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.     

Flashback - 1418

Cortona, Italy

Castle

Carlo was standing by a window, looking into the room at his master, a green, large demon.

Moloch spoke in Italian. "Carlo, caro mio. [Carlo, my dear one.]" Carlo walked in, over to Moloch, kneeling down. Moloch stepped over to him, putting his hand on his head. Mi ami? [Do you love me?] Ti daro tutto. [I can give you everything.] Tutto quello che desidero e il tuo amore. [All I want is your love.]"

Carlo nodded. "Tu hai il mio amore. [You have my love.]"

Moloch growled, quickly twisting Carlo's head, snapping his neck.

  ∞ 

Church

The priest Thelonius was talking to a group of monks bearing torches. "E fuori. [He's out.] E il diavolo, Molocco. [It is the devil, Moloch.] E fuori nel mondo, facendo tante cose male. [He is out in the world, doing such bad things.] Abbiamo bisogno bi fare il circolo. [We need to form the circle.]" The monks gathered around Thelonius as he opened a large book. The pages of the book were blank. "Per potere di questo circolo di Kayless... [By the power of the circle of Kayless...]"

  ∞ 

Castle

Moloch smiled, letting Carlo's body fall. His expression changed when he realized something was wrong, looking up, surprised. "No!"

  ∞ 

Church

Thelonius continued the ceremony. "Per potere di questo circolo di Kayless, ti commando! [By the power of the circle of Kayless, I command you!] Vieni! [Come!]" In the castle, Moloch began to scream angrily. "Ti commando, vieni! [I command you, come!]" In the castle, Moloch screamed even more loudly in terror and pain. "Vieni! [Come!]" In the castle, Moloch continued to scream, bursting into millions of tiny particles. In the church, the particles fell into the book as the camera followed them down. "Vieni, demonio! [Come, demon!] Vieni! [Come!]" As the particles fell into the book, an ancient script appeared. When the pages were filled, Thelonius closed the book, stepping over to a table, putting the book into a heavy wooden box. "Preghiamo che questo libro e mai letto piu. [Pray that this accursed book is never again read.]" There was a shot of the priest from inside the box. "Che il demonio Molocco e mai lasciato piu fuoni nel mondo. [Lest the demon Moloch be loosed upon the world.]"

Thelonius put the lid over the box.

  ∞ 

Now

Day One

Morning - Sunnydale High School - Library

Still with a view from inside the box, it was opened by Buffy. "Oh, great. A book."

A book scanning project was going on. Willow and a few other computer science students were seated at the table, scanning the books into the library's computer system. Buffy pulled the book out of the box and blew some of the dust off of it. It had a picture of Moloch on it.

"Oh, uh, I, uh... haven't gone through the new arrivals," Giles told them. He used his book to point at a book pile. "Uh, put it in, uh, in that pile."

"Here," Eric told them, standing from his computer, walking toward Buffy. "I got it."

"Oh, thanks, Eric," Buffy told him. "The Willow pile."

Eric took the book from her, walking over to the pile of books next to Willow.

"Uh, when I've examined it, you can, uh, skim it," Giles told them.

Layla Francis walked in. "Scan it, Rupert. That's scan it."

Giles gave her a sarcastic look. "Of course."

"Oh, I know, our ways are strange to you, but soon you will join us in the 20th century," Layla told him. "With three whole years to spare."

Layla smiled. Giles chuckled.

Zoey was surprised to see her, standing, walking closer. "Mom. What are you doing here?"

"Oh, you forgot lunch with your aunt Jenny, huh, Zoey?" Layla asked.

Zoey remembered, nodding unconvincingly. "Uh, yeah, I remembered."

Jenny Calendar walked closer, whispering to her niece teasingly. "Yeah, after your mom told you. Hi, Layla."

"Hey, Jenny," Layla told her.

"Ms. Francis, with your sister sub-teaching a computer science class leads to the three of you finding computer science fascinating, but I happen to believe that one can survive in modern society without being a slave to the, um, idiot box," Giles told her.

"That's TV," Layla told him. "The idiot box is TV." She gestured to a computer. "This is the good box."

"And yes, while I am a genius in computer sciences, my sister Layla here is a brilliant doctor in high demand at the Sunnydale Hospital," Jenny told him. "Meaning that Layla had to love a good book and a good computer to get to where she is."

Giles was impressed, nodding. "Yes, my apologizes, Ms. Francis."

Alice looked at Giles in amusement. "I'm sure you're just so sorry, aren't you, Dad?"

Giles gave his daughter a look, sighing. "Alice."

Alice smiled. Buffy, Brooke, Carmen, Willow, Brady, Eric and Xander exchanged a knowing smirk, looking at Alice and Zoey, who both shrugged.

Two students named Dave and Fritz were sitting together.

"The printed page is obsolete," Fritz told them self-righteously. He stood. "Information isn't bound up anymore. It's an entity. The only reality is virtual. If you're not jacked in, you're not alive."

Fritz grabbed his books, walking away.

"Thank you, Fritz, for making us all sound like crazy people," Brooke told him sarcastically. She looked at Jenny. "Why did you have me paired with him for this project?"

The others smirked in amusement.

Layla looked at Giles. "Fritz, Fritz comes on a little strong, but he does have a point. You know, for the last two years more e-mail was sent than regular mail. More digitized information went across phone lines than conversation."

"That is a fact that I regard with genuine horror," Giles told her.

"I'll bet it is," Layla told him teasingly.

Jenny turned her attention to the students. "All right, guys, let's wrap it up for today. Layla, Zoey and I have a lunch date to get to."

"Thank you, Aunt Jenny," Zoey told her sarcastically.

"I've just got a few more," Willow told her. "I'll hang for a bit."

"Cool," Layla told them. "Thanks."

Everyone was about to leave.

"Xander, Eric, you wanna stay and help me?" Willow asked.

"Are you kidding?" Xander asked in disbelief.

"Yes, it was a joke I made up," Willow told them, taken aback.

"Willow, I love you, but bye," Eric told her.

Xander and Eric walked away, leaving.

"See you tomorrow," Willow told them.

"Okay," Carmen told them, running to keep up with her friends. "Buffy, Brooke, Alice, wait up."

"I'm, I'm just gonna stay and clean up a little," Giles told them. "I'll, uh, I'll be back in the middle ages."

Giles started to walk up the stairs.

"Did you ever leave?" Layla asked.

Giles stopped, looking at her. "Now I know where Zoey gets her humor, Ms. Francis."

Layla smiled to herself, pleased with his reaction to her comment. Giles continued up the stairs. Zoey smirked in amusement.

