The Initiative had gotten in touch with Buffy and given her the decision about whether or not to remove Spike's chip, so after discussing it with Giles, she'd agreed to having their medical team remove the chip. Spike was still being restrained in the basement until they figured out if anything was triggering him to kill without remembering it. Of course, with his freshly restored soul, he was giving Angel a run for his money on brooding and didn't seem to mind that he was chained to a wall in the basement for hours everyday for weeks.

Buffy was maintaining her job at the school and trying to balance it with her ever increasing crowd of potential slayers that looked to her for guidance, training, and protection. She was at her desk in the school outlining training drills absently when Principal Wood took a seat in her cubicle. She pushed the pages out of sight as quickly as subtlety allowed and gave him a distracted smile.

He didn't speak, just gave her a smile of his own. "Um, can I help you?" she asked, hating the uncertainty in her tone. She'd been suspicious of him since they'd run into each other in the basement with shovels, each obviously lying through their teeth. She knew why she'd lied, but she wouldn't trust him until she knew what he'd been hiding.

"I wanted to ask you to go to dinner with me," he blurted suddenly and her jaw dropped. He gave her another charming grin, laughing. "I could be optimistic and hope that's a 'yes,' but I'm going to have to hear it."

She hesitated, nervous for some reason she didn't want to look at too closely. "Uh, is this a work thing?"

"No," he answered, obviously amused. "It's a date thing."

"Oh," she blurted, swallowing. "Okay."

"Well, don't feel like you have to," he said. "It's not like I would fire you because you didn't want to go out with me."

"No, it's fine," Buffy said. "Dinner would be…nice."

"Don't sound so enthusiastic," he joked, standing up. "I'll meet you at the corner of Main and Pine at seven?"

"Sure," she agreed, swallowing thickly. She waited until he was out of earshot before she reached for her phone. Willow answered on the third ring, the witch stepping out her class to answer. "Will, I need you."

"What's wrong, Buffy? Where are you?" Willow asked, already working out how long it would take her to run to the school.

"Oh, oops, sorry Will. I guess what I meant to say was 'I hope you're not doing anything this afternoon because I need your help.'"

"What's going on, Buffy?" Willow asked, confused.

"I have a date," the Slayer answered. "Or something. A date-like something. I need clothing help!"

Willow laughed, shaking her head. "Um, Buff, maybe you forgot who you called, but you're the fashionable one. I go more for comfort and cuteness."

Buffy laughed, feeling more relaxed suddenly. "Well then, maybe I just want my best friend's opinion. I mean, you are an old married lady now…"

"You could ask Xander," Willow teased back, waving as Tara's class down the hall let out. "Hey you," she whispered as the blonde joined her. "Buffy, I'm out of class so I'll be home when you get off work. I'll see you in a little bit, okay?"

"Yeah, thanks Willow," Buffy said, hanging up.

Willow hung up her phone as well, greeting Tara properly with a kiss. "Hey, you think I look alright, don't you?" she asked, looking down at herself. "I mean, you'd tell me if…"

"Will, I think you look great," Tara interjected as she sensed a ramble coming. "What's this about?"

"Buffy's got a date, or some approximation of a date, and she's a little panicked about what to wear, I guess," Willow explained.

"And you were wondering if I liked your clothes?" Tara guessed, raising an eyebrow at her.

Willow scuffed a foot along the floor, ducking her head in embarrassment. "Yeah, I guess so."

The blonde couldn't restrain a laugh, covering her mouth as the hall started filling up with more traffic as the lecture rooms around them started emptying. Willow pouted as Tara laughed, the blonde catching her hand as she started back into her empty classroom to collect her schoolbag from where it had been abandoned when her phone went off. "Willow, come on. Don't be mad," Tara said, still giggling helplessly. "Of course I love how you look. You're sexy and adorable and gorgeous."

"You can't be sexy and adorable," Willow argued, shoving her book back into her bag. "They're mutually exclusive!"

"Not everyone can be both," Tara agreed, trying in vain to school her expression to serious. "You pull it off though." Willow leaned over to pick up a pen she'd dropped and Tara pressed herself against the redhead's back, curling her arm around Willow's narrow waist. "What's this about?" she asked, pressing a kiss to the skin behind Willow's ear as the redhead stood back upright.

"Buffy said we were an old married couple," Willow said, voice barely audible.

"Honey, you called us an old married couple. On our honeymoon," Tara reminded her, struggling not to laugh again. "Willow…" She turned the redhead in her arms so their eyes met. "I do like your clothes. And I love the way you look. And do you know what else?"

"What?" Willow asked, curious as she realized how silly she was being.

