Travers looked at the young man sitting across from him not thinking much of him. Today though to get the answers needed he had to give Xander Harris more than time, he had to acknowledge him and that might have been the worst part.

Xander for his part had a look of disgust painted on his face and aimed at Travers. "Do you think we could get going with this? It is Saturday and I don't want to spend the day in the school library."

Giles was pacing the room. "I quite agree."

Travers crossed his arms. "It will take how ever long it takes."

Xander rolled his eyes. "Look I don't have to be here. I'm not a member of your precious council. I'm doing you the favor."

Travers barked right back. "You are most certainly not a member of the council.. We hold ourselves with pride and class."

Xander muttered under his breath. "Really class the way you lost control of your slayer."

Before Travers could react Giles put his hands up. "Let's just get to why you are here Travers. You wanted to ask Xander the Hell Hounds."

Travers nodded relaxing his body language a little. "Perhaps you are right. I don't want to be here any longer than need be."

Xander reached across the table and picked up his soda sipping It from the straw. It was almost empty as he took the final sip the straw made that loud slurping sound as it searched for the last of the soda. Xander set it down smiling. "So you want to know about hell hounds?"

Travers glared at him. "You are wearing my patience thin boy."

Xander again met his statement with an eye roll. "Oh relax. I'll tell you everything. See it started just under a week ago. Buffy, Willow and I were all having lunch."

The normal bright sunny day had been replaced with rain and clouds. Buffy looked at the window from the cafeteria as a loud lightening bolt could be heard near by. "This day blows."

Xander picked one of his tator tots and shoved it in his mouth. "Come on Buffy. Even in California the sun can't shine every day."

Willow shrugged. "I have to be honest. I like the rain. I find it calm and soothing."

Buffy figured it wasn't worth arguing over. She looked at her friends. "So anyone have anything planned after school?"

Xander nodded. "I have to go try on some tuxes for prom."

Buffy was bored and looking for something to do. "Oh I could come along and help you. That way you end up picking out the one that isn't ya know fashionably challenged."

Xander faked a hurt look. "Hey I'm more than capable of picking out something stylish and trendy."

Willow just snickered. "You just aren't allowed to."

Xander wanted to object but stopped. "You aren't entirely wrong."

Buffy looked at him confused. "What does that even mean?"

Xander chose his words slowly and concise. "So Cordy has already picked out the 5 potential tuxes. Normally she would come with me as I try them on and she would pick the one she liked best but today she has cheerleading practice. So I am to go and try them on and take pictures. Once she looks at the pictures she will tell me which tux I'm wearing to prom."

Buffy tried to stifle her laugh. "That isn't a bit much?"

Xander cleared his throat. "Hey Cordy has been through a lot this last year and the truth is if she wants to be a bit much about prom." He chose his words carefully pausing as he said them. "I'm okay with that. I want to make this night perfect for her."

Buffy smiled at him. The truth was she found his willingness to do this for Cordy endearing. "Okay well you are going to need someone to take picures."

Willow raised her hand. "On it."

Buffy looked a little surprised. "You asked Willow?"

Xander smiled leaning next to her and putting his arm around his old friend. "Yeah I knew she wouldn't' judge me and could take the pictures I needed."

This time it was Willow who rolled her eyes. "It's a Polaroid camera. You have to push a button and catch what comes out of the camera. Not really a big task."

Buffy poked in to the meat loaf on her plate. "No I think it's great that you two are hanging out so much and reconnecting. Lately it seems like we don't get enough chances to enjoy each other's company."

Xander laughed at her sad desperate. "Do you want to come with Buffy?"

She nodded eagerly. "Yes please.

Travers cut off him off interrupting Xander and stopping him from telling the story. "What does any of this have to do with hell hounds?"

Xander stood up angry for the interruption. "I am painting the scene. If you don't like how I do it than I can stop and just go home right now."

Travers gritted his teeth and looked at him annoyed "Continue."

Xander took his own deep breath. "Anyways we were at Lord Fauntleroy's."

