Author's Note: I decided to upload a second today because I wanted my surprise guest to make her appearance in Chapter 26: Morality Bites, and I was getting tired of waiting.

Chapter 25: School Hard

At the Principal's Office Buffy finds herself listening to Principal Snyder.

"A lot of educators tell students… think of your principal as your "pal". I say think of me as your judge, jury and executioner."

Buffy rolls her eyes and looks over at the girl in the other chair, Sheila.

"Tell me, who do you think is the most troublesome student in this school?" Mr. Snyder says.

Sheila studies Snyder, pops her gum, and jerks her head to the right, indicating Buffy.

"Well, it is quite a match between you two." Mr. Snyder says. He opens two thick files on his desk. "On the one hand, Buffy hasn't stabbed a horticulture teacher with a trowel, yet."

Sheila shakes her head, "I never stabbed anyone with a trowel!" She stabs a nail file in front of Snyder with her finger, he involuntarily edges back. "It was pruning shears. It should say pruning shears."

Mr. Snyder nods, "On the other hand, Sheila's never burned down a school building."

Buffy frowns, "That was never proved… the fire marshal said it could have been… mice…"

"Mice?" Mr. Snyder says.

Buffy nods, "Mice that were smoking?

Mr. Snyder looks at the files, "And the two of you seem to be tied in the class-cutting and fight-starting events. You're really neck and neck here. It's very exciting."

Sheila smiles, "What does the winner get?"

"Expelled." Mr. Snyder says. "This Thursday is parent teacher night. Your legal guardians…" he looks to Buffy, "…assuming you have any - will meet your teachers…" he looks to Sheila, "assuming you have any left. I have decided to put you two in charge of this event. You have three days to prepare the refreshments, make the banners, and transform the school lounge into a habitable place for adults. This will incur my goodwill, and may even affect what I tell your parents when I meet them. Are we clear?"

Buffy nods, "We're clear." She looks to Sheila. "Don't you feel clear?" She looks back to Snyder. "We're very clear."

Mr. Snyder smiles, "Good. Because you mess up this time, and your legal guardians," he looks to Sheila, "and your parents will be coming to clean out your lockers."

Later Buffy walks with Sheila as Xander and Willow approach.

"It really shouldn't be that hard. We'll work on banners tomorrow at lunch and we can figure out refreshments then." Buffy says.

"Yeah, sure, whatever." Sheila says as she calls out to an older, slovenly, tattooed guy. "Hey, Meatpie! Wait up!" And she's off.

Buffy, Xander and Willow watch her go.

"Heard Snyder's got you guys making party favors." Xander says.

Buffy sighs, "Yeah, his two worst students." She watchs Sheila. "Sometimes I wonder when mom looked at me if that was what she saw. A Sheila."

Xander shakes his head, "Sheila's definitely intense. That guy with her? That's the one she CAN bring home to her mother."

Willow nods, "She smoked when we were in fifth grade. Once I was lookout for her."

"You're bad to the bone." Xander says.

Willow smiles, "I'm a rebel."

Buffy shakes her head, "It's just not fair. I'm the Charmed Slayer, which requires a certain amount of fighting and cutting, and magic. What's Sheila's excuse?"

Xander nods, "Homework. She won't do it. And most of the teachers respect that now. You'll probably want to keep her away from sharp implements while you're working."

"Do you think any of the other Slayers ever had to go to high school?" Buffy asks.

Xander smiles, "Hey, it's no biggie. You'll put on a nice little affair. The parents'll love it. As long as nothing really bad comes along between now and then, you'll be fine."

Both girls turn, appalled. "Are you nuts? What'd you say that for? Now something bad is gonna happen!" Buffy says.

"What do you mean? Nothing is gonna happen!" Xander says.

Willow shakes her head, "Not until some dummy says… As long as nothing bad happens…"

Buffy nods, "That's like the ultimate jinx!"

"What were you thinking? Or were you even thinking?" Willow asks.

Xander is defensive in his response, "Well, you don't know. Maybe this time is different."