"As much as I love your clothes and how you look in them, I love the way you look out of them so much more," Tara whispered, leaning in so her lips were at Willow's ear. Willow swallowed thickly, breathing suddenly shaky. "Can we go home now?" Tara requested. "Are you still insecure-girl? Because I can help with that."

Willow shook her head wordlessly and Tara straightened up to give her a smile. The blonde was still holding her hand and she led the way back down the row of seats toward the door. Willow was surprised when Tara stopped them just inside the classroom door and spun them to press the redhead into the wall. "One more thing," Tara murmured, leaning in and capturing her wife's lips thoroughly.

Willow reacted instantly, dropping her bag to the ground and letting her fingers slide into the back of Tara's hair as her mouth dropped open, her wife taking immediate advantage and letting her tongue glide in to duel Willow's. Willow whimpered into the kiss and Tara pulled back slowly, both breathing hard.

Willow blinked blearily after a few moments, dragging her eyelids open. "Wow," she breathed. "That was…unexpected."

Tara smiled crookedly, combing her fingers through Willow's hair. "Not bad unexpected though, right?"

"No, definitely not bad. Good, very good!" Willow said quickly. "Just a little…rare these days."

Tara let her hand slide down, thumb brushing over Willow's lips. "That's true. I'm sorry. Privacy is at a premium at the house lately."

"Well, maybe we should get out of the house more," Willow suggested hopefully. "Would it be too midlife-y to have a weekly date night?"

Tara laughed, hugging her wife happily. "We're not even twenty-five, sweetheart. I don't think midlife-y is something we need to worry about yet. I think a date night sounds like a great idea though."

Willow grinned cheerfully, the expression fading slightly as she remembered all the pressure and responsibilities waiting for her at home. "I'll figure something out. I promise," Willow assured her. "And no matter what, I promise you, there will be more kissing like that."

Tara nodded against her shoulder, unable to resist turning her head to press a kiss to her neck, lingering with her lips against the freckled skin. "I could get used to that. Might even get spoiled by it."

"I'd love to spoil you like that," Willow agreed, grinning again. "We should probably get home before Buffy's head explodes."

Tara laughed, stepping back and letting Willow free from the wall. The redhead picked up her bag and took Tara's hand. She was surprised to realize that her knees were trembling and she gave the blonde a shy smile. "Little shaky," Willow confessed. "It's been too long since you kissed me that way."

"We'll just have to do better," Tara reminded her.

"Oh, believe me, it doesn't get much better than that," Willow said, grinning over her shoulder as they left the school building and started across the grass lawn.

Buffy was home when they came through the front door, the Slayer pacing back and forth in front of a basket of laundry. "I used to be good at this! What happened?" she complained. "And what took you so long?"

Willow and Tara exchanged glances, Willow speaking up while her cheeks burned brightly. "We were kissing."

Buffy blinked, surprised by the Anya-like bluntness. "Oh, well, good, I guess," she offered, shrugging. "Good kissing?"

"Always," Willow agreed, grinning brightly. "Now, no more details for you! Let's deal with your wardrobe, shall we?" She pulled Tara to the couch with her and selected a top from the laundry basket on the coffee table. "Ooh, this is cute!"

Between the three of them, with minor input from Dawn, they picked an outfit that was treading the line between professional and casual since Buffy wasn't sure what Principal Wood wanted from her or what he was up to in the school basement with a shovel.

He was waiting for her on the arranged corner and he offered her his arm. She took it with only a moment of hesitation.

"So, where are we going to dinner?" she asked, glancing around as he guided her off the main streets. Her Slayer senses were alert and she sensed a trap as the alley got more narrow. Her suspicion was confirmed as two vampires strolled out of the shadows in front of her.

"Great," Buffy sighed, dropping his arm and moving forward. "Come on, "she challenged, waving them forward, knowing there was no way she could get through the encounter and escape drawing his suspicions so she advanced into the fight.

She couldn't have been more surprised when Wood stepped up beside her brandishing a broken broom handle. The vampire in front of her lunged at her then, distracting her from Wood's apparent knowledge of vampires' existence. It quickly became obvious that he knew more than just that vampires existed, but also just how to fight them.

The fight was brief but violent, Buffy holding onto her stake as she faced the principal. She let it spin against her palm and he smirked. "You know that thing won't kill me," he commented, dropping his own weapon.

"You'd be surprised what I can do with this," Buffy shot back. "What's your deal?" she asked cautiously. "Was this supposed to be a trap?" She looked around at the dust that was still settling to the ground, her fingers tightening around her stake. "Because it didn't work."

He shook his head, both hands held up in supplication. "You're the Slayer, right?" he asked, sounding almost excited.

