Author's Note: Hey everyone! Once again :) thanks for all of the reviews. Getting the feedback really has helped me stay committed to the story. Haha, and now I finally figured out where I want to go with the plot line (I have to admit that before I was kind of winging it...). I'm hoping it'll be a satisfying Spuffy ending, it was the best I could come up (hope it doesn't seem like complete bs :)

[Scene: Local high school where Willow works. Buffy, Willow and Xander are all looking down at the camera, staring at something]

Xander: Why is it always a school?

Buffy: Maybe because they've pretty much cornered the market on miserable? The horrible teachers, poisonous food…homicidal boyfriends… (Xander and Willow stare at her, Buffy shrugs) Just a theory…

(We now see a level shot of the Scoobies—they were staring down at a seal in the hallway of the local high school)

Xander: So…what's the plan...wait here til the big bad appears, provided we don't die of boredom or misery first?

Buffy: Well...we should at least get a lay of the land…in case it does come down to this. Hopefully they won't make an appearance during school hours. In the meantime, we should hit up the local demon crowd, find out if anyone knows anything.

Xander: Do you know the "local demon crowd"?

Willow: Well, uhm, we're working on that.

[Scene: Spike and Faith are walking through the cemetery together.]

Faith: So, back from the grave. What was that like?

Spike: It's all right. Can't say as I was expecting the Lazarus treatment. There's something to be said for sleeping dogs…but can't exactly complain either.

Faith: Right. I'm guessing being blondie's boy toy has its benefits…

Spike: Uh, no, Slayer and I are just, just friends.

Faith: (chuckles) Yeah…not like the girl's ever had a thing for vamps with souls.

Spike: For your information, when we were together I didn't have the soul and…as for Angel, that ponce didn't stick around long.

Faith: Little Miss Pious got down with a soulless vamp? Wow. (pauses, shrugs) Too bad I missed it. (takes out a pack of cigarettes) The girl could definitely stand to let go.

(Faith puts a cigarette in her mouth, lights it, and takes a puff)

Faith: So when'd this little ride on the wild side end?

Spike: Few months later. Said she couldn't love me without the soul.

(Faith is looking at Spike curiously, trying to figure him out...at that moment Buffy runs up to them and interrupts)

Buffy: (slightly out of breath) Spike, there you are. And Faith…still tagging along I see. Uh, Will and Xander went to go find a demon bar. Thought I should, you know, check-in.

Faith: Lost your cell phone?

Buffy: Uh…phone's dead. (changing tone) Besides, Faith, thought you might like to join them…since that's more your scene. That okay?

(Faith pauses, looks suspiciously at Buffy and Spike)

Faith: Uh, yeah, five by five…

Buffy: It's on the corner of Fairfield and Storrow.

(Buffy stares at her impatiently, waiting for her to leave. Faith gets a clue, takes one last puff of her cigarette and throws it to the ground before looking back at them one more time and walking off)

(Buffy, arms crossed, cautiously walks over to Spike)

Buffy: So, you two talk about anything interesting?

Spike: Not particularly

Buffy: Really? Cuz she looked pretty interested. With Faith that usually means she's one step away from mounting you.

Spike: Well, unfortunately for her, I'm not looking to be mounted (smiles) by her anyway...

Buffy: (ignoring him, semi-angrily) Yeah, well it seems like you two get awfully close whenev—

Spike: Oh come on! Last time I saw the bint I punched her in the face!

Buffy: For you that's like making out!

Spike: (pauses, gets serious) Buffy, I told you. No other girl could mean anything to me.

Buffy: (softens) Even a slayer?

Spike: (bringing her close) As far as I'm concerned, there's just the one.

(Spike leans in seductively and kisses Buffy. She smiles and they start to make out. After a few seconds the two move backwards together into the bushes…)

[Commercial Break: Initially I didn't think I'd be using the word "bint" in this story, haha…]

[Scene: Spike and Buffy are walking together in the cemetery. Buffy's hair is disheveled]

Buffy: (rebuttoning her jacket, smiling like a kid who just got away with something) Haven't done that in a while...

Spike: Thought you'd enjoy the change in scenery. Can be fun to come outside once in a while (he smiles boyishly at the innuendo)

(Buffy chuckles lightly at the joke)

Xander: Hey Buff.

Buffy: (startled, seeing Xander approaching them) Uh, Xander, hey. Um, find anything so far?

Xander: Nope. Turns out the demon bar was not so much a demon bar as it was a gay bar. Guess we got the wrong address or something…which would have been nice to know before I…

(Buffy and Spike raise their eyebrows)

Xander: Uh, never mind. They're still looking, but I thought I'd come see how the cemetery patrolling was going.

Buffy: Um, Xander, you didn't…happen…to hear anything while you were walking out here, did you?

Xander: Uhh, I don't think so…what do you mean?

Buffy: Um, nothing, nothing. Just thought that would be a clue…if we heard anything...But you didn't and we—uh, I didn't, so nothing was heard and nothing happened. Okay then.

Spike: (whispering) Uh, Buffy.

Buffy: Yeah?

Spike: Twig.

Buffy: (frowns) huh?

Spike: You got a (he reaches up) twig...in your hair (takes it out).

Buffy: (embarrassed) Uh, thanks…(swats his hand away) heh…rough night.

Xander: Well, on the bright side, we were able to get some stuff on that mystical cross demon boy is supposed to be using

Buffy: At the gay bar?

Xander: (stuttering) uh, that's not important. Anyway, the cross is a lot more powerful than we thought.

Buffy: How powerful?

Xander: Like explode the city powerful.

Buffy: Great…

Xander: And I thought my vacation was going to be boring. But seeing as how every woman who's ever come on to me either wanted to eat or impale me, you know, still not looking that bad.

Spike: (changing tone) Well we should, uh, all probably be heading back then. (motioning his head to the cemetery) Nothing useful here.

(They all head off)

[Scene: Buffy's house, Spike, Xander and Buffy are sitting in the living room on the couch and a chair]

(Willow and Faith enter from the front hall)

Buffy: So, was the bar hopping successful?

Faith: Uh, yeah. Turns out the vamp is a chick of the antisocial variety. And the demon goes by the name of Nolyc.

Buffy: Great. Well, we should call Giles in the morning, find out if he's heard about it. (pauses, looking confused) Or, wait...is that bedtime for him?

Willow: There's something else. We found out that they're hiding out…uhm, in the basement of the high school.

Xander: But we were there tonight. Will, you saw…there was no basement.

Buffy: Also, if they were already there, why haven't they already tried to open up the hellmouth?

Faith: This demon said something about the stars aligning—

Xander: Which would be when exactly?

Willow: Um, three nights from now.

Buffy: Fine, then we find this place during the day, when they're not expecting it.

Xander: Yeah, well I "no like" these odds. (smiles, waiting for a laugh at his joke about the demon's name…but everyone stares/frowns at him) okay bad joke….but still, Buff, do you really want to go into this thing blind?

Spike: Well, then you'd fit right in...know what they say about the one-eyed man—

Buffy: Spike. (turns to Xander) I'm just going to do a little recon. See what there is to see. It'll be fine. Besides, we were there tonight and nothing happened.

Xander: Yeah, well we weren't in their basement lair. This demon probably has some creepy chains and…and spinny torture devices, just waiting to be used.

(People start to exit)

Willow: (patting Xander on the shoulder) You should really cut down on the True Blood...

Xander: (as everyone's walking away he shouts in protest) What? Where else am I going to find that much free sex on t.v.?

Willow: (as she walks upstairs) HBO's not free…