Portions of this chapter are based on the episodes Helpless and the Zeppo from season 3 BtVS.

John didn't wait for the news that Buffy was re-enrolled in Sunnydale High, the hunter packed up his boys and left that Thursday. He had more important matters to attend to than to help a girl who clearly didn't need a hunter's assistance.

Though he had expected it, Sam was still annoyed to move. He had wanted to tell Dean that Buffy said she'd have gone to Homecoming with him, but he knew his brother would tease him endlessly.

Buffy wrote letters like she had promised and Sam had written back. It didn't surprised Buffy that Sam wrote back to her and Dean didn't. Dean didn't seem like the letter writing type. Buffy wished there was some way of forcing Dean to talk to her. She felt like she had become friends with the hunter and knew neither of them had many friends.

At Christmas, there were surprises for everyone as the Winchesters received a care package from the Summers family including knit hats and homemade cookies. The Winchesters didn't mind that the cookies had broken in transit, they tasted delicious just the same.

Buffy equally surprised to receive gifts from the Winchesters. She had expected a card, at least, from Sam and he didn't disappoint. The card was sweet and there was a small charm enclosed with it. What surprised her was the gift from Dean. The card was a Far Side cartoon which made her laugh out loud when she read it – Dean had personalized it. The boy pushing on the door (labeled PULL) to the Midvale School for the Gifted had been named DEEN and the school's name changed to Sunnydale. In the box was a tiny black tank top with the word Slayer across the chest.

In January, the hunting community gossip centered around two rumors. One was that there were two slayers and therefore no need for any of them to risk returning to Sunnydale. The second was that the Sisterhood of the Jhe was swarming. It was rumored that these fierce demons would celebrate their victories by eating the the flesh of those they defeated.

John Winchester didn't share either of these rumors with his sons. That didn't stop them from learning about one of them.

"Bobby said two slayers."

"Impossible, Sam. There's only one way for there to be a new slayer, the old one has to die. Buffy isn't dead therefore no new slayer." Dean announced this fact with an assumed authority as he flopped on the couch with a magazine and a bag of chips.

Sam paced nervously. "What if she is?"

"Then she is," Dean began, but he saw his brother was on the border of a nervous breakdown, so he stopped teasing and sat up. "Sam, let's say there are two slayers, one is obviously Buffy. I mean think about it, you've seen her fight." Sam nodded as he listened. "And two slayers are better than one. She's probably able to relax some now."

"Yeah, yeah, you're right," Sam answered as he paced.

Dean could see his brother wasn't reassured at all. "Why don't you call her? Prove to yourself that she's fine. Then you can ask her about the second slayer."

"Good idea, I'll call." Sam picked up his phone only to stare at it.

Dean rolled his eyes. "Call her. You'll hear she's fine and I won't have to see that dumb as hell look on your face anymore."

Sam scowled and dialed Buffy's number. As it rang, he left the room, he didn't need to give his brother more reason to tease him. He returned a moment later looking disappointed.

"Well? She's fine, right?" Dean asked, barely looking up from his magazine.

"Uh, sort of." Dean put the magazine down and Sam continued. "I didn't talk to her, she's sick in bed. Her mom said she's been sick for a couple days, now."

"Huh." Dean's brows knit. "Well, sick isn't dead. There must be some explanation for the other slayer. We can ask Dad when he gets back."

In a cave just outside town, John Winchester and Bobby Singer have a demon cornered. It's the ugliest thing either of them have seen in a while and certainly the most vicious. Cornering a creature like that is never a good idea and this case is not different. The demon launched itself at John whose bullets did nothing to deter it. It lifted him over its head and tossed him like a rag doll. As it turned to do the same to Bobby Singer, the hunter drove a sword through its heart. The creature fell, but Bobby didn't release the sword. "What are the Jhe after?"

The creature spat at him, forcing Bobby to pour Holy water into its wound. "Answer me!"

This time the demon said something in it's language and the hunter twisted his sword, putting the demon out of its misery.

Back at the motel, the very injured John argued with the very tired Bobby. "You're in no shape to go anywhere, John."

"But if your translation is right, the hellmouth -"

"Has two Slayers, now. I'm sure a couple of Jhe are no challenge to 'em," Bobby reminded him.

John agreed finally. "I'll give the watcher a call. Let him know what to expect."

Buffy and Faith patrolled the Sunnyside Cemetery nearly bored due to lack of vampires. "So, uh you and Angel, how's that going?" Faith asked, hoping to get to know Buffy more as a friend.

