Takes place immediately after the events in chapter 13. Contains some dialogue from BtVS season 2 episode 6.

John Winchester enjoyed his time alone in the house that night. Sam was at the game and Dean was off doing something. At least the kid called this time, John thought. He had everything packed and ready to load into the car in the morning. He opened his journal and wrote about the hellmouth and the slayer. He also documented the information he found about the university. Something was definitely going on there, but John was sure the slayer would take care of it. Paging through, he came across a picture of himself and Mary taken right before the U.S. Marine Corps shipped him out. Damn, we looked young, he thought. He smiled remembering how much Mary liked seeing him in his uniform. She had such a glow about her when that picture was taken. John suddenly realized that he wasn't much older than Dean was now when the photo was taken. And Mary was about the same age as Buffy. What was it about the Winchester men falling for cute blonde demon hunters? John asked himself with a laugh.

Looking back at the information he collected about Slayers, he saw that Buffy wasn't expected to live more than a few more years. She'd most likely be dead by the time she reached the age Mary was when they were married. A lump formed in his throat. There was plenty of work for a hunter around Sunnydale. Maybe if they stayed, Buffy would live a little longer. But, would that just make it worse for Dean when the inevitable did happen? John nearly died when he lost Mary, why would he want his son to suffer the same pain? If they left now, Dean would move on to another girl. He said it himself. New town, new girl. What the hell is the right thing to do? John wished the answers came easy.

After being dropped off by Chloe's dad, Sam flopped onto the couch and turned on the television, not saying a word to his father.

"So, Sam, how was the game?" John asked trying to draw his son into a conversation.

"Fine," Sam grumbled not bothering to look at his dad.

"Did our team win?"

"No, Sunnydale sucks. We lost 34-7."

"Oh, is that why you're in such a good mood?" John asked lightly.

Sam rolled his eyes and ignored the question. "Where's Dean? Did the job go alright?"

John studied his youngest before answering, "Dean said the job went fine. He called -." Suddenly the TV drew his attention. Breaking news about a fire at the festival grounds. Sam and John watched the segment with amusement. "Why does he always have to burn stuff to the ground?"

Sammy shook his head, "Maybe you shouldn't buy him lighters." When the segment ended, Sam asked, "He called right? I mean they didn't catch him or anything?"

John cleared his throat, "Yeah, he called, he's fine. He's just got my car on a Friday night so-" he shrugged. Sam nodded his understanding and went back to watching TV flipping through the channels hastily. "Something wrong?"

Without moving his eyes from the TV, Sam huffed, "No, why?"

John just shook his head, just what he wanted, attitude. "Look, I know you packed," Sam threw a glare at his father, but John continued, "but I was thinking. We paid for the house through the end of the month. I figure we should stay. I don't really have another job lined up."

Sam scrutinized his father's expression. "We're staying?" he asked cautiously.

"Only for a few more days. Or we could go to Bobby's or Pastor Jim's." John pretended not to notice the change that came over Sam.

"Does this mean we can go the festival tomorrow?" Sam sounded like a kid able to open Christmas presents early.

"After your chores are done."

When her phone rang early Saturday morning, Buffy figured it was Giles, wanting updates of the festival job. "What time are we going to the festival, Princess?" was the last thing she expected to hear. The late afternoon found Buffy and Dean walking hand in hand through the festival grounds. Xander and Natalia met up with them and the group decided to hit the games before sampling the various foods on sticks.

Letting the barker talk them into throwing darts at balloons, the four each took turns. Dean and Xander shook their heads at Buffy's perfection at the game, winning the largest stuffed bear in the tent. "What?" she shrugged. "Not my fault it's a job requirement."

Not to be outdone by his girl, even if she is the Slayer, Dean took Buffy to the shooting gallery. Dean easily mastered the game and the carnie handed over a large stuffed dog to a grinning Dean. "Dude, thanks, I look like a total loser, I suck at these games." Xander hit Dean's arm.

Dean looked around the game area. "Hey, I know, do the milk jug game. I know the trick to it." Five minutes later Xander was smiling and handing Natalia a giant stuffed ninja turtle.

As everyone was gathered in the large festival tent to listen to the Dingoes, Dean singled out Willow. "Hey, Willow, uh, got a sec?" Dean was ducking his head and looking up at her sheepishly.

