Buffy looked at Angel hurt "Is this about what the Mayor said?"

He shook his head and rubbed his brow. Angel just leaned against the fireplace resting his head on the mantle. His place seemed darker than usual today. "No. I mean maybe. Potentially."

"He was trying to get in your head it's what every bad guy ever does. Jesus watch a James Bond movie."

"Buffy this is about you and me and prom and a man my age has no business taking someone like you to prom. Besides you shouldn't' go anyways. I still am not certain the mayor doesn't have something planned for prom and if you are there I'd just worry."

"In every girls life Angel there are certain moments they look forward to. They dream about these moments. They dream about the perfect dress and the perfect dance and." She stepped to him taking his hand "And even the perfect date."

Angel pulled his hand back "I'm sorry Buffy but I can't"

She opened her mouth a little hurt and wanted to say something. She wasn't going to show him tears. "Okay." She sucked in a deep breath. "I think I'm going to go."

"Buffy I" He pulled out his keys "I'll drive you."

She shook her head. "No it's fine. My mom told me to call and she would uhm pick me up."

"Buffy it's okay I can."

Buffy stepped back angry. "God damn it I said no." With no more words said she quickly crossed the cold tile floor leaving the room. A minute later she was on the phone and a few minutes after that Buffy was riding in silence of the front seat of the car. Angel watched Buffy from the upper window as the car pulled away.

Everything the First had told him months ago was becoming true. He was losing Buffy one move at a time. As Joyce drove her home she read the cold tension in the car. "Buffy if you want to talk I know I'm your mother but."

"Mom I love you but please don't."

Joyce put her hands up. "I am here if you need me."

Buffy waited a second. "Mom do you think I should go to prom."

"If it is something you want."

"It is."

"Than what is the question?"

""I'm pregnant and I'm pretty sure by now it is obvious. Put on a tight prom dress and it takes it to super obvious."

"If it is important to you Buffy than to hell with what anyone else thinks."

"Angel said. I mean." She looked out the window. "Angel isn't going to prom with me."

"Go with someone else. I mean Xander."

Buffy cut her off. "Stop trying to hook me and Xander up. It's not going to happen."

"I'm just saying."

"And I'm just saying he already has a date to prom. He is going with Cordeila."

"Well ask someone else."

"It's a week till prom mom everyone is locked in."

"Well than go stag."

"I guess I could."

"It's not that bad."

Buffy muttered under her breath "Last time you told me to go to the dance by myself I ended up dying"

"What honey?"

"Nothing."

The next day at school everyone was in the library as Buffy dropped the bomb. Willow stood there with her jaw slightly open. "So he just told you that he isn't taking you. What an asshole."

Cordy interjected. "Telling you the week before prom you aren't going isn't an asshole move. I think this falls some where between dick head and douche bag. Like there is a hybrid and cross breed one of mighty shit head."

Oz nodded "I am one who usually sympathizes with the guy but this one he is hard to defend. This is a jerk move."

Xander at there quiet as the eyes turned to him expecting him to say something. "What?"

Cordy laughed "You are the one who can't wait to rip him a new asshole but you finally got us on your side and you are all quiet."

Xander sighed shaking his head. "To be honest I don't know what his motive here is. I don't know why he did it. Our first concern should be Buffy's well being and not throwing out blame."

Buffy tilted her head. "I think this is a doppelganger."

Xander laughed. "Buffy I'm serious. You okay?"

Buffy nodded. "Not going to prom isn't the end of the world. It hurts but there is this line about the chosen one and being alone."

Willow shook her head. "You won't be alone. You can come with us."

Cordy nodded "And you can take comfort in knowing that since I'm going to prom with Xander you aren't the only one not having sex after the dance."

Buffy laughed and covered her mouth. "Well there is one after prom tradition that I wont be partaking in."

Willow opened her mouth looking a combination of embarrassed and confused. "Is that a thing? I mean after prom and you know sex."

Cordy just laughed. "For the record I'm not buying this stupid innocent routine for a minute"

Xander looked to Buffy. "Why don't you ask someone to prom?"

Buffy rolled her eyes. "It's a week before prom pretty sure everyone has been asked."

Just than the warning bell rang as Giles came out of his office. "You all have class and I won't have Snyder breathing down my neck for your tardiness."

They all got up and Xander grabbed his book bag he waited till the others were out the door. Xander jumped in front of Buffy. "Hey if you were serious about that date thing I might know someone."

Buffy looked at him skeptically "Xander."

"He's a good guy besides you are going with all of us anyways."

Buffy scrunched her face up. "Who is this wonderful nice guy?"

Xander smiled "Just meet me after school."

Buffy started walking out "I'm trusting you here Xander."