Buffy's eyes narrowed, instantly suspicious. "What do you know about Slayers?"

"My mother was one," he stated. "In New York. Obviously, she died or you wouldn't be here."

Buffy was still not convinced, her eyes studying him. "Stand still," she directed firmly, stepping forward and jabbing him with her stake. "Okay, so you're not the First. You might be on the level," she conceded.

"The First?" he questioned, confused.

The Slayer sighed, gesturing for him to follow her. "Come on. It'll be easier to fill you in at the house." She paused. "Wait, I mean, you didn't really want to go to dinner, did you? Because I'm thinking that you only asked me out to figure out that I'm the Slayer…"

Robin gaped at her, gesturing to the restaurant. "I…um…the restaurant is right there," he said, pointing to a pretty door at the back of the alley.

"Oh," Buffy said, embarrassed. "Well, we can… I actually don't really have time to date anyone right now," she finished. "I'm a little busy trying to stop the Hellmouth from swallowing us all whole."

He nodded, expression serious. "I agree."

"So, instead of dinner, how about you come over and I'll show you our operation?" she suggested, glancing around the deserted alley.

They didn't speak as they walked back through town, both edgy and uncomfortable. "I've got something for you," he spoke up suddenly. She just looked at him and he cleared his throat. "I just mentioned it because I think it should have gone to you a long time ago, but I couldn't let it go, and it's at my apartment…which is right over there," he said, pointing. "So, if you wouldn't mind waiting, I could go get it…"

She shrugged, still not trusting him. "Okay. I'll wait." Her voice was cool, her posture guarded. "Let's make this quick. If you know anything about this town, you know it's not safe to linger outside after dark."

He gave her a nod, pointing again. "Okay. I'll be quick." He was gone then, leaving her on the sidewalk. He took almost fifteen minutes to come back to the street, his expression unreadable.

"Hey, are you okay?" Buffy asked, frowning at him.

He swallowed, voice hoarse as he spoke, "Do demons ever tell the truth?"

The Slayer shrugged. "I guess. I mean, if they think it'll rattle you, yeah?" A frown crossed her lips. "You got attacked by a demon? That was the quietest fight ever!"

Robin shook his head, eyes locked on the floor. "No, not an attack…it was…my mother." His eyes lifted to her, haunted and anxious. "She spoke to me."

Buffy's arms crossed over her chest. "What did she say?"

"She said…she said, she told me who killed her," he answered. "Do they ever tell the truth?"

"Did you touch her?" Buffy asked, still frowning as she tried to think it through.

"What? No. Why does that matter?" he demanded.

"Because that wasn't a demon," Buffy answered. "And it wasn't your mother either," she said quickly, cutting off his suddenly hopeful expression. "It was the First. It's the big bad we're fighting this year. It can appear as people who have died, but it can't take physical form." She pinned him with a look. "Now, who did she say killed her? Why would you need to know that now?"

"She said it was a vampire named Spike," Wood answered, looking confused by everything she'd said. "It wasn't her though, so how did it know?"

Buffy gave him a sympathetic look as she sighed heavily. "I don't know. It appeared to my sister. It came as our mother. It told her things to try and hurt us." She hesitated. "But I know why it told you about Spike."

He scowled at her. "You almost sound like you know him."

"I do," Buffy stated, facing him straight on. "He's been bouncing in and out of town for years. More recently, he's been living in my basement for four months." She grimaced. "We even…well, never mind that part, actually."

Robin was in her face immediately, anger sudden and palpable. "He lives with you?"

"Just for a while now. He used to live in a crypt downtown, but then he was in the school basement and it was making him crazy!" Buffy shoved him back. "And I'd appreciate you not getting in my face. I'm still not entirely sure I'm trusting you. What it boils down to is that Spike has his soul now, so he's all broody and not taking showers and it's really stinking up my house. Your mom died a long time ago, and the demon that killed her is gone and never coming back, so leave him alone!"

"He killed my mother!" Robin protested.

"And the demon enjoyed it," Buffy said. "But Spike, who he was before he was turned, he didn't. And that's who he is again. His soul, we put it back and now he's just like you or me."

"That thing is nothing like me!" Robin growled, getting in her face again.

She shoved him back. "I told you I don't like that. Get in my face again and I'll show you how much," she warned him sternly. "I get it if the Spike thing is a deal breaker for you, but I'm still going to keep an eye on the school, even if you don't like it. The Hellmouth is ready to bite us all in the ass and I'm going to be ready for it."

Buffy gave him a long look before she turned and resumed walking back toward her own house. It only took a minute before there were steps echoing hers, the taller man's longer legs easily catching up to her.

