Thanks again to all those who have given me such kind feedback - in particular to Cylon One for all of their help and encouragement. I really do appreciate it.

As ever, the usual disclaimers apply


Later that night, the Scoobies were at The Bronze letting off some steam. While Oz was performing with his band, Willow and Buffy were on the dance floor while Xander and Anya were firmly rooted on a sofa in their own little world.

Although she would deny it, the slayer had an added bounce in her step following her earlier dinner 'date' with Dick. Even though she still wasn't sure of his attentions, she was well aware of the growing flirtation between them. And then there was the brief kiss, she wasn't sure why she had done that. It wasn't like her to be so forward when she was feeling so conflicted. But she couldn't deny the way it made her heart speed up. Her friends had all noticed her renewed perkiness, but when they asked her she just responded with a small shrug.

If she were completely honest, she was disappointed that Dick hadn't changed his mind about joining them. But the night had been a good one so far. For once, she felt almost normal.

However, as she noticed a couple making their way through the busy club she realized that it had been too good to be true. It wasn't that sight which had caught her eye, more the fact that the man didn't seem to have a reflection as they passed a decorative mirror. She sighed and leaned over to her friend.

"Duty calls. I'll be back," she whispered. Willow gave her a sympathetic smile.

"Do you want any help?"

"Nah – it shouldn't take long," she said, before weaving across the floor. She paused as she passed Xander and his girlfriend to grab her things. Exiting the building, she soon found the couple in a dark alley.

"You just can't help yourself, can you?" she asked loudly, her voice reverberating off the walls. The pair separated in surprise.

"I can't believe this. You told me I was the only girl for you. I can't believe you're cheating on me – again!" she continued. The girl glanced nervously between Buffy and the guy who, seconds ago, had been all over her. Seeing the other girl's steely gaze, she decided she didn't want to get caught up in a domestic and raced back into the club. The vampire glared at the diminutive blonde and began to advance.

"Looks like it's just you and me," he said.

"Uh-huh. So are we going to do this the hard way or the easy way?" she questioned, pulling a stake from her bag.

"Slayer…"he growled, as she flew at him.


Nightwing had been firmly ensconced outside Sunnydale's only club ever since he'd dropped Buffy off earlier in the evening. He wished he was inside, but by remaining afar he knew he would be able to better observe her natural behaviour.

He was perturbed to realize that he was a little envious of the guys that she may dance with inside. She had looked so beautiful earlier. Not that he was interested, but he had been replaying their previous conversations all night – purely to figure out if he had missed an important clue to the growing mystery. Besides, she was blonde and everyone knew he had a penchant for redheads.

His thoughts were interrupted by the banging of a door and a couple who had clearly stumbled outside for some 'alone' time. So he was taken aback when the object of his bewilderment made an appearance moments later.

"You just can't help yourself, can you?" her voice sliced through the silence. His mind froze – was she talking to him?

"I can't believe this. You told me I was the only girl for you. I can't believe you're cheating on me – again!"

No. Not talking to him. He noticed the necking couple had stopped and he was surprised to feel his stomach lurch. Was she involved with that guy? She couldn't be. She had never mentioned a boyfriend. She had even said she wasn't looking for 'anything'. And what about that kiss, so fleeting he would almost have thought he had imagined it but for the slightest hint of her strawberry lipgloss on his lips that had been left behind.

He barely registered the brunette running back inside, but there was no mistaking the predatory gleam in the guy's eyes.

"Looks like it's just you and me," he heard him say. Looking at Buffy, he saw her stance change.

"Uh-huh. So are we going to do this the hard way or the easy way?" As she threw out the question, he saw her pull what looked like a stake from her bag and caught the advancing male snarl.

"Slayer…"

What the heck? Slayer? He was torn between intervening and watching. There had been no fear in Buffy's posture and as she flew at the guy she radiated power. Raw power. He decided to remain where he was, but prepared to jump in if he needed to.

He didn't. She quickly launched herself at the man and it was then that Nightwing saw his face. It had contorted and looked almost demonic. He tensed, in awe as the petite girl kept control. As they fought he couldn't help but admire her graceful movements and the fluidity of each motion.

It wasn't long before she had him on the ground and had slammed the stake through his chest. His jaw dropped as the guy exploded into dust.

What the hell just happened? His mind was racing and he was startled when he heard the girl – the 'slayer' – speak.

"Show yourself."

He hesitated, before jumping down from his ledge.

"You!" Buffy exclaimed.

He forced back a smile as she greeted him in exactly the same manner as she had when they had run into each other in the rain that afternoon.

"I prefer to be called Nightwing," he responded, holding out a gloved hand. She didn't take it.

"I come in peace," he joked. "I'm just here to find out what's happening here."

"How much did you see?" she asked.

"Everything."

"Everything? Some hero – leave a girl to fend for herself. I could have been in trouble."

"I was ready to step in, but it seemed to me like you had it under control. What was he?"

The silence was deafening. She shrugged and ran her hand through her hair, pushing it out of her face. As she did so he realised that she hadn't come through the fight as unscathed at he had originally thought.

"You're hurt," he commented.

"It's nothing."

"You're bleeding," he whispered, instinctively reaching out to wipe some blood away. As his hand grazed her forehead, his heartbeat quickened.

Buffy felt her breath catch. She raised her eyes and looked up at him. They remained like that for a moment, until the peace was shattered by one word.

"You!"