Travers looked at him confused. "What is Lord Fauntleroy's?"

Giles took this one. "Local formal wear shop."

Xander closed his eyes trying to remember. Buffy was sitting in the chair next to Willow out side of the changing room. She looked at Willow. "Got to say the first 2 tuxes he tried on weren't terrible."

Willow just laughed "Like Miss I can't wear the same outfit twice in the same school year would allow anything less."

Buffy bit her lip. "I'm kind of with Xander on this one. I think it is sweet that he's so willing to make her happy. She deserves at least this much."

Buffy looked at Willow. "So prom? You haven't really talked about it."

Willow nodded. "Well Oz and I are going. I already have my dress. What about you?"

Buffy put her hand on her stomach. "I'm going to see if I can get tent city to put together something comfortable but doesn't make me look like I should be hovering over a stadium during a football game."

Willow just rolled her eyes. "Stop. You are bigger yes, but not it's not as noticeable as you think."

Before she could respond Xander stepped out in yet another Tux. This one was an Armani. "I think they gave me the wrong size on this one."

Buffy stepped back and looked him head to toe. "It does look a little baggy on you. "

Xander furrowed his brow. "The label is right. I mean these are my sizes."

Willow looked him over. "Are you sure Xander? I mean in the last month or 2 since you have been doing regular patrol you have dropped some weight."

Before he could respond Buffy grabbed the measuring tape off the wall and took a few proper quick measurements. Xander looked at Willow confused. "Oh come on that isn't possible."

Buffy looked at the sizes and compared them to what he was wearing. "Well two things. I am pretty sure all the weight I've been putting on has come directly off of you."

Xander shook his head trying not to laugh. "And the 2nd."

Buffy shrugged. "You could go at least 1 size smaller and still be comfortable."

Willow stood up. "I'll go tell the sales girl and see if we can get something more form fitting."

Buffy picked up the camera. "Well big or not Cordy is going to want to see this." She raised the camera. "Smile."

Xander struck a pose as Buffy snapped the picture. When she was done he looked Buffy up and down. "For the record Willow is right. You might have picked up extra baby weight but you are still gorgeously you."

Before she could respond a loud crash could be heard as a hell hound dove through the main window. "Buffy looked over Xander's shoulder. "What is that?"

Xander turned to find the beast snarling and locked eyes on him. On nothing but instinct Xander pushed Buffy in to the dressing room. "Stay in there."

He picked up the chair that Buffy had been sitting in. He held like the Lion tamers in the Circus would. The beast had it's target in place. He was eyeing Xander like it was Thanksgiving and he was the turkey. Buffy called out from the dressing. "I am the slayer Xander. I can."

Xander barked back angry. "I got this."

As he turned back the beast leapt at Xander. His mouth was open and fangs were baring down. Xander used the chair in his arm to keep some distance between him and the hound.

On nothing more than instinct the hell hound swiped wildly at Xander. His claws were razor sharp and just catching the tux jacket and shirt tearing and shredding it slightly.

Buffy yelled out at him "Xander I'm helping."

As she called out to Xander the hellhound was distracted and turned his glance to the dressing room. Xander saw the moment and used this to his advantage With the four legs of the chair he quickly charged the hound and turned it to the exterior wall. He pinned the beast between the chair and the wall.

The strength of this creature was amazing. Xander was leaning against the chair with everything he had and barely had it contained. Xander yelled. "Not today Fido."

He snarled and swiped his arms and claw angry. He was desperate to get to Xander and the rage behind his yellow eyes said he would never give up. Xander had him pinned but didn't know where to take it from there. He could contain him but eventually the hound would find a way to get free.

Buffy kicked open the changing room door. "Screw this. I'm not helpless." She quickly tossed the last few tuxedos to the floor and picked up the heavy metal hanging stand for the clothes. She pulled the stand apart using the cold blunt metal as she brought it down between the hellhounds eyes. The beast gave one final yelp as it met it's end.

Once dead Xander dropped the chair and turned to Buffy. "What the hell? I told you to stay in the dressing room."

