WiccaWhiteWitchSmallTownGuy -The reason the books are nearly identical is explained in the summary for the story. Joyce is Patty's sister; Prue, Piper, Phoebe and Paige's aunt. That means Joyce was a witch also. It makes sense she would have her own copy of the Book of Shadows. But of course there would be differences between the two books. the Charmed BoS is geared towards the Power of Three. Joyce and Buffy's BoS is geared for Buffy your second review I believe this chapter answers that.

Chapter 3: Welcome to the Hellmouth

At Gateway High School a window shatters. Someone reaches in and unlocks the window and slides it up. A college age boy and a timid girl, Darla, stand at the window. "Are you sure this is a good idea?"

The Boy smiles and nods, "It's a great idea! Come on."

They climb in. He leads Darla out into a hall.

Darla nods, "You go to school here?"

The boy nods, "Used to. On top of the gym, it's so cool – you can see the whole town."

Darla shakes her head, "I don't want to go up there."

The boy smiles, "Oh, you can't wait, huh?" He moves to kiss her.

Darla nods, "We're just gonna get in trouble."

The boy laughs, "Count on it." He kisses Darla.

Darla turns suddenly, real fear crossing her face. "What was that?"

The boy shrugs, "What was what?"

Darla nods, "I heard a noise."

The boy shakes his head, "It's nothing."

Darla smiles, "Maybe it's something…"

The boy nods, "Maybe it's some Thing..."

Darla frowns, "That's not funny."

The boy looks about them. The place is dark, shadowy.

Darla cowers behind him.

The boy calls out, "Hello…?" Silence. "There's nobody here."

Darla nods, "Are you sure?"

The boy smiles, "I'm sure."

Darla smiles, "Okay…" She morphs into vampface and buries her fangs into his neck.

At the manor in Buffy's bedroom. Buffy's eyes snap open. A moment, as she gets her bearings, shakes off the immediacy of the dream.

Piper calls out, "Buffy…"

Buffy looks around at the room and sighs, "I'm up, Piper."

Piper calls out, "Don't want to be late for your first day."

Buffy sighs, "No… wouldn't want that…" Her voice betrays her uncertainty. She sits up.

An hour later Piper is pulling up in front of Gateway High School. Buffy gets out the passenger side.

Piper smiles, "Now, you have a good time. If you need me you have my cell number."

Buffy nods, "I promise. And if I need you I will call." She turns, looks at the school. She starts in as Piper drives away.

A short time later Buffy sits before Principal Flutie. He pulls her transcript from a folder. He looks at it, looks at her. "Buffy Summers…"

Buffy smiled, "Actually it's Halliwell now. Well not officially cause I can't legally change my name till I'm 18. But I go by Buffy Halliwell now."

Mr. Flutie nods, "Ok. Uhm can I ask why?"

Buffy smiles, "Sure. My parents divorced a few years ago. My dad has not been a part of my life very much. My mom's maiden name was Halliwell. To honor my mom I plan on legally changing my name."

Mr. Flutie smiles, "Of course. I will make a notation in your file then so your teachers know, Buffy. So you're a Sophomore, late of Hemery High in Los Angeles. Interesting record. Quite a career." He smiles, and carefully tears up her transcript up into four pieces. "Welcome to Gateway. A clean slate, Buffy, that's what you get here. What's past is past. We're not interested in what it says on a piece of paper. Even if it says…"

He looks down at a piece of the transcripts, "…whoa. At Gateway we nurture the whole student. The inner student." He is taking the pieces of the transcript as he talks and carefully placing them together again. "Other schools might looks at the incredible decline in grade point average – we look at the struggling young woman with the incredible decline in grade point average. Other schools might look at the reports of gang fights…"

Buffy smiles, "Mr. Flutie…"

Mr. Flutie nods, "All the kids here are free to call me Bob…"

Buffy nods, "Bob…"

Mr. Flutie smiles, "…but they don't." He pulls out a piece of tape, starts taping the transcript back together.

Buffy nods, "Mr. Flutie. I know my transcripts are a little colorful…"

Mr. Flutie nods, "Hey, we're not caring about that! Do you think colorful is the word? Not dismal? Just off hand, I'd go with dismal."

Buffy sighs, "It wasn't that bad."

Mr. Flutie nods, "You burned down the gym."

Buffy sighs, "I did. I really did. But you gotta see the big picture. I mean, the gym was full of vamp… uh, asbestos."

Mr. Flutie shakes his head, "Buffy. Don't worry. Any other school, they might say watch your step, or, we'll be watching you or, get within a hundred yards of the gym with a book of matches and you'll grow up in juvie hall but that's just not the way here. We want to service your needs, and help you to respect our needs. And if you needs and our needs don't mesh…" He slips the taped up transcript back in her folder.

A moment later Buffy exits the office, looking a bit depressed. She starts rummaging through her bag and a student runs by, bumps into her. Her books and stuff spill out. Frustrated, she kneels down, starts scooping it back in.

