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

Day One

Night - Cemetery

Buffy was training for Slayer activities, while Alice was training Brooke how to become a better Guardian. Brady was watching from a place behind a headstone. Buffy punched the vampire in the face, making him fall. The vampire stood, trying to kick Brooke. Brooke used her red Guardian energy to make his foot freeze in place, turning to throw him through a headstone, making it shatter. The vampire leaped up toward Alice. Alice held her hands toward the vampire, using her red Guardian energy to freeze him in place midair, punching him, spinning to kick him toward Buffy. Buffy spun to kick the vampire in the back, punching him in the face, making him fall. Brady was watching, amused and impressed.

Brooke walked closer, smirking. "We haven't been properly introduced. I'm Brooke. That's Buffy and Alice. And you're history."

Buffy drove her stake into the vampire's heart, making him explode into dust.

Giles popped up from behind a crypt. "Alice's technique was brilliant. Buffy and Brooke's technique was poor." He walked toward them, standing next to Brady. "Prioritizing, subpar. Buffy's execution was adequate, but a bit too bloody for my taste."

"Don't listen to Giles, girls," Brady told them. "You were all badass."

Alice smiled. "Well, thank you, Brady. Don't mention it. It was our pleasure to make the world safe for humanity again."

"I'm not saying that your methods are without merit," Giles told them. "Brooke, Buffy, you're spending too much time and energy. It should simply be: use powers, plunge, move on. Plunge and..."

Alice noticed something on the ground. "Hello."

Alice picked up the ring from the ground.

"Oh, that's great, Alice," Brady told her. "Buffy and Brooke kill them, and you fence their stuff." Alice tilted her head at him. Brady smirked. "What is it?"

"I don't know," Alice told them.

"But it brothers you?" Buffy asked.

"Yes," Alice answered. "Well, I--I thought this vampire was just on a random kill, but it may be something else."

"Something big?" Brady asked.

"Yes," Giles answered. "I'd best consult my books."

∞ 

Master's Lair

The Master slammed a book down on his lectern, opening, reading. "'And there will be a time of crisis, of worlds hanging in the balance. And in this time shall come the Anointed, the Master's great warrior. The Slayer and Guardians will not know him, will not stop him, and he will lead them into Hell.' As it is written, so shall it be." He picked up the book, walking. "'Five will die, and from their ashes, the Anointed shall rise. The Brethren of Aurelius shall greet him and usher him to his immortal destiny'." He stopped by one of the vampires. "As it is written, so shall it be. 'And one of the brethren shall go out hunting the night before and get himself killed, because he couldn't wait to finish his job before he ate.' Oh, wait." He grabbed one of the vampires by the throat. "That's not written anywhere." He lifted the vampire from his feet. "The Anointed will be my greatest weapon against the Slayer and the Guardians. If you fail to bring him to me, if you allow those girls to stop you..." He threw the vampire into a coffin. "Here endeth the lesson."

The Master slammed the book closed, walking off.

∞ Slayers and Guardians ∞ 

Day Two

Morning - Sunnydale High School - Library

Buffy, Brooke and Brady were sitting at the table, studying the ring Alice had found the night before. Giles and Alice walked toward them, looking through books. Carmen was sitting on the counter. Wyatt walked in.

Brooke stood. "There you are, Wyatt. Carmen and Alice called a while ago."

Wyatt walked closer. "Yeah, sorry. Warlocks and witches are needed constantly these days, aren't they?"

Brooke handed the ring to Wyatt. "You said you're an immortal warlock that cast a forever young spell on yourself long ago, so we were hoping that you could tell us what this is. If you've seen it before."

"Yeah, since you were around a long time, maybe you could've seen it," Buffy told him. "Maybe you know about it."

"Look on the inside," Brady told him. "It's a sun and three stars. Seen that somewhere?"

Wyatt took the ring from Brooke. "Let me see. Sun and three stars. Yeah, I have seen this before. Oh, the Order of Aurelius."

"Ooh, Wyatt knows it," Brooke told them. "I told you guys that he would know what this is."

"Two points for the newbie Guardian, Brooke," Brady told her. "While the rest of us have yet to score."

A student named Owen walked into the library, approaching them.

Brooke slid off the table. "Oh. Owen, hi."

"What do you want?" Giles asked.

"A book," Owen answered.

Giles nodded. "Oh."

Alice looked at her father sarcastically. "See, this is a school. And we have students. And they check out books. And then they learn things."

Brady chuckled, smirking in amusement. Carmen looked from Brady to Alice knowingly, smirking.

"I was beginning to suspect that was a myth," Giles told them.

"I lost my Emily Dickinson," Owen explained. "It's dumb, but I like her around. Kind of a security blanket."

Brooke nodded awkwardly. "I have something like that. Well, it's an actual blanket. Uh, and I don't really carry it around anymore." Wyatt raised an eyebrow, somewhat amused. Brooke changed the subject. "So, Emily Dickens, huh? She's great."

"Dickinson," Buffy corrected. "She's good also."

Giles pointed at the stacks. "Poetry."

Owen looked at Brooke. "I didn't think I'd find you here."

They walked up the stairs.

"Why not?" Brooke asked.

"I--I didn't mean..." Owen trailed off. "I mean, I think you can read."

Brooke smirked. "Thanks."

"But you don't seem bookwormy," Owen told her, finding his book. "The type of person to lock themselves in a dark room with a lot of musty old books." He looked up from the book. "Oh, and I've offended you?"

"No," Brooke answered. "No, I'm just surprised you gave any thought to what I'm like."

"You shouldn't be," Owen told her.

They walked downstairs.

Buffy stood, trying to help set her sister up with a guy. "Oh, well, Brooke loves books. I mean, she really loves books."

Owen saw a Slayer-Guardian-Watcher book, heading over to take a look. "What's this?"

Brady took the book away before he could see it. "Not this one."

"This is one she doesn't love," Buffy agreed. "Brady's right about that."

Giles took Owen's book, heading to the checkout station. "Oh, Emily Dickinson."

"Brooke and Owen are both fans," Buffy told him.

Wyatt rolled his eyes, sighing, looking at the ring.

Carmen smirked slightly, but gave Buffy a look for trying to set Brooke up with Owen. "Buffy. Stop."

"What?" Buffy asked.

"Yes, uh, she's quite a good poet, I mean, for a..." Giles trailed off, taking Owen's library card.

"A girl?" Carmen asked.

"For an American," Giles answered, scanning the book and library card.

Owen looked at Brooke. "I'll, uh, see you in math, if I open my eyes at some point."

"Cool," Brooke told him.

Owen left.

"Buffy, what are you doing?" Alice asked.

"Oh, come on, Alice," Buffy told her. "Like it's not obvious. Owen is into Brooke. And Brooke hasn't had a good boyfriend in a while. So I figured that I'd help her out."

"I don't think Brooke needs that kind of help, Buff," Carmen told her, sliding off the counter.