Buffy groaned to herself. "It's not. I guess we love each other, but we can't act on it or anything because..."

"He goes all dark side," Faith added.

"Exactly."

"Doesn't that get frustrating? I mean you get all worked up slaying and then have no outlet for all that pent up unh."

"Energy?" Buffy clarified amusing Faith. "Yeah, I wish there was something we could do about it, but there really isn't an option."

"You don't have to stay with Angel."

Giles listened to the hunter and began to feel nauseous. If the man's information was correct, the Sisterhood of the Jhe was assembling in Sunnydale with the intent of opening the Hellmouth and bringing about the apocalypse.

Giles pushed his glasses to his forehead. "Do you know when?"

John couldn't believe his ears. "When? I don't know, soon. We killed one last night outside of Barstow."

"Right, of course. It's just that Buffy just completed her Cruciamentum and I -"

"Her what?"

"Cruciamentum. It's a rite of passage for a slayer on her eighteenth birthday. It weakens her and takes away her Slayer abilities and unfortunately, I'm no longer her watcher."

John slumped back in his chair then winced due to his injuries. "I've heard there's another slayer. Is that true? Can she handle something like this alone?"

"Yes, it's true. But, I dare say anyone could handle the entire sisterhood alone. And then there's protecting the hellmouth."

John scrubbed a hand over his face. "You're down one slayer, you're no longer a watcher and a band of demons wants to open the hellmouth. Sounds like a hell of a week you're having."

"Buffy should be back to full strength soon. But, if you're offering help, I'm in no position to decline."

John looked down at his cracked ribs and sprained ankle, then around the motel room. Bobby Singer was half way to Sioux Falls. These facts meant that the only help he could offer was his son, Dean. "The hellmouth, where is it?"

Giles looked at the table twenty feet away. "The school library. Uh, I should warn you, besides the sisterhood, when the hellmouth opens a huge demon will make it's way out."

John closed his eyes. Should he even risk sending his son? Then he thought what would happen if he didn't. If that demon would be allowed to escape. "The meeting with the Jhe left me a little worse for wear, but my son, Dean, will be there. He'll be able to take care of that demon if your people can handle the sisterhood."

Giles and Willow were reading ancient texts trying to find a binding spell that would work against the Sisterhood of the Jhe. "If we can just prevent them from opening the hellmouth, Buffy and Angel and perhaps even Faith, should be able to defeat them."

"Is Buffy strong enough, yet?" Willow asked failing to hide her fear.

Giles sighed, "I certainly hope so." He went to his storage closet and gathered some candles. "She's meeting with Angel. Hopefully, he will have some idea of how to defeat them."

In Angel's mansion, Buffy paced and held back her tears. "Giles doesn't know what to do, how to defeat them. I don't know how I'm going to be able to fight them and the demon from the hellmouth."

"Then, don't," Angel began, "let me do it."

"Alone? You can't defeat all of them by yourself."

"I can buy you time for Willow's spell to work," Angel pleaded. "This is worse than anything we've ever faced."

"I can't watch you die again."

Angel cupped her face in his hands. "I love you. Even death can't stop that."

Buffy broke away from him, angry at his resigned attitude. "You may be ready to give up, but I'm not. If you aren't willing to fight for this, then we have nothing to fight for."

Dean leaned forward and turned up the volume to "Back in Black", Sam leaned forward and turned it down again. "Why do you get to help Buffy and I have to patrol?" Sam whined.

"Because patrolling is helping and what I have to do is too dangerous for you to be there."

Sam slumped back and crossed his arms. "Oh, but not too dangerous for you."

Dean took a minute to put together the best argument he could think of. "Sam, my job isn't that dangerous, I don't have to do anything if Buffy has it handled by the time I get there. But, you know I wouldn't be able to concentrate if I knew you could get hurt. I could make a mistake and it could end up killing people. You saw what one demon did to Dad, right?" He risked a quick look at his brother and saw him about to argue. "I know more of them will be at the high school, but I'll have Buffy and her people covering for me. I'll be in and out in like a minute, if I have to go in at all." He saw that Sam was beginning to buy it. "The thing is, no one will be stopping the vampires or other creatures tonight so you'd be helping Buffy if you patrolled."

Sam sighed and looked out the window. "I guess you have a point."

Dean smiled and turned the music up. He was relieved that he didn't have to tell Sam that the real reason he was along was to keep him out of their dad's hair so the man could rest.