As she walked out the door Giles looked to Xander. "A minute please."

Xander sighed "Weren't you just yelling at us about being late for class."

Giles handed him a pass. "Happy"

Xander nodded "Thrilled beyond words. What is on your mind?"

"I might have found a way to give us the advantage against the mayor. "

"Really?"

He just nodded "It's called the box of Garvock and 100 percent essential if the mayor hopes to move on with his ascension."

"What is the plan?"

"For now I am finding out the details. Keep this between us till I know more."

"I think I liked it better when you kept me out of the loop and treated me more like a pain in the ass"

"Yes well I liked it better when I had an active slayer but you don't always get what you want." With that Xander left the library and headed to class. At lunch Buffy was out looking for Xander but before she could find him Willow grabbed her.

"Hey Buffy do you think we could have lunch together today?"

"Sure Will. You do know though that any food with in arm length of this soon to be mama is at risk."

Willow laughed, "Come on I'll take my chances."

After grabbing there lunches Willow found them a spot on the quad away from everyone. Buffy could tell something was up. "What's with all the Cloak and Dagger?"

Willow laughed awkwardly. "Is something wrong with wanting to spend some time with my favorite vampire slayer?"

"Well as being the other slayer is a murderous traitor I am pretty sure I got that one locked up in the bag."

Willow again offered a fake laugh. "That's funny."

"Will stop. Spill. What is up?"

"It was just. I was thinking about what Cordy said this morning and the whole. Well you know things people do after prom."

Buffy looked at her a little surprised. "You mean sex?"

""Well not in so many words I mean I guess if you are getting technical in the clinical definition or you know it's just"

"You are rambling"

"Fine Yes. I mean. Am I supposed to do that after prom?"

"Have you talked with Oz about this?"

"Well yeah sort of."

"And what did he say?"

"You know Oz. He's the mellow guy that is always going to say it's fine and there is no pressure. He told me months ago that he's willing to wait till I'm ready."

"You got one of the good ones Will."

"Yeah but than Cordy brings up this whole sex after prom thing and."

"Whoa whoa whoa Willow. Yeah it's a thing people do. I've never known you to follow like other sheep."

"That is the thing though. I mean is it being a sheep if it is ya know "

Buffy cocked her head "Something you want?"

"Well yeah sort of."

Buffy just smiled at her. "My little girl is growing up."

Willow rolled her eyes. "I knew this was a mistake."

"Sorry. Okay no joke." Buffy took a deep breath and patted her baby bump. "I'm not sure the best advice is going to come from the unwed teenage mom. "

"I don't care. I am listening."

"Than here's the long and short of it. You'll know when it is the right time Even though Angel and I made this choice I don't regret it."

Willow looked surprised. "You don't?"

"Xander is right about one thing. I might not have planned this but the idea that this child is something to regret. I'm not going to bring a child in to the world where they have to feel like they are anything but a blessing."

"That's pretty amazing Buffy. So are you and Angel."

She just cut her off. "No no no no. You are not changing the subject here Willow. "

"That's not what I was doing. I was showing concern for my friend and this time "

"Yeah yeah yeah Rosenberg. What are you going to do after prom?"

Willow just laughed and thought on it for a second. "I don't know but I have a week to decide and before than like every choice I have in life I will probably over think it flip from one side to the next and back and when the time comes Who knows"

"You'll do what is right Will."

"Hope you are right."

As the lunch ended Buffy used the last few minutes to try to track down Xander but didn't have any luck. Giving up on finding him she went to class and figured she would see him after school.

As she went to her locker he was already standing there. She pointed at him. "Have you been avoiding me today?"

"Why would I avoid you?"

"I looked for you after lunch and."

"I had to go off campus for lunch."

"What for?"

"Had to meet with my grandmother."

"I thought you were kind of distancing yourself from that side of the family."

"Yeah but you were the one who told me to give her a chance."

"That's nice."

"But I am still back at this why am I avoiding you place?"

"Well you were all mysterious this morning saying you had a date for me and prom and."

"Which is what brings me here now."

"Who is it Xander?"

Xander said nothing. "Will you follow me?"

"Oh my God will you just tell me already."

"Be patient"

Buffy angry crossed her arms. "You are doing this on purpose. You are dragging this out."

Xander just laughed. "Or maybe I want you to keep an open mind."

"So what you are saying is if you throw out a name it's easy to shoot it down but face to face it's so much harder."

"You caught me Summers."

He walked with her to the empty theater standing out on the stage. "Okay so where is he?"

"Buffy he is here. "

Buffy spun around looking around the stage. "Is this one of those Marcie Ross things where the student feels neglected and they are invisible."

Xander pointed up to the light booth. "He's doing the audio for the school play."

