale High School - Library

Buffy came striding out of the cage.

Giles looked down at them from the stacks. "Now, what's happening?"

"Zoey had another dream," Layla answered. "She thinks she knows where Spike, Drusilla and Bianca are."

"That's good," Eric told them. "But you need a plan."

"I know you're worried, Zoey," Xander told her. "But you guys can't just go off half-cocked."

"We have a plan," Buffy told them. "We go to the factory and do recon. Figure out how far they've gotten to assembling the Judge."

"You guys check any places the boxes could be coming into town," Brooke told them. "Shipping yards, airports, anything."

"Indeed," Alice agreed. "We need to stop them from getting all the boxes in one place."

"Yes," Giles agreed. "Yes, well, um, actually, that's quite a good plan."

"This thing is nasty," Zoey told them. "And it's real."

"They're right," Wyatt told them. "We can't wait for it to come get us."

"So we're going," Brady told them. "Wish us luck."

As they left, Willow whispered worriedly. "Yeah. Good luck."

∞

Spike's Warehouse

Buffy, Brooke, Wyatt, Zoey, Layla, Alice, Brady, Carmen and Angel quietly sneaked inside along the upper level, looking down at the party below.

Zoey whispered. "I saw this. The party."

They saw Judge walk into view flanked by Drusilla and Bianca following. Spike wheeled himself closer. The Judge stopped, sensing something.

"What?" Spike asked. "What is it?"

The Judge looked around, up at the group.

"We gotta get out of here," Buffy told them.

They tried to make a run for it, but vampires surrounded them. There were too many of them for powers to be much help while they were surrounded like this. They were brought down below before Bianca, Drusilla, Spike and the Judge.

Bianca smiled, bouncing on her heels with excitement. "Well, well. Look what we have here. Crashers."

"I'm sure our invitations just got lost in the mail," Wyatt told them sarcastically.

Spike smirked in amusement. "Now, now, little brother. Here little Bianca was going through all the trouble of making intricate plans to get you all where we wanted you, and none of us ever thought that you would make it so much easier on us by showing up here tonight."

Drusilla smiled. "It's delicious." She licked her fingers, looking at Zoey and Layla curiously, intrigued by them, fascinated. "I only dreamed you'd come. Zoey. Layla. I've seen dreams of you. Have you seen dreams of me?"

"Just a bit," Zoey answered sarcastically.

"I have admit," Layla told her. "Weird to see you in person."

Drusilla smiled. "I know the feeling."

Bianca circled around Brady and Alice, pulling Alice's hair to pull her head back. "Now what to do to your pretty little Alice, Brady?"

Brady struggled. "Bianca. Damn it. Leave her alone."

Bianca smiled in amusement, tilting her head sarcastically. "Yeah, that'll work. Now say pretty please."

"Chilling, isn't it?" Spike asked. "They're all so full of good intention."

Wyatt put himself between them. "Take me."

Brooke struggled. "No! Wyatt! Don't."

"You want to kill someone, Spike?" Wyatt asked. "Kill your own brother. Not anyone else."

Spike smirked, amused. "Nice martyr move to try to save your friends, little brother. But, are you not clear on what I've been trying to do since coming to this damn town, Wyatt? This isn't a negotiation. You get to watch all your friends die."

"Alice is my kill," Bianca told them. "Brady's mine to play." She smiled, nodding. "I love a puppy to play with."

Drusilla smiled, wrapping her arms around Spike.

Alice struggled as Bianca pulled her head back, watching as the Judge walked closer. "No! Don't touch him!"

Looking just like she did in Zoey's vision while Bianca killed Alice in front of Brady, Bianca shifted into her vampire visage, biting Alice. Alice used her power to burn Bianca when she started to feed on her, making her back away and cough up red energy as her skin seared in pain.

"Neat trick, bitch," Bianca told her.

"I have a lot of tricks," Alice replied.

Zoey, Layla, Alice, Brooke, Carmen and Wyatt created a sphere of magical and Guardian energy to throw everyone down, creating a hole in the floor, breaking them free.

"This way!" Buffy told them. "Go!"

They started to run. Brooke, Zoey, Alice, Carmen, Wyatt and Layla used their powers to levitated themselves, Buffy, Brady and Angel into the tunnels to get to safety.

Drusilla gave the order to pursue. "Go!"

The vampires ran to give chase.

∞

Street

In the pouring rain, the group split up to make the vampires split up as well while they were chasing them, able to pick them off one by one.

"That happened," Zoey told them. "Some of my visions almost came true."

"Yeah, but they didn't," Layla told her. "We were able to stop it."

"Come on," Buffy told them. "We need to stay split up."

"Definitely," Brooke agreed. "Especially if anymore come for us."

"Bianca," Brady added. "The Judge."

"We'll figure it out," Alice told them. "We will."

"Come on," Wyatt told them. "We need to get gone."

∞

Angel's Apartment

After they were satisfied that it was safe to come here, Carmen and Angel returned to the apartment. Angel took off his heavy coat, laying it aside. Carmen was soaked through to her skin without a coat or jacket.

"You're shaking life a leaf," Angel told her.

Carmen nodded. "Cold."

Angel looked around. "Let me get you something." He got some things from his armoire, handing them to her. "Put these on. Get under the covers, just to warm up." Carmen walked over to the bed, sitting down, looking up at him. Angel faced away to give her privacy. "Sorry, Carmen." Carmen took off her top shirt, wincing. "What?"

"Oh, um, it's okay," Carmen told him. "I just have a cut or something."

"Can I see?" Angel asked.

Carmen nodded, whispering. "Okay."

Angel turned around, sitting down on the bed behind her, gently touching her back, looking at the cut. "It's not serious. You're fine."

Carmen leaned back into him, leaning her head against his as he put his arms around her. "You almost went away today."

Angel nodded. "We both did. And people we care about."

"Angel, I felt like I lost you," Carmen admitted. "You're right, though. We can't be sure of anything."

"Shh," Angel told her. "I..."

Carmen turned to look at him. "You what?"

"I love you," Angel answered. "I try not to, but I can't stop, Carmen."

Carmen was relieved to hear those words, nodding in understanding and agreement, starting to calm down. "Me, too. I can't either."

They started to kiss.

Angel pulled away. "Carmen, maybe we shouldn't..."

Carmen put a hand on his cheek. "Shh. Just kiss me."

They continued to kiss, making out passionately.

∞

Later

They were both in bed, asleep. Outside, lightning struck. Angel woke with a start, gasping for air, sitting up, getting out of bed, hurrying off.

∞

Outside

Angel was dressed, crashing through the door into the pouring rain, stumbling over some trashcans, falling to his knees, crying out in pain and fear. "Carmen. Carmen!"