Willow tilted her head and walked over to him, "Hey, Dean. Oh, so you're still here, huh?"

"Yeah, and, um, I'm really sorry for being such a dick, yesterday. Think you can forgive me?"

She huffed out a laugh, "Yeah, you were kinda a jerk." Willow nodded, "But, yeah, I forgive you. Look how happy you've made Buffy." Dean turned his head to see Buffy smiling at Sam who had just joined them.

Turning back to Willow, wearing his own big smile, he kissed Willow on the cheek. "You are the best, Willow. Would you accept the giant pink dog as a my gift of thanks?"

Willow raised a brow, "Fine, but I know you're just giving it to me so you don't have to carry it anymore."

Dean looked shocked, "No, I would have Oz stuff it in the van anyway. I really want you to have it."

Willow looked him over and couldn't tell if he was kidding or not, so she agreed to take the dog from him.

Sam sat at a table next to Buffy, "Hey, Buffy, can I ask you something?"

"Sure, Sam, shoot." Buffy responded as Dean sat on her other side wrapping his arm around her waist.

"Why didn't you want to go to the Homecoming dance?" After getting a stern look from Dean, he went on, "I'm just asking 'cause the festival is cool and all but, the way Chloe was talking last night, I thought all girls wanted to go to school dances."

Buffy smiled, "Well, first of all, not all girls want to go to dances. Next, one of my best friends is playing in the band and finally, Dean doesn't dance." She smiled and leaned into Dean.

Sam had a confused look on his face. "Dean dances."

Buffy sat straight up and looked wide eyed at Dean, who was looking at his brother as if he were crazy. "Dude, you took too many turns on the 'tilt a hurl', cuz I don't dance."

"Yes, you do. You danced with Abigail like every night." Sam rebutted.

Buffy's brows shot up, "Abigail? Who's Abigail?"

Dean looked at Sam with amazement. "Babysitter," Dean responded. "How do you even remember that? You were like 5."

"I was five and a half, and I remember because it was the same thing every night."

Buffy was wearing a huge smile. "Really, what was the song?"

Sam scrunched up his face, "I don't know." The he looked at Dean who was giving him a warning look. "Oh, the electric slide! Yeah, that's it, every night her and Dean did the electric slide."

Buffy turned to Dean and moved closer to Sam, "Really, how interesting." Dean was red faced, gave Sam a look, then shook his head before turning his attention to the stage. "I wonder if we can get the Dingoes to play it." Buffy giggled leaning into Sam, who was wearing a huge grin.

The crowd went wild at the end of the Dingo's set. Well, at least the contingent of Oz's friends and fans. Then it was time for rides and food on a stick.

Xander and Natalia volunteered to take Sam through the 'haunted' fun house while Dean and Buffy got funnel cakes. When they came back, they heard screaming and Natalia came tearing out of the exit screaming and crying.

"Natalia, what happened? Where's Xander and Sammy?" Dean kept his eyes on the fun house.

"I don't know, clowns threw them," she sobbed. Before waiting for any more of an explanation, Dean dropped everything he was carrying and ran in through the exit.

"Sammy!" The crazy fun house lights and music made it difficult to concentrate. "Sammy!" Dean pulled his knife from his coat and crept through the next room. Although he found the strobe light annoying, Dean found Xander in a corner shielding Sam from a clown in front of them.

Xander saw Dean and nudged Sam. Sam was panting and shivering, "Dean, it's a -"

Dean didn't wait, he grabbed the clown and spun it around. Upon seeing its black eyes, Dean punched it in the face and sliced at it with his knife. The possessed clown dodged the knife and knocked Dean to the floor. During the exchange, Xander and Sam crept out of the corner. "Dean!" Sam yelled.

"Dammit, Sammy! Holy water! Salt, a crowbar something!" Dean got up and went after the clown again, knocking it to the ground. It easily rolled out from Dean and tossed him like a doll into the wall.

"Right, I'm on it."

Xander looked very confused. "Xander, get out of here!" The demon was easily distracted and couldn't keep his hold on Dean as it turned to face an exiting Xander. Dean tackled the clown, and pulled something from his pocket stuffing it into the clown's mouth causing it to howl in pain.

Sam returned with a bottle of water and Buffy in tow, but the show was over. "Sorry Dean," Sam panted, "but she followed me."

