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.

Day One

Night - Playground

The playground was deserted as the carousel slowly turned. The swings moved in the light evening breeze.

The only person there was a boy sitting on the jungle gym, waiting for his ride. His name was James. "Come on, Mom. She's always late."

The camera panned around him until Drusilla could be seen slowly walking toward him from behind.

"Are you lost?" Drusilla asked.

James looked back at her. "No. My mom's just supposed to pick me up is all."

James climbed out of the gym.

"Do you want me to walk you home?" Drusilla asked.

"No, thank you," James answered.

Drusilla touched the gym. "My mummy used to sing me to sleep at night." She slowly walked around the gym, singing. "Run and catch / The lamb is caught in the blackberry patch." She spoke. "She had the sweetest voice. What will your mummy sing when they find your body?"

James looked at her nervously. "I'm not supposed to talk to people."

"Oh, well, I'm not a person, see?" Drusilla asked. "So that's just--"

Wyatt suddenly stepped between Drusilla and James, facing James. "Run home."

James only hesitated for a moment before running off. Drusilla watched him run away in dismay. Wyatt took a deep breath, turning to face her.

Drusilla smiled. "At long last. Wyatt."

Wyatt rolled his eyes. "Drusilla."

Drusilla slowly approached. "Patrolling for your new living, are you? Do you remember the song mummy used to sing me pretty?"

"I remember," Wyatt answered.

Drusilla sensed he did. "Yes, you do."

Wyatt was not in the mood for games, but not being completely bland either. "Drusilla, leave here. I'm offering you that chance. Take Spike and get out."

"Or you'll kill us?" Drusilla asked, knowing. "No. No, you can't. You can't kill your brother, though you most certainly have the power to. Spike can't kill you either, as it were."

"No, he just wants to torment me," Wyatt replied. "If you don't leave, it'll go badly. For all of us."

Drusilla looked at him curiously. "You don't want to hurt Spike, but you will if you have to. You don't want to hurt me either, unless it's forced upon you. It's noble. Surprising, considering that you don't want to take away your brother's lover like he did to you, like he's trying to do again. You were so close to becoming something like us when your brother killed your first love. Poor dear. But you prevailed, shockingly. No girl would ever be able to survive being your love. No even her."

Brooke was on a building across the street from the park, patrolling.

Wyatt sat down on a bench. "Who?"

"Your girl," Drusilla answered. "The Guardian."

"Leave Brooke out of this," Wyatt told her.

Brooke sensed something, heading for the edge of the roof.

Drusilla laughed in amusement, tauntingly. "So protective of her. Your heart stinks of her." She put her hand on Wyatt's chest. "Poor little thing. She has no idea what's in store."

Brooke looked over the edge, seeing them in the park.

Wyatt pulled Dru's hand off his chest in annoyance, using magic to spark against her wrist to make her back off. "This can't go on, Drusilla. It's gotta end."

Drusilla tilted her head, reaching up for a kiss. "Oh, no, my pet. This is just the beginning."

Wyatt backed away before she could kiss him. Drusilla smiled evilly in amusement, keeping her head turned to Wyatt as she slowly walked away. Brooke was still watching from the rooftop, stepping away from the edge of the roof, using her red Guardian energy to fly away.

∞ Slayers and Guardians ∞

Day Two

Morning - Sunnydale High School - Library

Giles and Layla were walking in.

Layla smiled. "It's a secret."

"What kind of a secret?" Giles asked.

"Uh, the kind that's secret," Layla answered with honest sarcasm. "You know, where I don't actually tell you what it is."

Giles was amused. "I think it's customary that when two people are going out on an evening that they--they both have an idea of where they're going."

"Oh, come on," Layla told him. "Where is your sense of adventure?"

"Well, I--I, uh, how will I know what to wear?" Giles asked.

Layla looked at his tweed suit. "Do you own anything else?"

"Uh, well, not as such, no," Giles answered.

Layla laughed. "Rupert, you're gonna have to trust me."

"All right, all right, I put myself in your hands," Giles told her.

Layla smiled. "That sounds like fun. Okay, tomorrow night, 7:30, right?"

"Yes," Giles answered.

Buffy, Brooke, Zoey, Alice, Carmen, Brady and Wyatt walked in. "Hey."

"Hello," Giles told them. "Um, did we hunt last night?"

"We did a couple quick sweeps downtown," Buffy answered.

"Any encounters?" Layla asked.

Wyatt turned to put his jacket on the table, tossing it aside, walking along. "I did."

Brooke looked a him curiously.

"And the rest of you?" Giles asked.

"Nothing vampirey," Brooke told them.

"What about Spike?" Zoey asked. "You think he's just here to wreck havoc on Wyatt and Brooke's love life? Or is he here for an actual reason besides that?"

"Spike never does anything without a reason," Wyatt told them. "I just don't know what his reason is this time."

"We'll figure it out," Alice told him. "Wyatt, if you can't kill Spike... And we would never ask you to kill your brother..."

"But if you can't..." Carmen trailed off. "Then if he puts us in a place where we have to... Then we'll have to."

Wyatt nodded in understanding, sighing.

"You all right?" Brooke asked. "You seem a little glum."

"I'm fine," Wyatt told her.

"Why don't all of you take the night off?" Layla asked.

"Okay," Brady told them. "That'd be nice."

"Yeah, Carmen could spend some time with Angel," Buffy told them. "I could spend some time with Eric. Brooke and Wyatt could spend time together."

"Alice and I could talk," Brady added.

Alice and Brady looked at each other, smiling slightly at the memory of their kiss on Halloween, both as Alice/Mad Hatter and themselves, leaving the library. The others watched them go, confused about what that was about, since they didn't know that they had kissed.

∞

Classroom

The girls were sitting together, passing notes back and forth, talking about how Brooke had seen Wyatt with Drusilla.

Zoey wrote: Do you know who she was?

Eric answered a question for the teacher. "Well, it seems like Louis XVI was just sort of a weak king."

"That's fair enough," the teacher told him. "Uh, any other impressions?"

Xander looked over at Cordelia with his head propped up on his fist.

"I just don't see why everyone's always picking on Marie Antoinette," Cordelia told them. "I can so relate to her. She worked really hard to look that good, and people just don't appreciate that kind of effort."

Brooke wrote another note: No. Dark hair. Old dress. Pretty.

"And I know the peasants were all depressed..." Cordelia trailed off.

"I think you mean 'oppressed'," Xander told her.

"Whatever," Cordelia told him. "They were cranky. So they're, like, 'Let's lose some heads'. Uh! That's fair. And, and Marie Antoinette cared about them. She was gonna let them have cake."

Willow wrote another note: Vampire?

"Yes, well, that's a very interesting perspective," the teacher told them. "Um, would anyone else like to comment?"

Brooke opened the note. The bell rang.

∞

Hallway

The Scoobies walked out of class.

"I don't know," Brooke told them.. "I don't think so. They seemed pretty friendly up until Wyatt pulled her hand off his chest."

"Who's friendly?" Xander asked.

"No one," Buffy told them.

"Wyatt," Willow answered. "And a girl."

Alice gave her a look. "Willow, do we have to be in total share mode?"

"Hey, it's us," Eric told them. "If Wyatt's doing something wrong, we wanna know. 'Cause Wyatt never does anything wrong."

"Yeah," Xander agreed. "So if the badass smartass warlock hero Wyatt is doing something wrong, it's interesting."

∞

Student Lounge

The Scoobies walked in.

"Mm, I'm glad someone finds it as interesting as I do," Carmen told them.

"Aw, we just need cheering up," Zoey told them. "And I know just the thing." She pretended to dance. "Crazed dance party at the Bronze."

"I don't know," Alice told her, sitting down, crossing her arms.

"Very calm dance party at the Bronze?" Willow asked. "Moping at the Bronze?"

As Zoey, Brooke, Buffy, Alice, Carmen and Willow sat down in the school lounge, Xander, Eric and Brady remained standing.

Two people walked up to them, named Billy and Bianca Fordham, siblings and former friends of the Summers siblings from back in LA. They were both brown-haired and brown-eyed and fair-skinned.

However, Bianca had the habit of dying her hair a golden blonde, and she was beautiful, but they both looked under the weather.

"I'd suggest a box of Oreos dunked in apple juice, but maybe Brady's over that phase," Bianca told them.

They turned to look at them.

Brady was in shock. "Bianca? Ford?"

Bianca smiled in genuine happiness to see her three former friends. "Hey, Summers." She wrapped her arms around the still-stunned Brady. who returned the embrace with a small smile of his own. "How you been?"

Buffy and Brooke stood in surprise.

"Oh, my God," Buffy told them. "How you been?"

Bianca and Brady pulled away from the hug, but Bianca held his hands.

"Uh, matriculating," Ford told them.

"Huh?" Brooke asked.

"We're finishing out the school year at Sunnydale High," Ford told them. "Our dad got transferred."

"This is a shock," Brady told them.

"Yeah, it sure is," Ford told them.

"So," Xander said to get their attention. "You guys know each other."

"Oh," Buffy said apologetically, turning to them. "I'm sorry. Um, this if Bianca and Billy Fordham. Uh, Bianca, Ford, this is Zoey, Alice, Carmen, Willow, Eric and Xander."

"Hi," Eric told them.

"Hey," Ford told them.

"Nice to meet you," Willow told them.