Xander sees this, goes up to her, kneeling. "Can I have you? Dyeh – can I help you?"

Buffy smiles, "Oh, thanks…" He starts picking things up, handing them to her.

Xander nods, "I don't know you, do I?"

Buffy shakes her head, "I'm new. I'm Buffy Halliwell."

Xander nods, "Xander. Is me. Hi."

Buffy smiles, "Thanks."

Xander nods, "Maybe I'll see you around. Maybe at school, since we both… go there…"

Buffy nods, "Great. Nice to meet you."

Xander gives Buffy the rest of her books. She stuffs it all in her bag and hurries away.

In History class the teacher is in front, lecturing. Buffy is near the back, earnestly taking notes. Trying to keep up. "It's estimated that about 25 million people died in that one four year span. But the fun part of the Black Plague is that it originated in Europe how? As an early form of germ warfare. The plague was first found in Asia, and a Kipchak army actually catapulted plague-infested corpses into a Genoese trading post. Ingenious. If you look at the map on page 63 you can trace the spread of the disease…"

Buffy looks about as kids open their books – she hasn't got one. The girl next to her, Cordelia, leans over.

"Here." Cordelia moves her book over so Buffy can read off it as well.

Buffy smiles, "Thanks."

The teacher continues to lecture till the end of class.

Kids are piling up their books and leaving as the bell rings.

Cordelia introduces herself, "Hi, I'm Cordelia."

Buffy smiles, "I'm Buffy."

Cordelia nods, "If you're looking for a textbook of your very own, there's probably a few in the Library."

Buffy nods, "Oh, great. Thanks. Where would that be?"

Cordelia smiles, "I'll show you." They exit the classroom and walk through the crowded hall. "You transferred from Hemery, right? In L.A.?"

Buffy nods, "Yeah."

Cordelia nods, "Oh! I would kill to live in L.A. Being that close to that many shoes… Why'd you come here?"

Buffy sighs, "My mom passed away. I'm living with my cousins, now."

Cordelia nods, "Well, you'll be okay here. If you hang with me and mine you'll be accepted in no time. Of course we do have to test your coolness factor. You're from L.A., so you can skip the written, but, let's see… Vamp nail polish."

Buffy tentatively, "Over?"

Cordelia smiles, "SO over. James Spader."

Buffy nods, "He needs to call me."

Cordelia nods, "Trendy but tasty. John Tesh."

Buffy hesitates, "The Devil?"

Cordelia smiles, "Well, that was pretty much a gimme, but you passed."

Buffy lets out a sigh of relief, "Oh, good."

They stop at the water fountain, which is being used by Willow.

Cordelia shakes her head, "Willow! Nice dress. Good to know you've seen the softer side of Sears."

Buffy says nothing, surprised by Cordelia's sudden viciousness.

Willow says, almost apologetically, "Well my Mom picked it out."

Cordelia witheringly, "No wonder you're such a guy-magnet. Are you done?"

Willow nods, "Oh." She vacates the fountain.

Cordy steps up to it, looking at Buffy. "You wanna fit in here, the first rule is know your losers. Once you can identify them all by sight, they're a lot easier to avoid." She bends down to drink.

Buffy looks at the departing Willow, unhappily.

Buffy and Cordelia walk toward the library.

Cordelia smiles, "If you're not too swamped with catching up you should come out to the Bronze tonight."

Buffy frowns, "The who?"

Cordelia nods, "The Bronze. It's the only club worth going to. They let anybody in but it's still the scene."

Buffy nods, "I will see if I can make it."

They arrive at the entrance to the library.

Cordelia smiles, "Good. I'll see you at gym and you can tell me absolutely everything there is to know about yourself." She goes off.

Buffy thrown by the notion, "That sounds like fun…"

Buffy enters the library, looking about her. Buffy steps in, looking around. She looks down at the check-out counter to see a newspaper.

Folded, with an article on the first page circled in red. The headline reads: LOCAL BOYS STILL MISSING, with a blurry picture of three brothers.

Buffy wanders further in. She peers around a bookcase, "Hello… Is anybody here?"

Giles touches her from behind. Startled, she spins. "Can I help you?"

Buffy nods, "I was looking for some, well, books. I'm new."

Giles nods, "Miss Summers."

Buffy frowns, "It's Halliwell now actually, I guess you didn't get the memo. But otherwise good call. I guess I'm the only new kid."

Giles nods, "I'm Mr. Giles, the librarian."

Buffy smiles, "Great. So you have, uh…"

Giles nods, "I know what you're after." He leads Buffy to the check-out desk by the door. He pulls a book out and slides it toward Buffy.

Concern floods Buffy's face, along with the understanding. She steps back from the desk, eyes on the librarian. "That's not what I'm looking for."

Giles frowns, "Are you sure?"

Buffy nods, "I'm way sure."