"Whoa, check out that Chevy," Dean said as they pull up to a stop light next to a '57 light blue Bel Air convertible. "Nice wheels," he called to the driver.

The guy driving turned with a smile. "Hey, thanks." Then, they got a look at each other.

"Xander?"

"Dean? Sam? What brings you guys back to town."

Seeing the light about to change, Dean called out, "Pull over up ahead."

Getting out of the Impala, Dean did a slow walk around Xander's uncle's Bel Air, clearly admiring the classic car. "Aren't you a thing of beauty? Dude, where'd you find her?"

"My uncle. He had a few too many DUI's and needed some cash," Xander replied with as much nonchalance as he could muster.

"Is this is the 283 fuel-injected V8? Double barreled carb, right?" Dean's eyes were gleaming.

Xander was clueless. "Um, yeah."

Sam leaned against the Impala. "Dean, don't you have somewhere to be?"

"Yeah," he grumbled. "All right, I'm going." He continued to look longingly at Xander's car. "Dude, she is sweet."

"Thanks. What are you doing back in town, anyway."

Sam rolled his eyes. "Our dad sent us here on some demon thing."

Xander nodded. He'd been told to stay out of it. It was 'too dangerous' for him to be involved. "So you're here to help, or something?" he asked trying to hide his jealousy.

"No, I'm supposed to stay out of the way, or maybe watch for vamps. Dean's supposed to offer back up."

Xander related to Sam dismissive attitude. "You and me could go vamp hunting," Xander offered.

Dean and Sam both looked at him in surprise. "Really?" Sam asked.

"Yeah, why not?" Xander smiled. "You can catch up with us later, post apocalypse."

Dean chuckled and looked from Sam to Xander. "You sure you're cool with this?" Though he was grateful Sam was going to have someone to watch over him, he didn't want either of them to feel obligated.

"Yeah, man. Sam and I have got a handle on it." Xander turned to Sam. "Get in, buddy."

Sam hopped into the car while grinning at his brother. "Call me when you're done."

In the Sunnydale library, Angel and Buffy fought the Sisterhood of the Jhe while Giles and Willow attempted a spell to keep the hellmouth hidden from the demons.

In the Restfield Cemetery, Jack O'Toole stood over a grave and chanted. He was completely oblivious to Xander and Sam as they approached.

"Vampire?" Sam whispered as he and Xander crouched behind a large tombstone.

"No, O'Toole is a total jackass from school, but not a vampire," Xander replied as they continued to watch the activity at the grave site. "But what is he up to?"

They didn't have long to wonder. Jack finished the incantation and began to dig. He turned a few shovelfuls of earth and was met with a hand reaching out from below. Xander and Sam exchanged wide eyed stares. "I've never seen a vamp that need help crawling from it's grave," Xander whispered.

"Me either," Sam answered quietly edging closer for a better look.

"Bob! Buddy! It's been a while!" Jack shouted as he grabbed the man that just crawled from the grave in a tight embrace.

"Jack! Dude! You did it. You raised me!" Bob pulled back and dusted himself off. "How long was I down?"

"Eight months, give or take a week. I had to wait for the stars to align."

"Eight months? You been taping 7th Heaven for me?"

"You know it, man." The two guys high fived each other. "Come on, let's go get the rest of the guys."

Xander looked at Sam. "That Bob Danielson. He died last spring."

"Yeah, I got that by the way he crawled from his grave," Sam replied sounding a bit like his brother with the sarcasm.

Xander frowned at him. "Why is it whenever you're around the town is crawling with zombies?"

Sam shrugged. "Just lucky, I guess."

"Well come on, we better stop them. Bob and Jack ran with a pretty rough crowd. I remember they had a friend, Dixon, that died holding up a convenience store just over a year ago."

Xander and Sam followed after the zombie gang, but unfortunately Jack and Bob made it to Jack's car long before Xander and Sam were able to double back to the '57 Chevy.

Dean parked in the school's lot and pulled a pack from the trunk. He couldn't believe after all the time he skipped out from school that there would come a day he'd be breaking into one.

He cautiously made his way towards the library. As he turned the corner he heard the sounds of the battle taking place inside. He swore he heard Buffy shout, "Angel!" and he quickened his step. Once through the door, he saw that the Jhe had been successful in opening the hellmouth even if most of them had been killed.

He ran straight for the giant demon and like a base runner stealing second, he slid into the gaping hole of the hellmouth.

Xander and Sam caught up with Jack and Bob at the Restfield Cemetery just after they had raised Dixon. "These stakes aren't going to be any good against them," Sam said as they crept closer.