"Uh, Bianca and Ford went to Hemery with us in LA," Brooke explained. "Bianca is Brady's ex-girlfriend." Alice nodded once. Brady was a little awkward. "And now they're here. For real?"

"Dad got the transfer, and boom, he just dragged us out of Hemery and put us down here," Ford told them.

"This is great," Bianca told them. "Well, I mean, it's hard, sudden move, all our friends, delicate time, very emotional, but let's talk about you guys." On reflex, she put her hand on Brady's knee. "This is great."

Alice raised an eyebrow slightly. Brady moved his knee so Bianca's hand was no longer on it.

"So you two were sweeties?" Willow asked.

"In fifth grade, Brady wouldn't give me the time of day," Bianca told them.

"Well, I was a manly sixth grader," Brady told them sarcastically. "I couldn't bother with someone that young."

"It was terrible," Bianca told him. "I moped over you for months. Sitting in my room listening to that Divinyls song 'I Touch Myself'."

Zoey had been about to plop a chip into her mouth, looking up. The boys raised their eyebrows. Buffy, Brooke, Carmen and Willow frowned.

Alice looked down, tilting her head. Brady cleared his throat.

Ford scratched his head awkwardly, hiding a smirk.

Bianca didn't realize how that sounded until their reactions played out. "Of course, I had no idea what it was about." She quickly moved along. "But, uh, high school came along and we finally got the time that we deserved and needed. It was a very long, very well deserved wait."

Brady nervously scratched his temple. Xander just smiled and nodded.

"Hey, are you busy tonight?" Carmen asked. "We're going to the Bronze. It's the local club. You have to come."

"Yeah," Eric agreed. "It'd be cool to get to know some of Buffy, Brooke and Brady's old friends."

"I'd love to," Ford told them. "I know Bianca would. But if you guys already had plans... Would we be imposing?"

"No, only in the literal sense," Xander told them.

"Okay, then," Ford told them. "Bianca and I gotta find the admissions office." Ford and Bianca stood. "Uh, get our papers in order."

"Well, you know what?" Bianca asked. "Brady, could you take us there?" Brady hesitated, sighing, nodding, standing. "Thank you."

Brady looked at the others. "See you guys in French."

Bianca took Brady's arm.

"It was good to meet you," Ford told them.

Brady, Bianca and Ford walked away. Willow had a thoughtful look on her face.

"This is Ford and Bianca, our bestest friends of all our friends," Xander told them sarcastically. "Jeez, do you Summers siblings know any fat guys or girls?"

Buffy and Brooke gave Xander a look, tilting their heads.

Willow realized. "Oh, that's what that song is about?"

Zoey and Carmen both did a face palm.

∞

Night - The Bronze

(Song:) Lois on the Brink - Willoughby

The Scoobies, Ford and Bianca were playing pool.

"Ford," Willow told him. "Bianca. You made it."

"Wasn't hard to find," Ford told them.

"Buffy," Eric told her. "Ford and Bianca were just telling us about your ninth grade beauty contest. And the, uh, swimsuit competition."

"Oh, my God, Bianca, Ford, stop that," Buffy told them. "The more people you tell, the more people I have to kill."

"You three Summers can't touch us," Bianca told them. "We know all your darkest secrets."

"Care to make a small wager on that?" Alice asked.

Bianca looked at Alice curiously, tilting her head. Alice looked away, knowing that she was getting competitive and jealous even though she had only kissed Brady twice so far, looking away. Brady was nervous, sighing.

"I'm gonna go get a drink," Carmen told them. "Ford, Bianca, don't spill any Summers family secrets until I get back." She walked for the bar, finding Angel there. "Hi."

"Hey," Angel told her. "I was hoping you'd show."

Carmen saw he had a drink. "You drink. I mean, drinks. Non-blood things."

"There's a lot about me you don't know," Angel told her.

"I believe that," Carmen told him.

The others were racking up the pool balls, seeing that Carmen and Angel were talking.

"That's Angel," Alice told them.

"He's Carmen's beau," Zoey told them teasingly. "Her special friend."

"He's not in school, right?" Ford asked. "He looks older than her."

"You're not wrong," Xander told him.

Carmen looked at Angel. "So, what'd you do last night?"

"Nothing," Angel answered. "Nothing at all." Carmen looked at him in amusement. "Don't look at me like that. It's not like I ceased to exit. I mean, I stayed in. Read. Who are your new friends over there?"

"Buffy, Brooke and Brady's friends from LA, Bianca and Billy Fordham," Carmen answered. "You can come with if you want."

They walked over to the others.

"Hey, Angel," Alice told him.

"Hi," Brady told him.

"This is Billy and Bianca Fordham," Zoey told him. "Billy goes by Ford. They went to school with Buffy, Brooke and Brady in LA. Bianca is Brady's ex-girlfriend, actually."

Angel nodded, suddenly understanding why it was so awkward over here, shaking Ford and Bianca's hands. "Bianca. Ford. Nice to meet you."

"You too, Angel," Bianca told him.

"Whoa," Ford told him. "Cold hands."

"You're not wrong," Xander told him.

They gave Xander a look.

Angel looked at Ford and Bianca. "So, you're here visiting Buffy, Brooke and Brady?"

"So, we're actually here to stay," Ford told him. "Just moved down."

"Hey, Angel, do you wanna play?" Eric asked.

"You know, it's getting really crowded in here," Bianca told them. "Um, I'm a little hot." She looked at Brady. "You wanna take a walk? I'll see you guys tomorrow."

Bianca led them out past Angel.

"Good night," Angel told them.

"Take care," Ford told them.

"Okay, once more with tension," Zoey told them sarcastically.

"They just moved here?" Angel asked.

"Yeah," Brooke answered. "And, boy, does Bianca move fast."

"Well, Angel, we could still play," Willow told him.

Willow moved the rack into position, and when she looked back up Angel was gone.

Carmen looked at Brooke. "See, you made him do that thing where he's gone."

Brooke smiled apologetically, getting ready to break.

(Song Ends)

∞

Alley

Bianca and Brady were walking.

"So, what's up with you?" Bianca asked. "You're being so quiet. And you're acting really off."

"It's been a long while since we were together, Bianca," Brady told her, taking his arm from her, turning away.

Bianca stopped walking. "There's another girl, isn't there? Is it that quiet shy, smart one?"

"Her name's Alice," Brady told her. "Could we lay off the tough questions for a while?"

Bianca made a peaceful hand gesture, tilting her head. "Sorry. I didn't know you were seeing someone."

"It's fine," Brady told her. "You just got here. It's like I expected you to be a mind reader on your first day in town. I was just hoping I could tell you tonight."

Bianca nodded. "And now you have. Got it." She looked around, biting her lip. "So, what else do you do for fun around here?"

They heard noises coming from around the corner.

Brady knew it was a vampire, looking at Bianca. "Could you go get Buffy, Brooke, Zoey, Alice and Carmen for me?"

"Uh, okay," Bianca told him, running inside.

Once Bianca was inside, Brady ran around the corner to fight the vampire that was attacking a woman. Once Bianca had gone inside and got the girls, they ran outside to help Brady with the vampire.

Ford and Bianca walked outside, following the sounds of fighting, peeking around the corner, seeing a vampire get up and take a swing at Buffy. Buffy ducked, kicking the vampire in the face, grabbing his fist, holding on while she punched him in the face. Bianca and Ford watched as Zoey and Carmen used their power combined to throw the vampire into the wall, and Alice and Brooke used their red Guardian energy to tear the vampire apart into ashes within a second.

"What's going on?" Ford asked.

They were surprised, spinning around to face them.

"Um..." Alice trailed off. "Uh, here was a--a cat. A cat here, and, um, then there was another cat, and they fought."

Zoey nodded. "The cats. And then they left."

"Oh, we thought you were just slaying a vampire," Ford told them.

They looked at him in shock.

"What?" Buffy asked. "Whating a what?"

"We know, guys," Ford told them. "You don't have to lie. We--we've been trying to figure out the right time to tell you. Bianca and I know that Buffy's the Slayer. That Brooke's a Guardian. And since we just saw Alice have similar powers to Brooke, that means Alice is a Guardian too."

"Brady, you turned into a good hunter," Bianca told him. "Buffy, Alice and Brooke are badass Slayer and Guardians. But what are Carmen and Zoey?"

∞

Francis House - Living Room

The Scoobies were sitting down together, talking about Ford and Bianca.

"Just like they told you?" Willow asked.

"Just like that?" Eric asked. "Said they found out about Buffy and Brooke right before you two and Brady got booted from Hemery?"

They nodded.

"Wow," Xander told them. "It's neat. Is it neat?"

"Yeah, I guess," Brooke told them. "We don't have to constantly worry that they're gonna find out our dark secret. It just makes everything easier."

∞

Alley

Bianca and Ford walked down the alley toward Sunset Club, knocking on the heavy metal door. The viewport opened, closed, and the door opened to let them in.

∞

Sunset Club

(Song:) Never Land - The Sisters of Mercy

A welder was cutting the knob off of the inside door. Bianca and Ford walked downstairs to the main area. Everyone was dressed in black and pale makeup.

A man named Marvin/Diego walked toward the Fordham siblings. "Bianca? Hi, Ford."

"Hey," Ford told him.

"Well, how'd it go?" Diego asked.

"It went good," Ford answered.