Jenny linked her arms with her sister and niece's as they made their way out of the library. "So, are sister Layla and niece Zoey ready for some family fun?"

"This family stopped being fun when it got so complicated, Aunt Jenny," Zoey told her.

Jenny chuckled, shaking her head. "Oh, Zo, you have no idea."

There was a close up of two necklaces that Zoey and Layla wore. The necklace that Zoey always wore, was matching exactly to the necklace Layla was wearing.

Necklaces:

  ∞ 

Later

Willow was alone in the library, scanning Moloch's book, drawing the scanner over the two pages, and they appeared on the monitor, typing to save the scan. The script in the book disappeared. Willow closed the book, putting it in the pile with the others, leaving. The computer monitor went blank.

Moloch's words appeared: Where am I?

∞ Slayers and Guardians ∞ 

Day Two

Morning - Sunnydale High School - Hallway

The girls ran to catch up with Willow as she slowly walked along.

"Willow!" Brooke called.

"Willow," Alice told her. "Hey, wait up."

They reached her.

"Oh, guys, I didn't even see you," Willow told them.

"Or hear us," Carmen told her. "What was up last night? I tried your line, like, a million times."

"Oh, I was..." Willow trailed off. "I was talking."

"Talking to...?" Buffy trailed off.

Willow didn't answer.

"Okay, that's it," Zoey told her. "You have a secret, and that's not allowed."

"Why not?" Willow asked, opening her locker.

"'Cause... there's a rule," Brooke told her.

"Well, I sort of met someone," Willow told them, smiling.

"I knew it," Alice told her. "This is so important. When did you meet?"

"Last week after we did the scanning project in the library," Willow answered, closing her locker.

"Does he go here?" Buffy asked curiously.

"What's his name?" Brooke asked.

"Have you kissed him?" Zoey asked.

"What's he like?" Carmen asked

"No, Malcolm, no, and very nice," Willow answered the questions in order, amused.

"You are a thing of evil for not telling us this right away," Brooke told her.

"Well, I wasn't sure there was anything to tell," Willow told them. "But last night, oh, we talked all night, and it was amazing. He's so smart, and he's romantic, and we agree about everything."

Buffy sighed. "What's he look like?"

"I don't know," Willow told them, continuing down the hall with a big smile.

The other girls slowed to a stop in confusion, exchanging a look, walking forward.

∞ 

Computer Lab

Fritz and Dave were there, typing away.

Dave spoke to his monitor. "Yes, I will. I promise."

The girls walked in.

"So, you've been seeing a guy, and you don't know what he looks like?" Brooke asked. "Okay, this is a puzzle. No, wait, I'm good at these. Does it involve a midget and a block of ice?"

"I met him online," Willow explained.

"On line for what?" Carmen asked. Willow gestured to the computer in front of them. "Oh!"

Willow sat down, turning the computer on.

Jenny walked quickly into the room wearing dark glasses and holding a mug of coffee in one hand and her books in the other. "Morning, kids." She noticed the girls as she walked to her desk, putting her mug down. "Brooke, Buffy, Alice, are you supposed to be somewhere?"

Jenny took off her glasses.

Alice tilted her head. "No, we have a free."

"Cool," Jenny told them. "But this is lab time, so let's make it a nice, short visit, okay?"

"Sure," Buffy answered.

"And, Zoey, remember, Dave is your lab partner, not Willow or Carmen," Jenny told her.

"Oh, no, I remember," Zoey told her.

"No," Dave told them.

"I'm gonna have to go with nerd boy there," Zoey told her. "By the way, Aunt Jenny?"

"Yeah?" Jenny asked.

"Can I switch lab partners?" Zoey asked.

Jenny tilted her head at her niece. "Zoey."

Zoey smiled, tilting her head. The other girls smiled in amusement.

"You have mail," the computer said.

Willow smiled. "It's him!"

The girls sat next to Willow. Willow typed to get the message.

I'm thinking of you.

"He's so sweet," Willow told them.

Alice nodded, smiling nervously. "He's a sweetie."

"What should I write back?" Willow asked.

"Uh, Willow?" Alice asked. "I think it's really great that you have this cool pen pal, but don't you think you're kinda rushing all into this? You know what I mean?"

"'I'm thinking of you, too,'" Willow told them excitedly. "No, that's incredibly stupid."

"Will, down girl," Buffy told her. "Let's focus here, okay? What do you actually know about this guy?"

"Oh, see, I knew you two would react like this," Willow told them, disappointed.

"Like what?" Carmen asked. "We just wanna make sure you're careful. That's all."

The scene cut to the computer's view of the girls.

"Guys..." Willow trailed off.

"He could be different than you think," Brooke told her.

The computer focused closely on the girls.

∞ 

Office

The computer on the desk suddenly came on. The student records rolled by. It picked out Buffy, Brooke, Zoey, Alice and Carmen's records.

∞ 

Computer Lab

Fritz was on his computer. The girls' records popped up. The monitor went blank and a message appeared.

Watch them.

Fritz looked toward where the girls were talking with Willow.

"His name is Malcolm Black, he's eighteen, he lives in Elmwood, which is about eighty miles from here, and he likes me," Willow told them.

"Short, tall, skinny, fat?" Buffy asked.

"Why does everything have to be about looks?" Willow asked.

"Not everything, but some stuff is," Brooke told her. "I mean, what if you guys get really, really intense, and then you find out that he... has... a hairy back?"

"Well, no," Willow told them. "Uh, he doesn't talk like somebody who would have a hairy back. And anyways, that stuff doesn't matter when you really care about each other. Maybe I'm not his ideal either."

"Hey, we're just trying to make sure that he's good enough for you," Zoey told her. "I think it's great that you met someone. Right, guys?"

Alice and Carmen nodded. "Right."

∞ 

Quad

A boy was sitting on the steps in the quad, reviewing his report on his laptop, upset. "This isn't my report. 'Nazi Germany was a model of a well ordered society'? I didn't write that? Who's been in my files?"

Willow walked down the steps next the boy, off in her own world, didn't notice Xander, Brady and Eric walking up from her right.

Xander put his hand over Willow's eyes, as she was forced to stop, nearly losing her balance. "Hup, guess who?"

"Uh, Xander?" Willow asked. "And you're with Eric and Brady."

"Yeah," Xander answered. "But keep guessing anyway."

Brady smirked in amusement. "Xander. Man, come on."

Xander took his hand from her eyes. "Yeah, Brady's right. I can't fool ya. You see right through my petty charade."

"We going to the Bronze tonight?" Eric asked.

Willow smiled. "Not me, I think I'm gonna call it an early night."

"Oh, Malcolm, right?" Eric asked. Willow smiled, nodding. "Yeah, I heard."