Giles nods, "My mistake." He replaces the book under the counter. Buffy turns and leaves. "So, what is it you said…"

During lunch in the quad Willow is carefully taking out her packed lunch.

Buffy approaches her, "Uh, hi. Willow, right?"

Willow nods, "Why? I mean Hi. Did you want me to move?"

Buffy shakes her head, "Why don't we start with hi, I'm Buffy." She sits by her. "And then let's segue directly into me asking you for a favor. It doesn't involve moving, but it does involve you hanging out with me for a while."

Willow frowns, "But aren't you… hanging with Cordelia?"

Buffy rolls her eyes, "I can't do both?"

Willow sighs, "Not legally."

Buffy nods, "Look, I really want to get by here. New school… Cordelia's been really nice – to me, anyway – but I have this burning desire not to flunk all my classes, and I heard a rumor that you were the person to talk to if I wanted to get caught up."

Willow smiles, "Oh, I could totally help you out! If you have sixth period free we could meet in the library…"

Buffy shakes her head, "–or not. Or, you know, we could meet somewhere quieter. Louder. That place kind of gives me a wiggins."

Willow nods, "It has that effect on most kids. I love it, though. It's a great collection, and the new librarian's really cool."

Buffy blinks, "He's new?"

Willow nods, "Yeah, he just started. He was a curator of some British Museum. Or the British museum, I'm not sure. But he knows everything and he brought all these historical volumes and biographies and am I the single dullest person alive?"

Buffy shakes her head, "Not at all!"

Xander comes over with Jesse, "Hey. Are you guys busy? Can we interrupt? We're interrupting."

Buffy smiles, "Hey."

Jesse nods, "Hey there."

Willow smiles, "Buffy, this is Jesse, and that's Xander."

Xander nods, "Oh, me and Buffy go way back. Old friends, very close. Then there was that period of estrangement, I think we were both changing as people, but here we are and it's like old times, I'm quite moved."

Jesse shakes his head, "Is it me, or are you turning into a bibbling idiot?"

Xander a little embarrassed, "It's not you."

Buffy nods, "It's nice to meeting you guys… I think."

Jesse smiles, "Well, we wanted to welcome you, make you feel at home. Unless you have a scary home."

Buffy thinks to herself, 'If they only knew.'

Xander nods, "And to return this." He produces the stake. Buffy takes it. "The only thing I can figure is that you're building a really little fence."

Buffy shakes her head, "Oh. No. That was for self-defense. Everyone has them in L.A. Pepper spray is so passe."

Xander nods, "So. What do you like, what do you do for fun, and what do you look for in a man… Let's hear it."

Jesse nods, "If you have any dark, painful secrets that we could publish…"

Buffy rolls her eyes, "Gee, everybody wants to know about me. How keen."

Xander nods, "You're big news."

Buffy shakes her head, "I'm not. Really."

Cordelia steps up behind Jesse, "Are these people bothering you?"

Buffy shakes her head, "Oh! No."

Willow covering for her, "She's not hanging out with us."

Jesse smitten, "Hey, Cordelia."

Cordelia rolls her eyes, "Oh, please." She looks at Buffy. "I don't want to interrupt your downward mobility. I just thought I'd tell you that you won't be meeting Coach Foster, the woman with chest hair, because gym has been canceled due to the extreme dead guy in the locker."

Buffy frowns, "What?"

Willow nods, "What are you talking about?"

Cordelia nods, "Some guy was stuffed in Aura's locker."

Buffy frowns, "Dead?"

Cordelia smiles, "Way dead."

Xander shakes his head, "So not just a little dead then."

Cordelia shakes her head, "Don't you have an elsewhere to be?"

Jesse smiles, "If you need a shoulder to cry on, or just to nibble on…"

Buffy frowns, "How did he die?"

Cordelia shrugs, "I don't know…"

Buffy nods, "Well, were there any marks?"

Cordelia blinks, "Morbid much? I didn't ask!"

Buffy nods, "Uh, look, I gotta book. I'll see you guys later." She takes off, the others watching her.

Cordelia shakes her head, "What's her deal?"

She makes her way to the hallway outside the locker room. She runs into Mr. Flutie.

Mr. Flutie closes the door quietly. He turns to see Buffy before him. "Oh! Buffy! Uh, what do you want?"

Buffy smiles, "Um, is there a guy in there that's dead?"

Mr. Flutie frowns, "Where did you hear that? Okay. Yes. But he's not a student! Not currently."

Buffy nods, "Do you know how he died?"

Mr. Flutie blinks, "What?"

Buffy smiles, "I mean – how could this have happened?"

Mr. Flutie shrugs, "Well, that's for the police to determine when they get here. But this structure is safe, we have inspections, and I think there are no grounds for a lawsuit."

Buffy nods, "Was there a lot of blood? Was there any blood?"