"What do you mean?" Buffy asked. Carmen smirked. "Carmen?"

Carmen didn't get the chance to answer before Wyatt was changing the subject.

"The Order of Aurelius is a very old and venerated sec," Wyatt told them. "If they're here, it's for a good reason."

Buffy looked at Brooke. "No, I'm serious, sis. Owen is into you."

"We heard you before," Carmen told her. "Still don't think Brooke's into him. Are you, Brooke?"

Brooke shrugged, opening her mouth to speak, but was interrupted.

"Carmen, Brooke, I think we should focus on the problem at hand," Wyatt told them.

Brooke nodded. "Right, I'm sorry, Wyatt."

Carmen nodded. "You're right. Vampires."

Buffy looked down at her dress. "Oh." She looked at the others inquisitively. "Does this outfit make me look fat?"

Brady rolled his eyes, looking at Wyatt. "You were saying?"

Alice chuckled.

∞ 

Cafeteria

Alice, Brooke, Buffy, Willow, Zoey and Carmen were paying for lunch

"Owen Thurman was talking to you?" Zoey asked.

"It's all true," Alice answered. "Buffy was trying to set Brooke up with a date."

"Still think that Brooke doesn't need that," Carmen told them.

"Wow," Willow told them. "He hardly talks to anyone. He's solitary, mysterious. He can brood for forty minutes straight. I've clocked him."

"He was so nice, it was eerie," Carmen told them.

"What did you guys have to talk about?" Zoey asked.

They walked toward a table.

"Emily Dickinson," Alice answered.

"He reads Emily Dickinson?" Willow asked. "He's sensitive, yet manly." They set down their trays. "Well, wait, you've never even read her." Brooke pulled out a book, setting it down for them to see. Emily Dickinson. "You vixen."

Xander, Brady and Eric walked closer, sitting down with lunch.

Xander held up his fork. "Has anybody given any thought to what this green stuff is?"

"Hmm, I'm avoiding the subject," Zoey told them.

"I think it's kale, or possibly string cheese," Eric told them. "So, girls, how'd the slaying go last night?"

Buffy gave him a look. "Eric."

"I mean, how'd the laying go?" Eric asked. Buffy, Brooke and Alice gave him a look. "No, I don't mean that either."

"It went fine, thank you," Buffy told him. "There's some new hoidy toidy vampire sect in town."

"That's bad," Willow told them.

"Well, hey, they're bringing in the much needed tourist dollars," Xander told them.

Zoey saw Owen sitting alone at a table, looking at Brooke, smiling. "Ooh. Look at Mr. Excitement. Owen. He's all alone. Maybe somebody should sit with him."

Brooke gave them a look, but couldn't help a smile.

"Mm, just to be polite," Willow agreed. Brooke stood. "Good luck."

Brooke walked away.

Xander looked at the girls. "Okay, what just happened?"

Carmen sighed, thinking, a little worried, but the others didn't notice. Zoey smiled, shrugging, taking a bite of her apple. Brooke walked over to Owen's table.

Cordelia was going over too, from another direction. "Look, an empty seat."

Cordelia bumped into Brooke, making her spill her food. Brooke gasped.

"Let me get that," Owen told her, standing, kneeling down to help Brooke pick it up.

"Thanks," Brooke told him, kneeling across from him. "Boy, Cordelia's hips are wider than I thought."

Cordelia smiled and laughed sarcastically.

"At least you don't have to eat your Soylent Green," Owen told her.

Cordelia was trying to get his attention. "Owen, a bunch of us are loitering at the Bronze tonight. You there?"

"Who's all going?" Owen asked.

"Well, um, I'm gonna be there," Cordelia told him.

"Who else?" Owen asked.

"You mean besides me?" Cordelia asked.

"Brooke, what about you?" Owen asked.

"What?" Brooke asked.

"No, no, no," Cordelia told him. "She, uh, she doesn't like fun."

Owen looked at Brooke. "How about we met there at eight?"

Brooke smiled. "Yeah. Eight. There."

Brooke put her tray on top of Cordelia's.

∞ 

Hallway

The girls walked through a set of double doors.

"It's not that big a deal," Carmen told them. "It's just a bunch of people getting together."

"It's a very big deal," Willow told them.

"It's not," Carmen told them.

Zoey smiled. "It is." She saw Giles and Wyatt. "Tell them."

"I'm afraid it's very big," Giles told them.

Zoey looked at Brooke and Carmen, smiling. "Thank you." She turned to Giles and Wyatt, confused. "Wait."

∞ 

Library

They walked in to talk alone.

"What are you talking about?" Zoey asked.

"What are you talking about?" Wyatt replied.

The girls answered together. "Boys."

Wyatt rolled his eyes. "Yes, well, we're talking about trouble. A violent and disturbing prophecy is about to be fulfilled."

"The Order of Aurelius?" Alice asked.

"Wyatt was spot on about the connection," Giles told them, walking over to the table. "We've looked at the writings of Aurelius himself, and he--he prophesied that the brethren of his order would come to the Master and bring him the Anointed."

"Who's that?" Zoey asked.

"Well, we don't know exactly," Wyatt told them. "A warrior, but it says he will rise from the ashes of the Five on the evening of the thousandth day after the Advent of Septus."

"Well, we'll be ready whenever it is," Willow told them.

"Which is tonight," Wyatt told them.

Brooke took in the information. "Tonight, okay..." She realized the conflict. "Not okay. It can't be tonight."

"Our calculations are precise," Giles told them.

"Nuh," Zoey told them. "They're bad calculations. Bad."

"Brooke has a really important date," Willow explained.

"Owen," Buffy told them.

"All right, I'll just jump in my time machine, go back to the twelfth century and ask the vampires to postpone their ancient prophecy for a few days while you take in dinner and a show," Wyatt told them sarcastically.

"Okay, at this point, you're abusing sarcasm," Carmen told him.

"Brooke, this is no ordinary vampire," Wyatt told her. 'But we have to stop him before he reaches the Master."

"But Brooke deserves a night off with a cute guy," Buffy told them. "She's a teenager. Post-pubescent fantasies."

"Those will just have to be put on hold," Giles told them. "The dark forces are aligning against us, and we have a chance to beat them back. Tonight we go into battle."

∞ 

Night - Cemetery

Buffy, Brooke and Alice were sitting on a large gravestone. Brady, Giles and Wyatt were nearby.

Giles sniffed. "Perhaps I miscalculated."

"I'm thinking yes," Brady told them, finishing his drink.

"Well, you know what they say," Alice told them. "Ninety percent of the vampire slaying game is, is waiting."

Brady smirked in amusement. "You couldn't have told us that ninety percent ago?"

"What are you even doing here, Brady?" Wyatt asked. "The rest of us have a job to do. You don't have to do this."

"No, but both of my sisters are putting themselves on the line here," Brady replied. "If I can help Buffy and Brooke not get dead, I'm gonna do it."