"But you're gonna be missing out," Brady told her. "We're planning to be witty. We're gonna make fun of all the people who won't talk to us."

Willow smiled. "That's nice, have a good time."

Willow walked away. The other girls walked up to the boys.

Brady watched Willow go. "She certainly looks perky."

Eric frowned. "Yeah. Color in the cheeks. Bounce in the step. I don't like it. It's not healthy." He turned to face the girls. "So, are you going to the Bronze tonight?"

They started to walk.

"Yep," Carmen answered. "Bring your wit and the urge to taunt people who won't talk to us."

Buffy smiled. "Yeah. Totally."

Brooke looked at Xander. "And aren't you the jealous man?"

"What are you talking about?" Xander asked.

"You're jealous," Alice answered.

"Of what?" Xander asked.

"Willow's got a thing, and Xander's left hanging," Brady told him.

"Oh, that's meaningless drivel," Xander told them. "I'm not interested in Willow like that."

"Yeah, but you got used to being the Belle of the Ball," Alice told him.

"No, it's just... this Malcolm guy?" Eric asked. "What's his deal? I mean, tell me you're not slightly wigged."

"Okay, slightly," Brooke admitted. "I mean, just not knowing what he's really like."

"Or who he really is," Brady agreed. "I mean, sure he says he's a high school student. But I can say I'm a high school student."

"You are," Zoey told him.

"Okay, but I can also say that I'm an elderly Dutch woman," Brady told them. "Get me? I mean, who's to say I'm not if I'm in the elderly Dutch chat room?"

"I get your point," Eric told him, making light. Then the point set in. "I get your point. Oh, this guy could be anybody. He could be weird, or crazy, or old, or... He could be a circus freak. He's probably a circus freak!"

"Yeah," Xander told them. "I mean, we read about it all the time. You know, people meet on the 'Net, they talk, they get together, have dinner, a show, horrible ax murder."

"Willow ax murdered by a circus freak..." Eric trailed off. "Okay, okay, what do we do?"

Alice realized something. "What are we doing?" She hit Xander and Brady. "Xander, Brady, you get us started. We are totally overreacting."

"You two and Eric do to this all the time to make us wig over the littlest thing," Carmen told them. "It's different this time because you got Eric to freak out with us because Willow's his sister."

"But it's fun, isn't it?" Brady asked.

Zoey pushed Brady and Xander forward. The others chuckled, following.

∞ 

Computer Lab

Fritz was staring at stuff, scrolling by on the monitor, in a trance. "I'm jacked in. I'm jacked in. I'm jacked in." The camera panned down to his arm where he was carving an 'M' into it. "I'm jacked in."

∞ 

Day Three

Morning - Sunnydale High School - Girls' Locker Room

The girls were in the girls' locker room for gym, dressed out, minus Willow.

"You heard anything from Willow?" Buffy asked.

"Nope," Zoey answered. "Is it paranoid if I started worrying about her?"

"She's been your and Carmen's best friend for how long, Zoey?" Brooke asked.

"Zoey and I've been best friends for longer than I can remember," Carmen told them. "But Zoey's been best friends with Willow longer than we've been friends."

"Then, no, it's not paranoid, Zoey," Alice told her.

Suddenly Willow came barging in.

Buffy chuckled. "Whoa. You're the Late Girl."

"I overslept," Willow told them.

"Till fifth period?" Brooke asked. "Talking to Malcolm last night?"

"Yeah," Willow answered, looking between them. "What?"

"Nothing," Alice told her.

"You're all having an expression," Willow told them.

"We're not," Zoey told her. "But if we were it'd be saying, 'This just isn't like you.'"

"Not like me to have a boyfriend?" Willow asked.

"He's boyfriendly?" Carmen asked.

"I don't understand why you guys don't want me to have this," Willow told them. "I mean, boys don't chase me around all the time. I thought you'd be happy for me."

"We just want you to be sure," Buffy told her. "To meet him face to face."

Alice nodded in agreement. "In daylight, in a crowded place with some friends. You know, before you become all... obsessive."

"Malcolm and I really care about each other," Willow told them. "Big deal if I blow off a couple classes."

"I thought you said you overslept," Brooke told her.

"Malcolm said neither of you would understand," Willow told them.

Carmen looked at in her in concern. "Malcolm was right."

∞ 

Computer Lab

Zoey walked into the computer lab, seeing Dave, walking closer, sitting next to him. "Dave?" He was oblivious. "Hey there, Dave. Anybody home?"

Zoey touched his shoulder.

Dave jumped. "Oh, what do you want?"

"I wanted to ask you something if you have a minute," Zoey told him.

"What is it?" Dave asked.

"Well, you're a computer geek--genius--and, uh, I sort of have a technical problem," Zoey told him. "And since you're my lab partner, thought you could help me. If I wanted to find out something about someone, if someone e-mailed me, could I trace the letter?"

"Well, you could pull up somebody's profile based on their user name," Dave told her.

"But they write the profile themselves, right?" Zoey asked. "And so they could say anything they wanted."

"True," Dave told her.

Zoey smiled. "Wow. I had knowledge." Dave smiled. "Well, is there a way to find out exactly where a letter, an e-letter came from? I mean, the actual location of the computer?"

Dave considered. "That's a challenge."

"'Cause, you see, Willow's got this boyfriend, Malcolm, and to tell you the truth, Xander, Brady, Eric, Buffy, Brooke, Alice, Carmen and I all think--" Zoey started.

"You need to leave Willow alone," Dave cut her off, annoyed.

"What do you mean?" Zoey asked.

"That's none of your business," Dave told her insistently.

Zoey smiled a small smile as she jumped to a conclusion. "Dave, are you Malcolm?"

Dave turned back to the computer, typing. "Of course not."

"Dave, what's going on?" Zoey asked.

"Look, I'll talk to you later, okay?" Dave asked. "I've got work to do."

Zoey stood, turning around, walking away, exhaling. "So do I."

Zoey stopped at the door when she felt like someone was watching her. Zoey turned her head to see Fritz staring at her. Zoey turned to the door, walking out.

∞ 

Library

While Buffy and Giles were training with weapons, Alice and Brooke were training with their Guardian training, and Wyatt was teaching Carmen more about her powers, Zoey, Brady, Eric and Xander were watching.

"I'm telling you," Eric told them. "Something is going on. It's not just Willow. Dave. Fritz. They're all wicked jumpy."

"Who are Dave and Fritz?" Wyatt asked.

"Boys who aren't sparkingly normal as it is," Giles answered.

"Wyatt, trust us," Brooke told him.