Later at the Manor in Buffy's room Buffy's is dressed for bed. She tries brushing tangles out of her hair in front of the vanity. "Ow!"

Piper appears in the doorway. "What's wrong?"

Buffy sighs, "I spent half my allowance on that new cream rinse and it's neither creamy nor rinsey."

Piper shakes her head, "Life is hard, sweetie."

Buffy nods, "Don't I know it. Look at these split ends!"

"I got the mail." Piper says.

Buffy nods, "Oh good."

"Which included a reminder notice about parent teacher night Thursday." Piper says.

Buffy sighs, "Oh less good."

"Which your were planning on telling Prue, Phoebe and myself about…?" Piper says.

Buffy nods, "For the last two weeks. I've been working up my nerve. Besides it's not like we haven't been busy. First with my issues and then with Prue's."

Piper frowns, "Buffy. Is there a reason you don't want us to go to your school?"

Buffy sighs, "It's Mr. Snyder. I know you all know different. But I am quite sure he will try and tell you how much of a trouble maker I am."

Piper smiles, "And if he does we will tell him how wrong he is."

Buffy nods, "Talking about Mr. Snyder, I'm going to be busy after school for the next few days. He put me in charge of the banners and refreshments for the whole evening."

Piper nods, "Okay, Prue and I will see to your patrols then."

Buffy shakes her head, "That's alright. I may have to go out later but I can still patrol. But I won't say no to some help. Patroling, not the other thing. Because I don't think Mr. Snyder would appreciate it if I got you to help me."

Piper shakes her head, "Are you sure?"

Buffy nods, "Trust me after having to mess with the stuff for parent teacher night. A night of slaying will be just what the doctor ordered."

The next morning. Buffy has a big banner laid out over a long table. Willow is helping her paint "WELCOME PARENTS" on it. Xander is painting "PARENT TEACHER NIGHT" on another banner next to them.

"Sheila's a no show?" Willow asks as Buffy nods. "She goes to this really rank bar, the Fish Tank, sometimes they have raids and… other things that could make you tardy."

"Can you help me cram some French tonight? I don't want Mr. DeJean telling my cousins I'm an imbecile! It's bad enough they will have to speak to Mr. Snyder." Buffy says.

"I thought we were going to the Bronze tonight. 'Cause of how you thought Angel might show." Willow says.

Xander shakes his head, "If he does he'll meet some other nice girl. Studying comes first."

Buffy nods, "We're going to the Bronze. I can study and party and do parent teacher night and make my cousins proud as long as I don't have to…" she sees Giles and Ms. Calendar coming, "…fight vampires."

"There's nothing in the Chronicles about an extraneous lunar cycle." Giles says.

Ms. Calendar nods, "The Order never accurately calculated the Mesopotamian calendar! Rupert, you have to read something that was published AFTER 1066."

"What's the up, guys?" Xander asks.

"I don't suppose this is something about happy squirrels?" Buffy asks.

Giles shakes his head, "Vampires."

Buffy sighs, "That was my next guess."

Giles nods, "Ms. Calendar has been researching - surfing on her computer. According to her calendar, this Saturday is the Night of Saint Vigeous."

"Lemme guess. He didn't make balloon animals." Buffy says.

Giles nods, "He led a crusade. Of vampires. They swept through Edessa, Harran, and points east."

"They didn't leave much behind." Ms. Calendar says.

Xander shakes his head, "So Saturday's kind of a big doo for bloodsuckers."

Ms. Calendar nods, "It's a Holy Night of Attack. They'll come in numbers."

"If I survive parent teacher night tomorrow…" Buffy says as she nods at the banner, "…I'll see what I can do about Saturday."

Giles frowns, "You're being a tad flip, don't you think? This is serious."

"And being kicked out of school is laffs aplenty?" Buffy says.

Giles frowns, "You know what happens when you let your life interfere with your slaying."

Buffy nods, "Yes, I found that out the last time I had a date, back in the Restoration era."