Dean began to mumble in Latin, "Exorcizo te, immunde spiritus, in nomine Patris et Filii et - et." Dean looked at Sammy, "Shit, Sammy?"

"Et Spiritus Sancti, ut exeas, et recedas ab hoc famulo Dei," Sam answered.

Finally, Dean pulled the beads from the clown's mouth and it was followed by black smoke which disappeared through some cracks in the floor. Dean stood and helped up the clown. "Sammy, all you needed was a little Latin." Dean dusted off the clown, "You alright man?"

The clown looked at him and shook his head, "What the hell?"

"Yeah, sorry about that. Little brother is terrified of clowns." Dean put his arm around Sam's shoulder and led him out of the fun house. "Dude, I'm the weapons, you're the words, why do you think dad has you memorize all that Latin crap?" He rubbed his brother's head, "Never know when you're gonna need it." Dean ignored Buffy's puzzled expression.

"How did you-?" Buffy began, but they returned to their very shocked friends and Buffy decided not to pursue it.

"Is everything ok?" a frightened Willow asked.

"Sure," Dean smiled, "Sammy's always been afraid of clowns, and that one was especially creepy." Then he turned to Xander, "Thanks for looking out for him man, I owe you." Looking around, Dean rubbed his hands together and inquired, "Alright, who's up for some deep fried cheese on a stick?"

Buffy looked up at him with a playful grin, "I was thinking tunnel of love."

"Whatever your heart desires, princess," Dean smiled in return.

Buffy waited for Dean outside the school office Tuesday after school, as he turned in his transfer papers. John had gotten a call for a job up in San Francisco and the Winchesters were leaving Sunnydale on the first. Principal Snyder opened the office door to confront Buffy, "Miss Summers. Just the juvenile delinquent I've been looking for. Halloween must be a big night for you. Tossing eggs, keying cars, bobbing for apples, one pathetic cry for help after another. Well, not this year, missy." He handed her a clipboard with a sign up sheet.

Buffy read the paper on the board. "Gosh, I'd love to sign up, but I recently developed carpal tunnel syndrome, and can tragically no longer hold a flashlight."

Snyder held up the clipboard and pen. "Someone like you needs to get used to doing community service. The program starts at four, the children have to be back at six." Buffy reluctantly signed herself up. Snyder handed pens out to Willow and Xander, too. Though they both looked at him, begging not to be put through this, Willow gave in and signed up. Dean strolled out of the office and up to the group. "Ah, Winchester, you will of course be participating, if you hope to graduate."

"Ha!" Dean laughed but then became serious when he saw everyone was wearing serious expressions. "Sorry, Snyder, you can't make me jump through any more hoops. I just transferred out of your prison camp."

Snyder looked Dean over, "Very well. Then get off school property before I have you arrested for loitering."

Dean raised a brow and shook his head in disgust. Dean shrugged at Buffy, put his arm around her, and they walked away.

As they left the building to walk to Buffy's house, Buffy leaned her head against Dean. "Great. I was gonna stay in and hang with you on our last night. The one night a year things are supposed to be quiet for me."

Dean squeezed her, "I know, princess. But I'll come by after. I promise." He kissed her on the top of her head. "I figured Halloween would be a big old evil palooza on the hell mouth."

Buffy shook her head, "Not according to Giles. He swears that tomorrow night is, like, dead for the undead."

Dean stopped her and wrapped his arms around her. "Hey, it's only for a couple of hours. You and I will have plenty of time to be -," Dean pulled her close and started to kiss her. Dean smiled to himself as Buffy softly murmured into his kiss. He broke the kiss and looked into her eyes, "Like I want to miss a minute of that. Believe me, Princess, I will be there."

"I can't believe we have to get dressed up and the whole deal." Xander complained as he, Willow, and Buffy entered Ethan's Costume Shop.

Buffy shrugged, "Yeah, but Snyder said costumes were mandatory. I'm sorry you guys got roped into this with me."

Xander put his arm around her and hugged her, "That's okay. Free candy, right? What are Dean and Sam going to be?"

Buffy looked at him like he was crazy. "Dean and Sam, in costumes? I don't think so. Dean is going to meet me at my house afterwards. Snyder said he'd call the cops if Dean tried to show up at school."

"That's crazy," Willow said. "One minute Dean has to show up or he is kicked out of school and the next if he shows up he's arrested." She picked up a ghost costume. "How can anyone keep Snyder's demands straight?"