"I do," Wyatt told them as they continued to train. "I really don't know what to tell you. I may not be as old fashioned as Giles with computers. But I'm not exactly adept with them either. Now, if it were a nice spell work needed to be done? I'd be more in my element. Well, I--I suppose you could, um, tail Dave. See if he's up to something."

"Follow Dave?" Brady asked. "What? In dark glasses and trench coats? Please. We can work this out ourselves."

∞ 

Outside

Outside after school, Dave got into his car, starting it and driving off.

Zoey stood in dark glasses and a trench coat as she watched him go.

∞ 

CRD Building - Outside

Zoey followed Dave to the back of a CRD building, the loading dock. Dave drove up and got out. Zoey stood outside the fence, looking in. She saw Dave go up to a technician and started talking to him. After a moment Dave and the technician walked inside. The panned over to the CRD logo and a security camera turning toward Zoey.

∞ 

Sunnydale High School - Computer Lab

Fritz was watching footage of Zoey on his computer. "She's too close. What do I do?" The message from Moloch on the computer read: Kill her. "Party."

∞ ∞

Library

Zoey met back up with everyone.

"So whatever Zoey followed Dave to..." Wyatt trailed off. "Whatever Dave is into.... It's large."

"What was the name of this place?" Giles asked.

"It said CRD," Zoey explained. "But, I couldn't get close enough to see what it was."

"Calax Research and Development," Xander told them. "It's a computer research lab. Third largest employer in Sunnydale till it closed down last year." They looked at him weirdly. "What? I can't have information sometimes?"

"Well, it's just somewhat unprecedented," Giles told him.

"Well, my uncle used to work there," Xander told them. "I--in a floor sweeping capacity."

"But it closed?" Brady asked.

"Uh-huh," Xander answered.

"Looked pretty functional from where I stood," Zoey told them. "I don't have a clue what they were doing."

"And what do they need Dave for?" Brady asked.

"Something about computers, right?" Carmen asked. "I mean, he is off-the-chart smart."

"We still don't know an enormous amount," Giles told them. "Whatever is going on there may be on the up-and-up."

"No, if CRD opened, it would've been on the news," Brady told them.

"Besides, I can just tell something's wrong," Brooke told them. "My spider sense is tingling."

"Your... spider sense?" Wyatt repeated in amusement. "Wow."

Giles frowned in confusion.

"Pop culture reference," Buffy told him, teasing her sister. "Brooke, Wyatt may have got what you said, but Giles didn't. Say you're sorry."

Brooke gave her a sarcastic look before looking at their Watcher. "Sorry, Giles."

"Yes, well, ahem, I think we're still at a stand still," Giles told them. "Uh, short of breaking into the place, I don't see..."

"Breaking in," Alice told them, sliding off of the table. "Then this is the plan."

"I'm free tonight," Brady told them.

Carmen smiled. "Tonight it is."

They walked toward the door.

"A moment, please, of quiet reflection," Giles told them. They turned to face him. "I do not suggest that you illegally enter the..." He saw Layla and Jenny walk in behind them. "Data into the file so the book will be listed by title as well as by author."

They looked at him in confusion.

"Layla and I just came by to make sure that Zoey didn't forget to remember that we have plans tonight so that I can tell my sister and niece something," Jenny told them. Zoey jumped, turning to face them, smiling nervously. "It is important, Zoey, but whenever you're ready to come by, we'll be at my place."

Zoey nodded. "Got it."

Layla chuckled, looking at the students. "You're here again? Kids really dig the library, don't you?"

"We're literary," Alice told them.

"To read makes our speaking English good," Xander told them.

"I'm sorry about them," Wyatt told them. "We'll be going now."

"Oh, Wyatt, this is Zoey's mom Layla Francis, and Zo's aunt Jenny," Brooke explained. "Uh, Ms. Calendar. This is Wyatt Pratt."

Wyatt shook their hands. "Interesting to meet more of the Francis family besides Zoey. Layla, Jenny, nice to meet you."

"You too, Wyatt Pratt," Layla told him. "Remember, Zoey, tonight."

"We'll make sure she's there," Wyatt told them. "Goodbye for now. Let's go."

"Uh, we'll, uh, continue this conversation at another time," Giles told them.

"I think we're done," Carmen told him.

Wyatt, Brooke, Buffy, Eric, Zoey, Carmen, Alice, Brady and Xander walked away.

Brady looked at Xander. "Makes our speaking English is good?"

"I panicked, okay?" Xander asked defensively.

They walked out.

∞ 

Computer Lab

Willow was chatting online with Malcolm. The conversation played over with automatic voices.

Malcolm: I've never felt this way about anyone before, Willow.

Willow: I know what you mean. I feel like you know me better than anyone.

Malcolm: I do.

Willow: Do you think we should meet?

Malcolm: I think we should soon.

Willow: I'm nervous.

Malcolm: I'm not. Isn't that strange?

Willow: That's what my friends and my brother don't understand, how comfortable you can make me feel.

Malcolm: They just make trouble. That's why Buffy, Brooke and Brady got kicked out of their old school.

Willow was puzzled, pausing for a moment before she typed back.

Willow: How did you know that?

Malcolm: It's on their permanent records. You must have mentioned it.

Willow responded, unsure.

Willow: I guess.

Malcolm: Let's not worry about them anymore.

Willow: I have to sign off. I'll talk to you later.

Malcolm: Don't.

Willow: Bye.

Willow turned off the monitor, standing, leaving.

∞ 

Library

Layla was still in the library with Giles, pacing. "You know, Zoey doesn't talk much to me or Jenny anymore. Zoey's always off in her own world, with her friends. She talks about them a lot. And you."

"Me?" Giles asked, surprised.

"Yeah, how you're always hanging out in here working on some new project all the time," Layla answered. "Practically the only thing I get to hear about from Zoey anymore these days. I don't get to talk to her much anymore."

Giles nodded. "Well, being a doctor with a trying schedule and the way Zoey is always running around with her friends, my daughter Alice... I can assume that it does make it hard for the two of you to communicate."

Layla chuckled without humor, nervously fiddling with her necklace, which accidentally broke the chain of the necklace. "That is certainly one way to put it. My husband Todd left a while ago, left me and Zoey alone while he was out playing another band, and all that. After an affair with Zoey's friend's mother, that ruined both marriages, actually."

Giles nodded. "Yes, I think I've heard about that. Amy Madison's mother."

"Yeah," Layla answered. "Boy, you teachers here at this school really care about your students, don't you? And their parents if you're listening to me. An amazing school. Or just an amazing librarian." Giles chuckled. "And like a true librarian, you think that knowledge should be kept in these carefully guarded repositories where only a handful of white guys can get at it."

