A Charmed Summers

by Brenna's Urbangirl Projects

What If Paige had not been adopted by the Matthews family. What if she had been adopted by the Summers family. And what if she had acquired her powers before season 4 of Charmed. This is the story of the Summers family own Power of Three. Paige (16 1/2) Wiccan Witch, Buffy (16) the Slayer/Gypsy, and Dawn (14) a Wand Witch/Gypsy.

4. Chapter 4: Never Kill a Boy on the First

Chapter 4: Never Kill a Boy on the First Date

Buffy leaps into the air, grabs on to the branch of a tree, and swings up and over, kicking the vampire away. She drops down, breaks a smaller branch off the tree, and uses the sharp end to kill the vampire.

Another vampire tries to run away. Buffy does a triple-backwards-somersault and lands right in front of him.

"I don't think we've been properly introduced. I'm Buffy, and you are –" Buffy says as she grabs a stake from her belt and plunges it into the vampire's heart. "—history." She puts her hands on her hips and surveys the carnage. She smiles, satisfied. Her job is done.

"Poor technique. Prioritization, sub-par."

Buffy's smile fades as Giles and Paige pops up from behind a tombstone. He is holding a notebook, checking things off.

"Execution was adequate, but a bit too bloody for my taste." Giles says.

"Oh, Giles, don't mention it. It was my pleasure to make the world safe for humanity again." Buffy says.

"I'm not saying your methods are without merit, but you're expending far too much time and energy." Giles says as he demonstrates, "It should simply be 'plunge' and move on; 'plunge' and move on."

"If it's that easy, why weren't you doing it. Oh, that's right. You were busy cowering behind a tombstone." Giles says.

"This isn't about me, it's about you. It is about how there are traditions that a Slayer needs to follow." Giles says.

"Tradition is yesterday's news. I'm an improv gal. How about when I offed the first couple of V's with a single stake? It was, 'Slay one, kill one free.'" Buffy says.

"Ah, yes. Showing off. Yet another example of how you're not going by the book." Giles says.

"The book. You mean that old dusty thing that's been out of print for two thousand years?" Buffy says.

Giles nods, "The old ways have much to teach us. If you insist on ignoring the fundamentals handed down through history, you could find yourself in serious danger."

Buffy turns away, indicating her field of victory. "Gee, perhaps we should review what happened here. Let's start with 'I killed them all.'"

Paige senses something behind her and looks over her shoulder and sees a vampire behind her and Giles, "Buffy!" She grabs Giles arm and orbs out as Buffy turns around and fires a stake at the vampire, dusting it as Paige orbs back in with Giles.

"So Giles." Paige said. "When am I going to be graded like Buffy?"

Giles sighs, "When I have time. I have to send in regular reports to the Council. While they know about you and Dawn helping her. They want to know how she is doing solo."

"Oh." Paige says.

The next day in the school cafeteria Buffy looks confused. "This is spooky." She stands next to Paige in the cafeteria line. "Is the green stuff fruit, or vegetable?"

"Yes."

"I'll take it." Buffy says. A scoop of green slop plops onto her tray as Buffy moves on.

Paige shakes her head, "I think I'll pass as she moves on behind Buffy.

Xander and Willow are in line behind Paige.

"I was guessing string cheese." Xander says.

A student, Chambers, holding a tray bumps into Buffy. "Sorry."

Buffy looks up at him. She's not annoyed at all. "No damage."

Chambers moves off.

"You luck." Willow says.

"What?" Buffy asks. She looks at Paige as if to ask do you know what she's talking about.

"He was all over you." Willow says.

Buffy shakes her head, "Chambers? He just bumped into me."

"Please. There was definite hip-to-hip contact." Willow says.

"Really?" Paige asks. "If that's right Buffy. He definitely likes you."

Buffy sees Chambers sit at the table alone. "Aw, look at him."

Willow nods, "He's all alone."

"Gee, wonder why? Could it be the 'I was a teenage mannequin' look?" Xander says.

"Okay, so as a type, he's not exactly my type. I just think maybe someone should sit by him." Buffy says.

"But who?" Willow asked.

"Might have to be us." Buffy says.

Paige smiles, "Looks like it."

"You know, just to be friendly." Buffy says.

"Boy, are you three being taken on a tour. Am I the only one who can see through his good looks and the pleasant demeanor to behold the sick, perverted deviant within?" Xander says as he turns and sees that Paige, Buffy and Willow are already half-way to Chambers' table. "You don't have to answer right away."

"Paige, Willow, wherever will we sit?" Buffy says. "Oh, I guess this will have to do."

As Buffy is about to sit, Cordelia appears.

"Hey, look. An empty seat." Cordelia says as she knocks Buffy to the floor. Buffy's tray takes flight. Cordelia sits at the table and turns to Chambers, but he's not there. He is helping Buffy.

"You okay?" Chambers asks.

Paige whispers to Willow, "Yep he likes Buffy."

Willow nods in agreement.

"Yeah. Boy, her hips are wider than I thought." Buffy says.

Chamber helps Buffy up, "At least now you don't have to eat the creamed corn. I'm Chambers."

"Oh, it's so nice to finally learn your name. I'm—" Buffy says.

"Buffy. We're in algebra together." Chambers says.