Mr. Flutie shakes his head, "I would think you wouldn't want to involve yourself in this kind of thing."

Buffy shakes her head, "I don't. Could I just take a peek?"

Mr Flutie frowns, "Unless you already are involved…"

Buffy sighs, "Never mind."

Mr. Flutie nods, "Buffy, I understand this is confusing. You're probably feeling a lot right now. You should share those feelings. With someone else."

Buffy smiles wanly, backs off. She makes her way out side and comes around the side of the gym. There is a door to the locker room and she tries it. It's locked. She looks around to make sure she's alone, and then pulls the door open with a quick tug, splintering the lock. One last look around and she slips inside.

Inside the locker room Buffy approaches the body laid out under a blanket. She hesitates, sure she's not going to like what she sees. Pulls the blanket from his head and shoulders. He has two big ol' bite marks in his neck. She stares down at the body, nearly seething. "Oh, great!"

Buffy strides back to the library, attitude high. "Okay, what's the sitch?" She spies Giles and starts up toward him.

Giles frowns, "Sorry?"

Buffy smiles, "You heard about the dead guy, right? The dead guy in the locker?"

Giles nods, "Yes."

Buffy frowns, "Well, it's the weirdest thing. He's got two little holes in his neck and all his blood's been drained. Isn't that bizarre? Aren't you just going, Ooooh…"

Giles frowns, "I was afraid of this."

Buffy frowns, "Well, I wasn't! It's my first day. I was afraid that I'd be behind in all the classes, that I wouldn't make any friends, that I'd have last month's hair. I didn't think there would be vampires on campus. And I don't care."

Giles frowns, "Then why are you here?"

Buffy's stopped for a moment. She wondered the same thing why was she here. She had promised Prue to keep a low profile. "To tell you that I don't care. Which I don't, and… have now told you. So bye." She starts out, maybe a little unsatisfied with her exit.

Giles nods, "Will he rise again?"

Buffy sighs, "Who?"

Giles nods, "The boy."

Buffy shakes her head, "No, he's just dead."

Giles nods, "Can you be sure?"

Buffy nods, "To make you a vampire they have to suck your blood and then you have to suck their blood, it's a whole big sucking thing. Mostly they'll just take all your blood and then you just die – why am I still talking to you?"

Giles frowns, "You have no idea what's going on, do you? Do you think its coincidence, you're coming here? That boy was just the beginning."

Buffy turns, "Oh, why can't you leave me alone?"

Giles frowns, "Because you are the Slayer." Buffy stops. No comeback just now. He starts down after her, solemnly intoning. "Into every generation a slayer is born. One girl, in all the world, a Chosen One. One born with the…"

Buffy finishes along with him, "-the strength and skill to hunt the vampires. To stop the spread of their evil blah blah I've heard it, okay?"

Giles frowns, "I don't understand this attitude. You've accepted your duty, you've slain vampires before…"

Buffy sighs as she decides a little white lie is better than the truth, "Well, I have both been there and done that. And I am moving on."

Giles nods, "What do you know about this town?"

Buffy sighs, "It's where my cousins live. Where I live now, since my mom passed away."

Giles nods, "Dig a bit in the history of this place and you'll find there has been a steady stream of fairly odd occurrences. I believe this area is a center of mystical energy. Things gravitate toward it that you might not find elsewhere."

Buffy nods, "Like Vampires." She tries to move past Giles and he pulls a book off the shelf, hands it to her.

Giles continues to pull more off, piling them up in her arms. "Like werewolves. Zombies. Succubi, incubi… Everything you ever dreaded under your bed and told yourself couldn't be by the light of day."

Buffy mutters under her breath, "Warlocks."

Giles frowns, "What?"

Buffy shakes her head, "What, did you send away for the Time Life series?"

Giles nods, "Uh, yes."

Buffy smiles, "Did you get the free phone?"

Giles shakes his head, "The calendar."

Buffy nods, "Cool. Okay, first of all, I'm a vampire slayer. And secondly, I'm retired. Hey, I know! Why don't you kill them?"

Giles shakes his head, "I'm a watcher. I haven't the skill."

Buffy frowns, "Oh, come on. Stake through the heart, a little sunlight – it's like falling off a log."

Giles frowns, "The Slayer slays. The Watcher…"

Buffy nods, "Watches?"

Giles nods, "Yes. No! He – he – trains her, he prepares her…"

Buffy sighs, "Prepares me for what? For getting kicked out of school? For my mother dying. Losing all my friends? Having to spend all my time fighting for my life and never getting to tell anyone because it might 'endanger' them? Go ahead. Prepare me." She turns and leaves

Giles heads out after her. He comes out of the library, calls out to Buffy. "It's getting worse."

Buffy stops, turns. There are people about, so they are forced to whisper. "What's getting worse?"

Giles nods, "The influx of the undead, the supernatural occurrences. It's been building for years and now… There's a reason why you're here, and there's a reason why it's now."