"Good?" Diego repeated. "That's--that's it? That's all we know? Well, when are we--"

"Soon," Ford answered.

Diego nodded. "Oh, soon, okay. You know, you could give me a little more information here. I'm trusting both of you. I'm out on a limb here. Not to mention the lease is almost up on this place. Who's gonna cover that?"

"Marvin..." Ford trailed off.

"Diego," Diego corrected. "Come on, man, it's Diego now."

Bianca seemed to be overcome with pain in her head, stumbling. "Can you guys please keep the noise down?"

Ford led Bianca over to the bar. "Here, you sit down. Take your pills."

"You have them, Billy," Bianca reminded him, pain in her eyes as she looked at her brother with hurt. "To make sure... I stick to the plan."

Ford took out Bianca's pills, taking out a couple to pour them onto the bar top, pouring her a glass of water. "It's only a precaution, okay? I'm keeping my promise. I'm going to save your life, Bianca. But we have to stay on track if we're ever going to do it."

"And we have to use Brady and his sisters," Bianca retorted. "I don't want to use him or Buffy and Brooke."

"I know you don't," Ford replied. "And that's why I'm keeping your pills. To make sure that you stick to the plan. Everything's gonna be fine. Now take your pills."

Bianca stared at the pills on the bar, her vision blurring as tears welled up in her eyes. The throbbing in her head intensified, a constant reminder of the tumors slowly killing her, liquefying her brain and slowly driving her insane - and her own brother was not any help, pushing her to the extremes to ensure her survival and that they lived forever even at the cost of sacrificing their former friends and the boy she still loved.

The familiar blue capsules seemed to mock her, a constant reminder of her mortality and the desperation that had led her to this point. She thought back to the day the doctors had given her the diagnosis, the words "inoperable brain tumors" and "liquefying brains" echoing in her ears. The fear and hopelessness that had consumed her then still lingered, but now it was tinged with guilt and regret. The doctors had warned her family that she could become unstable, insane and even violent toward the end of her life, but nothing pushed her toward that edge more than her beloved brother Billy in his pursuit of immortality for the both of them.

Ford had promised her a way out, a chance at life, but at what cost?

As she reluctantly reached for the pills, her hand trembling slightly, each one represented another day of life, another reprieve from the crushing pain that threatened to consume her. But they also felt like shackles, binding her to an existence that made her stomach churn with nausea.

Bianca's mind wandered to Brady. His warm smile, his protective nature, the way he used to make her laugh on her worst days.

She loved him. Despite knowing he moved on with Alice, she still loved him with everything she had, and she wanted to find a way to save him from Ford's plan. She was smart - she was an insane genius when she needed to be. She would find a way to save Brady, even if it meant living forever by his side, too.

Chantarelle walked over, handing them drinks.

"Just make sure you're ready when we say," Ford told them. "True believers only."

Chantarelle smiled. "I can't wait."

"Right, whatever, I still think I should be in on the plan," Diego told them.

"Diego, you gotta trust me," Ford told him. He saw a scene from a Jack Palance vampire movie playing on the TV. "A couple more days and we'll get to do the two things every American teen should have the chance to do. Die young and stay pretty." He spaced out on the movie, quoting it word for word. "So... you play your wits against mine. Me? Who commanded armies hundreds of years before you were born. Fools!"

(Song Ends)

∞∞

Rosenberg House - Willow's Room

The room was neat and clean. Everything was in place just so, except for some clothes on the bed. Willow was in her night shirt, brushing her hair.

Zoey was here, in her pajamas. "Thanks for letting me stay the night. Mom's working at the hospital until morning. And then she has a date with Giles tomorrow."

They smiled. There was a knocking on the balcony door, which caught them off guard, causing Willow to release a small scream as she dropped her brush on the bed. Zoey pulled her necklace off in case she had to use her powers,hands glowing purple, walking toward the balcony, opening the door, pushing the blinds apart to see who it was.

Eric had heard Willow from the other room, walking in. "Will? Zo? What was that?"

"Oh, it's just Alice," Willow answered. "What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to talk to you guys," Alice answered.

"Oh, well..." Willow trailed off, letting Alice in.

Alice walked in. "If this is a bad time, I..."

"No, it's fine," Eric told her. "Our parents are out."

"I guess I need help," Alice told them.

"Help?" Willow repeated. "You mean like homework? No, 'cause you're smarter than me so you already know all that stuff."

Alice nodded to the laptop. "I want you to track people down on the 'Net."

"Oh, great," Zoey told her. "Willow's so the 'Net girl."

Willow went to sit at the desk.

"I just wanna find everything I can," Alice admitted. "Records, affiliates, I'm not even sure what I'm looking for yet."

Willow started to type. "Good. What's the names?"

Alice hesitated, sighing. "Billy and Bianca Fordham."

Willow, Eric and Zoey looked at Alice. Alice looked away awkwardly, sheepishly.

"Uh, Alice?" Eric asked. "If I say something you really don't wanna hear, do you promise not to use your Guardian power to rip me to pieces?"

"Are you gonna tell me that I'm jealous?" Alice asked.

"Well, it did seem that way," Zoey answered. "When Bianca was getting all touchy and feely with Brady."

Alice sighed, sitting on the bed. "Brady and I kissed." They looked at her in surprise. "On Halloween, both when we were as the other Alice and Mad Hatter, and then as ourselves."

"And Wyatt and Carmen can see soulmates, and they said that you and Brady are," Willow told her.

"So it's okay to admit that you're jealous," Zoey told her. "That you like Brady more than just as a friend."

"But I know people," Alice told them. "And my intuition tells me that Bianca and Ford knowing the truth about us and everything else is wrong."

Willow nodded, turning to the laptop. "Okay, but if there isn't anything weird... Hey, that's weird."

"What?" Alice asked.

Eric looked at the computer. "Will just checked the school records, and they're not in them." Alice stood, walking closer. "I mean, usually they transfer your grades and stuff, but they're not even registered."

"Let me just see if I can..." Willow trailed off.

They heard Mr. and Mrs. Rosenberg return home. "Eric? Willow? Are you still up? Is Zoey still staying the night?"

Eric stood, turning to Alice. "Go." He called out. "We're going to bed now."

Alice walked toward the balcony.

"We can ask the others for help after sunset tomorrow," Zoey told them.

"I'll keep looking," Willow told them.

"Do you tell Brady what we're doing?" Eric asked.

"Not until we know what's what," Alice answered. "I don't want Brady to worry or be put in a weird position."

"Okay," Zoey told them. "It's probably nothing."

∞

Day Three

Morning - Sunnydale High School - Hallway

Buffy, Brooke, Ford, Bianca and Brady were walking together, walking toward where Zoey, Alice, Willow, Eric, Xander and Carmen were talking.

"Hey, guys," Xander told them. "What's up?"

"Nothing," Buffy answered. "Do you wanna hang? We're cafeteria bound."

"Uh, we're gonna do work in the computer lab on school work that we have," Xander told them. "So we can't hand just now. Hi, Ford. Bianca."

"Morning," Bianca told them.

Wyatt was walking down the hall.

"Oh, hey, Wyatt," Brooke told him. Wyatt heard them, walking over. "Billy and Bianca Fordham, meet Wyatt Pratt."

"Hi," Wyatt told them. "Nice to meet you."

"Likewise," Bianca told him. "You're Brooke's boyfriend?"

"That I am," Wyatt answered. "Who're your friends?"

"Friends from LA that went to school with us," Brooke answered.

"Bianca is Brady's ex-girlfriend," Buffy explained.

Wyatt looked from Brady and Alice to Bianca, exchanging a knowing look with Carmen, both awkward because they could see the soulmate connection between Brady and Alice. "That's interesting."

"Awkward more like it," Carmen told them.

"You seem like a nice guy, Wyatt Pratt," Bianca told him.

"Oh, don't be fooled," Brady told them. "Wyatt's a complete badass."

"You definitely seem to have an old soul, Wyatt," Ford told him.

"You're not wrong," Xander told him.

Wyatt gave him a look. "Xander. Do I have to gag you?"

Xander smirked. The others smiled in amusement. Giles and Layla walked toward them.

"There you all are," Layla told them. "Zoey." Zoey turned to face her mother. "Rupert and I are going somewhere tonight." Layla handed a piece of paper to Zoey. "This is the number to my pager. In case you need us for, um..." She looked at Ford and Bianca. "Study help, uh, suddenly."

"Wyatt, Layla, Giles, they know," Brooke told them.

"What?" Wyatt asked.

"Ford and Bianca know our secrets," Buffy answered.

"Yeah, we know," Ford agreed.

Giles gave them a look. "Oh, uh, very good, yes. You are not, by any chance, betraying your secret identities just to impress, um, cute boys or girls, are you?"

Buffy smiled. "We didn't tell them. They knew."

"Oh, uh, right then," Giles told them. "Well, uh, just remember, if you..."

"Go," Brooke told them. "Experience this thing called fun."

"We'll try not to have a crisis," Carmen told them.

Giles and Layla accepted this, starting to walk away. The others watched them go, amused.

∞

Night - Sunnydale High School - Outside

Buffy, Brooke, Brady, Bianca and Ford were walking along.

"And on your right, once again, the beautiful campus," Buffy told them sarcastically. "I think you've now seen everything there is to see in Sunnydale."

"Well, it's really..." Bianca trailed off.