Buffy nods, "With Mr. McKamy."

"The one and lonely." Chambers says.

"Tell me, how does he manage to get chalk dust all over his—" Buffy says.

"I try not to think about that." Chambers says.

"This is my friend, Willow." Buffy says as she gestures at Willow and Paige. "And my sister, Paige." Dawn walks up to them. "And my other sister, Dawn."

"I took algebra last year because I'm a year ahead, so now I'm taking pre-calculus which is really hard, but I'm in the gifted class, well, my parents signed me up for it, how embarrassing is that, and maybe I should get a janitor to take care of this mess." Willow says before she goes off. "Clean up on aisle seven!"

Cordelia pulls Chambers back down to his seat. "Poor girl always forgets to take her medication. Hey, Chambers, a bunch of us are loitering at the Bronze tonight. You there?"

"Sounds hopeful. Who all's going?" Chambers asks.

"Well, there's me." Cordelia says.

"Oh. Who else?" Chambers says.

"You mean besides me?" Cordelia asks.

Chambers looks past Cordelia to Buffy, "Buffy, what about you?"

"What?" Buffy asks.

Paige and Dawn look to Buffy and shake their heads.

"No, she doesn't—" Cordelia says.

"How about we meet there at eight?" Chambers says to Buffy.

Cordelia glares at Buffy.

"Yeah. Eight. There." Buffy says. "I should probably get another lunch that isn't so... on the floor."

"I'll go with you. Cordelia, save our seats?" Chambers says standing up.

They head off, leaving Cordelia fuming.

Paige smiles as she and Dawn sits down, "Why don't you go sit somewhere else, Cordelia."

At the end of the school day. Students file out as Buffy and Willow come down the steps. Paige and Dawn are right behind them.

"Willow, it's not that big a deal. It's just a bunch of people getting together. I mean, sure, Chambers asked me specifically right in front of Cordelia. And, yeah, he gave me the marshmallows from his Jell-o during lunch. And then he walked me to History class and said 'I can't wait to see you tonight.'" Buffy said.

"I guess I blew it way out of proportion." Willow says.

"All right, it's a big deal. Did you notice how the corners of his mouth curled up when he chewed?" Buffy asks.

Paige shakes her head, "I think she missed that."

Willow nods, "I was too busy looking down and to the left of his 501 label."

"I'd like to see an IMAX of that." Buffy says before she stops herself. "Wait a minute."

"What's wrong?" Dawn asks.

"If you listen real close, I'm starting to sound like a regular teenager. I've got friends. I've got a date. All I need now are zits and an eating disorder." Buffy says.

Giles comes up to them. "Good afternoon, ladies."

"Although I should probably do something about that supernatural ability to destroy the undead." Buffy says.

"I'm under the impression there's some sort of ironic tone in that statement, but as an Englishman I'm incapable of discerning it." Giles says.

"Yeah? Well, that makes us even, because I don't get Benny Hill." Buffy says.

Paige nods in agreement, "The only one in our family who gets Benny Hill is Dawnie."

"I can't help it if my tastes are more refined than yours, Paige. Or yours, Buffy." Dawn says.

"In any case, that supernatural ability, which you should cherish and treasure, if I might add—" Giles says.

"You always do." Buffy says.

"—is needed tonight." Giles says.

"Close the beach on that idea. I've got a very big meeting tonight with - okay, let's just call him what he is - a god." Buffy says.

Giles shakes his head, "Oh, no. You have much more urgent business to attend to."

Paige and Dawn roll their eyes.

"More urgent than me moving past 'Buffy, The Celibate Years'? I don't think so." Buffy says.

"My books tell of a major event occurring on the evening of the 1,000th day after the Septugian Sunset. That's tonight." Giles says.

"Already? Seems like just last week was the 1,000th day after the last Septugian Sunset. Where does the time go?" Dawn says, jokingly.

"According to my calculations, we are due for a fresh rising of vampires. It is prophesied: 'On that day, seven souls will be captured into the darkness. And the Master will look upon one of them and be pleased.'" Giles says.

"Too bad, because I looked upon Chambers and was very pleased." Buffy says.

"The slayer must be present tonight. Your responsibilities to the world are paramount." Giles says.

"But... cute guy. Teenager. Post-pubescent fantasies." Buffy says.

"You'll have to put those on hold. For tonight, we do battle!" Giles says.

The cemetery is stone quiet as Paige, Buffy and Giles sit there, bored. Crickets chirp.

Buffy finishes off a huge soda with a slurp.

"Perhaps I miscalculated." Giles says.

"I'm thinking yes." Paige says.

"I was so sure." Giles says. "Well, you know what they say."

Buffy shakes her head, "Not really."

"Ninety percent of the vampire slaying game is waiting." Giles says.

"You couldn't have told me that ninety percent ago?" Buffy says.

"Oh, well. At least we were here at the ready, so it wasn't a completely wasted evening." Giles says.

"Yes, Giles, it was. But that's okay. I'm sure I'll have another shot at teenage happiness someday. Like when I'm thirty." Buffy says.

Paige rolls her eyes.

"Come now. What you consider a curse, others would call a gift. Be thankful you're not burdened with trivial matters like what to wear to next month's hay dance." Giles says.