Giles frowns, "You just need to keep the two things separate."

Buffy nods, "Yes, well, if my slaying and being a witch doesn't get me expelled, I promise my banner making won't get me killed. Just let me get through the week."

Giles frowns, "Saturday will require a great deal of preparation."

"Well, we'll help." Willow says.

Xander nods, "Yeah! I can whittle stakes!"

Willow smiles, "And I can research stuff."

Xander looks to Willow and says jokingly, "While I'm whittling, I plan to whistle a jaunty tune."

Giles nods, "Your help will be appreciated. But when it comes to battle, Buffy must be prepared to fight alone. You are, after all, a slay-" He sees Snyder approaching, quickly adjusts. "slay…ve. Slave. You're all slaves to the… television. You young people nowadays. Goodbye."

Giles and Ms. Calendar take off. Snyder turns to Xander and Willow. "You wouldn't be helping Buffy in Sheila's place would you?"

Xander hides his brush behind back, "No."

"We're hindering." Willow says.

Mr. Snyder nods, "She ditched. Mmm-mmmm, I feel an expulsion coming on."

"She's been helping for hours. She's just out getting more paint…" Buffy says as she follows Snyder's gaze to the door as Sheila stumbles through in last night's party dress, dark glasses. Buffy rushes to Sheila, guides her to Xander's banner, "No more teal in the art room? I know you wanted it to be perfect, but let's just keep going with the green." She plops Xander's brush in Sheila's hand.

"Just make sure everything is perfect on Thursday." Mr. Snyder says as he goes off.

"Thanks for covering. Guy's a serious rodent." Sheila says.

Buffy smiles, "No problem."

Sheila nods, "Did you really burn down school property one time?"

Buffy sighs, "Well, not actually ONE time…"

Sheila smiles, "Cool."

"But I didn't feel good about it or anything. I mean, I don't condone… So. We're gonna Bronze it tonight, if you wanted to come." Buffy says.

Sheila shakes her head, "I can't go there. You threaten one bartender with a broken bottle and they like ban you for life." She snorts.

"Ahhh." Buffy says.

Later at the Bronze Buffy and Willow are at a table. Buffy thinks hard, composing a sentence. Willow's got a French book.

"La vache doit me touche de la jeudi…" Buffy says as she notices Willow's look. "Is that wrong? Should I use the plural?"

Willow smiles, "No, but… you just said that "the cow should touch me from Thursday"."

Buffy laughs, "Well, maybe that's what I was feeling."

"And you said it wrong." Willow says.

Buffy shakes her head, "Oh. Je stink."

"You're just not focused. It's Angel missage." Buffy says.

Buffy shakes her head, "Well he didn't say for sure, it was a maybe see you there kind of deal."

Xander comes off the dance floor. "Guys! I'm all alone out there! Somebody has to dance with me."

"Well, we are studying…" Willow says.

Xander nods, "Come on, one dance! You've been studying for nearly twelve minutes!"

Buffy rolls her eyes, "No wonder my brain is fried."

They get up, hitting the floor as a fairly rocking song begins. The three of them dance together, Buffy occasionally repeating French phrases to herself.

"Where's a phone. I need to call the police. There's some big guy out back trying to bite someone." Someone says behind Buffy.

Buffy reacts and is gone in a flash.

A helpless girl backs away from a vampire. He gets his huge hand around her dainty neck, closes in for a kill as Buffy's down on him with her hands, breaking his hold.

"Slayer." The vampire says.

Buffy smiles, "Slay-ee." She spin kicks him in the head. He takes it well, grabs her and hurls her against a wall. He charges, she ducks, pivots under his arm and away. He moves after her.

Buffy and the vampire trade punches. Willow and Xander race out the back door.

"Get her out of here!" Buffy says to the girl. She ducks a punch, kicks. Willow grabs the girl.

Xander races back inside on the heels of Willow and the freaked girl.

Buffy knocks the vampire back long enough to power up a fireball, "You really don't want to mess with the Charmed Slayer."