Buffy took the costume from her, "Willow, Halloween is come as you aren't night. The perfect chance for a girl to get sexy and wild with no repercussions."

Willow shook her head. "Oh, I don't get wild. Wild on me equals spaz." "Willow, don't underestimate yourself. You've got sexy in you. Wait 'til Oz sees you all done up. He'll go crazy." Buffy looked over a sexy nurse costume, wrinkled her nose and put it back. "Hey, Xander, what did you get?"

Xander walked over with a toy military rifle in his bag. "Call me the Two-Dollar Costume King, baby! How about you guys?"

Buffy made a face. "I can't find anything I like."

Ethan overheard her and came forward judging her appearance, "Hmm, I think I have something you may like in my other room, follow me." Buffy and Willow exchanged shrugs but followed him. He led Buffy to a frilly, red, billowy 18th-century gown.

Buffy's mouth fell open in awe "It's just... Look at this. It's amazing".

Ethan smiled smarmily, "Please, let me." He took the dress off of its dressmaker's mannequin. "Magnificent. Yes, I know. There." Ethan held it up to Buffy in a mirror. "My, meet the hidden princess. I think we found a match. Don't you?"

Crestfallen, Buffy looked at Ethan and shook her head. "Oh, uh, I-I'm sorry. There's no way I could ever afford this."

Ethan smiled warmly at her, "Oh, nonsense. I feel quite moved to make you a deal you can't refuse."

Buffy looked back into the mirror, took the dress from Ethan and smiled dreamily as she held it up to her chin. "What do you think, Willow?"

Willow nodded, "Wow, you will look amazing."

After school, Buffy and Willow went to Buffy's house to get ready for trick or treating. Willow smiled as Buffy adjusted her gown, "Does Dean know about your costume?"

Buffy giggled, "Nope. I wanted to surprise him with the whole 'princess' thing. Think he'll like it?"

Willow nodded with wide eyes, "Oh, yeah, he's gonna totally love it."

Buffy laughed, "Okay, Willow, come out. You can't hide in there all night." Willow opens the door and comes out wearing boots, a short, black leather skirt and a burgundy, long-sleeved, V-necked, midriff-baring top. She's uncomfortable, and quickly steps over to her ghost sheet and picks it up. Buffy grinned, "Wow! You're a dish!"

Willow tried to hide herself with the sheet, but Buffy took it from her and tossed it aside. Willow felt very uncomfortable and tried to cover herself with her arms. Willow slumped, "But this just isn't me."

Buffy sighed, "And that's the point. Look, Halloween is the night that not you *is* you, but not *you*. Yaw know?" The doorbell rang. " Oh! That's Xander. Are you ready?"

Willow nervously nodded, "Yeah. O-o-okay."

" Cool! I can't wait for Oz to go non-verbal when he sees you!" Buffy's excitement far outweighed Willow's.

Downstairs, Buffy opened the door to Xander who saluted with his toy rifle, "Private Harris reporting for... (sees Buffy in her costume) Buffy! Lady of Buffdom, Duchess of Buffonia, I am in awe! I completely renounce spandex!"

Buffy laughed and curtsied, "Thank you, kind sir. But wait till you see…" Buffy and Xander turned to look up the stairs at Willow. She put on the ghost sheet that has 'BOO!' on the front in large bold letters. "…Casper."

Xander smiled at Willow, "Hey, Will! That's a fine boo you got there." Willow mumbled a hello and tried to ignore Buffy's disappointment.

Meanwhile at Ethan's Costume Shop, Ethan knelt in the back room in front of a statue of Janus. After slicing his hands open, Ethan dabbed blood from his wounds onto the statue. "The world that denies thee, thou inhabit. The peace that ignores thee,... thou corrupt. Chaos. I remain, as ever, thy faithful, degenerate son."

Buffy, Willow and Xander led their groups of trick or treaters through the lovely side streets of Sunnydale. Suddenly a fierce wind blew through the neighborhood and an incredible change took place. Willow looked down at herself and noted that she was no longer dressed in a sheet. She saw herself laying on the ground and here she was an actual ghost. In horror, she turned to Buffy, "Buffy, what's going on?"

However, Buffy was no longer Buffy. She believed herself to be an actual princess, "Buffy? What's a Buffy? Why are you speaking to me? Why are you dressed like that?"