"I think both Buffy and I wish we could worry about trivial things. And not that you'd care, but I'm thinking gingham." Paige says.

Buffy gathers her things, "Now, if you'll excuse me, I might still have a chance to salvage the remains of my dating career."

"I needn't warn you about the dangers of becoming personally involved with someone who is unaware of your unique condition." Giles says.

Buffy nods, "Yeah, yeah. I've read the back of the box."

"If your identity as the slayer is revealed, it could put you and those around you in grave danger." Giles says.

"Yeah. Which is why we haven't told mom yet." Paige says.

Buffy walks over to Paige and they orb out and in behind the Bronze.

"You want me to hang around?" Paige asked. "You know just in case."

"Nah I should be good, Paige." Buffy said as she gave her sister a hug and headed inside.

Paige waited a moment and then orbed out.

Inside Buffy stops short as she spots Chambers and Cordelia dancing wildly to the throbbing beat. She pulls him close.

Buffy turns and runs back out the door heading around the corner hoping Paige waited to find her already gone.

An hour later Buffy walks into her room and finds Paige waiting up for her.

"So how did it go?" Paige asks.

Buffy sighs, "It didn't. When I got inside I found he was dancing with Cordelia."

The next day at school Buffy slams her locker door.

"So you just went home?" Xander asks.

"That was my question." Paige says.

Buffy sighs, "What was I supposed to do? Say to Chambers, 'Sorry I'm late. I was sitting in a cemetery with the librarian waiting for some vampires to rise so that I could slam a few stakes into their hearts but it was a false alarm so now, hey, let's dance'?"

Xander weighs this with his hands, "Or... flat tire."

"Giles should come with a Surgeon General's warning: may be hazardous to Buffy's social life. He's completely not cognizant. It's as if he's never even been on a date." Buffy says.

"Distinct possibility." Xander says.

"I can't take this anymore. I feel like everyone's staring at me, the hideous dateless monster." Buffy says as a student walks past and Buffy tears into him. "That's right, I have no life. Move along, pal. Nothing to see here."

The student scurries on.

"You're overreacting, Buffy." Paige says. "Everyone likes you. You could have any guy in the school."

"That's a nice thing to say. You're a good sister." Buffy says.

Paige smiles, "I try to be."

Chambers comes up to them. "Hey, Buffy."

"Chambers." Buffy says.

"Oh, look, it's Chambers. Buffy and Chambers. And Xander and Paige. That'd be us." Xander says.

Xander moves aside pulling Paige with him as he begins rummaging through his locker.

"Where were you last night?" Chambers asks.

"Oh, I, uh... broke my watch, and we don't have any clocks in our house, so I didn't know what time it was, actually, I didn't even know what day it was. Was that last night? I'm sorry." Buffy says.

'Lame excuse, Buffy,' Paige thinks.

"How about we try again for tonight? I'll even lend you my watch." Chambers says.

Behind them, Xander rolls his eyes, trying not to gag.

Paige shakes her head at Xander's reaction and whispers to him, "And here you want me to go out with you and you get jealous of someone wanting to date my sister."

"Tonight? You and me?" Buffy asks.

Xander looks to Paige, "I-I-I…"

"Thought so," Paige whispers. "Then why are you jealous of Chambers?"

Xander lets out a sigh and whispers back, 'Well if you must know cause Buffy is my friend and I don't want to see her get hurt, okay. Satisfied now?"

"We could invite the chess club, but you know, they drink a lot." Chambers says.

"Well, no, it's just I kind of heard that you and Cordelia were somewhat... all over each other. A little." Buffy says.

Paige smiles and whispers, "That's nice Xander.

"I just danced with her a couple of times. She was there all alone. I felt sorry for her." Chamber says.

Xander 'finds' something in his locker. "Yay! I've been looking for this pen cap for weeks."

Paige rolls her eyes.

"Tonight." Buffy says, calculating in her head. "Let's see, if I rearrange, and move that to next week, and then shift that to - sure. Tonight'll work."

Chambers smiles, "I'll pick you up at seven."

"Seven." Buffy says.

Chambers hands Buffy his watch; pointing, "That's when the little hand's here."

"Ah, right between the six and the eight." Buffy says.

Chambers smiles, "See you then." He walks off.

"Tonight! Isn't that so?" Buffy says.

"Oh, yeah. I'm sure you and Gaggy Von Gaggenheimer will have a great time." Xander says.

Paige smiles, "I know make Xander happy."

Buffy laughs, "Yeah let's see Xander can you be at our house at seven?"

Xander looks between Paige and Buffy to see if they are joking. Then he looks at the seriousness of Paige's expression, "You really want to go out with me? I thought you weren't interested in me like that."

"I was also under a spell at the time I said that, Xander." Paige says. "Of course I'm interested in you like that."

Xander smiles, "Sure seven sounds great."

"Remember out house," Buffy says. "You come to our house to pick Paige up."

Xander nods, "Will do."

That evening Paige and Buffy are getting ready for their date. Dawn and Willow are there. Willow holds up to outfits for Paige and Buffy to choose.

"Pick." Willow says.

"Let's see. Do I want to appear shy, coy and naïve, or do I go unrestrained, insatiable and aggressive." Buffy says. "I think I'll mix-n-match."

"That sounds like a good idea, Buffy." Paige says.