Buffy and Brooke smiled. "Thanks, Brady."

Alice chuckled.

Wyatt nodded. "Admirable. Well, we've certainly waited here long enough."

"Besides, there aren't any fresh graves," Buffy told them. "Who's gonna rise tonight?"

"Apparently no one tonight," Wyatt told them.

Brooke stood. "Then I can bail? I can go to the Bronze and find Owen?"

"Oh, very well, then," Giles told her. "Follow your hormones if you want." The girls started to leave. "But I assume I don't have to warn you about the hazards of becoming personally involved with someone who's unaware of your unique condition."

"Yeah, yeah," Alice told them. "I read the back of the box to them."

"If your identities as the Slayer and the Guardians is revealed, it could put you and all those around you in danger," Wyatt told them.

"Well, in that case, I won't wear my button that says, 'I'm a Guardian, ask me how'," Brooke told them sarcastically. Wyatt gave her a look. Brooke smirked. "Good night."

Brady and the girls walked away.

Wyatt sighed. "'Five shall die, and from their ashes, the Anointed shall rise'. I was sure it was tonight."

∞ 

On the Road - Bus

The passengers rode in silence.

The little boy named Collin looked at a man named Andrew. "I went on an airplane."

"A pale horse emerged with death as its rider," Andrew told him. "You will be judged. You will be judged."

∞ 

Bronze

(Song:) Rotten Apple - Three Day Wheely

Brooke walked in, looking around for Owen, seeing him dancing with Cordelia, looking on, disappointed, leaving the Bronze.

(Song Ends)

∞ 

On the Road - Bus

Andrew stood, standing in the aisle to speak to everyone. "That day's gonna bring fire. Fire coming down. Judgment." He looked at Collin and his mother. "Don't think you're ready, ready to look upon him. If there's sin in there, there's sin all around. It's a liquid. On that day there won't be anybody telling us what to do or why we're doing it. You can't prepare. On that day..."

"Hey, you gotta sit down, okay?" the driver asked.

"Are you willing to stand with the righteous?" Andrew asked.

A vampire stood in front of the bus. The driver hit the brakes, slamming into the vampire. The bus began to swerve, running through a sign, hitting a pole, which brought it to a stop.

The driver looked toward the passengers. "Is everyone okay?"

The passengers looked at each other, shaken but okay.

∞ 

Outside

The driver got out of the bus to check the vampire. "Are you all right? Can you move?"

The vampire grabbed the driver by the throat, choking him. Another vampire punched through the bus window, grabbing Andrew by the throat, pulling him out, biting him. The vampires all climbed into the bus to get the other people, who all started to scream.

∞ ∞ 

Day Three

Morning - Sunnydale High School - Hallway

The Scoobies were talking in the hallway.

"So you just went home?" Xander asked.

"What was she supposed to do?" Zoey asked. "Say to Owen, 'Sorry I was late, I was sitting in a cemetery with the librarian, another Guardian, my sister the Slayer and my brother Brady, and a warlock Wyatt, waiting for a vampire to rise so I could prevent an evil prophecy from coming to pass?'"

Eric weighed options with his hands. "Or flat tire?"

They walked down the hallway.

"I can't take this anymore," Buffy told them. "I feel like everyone is staring at me, the big, hideous, dateless monster."

Brooke looked at a passing student. "What? Yeah, that's right, I have no life, come on, nothing to see here, pal, move it along."

"You're acting a little overly, aren't you?" Eric asked. "I mean, you two could have any guy in school."

Buffy chuckled. "That's sweet, Eric."

"Sure, you guys have a lot to do," Willow told them. "But that doesn't mean you can't find someone that knows what you're going through."

"Isn't it better if you find someone that knows what's going on in your life, anyway?" Xander asked. "So you're not risking outing your secrets?"

"They've got a point, guys," Carmen told them knowingly, tilting her head.

Owen walked up to them. "Hey, Brooke."

"Owen," Eric told him. "Oh, look, it's Owen." They exchanged a look. "Brooke and Owen. And Buffy. Brady. Alice. Zoey. Willow. Xander. Carmen. Eric. That'd be me."

"Where were you last night?" Owen asked.

"Oh, well, Brooke's watch broke," Brady told him. "And we don't have any clocks in our house. So we didn't know what time it was. Or even what day it was."

"Brady, stop helping," Carmen told him.

"I thought I was the only one that happened to," Xander told them.

Owen looked at Brooke. "How about we try it again for tonight? I'll even lend you my watch."

Owen handed her his gold pocket watch and chain. The others looked at the watch in wide-eyed amazement.

Brooke accepted it. "Tonight? You and me?"

Xander looked at his Tweety wristwatch. "Uh..."

"Well, we could invite the chess club, but they drink and they start fights," Owen told her.

"Oh, no," Willow told him. "It's just... well, we sort of heard that... you and Cordelia were... somewhat... all over each other. A little."

Owen shook his head. "I danced with her a couple of times." He had a look of distaste. "She's kinda grabby. No offense, Carmen, since Cordelia's your sister, but..."

"None taken," Carmen told him.

"Yeah, Carmen doesn't really get along with Cordy," Zoey told him. "No biggy."

"Oh, well, let's see," Buffy told them. "If we rearrange that, and we push that to next... Yes, Brooke will see you tonight."

Brooke gave Buffy an amused look, looking at Owen, nodding.

Owen smiled. "Great. I'll pick you up at seven?"

"Um, seven?" Alice asked.

Owen pointed at the pocket watch. "That's when the little hand's there."

"Oh," Brady told him sarcastically. "Between the six and the eight."

"Brooke, I'll see you then," Owen told her, walking away.

Zoey looked at Brooke, smiling. "Tonight. Isn't that so?"

"What?" Alice asked.

"Brooke and Owen," Willow answered.

Xander smirked. "Yeah, so it is." He closed his locker. "It sure is so."

∞ 

Library - Giles' Office

Giles had a headache from researching, just sitting down to have some tea. Wyatt was researching, using magic to find the right books that he needed.

Alice walked in. "Hey, how's it going?"

Brooke walked in.

"Uh, all right," Wyatt answered.

"That's great," Alice told them. "I see we're still working on the Anointed One problem. How long do you think that will take? That's one obscure prophecy."

"Well, yes, there are a few interpretations," Giles told her.

"So tonight's looking slow, right?" Brooke asked. "Probably best to relax and regroup, no big disasters coming, that is so good, I will see you tomorrow then, bye."

Brooke left quickly. Alice rolled her eyes slightly.

Wyatt was slightly amused. "She is the strangest girl."

Alice smiled. "That is certainly one way to put it."

∞ 

Master's Lair

The Master was speaking to the vampires. "You have done well. Everything is in place. When this night's work is done, I will have a mighty ally. I'll be one step closer to freeing myself from this... mystical prison." He felt his confines. "I've been trapped down here so long I've nearly forgotten what it's like on the surface. Well, there'll be time enough to remember... when I rule it. If they try to stop you, kill them. Give your own lives, but do not fail to bring the Anointed. I know you won't disappoint me." He quickly grabbed a fly from the air. "Bug."