Giles shook his head. "Nonsense. I simply don't adhere to a--a knee jerk assumption that because something is new, it's better."

"This isn't a fad, Rupert," Layla told him. "It's a new society here. These computers are all over the hospital."

"A society in which human interaction is all but obsolete?" Giles asked. "In which people can be completely manipulated by technology, well... well, thank you, I'll pass."

Layla chuckled in amusement, opening Moloch's book, not noticing that the crystal of her necklace had fallen off. "Well, um, I think you'll be very happy here with your musty, old books."

"These musty old books have a great deal more to say than in any of those fabulous web pages," Giles told her.

Layla frowned. "Hmm. This one doesn't have a whole lot more to say." Giles looked at the empty book. "What is it, like a diary?"

Giles walked closer. "How odd. I haven't looked through all the volumes yet. I didn't, um..."

Layla looked up in confusion. "What is it?"

Giles was puzzled, shaking his head. "Uh, nothing, um, a--a diary, yes, I imagine that's what it is. Well, it's been so nice talking to you, Layla, must do it again sometime. Bye, now."

Layla nodded. "Right, yeah, I do have to get to Jenny's. Wait for Zoey there. Tell Zo to come after you're done with whatever you're doing, okay?"

Giles nodded. Layla stood, walking away.

Giles watched her go, curious, noticing that her necklace was still there, about to call out to her, but she was already gone. "Layla..."

∞ 

Outside

The school nurse was frantic as she quickly walked along with a man. "I checked the computer, and there's nothing in his file about being allergic to penicillin."

Zoey walked out of the school alone.

Dave ran up to her. "Zoey!"

"Dave," Zoey greeted. "How're you doing?"

"Okay," Dave answered. "Uh, look, I'm sorry about earlier. I haven't been getting much sleep lately, you know?"

"Don't sweat it," Zoey told him.

"Willow was looking for you," Dave told her awkwardly.

"Good, I need to talk to her," Zoey told him. "Do you know where she is?"

"She said she'd be in the girls' locker room," Dave told her.

Zoey nodded. "Great, thanks."

Zoey looked at him for a moment, and then walked away to find Willow.

Dave knew that he couldn't go through with whatever was going to happen, cursing himself, running to get help. "Alice! Brooke!"

∞ 

Inside - Girls' Locker Room

In the girls' locker room, it was deserted.

Zoey slowly walked down the aisle and into a row of lockers. "Will?" She walked further. "Willow?" Fritz was in the shower, smirking, turning on the water, leaving. "Will? You taking a shower?" Zoey walked to the shower and saw that the shower head was on, but no one was there. "I guess not." She walked into the shower to turn the water off. "This is how droughts get started."

Zoey turned the water off. Alice and Brooke ran inside.

"Zoey!" Alice told her. "Get out!" Zoey turned toward them in confusion. She noticed the wires on the floor beginning to spark. Zoey didn't have enough time to get away. The water reached Zoey's feet, just barely sparking. Alice and Brooke used their red Guardian energy to levitate Zoey above the water so that when the electrocution happened, no one got hurt, pulling her toward them. Zoey was stunned to be levitating via red energy like this, looking around, even more stunned that she could have died without them. Alice and Brooke lowered Zoey to the floor, hugging her. "You okay?"

∞ 

Computer Lab

The lab was dark.

Dave walked in, turning on a PC. "I can't do it. I'm not gonna do it."

Moloch: (speaking in computer voice like before) But you promised.

"Zoey isn't a threat to you," Dave told him desperately. "Stop with it."

Moloch: The project is almost complete. You won't have to do it again.

Dave dropped his bag. "Oh, I can't."

Moloch: I've shown you a new world, Dave. Knowledge, power. I can give you everything. All I want is your love.

Dave shook his head. "No. This isn't right. None of it is."

The scratch pad came up on the monitor as Moloch wrote a note.

Moloch: I'm sorry. I've been a terrible person. I'm a coward and I can't go on living like this. Forgive me, Mom and Dad. At least now I'll have some peace. Remember me. Love, Dave.

Dave backed away from the computer in fear. Fritz was waiting behind him by the window, smirking.

∞ 

Library

The three girls joined the others, sitting at the table. Zoey's hair was a little frizzy.

Brady was pacing angrily. "I'm gonna kill Dave."

"Brady, he came to Brooke and Alice to warn us about Zoey," Buffy told him. "Knowing that they could save her."

"Warn you to save Zo after setting her up?" Carmen asked skeptically. "Is she gonna be okay?"

"She was only grounded for a moment," Wyatt told them, sitting, handing mugs to Alice, Brooke and Zoey. "Still, Zoey, if Dave hadn't warned Alice and Brooke..."

"Having Guardians for best friends do come with a lot of perks," Xander told them. "Thanks, Brooke. Thanks, Alice. For saving Zoey."

"Yeah," Brady agreed. "Zoey..."

Zoey sighed. "Alice, Brooke, thank you for saving my life. Again."

"No problem," Brooke told her.

"It's our job, and you're our friend," Alice told her.

"But tell me the truth," Zoey told them. "How's my hair?"

"It's great," Eric told her. "It's your best hair ever."

Brady nodded. "Uh... oh, yeah."

"I just... I don't understand what would make Dave do a thing like that," Buffy admitted.

"I think perhaps I do," Giles told them, standing, walking over to get Moloch's book, holding it up as he walked toward them. "Does this look familiar to any of you?"

"Yeah, sure," Wyatt told them. "Looks like a book."

"I knew that one," Xander told them.

Giles set it on the table.

Alice sighed. "In the dark ages, the souls of demons were sometimes trapped in certain volumes. They remained locked within the book, harmless, unless the pages were read aloud. Unless I'm mistaken, this is Moloch, the Corrupter. A very deadly and seductive demon. He draws people to him with promises of love, power, knowledge. Preys on impressionable minds."

"Like Dave's," Carmen guessed.

"Dave, and who knows how many others," Wyatt told them.

"And Moloch is inside that book?" Buffy asked.

"Not anymore," Giles answered, opening the book to reveal the empty pages.

"You released Moloch?" Xander asked.

"Way to go," Carmen told him sarcastically.

"I didn't read it," Giles told them defensively. "Layla found it and it was already blank."

"Layla?" Wyatt repeated. "You mean Zoey's mother."

"How long were you talking to my mom?" Zoey asked.

"Let's get back on point," Brooke told them. "So a powerful demon with horns is walking around Sunnydale and nobody's noticed?"

"If he's so big and strong, why bother with Dave?" Carmen asked. "I mean, why didn't he just attack Zoey himself?"