Buffy nods, "Because now is the time my mom died and I had to move in with my cousins since my dad is too busy to raise me himself."

Giles frowns, "Something is coming. Something is going to happen here soon."

Buffy nods, "Gee, can you vague that up for me…?"

Giles shakes his head, "As far as I can tell, the signs point to a crucial mystical upheaval very soon – days, possibly less."

Buffy sighs, "Come on. This is San Francisco. How bad an evil can there be here?" She actually knows the answer to that question having had to face a warlock her first night in San Francisco.

That evening Buffy is in the agony of outfit choosage, getting ready to go out. She has two, one scanty, the other somewhat plain. She holds them alternatively in front of her, looking in the mirror. "Hi! I'm an enormous slut! Hi! Would you like a copy of the Watchtower?" She throws both outfits down. "I used to be so good at this…"

Phoebe enters, watches her. "Where you off to tonight Buffy?"

Buffy nods, "Hear of a club called the Bronze?"

Phoebe nods, "Yes. Went there a few times when I was your age. Grams hated me going there. Do you know where it is?"

Buffy shakes her head, "Not really. I was going to look it up in the phonebook and then get a map of town and try and find it that way."

Phoebe nods, "I'll go with you. So how was your day?"

Buffy sighs, "There is this guy at the school he knows I'm the Slayer."

Phoebe frowns, "Buffy you didn't?"

Buffy shakes her head, "No Phoebe I didn't. He already knew I guess he's Merrick's replacement. Merrick was my watcher in L.A."

Phoebe nods, "You didn't tell him about us did you?"

Buffy shakes her head, "That we're witches, no."

Short time later Phoebe and Buffy makes their way on foot to the Bronze. They turn a corner, walking down the street, just talking to each other.

Suddenly Buffy hears footsteps behind her. She stops, turns slowly.

Phoebe looks at Buffy quizzically, "What?"

Buffy motions to a figure standing in the dark behind them. It doesn't move – they can't see its face but it seems to be looking at them, Buffy in particular.

Buffy and Phoebe turns to go. The figure follows.

Buffy and Phoebe turns the corner. Buffy is somewhat worried – moving faster. Phoebe is struggling to keep up. The figure follows, always at a discreet distance.

Buffy turns in to an alley. She looks about her. A pipe runs across the narrow alley some ten feet above her. Garbage cans cluster at the other end. She looks to Phoebe, "Hide behind those garbage cans."

Phoebe frowns as she makes her way over to the garbage cans, "What are you going to do?"

Buffy looks up, Phoebe follows her gaze to the pipe. Buffy jumps and swings herself up so she is doing a hand stand on the pipe. Phoebe crouches down behind the garbage can.

The figure, Angel, turns into the now-empty alley, starts down it. Buffy suddenly drops down on him, legs locked over his neck. She throws herself back, tipping him over, rolling herself and slamming his body onto the ground. He's on his feet quickly, but she grabs him and throws him up against the wall. She closes in, but he makes no move to attack. Puts up his hands.

Angel smiles, "Is there a problem, ma'am?" He seems faintly amused.

Buffy eyes him suspiciously, getting her first good look at him.

Phoebe comes out from her hiding spot and stands next to Buffy.

Buffy shrugs, "There's a problem. Why are you following us?"

Angel smiles, "I know what you're thinking, but don't worry. I don't bite."

Phoebe nods, "How about the other thing?"

Angel smiles, "A Warlock? Not one of those either." Buffy backs off a bit, perplexed. "Truth is," he looks to Buffy, "I thought you'd be taller. Or bigger, muscles and all that. You're pretty spry, though."

Buffy frowns, "What do you want?"

Angel smiles, "Same thing you two do."

Buffy shakes her head, "Okay, what do we want?"

The amusement leaves Angel's face. "To kill 'em. To kill 'em all."

Buffy rolls her eyes and looks at Phoebe, "Sorry! That's incorrect but you do get this lovely watch and a year's worth of Turtle Wax what I want… is to be left alone."

Angel shakes his head, "You really think that's an option anymore? You're standing at the mouth of Hell. And it's about to open." He reaches into his coat for something. It's a good sized box. He throws it to Buffy. "Don't turn your back on this. You've got to be ready."

Buffy frowns, "For what?"

Angel smiles, "The Harvest." He starts out.

Phoebe shakes her head, "Who are you?"

Angel smiles, "Let's just say I'm a friend."

Buffy exasperated, "Well, maybe we don't want a friend."

Angel smiles, "I didn't say I was either of yours…" He goes.

Buffy watches him go, and then opens the box. Inside she finds four smaller jewelry boxes. She opens one to find a cross. She opens another to find a matching cross. "Something tells me there are four matching crosses here. Something tells me he knows who we are."

Phoebe nods, "I would have to agree. We'll worry about that when we get back to the manor."