"Right," Xander answered. "But what about that?" he point to a wood chipper.

"Gross, but effective. If we can get them over there."

"You know how to work one, right?"

"Yeah, but..." Sam stopped speaking as Xander rushed forward.

"Hey! O'Toole, living up to your name as a tool, huh?"

The gang of undead turned to Xander and O'Toole sneered, "Harris. You really think you're a match for us?

"My two year old niece is a match for you idiots." He picked up a shovel one of them had dropped and swung as hard as he could into Dixon's head. The contact made an awful sound that reminded Xander of Gallager smashing watermelons.

Dixon's head had been knocked askew, but it didn't fall off. Sam could tell that although the wood chipper would be able to destroy the zombies, Xander was going to require help getting the zombies into it. As Jack was preparing to attack Xander, Sam entered the fray swinging a crowbar the gang had dropped.

Unfortunately, the undead were proving to be more difficult to destroy than either Xander or Sam had contemplated. Just as it looked like Bob was going to knock Sam unconscious, someone grabbed the undead jerk and threw him back. "Hey, Xander, whose the new guy?" The girl grabbed Jack and cracked his neck, sending him to the ground but not killing him.

"Faith, Sam, Sam, Faith. I gotta say I'm glad to see you but these things aren't vamps. They're just -"

"Smelly as hell," Faith answered as she grabbed Xander's shovel and decapitated Dixon. She drew a large knife from her jacket and easily put an end to Bob.

She was about to go after Jack when Sam yelled, "Stop! He's just a guy."

Faith lowered her weapon, but Jack laughed. "Sorry, kid, but I've been dead for weeks now." He moved his hair and exposed a bullet hole. Catching Faith by surprise, he was able to knock the knife from her grip. However, he hadn't counted on Xander and Sam bum rushing him into the wood chipper.

"Well, that totally ranks as the most disgusting kill of the month," Faith said as she looked away.

"Let's get out of here," Xander said shutting off the machine. "Need a ride Faith?"

"Sure, when'd you get a car? Or does it belong to dimples here?"

"I'm borrowing one from my uncle," Xander answered as Sam blushed slightly at her name for him.

Once at the car, Faith took a minute to admire it. "Sweet ride, Xan!" Then, she jumped over the door and slid to the middle of the front seat. "Well, come on boys, the night's a wastin'. Let's go have us a good time."

Sam threw Xander a worried questioning look, but Xander assured him with a nod and climbed into his car.

Dean strategically placed the charges just as his father had told him and climbed out of the hellmouth. Buffy, fearing the worst, had been about to jump in after him when he reemerged. He grabbed her arm and yelled, "Take cover!" The explosion that followed, killed the demon, and knocked everyone to the ground.

Dean did his best to shelter Buffy from the blast, landing on top of her, bracketing his arms around her. As the dust settled, Buffy was too stunned to speak. She could only blink up at him.

"You all right?" he asked.

She nodded.

"Singed at all?"

She shook her head. "No, you?"

"I think I'm good," he said rolling off of her.

Finally, coming to her senses she asked, "Not covered in demon goo, am I?"

"No, you seem to be goo free." He got up and held a hand out to assist her to her feet. Dean turned to the others in the room. "Everyone okay?"

"How did you do that?" Willow asked from behind a toppled bookshelf.

Dean grinned. "Never underestimate the value of a well placed explosive."

Angel glared. He did not like how Dean looked at Buffy, but more than that, he didn't like how Buffy was looking at Dean. "Buffy, you sure you're okay?"

Dean quickly turned to examine the slayer for injuries and noticed she seemed to be favoring her arm. "You did get hurt," he said softly.

Buffy blinked up at Dean then addressed Angel. "It's nothing, I'll be fine."

Giles touched her arm and she winced. "Looks like you may have strained it a bit." he made a disapproving face. "I'll get a sling."

Dean looked around at the mess and took a subtle glance at Angel. Clearing his throat, Dean asked, "So, uh, you need help cleaning up this mess?"

"Don't worry. We got it," Angel said stepping up to Buffy.

Dean smirked. "All right, well, I guess I'm out of here then. Uh, later, Buffy." He nodded at Willow and walked out.

"Sam, I don't know. We should probably get back to Dad," Dean said trying to ignore his brother's puppy eyes.