∞ 

Night - Summers House - Brooke's Room

The Scoobies were gathered, while they were playing judges for Brooke's date that night. Brooke was wearing her bathrobe, and the girls were helping her decide on an outfit.

"Pick," Willow told them.

Zoey looked at the guys. "Okay." She held up a floral minidress. "Does she wanna appear shy, coy and naive or..." She held up the sparkly, low cut minidress. "Unrestrained, insatiable and aggressive?"

"Uh, you know, Owen is a little home spun," Xander told them. "He probably doesn't like that overly assertive look." He stood, walking toward the closet. "Oh, hey, here's something. A nice comfy overcoat and a ski cap." He held them up to Brooke. "The earflaps will bring out your eyes."

The girls exchanged an amused look.

"Maybe she should mix and match," Eric told them.

"Thank you, Eric," Buffy told him. "At least one guy here is being helpful."

"Okay, guy's opinion," Willow told them, grabbing two lipsticks. "Which one do you think Owen will like better?" She held them up. "The red? Or the peach?"

"Oh, you mean for kissing Brooke and then telling all of his friends how easy she is so the whole school loses respect for her and then talks behind her back?" Carmen asked. They all looked at her weirdly. "Kidding."

"The red's fine," Xander told them.

"Thanks," Alice told them. She looked at Brooke. "Go with the peach."

Brooke put on the lipstick.

Zoey handed Brooke a third minidress, best of both. "Here. Put this on."

The girls looked at the guys.

"You're not bothering us," Xander told them.

Brady rolled his eyes, pulling Xander and Eric out of the room. "Come on."

Willow smiled. "So where's he taking Brooke?"

"Oh, we don't know," Carmen admitted. "Where do you suppose young kids go on dates these days?"

Brooke untied her bathrobe.

"Well, I read somewhere once that sometimes they go to movies," Alice told them sarcastically.

Brooke finished pulling on the minidress.

The minidress Brooke slipped on was a perfect blend of sweet and alluring. It was a deep emerald green that brought out the color of her eyes, the fabric a soft, flowing material that draped elegantly over her petite frame. The bodice was fitted, accentuating her slender waist, with delicate spaghetti straps that crossed in the back, revealing just a hint of her toned shoulders.

The skirt flared out slightly, falling to mid-thigh in gentle pleats that swished gracefully as she moved. A subtle floral pattern in slightly darker green thread was embroidered along the hem and neckline, adding a touch of whimsy without being overpowering. The neckline dipped in a modest V-shape, striking the perfect balance between demure and daring.

"Movies?" Carmen asked, disinterested. "Interesting."

"And I saw on TV once, a bunch of people our age went to a party," Willow told them.

"Wow, Alice, Will," Zoey told them sarcastically. "You can definitely tell you two have lived life to the fullest."

Willow smiled, shaking her head sarcastically. "Where have you gone on dates, Zoey?"

"Movies," Zoey answered. "Parties. The Bronze. For a town like Sunnydale, that's all you can do."

Carmen chuckled in agreement. "Yeah."

"Wow," Alice told them. "I never knew being a regular teenager was so full of possibilities."

"Have you ever had the chance to be a normal teenager, Alice?" Willow asked.

"Not even remotely," Alice answered. "It was all Guardian training while growing up. Council watching. Slayer and Guardian training other Slayers and Guardians."

Zoey frowned. "Aw. Poor thing." The girls all chuckled. The doorbell rang. "And that should be Owen."

∞ 

Foyer

The Scoobies went to answer the door, revealing Giles and Wyatt on the porch.

"That's Giles," Eric told them. "And Wyatt."

"We need to talk," Wyatt told them.

"Buffy, Brooke and Alice are not in right now," Buffy told them, trying to close the door.

Wyatt pushed the door open to come in.

Giles followed. "Our calculations may not have been as far off as we thought."

Wyatt held up a newspaper.

"'Five Die in a Van Accident'?" Xander read aloud.

"Out of the ashes of five shall rise the one," Giles told them. "That's the prophecy. Five people have died."

"In a car crash," Zoey told them.

"I know it doesn't quite follow, but it's worth investigating," Giles told them.

"Look," Wyatt told them. "Among the dead was Andrew Borba, whom the police sought for questioning in a double murder. Now, he may be the Anointed One. The bodies have been taken to Sunnydale Funeral Home. We can--"

"Wyatt, why do you wanna hurt Brooke?" Willow asked.

"What?" Wyatt asked.

Owen showed up at the open door. "Hey." He walked in. "Uh, hi."

Wyatt looked at Brooke. "You have a date?"

"Yes, but we will return those overdue books by tomorrow," Brooke told them.

"Wait," Giles told her. "You're not getting off that easily."

"Man, you really care about your work," Owen told him.

"Uh, Owen?" Eric asked, thinking quickly.

"Yeah, a couple of things about tonight," Xander told him.

Brady, Zoey, Willow, Xander, Eric and Carmen led Owen away.

Wyatt looked at Brooke. "Another date? Don't you ever do anything else?"

"This is the first date," Brooke told him. "There's never been a date, okay?"

Buffy gave them a look. "This is her maiden voyage."

∞ 

Living Room

The others were talking to Owen.

"What, she doesn't like to dance?" Owen asked.

"Well, it's a little too late to do anything about that," Brady told him. "Uh, you should probably know that Brooke doesn't like to be kissed. Actually, she doesn't like to be touched."

"Brady, you can ease up on the protective big brother thing," Xander told him. "Though, this is wildly entertaining for me and Eric."

"Definitely," Eric agreed.

Willow gave her brother a look. "Eric."

Brady ignored them, looking at Owen. "As a matter of fact, don't even look at her."

Carmen smirked.

∞ 

Foyer

Buffy, Brooke, Alice, Wyatt and Giles were talking.

"We don't even know if this is anything," Alice told them.

"No, we don't," Giles agreed.

"And we haven't had a day off in a while," Alice told them.

"True," Giles agreed.

"And a cranky Slayer and two cranky Guardians are careless Slayer and Guardians," Buffy told them.

"Buffy, maintaining your normal social life as a Slayer..." Giles trailed off. "Or Brooke and Alice maintaining the same as Guardians... i--i--is problematic at best."

"This is the 90's," Buffy told them. "The 1990's, in point of fact, and we can do both. Clark Kent has a job. Brooke just wants to go on a date."

Wyatt sighed. "Well, I guess it was a fairly slim lead."

Brooke smiled in appreciation. "Thank you, thank you, thank you. And look, I won't go far, okay? If the apocalypse comes, beep me."

The others walked closer.

"Is everything cool?" Owen asked.

"All set," Alice answered.

"Yes, and, uh, you'll all face a pretty hefty fine in the morning," Giles told them.

"Well, bye," Brooke told them. "Don't wait up."