"So Dawn which do you like?" Buffy asks.

Hmm the red's good. But I think I would go with the peach."

"Thanks. I'll go with the peach then." Buffy says.

"Then I'll go with the red." Paige says.

Willow hands Paige and Buffy some clothes, "Put this on."

Paige and Buffy changes into their outfits.

"So, where's Chambers taking you?" Willow asks.

"I don't know. Where do you suppose the young kids are going on dates these days?" Buffy says.

"Well, I read somewhere that sometimes they go to movies." Willow says.

Paige nods, "Movies. Interesting. I will Xander will take me." She notices Willow's look of disgust at the mention of Xander. "Willow don't tell me your still interested in Xander?"

"And if I am. Would you not go out with him tonight?" Willow says.

Paige sighs, "Willow, there is no guarantee anything will happen."

Willow sighs and nods, "I know. I can't help it if I feel a little jealous. You have a good time though, okay?"

Paige nods and hugs Willow, "I will."

The doorbell rings.

"That's Chambers!" Buffy says.

"Or it could be Xander." Paige says.

Moments later Buffy and Paige opens the door. Dawn and Willow stand in the hallway behind them.

"That's Giles." Buffy says.

"Tonight is absolutely the night." Giles says.

"We're not home." Paige says as she starts to close the door. He stops her.

"The prophecy is happening. Look." Giles says as he flips open a newspaper.

SEVEN DIE IN VAN ACCIDENT.

"My theory was correct. Seven people were killed last night." Giles says.

"Yeah. In a car crash." Buffy says.

"Those deaths were forecast more than three thousand years ago. And listen to this." Giles says as he reads the newspaper. "Also among the dead was Andrew Borba, whom police had been pursuing for months in connection with a series of brutal assaults. That's the one the Master is waiting for. He is set to rise with the others tonight. My calculations make me sure of it."

"You were sure of it last night. You showed us charts and drafts and calendars." Paige says.

Giles hangs his head, "I forgot about leap year. Buffy, you have to believe me—"

"You expect me to buy into your open-to-interpretation interpretation when you can't even remember to carry the four?" Buffy says.

"You must answer your calling." Giles says.

"Last night I answered it and they put me on hold." Buffy says.

Xander and Chambers come up the walk; they're both carrying a carnation.

"Hey, guys." Chambers says. "What's Dewey Decimal doing here?"

"Oh. He's, uh, our promoting Bookmobile awareness. We call him gruff but lovable Giles. But enough about him. What's the plan?"

"What are your thoughts on bowling." Chambers says.

"That was my idea," Xander says to Paige.

"If it gets me off this doorstep, I'm for it." Buffy says.

Paige smiles, "It sounds very you, Xander."

Buffy and Paige push past Giles.

"So you're just going to go." Giles says.

"If you say so." Buffy says.

"You're just going to ignore the fact that you've been chosen and have a destiny to fulfill." Giles says.

Dawn, Willow and Xander, on alert, pull Chambers away from the conversation.

"Uh, Chambers—" Willow says.

"Yeah. A couple of things about tonight." Dawn says.

"What is it? She's not into bowling?" Chambers asks.

Dawn shakes her head, "No it's not that. I maybe the littlest sister here. But I still have to read you the shovel speech."

"Shovel speech?" Chambers asks.

"If you hurt my sister I will come after you with a shovel." Dawn says. "Of course that goes for you to Xander."

"You know what? I'll just kind of let Buffy lead." Chambers says.

"Duly noted, Dawn." Xander says.

"All right, then. I don't need you. This is a subject on which I am well versed. I've spent night after night in that library reading book after book after book—" Giles says.

"On the plus side, you've missed the career of Sheryl Crow." Paige says.

"One of us has to take your obligation seriously, and if it's not going to be you, then I'll go do it alone." Giles says.

"Fine. It should be very exciting for you doing absolutely nothing all by yourself." Buffy says.

"Ha! What you fail to realize is that that's what I do best!" Giles says as he storms off.

Buffy clenches her fists and groans angrily, then she and Paige turns to Chambers and Xander.

"Okay, all set!" Buffy and Paige says.

"Don't wait up." Buffy says to Willow and Dawn.

Buffy and Chambers start down the walk, followed by Paige and Xander.

"What was all that stuff he was saying about being 'chosen' and having a 'destiny'?" Chambers asks.

"He's grooming me to be the next librarian." Buffy says.

Back inside the house Willow and Dawn are talking.

"This is bad." Willow says. "We're going to have to take steps."

Dawn nods, "You have to go with Giles. He could get into trouble. Be careful."

"You sure you will be alright by yourself?" Willow asks.

Dawn smiles, "I'll be fine."

Later at the bowling alley Chambers launches a ball down an alley and into some pins.

"Yes!" Chambers says as he walks back to the score table where Buffy is sitting. "Picked up the spare." Buffy absent-mindedly twirls a pencil. "Buffy?"

"What? Oh, sorry." Buffy says, startled.

"Are you okay?" Chambers asks.

"I'm just... thinking about what Giles said." Buffy says.

"I guess the thing you've got to ask yourself is, is that what you really want to be?" Chambers says.

"What?" Buffy asks.

"A librarian?" Chambers says.

"Oh. Not even." Buffy says.