"Feel free to say dull," Buffy told them.

"Okay, dull's good," Ford told them. They saw a group of vampires running. "Or maybe not so dull. Is that more vampires?"

"Must be the weather," Brooke told them.

Buffy and Brady pulled out stakes at the same time. Brooke flexed her hands, waving them around to create red Guardian energy in front of her. They ran up the steps the vampires had just ran up, cautiously looking around. Ford and Bianca were close behind. They looked around a corner, seeing nothing.

"Maybe they were just passing through," Bianca told them.

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

A blonde female vampire grabbed Brooke from behind, trying to bite her. Brooke did a high kick to her face, grabbing her by the arm, flipping her over onto her back. A male vampire rushed at Buffy, grabbing her, pulling her over a railing with him as they fell. Buffy landed in a crouch on the grass below, getting up while the male vampire rolled to his face. Buffy kicked him in the jaw, making him fall back. Brady punched another vampire repeatedly, ducking a hit, spinning to kick him over the railing, sliding down the railing toward him to kick him to the ground.

Ford and Bianca watched the fight, grabbing another vampire.

"You've got one chance to live," Bianca told her. "Tell us what we wanna know, and we'll let you go."

Below, Buffy, Brooke and Brady continued to fight with their vampires. Buffy knocked her vampire out with a punch to the face, staking him. Brady kicked his vampire down, sliding over the grass toward him to stake him in the heart. Brooke waved her arms and the red energy in front of her enlarged as she threw it into her vampire, disintegrating her vampire with the energy. They ran back up the stairs to Ford and Bianca, who were crouched where they had talked to the other vampire.

"Where's the other one?" Brooke asked.

Ford fake coughed, while Bianca's cough was much more real.

"We killed her," Ford told them. "We killed her and she just turned to dust. It was amazing."

Buffy, Brooke and Brady raised their eyebrows in surprise.

∞

Sunset Club - Outside

Angel, Carmen, Zoey, Willow, Eric, Xander, Wyatt and Alice walked down the alley toward the club.

"The only thing I could track down was this address," Willow told them. "The Sunset Club. Still didn't find anything incriminating."

"They leave no paper trail," Angel told them. "No records. That's incriminating enough."

"Yeah, I'm gonna have to go with Dead Boy on this one," Xander told them.

"Could you not call me that?" Angel asked.

Zoey knocked on the door. The viewport opened and the doorman looked out.

"We're friends of Bianca and Ford's," Carmen told him.

The doorman nodded, letting them inside.

∞

Inside

(Song:) Reptile - Creaming Jesus

The group walked in, looking around at the gloomy and extreme atmosphere.

Willow was wearing a colorfully striped shirt.

Xander pointed at Willow's shirt. "Boy. We blend right in."

"In no way do we stick out like sore thumbs," Eric told them sarcastically.

"Let's look around," Wyatt told them. "You guys check out downstairs."

"Sure thing," Carmen told them.

They split up to look around. Angel and Carmen were together; Zoey and Willow; Wyatt, Eric and Xander.

Willow looked at Zoey. "Okay, but do they really stick out?"

"What?" Zoey asked.

"Sore thumbs," Willow told her. "Do they stick out? I mean, have you ever seen a thumb and gone, 'Wow! That baby is sore.'"

"You have too many thoughts," Zoey told her.

They met up back up with the others, walking by a man standing in a coffin dressed as a movie vampire.

The man waved. "Hi."

Alice waved back sarcastically, looking around. "Are you probably noticing a theme here?"

Carmen looked around. "As in 'Vampires. Yay!'?"

"That's the one," Xander answered.

Chantarelle walked toward them from behind. "You guys are newbies. I can tell."

"Oh, no," Eric told her. "We come here all the time."

"Don't be ashamed," Chantarelle told them. "It's cool that you're open to it. We welcome anyone who's interested in the Lonely Ones."

"The Lonely Ones?" Carmen repeated.

"Vampires," Angel explained.

"Oh," Xander said. "We usually call them the nasty, pointy, bitey ones."

"So many people have that misconception," Chantarelle told them. "But they who walk with the night are not interested in harming anyone. They are creatures above us. Exalted."

"You're a fool," Angel told her.

Xander gave him a look.

"You don't have to be so confrontational about it," Chantarelle told him. "Other viewpoints than yours may be valid, you know."

Chantarelle started to walk away.

"Nice meeting you," Carmen told her.

They turned to Angel.

"You really are a people person," Xander told him sarcastically.

"Now nobody's gonna talk to us," Carmen told him.

"I've seen enough," Angel told them. "I've seen this type before. I mean, they're children making up bedtime stories of friendly vampires to comfort themselves in the dark."

"Is that so bad?" Xander asked. "I mean, the dark can get pretty dark. Sometimes you need a story."

"These people don't know anything about vampires," Angel told them. "What they are, how they live, how they dress..."

A young man dressed exactly like Angel walked down the stairs behind him and looked him up and down before continuing on. Angel cleared his throat.

They started up the stairs to get out of the club.

"You know, I love a good diatribe," Zoey told them.

"But I'm still curious why Ford and Bianca, Bianca being the ex-girlfriend of a vampire hunter, is hanging with a bunch of vampire wannabes," Eric told them.

Alice nodded. "Something's up with them. I was right about that."

Diego overhead them, watching them leave.

A girl was talking to him, confused about his reaction. "Are you okay?"

(Song Ends)

∞

Sunnydale High School - Library

Buffy, Brooke, Brady, Layla and Giles were talking.

"Sorry to beep you guys in the middle of stuff," Brady told them. "But it seemed really weird."

"No, you did the right thing," Giles told them. "Absolutely."

Layla was amused by his reaction. "You hated it that much?"

Giles looked sheepish and apologetic. "No, but, uh, vampires on campus could have complications. Very, very grave."

"You could've just said something," Layla told him.

"Layla, honestly, I've always been interested in, uh, monster trucks," Giles told her.

"You took him to monster trucks?" Brady asked in amusement.

Layla shrugged innocently. "I thought it would be a change."

"It was a change," Giles agreed.

"We could've just left," Layla told him.

"What, and miss the nitro-burning funny cars?" Giles asked. "No, couldn't have that."

Layla smiled.

"Okay, can we get back on the vampire tip here?" Buffy asked. "These guys were here with a purpose."

"Yes, yes, and, uh, we must, uh, ascertain what that purpose is," Giles agreed.

"Where're Bianca and Ford?" Layla asked. "You said they were with you."

"We sent them home," Brooke answered.

Giles sat at the table. "Oh, uh, good. Yes, the less they're involved in all this, the safer they'll be."

"They did bag a vamp their first time out," Brooke told them. Giles took an open book from on top of another and exposed an old picture of Drusilla. "Gotta give them credit for that."

Brooke saw the picture of Dru.

"Something wrong?" Layla asked.

Brooke picked up the picture. "Who's this?"

"Um, she's called Drusilla, a sometime paramour of Spike's," Giles answered. "She was killed by an angry mob in Prague."

"Well, they don't make angry mobs like they used to, 'cause this girl's alive," Brooke told them. "I saw her with Wyatt."

Layla was taken aback. "With Wyatt? But he's a good guy. Why would Spike's girlfriend be talking to Wyatt?"

"I'll ask Wyatt when I have the chance," Brooke told them.

"I think maybe we need to read up on this nice lady," Layla told them.

Giles stood, heading for his office. "Well, some of my new volumes may be more helpful. Uh, my own research is..."

The blonde vampire that they had fought earlier, the one that Bianca and Ford had let go, ran into Giles as she ran from the office.

Everyone was surprised.

Layla ran to Giles' aid, but was knocked to the floor underneath him when the vampire gave him a hard shove.

The vampire jumped up onto the table, leaping over the mezzanine railing, making her escape through the stakes before Buffy, Brooke and Brady could go after her.

Buffy, Brooke and Brady ran to help Giles and Layla up.

"Are you guys okay?" Buffy asked.

"A book," Giles told them. "It took one of my books."

"Well, at least someone in this school is reading," Layla told them.

Buffy was overwhelmed with confusion. "They said they killed it. That's the vampire Ford and Bianca said they killed."

Brady was confused and suspicious.

∞

Spike's Warehouse

Drusilla was talking to her bird as the camera panned around the cage. "You sing the sweetest little song. Won't you sing for me, hmm? Don't you love me anymore?"

The bird was lying dead at the bottom of the cage.

Spike walked in behind Dru. "Darling, I heard a funny thing just now. Lucius tells me that you went out on a hunt the other night."

Drusilla nodded. "My tummy was growly. And you were out." She looked at the dead bird, whistling. "Come on. I'll pout if you don't sing."

Spike put his arms around Dru. "You, um, meet anyone? Anyone interesting? Like Wyatt?"

"Wyatt," Drusilla answered.

Spike nodded. "Yeah." He kissed her forehead. "So, what might have you guys have talked about, then? Old times? Childhood pranks? It's a little off, you two so friendly, Wyatt thinking us the enemies and all that."

"He wasn't friendly," Drusilla told him.

"Did he hurt you?" Spike asked.

"Not as much as you've hurt him," Drusilla answered. "I tried to get under his skin and he shocked me with magics to make me stop." Spike was not surprised, sighing. Drusilla looked at the dead bird. "I'll give you a seed if you sing."