Buffy squinted trying to see in to the booth but couldn't see anything. "So you are trying to hook me up with a tech nerd."

"Or a guy who is giving of his own free time because he wants to help others."

"Even if I were to say yes isn't this technically cheating? I'm with Angel and going to dance or date with another guy."

Xander just laughed, "Oh my God I'm devious with out even trying."

"Can you be serious?"

"I am serous. I'm not expecting a love connection here. But"

"But?"

"If anyone knows what is it to be kicked when you are down it's me. Sometimes you need the W more than anything else and you could be that W."

"As thick as you are laying it on I'm expecting this guy to have 4 teeth in his mouth and an arm growing out of his forehead."

Just than the light booth door opened up as Jonathan stepped out. He looked up at the stage surprised to see Xander and Buffy there. "What you guys doing here?"

Xander smiled at him. "Just passing through."

Jonathan was too nervous to look at Buffy he just kept his attention on Xander. "Well if either of you want anything."

Xander nodded "Will do Johnny Boy." With that Jonathan grabbed the microphones off of the stage and started testing them taking them to the sound booth.

As he was out of hearing range Buffy whined. "Xander he is short."

"Weren't you the one a month ago comparing him to Brad Pitt."

"That was Tom Cruise thank you very much. That was pregnancy hormones too. When you are always as jacked up as I am everyone looks good to you."

Xander just laughed stepping in front of her. "Come on Buffy you are a good person. Harmony did this mean elaborate prank just to fuck with him."

"What did she do?"

"She led him on so he would ask her to prom and than when he did she did this whole public humiliation thing."

"Really? She is such a"

"But you could turn this on her. Who cares that Harmony said no because you said Yes. Do you know how big that would be?"

She opened her mouth starting to think it over. "Xander I don't know."

"Buffy you are his White Whale!"

"WHAT!"

Xander put his arm around her shoulder gesturing big. "He could make valedictorian. He could score the touch down for the big game and none of that would be a blip on his radar because he took Buffy Summers to prom."

"Pretty sure he isn't scoring touch downs."

Xander just laughed "Buffy it's a night for you but for him it will be an epic moment in his high school life. Probably the best moment of his high school experience."

Buffy looked at the sound booth thinking it over. "If I agree to this it is just prom none of the after prom experience."

Xander nodded "Of course not Buffy. Just the dance and maybe 2nd base. 3rd base if you are feeling extra generous."

Buffy punched his arm. "Jerk."

Xander rubbed his shoulder. "It was a joke and for the record just because you stopped slaying doesn't' mean the strength goes away. OWWW."

Buffy ignored him and walked to the edge of the stage. She looked at the light booth calling out. "HEY JONATHAN" He jumped out quickly and ran to the front of the stage like a loyal puppy.

He looked at her almost afraid to speak. "Yeah Buffy."

Buffy looked to him. "So Xander was telling me due to Harmony's little sick twisted joke you don't have a date to prom and I myself was told yesterday that my boyfriend will not be going with me."

Jonathan looked at Buffy shocked. "Why wouldn't someone go to a dance with you."

Xander interjected. "The guy is all pretty but no brains."

Buffy elbowed Xander. "I was thinking since you are with out a date and I'm with out a date."

Xander rubbed his ribs. "We are going to make an evening of it. It's going to be Willow and Oz, Me and Cordeila and Buffy. You want to come with us."

Jonathan opened his mouth a little surprised. "You mean like a designated driver thing."

Buffy laughed. "Pretty sure I can't drink. "

Xander interrupted "But for the record you also cant drive."

Buffy turned to him. "Do you want to be all bruises before the night is out."

Jonathan cleared his throat. "So you'd want me to come as"

Buffy made it easy for him. "As my date?"

Jonathan looked at her shocked. "Really?"

She just nodded "Really, really"

Not knowing what to say Jonathan stood there shocked Xander just laughed, "I think you broke him Buffy." Xander jumped down from the stage and grabbed the back of Jonathan's head nodding it for him and mimicking his voice. "Yes Buffy I would love to go to prom with you."

Buffy snapped. "XANDER"

Jonathan smiled at her. "I would like to take you to prom."

Xander patted him on the back. "Great. It will be a night to remember."

Buffy gave Jonathan her notebook. "Give me your phone number and we can figure out the details."

Jonathan took it from her scribbling his number across it. "Here you go."

Xander jumped back up on the stage "Come on Buffy I'll give you a ride home."

Buffy nodded "Talk to you later Jonathan"

As they walked out and to the parking lot Buffy opened the car door. "For the record calling a pregnant woman a white whale is never a good idea."

Xander hopped behind the wheel. "Oh come on it was a Moby Dick reference."

"I agree with you on everything except for the Moby part."