"And what was your great plan. Hold that thing there till he could collect social security."

"I had the situation under control."

"You were about to be dog food."

Xander turned to her. "Buffy stop. This isn't about me. This is about the baby. You can't be putting yourself in danger. This isn't just you anymore."

"I know Xander but."

'"But nothing."

"Not this time Xander. Yes I get I need to protect this baby and I will. If something happens to you though. I am raising this baby alone."

"Wouldn't be alone. You have Giles and Willow and your mom. You know you'll never be alone."

"Oh my God . I need this child to know it's father. I can't do the whole this is who he was thing Xander. So yeah you are right. I have to be careful and protect this baby. You have to protect yourself though."

Xander was about to argue but stopped. He nodded. "You are right. I want to be around for this kid. I promise I will stay safe. At least as safe as anyone in Sunnydale can be."

Buffy was about to say something when Willow and the sales girl stepped in to the hall. The hellhound dead at there feet , the broken glass and shredded tuxedo told the story. Xander turned to face the sales girl.

"Yeah so I'm thinking I'm going to pass on this tux."

Travers let go of a deep breath. "And the sales girl didn't question you? She didn't give you any problems?"

Xander shrugged. "When that thing came charging through the window she started hiding behind the counter. That and the fact that people play that whole I didn't see anything or I don't know anything a lot here in Sunnydale"

Travers looked at Xander curious. "What did you do with the hell hound? You do know that they travel in packs so chances are."

Xander put his hands up. "Relax. I am getting there." Xander returned to pacing as the story unfolded. "So about half the time you kill something in Sunnydale it either bursts in to a giant pile of ash or oooozes in to some kind of toxic sludge. Hell hounds though kind of just drop where you kill them. I drive a truck so the smart thing to me was to put the hellhound in the back. I brought it to Giles."

Giles interjected. "Where I identified the Hell hound."

Xander was pacing in the opposite direction of Giles. "Like you pointed out Giles was quick to inform us that Hell hounds never travel alone. Who ever summoned it was going to have more of them ready to kill or eat or what ever hell hounds do."

Giles nodded this time picking it up. "We deemed it prudent to involve Angel.."

Travers face twisted in to a disgusted scowl. "The vampire."

Xander laughed. "Hey look at that. We do have something in common."

Giles ignoring the comment continued. "We figured with his heightened vampire senses he might be able to track them down. Also Angel has resources in Sunnydale we don't."

Travers looked at him curious. "Resources?"

Xander plopped back down in the chair. "Believe it or not people will talk to a vampire who won't talk to us." He put his feet up on the table. "So anyways there was relatively little info to be found on Hellhounds. No one knew anything. So Angel and I started just doing a good old fashioned foot patrol."

The window hadn't been repaired yet at Lord Fauntleroy's so getting in to the store wasn't much of a problem. Xander watched as Angel picked up a piece of the bloody matted hell hound hair. "So are you going to sniff that to try to get a scent."

Angel stood up turning to him. "You know I'm not a blood hound right."

Xander muttered under his breath. "Should have brought Oz."

Angel stepped to him. "Really. You want to bring a werewolf out on a full moon."

Before he could say anything they heard footsteps on the crunch of glass. They both turned around to find Faith standing in the window. She just looked them over. "So now that I'm working for the mayor I should probably turn you guys in for breaking and entering."

Angel looked at her stepping closer. "We don't want any trouble Faith.."

Faith just laughed. "Oh my God untwist your nuts. Not everything I do is about hating you guys. Just most of it."

Xander took in a deep breath. "Than what brings you here?"

Faith stepped to the counter and pulled her self up sitting on it. "I know it might sound crazy but the Mayor isn't a fan of Hell hounds."

Xander shook his head. "Really? Figured he'd probably have a couple of his own. You know keep them chained up and plays fetch with them in the back yard."

Angel stepped between the two of them. "Not helping."

Faith rolled it off. "The mayor can't have people afraid or worried they are going to get attacked by some giant dog."