"The bird's dead, Dru," Spike told her. "You left it in a cage, and you didn't feed it, and now it's all dead, just like the last one." Drusilla cowered, whining. "Oh, I'm sorry, baby. I'm a bad, rude man. I just don't like you going out, that's all. You are weak. You're lucky that Wyatt has morals and didn't actually hurt you the way I've hurt the girls he's loved." Spike took her hand. "Would you like a new bird? One that's not dead?"

Spike sucked on her finger.

Ford and Bianca walked into the vampire factory to find Spike, looking around.

"This is so cool," Ford told them. "I would totally live here."

Spike called out. "Do I have anyone on watch here? It's called security, people. Are you all asleep?" He walked toward Bianca and Ford. "Or did we finally find a restaurant that delivers?"

"We know who you are," Bianca told him.

"Yeah, I know who I am, too," Spike told them. "So what?"

"We came looking for you, Spike," Bianca answered. "You are Spike, right? William the Bloody? Wyatt Pratt's vampire brother."

"You've got a real death wish," Spike told them. "It's almost impressive." The blonde vampire walked in, up to Spike, handing him the book she stole. Spike began to leaf through it. "Oh, this is great. This'll be very useful." He looked at Bianca and Ford. "So, how did you find me?"

"That doesn't matter," Ford told him. "We've got something to offer you. I'm pretty sure this is the part where you take out a watch and say we've got thirty seconds to convince you not to kill us?" He smiled. "It's traditional."

Spike slammed the book closed, walking toward them. "Well, I don't go much for tradition."

Spike grabbed Bianca by the hair, pulling her hair back to expose her neck, but she wasn't the least bit scared, which impressed the vampires.

"Wait, love," Drusilla told him, placing a hand on Spike's shoulder.

Spike let Bianca go. "Well?"

"Oh, come on," Ford told him. "Say it. It's no fun if you don't say it."

"Ford, shut up before you get us killed before we get what we came for," Bianca told him.

"Yes, please listen to the girl," Spike told him. "I've known you for two minutes and I can't stand you." He looked at Bianca. "But I'm impressed by you. What do you want?"

Despite Bianca's guilt with the rest of the plan, she agreed with her brother that immortality was the only way to save her life. "My brother and I wanna be like you. Vampires."

"If you prove yourself useful, maybe," Spike told her. "But your brother right here? I don't really feature him living forever. Can I eat him now?"

Drusilla shook her head.

Bianca settled her nerves, knowing she had to gain Spike's favor somehow, and she truly did love Brady enough to find an alternative to save him and hopefully find a way so they could be together forever. 

Bianca glanced at Ford, who nodded.

Bianca looked at Spike. "Well, feature this. Offering you a trade. Offering you a trade." Spike turned to them as she continued. "You make us vampires, and we give you the brother of the Slayer and one of the Guardians. Brady Summers. We hear that you have a fixation on his sister Brooke because she's the girlfriend of your brother, Wyatt. I'm guessing you'll get to Brooke a lot easier if you get to Brady first. Turn him into a vampire and you might get what you want."

Bianca had the undivided attention of every vampire in the room.

Spike smiled, impressed. "You're insane and genius. I like you."

∞∞

Summers House - Kitchen

Brooke was sitting at the counter, having a cup of coffee.

Wyatt slowly pushed the door open. "Brooke. May I come in?"

Brooke looked up. "Sure."

Wyatt walked in, closing the door. "We need to talk."

"Do we?" Brooke asked.

"It's about your friends Bianca and Ford," Wyatt told her. "They're not what they seem."

"Who is these days?" Brooke asked.

"Willow ran them down on the computer," Wyatt explained.

"Willow?" Brooke repeated.

"We found this address, we checked it out with Angel, Zoey, Alice, Carmen, Eric and Xander," Wyatt went on.

Brooke raised her eyebrows in surprise. "Willow. And Angel, Zoey, Alice, Carmen, Eric and Xander? Wow, everybody's in. It's like a great big exciting conspiracy."

"What are you talking about?" Wyatt asked.

"I'm talking about people I trust," Brooke answered. "Who's Drusilla?"

Wyatt was surprised, sighing, walking closer. "Drusilla is Spike's lover." Brooke nodded. "She was turned by Angel but he made her insane first. He killed everybody she loved, visited every mental torture on her he could devise. She eventually fled to a convent, and on the day she took her holy orders, Angel turned her into a demon."

"And since she's Spike's girlfriend, she knows what he's trying to do to both of us, and that's why she was with you that night, isn't she?" Brooke asked.

"Yeah, they both liked to torment me," Wyatt answered. "She's a main part of the reason why I almost went mad after Spike killed my first love, because Drusilla played the same mind games on me that Angel played on her. Bianca and Ford are part of some society that reveres vampires. Practically worships them. I don't know what they want from you or Buffy or Brady, but you can't trust them."

"Then I gotta tell Brady about Bianca and Ford," Brooke told him. "But he's not home. I don't know where he is. Thank you for being honest with me, Wyatt."

"I'm not going to lie to you, Brooke," Wyatt told her. "This is too important."

Wyatt and Brooke looked at each other worriedly.

∞

Day Four

Morning - Sunnydale High School - Outside

Brady was walking alone.

Bianca walked up to him. "Brady."

"Bianca," Brady replied.

"I had a great time last night," Bianca told him. "Well, an interesting time."

Brady nodded, looking around. "I'm glad."

"Do you wanna go out again tonight?" Bianca asked. "If you're worried about my feelings or Alice's feelings, it doesn't have to be anything other than two friends going out."

Brady considered, sighing. "Not busy."

"I sort of had an idea," Bianca told him. "It's a--it's a secret. Kinda wanna surprise you. I remember how much you like surprises. Can you meet me here?"

"Sure," Brady answered.

Bianca smiled. "It's gonna be fun."

Bianca walked off. Brady just stood there for a moment, before walking along.

∞

Inside - Hallway

The other Scoobies were talking.

"Buffy?" Eric asked. "Brooke. Did, uh, Wyatt..."

"Wyatt told Brooke everything," Buffy answered. "So, yes, Eric, we know about Bianca and Ford."

"We didn't wanna keep anything from you," Carmen told them. "But you were busy with Brady, Bianca and Ford."

"It's okay," Buffy told them.

"I was just really concerned for Brady," Alice admitted. "And we didn't wanna say anything to Brady in case we were wrong about Bianca and Ford."

"Did you find out what Bianca and Ford are up to?" Xander asked. "Where's Brady?"

"We haven't been able to talk to Brady ever since last night," Buffy told them. "But we'll figure out what Bianca and Ford are up to."

"We should look for Brady," Zoey told them. "Tell him everything."

"Yeah," Carmen agreed. "Zoey's right. Let's find Brady. Before someone gets seriously hurt. Him, Bianca or Ford."

∞

Sunset Club

Chantarelle was sitting and drumming her fingers. Diego was pacing nervously. The camera panned up to Ford walking down the stairs.

Ford ignored Diego. "Chantarelle. Is everything ready?"

"Of course it's ready," Diego answered. "Hi, I took care of it. I always take care of it."

"Is it time?" Chantarelle asked. "Tonight?"

"Bianca's bringing Brady here as we speak," Ford answered. "You nervous?"

Ford poured goblets of wine.

"Yes," Chantarelle answered. "No. I'm ready for the change. Do you really think they'll bless us?"

Ford took a goblet, handing her the other. "I know they will." They smiled. "Everything's falling into place."

"What about your friends?" Diego asked. "Are they coming?"

"What are you talking about?" Ford asked.

"Your friends," Diego answered. "They came last night. Four girls and four guys."

"One was mean," Chantarelle told him.

Ford gave them both a look. "Oh, Christ. Why didn't you tell me about this?"

"I have to do everything around here," Diego replied. "Sorry, Mr. Flawless Plan Guy, it slipped my mind."

"It's gonna be all right, isn't it?" Chantarelle asked. Ford winced in pain, putting his fingertips to his forehead. "They're not gonna let us down?"

Ford calmed down when his pain passed. "It's gonna be fine. Bianca's taking care of it."

"I need them to bless me," Chantarelle told him.

"It's gonna be fine!" Ford repeated in annoyance. "Bianca's taking care of it."

Bianca led Brady inside, closing the door behind them, leaning against the door, looking at her brother. "I already did. I'm sorry, Billy. I just couldn't wait until tonight. Brady's friends and family were getting too close to the truth. They were gonna tell him the truth if they found Brady before I brought him here."

"It's fine, Bianca," Ford told her. "I knew they were getting too close to the truth. You made the right move bringing him here before they found him and told him."

"I'm a little fuzzy about what you guys are up to," Brady admitted. "I think it has to do with you two being lying scumbags."

Bianca looked down, swallowing.

"Everybody lies," Ford replied.

Brady glared at him. "What do you want, Ford? What's this all about?"

"I really don't think you'd understand," Ford told him.

"I don't need to understand," Brady told them. "I just need to know."

"We're gonna turn," Ford answered.

Brady looked at them incredulously. "You wanna be vampires?"

"We're going to be," Bianca answered.

"You know, vampires are a little picky about who they change," Brady told them, realizing. "You were gonna offer them a trade."

"I don't think we're gonna talk anymore," Ford told him.

Brady grabbed Ford by the throat, shoving him against a pillar. "Yeah, well, I still feel awfully chatty. You were gonna give them me tonight."

"Yes," Bianca answered guiltily.