"Dean, it'll be fun. And aren't you always saying we deserve a little fun?" Sam saw that his argument was working. "Obviously, you can do whatever you want. Drop me off and go to the Bronze or some other bar. You don't really want to spend today driving, do you?" Dean sighed; a sure sign Sam was winning. "And I will totally owe you for, like, forever."

"Damn straight you will."

"Hi, Mrs. Summers." Sam said with a bright smile.

"Sam, Dean, I'm glad you two could make it. Come in," Joyce opened the door wider.

"Uh, I'm just dropping Sam off. What time should I be back to pick him up?" Dean tried his best to sound polite and stay outside at the same time.

"Oh, Dean, can't you stay?I know Buffy would really appreciate you being her for her birthday party," Joyce asked while Sam made begged with his eyes behind her.

Dean forced a smile. "Sure, Mrs. Summers, I guess I can stay for a little while."

Joyce was very pleased with herself. "Let me take your coats and you go on in and make yourselves at home."

Sam walked into the living room with Dean dragging behind him. Buffy squealed when she saw them. "Hey! I can't believe you guys stayed for my party!"

"Wouldn't miss it," Sam said returning her grin.

"Hey, Dimples, who's your friend?"

Dean coughed over a laugh while Sam said, "Faith, this is my brother, Dean. Dean, this is Faith, the other slayer."

Dean gave her an impressed once over and Faith returned the look but for completely different reasons. "Well, I guess we're covered if zombies show up," Dean joked.

"Yeah, all we need is a wood chipper," Faith teased pulling Sam to sit by her.

About an hour later, Dean was wishing zombies would show up. He felt out of place with Buffy and her friends. Before his boredom drove him completely insane, his phone rang. He checked the ID and said to Sam, "It's Dad." He flipped his phone open and walked out the back door to answer. "Hey, Dad."

"Hey, Dean, Giles called, said you did a great job yesterday."

"Yeah, it was pretty straightforward, just like you said it would be. Sam had a run in with some kid raising his friends from the dead."

"Zombies? Again? You're kidding me."

"Sammy stuffed one in a wood chipper," Dean said with obvious pride.

"Unbelievable." John chuckled and shook his head. "How late are you gonna be?"

Dean shrugged, "I'm not sure. Sam talked me into staying for Buffy's party, so just a couple extra hours."

John groaned, "All right, try not to wake me up when you get back."

After his father disconnected, Dean stared at his phone in disbelief. "Seriously?" he mumbled to no one and sat down on Buffy's back porch.

Buffy knew her mom meant well, but this party wasn't what she had in mind. Her birthday was last week, and even though it had been all kinds of awful, she didn't want a 'do-over'. She wanted time to relax and not think about being the slayer or Faith or college or Angel or anyone else.

Tired of it all, Buffy stepped onto her back porch for some air.

Dean watched her for a moment realizing she didn't know he was there. "Happy birthday."

Buffy blinked in surprise at seeing him. "Thanks."

"I hope it's a great year for you."

"Thanks. Can't be worse than last year, right?" she sighed. "So, you guys gonna be in town for a while?"

"No, we're only still here for this party. I mean, I brought Sammy here for this party." Dean shifted uncomfortably in his seat. He hoped that didn't sound insulting.

Buffy nodded and leaned towards him. "Not you? You're not here for my party." She teased slightly.

Dean smiled at her teasing tone. "Sam was the one invited, your mom just kinda insisted I stay."

"So is that why you're out here? You don't really want to be at the party?" Buffy couldn't help feeling a little hurt and disappointed by his admission.

"No, my dad called." He held up his phone as if it was proof of the call, and suddenly looked a little sad. "Why are you out here?"

"My birthdays kinda suck. Last year it was the whole Angelus thing. This year there was the slayer test and then Giles got fired as my watcher. My dad was supposed to take me to a show, but he canceled. I just wanted to veg out and do nothing."

Dean chuckled, "I know the feeling."

Buffy looked skeptical. "Sure, you do. I bet on your birthday you party like a rock star."

"Not exactly"

"Really, what do you do?"

"I hang out in a slayer's back yard," he mumbled barely above a whisper about to make up a story.

Disbelieving him Buffy asked, "It's your birthday?" before he could cover it up.

"Yeah," he admitted, though he immediately regretted that he said anything.

"And you're here? Why?"

Dean gave her a half shrug and looked into her dark back yard. Why was he there? Because Sam thought it would be fun? He had nowhere else to be? He hadn't had a real birthday since he was four. Uncomfortable under her gaze, he wished he was anywhere else. "You should go back inside, your boyfriend is probably here by now and looking for you."