"I don't know," Alice told them. "And I don't know who could've read that book. It wasn't even in English."

"Where was it?" Buffy asked.

"Uh, in a pile with others that were, um, uh, scanned," Alice answered.

They looked at the computer.

"And that released the demon?" Brady asked.

"No, he's not out here," Eric told them, pointing to the computer. "He's in there."

"The scanner read the book," Wyatt realized. "It brought Moloch out as information to be absorbed."

"He's gone binary on us," Buffy told them.

"Okay, for those of us in our studio audience, who are me?" Xander asked. "You guys are saying that Moloch is in this computer?"

"And every computer connected to it by a modem," Brady answered.

"He's everywhere," Wyatt told them.

"What are we gonna do?" Brady asked.

"Willow scanned him into her file," Giles told them. "It may be... a futile gesture, but I suggest we, um, uh, delete it."

"Solid," Brooke told them. "The ones of us who are in computer sciences, show of hands."

They looked at Eric, Zoey and Carmen.

"Since Zoey almost got electrocuted and this guy is seducing Willow, my sister, I'll do it," Eric told them, walking to the computer.

"You go, Eric," Buffy told him. "But don't get too close."

Eric sat down in front of it. "Okay. Okay." He turned on the monitor. "So which file do you think it is? Willow?" He typed to bring up Willow's file. "That's probably it, right? I'll just delete the whole thing."

Eric dragged the file icon to the trash bin.

Moloch's demonic face appeared on the monitor, making them gasp. "Stay away from Willow! It is none of your business!"

The monitor returned to normal.

Brady calmed down. "So that's what Malcolm looks like."

∞ ∞

They exchanged a look.

"So much for delete file," Carmen told them.

"This is very bad," Wyatt told them.

"Are we overreacting?" Xander asked. "He's in a computer. What can he do?"

"You mean besides convince a perfectly nice kid to try and kill Zoey?" Carmen asked. "I don't know."

"How about mess up all the medical equipment in the world?" Buffy asked.

"Randomize traffic signals," Brady added.

"Access launch codes for our nuclear missiles," Brooke added.

"Destroy the world's economy," Wyatt added.

"I think I pretty much capped it with that nuclear missile thing," Brooke told him teasingly.

"Right, yours was best," Wyatt told her.

Brooke smiled.

"Okay, he's a threat," Xander told them. "I'm on board with that now. But what can we do about it?"

"I think the first thing we do is find Willow," Eric told them. "She's probably talking to him right now. God, that creeps me out."

"What does he want with Willow?" Carmen asked.

"Let's never find out," Brady told them. "Okay, we should check the computer lab. Eric, call your house and see if she's there."

∞ 

Computer Lab

Buffy, Brooke, Wyatt and Alice walked into the lab.

"Willow?" Buffy asked.

The computers all came on, startling them. They backed further into the room, looking around, turning around, jumping as they bumped into Dave. Dave was hanging from the ceiling with the note pinned to his shirt.

∞ 

Library

The others were in the library.

Eric hung up the phone. "No answer."

"Damn it," Brady told them.

"Well, it wasn't busy either, so she's not online," Eric told them.

The others walked in.

"She's not home," Xander told them.

"What did you find?" Carmen asked.

Buffy, Alice and Brooke looked sadly disturbed.

"Willow isn't..." Eric trailed off worriedly.

"Dave," Wyatt told them. "He's dead."

"How?" Carmen asked.

"Well, it looks like suicide," Brooke told them.

"With a little help from my friends?" Xander asked.

"I'd guess Fritz," Wyatt told them. "Or the other zomboids from CRD."

"Okay, Eric, we're going to your house," Buffy told him. "Giles, Wyatt, you need to come up with a way to get Moloch out of the 'Net."

"I have records of the ceremonies, but, but that's for a creature of the flesh," Giles told them. "Th--this could be something completely different."

"That's why Wyatt's here," Brooke told him. "He can help you."

Carmen looked at the others. "Come on."

∞ 

Rosenburg House - Willow's Room

Willow was coming home, walking into her room. "Mom? Dad? Eric?"

Willow dumped her book bag on the bed, opening it.

PC: You have mail.

Willow looked at her computer, seeing the mail icon active, walking closer, logging on, clicking on the icon, opening the new message folder.

No more waiting. I need you to see me.

Willow turned off her computer, going back to her bag, but the monitor came back on by itself.

PC: You have mail.

Willow stared at it in disbelief. The doorbell ran. After another look at her computer, Willow went to answer it.

∞ 

Foyer

Willow walked toward the door. "Eric, did you forget your keys again?"

Willow opened the door, but no one was there, so she turned to go back in.

Fritz reached around her head with a cloth splashed with chloroform, eventually making her fall unconscious. "No more waiting."

∞ 

Sunnydale High School - Library

While Giles was researching and listening to the radio, Wyatt was preparing a ritual.

Man: (on radio) "A spokesman for the archbishop denied the allegations, blaming computer error for the apparent financial discrepancy."

Wyatt looked over his spellwork. "Binding rituals."

Man: (on radio) "In Washington DC, the FBI today reported that all of its serial killer profiles have been mysteriously downloaded from its central computer."

∞ 

Night - Rosenburg House - Willow's Room

The others arrived.

"Willow?" Buffy called worriedly.

"This isn't good," Xander told them.

They ran inside.

∞ 

Willow's Room

They ran into the room.

"Willow?" Alice asked. "Willow."

"Okay, any thoughts?" Brooke asked.

Carmen looked around, seeing the message on the computer, reading aloud. "'No more waiting, I need you to see me'? See him how? Where?"

"What about CRD?" Brooke asked.

"The research place?" Buffy asked.

"I'm guessing that's Moloch central," Xander told them.

"Guessing that's our best lead," Brady told them. "Let's just hope Wyatt and Giles can back us up."

"Come on, we gotta get to Willow," Eric told them.

They ran out of the house, leaving.

∞ 

Sunnydale High School - Library

Wyatt was on the computer. "All right, Giles, I made it to where all you would have to do now is type in what I say." His phone rang, causing him to answer. "Brooke?"

Brooke was outside CRD with the others. "Yeah."

"Willow?" Wyatt asked.

Brooke sighed. "Not at home. It looks like she was taken somewhere."

"Where are you?" Wyatt asked.

Brooke looked at the sign. "CRD. Whatever Moloch wants Willow for, it's probably in there."

"Giles and I are, uh, working to get Moloch offline," Wyatt told her.

"Here's a tip," Brooke told him. "Hurry."

Brooke hung up.

∞ 

CRD - Office

Willow was lying on a table, unconscious, waking up, sitting up, looking around, seeing Fritz and a technician standing there, and beyond them a computer monitor. The camera began to close on the monitor.