"Spike, give me a hand." The vampire says.

Buffy throws the fireball dusting the vampire.

A vampire, Spike, applauds slowly, steps out of the darkness. "Nice work, baby. They didn't tell me you were also a witch."

"Who are you?" Buffy asks.

Spike smiles, "You'll find out on Saturday."

"What happens on Saturday?" Buffy asks.

Spike smirks, "I kill you." He smiles, slides back into the shadows and is gone.

The next day Buffy, Willow, Xander is in the library. Ms. Calendar drags a staggering amount of weaponry out of the book cage.

"Spike that's what the other vampire called him?" Giles says as Buffy nods. "Sounds a little unorthodox."

"Maybe he's reform." Buffy says.

Giles thumbs through some of his diaries, "He may have gone by a different name in times past…"

"Whoever he is, we'll need all the help we can get come this Saturday." Ms. Calendar says.

Buffy nods, "Way ahead of you. We'll have a little power of three for backup."

Xander eyes the attack of Saint Vigeous engravings in a huge old tome. "This Night of Saint Vigeous deal, if they're gonna attack in force shouldn't we be thinkin': vacation?"

"We can't run, that would be wrong. Could we hide? I mean if that Spike Guy is leading the attack…" Willow says as she shudders loudly, "…sorry, was that audible?"

Giles nods, "I'm sure he's no worse than any other creature you've faced -"

"He's worse." Angel says standing inside the doorway. Xander jumps.

Buffy smiles, "Angel."

"You know him?" Giles asks.

"Once he starts something he doesn't stop, until everything in his path is dead. Stay away." Angel says.

"So he's thorough, goal oriented… okay, someone else lighten the mood." Xander says.

Buffy nods, "We were at the Bronze before. I thought you said you might show."

"You said you weren't sure if you were going." Angel says.

Buffy sighs, "I was being cool. You been dating for what, two hundred years, you don't know what a girl means when she says maybe she'll show? Work with me here."

Angel gives her a small smile.

"Wow, two centuries of dating. If you only had two a year that'd still be like four hundred dates with four hundred different -" Willow says and then she is suddenly interested in the weapons, "- why do they call it a mace?"

"Yes, well we've slightly more urgent things to discuss." Giles says.

Buffy turns away from Angel, "Like keeping my cousins away from Principal Snyder tomorrow night."

"And not dying Saturday." Ms. Calendar says.

"Angel, do you know if this Spike fellow has any other names?" Giles says before looking up from the diaries. Angel is gone. They all look around.

"That's it, I'm puttin' a collar with a little bell on that guy." Xander says.

The next day an hour before Parent/Teacher's night starts; Cordelia and Xander are sharpening stakes, Jenny and Willow sight arrows, tightening screws on the crossbow and other weapons. Buffy is chopping carrots. She's laying out an impressive platter of crudités.

"Do you think Sheila will show?" Willow asks.

Buffy shakes her head, "I doubt it. She doesn't seem to care about getting kicked out – about anything. I sort of envy that."

"I don't think she's very happy." Willow says.

Giles crosses in, book in hand. "For three nights the unholy ones scourge themselves into a fury, culminating in a savage attack on the Night of Saint Vigeous."

"Anyone still remember when Saturday night meant date night?" Xander says.

"You sure don't." Cordelia says sarcastically.

Buffy glances at the clock, "The parents start arriving in an hour. Okay, banners are in place, the lounge is comfy, what am I forgetting…?"

"Punch?" Willow asks.

Buffy nods, "Punch! I need punch."

Xander smiles, "The important thing in punch is the ratio of Vodka to Schnapps." Willow and Buffy glare at him. "That was obviously far too sophisticated a joke for this crowd."

Cordelia drops a stake, exhausted. "My fingers are cramping, how long have I been doing this?"

"Three minutes." Xander says.

Cordelia nods, "So can I go now? She's not gonna need that many stakes, I mean if this Spike guy's as mean as you all said, it should be over pretty fast. We're still rooting for you Saturday. I'd be there myself but I've got a leg wax."