At the Bronze a decent crowd mills aimlessly around. Buffy and Phoebe moves their way up the line. Buffy scans about for a familiar face. She doesn't find one.

They make there inside Buffy spots Willow getting a soda at the bar. She turns back to look at the band just as Buffy and Phoebe comes up to her.

Buffy smiles, "Hi!"

Willow nods, "Oh, hi! Hi." She looks at Phoebe, "Who's your friend?"

Buffy nods, "Willow this is my cousin, Phoebe. Phoebe this is Willow she goes to school with me."

Phoebe smiles, "Hi, Willow."

Buffy nods, "Are you here with someone?"

Willow shakes her head, "No, I'm just here. I thought Xander was gonna show up…"

Buffy nods, "Oh, are you guys going out?"

Willow shakes her head, "No. We're just friends. We used to go out, but we broke up."

Phoebe nods, "How come?"

Willow smiles, "He stole my Barbie." Buffy looks at her quizzically. "We were five."

Buffy nods, "Oh."

Willow nods, "I don't actually date a whole lot… lately."

Buffy nods, "Why not?"

Willow shrugs, "Well, when I'm with a boy I like, it's hard for me to say anything cool, or witty, or at all… I can usually make a few vowel sounds, and then I have to go away."

Buffy laughs, "It's not that bad. Is it?"

Willow nods, "I think boys are more interested in a girl who can talk."

Phoebe shakes her head, "You really haven't been dating lately."

Willow nods, "It's probably easy for you two."

Buffy a little forlornly, "Oh, yeah. Real easy."

Willow nods, "I mean, you don't seem too shy."

Buffy nods, "Well, my philosophy is – do you wanna hear my philosophy?"

Willow smiles, "I do."

Buffy looks at Phoebe, "Life is short."

Willow nods, "Life is short."

Phoebe frowns, "Life is short?"

Buffy nods, "Not original, I'll grant you. But it's true. Why waste time being all shy? Why worry about some guy and if he's gonna laugh at you? You know? Seize the moment. 'Cause tomorrow you might be dead."

Phoebe rolls her eyes.

Willow nods, "Oh… That's nice…"

Buffy sees somebody moving about on the balcony. Her brow furrows. "Uh, I'll be back in a minute."

Willow shakes her head, "That's okay. You don't have to come back."

Buffy smiling at her self-effacing attitude, "I'll be back in a minute." She takes off, leaving Willow and Phoebe at the bar.

Willow nods, "Seize the moment…"

Phoebe shakes her head, "The death part aside, Buffy did give some good advice."

Buffy goes up the stairs to the balcony, makes her way to the railing overlooking the stage. She leans on it, Giles is standing beside her. He doesn't even look at her. "So, you like to party with the students? Isn't that kind of skanky?"

Giles witheringly, "Right. This is me having fun." He looks out on stage. "Watching clown-hair prance about is hardly my idea of a party. I'd much prefer to be home with a cup of tea and a good book."

Buffy nods.

Giles nods, "This is a perfect breeding ground for Vampire activity. Dark, crowded… Besides, I knew you were likely to show up. And I have to make you understand…"

Buffy nods, "That the Harvest is coming, I know, your friend told me."

Giles thrown, "What did you say?"

Buffy sighs, "The… Harvest. That means something to you? 'Cause I'm drawing a blank."

Giles shakes his head, "I'm not sure… Who told you this?"

Buffy nods, "This guy. Dark, gorgeous in an annoying sort of way. I figured you were buds."

Giles frowns, "No… The Harvest… Did he say anything else?"

Buffy nods, "Something about the mouth of Hell. I really didn't like him."

They both look down at the floor for a moment, at the dancing kids.

Giles nods, "Look at them. Throwing themselves about…. Completely unaware of the danger that surrounds them."

Buffy sighs, "Lucky them…"

Phoebe makes her way up the stairs.

Giles nods, "Or perhaps you're right. Perhaps there is no trouble coming. The signs could be wrong. It's not as though you're having the nightmares…"

Buffy sighs, "I didn't say I'd never slay another vampire. I'm just not gonna get way extracurricular with it. If I run into one, sure…"

Giles nods, "But will you be ready? There's so much you don't know, about them and about your own powers. A vampire appears to be a normal person, until the feed is upon them. Only then do they reveal their true demonic visage."

Buffy nods, "You're like a textbook with arms! I know this!"

Giles sighs, "The point is, a Slayer should be able to see them anyway. Without looking, without thinking. Can you tell me if there's a vampire in this building?"

Buffy frowns, "Maybe?"

Giles shakes his head, "You should know! Even through this mass and this din you should be able to sense them. Try. Reach out with your mind." Phoebe steps up next to Buffy. He looks at Phoebe, "Do you mind this is a private conversation."

Phoebe smiles, "Seeing how you're talking to my cousin. And seeing how my sisters and I are her legal guardians. Also if this has to do with what I think it is I know all about who Buffy is."