She heard Moloch's voice. "Welcome, my love. I can't tell you how good it is to see you." Willow was terrified. A metal hand slapped down on the screen. The camera panned up to Moloch's face. A robot body had been built for him. "With my own two eyes."

Willow was terrified, breathing heavily.

∞ ∞

Moloch walked closer. "Willow."

Willow whispered in fear. "Malcolm."

Fritz and the technician walked toward Willow, taking her by the arms.

Moloch slowly walked closer. "This world is so new, so exciting. I can see all of it. Everything flows through me. I know the secrets of your kings. But nothing compares to having form again. To be able to walk." He put his hand on Fritz's head. "To touch." He broke Fritz's neck. "To kill."

Willow watched Fritz's dead body fall in terror, looking at Moloch.

∞ 

Outside

Buffy jumped over the fence, landing on the other side. Brooke and Alice used their red Guardian energy to levitate themselves over the fence, landing on the other side. Carmen used her new levitation power to levitate over, having better control over the new power, landing on the other side. Brady, Eric and Zoey climbed over it, letting themselves land safely on their feet. Xander climbed over it, yelling as he fell to the ground. The others helped him stand.

"Back way?" Brady asked.

"Back way," Buffy answered.

They walked toward the back entrance. Carmen used her power to break the doors open, walking in determinedly. The others followed.

∞ 

Inside - Office

Moloch knew they were there. "Here they come."

∞ 

Sunnydale High School - Library

Wyatt was lightning candles. "The first thing we have to do is form the circle of Kayless."

"Form a circle?" Giles repeated. "But there's only two of us, Wyatt. That's really more of a line."

"You're not getting it, Giles," Wyatt told him. "We have to form the circle inside." He sat at the computer. "I'm putting out a flash. I just hope enough people respond."

"Won't Moloch just shut us down?" Giles asked.

"Well, I'm betting he won't figure out what we're doing until it's too late," Wyatt told him.

Giles nodded. "Hoping and betting, that's what we've got."

"You wanna throw in praying?" Wyatt asked sarcastically. "Be my bloody guest."

∞ 

CRD - Office

Willow was scared. "I don't understand. What do you want from me?"

"I want to give you the world," Moloch told her.

"Why?" Willow asked suspiciously.

Moloch chuckled. "You created me. I brought these humans together to build me a body. But you gave me life. Took me out of the book that held me. I want to repay you."

"By lying to me?" Willow asked. "By pretending to be a person? Pretending you loved me?"

Moloch walked closer. "I do."

∞ 

Lobby

The others walked toward the guard. He stood to stop them. Buffy punched him, making him unconscious, continuing. They followed her.

Brady noticed the guard's monitor, looking at Willow and Moloch. "Uh, guys!"

The others walked closer, looking at the monitor.

"It's her," Buffy told them.

"Yeah," Xander agreed. "Who's the other guy?"

∞ 

Office

Moloch continued to speak to Willow. "Don't you see? I can give you everything. I can control the world. Right now a man in Beijing is transferring money to a Swiss bank account for a contract on his mother's life. Good for him."

∞ 

Hallway

The others walked through the doors.

Buffy found the door to the office they were in, trying to force it open. "I can't bust it. It's heavy steel."

"Back away," Carmen told them. "Alice, Brooke and I got this."

Everyone backed away. When Carmen, Alice and Brooke started to try to use their powers to break the door down, an alarm went off and red lights flashed, making them jump and stop.

"What's going on?" Brady asked.

"The door's computerized to sense pressure and power," Alice answered.

"Whoops," Zoey told them.

A gas began to spray into the hall.

∞ 

Sunnydale High School - Library

Wyatt was almost done with the spell set up. "Almost there."

"Couldn't you just stop Moloch by entering some computer virus?" Giles asked.

"You've seen way too many movies," Wyatt told him. "And even if that could work, I wouldn't know how to do that. We're up. I read, you type. Ready?"

"Uh, I am," Giles answered. "Go."

Wyatt started to read the spell, casting it, while Giles typed it into the computer. "By the power of the divine, by the essence of the word, I command you."

∞ 

CRD - Hallway

Alice, Brooke and Carmen were still tearing at the doors with their power, the gas still coming. Everyone started to cough. The gas was weakening Alice, Brooke and Carmen so they couldn't use their power to tear the door open.

∞ 

Office

Willow looked at Moloch in fear. "Let me leave?"

"But I love you," Moloch told her.

Willow backed away. "Don't say that. That's a joke. You don't love anything."

"You are mine," Moloch told her.

"I'm not yours!" Willow argued. "I'm never gonna be yours. Never."

Moloch lowered his head, considering, raising his head. "Pity."

∞ 

Sunnydale High School - Library

As Wyatt cast the spell, Giles typed. "By the power of the circle of Kayless, I command you." He saw the typing. "Kayless, with a K."

∞ 

CRD - Hallway

Zoey, Brady, Eric and Xander were almost unconscious, sliding down the wall to the floor. Buffy, Brooke, Alice and Carmen weren't much better, struggling to stay standing and stay awake.

∞ 

Office

Moloch had Willow cornered, reaching up, putting his hand on her head. "I'll miss you."

Willow screamed.

∞ 

Sunnydale High School - Library

As Wyatt cast the spell, Giles typed. "Demon, come!" In the office, Moloch screamed, lifting his arms in pain, letting go of Willow, starting to writhe. "I command you!"

∞ 

CRD - Office

Hearing Willow scream was enough motivation for Alice, Brooke and Carmen to break the door down with their powers. Everyone ran in. Buffy jumped toward Moloch, kicking him, but he only staggered.

Buffy fell to the floor. "Ow. Guy's made of metal."

The technician grabbed Xander from behind and pulled him away. Guards grabbed Zoey and Brady. Buffy stood.

"Eric, get her out of here," Alice told him.

Eric took Willow's hand. They ran out of the office.

Moloch continued to writhe in pain. "No! I won't go back!"

Xander, Zoey and Brady were able to break free without help. Xander pushed the technician back into a wall, turning around and punching him, making him unconscious. Zoey backed into the guard restraining her, making him back into the wall, making him let go, turning to punch him out. Brady kicked free, slamming his guard into the wall, then to the floor, knocking him out. Buffy, Alice, Carmen and Brooke led them out of the room.

"Hey," Xander told them. "We got to hit people and break free without help!"

∞ 

Sunnydale High School - Library

Wind was blowing inside. The computer was flashing as Wyatt and Giles continued the ritual. In the office, Moloch continued to scream until his screams died down. The computer monitor stopped flashing. Smoke came out of the back of it.