Buffy is up and on her way out. "You guys hold the fort. I'm punch bound." She goes out. There is a beat, then both Xander and Cordelia reach for some of the food Buffy has prepared. She's back in the door in a flash. "No!" And gone again.

A shorttime later in the school lounge Willow joins Buffy as she stirs the punch up.

"What kind of punch did you make?" Willow asks.

"Lemonade." Buffy says as Willow takes a cup, pleased. "I made it fresh and everything."

Willow nods, "How much sugar did you use?"

Buffy looks at Willow worried, "Sugar?"

Willlow takes a sip. The catastrophic face she makes indicates a total lack of sugar. "It's very good…" She puts the cup down, still face making.

Buffy rolls her eyes, "I should have remembered sugar. How could I forget something when one my cousins is an outstanding chef. Ok rant over, now if we can just keep my cousins and Snyder from crossing paths for the next three hours…"

Willow sees the sisters arriving, "Hi Piper, Prue, Phoebe."

Prue smiles, "Hi Willow." She looks around. "This looks nice Buffy."

Buffy smiles, "How 'bout some lemonade -" Behind the sisters, she sees Snyder heading down the hall towards them. "- after Willow shows you the library. I'm sure Giles wants to fill you in on the latest big bad. Could possibly be a power of three deal. I have to stay here and hostess."

Willow disappears with Prue, Piper, and Phoebe as Snyder walks up.

"That was you cousins was it not." Mr. Snyder says.

Buffy nods, "Oh hi. Yeah that was them. Off to see some of my teachers."

Snyder gives her a look, moves off to greet some parents, Buffy looks up at the clock on the wall which reads: 6:14.

Sometime later Buffy looks at the clock again it now reads 8:45. Parents and teachers mingle. Buffy stands near the refreshments keeping a wary eye out for her cousins and Snyder.

Cordelia walks up, fuming. "Giles has us locked in that library working on your weapons. Even slaves get minimum wage." She stares at Buffy's skin.

"What?" Buffy asks.

Cordelia shakes her head, "You're starting to look pretty slagged. What are you, just skipping foundation entirely now?"

Buffy frowns, "Cordelia, I have at least three lives to contend with and none of them really mesh. It's like oil and water and… a third unmeshable thing."

Cordelia nods, "Yeah. And I can see the oil." She notices Willow coming back with the sisters. "Now your cousin Prue, that's a woman who knows how to moisturize."

"Well maybe not a power of three deal. But we will be there right beside you on Saturday." Prue says.

Buffy sees Snyder heading their way. Trying to think of an excuse for her cousins to leave.

"Hello Misses Halliwell. I'm Principal Snyder. I'm afraid we all need to talk. My office is down here." Mr. Snyder says.

Buffy deflates as they walk away. "He didn't look very happy."

"When they're done talking…" Cordelia says.

"What?" Buffy asks.

"My guess? Tenth high school reunion? You'll still be grounded." Cordelia says.

Buffy laughs, "I doubt that. Phoebe, Prue and Piper know I'm a Slayer and a witch. They will likely tell Snyder where to stick it."

A few minutes later Snyder and the sisters return. Buffy can tell by the look on Snyder's face that Prue, Piper and Phoebe didn't buy the troublemaker routine he tried to give them.

"You ready to go?" Prue asks.

Buffy nods, "Yeah."

Snyder starts flicking off hall lights. Snyder, by the platform in front of the big picture window, flicks off that light as the huge window shatters and Spike crashes through it. He is flanked by six vampires.

Pandemonium erupts, Snyder and others scream and run. Only Buffy, Prue, Piper and Phoebe stands still as Spike locks eyes with Buffy way across the room.

"What can I say? I couldn't wait." Spike says.

Spike makes a beeline for Buffy.

Prue uses her power throwing Spike back.

"Run!" Buffy says. "There is too many here and there are innocents to save." Prue, Piper and Phoebe follow Buffy as she runs down a hall. "They've got the exits, this way! Everybody, this way!"