Xander shook his head. "But he has no problems with vampires or demons picking off the towns folk."

Faith hopped down from the counter. "He can negotiate or reason with vampires and demons so."

Xander stepped up to her. "Well you can tell Dick that we got this taken care of."

Faith laughed at him. "You two. You are going to find these hell hounds."

Angel closed his eyes. "Remember we are trying to keep this civil."

Faith walked past him. "You two couldn't find rain in a thunderstorm. So how about you two go home or you can go on patrol or what ever. I will take care of these demon dogs."

Xander shook his head. "They are hell hounds and we got this."

Faith squared up to him. "You guys are clueless and have no idea where to even look."

Xander laughed. "And you do?"

Angel knew he needed to regain control. "STOP. Both of you." He looked at both of them "It seems like we both have a common interest here. So why don't we put all the bullshit aside and maybe we can work together."

Xander just laughed sarcastically. "She is impossible. She won't work with anyone."

Faith glared at him angry. "You think you know me so well. You don't know dick." She side stepped him looking at Angel. "Okay pretty. We will do this. One night only. We will get the band back together."

Xander shook his head. "This is a bad idea."

Angel put his hands up. "We are doing it." He looked at Faith. "Xander and I were just going through the scene. We were hoping to find some sort of clue or maybe pick up a scent."

Faith squatted down to look at the broken glass pretending to examine everything.. "That might work. I think it might work better if we." She stopped talking and reached in to her jacket pulling out an address. "Go here."

Angel looked at the address confused. "You have a lead?"

Faith just smirked at Xander. "Demon can't fart in this town with out the mayor's permission. "

Angel handed the paper over to Xander for him to see. "You believe this is where the hell hounds are?"

Faith shrugged. "I know they are."

Xander looked at the paper not trusting. "I feel like this is a trap."

Faith walked out of the store but snapped the paper out of his hand. "Than stay here and try on some more tuxes. I don't care."

Nothing more was said as Angel followed her. Xander waited a second and than ran after them. He caught up walking next to Faith. "I have tried enough tuxes for the day."

Faith didn't acknowledge the comment. She just kept her eyes focused as she found Angel's car and hopped in the front seat. "So you are going to prom with your ex girlfriend. That seems like a genius move."

Xander stood on the curb for a second angry he was being relegated to the back seat. Angel hopped in behind the wheel. "You coming Xander?"

He got in the back seat. "Not that it is any of your business but yes I am taking Cordeila to prom."

Faith kept her eyes forward not looking at him. "I'm sure it will be a magical evening."

Xander made contact with her eyes in the rear view mirror. "Not that it should matter to you anymore."

Faith turned around in the seat. "Hey if we had not broken up would you have even asked me to prom."

Xander looked at her confused. "Really? Are we doing this?"

Faith shrugged. "I'm just curious."

Xander rolled his eyes. "Honestly probably not."

Faith looked at him pissed. "So I'm not good enough to go to your stupid dance."

Xander leaned forward. "Or maybe I know you well enough. Nothing about you Faith says I am girl who wants to go to a school prom. I just figured."

Faith turned back with eyes on the road. "You know what drop it."

Xander sneered back. "Gladly."

Angel pulled up to the address of a residential house. Angel looked at Faith. "This is it."

Xander leaned forward looking at the house. "Really? This is the place. This seems a little more Leave it to Beaver than Tales from the Crypt."

Faith opened the car door. "Than stay behind. I don't care."

Angel followed her. "For the record she is right. I can smell something."

Xander shook his head getting out. "Of course you can."

Angel looked at both of them. "Come on time to weapon up." He opened his trunk and grabbed a sword out of it. Xander reached for the axe but Faith grabbed it first.

She smirked. "Ladies first."

Xander grabbed the only weapon left. It was a trident Angel had taken from a demon he killed the other day. Xander wasn't happy but did his best to hide it. "Let's do this."

Faith nodding. "Lead the way with your trusty pitch fork."

Xander spun around. "It is a trident."