Chambers nods, "Well, there you go."

"You know, you're right. I do go there. Thanks." Buffy says as she grabs a ball.

"Now how do you do this again?" Buffy asks.

Paige shakes her head.

Chambers gets behind Buffy, showing her how to hold the ball.

"No offense Xander, but this is kinda boring." Paige says.

Xander nods, "Well what else would you like to do? Grab something to eat maybe?"

"Like this. And if it goes in the gutter, don't worry. It takes a long time to get good at this." Chambers says.

"I don't think I want to leave Buffy." Paige says.

Forgetting her own strength, Buffy sends the ball rocketing down the lane. It nearly pulverizes the pins.

"Keep at it. It'll come to you." Chambers says.

Buffy looks back at Paige and Xander for a moment before her eyes fall on a man in the next lane pull the hair back from a woman's neck and start to move in close.

Paige follows Buffy's gaze and gets up to stop her as she whispers, "Buffy. No. You don't know if he's a vampire."

The woman smiles as the man innocently kisses her on the neck.

Buffy looks at Paige and smiles her thanks, then she looks up and sees an elderly woman walk into the shadow of a doorway, followed by a mysterious looking guy - light skin, dark hair, dark clothing.

Paige once again shakes her head and grabs Buffy as she whispers, "This is a public place. It would be too conspicuous for a vamp to bite someone in here."

Buffy looks at the mysterious looking man and the elderly woman and then nods. Paige is right she knows.

"Did you want to go somewhere else?" Chambers asks.

Buffy shakes her head, "No, are you kidding? I am loving the bowling thing! You got your ball, you got your pins. No wonder it's America's second favorite indoor activity. You're up."

Chambers starts toward the lane.

Buffy gathers herself. "Okay, Buff, say hi to reality. Absolutely nothing is going to happen tonight."

Paige rolls her eyes.

Later Willow passes the mysterious looking guy as he walks out with an attractive woman.

"Sure, I worked with Fred Gwynne for years. Come back to my place and I'll tell you about the time me and Al Lewis filled his boots with rice pudding."

Paige, Xander, Buffy and Chambers are at the counter turning in their shoes.

Willow runs up, breathless. "Buffy, Paige, I'm glad I caught you."

"Well, look at this. You are just showing up everywhere." Chambers says.

"What are you doing here?" Buffy asks.

"Well see…" Willow says. "Paige get your hands off my man."

Xander looks at Willow and then Paige and back at Willow.

Willow mouths, 'Work with me.'

"Willow. Come on I told you I was going out with Paige now."

"Actually, we were just about to leave." Chambers says.

"Maybe we should all go somewhere together." Willow says. "You know more private to talk."

"Gee, that is so nice of you to ask." Buffy says. "But Chambers and I were kind of, well, Chambers and I."

Paige nods, "Yeah we were going to split let Chambers and Buffy have some alone time together. If you get my drift."

"Come on. We can go... some place. We can do... some things. It'll be a blast!" Willow says.

"Where were you thinking?" Buffy says.

Willow smiles, "Oh, there are so many options. You know what would be fun? I hear there's kind of like a party going on. At the cemetery. Giles is there."

"Thank you, I know." Buffy says.

"With some friends." Willow says.

Buffy looks at Paige and frowns as they both realize at the same time.

"Oh, no. Giles." Buffy says. "We've got to get over there."

"Cool. Party." Chambers says.

"Oh. Chambers. Maybe we should do the goodbye thing here." Buffy says.

"What do you mean?" Chambers asks.

"Well, this party... After bowling, it'll probably be anti-climactic." Paige says looking at Xander as she mouths, 'Make it believable for Chambers.'

Xander nods, "Yeah you're probably right."

"You guys don't want me to go?" Chambers says.

"No, it's just, well, you wouldn't really know anyone. They don't go to our school." Buffy says.

"That's okay. I'm always up for meeting new people." Chambers says.

"Buffy, we really need to get there." Willow says.

"I know, I know. But..." Buffy says as she looks up at Chambers; then gives up, "Okay let's go."

Later Buffy, Paige, Willow, Xander and Chambers run towards the mortuary. They hear a crash from inside.

"Must be a wild party." Chambers says.

"You guys stay here. Let me and Paige check it out." Buffy says as she and Paige runs ahead.

Inside two vampire henchmen are searching the place, overturning coffins, etc. Giles is nowhere to be seen.

Suddenly Paige and Buffy orb into the room.

"Viewing hours are over." Buffy says as one of the vampires lunges towards Buffy. She grabs his arm, twists him around, and holds his arm behind his back. "Funeral services will be held—" She reaches around and plunges a stake through his heart. "—now." And he dusts.

The other vampire is circling Paige. She holds him at bay with her stake. "Where do you want it?" The vampire kicks the stake out of Paige's hand. It goes flying across the room. "You really think I can't get that back. Stake!" The stake orbs into her hands as the vampire lunges at her and she plunges the stake through his heart. And he dusts.

"Buffy? Paige?"

Paige and Buffy looks around. "Giles?" The ask together.

"Buffy, Paige, I'm in here."

Paige and Buffy looks at all the drawers on the wall.

"Where?" Paige asks.

"In here."

Buffy goes to a drawer, opens it, and looks inside. "That's not Giles." She closes the drawer.