"You had to know we'd figure it out," Brady told them.

Ford smiled. "Actually, we were counting on it."

Brady let go of Ford, backing away. "What's supposed to happen tonight?"

"This is so cool," Ford told him. "It's just like it played in our heads. You know that part where you ask us what's supposed to happen?" He snickered. "It's already happening."

Diego swung the inner door shut with a loud clang. Brady ran up the stairs, pounding on the door.

"Rigged up special," Ford  told him. "Once it's closed, it can only be opened from the outside. As soon as the sun sets, they'll be coming."

"Bianca, if these people are still around when they get here..." Brady trailed off.

"We'll be changed," Diego told him. "All of us."

"We're going to ascend to a new level of consciousness," Chantarelle told him. "Become like them. Like the Lonely Ones."

Bianca looked around, her insanity from her liquefying tumors overtaking her mind even as her guilt threatened to consume her whole. "This is the end, Brady. No one gets out of here alive."

∞∞

Brady hurried down the stairs. "There's gotta be another way out of here."

"This is a bomb shelter, Brady," Ford told him. "We knew we weren't gonna be able to overpower you or your friends. But this is three feet of solid concrete. Trust me when I say we're in for the long haul."

Brady turned to face them angrily. "At least the other people go."

"Why are you fighting this?" Chantarelle asked. "It's what we want."

"It's our chance for immortality," Diego told him.

"This is a beautiful day," Chantarelle told him. "Can't you see that?"

"What I see is that right after the sun goes down, Spike and all of his friends are going to be pigging out at the all you can eat moron bar," Brady told them.

"Okay, that's it," Diego told them. "I think we should gag him."

"I think you should try," Brady replied.

"He's an unbeliever," Diego told them. "He taints us."

"I am trying to save you!" Brady told them angrily. "You are playing in some serious traffic here. Do you understand that? You're going to die. And the only hope you have of surviving this is to get out of this pit right now."

Bianca walked closer to Brady with concern and sympathy written across her face, reaching for him. "Don't worry, Brady." Brady pulled back from her touch. "You won't die. You'll be turned like us. I made that deal special for you. So once you turn, you can help Spike get to your sisters and the other girl. And then we can escape together and do whatever we want. You won't have to help Spike with his plans with Brooke, Buffy, Alice or Wyatt. I only said that you would because it was the only way to convince him. Once we get free from this, you and I can be together forever, just like Billy said we could be." 

Brady shook his head, realizing just how insane Bianca had truly become without him knowing, his righteous anger not fading. "Bianca, I don't even know who you are anymore. This isn't what I want. This shouldn't be what anyone wants. Your brother is a psychotic asshole, and he's turning you into one just like him."

Ford pushed Brady against the wall angrily in retaliation. Brady twisted Ford's arm off of him, breaking it, pushing Ford to the floor.

Bianca threw her hands up in exasperation. "Really, you two? There's no need for that."

Ford held his arm in pain, noticing the time on his watch, looking up, smirking. "6:27. Sunset. Time for me and Bianca to get what we need."

Brady looked around for what to do next.

∞

Spike's Warehouse

Spike came marching out with his vampires. "When we get there, everybody spread out. Two men on the door to make sure the Slayer, Guardians, witches and gypsies don't make an appearance to save Brady Summers, who is first priority. Everything else is fair game, and let's remember to share, people." He met up with Drusilla. "Are you sure you're up for this?"

Drusilla nodded. "I want a treat. I need a treat."

"And a special one you'll have," Spike told her. "Brother to a Slayer and Guardian. You can play your little mind games on him to make him behave." Drusilla smiled excitedly, clapping her hands. "Lucius!" Spike held up his keys. "Bring the car around."

∞

Night - Sunset Club

Brady ran up the stairs to the door, trying to find a way out.

Bianca followed him. "Brady, you never give up, do you?"

"No, I don't," Brady answered.

Bianca smiled. "That's a good quality in a person. Too many people, they just lay back and take it, but us..."

Brady turned to face her incredulously. "Us? There is no more us, Bianca. We have nothing in common now."

"Yes, we do," Bianca told him. "More than you think."

Ford walked up after them. "Listen, Brady. Let me explain something to you--"

Brady glared at Ford furiously, looking between him and Bianca. "No, let me explain something to you two. You're what we call the bad guys."

Ford smirked. "Yeah, I guess I am." He shook his head. "But Bianca's not."

"She will be once she turns into a vampire," Brady replied. "Now, Bianca's following your lead, isn't she? I've noticed that."

"The deal to turn you was to save you so that we could both turn," Bianca explained. "So if you want to call me the bad guy for just trying to survive, then do it. I'm not like the rest of these posers."

Brady looked around the people in realization. "These people aren't gonna get changed, are they? The rest of them, they're just fodder."

"Technically, yes," Ford answered. Bianca's face fell when she realized they were right, which Brady and Ford both noticed. Ford set a hand on his sister's arm. "Don't feel bad for them, Bianca. They'll find peace somehow after, and we'll become immortal, just like I promised you we would."

Bianca tried to gather her thoughts and nerves as she looked at Brady. "And so will you. It'll be better and we'll get to make our own choices."

"Well, I've got a news flash for you, Fordhams," Brady told them. "That's not how it works. You die, and a demon sets up shop in your old house, and it walks and it talks, and it remembers your life, but it's not you."

"It's better than nothing," Bianca told him.

"And your life's nothing?" Brady asked.

Bianca started to laugh hysterically at the irony as her instability and insanity from her sickness took over. "Someone sure thought it was nothing."

Ford glanced at his sister, knowing that she was easier to manipulate when she was in this state, relieved that she was having a downward spiraling moment.

Brady was utterly lost, confused, thinking that Bianca thought this was funny when she didn't think that in the least. "Bianca, this isn't funny! These people don't deserve to die!"

Finally, Bianca snapped as she turned on Brady, tears of anger and pain in her eyes as the throbbing pain in her head returned. "Well, neither do I! But apparently, no one took that into consideration, 'cause I'm still dying. Brain cancer, eating away at my brain. Tumors liquefying it from the inside. So as it dissolves, not a day goes by that I'm not feeling agony, and you can see why it's driving me out of my mind."

Brady looked at Bianca in shock, realizing this was why they were doing everything they were doing, his eyes flickering back and forth between the two siblings, his anger slowly fading as pain filled his eyes at the realization the girl he used to love was going through so much pain and suffering that led up to this.

Bianca forced a watery smile. "But I look good for a dying girl, don't I?"

"Let me tell you something, Brady," Ford told him angrily, raising his voice. "Bianca's got maybe six months left, and by then what they bury won't even look like my sister. She'll be bald and shriveled and it'll smell bad. No, I'm not letting her go out that way. And if I have to sacrifice everyone down there and you and everyone you love to make sure she lives and that I get immortality, so be it."

Brady turned away, leaning against the railing for a moment, overwhelmed with what he just learned, his head reeling with emotion.

Ford scoffed. "I'm sorry, Summers. Did we screw up your righteous anger riff? Does the nest of tumors liquefying and eating away at Bianca's brain kinda spoil the fun?"

Bianca looked at Brady longingly for a moment as she stepped closer, wrapping her arms around Brady from behind as she leaned her head against his back. "It'll get better once we get through this. I promise."

Brady pulled away from Bianca's embrace, turning to face her. "I'm so sorry, Bianca. I had no idea." He looked between Bianca and Ford. "But what you're doing is still very wrong."

"Okay, well, you try watching your sister vomit 24 hours straight because the pain in her head is so intense, and then we'll discuss the concept of right and wrong," Ford replied.

Bianca shook her head, putting a hand to her head in pain. "Billy, stop. We can let the others go."

"Don't let him get into your head now, Bianca," Ford retorted. "You've come so far. Don't lose sight of the plan now. Not when we're so close."

Brady could see the signs of manipulation between Ford and Bianca clearly, with Ford holding Bianca's deteriorating mind and brain over her head literally and figuratively to keep her on track to what he wanted to do - to hell with anyone else.

 "Billy..." Bianca trailed off with a whimper of pain. "Medicine."

Ford stepped closer, hissing the words in response. "Stay on track and you'll get your damn medicine. You can hold off until the vampires get here and turn us." He pointed to the people down below. "You shouldn't feel bad for these people, because they wanted to be turned. These people are sheep. They wanna be vampires 'cause they're lonely, miserable or bored."

"They wanted to be turned, not killed," Bianca replied.

"It's too late to let them out," Ford retorted. "You and I don't have a choice, Bianca."

"You have a choice," Brady replied. "You don't have a good choice, but you have a choice! You're opting for mass murder here, and nothing you say is gonna make that okay."

"You think I need to justify myself to you?" Ford demanded.

"I think you're a sociopath willing to use his own sister's cancer tumors as an excuse to gain immortality for himself," Brady answered. "And when she shows how good she actually is and wants to be, you hold her medicine hostage even when you know that she's in that excruciating pain that you claim to hate seeing her in so much, making her suffer more, until she gives you what you want, just to make her obey you and whatever plan you want her to go along with, including betraying me and letting everyone down there die instead of letting them go."

Bianca faltered at Brady's words, her heart pounding beneath the weight of his accusation. She looked from Brady to Ford, torn between the snarl of her brother's ambition and the remnants of her own humanity that flickered like a candle in the dark. The pain in her head throbbed mercilessly, but the turmoil within her heart screamed louder.