The three of them made there way to the front porch. Angel whispered. "So what is the play here? How are we dealing?"

Xander thought for a second. "Stranded motorist and we need to make a phone call."

Faith ignored Xander and pushed the button ringing the door bell. "Yeah that plan sucks."

As the door opened Xander recognized the face. It was a student in his class Tucker Wells. He looked at the three of them standing there. "Can I help you?"

Xander cleared his throat. "Uhm Tucker right? See we were just heading to church when my buddy blew out his tire and."

Before he could finish Faith grabbed him by the throat choking Tucker and pinning him against the wall. "The Hell hounds were are they?"

Tucker gasped for air. "I have no idea what you are talking about."

Faith raised her knee smashing his testicles. "Nope try again."

Angel looked at her. "Faith you can't just hit someone."

Faith laughed as Tucker was holding his balls. "Pretty sure I can." She reached back and punched him in the chin. "Now be a nice little asshole and invite my friend in."

Angel yelled at her "FAITH."

Xander stepped in not needing an invite. "Faith stop."

Tucker had blood coming from his mouth. He looked upon Faith afraid. "Okay okay. You all can come in."

Angel stepped inside. "We have a way of doing things?"

She still had her hand around Tuckers throat. "Your way sucks." She locked eyes with Tucker. "Where are the hell hounds?"

Xander yelled at her. "You don't even know for sure if this is the guy."

Tucker gasped. "I will show you."

Faith stepped back and released her grip. "Good boy." She let Tucker walk in front of her. "If you try anything I won't hesitate to kill you."

Tucker pointed out to the garage. "They are in cages in there."

Angel followed Faith and Xander outside. "How many of them?"

Tucker stammered a little. "I had 7 but one got free."

Xander stood in front of the door. "Yeah pretty sure I met that one earlier. Cute little fella."

Tucker laughed awkwardly. "That was Lenny."

Faith looked at him disgusted. "You named them?"

Tucker went to the control panel for the garage door. He entered the code as the door went up. All 6 hell hounds were locked in cages. Xander looked on confused. "So what was your plan? I mean is this like an underground dog fighting thing."

Tucker shook his head stepping to his work bench. "I am going to release them at prom."

Faith looked at him and laughed. "That is kind of funny."

Angel stepped to her. "No it isn't and no you aren't."

Tucker angry shook his head. "If she would have just said yes than all of this could have been avoided but."

Xander put his hands up. "Cool it psychopath. We are going to put these things down and we'll figure out what to do with you after."

Turker turned to Xander. "I'm afraid I can't allow that." He held a remote in his hand. "See these are my babies and I won't let you kill any more."

Angel closed his eyes knowing what was about to happen. "Why can't it ever be easy?"

Faith shook her head "Don't do it." No more words were said. He just pushed the button as the cage doors unlocked and opened. Faith glared at him. "oh I am so going to kick your ass for this that one."

Faith grabbed the Axe charging at the first hound killing him before he could even get out of the cage. Angel jumped in to the fray and on the back of the next hound giving a quick twist and snap of the neck stopping the beast in it's place.

Tucker yelled out "Stop hurting them."

Xander reached back for the trident and threw it at number 3. It wasn't a fatal shot It impaled the hound in his stomach. Xander ran at the handle grabbed it and forcing it against the wall like he did at the tux shop. It whimpered in pain. Xander looked for anything he could to end the beast. He picked up a screw driver from a tool box with in reach and buried it in the creatures ear.

The other 3 were slower to react but each picked which opponent they wanted to wrestle with.

Faith just smirked waving one over "Come on puppy."

As the 3 of them did what they could to take out the hell hounds Faith played with hers. They were strong but very dumb and slow. A few kicks to the face and tossing it around and Faith had stomped a hole in it's skull.

She dusted herself off and stood up to find Xander struggling with the hell hound. Xander was doing his best to keep it at bay. As the beast lunged at him Xander was able to stick it in the side with the screwdriver wounding and pissing it off.