"Xander, oh my gosh, she's not Buffy!" Willow didn't notice Xander's lack of understanding. "Oh, this is fun. What year is this?" Willow asked Buffy.

"1775, I believe. I-I don't understand. Who are you? Y-your dress... Everything is strange! How did I come to be here?" Buffy appeared ready to faint.

Willow sighed and tried to comfort Buffy, " Breathe, okay, breathe. You're gonna faint." She took Xander aside, "How are we supposed to get through this without the Slayer?"

Xander looked at her skeptically, "What's a Slayer?" At that moment a 'monster' roared, bared its fangs and raised its claws to attack. Buffy screamed and backed away. Xander jumped in and whacked the monster across the face with the butt of his rifle, knocking it down and out. Xander turned to Willow, "I suggest we get inside before we come across anything…"

Before he could finish Buffy screamed, "A DEMON! A DEMON! A DEMON!" A sport utility vehicle comes driving down the street with its headlights on.

Willow groaned, "That's not a demon. It's a car."

"What does it want?" Buffy asked in terror

Xander turned to Willow, "Is this woman insane?"

"She's never seen a car."

"She's never seen a car?"

Willow sighed, "Right, she's from the past."

Xander looked Willow over, "And you're a ghost. I just want you to know that I'm taking a lot on faith here. Where do we go?"

Willow thought for a moment, "Where's the closest... We can go to a friend's." She led Buffy and Xander to Summers house.

Xander opened the door and scanned the room. "All clear!"

"Hello? Mrs. Summers? (no response) Good, she's gone." Willow looked around the room.

A terrified Buffy whispered, "Where are we?"

"Your place. Now we just need to…"

"Hey, guys what's up? You're done early." Dean entered from the kitchen carrying a coke. He stopped with his eyes wide and a smile forming, "Wow, Buffy, you look, so," His eyes roamed all over her for a beat, "beautiful," he finished softly. Buffy smiled coyly but stepped a bit closer to Xander. Then Dean looked at Willow and his eyes bugged out of his head, "Whoa, Willow!" He whistled as he walked around her looking her over. "Has Oz seen you? You are so hot… you totally need to dress like that more often." He added grinning. Then he noticed something that made him take several steps back and grab a fireplace poker, "Willow, why are you see through?" He readied the poker just in case.

"Dean, oh thank god. Somehow our costumes became real. Buffy's really a princess, Xander's a soldier and I'm a ghost." Willow hurriedly explained.

Dean studied her for a minute and smirked, "Ghost of what? Totally hot band tramp? Groupie?"

Willow looked at him angrily, but before she could answer, there was a banging at the front door. Xander went to investigate, and Willow and Buffy followed. "Don't open it!" Willow and Dean commanded in unison.

"Could be a civilian," Xander offered.

"Or a mini demon," Willow replied.

Buffy noticed a picture on a table and went over to look. She picked it up, and saw it's of her wearing a spaghetti strap top. She turned around as Willow came over to her. "This... this could be me." Buffy stammered.

Willow was exasperated, "It *is* you. Buffy, can't you remember at all?"

Buffy whined, "No! I, I don't understand any of this! Uh, uh,... This is some other girl! I would never wear this, that low apparel, and I don't like this place, and I don't like you, and I just wanna go home!"

Dean exchanged worried looks with Willow, "You *are* home, Princess." Buffy was practically in tears.

Willow looked at Dean sternly. "This," she snapped, pointing at Buffy, "is all your fault. You call her princess, now she is one. She couldn't've dressed up like Xena?"

Dean nodded, "Yeah, Xena's pretty hot."

"Not the time, Dean."

Xander scanned the outside through one of the small windows in the door. He moved away just as a monster punches through the glass and reached for him. It pulled its hand back as Xander raised his M-16. "Not a civilian!" Xander let loose a volley of bullets. Willow winced at the noise. Buffy bowed her head and covered her ears. Xander rolled away from the door when he's finished his burst.

Dean took in the scene in shock but then went to the door and peered out the window. Outside, Cordelia screamed as she ran from a sasquatch, "Somebody help me!" She looked back at the monster chasing her and screamed. When she turned back around again she ran into Dean. "Dean! Help me!"

"Come inside!" Dean took her by her elbow and led her to the house.

"Wait a... What's going on?' Cordelia asked.