"Buffy... Paige…"

"We're trying, we're trying." Paige says as she opens another drawer, looks inside. "Ew, that had to hurt." She closes that drawer.

Buffy looks in another. "That's... well, that's just wrong." She closes the drawer and opens another.

Giles lays in the drawer next to a corpse. "How was your dates?"

"Apparently, better than yours." Paige says.

Buffy helps Giles out of the drawer.

"Well, I suppose I don't have to say that I was correct in my prediction." Giles says.

"Something tells me you will anyway." Buffy says.

"No, no. I won't bask in the glory and rub your nose in the fact that old Giles was right and that young, inexperienced Buffy was one-hundred percent wrong." Giles says.

"Thank you." Buffy says.

"It would only further heighten the current embarrassment you must be—" Giles says.

"Annoyance factor dangerously high." Buffy says.

"I'm done." Giles says.

"What were you thinking taking on vampires by yourself? You're a watcher, not a slayer or a witch with an active power." Paige says.

"What else could I do? You two were off acting like an irresponsible teenagers." Giles says.

"We are irresponsible teenagers." Buffy says.

"How long are you going to fall back on that hollow justification for your juvenile activities." Giles says.

"I'm thinking it should do me until I'm about twenty." Buffy says.

Xander, Willow, and Chambers come in.

"Where's the party?" Chambers asks.

"It's pretty much over." Paige says.

"On the contrary, it's just about to begin." Giles says.

"Meaning exactly- huh?" Buffy asks.

"Our previous two 'guests' were, as you noticed, only two. If you'll recall, the announcement about tonight's event specifically stated there would be seven in the attendance. Too, the invited ones will be dressed in, shall we say, their 'funeral best.'" Giles says.

"Because this is their first night." Paige says.

Giles nods, "Exactly. And we mustn't forget about the 'guest of honor' who will be rising- coming to the party this evening."

"So when do these guests arrive?" Buffy asks.

Unseen by everyone, a drawer on the wall behind them slowly opens and a vampire (the driver from the van) sits up.

"I have no idea. They were scheduled to be here by now." Giles says.

Still unseen, more drawers open, four more vampires (passengers from the van) sit up.

"Maybe this time you forgot to account for Daylight Savings." Paige says.

From behind them, they hear a voice.

"Sorry, we're late."

Buffy, Paige and the others turn to see the vampires have them surrounded. The vampires are partially dressed as if being prepared for burial: the van driver is in a suit, the young bride and groom are in a wedding dress and tuxedo, the mother is in a black dress, and the old man is in a naval uniform.

"These are your friends?" Chambers asks.

"No. They're crashers." Buffy says.

"Why do they look so weird?" Chambers asks.

"They're, uh, on something." Xander says.

"Probably PCP." Willow says.

Paige nods, "Just say no."

The vampires go after the group.

Paige and Buffy dives right in while Giles, Xander, and Willow go on the defense. They huddle close to Chambers, keeping the vampires at bay with some of the stuff from Giles' bag.

"Here. Hold this garlic." Giles says as he hands Willow some cloves.

"These are shallots." Willow says.

"Drat. I always get those confused." Giles says.

Xander pulls a cross out of the bag. "I think this is a cross."

"That should work." Giles says.

The vampires are all over Buffy and Paige. Buffy kicks one, Paige punches another, and the both elbow a third.

"Paige and Buffy's all alone out there. What are we doing just sitting here?" Chambers says.

"They knows what they're doing." Giles says.

"We've got to help them!" Chambers says as he breaks away and goes after the Groom, who is getting the upper hand on Buffy.

"Chambers, no-!" Buffy says. "Paige!"

Paige who is busy with a vamp looks over at Chambers.

Chambers puts his head down and rams the Groom in the midsection, pushing him up against a wall of drawers. Chambers follows up with a couple of hooks and an uppercut. The Groom goes down.

Chambers turns around and smiles at Buffy. "I'll bet he's sorry he messed with me."

The Groom immediately pops up behind Chambers, grabs him, and slams a drawer into his head.

The Groom holds the lifeless body up by the collar and taunts Buffy.

"Now see what you did? You went and got your friend killed." Groom says.

The Groom lifts Chambers' body over his head, then slams him into the ground. Buffy looks on, mortified.

Buffy then glares at the Groom.

"You've made me very angry." Buffy says.

Without shifting her gaze from the Groom, Buffy swiftly extends her arm to the side, landing a stake in the heart of the Mom vampire who was sneaking up from behind.

"This old guy's still got some life in him." Old Man Vamp says to Paige as he kicks her, but Paige grabs his leg and flips him backwards onto the floor.

"Famous last words." Paige says as she straddles the Old Man, takes a stake and stakes him.

The van driver runs towards Buffy from behind and leaps into the air.

Buffy tosses a stake backwards over her shoulder. It sails through the air and sinks into the Van Driver's chest just as he's coming down.

Three down.

The Groom grabs Buffy by her collar. He calls to the Bride. "Honey, I have a gift for you." He heaves Buffy through the air. Buffy slams into the wall and drops to the floor.

The Bride pulls Buffy up by the hair, and they struggle. Buffy tries to trap the Bride against the wall, but the Bride grabs Buffy's arms and pins them to her side. The Bride holds Buffy there. "I got her!"