"Brady... I never wanted any of this," Bianca whispered, her voice trembling.

"Then stop it!" Brady urged, desperation creeping into his tone. "We can find another way. There has to be a solution that doesn't involve sacrificing everyone else."

"Billy..." Bianca whispered, her voice barely above a breath. "Is this really what we want? Is immortality worth this?"

Ford's expression hardened, his voice raising to a growl as he snarled at his own sister. "You need to stop thinking like that, Bianca! You're not allowed to have doubts now! We've come too far!"

Just as it seemed as if Ford intended to harm Bianca for having second thoughts, Brady stepped in his way, his gaze steady and unwavering. "You say you're doing this for her, but you're just stoking the fire of your own damn delusions. You're not saving her; you're using her!"

Just then, they heard cars coming to a screeching halt from outside, and they knew that meant Spike and his vampires had arrived.

Brady's breath caught. "Bianca, help me stop this. Please!"

The tremors of a panic attack rose in Bianca's chest, each inhale suffocating under the pressure of Ford's expectations, her agony inside her own head, her inner turmoil and the situation she had put Brady into.

Bianca squeezed her eyes shut, fighting against the relentless pain that pulsed through her skull. "Brady, I - " Her voice trembled as she pressed a hand to her forehead, feeling the encroaching darkness of despair claw at her resolve. "I don't know if I can."

"You can," Brady insisted, his expression a mixture of fear and determination. He stepped closer, reaching for her hand. "You're stronger than you think, Bianca. You were always the one who made the tough calls back at Hemery. You're not just a pawn for Ford's plans. You're not just your illness."

Ford shoved past Brady, his eyes alight with a manic determination. "This is what you wanted, Bianca! To live forever! To leave that pathetic existence behind!"

Ford gestured wildly, as if to encompass the world beyond their grim surroundings - a world teeming with life and laughter that felt so far removed from them now.

Bianca took a step back, barely able to breathe let alone think, her head throbbing to the point she could faint. She fell to her knees, clutching her head, gasping for breath as her panic attack and the agony inside her head overpowered her.

Between gasped breaths, Bianca started to cry, barely able to speak. "I'm sorry. I can't."

And in that moment, she didn't know if she was speaking to Brady or to Ford.

Knowing that she wasn't in a position to help anyone, let alone herself in this condition, Brady sadly looked at Bianca one last time before he ran toward the stairs and down the steps.

Ford glanced at Bianca for a mere moment before following Brady.

"People, listen to me!" Brady called down to the people below. "This is not the mothership, people! This is ugly death come to play!"

Once they reached the bottom of the stairs, Ford tried to punch Brady. Brady ducked, backhand punching Ford in the face, making him tumble to the bottom of the steps in front, punching Ford in the back to keep him down.

They heard the outside door open, looking up.

Chantarelle started up the stairs to meet them, reaching the top of the steps as the inner door opened.

Spike walked in, transformed, smiling, roaring, tearing the choker off of Chantarelle's neck as she started to cry in fear. "Take them all. Save Brady for me."

When Brady tried to stop them, Diego and Ford held him back with a crowbar to his neck. The vampires ran in, jumping down the stairs to the people below, beginning to feed. Spike grabbed Chantarelle by the neck, biting her violently.

Brady grabbed the crowbar at his throat to flip Diego off of him into Ford, making them both fall, knocking Ford unconscious, looking at the mayhem going on around him, spotting Drusilla standing by herself on the balcony, running upstairs, grabbing Drusilla from behind, holding a stake to her chest. "Spike!"

Spike stopped feeding on Chantarelle, looking over to see this. "Everybody stop!"

They all stopped feeding.

"Good idea," Brady told him. "Now you let everyone out or your girlfriend fits in an ashtray."

"Spike?" Drusilla asked.

"It's gonna be all right, baby," Spike told her. "Let them go."

The vampires released their victims. The people hurried up the stairs and out the club.

Brady glared at Spike. "Down the stairs."

Spike slowly backed down the stairs.

Brady forced Drusilla ahead of him, still holding the stake ready, reaching the top of the stairs, shoving Dru down the stairs at Spike. Spike caught Drusilla, steadying her.

Brady looked toward Bianca on the other balcony.

Bianca was recovering from her panic attack and agony inside her head. She looked at Brady, relieved that he got everyone else out, giving him a nod, tears in her eyes.

As much as Brady had hoped Bianca would want to leave with him, she wanted to live more, even if it meant turning into a vampire to live forever. Which meant the next time that he saw her, Bianca would not be Bianca anymore, but a soulless demon. He had to come to terms with that in the moment and said goodbye to the girl he once knew - and once loved, having seen a piece of her tonight.

Brady turned, running out of the door, slamming the door closed behind him, because he knew that he couldn't take on all those vampires at once.

Spike ran upstairs, slamming against the closed door, looking for the way to open it. "Uh, where's the doorknob?"

∞

Alley

Brady ran out of the club, seeing the people help and support each other.

Buffy, Brooke, Zoey, Alice, Carmen, Willow, Eric, Xander and Wyatt ran toward him. "Brady!"

Brady looked at them in relief, sighing. "You guys are just in time."

"Are there vampires?" Zoey asked.

Brady nodded. "They're contained. They'll get out eventually, though. We should probably go."

"You got out of there okay," Alice told him. "How many are in there?"

"A lot?" Carmen asked. Brady nodded. "Did you kill any?"

Brady shook his head. "No, there were too many for me to take them on alone. We can come back when they're gone."

"Come back for what?" Eric asked.

Brady looked back at the entrance. "For the bodies."

∞

Inside

The vampires were banging on the doors.

Bianca had made her way down from the balcony to Ford, waking him up.

Ford sighed, holding his head in pain.

Spike was comforting Drusilla.

"What happened?" Ford asked.

"We're stuck in a basement," Spike answered.

"Brady?" Ford asked.

Spike walked downstairs toward them. "He's not stuck in the basement."

"Hey, well, Bianca and I delivered," Ford told him. "Bianca handed him to you."

"Yes, I suppose she did," Spike agreed.

"So?" Ford asked. "What about our reward?"

Bianca looked up at Spike, her decision to become a vampire set in her mind despite all the rest that led up to this.

Spike regarded Bianca with an almost predatory curiosity. "You want to join the ranks of the undead, love? I can assure you, it won't be a picnic." His tone was teasing, but there was an underlying seriousness to his words.

Bianca straightened, her earlier doubts fading into resolve as she met Spike's gaze. "I'm not afraid of what comes next. I just want to be free from this pain." Her voice was stronger now, fueled by desperation and determination.

Ford, still recovering from the unexpected turn of events, looked at Bianca with a mix of pride and concern. "You sure about this, Bec? Once you're in, there's no turning back."

"I didn't ask for this life," Bianca replied, her eyes narrowing confidently on Spike. "But if it means living on my own terms... then yes."

"Well, that's the spirit!" Spike declared, his trademark smirk returning.

Spike glanced over at Drusilla, who watched with wide eyed curiosity.

"You'll love it, I promise," Spike said with a gleam in his eye. "The world opens up in ways you never imagined when you shed the shackles of mortality."

Bianca stepped closer, her heart pounding not just from fear but from the thrill of possibility. "And I won't be alone." She glanced back at Ford, who was still trying to regain his composure after Brady's attack. "We'll be together, right?"

Ford's expression darkened slightly as he regained his footing. "Of course, Bec. We'll figure this out together."

Spike rolled his eyes, clearly unimpressed by Ford's protective demeanor. "Just remember, love: this is a new game altogether. You play by our rules now." He flashed a sharp smile that revealed his fangs, relishing the moment.

Bianca swallowed hard, battling the remnants of doubt that lingered in her mind. But the pain in her head began to flare anew, and she clenched her fists at her sides, willing herself to push through the discomfort.

"Let's get on with it then," Bianca urged, her voice echoing slightly in the dim room. "I want to do this."

Spike's grin widened as he stepped closer, the air growing thick with tension and anticipation. "A proper initiation, then. You ready to embrace your new life?"

Bianca nodded, her heart racing as she felt the weight of the moment. She glanced back at Ford, who had a mixed expression of pride and worry - and impatience for his own chance to turn.

"No turning back," Bianca whispered.

Spike circled Bianca slowly, his predatory gaze taking in every detail of her trembling form. The dim light cast eerie shadows across his angular features, accentuating the otherworldly nature of his vampiric visage. Bianca's breath came in short, ragged gasps, her heart pounding so loudly she was sure everyone in the room could hear it.

"Last chance to back out, pet," Spike purred, his voice a velvet caress that sent shivers down Bianca's spine.

Bianca squared her shoulders, lifting her chin defiantly. "I'm ready."

A slow, wicked grin spread across Spike's vampire face, revealing gleaming fangs. In a blur of movement too fast for human eyes to follow, he was suddenly behind her, one arm snaking around her waist to pull her flush against his chest. His other hand grazed her hair as he pulled it away from her neck. Bianca took a deep, settling breath as Spike finally leaned in and sunk his teeth deep into her skin, beginning to drink.

Bianca felt the sharp sting of Spike's bite, a jolt of pain that quickly morphed into an intoxicating wave of warmth flooding through her veins like wildfire. She had never felt anything like it - an intoxicating mix of ecstasy and peril, life and death intertwining in a delicate dance. As Spike's fangs pierced her neck, she felt herself slipping away from the agony that had plagued her for so long.