Giles frowns, "You know she is the Slayer?"

Phoebe nods, "Yes. Buffy uhm can I talk to you alone for a second."

Buffy nods, "I'll be right back." Phoebe and Buffy move a short distance away. "What is it Phoebe?"

Phoebe sighs, "I was getting your friend Willow a refill and I had a premonition about her. She was killed by a vampire."

Buffy makes her way back to the railing with Phoebe. They scan the crowd looking for Willow.

Giles nods, "Now as I was saying you have to hone your senses, focus until the energy washes over you, till you can feel every particle of…"

Buffy nods spotting Willow, "There she is. In fact she's talking with a Vamp right now."

Giles stops, nonplused. "What? Where?"

Buffy pointing, "Down there. Talking to Willow."

Giles frowns, "But you don't know…"

Buffy looks at Phoebe who nods, "Oh, please. Look at his jacket. He's got the sleeves rolled up. And the shirt… Deal with that outfit for a moment."

Giles nods, "It's dated?"

Buffy nods, "It's carbon dated! Trust me: only someone who's been living underground for ten years would think that was the look. Now if you will excuse me I have a potential friend to save."

Giles frowns, "But… you didn't hone…"

Buffy starts toward the stairs followed by Phoebe. They fight their way down the stairs. Buffy looks toward where they were and sees they're gone. She looks about a moment, and then, guessing correctly, heads for the backstage door as well.

Phoebe grabs Buffy's arm, "Outside. In my premonition they weren't in the club."

Buffy nods, "Do you know where?"

Phoebe shakes her head, "Somewhere underground."

They turn around and head for the front door and bump into Giles.

Giles nods, "Is he dead? That was fast. Well done. I'd best go to the library. This "Harvest" is …"

Buffy shakes her head, "He and Willow left the club."

Giles frowns, "The vampire's not dead?"

Buffy shakes her head, "Not yet. But he will be."

Giles nods, "What do we do?"

Buffy nods, "You go on. I'll take care of it."

Giles nods, "I should come with you, no?"

Buffy shakes her head, "Don't worry. One vampire I can handle. Plus I have Phoebe with me."

Giles frowns, "Your cousin? No offense to you Miss Halliwell. But why are you taking her along?"

Buffy smiles, "Let's just say Phoebe and I are Charmed."

Giles looks after Buffy and Phoebe as they exit with some confusion at Buffy's answer.

Phoebe shook her head, "Really? That was your answer. We're Charmed? Could you be any more obvious?"

Buffy rolls her eyes.

Outside the Bronze Xander comes up to Buffy and Phoebe, carrying his skateboard. "You're leaving already?"

Buffy shakes her head, "Xander, have you seen Willow?"

Xander shakes his head, "Not tonight."

Buffy nods, "I need to find her. She left with a guy."

Xander blinks, "We are talking about Willow, right?" He's impressed. "Scoring at the Bronze. Work it, girlfriend."

Buffy looks around.

Phoebe nods, "Where would they go?"

Xander looks at Phoebe and shakes his head, "Why, you know something about Mr. Goodbar that she doesn't? Oh! Hey. I hope he's not a vampire. 'Cause then you'd have to slay him."

Buffy turns back to him, surprised and miffed. "Was there a school bulletin? Was it in the news? Is there anybody in this town who doesn't know I'm the Slayer?"

Xander shakes his head, "I only know that you think you're the Slayer, and I only know that because I was in the library today."

Phoebe frowns, "Look just tell us where Willow would go."

Xander frowns, "You're serious."

Buffy nods, "We don't find her, there's gonna be another dead body in the morning."

Xander looks at Buffy and Phoebe. He sees they aren't kidding. "Come on." They head off.

In a cemetery Willow is walking with the Vampire, but getting increasingly creeped out. "Okay, this is nice and… scary… Are you sure this is faster?"

The vampire says nothing. She keeps walking beside him, uncertain. He stops at a small mausoleum. The entrance is a well of black. "Hey. You ever been in one of these?"

Willow shakes her head, "No thank you."

The vampire moves in close, holding her intimately. "Come on. What are you afraid of?" He pushes her into the blackness of the entrance.

Willow stumbles in to the mausoleum. She looks about her frightened, adjusting to the increased dark. She spins all the way round to see the boy filling the entrance. "That wasn't funny." The vampire steps closer, his face in shadow. She circles away from him, moving closer to the doorway. "I think I'm gonna go."

The vampire smiles, "Is that what you think?" All the playfulness has drained out of his voice.

Willow takes a step back, another, turns and runs right into Darla. Emitting something between a scream and a squeak, Willow steps back.

Darla looks at her, at the vampire. "Is this the best you could do?"

The vampire smiles, "She's fresh."

Darla nods, "Hardly enough to share."

The vampire nods, "Why didn't you bring your own?"

Darla smiles, "I did." She indicates the doorway behind her.