Brooke quickly left with Owen.

Eric looked at Alice, Buffy, Giles and Wyatt. "Is something going on?"

"Oh, uh, probably not, no," Wyatt told them. "I, uh, I'll just go to the funeral home in case, just see if anything comes up."

"I'll go with you," Alice told him. "You shouldn't go alone if this is something serious."

"Yeah, I guess since Brooke's taking a night off, not all of us can," Buffy told him. "We'll go."

"As will I," Giles told them.

The four of them walked out together, leaving the others to talk.

Carmen looked at the others. "You guys do what you gotta go. I'm gonna go." She whispered to Brady. "And good job on the tough talk with Owen."

"I did good, didn't I?" Brady asked.

Carmen smiled. "Yeah, you did. Helped out a lot. Thanks, Brady."

Carmen left.

"Brady?" Xander asked.

"Hmm?" Brady asked.

"What was that about?" Xander asked.

"Don't worry about it," Brady told them.

"This is bad," Willow told them, concerned.

"I wish it was just bad," Xander told them.

"We should go along," Eric told them.

"Yeah, you're right," Brady told him. "I don't trust that Owen guy. It's the eyes. Crazy."

"Guys, we should go with Alice, Giles, Buffy and Wyatt," Eric told them. "They could get in trouble."

"Oh, they're gone," Zoey told him. "They're gonna be all right. Alice and Buffy are Guardian and Slayer. Wyatt's a super strong warlock. Giles is like super librarian. You know? Everyone forgets, Eric, that knowledge is the ultimate weapon. You know, other than Slayer strength, Guardian power and warlock magic."

They exchanged a look, knowing that they would probably need help.

∞ 

Bronze

(Song:) Strong - Velvet Chain

Owen and Brooke were sitting at a table, talking.

"The thing about Emily Dickinson I love is, is she's just so incredibly morbid," Owen explained. "A lot of loss, a lot of death. It gets me. With a lot about bees, for some reason."

"Did she have a tragic and romantic life?" Brooke asked sarcastically. "With a lot of bees?"

"Quite," Owen told her. "Kind of sequestered and uneventful. Which I can really relate to. I... don't get out much."

"I don't get that," Brooke admitted.

"It's my fault," Owen told her. "I just find most girls pretty frivolous. I mean, there's a lot more important things in life than dating, you know?" Brooke looked down at her beeper. "Oh, did I say something wrong?"

Brooke looked up. "Oh, no, come on."

Brooke led Owen to the dance floor. They started to dance to the song.

"It's weird," Owen told her.

"What is?" Brooke asked.

"You," Owen answered. "One minute, you're right there. I've got you figured. The next, it's like you're two people."

Brooke smirked. "Really? Which one do you like better?"

"I'll let you know," Owen told her.

Cordelia walked into the Bronze with some of her friends, seeing Brooke and Owen dance. "Aren't there laws against this sort of thing?" She walked up to them. "Owen, look at you, here all alone."

"Cordelia, I'm here with Brooke," Owen told her.

"Oh, okay," Cordelia told him. "Do you wanna dance?"

"No, I'm still here with Brooke," Owen answered.

"You are so good to help the needy," Cordelia told him.

"Cordelia, Owen and I would like to be alone right now, and for that to happen, you would have to go somewhere that's away," Brooke told her.

Cordelia gave her a look, turning to Owen. "Well, when you're ready for the big leagues, let me know."

Cordelia left them alone.

∞ 

Night - Sunnydale Funeral Home - Outside

Giles drove up in his ancient car, which was quiet. He, Alice, Buffy and Wyatt got out.

"Next time, we're taking my car," Wyatt told them. "At least we won't be squished."

Alice and Buffy chuckled. The night was creepy, and they all looked around, walking toward the building.

Alice stopped walking when she sensed something. "Wait."

Alice's eyes flashed red, the color of the Guardian energy, whenever she sensed a vampire around. She turned around to see a vampire, using her Guardian energy to levitate him up, throwing him toward Buffy. Buffy used her arm to knock him down, kneeling down to stake him in the heart, making him explode into ash. 10 more vampires came to surround them.

∞ ∞ 

Alice and Wyatt were using the powers to kill 5 vampires each without touching them, causing them to explode into ash.

"Get inside," Alice told them.

They ran inside, knowing that there would be more vampires coming.

∞ 

Bronze

(Song:) Treason - Velvet Chain

Brooke and Owen were still dancing.

"Are you, uh, having fun?" Owen asked.

Brooke nodded. "Yeah, I almost feel like a girl."

They smiled, continuing to dance.

(Song Ends)

∞ 

Sunnydale Funeral Home - Morgue

Buffy, Alice, Wyatt and Giles made their way inside, as Alice and Wyatt used their powers to kill 2 more vampires, while Buffy staked another, but they were vastly outnumbered. The windows were barred. They saw Xander, Eric, Willow, Zoey and Brady through the bars, jumping in surprise as they raised the window sash.

"Guys, it's us," Eric told them.

"What are you doing here?" Giles asked.

"We saw those guys going in after you," Xander answered. "Are they..."

"They are," Buffy answered. "Uh, listen, you should get to safety."

"Can you get out this window?" Willow asked.

"We can't leave until we find the Anointed One and kill him," Alice told them.

"But you guys are really outnumbered," Brady told them. "Look, I hate to state the obvious, but this looks like the perfect time to call in Carmen and Brooke."

"Where is Carmen, anyway?" Eric asked.

"She went after Brooke," Xander answered.

"Uh, Brooke has her pager," Zoey told them. "Um, none of us have our phones, of course."

"Look, we'll get Carmen and Brooke," Eric told them. "Just, uh, hang in there."

"Do hurry," Alice told them.

The others ran to get to Brooke and Carmen.

∞ 

Bronze

(Song:) Junkie Girl - Rubber

Cordelia was watching Brooke and Owen from the shadows by the door. "What a disgusting display. Is that really appropriate behavior in a public forum? I mean, I've never seen a girl throw herself at a guy like that." Angel walked in, looking around. "Ooh. Hello, salty goodness. Pick up the phone, call 911. That boy is gonna need some serious oxygen after I'm through with him."

Cordelia started to walk toward Angel, but stopped when she saw him go over to Carmen.

"Carmen," Angel told her.

"Angel, hey," Carmen told him. "Thanks for meeting."

Cordelia spoke to herself. "Why is this happening to me? First, one of my enemies, and now my sister?"

Angel looked at Carmen. "I was hoping to hear from you."

"You were?" Carmen asked.

"Some serious stuff happening tonight," Angel told her. "Everybody needs to be out there."

"Yeah, one of the reasons why I wanted you to help me sabotage Brooke's date," Carmen told him. "I sent Cordelia over there to try to split them up. But that didn't work. So..."

"What do you know about what's going on?" Angel asked.

"Prophecy, Anointed One, yada, yada, yada," Carmen answered.