"He's not my boyfriend."

Dean raised a skeptical eyebrow. "Buffy, I've been the new guy in town enough times to recognize the look he gives me every time you talk to me. Believe me, he thinks he's your boyfriend."

"No. He might be protective, but he's not my boyfriend."

Dean studied her for a moment. "Well, if you want to use me to make him jealous, I'm totally fine with it."

Buffy huffed a surprised laugh.

"You laugh?" Dean feigned injury. "I'm hurt. You don't think I have it what it takes to make him jealous?"

Buffy giggled in earnest.

Dean smiled. "That's better. We can't have the birthday girl looking all mopey, ruins the party mood."

Buffy smiled warmly at him. "Come back inside with me. I'll tell my mom it's your birthday. We can split the cake. Put on more candles." She held a hand out to him.

Dean's smiled instantly faded. At five, he had learned that wishes made on birthday candles don't come true. "No. I'd rather not. I don't do birthdays or the cake and candle thing."

"Dean, don't be silly. It's no bother and I promise no one will mind."

"Buffy, please, I hate all that kind of stuff. I'm good, really. I'll just come back later for Sam." He stood up to say goodbye, but remembered his coat was inside.

Buffy was about to plead one more time, but she saw his pained expression. "Sorry."

Dean instantly felt guilty for bringing her down during her party. "Buffy, it's not you. I just haven't had a good birthday since I was four and my mom told me I was going to be a big brother." He bit his lip, stunned that once again Buffy pulled his secrets from him. "Wow, I'm gonna climb out of my pity party now and let you get back to the actual party."

At that moment, Joyce called from the back door, ""Hey, you two, come on, it's cake time."

Buffy grabbed Dean's hand denying him a chance to decline the offer.

In the Summer's dining room, everyone gathered around to sing to a smiling Buffy. Then they shouted, "Make a wish!" Buffy caught Dean's eye, smiled playfully, and blew out her candles.

Dean did his best to avoid Buffy for the rest of the night and tried to enjoy watching Faith flirt shamelessly with his kid brother. Every once in a while he'd catch Buffy watching him and he'd smile.

All too soon for Sam, the Winchesters had to leave. "Hey, Buffy, thanks for inviting us, but it's getting kinda late and we have a long drive ahead."

Buffy hugged Sam close. "Thanks for being here. I'm so glad you were able to make it." She looked around. "Where's Dean?"

Sam was distracted by Faith smirking at him. "Uh, he went to get our coats."

Buffy quietly raced up the stairs before the others would notice she was gone. She literally crashed into Dean as he was leaving her mother's room with Sam's coat in hand. "Oh, sorry, Buffy, I didn't see you."

"I wanted to thank you for coming to my party," she said without moving back. She willed her nerves to steady as she looked up at him.

Dean smiled and tilted his head. "It was - fun."

"But not really how you wanted to spend your birthday."

"Buffy, " he shook his head and leaned against the door frame. He wasn't going to let himself bring her down again. "How about you? Looked like you made quite the haul."

Buffy had barely been listening. She was concentrating on calming the hyperactive butterflies in her stomach. Instead of answering his question, Buffy whispered, "Happy birthday," stretched up on her toes and pressed her lips to his. When Dean didn't shove her away instantly, Buffy gently slid a hand to the back of his neck. His lips were warm and soft, and before she was aware of what was happening, her tongue was teasing those lips.

Dean's mind screamed at him to stop. She was his brother's crush and she was only... EIGHTEEN. Remembering that magic number, Dean's mind gave the rest of him permission to follow her lead. After all, Buffy was kissing him, he hadn't gone after her.

Buffy was amazed at Dean's warmth and gentleness as he wrapped his arms around her. She could feel the heat rising between them. Kissing Angel was never like this. He was passionate, but cold and hard. Although she nearly had Dean pinned to the wall, Dean, for his part, was holding her to him. Buffy's heart was pounding so hard, she thought she'd go deaf from it and under her hand, she could feel Dean's pulse quicken also. She only broke the kiss to whisper in his ear, "That's what I wished for when I blew out my candles."

Speechless, Dean could only stare at her before a noise from downstairs made them draw apart Buffy hurried to her room and shut the door, leaving Dean, alone and bewildered in the hall.

Once they were back on the road, Sam said, "Thanks, Dean. I know that's not how you wanted to spend your birthday. I promise I'll make it up to you."

Dean smiled and turned up the music. "The night didn't completely suck, Sam. The cake was pretty good,' he added quickly.