Bianca gasped, part shock and part exhilaration, as the world around her began to blur, the weight of her despair lifting with each pulsating heartbeat. She was no longer just Bianca Fordham; she was becoming something more.

Once he had enough to drink, Spike pulled back slightly, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "Welcome to the other side."

Spike took a knife and used it to cut his own wrist enough to draw his own blood, placing his wrist to Bianca's lips, ensuring that she drank enough of his blood to guarantee she transformed into a vampire.

As Bianca began to drink Spike's blood, the world sharpened into focus, colors brightening and sounds intensifying, swirling into a haze as the ache in her head receded, replaced by an exhilarating rush of power. The distant echoes of chaos from before - the screaming, the fear - began to amplify as Spike's essence filled her, intertwining with her own. It felt like awakening after a long sleep, the remnants of her human fear dissipating into the ether. She could feel the thrumming heartbeat of the universe pulsing through her veins - each thrum resonating with a vibrant energy that made her want to scream with joy. She had traded one existence for another, and as the realization sunk in, she found herself craving more.

Bianca felt herself teetering on the precipice of a new reality, where pain and fear melted away into exhilaration and strength. As she swallowed Spike's blood, the warmth coursed through her like molten fire, igniting every nerve ending in her body. She gasped again, but this time it was for a different reason; this was not just release - it was rebirth.

Spike watched with a mix of fascination and pride as Bianca's transformation began to take hold.

"That's it, love," Spike encouraged, voice low and rich with temptation. "Embrace it. Good girl."

Drusilla walked closer, bouncing excitedly on her toes at the thought of a treat like Spike promised her. "Can I finish her?"

Spike smirked. "Easy, love. This one's fragile."

Drusilla's face shifted into her vampire visage as she reached to take Bianca from Spike's arms. "She won't be when she revives."

With that, Drusilla sunk her fangs into Bianca's neck to feed on her.

Bianca felt the bite again, this time from Drusilla, and instinctively she recoiled, her body jolting as the coolness seeped into her. The sensations pulsed through her simultaneously: a sharp pain mixed with an intoxicating thrill, a flurry of emotions she had never experienced before. She wanted to scream, but instead, laughter bubbled up from deep within her, a wild sound that echoed off the walls like music.

Drusilla pulled back, her eyes glistening with excitement. "Oh, sweet B! You're a lovely one! Just look at those sparkles in your eyes. We're going to have so much fun."

Bianca couldn't help but laugh again, and Drusilla laughed along.

Spike shook his head in amusement. "I'm going to have my hands full with those two."

Drusilla returned to feeding on Bianca, and Bianca gasped as Drusilla's fangs sank into her neck again, the dual sensations of Spike's blood and Drusilla's bite swirling inside her like a tempest. The sharpness of pain was dulled by the warmth coursing through her veins, a bright spark igniting the edges of her consciousness. She felt the world around her fade, leaving only Drusilla's eerie laughter and Spike's approving glance as the shadows danced maliciously at the corners of her vision.

"Now that's a treat," Drusilla whispered, her voice lilting and melodic, blending seamlessly with Bianca's ecstatic cries. "Such sweet nectar, full of promise." Each swallow sent waves of power crashing over Bianca, sending her spiraling deeper into the abyss yet glimmering with tantalizing light.

In that moment, Bianca was no longer just the girl battling mortality; she was a force unto herself - beautifully poised on the edge of darkness and light. Memories of pain flickered in and out as Bianca herself neared the precipice of life and death, the pivotal point of her transformation. She knew that she had to die in order to return as a vampire, and for once, she wasn't afraid, knowing she would return.

And so would Ford, as her brother was being turned by Spike as of now.

As Bianca let herself go while being fed on by Drusilla, and let go of everything that had been holding her back, she dreamt of what it could be like for her as a vampire - for her new life ahead of her, as she slipped closer toward the darkness that was encroaching further on her human life, taking it from her as she approached her immortal one as Drusilla drew closer to draining Bianca of every drop of blood from her body.

Bianca felt herself teetering on the brink of consciousness, every fiber of her being shimmering with an energy she had never fathomed before. The sensation of Drusilla's fangs was a sweet agony, both primal and electric, sending tremors through her body. A kaleidoscope of colors danced behind her closed eyelids as she surrendered to the powerful rush filling her veins.

"Let go, my sweet," Drusilla cooed, her voice a haunting melody in Bianca's ears. "You're becoming one of us."

With each pulse of Drusilla's feeding, Bianca felt the remnants of her humanity slip away like grains of sand falling through open fingers. Memories flashed before her - the laughter with Brady, moments spent with friends at Hemery, the bitter taste of despair when she learned about her illness. All of it began to fade against the rising tide of something infinitely more liberating.

As Drusilla continued to drain the last drops of life from Bianca, a profound sense of peace washed over her. The constant throbbing pain that had plagued her for so long began to fade, replaced by a blissful numbness that spread through her body like a gentle wave. Bianca's eyelids fluttered, her vision growing hazy as the world around her dimmed.

In those final moments of her human life, Bianca felt weightless, as if she were floating in a vast, tranquil ocean. The fears and worries that had consumed her for so long dissolved into nothingness. She no longer dreaded the future or mourned for the life she was losing. Instead, a serene acceptance settled over her like a warm blanket.

The world seemed to blur and soften, colors melting into a dreamlike haze. Bianca's racing thoughts slowed, each worry and fear dissipating like mist in the morning sun. She was dimly aware of her heartbeat, once frantic, now slowing to a gentle, steady rhythm.

As death's embrace enveloped her, Bianca experienced a moment of perfect clarity. All the struggles and sorrows of her mortal life seemed distant and insignificant now. She saw herself as if from above - no longer the frightened, sickened girl, but a radiant being, filled with untapped potential and power, soaring above her past.

In that ethereal moment, she glimpsed the infinite possibilities that lay ahead. No longer bound by the constraints of her illness or the painful memories of her human existence, she felt a surge of exhilaration as a wave of energy coursed through her, even as the darkness consumed her completely, and she stared blankly at the ceiling as Drusilla finished draining the life out of Bianca Fordham, only for Spike's blood to eventually give her a new one for all of eternity.

∞

Day Five

Morning - Sunset Club

The Scoobies walked in, finding the door broken and twisted, looking down below, seeing Bianca and Ford lying there, walking downstairs. Brady knelt next to their dead bodies, overwhelmed. The others looked at him in silent sympathy.

∞

Night - Cemetery

Buffy, Brooke, Brady, Alice, Zoey, Carmen, Wyatt and Giles were walking through the cemetery to find Ford and Bianca's graves.

"I don't know what we're supposed to say," Buffy admitted.

"You needn't say anything," Giles answered.

"It'd be simpler if we could just hate them," Zoey told them. "I think they wanted us to. I think it made it easier for them to be the villains of the piece. Really, Bianca was just terrified of dying, and she was in so much pain... and Ford was manipulating her and using his own sister to gain immortality. And he didn't want to lose her. He was scared, too. Just like she was."

"Yes, I suppose they both were," Giles agreed.

"Nothing's ever simple anymore," Alice told them. "We're trying to work it out. Who to love or hate. Who to trust. It's just, the more we know, the more confused we become."

"I believe that's called growing up," Wyatt told them.

"I'd like to stop then," Carmen told them. "Okay?"

"I know the feeling," Buffy told them.

"Does it ever get easy?" Brooke asked.

They found Ford's grave. Ford rose from his grave, a vampire just like he wanted, attacking them. Brady plunged a stake into his heart with no more effort than swatting a fly. Ford stepped back, looking at the stake protruding from his chest. He looked back up, bursting into ashes.

"You mean life?" Giles asked.

"Yeah," Brooke answered.

"Does it get easy?" Buffy asked.

"What do you want me to say?" Giles asked.

"Lie to me," Carmen told him.

Giles considered a moment. "Yes, it's terribly simple." They walked through the cemetery, looking for Bianca's grave. "The good guys are always stalwart and true. The bad guys are easily distinguished by their pointy horns or black hats. And, uh, we always defeat them and save the day. No one ever dies, and everybody lives happily ever after."

Buffy, Zoey and Carmen smirked. "Liar."

"Brady, when we come across Bianca's grave, and if you can't kill her, we'll understand," Alice told him. "One of us can do it for you."

"No, that's okay, Alice," Brady told her. "It should be me."

They came upon the place for Bianca's grave, pausing when they saw that the dirt was dug up.

"Except Bianca's already risen," Wyatt told them. "She would be long gone by now. Probably with Spike, Drusilla and their vampires already."

"Which means that we're gonna have to deal with a formerly sick and probably still crazy ex of Brady's, only this time, she's a vampire," Zoey told them. "I mean, Bianca's brain was already eaten away at by the dementia and tumors."

"She wouldn't have healed from that when she turned vampire, would she?" Carmen asked.

"No," Wyatt answered. "Bianca would be able to keep on living. But the damage on her mind would have remained the same."

"Don't worry, Brady," Brooke told him. "We'll find Bianca and deal with her. And we won't let her do anything to you."

Brady didn't know what to say, just looking at the grave, turning around, walking away. The others watched him go, looking at each other in concern and worry, following Brady away, leaving the cemetery, knowing that the story of Bianca was not yet over.