As he charged Xander grabbed the only thing he could reach for. It was an empty plastic gas can. As the hell hound bared down on him the hell hound tried his best to bite him. Xander jammed the can in his mouth. "Get the hell off me."

Tucker yelled at his pet. "Eat him Lyle. That is a good boy GET HIM."

Faith stood over watching for a second, She picked up the axe and swung in the center of the hellhounds back. As it felt the axe it tensed up. Xander used his legs kicking the beast off and jumping to his feet. Faith put her foot on the back of the hell hound taking the axe out and taking one last swing burying the axe between the eyes killing it.

Xander looked at Faith. "So how long were you actually contemplating letting that thing kill me?"

Faith rolled her eyes. "Oh relax. You had him right where you wanted tough guy."

Across the room one last snap could be heard as Angel killed the last remaining hound. Faith crossed her arms. "Well that is that." She turned to Tucker. "Mostly."

Tucker screamed at them. "You killed my babies."

Faith shook her head. "Pretty sure this guy is nuts. So I say you give me 10 minutes alone with him and I promise you he will never summon another demon again."

Xander locked eyes with Tucker "He is a douche bag but you can't kill him."

Faith stepped closer to him. "No killing him. Scouts honor."

Xander looked at Faith not sure what to say. "Faith we have a way and."

Angel cut him off this time. "She's not going to kill him and if this is how she wants to deal with it. It's out of our hands. "

Xander thought about it for a second. "We will wait for you in the car."

Angel turned leaving Faith alone with Tucker. Xander was next ready to go but Faith stopped him. "For the record you are wrong."

Xander stopped in his tracks. "Being wrong is sort of my thing. But do you mind telling me what I am wrong on this time."

"Prom." Faith glared at him. "You think you are so different from everyone else. The thing is though you didn't even ask me. You just assumed. You think you know me and what type of girl I am. What box I fit in to. Faith is that tough tom boy. Why would she ever want to go to any school dance?"

Xander looked at her surprised. "You wanted to go?"

"You'll never know now. Honestly the truth is I don't know if you ever really knew me."

Travers interrupted again. "I don't need to know anymore about your prom or any teenage angst you might be feeling."

Xander rubbed his face. "Look I'm done. I want to go home."

Travers drummed his fingers on the table. "Just a few more questions. What did Faith do to the boy?"

Xander shrugged. "Like she said. She didn't kill him. He came to school Monday with black eyes a broken arm and a missing tooth. She beat the shit out of him."

Travers looked on curious. "You think that is enough to stop this boy."

Xander stood up ready to leave. "I tend to think so. Faith told him if she sees another hell hound or any thing remotely dog like she isn't going to investigate. She is just going to find him and kill him. I am pretty sure he pissed himself."

Giles steeped between them. "Maybe this would be a good time to call it done."

Xander nodded. "I agree. I am done." With that he turned his back on Travers.

Travers stood up. "You do know that none of this has to do with the hell hounds you encountered."

Xander kept his back to him. "You are stuck. You don't know what to do with Faith. There is what you want to do and what you can do."

Travers stepped closer. "You think you know what I want to do?"

Xander slowly turned to face him. "It would be easy if Faith wasn't around anymore. She never fit your model. She is too sassy and raw not the kind who takes orders. If Faith were to die than you can start new with another slayer. The problem is though Faith has protection. She has a mayor who is beyond your reach."

Travers eyes glinted with a gleam of power. "My boy I'm not sure you understand the range of our power."

Giles shook his head. "Faith is not beyond redemption."

Travers breathed in deep but said nothing. He turned picking up his coat to leave. "First we will deal with this Mayor and than the slayer. I'll be expecting updates from you Rupert."

With that he was out the door and on his way back to England. Xander looked to Giles "When he says first WE take care of the mayor he means."

"Us. I'm quite certain we will get no support from the council."

Xander looked at Giles. "Well if we are going to beat him we need to know what we are up against. I think it's time we get everyone and hit research mode."

"Agreed. But"

"But"

Giles went in to his office and pulled out a thick manila folder. "I may have some new information on the Mayor."