"I'm in," he stated.

"Okay, but I don't have anytime to deal with dramatics, so don't start any, got it?" Buffy warned him. "I'm sure you're a good fighter, but I need Spike. I'd like your help, but I don't need it."

"I'm in," he repeated.

Buffy could tell something was wrong before she even put one foot on the porch and she was through the front door at a run. "Buffy!" Dawn yelped, rushing to her sister and throwing her arms around her.

The Slayer stumbled as she tried to keep from running her little sister over. "What's going on?"

"She's dead!" Dawn cried into her shirt.

Buffy's heart was suddenly beating triple time. "Who? Dawn, who?" she demanded.

"Chloe," Dawn answered and Willow and Tara appeared on the stairs.

Buffy couldn't stop the immediate feeling of relief, instantly chiding herself for it. "What happened?"

"She killed herself, we think," Willow answered, voice heavy. "They were training in the backyard and then inside for dinner…none of us noticed she wasn't there. I went upstairs to check…" Tara's hand was on the back of her neck, fingers stroking her hair soothingly.

Buffy swallowed thickly. "The First…"

"Probably," Willow agreed.

"Definitely," Buffy stated firmly. "It's been busy tonight."

Willow noticed the principal standing in the doorway behind Buffy and she nodded her head in his direction. "Um, Buffy…"

The Slayer glanced over her shoulder, keeping one arm around Dawn as she waved him in. "We got attacked on the way to dinner. He knows who I am." Something occurred to her and she looked at him again. "Exactly how long have you known that, anyway?"

He shrugged. "You break up a lot of fights at the school," he answered vaguely. "That, combined with your record from high school… Knowing what I know, it wasn't hard to figure out."

"Oh, okay," Buffy agreed, blushing. She sobered after a moment. "Where is she?" she asked, sighing when Willow pointed back upstairs.

"Xander's on his way. We didn't want to drag her down the stairs," she confessed.

Buffy nodded, resting one hand on her friend's shoulder. "You did the right thing. I'll get her. Could you two get the girls outside?"

Tara nodded without speaking, her hand sliding down Willow's shoulder and arm to take her hand. Wood watched them gather the grief stricken girls quietly while Buffy took the stairs two at a time. She was back after only a few short minutes, the girl cradled carefully in her arms. The door opened behind him and Xander and Anya let themselves in.

Xander pulled up short, his eyes traveling quickly between Wood and Buffy as the Slayer came in with a dead body in her arms. "Uh, hi Principal Wood. Nice to see you?" he said uncertainly. "This is my wife, Anya."

"Nice to meet you," Wood greeted them, shaking her hand politely.

Xander edged around the taller man and lowered his voice. "Buffy, what's he doing here?"

"He knows who I am," Buffy stated. "Get the back door for me, would you, Xand?"

He moved immediately to obey, following her into the yard. The girls were milling around and they turned to watch as Buffy put the body down carefully. She didn't speak, just found her shovel and started digging the next grave in the unfortunate row. After a moment Xander picked up another and started helping her, the girls watching in silence. Tara slid behind Willow and curled both arms around her waist, their fingers twined together as she pulled her wife to lean against her body. The blonde put her chin on Willow's shoulder and the redhead leaned against her head.

"I don't want to be the one who finds bodies anymore," Willow whispered sadly. "I think I've said that before."

"I know, sweetheart. I'm sorry," Tara whispered back, squeezing her gently.

Buffy and Xander finished their hole and he helped lower the body into it gently, Buffy positioning her gingerly before she climbed out. They covered it up and Buffy cleared her throat as the girls drew in closer, all eyes on the dark dirt of the fresh grave. "Does anyone want to say anything?" she offered, glancing around the circle. The others didn't speak and she let out a deep breath. "Okay, I will…"

"Chloe…" she started slowly, voice hesitant as she tried to gather her thoughts. "Chloe fell. The First came for her and she fell. It's coming for all of us and we have to be ready." The girls were looking around at each other, none looking comforted by Buffy's words. "I know this isn't what you wanted to hear, but you need to understand it. The First is going to do everything it can think of to tear you down, make you want out. You have to be stronger than it."

"Stronger than Chloe, you mean," Kennedy pointed out, her arms crossed over her chest, challenge clear.

Buffy sighed, her head dropping. "If it means that I don't have to bury you in my yard, then, yes," she started firmly. She lifted her face slowly. "I know it's harsh, but it's the only way to keep you alive. And that's what I'm trying to do. Any help you want to give me is appreciated." She let her eyes travel around the group. "I liked Chloe. She was a sweet kid. Didn't deserve what happened to her." With that she withdrew from the circle and returned to the house.