"Not for long." Paige says. "Buffy!"

Buffy orbs out and orbs back in next to Paige. "Thanks for calling for me, sis. Shall we end this?"

Paige smiles and holds out her hands, "Stake!" Two stakes orb into her hand and she hands one to Buffy. "Shall we?"

Buffy tosses her staked and it lands in the Bride's chest and she dusts. "And you two made such a cute couple."

The Groom screams in rage, and charges at Buffy. She shoulders him in the mid-section and flips him straight up into the air.

Buffy kicks open a coffin. The Groom flies into the coffin. Paige plunges the stake through his heart and slams the lid closed.

And that is that.

Paige and Buffy looks around at the carnage, but their moment of victory is overshadowed by the sight of Chambers' body heaped in a corner.

Buffy walks over to him and kneels down. "Why did that stupid prophecy have to come true tonight?"

Giles puts a hand on her shoulder. "Evil does not like to wait."

"It waited three thousand years. It couldn't wait one more night?" Paige asks.

Giles sighs, "Buffy, I know this may be a small consolation, but you have done a great service to humankind. You prevented the chosen one from freeing the Master."

"So what? Chambers is dead. All these other people are dead. And for what? Why does this kind of stuff have to happen?" Buffy says.

"I gave up long ago trying to answer such questions." Giles says.

"These people didn't do anything wrong. They were just innocent victims. They didn't ask to be turned into vampires. They didn't know about any prophecy. I'll bet the chosen one didn't even know he was the chosen one." Buffy says.

There is a loud thud. They all turn to see the Militia vampire.

"I think he knows." Xander says.

Buffy rises to face her new challenger. She gives him the once over. There is a long beat. "He's big. Paige this one's mine."

"You can beat him, Buffy. Just remember your training. Don't try anything fancy. Stick with the fundamentals." Giles says.

"Stay out of it, Giles. This is between me and him." Buffy says as she begins to circle him. "You're the reason my date got killed."

Chambers eyelids begin to flutter as he comes to.

Willow sees this. "Buffy..."

Buffy and Militia are face-to-face. "By the time I'm done with you, you'll wish you were dead. Or, weren't dead. I mean—" She leaps onto him. They crash into a table full of urns, which collapses beneath them, sending up a cloud of ashes.

Chambers' moving now, trying to sit up.

"Buffy, Chambers is –" Xander says.

Paige and Giles puts up a hand to stop Xander.

Buffy pins Militia vamp to the ground.

"Let's give her a minute." Giles says.

"I'm in agreement with Giles." Paige says.

Buffy is on top of Militia, swinging wildly. "Our first date—" She hits him with a left hook. "—and I get the guy killed!" She hits him with a right hook. "What am I going to tell his parents?" She slams his head against the floor.

Militia kicks Buffy off. She goes flying across the room. Militia charges her and leaps. Buffy rolls out of the way and flips upright as Militia crashes onto the floor.

Militia reaches for Buffy. She dives into a somersault, lands on his opposite side, and kicks him in the ribs. Before he can counter she does a back flip, vaults off the coffin behind her, and lands with the coffin between them.

Militia gets to his feet and lunges at Buffy. She opens the coffin lid towards him, smashing him in the face. He staggers backwards into the corner of the room.

Buffy's got him where she wants him. She cartwheels over to him, ending with a flip, and lands facing the wrong way. She's staring at the corner of the room. She turns around, Militia is towering over her.

"Oops." Militia vamp says as he laughs maniacally.

Buffy looks around. She's trapped. "Paige!"

Militia grabs Buffy, opens his mouth, and aims at her neck. She strains to keep him away.

"The book! It'll know what to do." Giles says as he reaches into his bag and pulls out the large book.

"Now?" Buffy says.

Paige rolls her eyes, "Stake!" She lunges forward and plunges the stake through Militia's back and into his heart as he dusts.

Buffy dusts herself off, picks up the book and hands it to Giles. "Good thing you didn't bring the Cliff's Notes."

Paige rolls her eyes.

Chambers is coming out of his daze, not sure where he is. "Does anybody have an aspirin? Or sixty?"

Buffy smiles, "Chambers!" She rushes to him. "You're okay."

Chambers feels the back of his head. "Do I have another head back there?"

"I think it'll heal." Buffy says as she gingerly helps him to his feet.

"What happened to all those guys?" Chambers asks.

"We scared them away." Buffy says.

"Good, because, you know, I would have..." Chambers says.

"I know." Buffy says. "I'm sure this isn't what you expected on our first date."

"Yeah, I thought maybe we'd finish up at Ben & Jerry's—" Chambers says.

Paige smiles, "We still could. Finish our double date with a bang."

"No, I think I'll just walk home." Chambers says as he starts out, then turns back. "Um, which way is home?"

"I'll get you there." Buffy says as she reaches for him.

Chambers backs away from Buffy. "Uh, no. I'll go it alone." He walks off.

"We'll make sure he gets there okay." Xander says. "Sorry our date ended in such a downer, Paige."

Paige smiles, "So am I."

Xander and Willow follow after Chambers.

Giles zips up his bag. "Well, it's a good thing I planned ahead. Otherwise, you'd be merely the latest in a long line of slayers whose lives were cut short by carelessness and overconfidence. On top of that you would have lost one sister."