Willow sighed, "Okay, your name is Cordelia, you're not a cat, you're in high school, and we're your friends. Well, sort of."

Cordelia raised her brow and looked at Willow as if she were crazy. "That's nice, Willow. And you went mental when?"

Relieved, Willow went on, "You know us?"

Cordelia huffed, "Yeah. Lucky me. What's with the name game? I was just attacked by Jo-Jo, the Dog-Faced Boy. Look at my costume! Do you really think that Partytown's gonna give me my deposit back? Not on the likely."

Willow looked at Dean, "What should we do?"

"Giles and my dad are at the library. Do you think you can get there?" Dean asked as he took out his phone and started to dial.

Willow nodded, "Yes."

"Good, I'll call and give them a heads up."

As Dean dialed, Willow looked at Xander and Cordelia, "Good, Okay. You guys stay here while I get some help. If something tries to get in, just fight it off."

"Well, i-it's not our place to fight. Uh, surely some men will protect us," Buffy whined.

Cordelia raised a brow in Buffy's direction, "What's with Princess Neverwrong?"

"I-it's like amnesia, okay? They don't know who they are. Just sit tight," Willow answered before she walked through the wall behind them.

"Dad, something crazy is going on. People's costumes are becoming real," Dean hurriedly explained to his dad. "Look, Willow is on her way there. She'll explain everything. Where's Sammy?"

"He's right here, don't worry," John answered.

Xander and Dean blocked the windows with a table and then placed a chair against it to brace it. Dean looked at Cordelia, "Check upstairs. Make sure everything's locked up."

A terrified Buffy paced the living room. "Surely there's somewhere we can go. A safe haven."

"Lady said stay put," Xander answered as he checked the door again.

Buffy looked at him in astonishment, "You would take orders from a woman? A-are you feeble in some way?"

Xander answered grimly, "Ma'am, in the Army we have a saying: sit down and shut the…" Before he can continue he saw the picture of himself with Buffy and Willow. "Whoa! She must be right. We must have some kind of amnesia."

Buffy huffed angrily, "I don't know what that is, but I'm certain I don't have it. I bathe quite often!"

Dean laughed, he was finding Princess Buffy pretty amusing. Xander handed her the picture, "How do you explain this?"

Buffy pouted, "I don't! I was brought up a proper lady. I-I wasn't meant to understand things. I'm just meant to look pretty, and then someone nice will marry me. Possibly a Baron."

Dean looked at Cordelia and they both laughed. However, the laughing soon stopped as another assault on the house began. "Private Harris, you and Cordelia secure this front," Dean reached for Buffy, "Princess and I will fortify the kitchen."

"Yes, sir!" Xander replied and took his post by the window.

"But I don't wanna go with you! I-I like the man with the musket!" Buffy whined. "Do you have a musket?"

Dean grinned and grabbed Buffy's arm dragging her with him, "Yeah, and if you're good I'll let you play with-," suddenly remembering Cordelia's presence he edited himself, "just c'mon!" In the kitchen, Dean saw that the door was open. "I didn't leave that open." He quietly moved toward the door as he looked around for an intruder. The basement door behind Buffy opened, and a vampire attacked her. She tried to push the door closed on him. Dean grabbed the vampire and wrestled him to the floor. Dean didn't want to kill the vampire since he figured it was just a kid in a vampire costume, so he knocked him out. However, by the time he's finished with the mini vamp, a terrified Buffy had run out the kitchen door. "Dammit! Harris, Cordelia, Princess took off!" Dean shouted as he attempted to follow out the back door.

In the library, Giles was in the cage getting a stack of old papers. He blew the dust off of them and came back out. Willow and Sam were looking at a book. Willow sighed, "I don't even know what I'm looking for. Plus, I can't turn the page." Sam looked up at her and with a small smile turned the page for her.

Giles sat down by John, "Well, alright, l-let's, let's, let's review. Um, so everybody became, uh, whatever they were masquerading as."

Willow nodded, "Right. Xander was a soldier and Buffy was an 18th-century girl."

Sam looked at Willow confused, "A-and, uh, your, your costume?"

"I'm a ghost!' Willow explained.

Sam still looked confused, "Um... uh, the ghost of what, exactly?"

Willow covered her midriff with her arms. "Well, this is nothing. You should see what Cordelia was wearing. A-a, a unitard with cat things, like ears and stuff."