Jesse stumbles dazed from the darkness. "Hey, wait up…"

Willow frowns, "Jesse!" She goes over to him, relieved.

Jesse is clutching his neck. "I think you gave me a hickey…" He takes his hand away. There is blood on it, on his neck. Willow looks over at the other two, eyes wide.

Darla smiles, "I got hungry on the way."

Willow frowns, "Jesse, let's get out of here."

Darla shakes her head, "You're not going anywhere."

Willow shakes her head, "Leave us alone."

Darla smiles, "You're not going anywhere until we've FED!" She morphs into vampface.

Willow screams, takes a stumbled step back and falls.

The vampire laughs, circling.

Buffy smiles, "Well, this is nice." She steps in, Xander and Phoebe following her. Everybody stops. "A little bare, but a dash of paint, a few throw pillows – call it home."

Darla frowns, "Who the hell are you?"

Buffy smiles and looks at Phoebe, "Wow somebody who doesn't know who I am." She looks at Darla. "That's a relief. I'm telling you, having a secret identity in this town is a job of work."

Xander is moving between the two Vampires, who loosen their grip on their respective victims. "Buffy, we bail now, right?"

The vampire shakes his head, "Not yet."

Buffy nods, "Okay, first of all, what's with this outfit? Live in the now, okay? You look like DeBarge. Now, we can do this the hard way or… well, actually, there's just the hard way."

Darla smiles, "Fine with me."

Buffy nods, "You sure? It's not gonna be pretty. We're talking violence, strong language, adult content."

The vampire rushes Buffy from behind, charging at her with incredible speed and momentum.

Buffy reaches for a stake but something catches her attention. In her hand is a fireball. She throws it at the vampire and he dusts. "Wow, Phoebe it looks like I got my power. And it's going to come in handy."

Xander and Willow are speechless, they look at Buffy and then at where the vampire was.

Darla is wide eyed, exceedingly wary. But not cowed. She moves slowly around, preparing to fight herself. "He was young. And stupid."

Buffy nods, "Xander, go. Phoebe go with them."

Darla nods, "Don't go far." She lunges at Buffy, who parries her blows with martial arts precision.

Xander herds the others out.

Darla hit the ground with a painful thud.

Buffy stands over her. She's a bit out of breath, and the humor is gone from her visage. "You know, I just wanted to start over. Be like everybody else. Have some friends, maybe a dog… But no. You had to come here. You couldn't go suck on some other town."

Darla frowns, "Who are you?"

Buffy shakes her head, "Don't you know?"

Luke suddenly grabs Buffy by the throat, lift her bodily from the ground. "I don't care." He steps out of the shadows from behind her and throws her a good fifteen feet. She hits the wall face first, landing badly. He turns on Darla, who is getting up. "You were supposed to be bringing an offering for the Master. We're almost at Harvest and you dally with this child?"

Darla shakes her head, "We had someone. But she came and… she killed Thomas… Luke, she's strong. And she has powers."

Luke contemptuously, "You go. I'll see if I can handle the little girl." Buffy lifts herself off the floor just as Luke suddenly closes on her, grabs her. She's ready this time, though, and she knocks his arms away, kicks him in the face. It sends him back a bit but he recovers in a second, landing a solid punch to her jaw. "You are strong." He slams her back to the ground. "I'm stronger."

Buffy circles around the tomb, keeping it between her and Luke. She powers up a fireball. "You may be strong but how are you with fire?"

Luke frowns as he sees the fireball in her hand. He shoves the top of the tomb with all his might, sends it flying at her causing Buffy to extinguish the fireball.

Buffy leaps over it – jumps up onto the tomb, leaps off it, flipping, and plants both feet solidly in Luke's chest.

Luke falls back, as does she – she gets up first and pulls out her stake, drives it toward his chest – but he grabs just before it reaches. "You think you can stop me? Stop us?" He squeezes – and the stake splinters in his powerful grip. He Punches Buffy, knocks her back. "You have no idea what you're dealing with."

Luke stands, triumphant, over her. "And like a plague of boils, the race of Man covered the earth. But on the third day of the newest light will come over the Harvest when the blood of men will flow as wine when the Master will walk among them once more the world will belong to the Old Ones…" Buffy is getting up, keeping her eyes on Luke. "…and Hell itself will come to town."

Buffy tries to move to the side, to get away – Luke backhands her with all the force he has. She flies back – right into the tomb! She falls and lands hard on her back, the wind knocked out of her. She looks beside her – and sees the withered corpse of the tomb's owner.

Buffy looks up but no Luke. Only the walls of the tomb. He could be anywhere. Slowly, achingly slowly, she lifts her head. Truly scared. Looks over one side of the tomb – nothing. Looks over the other.

Luke jumps into the crypt on top of her. Buffy tries to fight him off but she's well pinned.

Luke contemplates Buffy a moment with gleeful animal hunger. Teeth dripping. "Amen." He bears down.