"So you know," Angel told her. "Fine. I just thought I'd warn you."

"Thank you, but now can you help me sabotage Brooke's date?" Carmen asked.

"Why?" Angel asked. He thought after a moment, realizing. "You're a witch. Which means that you can see soulmates."

"You know about that?" Carmen asked.

"Yeah, I've known more than a couple of witches and warlocks in my day," Angel answered. "More than just you and Wyatt, Carmen. I know that they can see soulmates in their friends or even in strangers. But they can never tell who their own soulmate is. This power you have, you can see Brooke's soulmate, and you know it's not with her date, so you're trying to ruin the date so that she could end up with her soulmate."

"Yes, thank you for spelling it out," Carmen answered. "You're very perceptive for a guy who is almost never around. Come on." They walked toward where Brooke was sitting alone while Owen was getting her food. "Hey, Brooke. Angel came by to warn us about the Anointed One like Alice, Wyatt and Giles did, so we should probably go."

Brooke sighed. "Not you too."

Owen walked up with food. "Here you go."

"Oh, um, Owen, this is Angel," Carmen told him. "Angel, this is Owen, Brooke's date."

"Hey," Angel told him.

"Hey," Owen told him. "So, where do you know Brooke and Carmen from?"

Angel thought for a moment. "Work."

"You work?" Owen asked.

Eric, Willow, Xander, Brady and Zoey ran up to them, out of breath.

"Brooke," Eric told her. "Carmen."

"Look at this," Owen told them. "You show up everywhere. Interesting."

Xander pointed at Owen. "You don't know the half of it." He pointed at Angel. "What's he doing here?"

"I guess it's the same thing you're doing here," Angel answered.

"Uh, excuse me, what are any of you doing here?" Brooke asked.

"Look, we gotta get to, uh..." Xander trailed off. Zoey kicked him. "Uh, we thought it'd be fun if, uh, we made this into a group thing."

"Yeah," Brady told them. "Brooke and Owen. Willow and Xander. Carmen and Angel. Eric, Zoey and I have plans too, but Buffy, Wyatt and Alice aren't here. Because they're out there right now."

"Out there where?" Brooke asked.

Before they could answer, Owen cut them off. "And you guys are thinking a mass date?"

"'Cause of..." Zoey trailed off, laughing nervously. "The fun."

Owen looked at Angel. "I thought you said you're here because of work."

"Plans change," Angel told them.

"Hey, maybe we should all go somewhere together," Eric told them.

"Gee, that's so nice of you to ask, but Owen and I were, well, sort of, Owen and I," Brooke told them.

"You know what'd be cool?" Xander asked. "The Sunnydale Funeral Home."

"I've always wanted to go there," Willow told them, emphasizing each word.

"The funeral home?" Carmen repeated.

"Yeah," Eric answered. "That's where Alice, Buffy and Wyatt are right now."

"Actually, that sounds kinda cool," Owen told them. "Do you think we could all sneak in?"

"We saw some guys in there before," Xander told them. "Going in after Buffy, Alice and Wyatt. They seemed to be..." He looked pointedly to Brooke and Carmen. "Having fun."

"Bite me," Brooke whispered to herself, looking at Carmen. Angel gave Carmen and Brooke an I told you so look. Brooke sighed, looking at Owen. "Um, Owen, I gotta go."

"I thought we were going to the funeral home," Owen told them.

"No, you can't," Eric told him. "I'll tell you what. We'll be back in a little while."

Owen led Brooke away. "Brooke, what's the deal? Do you wanna bail on me?"

"No," Brooke answered instantly. "No, no, uh, you remember when you said I was like two different people? Well, one of them has to go, but the other one is having a really, really good time, and will come back, I promise."

Owen nodded, watching her go. Brooke turned back, kissing Owen, leaving with the others.

(Song Ends)

∞ 

Sunnydale Funeral Home - Hallway

Brooke, Carmen, Zoey, Willow, Xander, Eric and Brady arrived.

"Which way?" Carmen asked.

"The room's around back," Willow answered.

They walked to their left, around a corner, only to hit a dead end.

"Damn it," Brady told them.

Owen appeared behind them. "This is so cool."

They turned to face him.

"Uh, Owen," Zoey told him. "You can't be here."

"Oh, and I suppose you guys are allowed?" Owen asked. "What are we doing here? Are we gonna see a dead body?"

"Possibly several," Eric answered.

Willow looked at Carmen and Brooke. "We'll watch him. Go."

Carmen and Brooke ran off to try to find the others.

Owen looked at the Scoobies. "Are they mad?"

"Oh, they just want to make sure there's no guards so we don't get in trouble," Zoey told him.

"Good thinking," Owen told them, turning around.

Brady, Willow, Xander and Eric looked at Zoey. "Good thinking."

"I'm a fast thinker," Zoey told them.

They started to follow Brooke and Carmen.

∞ 

Another Hallway

A vampire lunged toward Alice. Alice stepped back to make him miss, using red Guardian energy to wrap around him and throw him up to the ceiling, to the floor. Wyatt held a hand out to the vampire, magically making him burst into ashes. Buffy staked another vampire dead, watching him turn to ashes. Carmen and Brooke ran closer to two vampires trying to attack Giles from behind. Brooke used her Guardian energy to throw them to the floor, while Carmen used her power to kill them with a burst of ash.

"It's about time you two showed up," Wyatt told them.

"This is what it's been like the entire time," Alice told them.

"Sorry," Carmen told them sheepishly. "What happened?"

"Uh, a lot more of the brethren came in here," Giles answered. "They came after us. But we were more than a match for them."

"Meaning that Alice, Wyatt and I've spent this entire time dusting vamps while Giles was hiding," Buffy told them.

"Well, were they here after you, or was it that prophecy thing?" Carmen asked.

"Ah, well, that's what we have to find out," Wyatt told them. "I don't know what these brethren mean to do exactly. Find the Anointed, or give him something, uh, it's all very vague. And the Anointed may be long gone."

"Yeah, considering the fact that the brethren have spent this entire time coming after us," Alice agreed. "Most likely to distract us from finding the Anointed. Or killing him. Meaning that he may be on his way to the Master right now."

"But he may not be," Buffy told them.

"We must find out," Giles told them.

"Okay, I just need to get Owen and the others out of harm's way first," Brooke told them.

"Owen?" Wyatt repeated. "You brought a date?"

"I didn't bring him," Brooke answered. "He came."

"Brooke, when we said you could be one of the Guardians like Alice, and guard the Slayer, your sister, and have a social life, I didn't mean at the same time," Giles told her.

"We know," Carmen told them. "We'll get rid of him."

"You can't make him go out there alone," Giles told them. "We don't know where the brethren are."

"Well, he knows that we're supposed to be meeting up with Alice, Buffy and Wyatt," Carmen told them. "Giles, he sees you, he's gonna have more questions than he already does right now. We'll take care of it."