"Did she become an actual cat?" John asked.

Wide eyed, Willow answered, "No! She was the same old Cordelia. Just in a cat costume."

Giles and John exchanged looks. "She didn't change," John confirmed.

"No," Willow answered. "Hold on... Partytown. She told us she got her outfit from Partytown."

"And everyone who changed, they acquired their costumes where?" Giles inquired.

"We all got ours at a new place. Ethan's," Willow answered.

In an alley across town, Buffy was running between trash piles looking for a safe place to hide from the monsters that seemed to be everywhere. Cordelia, Dean and Xander had attempted to follow her. Xander had his rifle raised and ready, "Are you sure she came this way?"

Dean was furious with himself for allowing Buffy to get away, "No."

Cordelia touched Dean's arm trying to reassure him, "She'll be okay, Dean."

Dean scowled, "Buffy would be okay. Whoever she is now, she's helpless. C'mon!"

Buffy looked around, trying to decide which way to go. She lifted her skirt a bit and started to walk. When she turned the next corner, Larry, who had turned into a pirate, startled her. He smiled widely at her, showing his rotten teeth., "Pretty, pretty!" Buffy began to run away, and Larry gave chase.

Giles, John, Sam and Willow looked around Ethan's Costume Shop. Willow saw the curtain to the back room partially open and pointed it out to John. Slowly John and Giles went in and saw the statue of Janus, its eyes glowed green. "Janus. Roman mythical god," Giles informed them.

"What does this mean?" Sam asked.

Giles answered without paying much attention to Sam or Willow. "Primarily the division of self. Male and female, light and dark." Ethan crept from behind a storage container and walked in front of the statue. Giles shook his head in disgust, "Hello, Ethan."

"Hello, Ripper."

Buffy backed away from Larry. She turned to run, but tripped and fell. Her gown billowed out around her. Larry grabbed her as she tried to get up and shoved her against a crate. He pushed her hair away from her frightened face and moved in to kiss her. Dean came running and tackled Larry down to the pavement. Dean got up and pulled Larry up and punched him in the face and gut. Larry pushed him off and into the opposite alley wall and punched him back. Dean grabbed Larry's arm and pulled it behind his back, forcing him to bend over, and kneed him in the stomach. Cordelia arrived behind Buffy with Xander. "Buffy! Are you okay?" Cordelia asked as she helped Buffy stand. Larry attacked Dean with his pirate's sword. Xander stepped between them and grabbed Larry by the wrist and twisted his arm around, making him drop the sword. Xander lifted Larry back up and punched him, sending him sprawling into a pile of trash.

Ethan grinned devilishly, "What? No hug? Aren't you pleased to see your old mate, Rupert?"

"I'm just surprised I didn't guess it was you. This Halloween stunt stinks of Ethan Rayne." Giles practically spit out.

"Yes, it does, doesn't it? Don't wish to blow my own trumpet, but it's genius," Ethan grinned menacingly. "The very embodiment of 'be careful what you wish for'." "How do you break the spell?" John demanded.

Ethan glowered at John, "Why should I tell you? What's in the bargain for me?" "You get to live." Giles moved threateningly closer. "Tell us how to break the spell, then leave this place and never come back."

"Oh, Rupert," Ethan teased, "you're scaring me."

After they successfully fought off Larry the pirate, Dean, Xander, Cordelia and Buffy left the alley and attempted to return to Buffy's house. Instead they found themselves surrounded by a herd of mini monsters. "Oh my god, they're everywhere!" Cordelia whimpered.

"Dammmit!" Dean muttered under his breath. He had to keep his friends safe but he knew what these monsters were- Xander aimed his rifle at a group of the mini monsters. "NO!" Dean shouted, "they're just kids. We need to find a safe place." He looked around the alley. "C'mon dad, end this curse anytime now."

"There," Xander pointed to a warehouse not far from where they were. Dean picked up Buffy and they made their way inside.

"Princess, stay put," Dean said as he placed her on a pallet. "Private Harris, secure this entrance. Cordelia, help me push these crates to block that door over there," Dean directed and the others did as they were told.

Princess Buffy sat down and cried, "I want to go home."

"I know, sweetheart, and I promise this will be over soon," Dean soothed her.