Buffy hustles the sisters, Snyder, a parent, two teachers and a student down the north hall towards the library.

Giles, Xander and Ms. Calendar fly out of the library doors, see them coming. Buffy shouts to Giles, "It's Spike and a small army! Look out!"

A vampire rounds the corner.

Buffy spots two more vampires closing from the hall that leads back toward the lounge. She hustles her charges into the science classroom. "In here! Go, go!" She hustles everyone in, being none too gentle with Snyder, locks the door just as Snyder gets there. "Barricade the door."

The sisters and the others slide desks and cabinets in front of the door as Buffy vaults across the room and locks the door at the opposite end of the room. That's when the lights go out.

"Oh my god!" Mr. Snyder says.

Buffy stands next to Prue, thinking hard about her next move.

"Who are these people, what do they want?" The parent says.

Prue looks at Buffy and shrugs.

Snyder climbs up on a chair, claws at the metal slats on the windows. Buffy moves to him. Speaks softly but firmly.

"You can't go outside. They'll kill you." Buffy says.

"YOU DON'T TELL ME, I TELL YOU!" Mr. Snyder yells at Buffy.

Buffy pulls him off the chair. Gets in his face. Never loses her cool, "They will kill everyone in this room. Nobody goes out. Nobody comes in. Until I say so. Do you read me?"

It's clear to everyone in the room that she knows what she's talking about. Snyder is not about to admit it. "Who do you think you are?"

Buffy smiles, "I'm the one who knows how to stop them."

Prue pulls Buffy to the side and whispers to her, "Buffy what are you going to do?"

Buffy looks up at the ceiling as she whispers back, "I'm going up there. I will crawl through into the library and get some weapons. Then deal with the vampires. You, Piper, and Phoebe keep them safe."

Buffy puts a foot on a chair and jumps. She moves a ceiling tile aside, climbs into the cramped space above. She crawls through the claustrophobic space. She hears something behind her. Tries to look. Too tight to see for sure if anything's coming up behind her. She moves on.

Suddenly Buffy falls through the ceiling tile and falls to the floor.

"Buffy!" Giles says as she gets to her feet. "You're all right."

Ms. Calendar nods, "How are the others?"

Buffy is already loading her book bag with a throwing ax, stakes, etc. "Snyder, Prue, Piper, Phoebe, and four others are locked in the science room across the hall. Cordelia and Willow ran the other way, I don't know if they're… where's Xander?"

"He got out through the stacks. He's getting Angel." Giles says.

Buffy smiles, "Good. After I take out the vamps in the hall you two can get the others out that way, too. Send Prue, Piper and Phoebe to help me mop up." She grabs the pack, kicks a chair under the hole in the ceiling.

"I should go with you and fight." Giles says.

Buffy shakes her head, "No. Once you get everyone out of the classroom. I will have all the backup I need in the power of three."

Giles nods, "What's your plan?"

"They split up to hold us here. So I can take 'em one on one. Set 'em up, knock 'em down." Buffy says.

They share a look, and Buffy's up on the chair and back in the ceiling vent.

"Watch your back…" Giles says.

Buffy crawls along in the crawlspace. Cautious. Her pack o' weapons making a little scraping noise. She moves cautiously forward when a rod comes shooting up right in front of her. A moment, and she slowly crawls backwards.

A vampire chops away at the door leading to the science classroom. "Guard that door. I'm almost in."

The other vampire goes around corner and down the hall.

The vampire raises the axe, he hears something. Looks left. Looks right. Nothing there. Starts to bring the ax down into the door when the ceiling bursts above him and Buffy stakes him quickly and quietly. She moves to the door, Piper sees her through one of the ax holes.

"Buffy! Are you okay?" Piper asks.

Buffy nods, "I'm fine, Piper. Hang on for one more minute, till I tell you to open the door."

Buffy peers around the corner, looks down the hall. The other vampire is dutifully standing guard at the other door.