∞ 

Other Hallway

Brady, Zoey, Willow, Xander, Eric and Owen ran around a corner, finding Buffy, Brooke, Alice, Carmen and Wyatt.

"There you guys are," Xander told them.

"Is everything okay?" Willow asked.

Alice nodded. "It is."

"And we'll be leaving?" Eric asked.

"We're not done looking around yet," Owen told them.

"No, he's right," Buffy told them. "So let's find a nice, safe, fun room to look around it."

Brooke took Owen's hand, leading them down the hall. They reached the office door.

"We tried the office here, but it's locked," Owen told them.

Buffy broke the lock. "No, it's not."

∞ 

Office

They walked into the office.

"Well, I don't think we'll find much in here," Owen told them.

Zoey looked around. "That's the plan."

"Okay," Owen said, confused. "What?"

"We have to go now," Wyatt told them. "Check for anyone who could come in. If you hear anything, like a security guard or something, just be really quiet." He looked at Brady, Zoey, Willow, Xander and Eric. "And barricade the door."

Wyatt, Brooke, Buffy, Carmen and Alice left. Zoey closed the office door.

∞ 

Morgue

Giles met up with Wyatt, Brooke, Buffy, Carmen and Alice, as they were looking around through the body drawers hoping to find the Anointed One.

"Ew, parts," Buffy complained.

"Keep looking," Giles told them. "He must be here somewhere."

∞ 

Office

Brady, Zoey, Willow, Xander and Eric were piling furniture in front of the office door.

"What are you guys doing?" Owen asked.

"Uh, just in case," Willow told him.

Owen saw a curtain, drawing it open, revealing a window that allowed them to see a body covered with a sheet. "Oh, my."

The others turned around to look.

∞ 

Morgue

Buffy, Brooke, Alice, Carmen, Wyatt and Giles were still looking.

"Nothing," Alice told them.

"The Anointed must be gone," Wyatt told them.

"I guess," Alice told them.

"I mean, this is where they keep all the dead bodies, right?" Carmen asked.

Buffy nodded. "Mm-hmm."

∞ 

Office

Owen was looking at the body with fascination while Zoey, Brady, Eric, Willow and Xander were worried. "I read a lot about death, but--but I've... never really seen a dead body before." The body's hand moved. "Do they... usually move?"

The hand moved again. Zoey, Brady, Eric, Willow and Xander approached to have a closer look. The hand reached up and pulled the sheet off.

Andrew sat up and faced them. He was a vampire now. He stood, looking down at himself, flexing his hands. He looked up at the group. "I have been judged."

∞ ∞ 

Owen looked at the others. "What's going on?"

They backed away from the window slowly. Andrew approached the window and smashed it with his forehead.

∞ 

Morgue

Buffy, Brooke, Alice, Carmen, Wyatt and Giles could hear the window being smashed.

Alice sighed worriedly. 'Oh, no."

They ran out of the morgue.

∞ 

Office

Andrew laughed. "He is risen in me. He fills my head with song!" Zoey, Brady, Eric, Willow, Xander and Owen were frantically moving the furniture away from the door. Andrew stepped through the opening. "Pork and beans. Pork and beans! I can smell you." They got the furniture moved. Zoey opened the door, all of them running out. Andrew followed at a quick pace. "You're the chaff, unblessed. I'll suck the blood from your hearts. He says I may!"

∞ 

Hallway

Buffy, Alice, Brooke, Wyatt and Carmen ran up to the group.

Brady pointed toward the office. "He's in there!"

"Uh, go," Wyatt told them. "Get out."

Buffy, Alice, Brooke, Wyatt and Carmen ran to find Andrew.

Eric looked at Owen. "They'll be okay. Come on. They'll be okay."

The others ran down the hall.

Buffy, Alice, Brooke, Wyatt and Carmen heard Andrew singing as he made his way through the hallways. "Shall we gather at the river? / The beautiful, the beautiful river?"

"Split up," Alice told them. "Come at him from all sides."

They ran off to do as said.

∞ 

Other Hallway

Zoey, Brady, Eric, Willow, Xander and Owen ran toward the exit, but were blocked by vampires. Willow screamed. Brady, Eric and Xander pulled Zoey, Willow and Owen behind them. Instead of attacking, the vampires closed the gates. The hall was empty, but they could hear Andrew singing.

"I think he's coming this way," Zoey told them.

They ran, finding themselves at the same dead end as when they had first got there.

Willow sighed worriedly. "Oh, God, this is too much."

∞ 

Morgue

Giles was still in the morgue. Buffy, Brooke, Wyatt, Carmen and Alice ran in.

"What did you find?" Giles asked.

"He's fast," Alice told him. "But we can find him."

"What should I do?" Giles asked.

"Um, go outside and make sure the others are okay," Alice answered. "I don't want you getting hurt, Dad."

Alice and Brooke's eyes flashed red with Guardian energy as they sensed Andrew coming in. "Buffy, behind you!"

Andrew came up behind Buffy, grabbing her, throwing her into a cabinet. Buffy fell to the floor, unconscious. Giles ran to her aid. Brooke, Alice, Carmen and Wyatt turned to face Andrew, readying for a fight.

∞ 

Hallway

The others were in the hall.

"Somebody's gotta help them," Owen told them, running back in the direction they had come.

"Owen!" Xander told him.

They followed him toward the morgue.

∞ 

Morgue

Andrew walked toward the group. "They told me about you while I was sleeping." Alice and Brooke used their Guardian red energy to slam Andrew from wall to wall, to the ceiling, and then to the floor. Andrew groaned in pain. "Why do they hurt me?"

Carmen and Wyatt used their witch power to throw Andrew away from Alice and Brooke into the wall, making him fall on the crematory controls. The fires in the chamber lit up.

Owen ran inside. "Guys!"

Andrew stood, grabbing Owen by the neck, growling as he moved in to bite him. Carmen used her magic to throw an urn from a rack toward Andrew, smashing it over his head, making him fall down and let go of Owen.

Owen ran over to Brooke, having not seen Carmen use magic. "Did you see that? He tried to bite me. What a sissy."

Andrew stood, throwing a body drawer toward them, hitting Owen over the head, making him fall unconscious, but the others were able to deflect the shot to their heads with Guardian energy or witch magic.

Buffy stood worriedly. "No!"

Andrew looked at Owen. "Dead. He was found wanting."

Buffy front snap kicked Andrew in the stomach, making him roll over the autopsy gurney to the floor, running around to the far end of the gurney. Andrew stood. Buffy pushed the gurney into his gut, pushing down on her end so it pivoted up and hit him in the chin, making him stagger back and fall. Alice levitated herself with red Guardian energy across the room toward Andrew as he started to get him, kicking him down, letting herself float to the floor, using the red energy to restrain him, levitating him over the floor, spinning to throw him magically toward Brooke, Wyatt and Carmen, who used their power to slam him to the ground. Andrew stood, trying to punch Brooke.