The mini monsters found an open window and crawled in. With the element of surprise, they were able to bring down both Xander and Dean. As the mini monsters held Xander and Dean, Larry stalked toward Buffy. "Look at you. Shaking. Terrified. Alone. Lost little lamb." Buffy had backed up against a crate and couldn't go any further. Larry slapped her across the face with the back of his hand.

"Stop that right now, Larry Blaisdell, I'm warning you!" Cordelia scolded.

Larry turned and sneered at her, "I love it. Another vixen for me to have. Grab 'er mates!" Several mini monsters surrounded Cordelia and back her against the wall.

Dean struggled with the two Frankenstein monsters holding him, "Buffy!" Larry put his arm around her waist and bent her backward onto the crate. He stroked her forehead with his right hand. Xander also struggled with his two captors. Larry leaned over her and began to lift the fabric of Buffy's skirt.

At Ethan's, John pulled out his gun and cocked it. "Tell us how to break the spell, now."

Ethan looked John over, "Fool. If you kill me, you'll never know how to break the spell."

John smirked, "I don't have to kill you, I can shoot off a knee cap, first."

Ethan studied the expressions on the faces around him, "Break the statue, break the spell."

Giles, however, wasn't convinced. "Are you certain there is nothing else we need to do?"

Ethan laughed, "Yes, Ripper, that is all that needs to be done. I'm not as into spells as you may believe."

With the gun still trained on Ethan, John instructed, "Sam, smash the statue." Sam lifted it over his head and smashed it to the floor. Instantly, Willow disappeared.

Buffy's eyes focused and an angry sneer crossed her face. She brought her fist back and punched Larry twice in the face, in the gut, and kicked him in the chest. Larry fell to the ground, completely shocked. The children went back to being children, very confused children who just wanted to have candy and go home.

Xander went over to Buffy, "Hey, Buff. Welcome back."

Buffy laughed, "Yeah! You, too."

Cordelia brushed herself off, "You guys remember what happened?"

Xander nodded, "It was way creepy. It's like I was there, but I couldn't get out."

"I know the feeling. This outfit's totally skintight," Cordelia added as she watched Dean walk over to Buffy.

"You okay?" he asked softly, looking into her eyes.

"Yeah," Buffy nodded. Dean put his arm around her shoulders and led her away.

Back in Buffy's room, Dean lounged on her bed. She opened the door and came in wearing a tank top and sweatpants. "Just regular ol' me."

Dean sat up, "Sure you're okay?"

Buffy walked over to him and stood between his legs, "I'll live."

Dean placed his hands on her hips and looked into her eyes, "If anything had happened to you.." He paused, looked down, and let out a breath, "It would have been my fault."

Buffy ran her hands through his hair and made him look up at her. "None of this was your fault. I just wanted to be all glamorous, like a real princess for you. You know, a 'girlie' girl. Who could know that some guy would curse costumes?" Buffy sat next to him on the bed.

"Babe, you were beautiful, but I love *you*, I'd never want you to change. Princess Neverwrong was a whiny pain in the ass." He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, "I still might kill Larry."

"Shh," Buffy's heart started beating faster the moment Dean told her that he loved her. She leaned in and kissed him gently. "Let's not talk about Larry. We have all night. I think we can think of better things to do."

Dean leaned over her, laying her back on the bed. "You're right," he whispered and kissed her passionately.

Dean was true to his word, he picked up every time she called. John and Sam knew that when the phone rang on Wednesday and Sunday nights, Dean may disappear for nearly an hour. Sometimes it would be very quiet, many times they could hear him laugh. But always, after the phone call, Dean would be in a great mood. As the weeks went on, Dean had surprised even himself. He hadn't so much as kissed a girl since he last saw Buffy.

Buffy found herself living for those phone calls. She wanted a boyfriend that was more accessible, but at least she had one she could tell anything. She convinced herself that Dean was being faithful, he didn't give her a reason not to believe it. On the other hand, Buffy was not unattractive. She had her own bevy of boys that were interested in dating her. One, a college boy, even asked her to a party. Sadly, the boy wanted to sacrifice Buffy and Cordelia to his snake demon master. If it wasn't for Xander saving the day, she may have been snake food.

However, as November rolled into December, Dean couldn't help but notice a couple of the girls checking him out. Dean tried to keep the flirting playful, but as Christmas break approached, one of the girls made her intentions quite clear. She told Dean she made the naughty list and couldn't wait to show him how.