Buffy steps back from the corner. Selects a sharp stake for his demise. Senses someone behind her. Spins. It's Sheila, who's just come in from the outside door. "Sheila! Where've you -?"

"Sorry I'm late. There's some pretty weird guys outside…" Sheila says.

"They're trying to kill us." Buffy says.

Sheila picks up fire ax, "This should be fun."

Buffy smiles as she turns away to look and Sheila stares at her with deadly contempt.

"Stay behind me." Buffy says as she sneaks around the corner. Sheila dutifully close behind, ax at the ready. Buffy sees the other vampire, his back to them. Buffy raises her stake to hurl, taking careful aim.

Sheila raises her ax high over her own shoulder. Aiming it at the back of Buffy's head.

"Buffy! Look out -" Giles says from the library door.

Sheila chops down. Buffy spins, grabs the ax handle under the blade stopping it inches from her head, with one hand. With the other hand she throws the stake at the other vampire and he dusts. She then powers up a fireball. "You like fire?"

Sheila drops the axe and turns to run. Buffy throws the fireball and Sheila dusts before she even reaches the door leading outside.

"Piper! Now!" Buffy calls.

Piper unlocks and opens the axed door as Giles and Ms. Calendar open the library doors.

Buffy ushers Snyder and the others into Giles' care. "Get them out."

Snyder doesn't need any coaching. He bumps a woman teacher out of his way, makes a beeline for the library. The others follow, Giles and Ms. Calender help them to safety.

Buffy, Prue, Piper and Phoebe enter the student lounge. Buffy spots Spike.

"Fe fi fo fum. I smell the blood of several nice ripe girls." Spike says, he's holding an ax.

Buffy smiles she has a fireball already powered up. "Do we really need weapons for this?"

"I just like 'em. Make me feel all manly." Spike says before he drops his.

Prue frowns, "Buffy."

Buffy shakes her head, "I want to see what he's made of. Besides I'm itching right now for a good fight."

Spike smiles, "The last Slayer I killed, she begged for her life. I don't see you as the begging kind."

"You shouldn't have come here." Buffy says.

"Yeah, I messed up your doilies and stuff. But I just got so bored! Tell you what. As a personal favor from me to you. I'll make it quick. It won't hurt a bit." Spike says.

Buffy shakes her head, "Wrong. It's gonna hurt a lot."

Spike hestitates for a moment and then he hurls himself at Buffy.

The punches fly, fast and furious. They go at it full tilt as the sisters watch waiting for the moment when Buffy needs them.

Spike closes in with a vicious combination of punches and kicks. Buffy pretends like the last one hurts more than it did. He goes for the big k.o. She perks up and moves out of the way causing Spike's hand to go right through the wall. Buffy locks her hands and hammers him on the back of the neck.

"Now that hurt." Spike says as he rips his hand out of the wall - bringing a broken two by four stud with it. "Not as much as this will." He wallops Buffy with the stud. Buffy goes down. Winded, nowhere to turn. She looks up at Spike, standing over her victorious.

He raises the stud over his head and then he hears it, chanting. "The Power of Three Will Set Us Free."

Buffy closes her eyes and concentrates, "Prue!"

The chanting continues as Prue uses her power to lift the ax Spike dropped. She sends it flying knocking Spike back from Buffy. He hits the ground hard. Totally blindsided.

Spike glances out the broken window .

Buffy gets back to her feet. Ready for blood. Standing next to her cousins. Spike knows it's time to run and fight another day. "Women."

Spike leaps out the window and disappears into the night.

Buffy looks to Prue, Piper and Phoebe and smiles. "Thanks guys." They pull Buffy into a group embrace.

They turn and walks towards the doors.

"So, uh… what did you guys and principal Snyder talk about anyway?" Buffy asks.

Prue laughs, "Principal Snyder told us you were a troublemaker."

Phoebe nods, "And we told him where he could stick it."

Piper nods, "We told him you're a person who can take care of herself. Who's brave and resourceful and thinks of others when there's a crisis."

Prue nods, "He didn't like hearing that."