"Giles, you're gushing." Buffy says.

"I'm sure you're aware that your over-flamboyant moves nearly cost us our lies. Had you stuck to the fundamentals—" Giles says.

"Is that all you ever think about?" Paige asks.

Giles sighs, "Yes. That's what I'm supposed to think about. Plus Paige I think it's time we work on your assessment as well."

"Well, I think about other things. Like my life, my future, my kitchenette at the Old Single Woman's Home." Buffy says.

Giles shakes his head, "Must you always be so dramatic?"

"Paige, Dawn and I are high school sophomores. It comes with the package." Buffy says.

Giles nods, "You have duties as a slayer—"

"Didn't you see what happened here? I really liked Chambers, and now any chance I have with him is ruined because of my stupid destiny." Buffy says.

"Buffy, you cannot ignore who you are. Any more than Paige can ignore that she's a witch." Giles says.

"Hey, I never wanted this." Buffy says. "I like who I was before just fine. And you know what I liked best about then? I didn't know you!"

Paige sighs, "Our lives were simpler before Buffy became a Slayer. Even though I was obviously born a witch. I would not have actively trained in the use of my power or learned some martial arts to help Buffy if she had not been called. Our lives were much simpler back then."

The next day Buffy, Paige and Dawn is with Xander and Willow in the quad at school.

"Did Chambers get home okay?" Buffy asks.

Xander nods, "Yeah."

"Did he say anything about me?" Buffy asks.

"You mean specifically about you?" Willow asks.

"Or generally, in the area, in the ballpark, any sort of implication—" Buffy says.

"Buffy went on and on last night about Chambers." Dawn said.

"Oh, well, in that case, no." Xander said.

Willow nods, "But he was pretty incoherent, so maybe we missed it."

"You think?" Buffy asks.

"No." Xander says.

Buffy sighs, "I knew it. I totally blew it."

Chambers runs up to them. "Hey, Buffy."

Buffy smiles, "Chambers..."

Paige looks to Xander, "I think this is our stop." She hooks her arm around Xander's and pulls him away."

"Come on Dawn," Willow says. "Let's leave these two alone."

Dawn nods and follows Willow off.

"Hi." Chambers says.

Buffy smiles, "Hi." There is a long beat of silence. "This is going well."

"I'm sorry. I don't know how to say this, but, about last night—" Chambers says.

"You don't even have to. I'm sure you were pretty freaked out." Buffy says.

Chambers nods, "Totally."

"Okay, then." Buffy says.

"And I was kind of hoping I could see you again." Chambers says.

Buffy stands there stone-faced. She snaps out of it. "I'm sorry. That was my hopeful ear." She turns her head. "Could you say that again?"

Chambers smiles, "You are the most amazing girl I've ever met. You're so sweet, but there's something... dangerous about you."

"Really?" Buffy says, smiling.

"Last night was incredible. When can we do it again?" Chambers says.

"Again." Buffy says.

Chambers nods, "How about tonight?"

"Tonight would be—" Buffy starts, but she stops herself. Something isn't right here. "—not a workable thing."

"Tomorrow, then? Or some other time?" Chambers says. "I quit the debate team, so I am free any night this week."

"Actually, you see, the thing is..." Buffy says, struggling for words. "You're a really nice guy. But the timing's all off."

The meaning of Buffy's words sink in.

"Oh. Timing." Chambers says.

"Don't take this personally, I mean, it's not you, it's me." Buffy says.

Chambers nods, "Right. It's you."

"Believe me, it's me. I've just got to take some time and balance out some things in my life. Because you see, I'm... different. And I think after a while you'd want something that's a little more, well, there. But I'm still hoping—" Buffy says.

Chambers nods, "I get it. You just want to be friends."

Buffy smiles, "That'd be nice."

Chambers backs away, "Yeah. Great. Friends." He turns and goes. Buffy watches him disappear into the mass of students.

"That must have been terribly hard for you." Giles says.

Buffy spins around and sees Giles. She tenses up, then softens. "Yeah, it was."

"He cares for you very much." Giles says.

Buffy sighs, "That's why I had to end it. Chambers was way too into what was going on last night. If we'd kept going out, he could have ended up getting killed. Or worse."

"I'm afraid you're probably right." Giles says.

"And I thought, I'm not being fair to him. He deserves a normal life. He shouldn't have to put up with all..." Buffy says, "…this."

Giles nods, "No one should."

"But I'm sure there will be other gorgeous guys who would do anything for me and are perfect in every way. Oh, wait, no there won't. Because I'm a freak." Buffy says.

Giles looks across the campus. Groups of students are hanging out, talking, laughing. "You know, there's no reason we absolutely have to train tonight. According to my calculations, no uprisings are planned for at least another twenty-three days."

"Should I ink that, or just pencil it?" Buffy asks.

"Let me get back to you." Giles says.

They head towards the library.

On the otherside of the quad; Willow, Xander, Dawn and Paige had been watching Buffy.

"Xander?" Paige asks.

Xander nods, "You just want to be friends?"

"I don't know. Let me think about it. Unlike Chambers and Buffy. You know the score. You know to be careful. Let's see what tomorrow brings. If I still feel something for you then we'll go on from there."