Brooke used her red Guardian energy to freeze his fist midair, punching him repeatedly. "You killed my date!"

Zoey, Brady, Willow, Xander and Eric ran in.

Willow looked at Owen as he woke. "Brooke! Owen's..."

"Just give her a sec," Xander told them.

Carmen used her power to throw Andrew down in front of Brooke. Brooke pulled Andrew up, using her red Guardian energy to restrain him, hitting him repeatedly.

As he leaned forward from the pain, Brooke kicked him in the stomach, using the red energy to throw him backward into a counter. "You killed my date."

Andrew turned back to them. "Your turn."

Andrew lunged toward them. Wyatt used magic to make him stop, magically throwing him into the crematory, magically slamming the crematory door shut. Andrew screamed as he was burned alive. They watched him burn through the small window.

Owen was trying to sit up. "Does anyone have an aspirin? Or sixty?"

Brooke walked closer, kneeling next to him. "Owen?"

"What happened to that guy?" Owen asked.

"Oh," Zoey said. "We scared him away."

"Oh, good," Owen told them. "'Cause you know I would've..."

Eric rolled his eyes slightly. "We know. Sure. Here." They helped Owen up. "I'm sure this isn't exactly what you two had in mind for a first date."

Owen rubbed his head. "Yeah. I was hoping maybe we'd finish at Ben & Jerry's."

"You still could," Xander told them.

"No, I--I--I think I'll just walk home," Owen told them, starting to walk away before stopping. "Uh, which way's home?"

"I'll get you there," Brooke told him.

"No, I'll--I'll go it alone," Owen told her.

The others walked closer.

"We'll make sure he gets home safely," Willow told them.

They led Owen away, leaving, taking him home. Brooke watched them go, sighing in regret.

Giles walked closer. "Brooke, if I might, uh..."

"Don't," Brooke told him.

They walked out.

∞ 

Day Four

Morning - Sunnydale High School - Balcony

The Scoobies were walking along.

"Well, did Owen say anything about Brooke on the way home?" Buffy asked.

"Oh, you mean specifically about her?" Willow asked.

"Or generally, in the area," Carmen answered. "In the ballpark? Any sort of indication?"

They rounded the corner, starting down the stairs.

"Well, in the case, no," Xander answered.

"But he was pretty incoherent, so we might've missed it," Zoey told them.

"Really?" Brady asked.

"No," Eric answered.

"I knew it," Brooke told them. "I totally blew it last night."

"No, see, what you need is a guy who already knows your deepest, darkest secrets and still says, 'Hey, I like that girl'," Carmen told her. "Someone like..."

Xander saw Owen ahead of them. "Owen?"

"Well, I was gonna saw Wy..." Carmen trailed off when she followed his gaze to Owen. "Hi."

Brady chuckled. "Well, this is our stop."

The others walked away.

Owen looked at Brooke. "Hi."

"Hi," Brooke told him. There was a long awkward pause. "This is going well."

"I don't really know how to say this, but about last..." Owen trailed off.

"You don't even have to," Brooke told him. "I'm sure you were pretty freaked out."

"Totally," Owen agreed. Brooke looked down. "And I was wondering when I could see you again."

Brooke looked up in surprise. "Um, that was my hopeful ear. Could you repeat that?"

"I think you're the coolest," Owen told her.

Brooke smiled. "Really?"

Owen nodded. "I mean, last night was incredible. I never thought nearly getting killed would make me feel so... alive."

Brooke looked down, disappointed, walking. "So that's why you wanna be with me."

Owen followed her. "Oh, absolutely. When can we do something like that again?"

"Something like..." Brooke trailed off.

"Like, walk downtown at three in the morning and pick a fight in a bar," Owen answered. "How about tonight?"

Brooke stopped walking. "Tonight would be... not a workable thing. Did I just say that?"

"Tomorrow, then," Owen told her. "I--I'm free any night this week."

Brooke shook her head, a little sad. "I'm not. Please don't take this personally. It's not you, it's me."

Owen began to understand. "Right. It's you."

"And I was kinda hoping that... maybe you and I could still be..." Brooke told him.

Owen looked very disappointed. "I--I get it. You just wanna be friends."

Brooke nodded. "That'd be nice."

"Friends," Owen repeated. "Yeah. Great."

(Song:) Let the Sun Fall Down - Kim Richey

Owen walked away.

Brooke sighed. "Yeah. Great." She turned around, sighing, seeing Wyatt approaching the school, walking toward a bench to sit down. "Giles or Alice or Carmen call for help?"

Wyatt walked closer, sitting down. "More like... figuring out more prophecies for the Slayer and Guardians."

"Finding out the prophecy of me, Buffy and Alice, huh?" Brooke asked.

"Yeah," Wyatt answered. "You know, I was ten years old when I first got my magic. In my family, the power skipped some generations, some siblings even. My brother, he didn't have the magic. But I did. Our mother didn't. But our grandmother did."

"Were you thrilled beyond all measure?" Brooke asked.

"No," Wyatt answered. "I suddenly had these powers that I didn't yet understand, that I couldn't control. Some people got hurt because of it. I got hurt because of it. And at ten years old, I didn't know what my future would hold, but I knew that this was not what I was expecting. So I can imagine what it was like for you when you found out that you were destined to be a Guardian."

Brooke sighed. "Yeah."

"I'm sorry about Owen," Wyatt told her. "Seems like a nice guy."

"Yeah," Brooke agreed. "But he wants to be danger man. You, my friends, Buffy, Brady, you know the score. You're careful. Zoey, Eric, Xander and Willow are, too, and Carmen, Alice, Buffy, you and I know how to handle ourselves, Wyatt. Two days in my world, and Owen really would get himself killed. Or I'd get him killed." She turned to face Wyatt. "Or someone else."

"Buffy, Alice, Giles and I went to the funeral home of our own free will," Wyatt told her.

"And I should've been there, Wyatt," Brooke told him. "Carmen would have been there if she didn't come and try to talk me out of my date. Which I only went on because Buffy convinced me to, but still."

"Brooke..." Wyatt trailed off.

"I blew it," Brooke told him.

"We have volumes of lore, of prophecies, of predictions, but we don't have an instruction manual," Wyatt told her. "The same for our powers. Not just mine or yours. Alice and Carmen's too. We feel our way as we go along. And, I must say, as a newbie Guardian, you're doing pretty well."

Brooke smiled. "Well, at least we did stop that prophecy thing from coming true."

Wyatt nodded. "We did. Handily. No more Anointed One. And I would imagine the Master, wherever he is, is having a fairly bad day himself."

Brooke laughed, feeling better after talking to Wyatt about all this. Wyatt smiled slightly at the sound, amused.

(Song Ends)

∞ 

Master's Lair

The Master was quoting scripture. "'And in this time will come the Anointed. And the Slayer and Guardians will not know him. They will not stop him, and he will lead them into Hell'." He knelt down next to Collin, revealed to be the true Anointed One. "Welcome, my friend."