"He's out of the Net," Giles told him. "He's bound."

Wyatt walked over to the book, picking it up, opening it to look. "He's not in the book."

Giles stood, looking also. "He's not in the book. Well, where is he?"

∞ 

CRD - Hallway

Buffy, Brooke, Brady, Willow, Eric, Zoey, Xander, Alice and Carmen ran down the hall. They saw guards and technicians running toward them, closing a set of double doors in their way.

"Let's go this way!" Brady told them, turning the other way.

"Brady, wait!" Alice told him.

Moloch crashed through the wall between them, crashing Xander and Brady to the floor, turning toward the others, stalking toward them, starting to swing at Buffy. Buffy tried to block the hit, but he didn't budge and just pushed her aside and into the wall. She slid to the floor, a bit dazed. Moloch gripped Zoey by her throat, pushing her into the wall, letting her fall. Alice, Carmen and Brooke used their power to make Moloch back away, making him stumble back into the wall.

"I was omnipotent," Moloch told them angrily. "I was everything! Now I'm trapped in this shell!"

"Hey!" Eric told him. Moloch turned to face him. Eric had a fire extinguisher, continuously using it to hit Moloch, making him back away. "We haven't met. I'm Eric, Willow's brother. Pretty sure no big brother has given you the 'if you hurt my sister, I'll kill you' speech. But I'm happy to be the first."

Eric hit Moloch even harder, trying again for his face. Moloch grabbed the extinguisher from him, throwing it down, grabbing Eric, throwing him down the hall into the other boys, who were just getting up again. They all crashed to the floor.

When Alice, Brooke and Carmen continued to use their power to tear at Moloch, he turned his attention to them. "This body's all I have left. But it's enough to crush you!"

Willow ran to help Zoey up, helping her toward the others.

Carmen looked at Moloch. "Take your best shot."

Moloch punched toward Alice and Brooke, but they used their red Guardian energy to block the move, trapping his wrist with the energy. Combined with Carmen's power, they were able to electrocute Moloch, enveloping him by high voltage red energy that seared him and started to kill him. Alice, Brooke and Carmen ran over to the others. Moloch's circuitry overloaded and his body exploded. Alice and Brooke used their energy to cover everyone as a shield, protecting them from the electrocution/explosion. Moloch's head landed right in front of them.

∞ 

Day Four

Morning - Sunnydale High School - Library

Giles was waiting in his office, looking at Layla's necklace, waiting.

Layla walked in. "I got your call. What was so urgent?"

Giles stood, walking closer. "In all the hurry yesterday, Layla, I don't think you noticed that the chain of your necklace broke, and this was left here when you left."

Layla walked closer, relieved, surprised. "Thank you. You know, it's a family heirloom, and the chain was delicate, but you know family stuff."

Giles nodded in agreement. "I also wanted to tell you that it was my fault that Zoey didn't get to speak to you or your sister last night. She was staying behind for after school credit and she was here with her friends and me."

"Oh, thanks for telling me that," Layla told him. "Didn't know that Zoey needed that much help. Then again, Zo doesn't really tell me much."

"She doesn't need the help," Giles answered. "She's remarkably smart, but doesn't give herself enough credit."

Layla smiled a little. "Thank you." She noticed the computer from the night before and the shape it was in. "What did you do to that poor computer? You really hate computers that much?"

Giles chuckled. "Truthfully, I'm even less anxious to be around computers than I used to be."

"Honestly, what is it about them that bothers you so much?" Layla asked.

"The smell," Giles answered.

Layla chuckled. "Computers don't smell, Rupert."

Giles nodded in agreement. "I know. Smell is the most powerful trigger to the memory there is. A certain flower or a--a whiff of smoke can bring up experiences long forgotten. Books spell. Musty, and--and--and rich. The knowledge gained from a computer is, uh... it has no--no texture, no--no context. It's--it's there and then it's gone. If it's to last, then the getting of knowledge should be, uh, tangible, it should be, um... smelly."

Layla was impressed with the answer, smiling a bit in amusement. "Well, you really are an old-fashioned boy, aren't you?"

"Well, I don't dangle rocks from my neck," Giles replied, gesturing to Layla's necklace.

Layla chuckled. "Like I said. Family thing. I've never taken this thing off. And Zoey's never taken off hers."

"Speaking of Zoey, I will let her know to talk to you and her aunt, Layla," Giles told her.

Layla smiled a little, nodding. "Thank you. I'll see you anon."

Layla walked out of the library. Giles watched her go, looking puzzled yet intrigued.

∞ 

Outside

The Scoobies were sitting on the fountain, trying to cheer up Willow.

"We gonna go to the Bronze tonight?" Carmen asked. "We all?"

"It'll be fun," Alice told her.

"Yeah, Willow, fun?" Brady asked. "Remember fun? That thing where you smile?"

Alice smiled.

"Oh, I'm sorry, guys," Willow told them. "I'm just thinking about..."

"Malcolm?" Zoey finished.

"Malcolm, Moloch... whatever he's called," Willow told them. "The one boy that's really liked me, and he's a demon robot. What does that say about me?"

"It doesn't say anything about you," Buffy told her.

"I mean, I thought I was really falling..." Willow trailed off.

"Hey, did you forget?" Carmen asked. "The one boy I've had the hots for turned out to be my vampire soulmate."

"Right, and the teacher I had a crush on and every other boy in school, including Eric and Brady here, were drawn to?" Xander asked. "Giant praying mantis?"

Xander smiled a goofy smile.

"Yeah, and remember best friend Jesse who had a crush on me forever?" Zoey asked. "He was turned into a vampire and tried to kill us, I had to drive a stake through his back into his heart to save Eric and Xander."

"And the ones out of us that might have a chance to make it normal, well, Eric and Brady got possessed by hyena spirits and it went badly with Buffy and Alice for a minute there, but..." Carmen trailed off. "And Brooke's clearly crushing on a male warlock with a long history and secret life, so who knows what could come with that. Wyatt."

"I am not," Brooke denied.

No one bought that.

"That's true," Alice told them, smiling sadly.

"Yeah, that's life on the Hellmouth," Eric told them.

"Let's face it," Brady told them. "None of us are ever gonna have a happy, normal relationship."

"We're doomed," Buffy told them with forced enthusiasm.

Alice nodded. "Yeah."

Xander remembered what Carmen had said, stunned. "Wait, vampire soulmate?"

"When did that happen?" Brady asked.

"And why didn't we know about it?" Eric asked.

Carmen showed them the tattoo. "Sorry, guys."

They all laughed. Their laughter quickly became nervous and stopped. Only the fountain could be heard as they each considered their plight.