Chapter 13: Never Kill a Girl on the First Date

Buffy stood between Willow and Dawn as she looked at the food station in front of her. "This is spooky," she said with a confused look on her face. "Is the green stuff fruit or vegetable?"

"Yes," the cafeteria lady told her.

"I'll take it," Buffy said as a scoop of green slop is plopped onto her tray.

"I was guessing string cheese," Xander said just as someone bumped into Buffy.

"Paige?" Buffy said as she turned to face her Whitelighter.

"Sorry," Paige said. "I just can't get used to the school food their serving. I am seriously considering having Piper fix me something."

"Is she really the good cook you make her out to be?" Buffy asked as they moved to a table and sat down.

"Yes," Paige said as she smiled.

Buffy looked at that smile and like the last time she had seen it grace Paige's lips. She knew she could just drown in it.

Willow, Dawn and Xander looked at Paige and Buffy and a smile graced their lips, well Willow and Dawn's anyways.

"I was thinking for defeating your first upper level demon, the Elders are calling it an upper level despite the fact it didn't require a potion to vanquish," Paige said. "We could go to the Bronze to celebrate. Say tonight at eight?"

Buffy smiled at Paige. "Yeah. Eight. There."

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

"PHOEBE!" Paige shouted as she orbed to the Manor that afternoon. She found her middle sister sitting at the dining room table. "What is with these so call premonitions? First you have me give her the cross, then my jacket and now I'm taking her out to the Bronze as a way of congratulating her for her first upper level demon vanquish. Are you meddling again?"

"Maybe a little," Phoebe told her. "But I also have gotten premonitions. Let's just say I am nurturing the budding relationship."

"She's underage," Paige objected.

"She won't always be," Phoebe argued. "Besides unless you cross the line into illegal territory there is nothing truly illegal with dating someone underage. That said if Joyce forbade you from seeing Buffy, that's different. Then it becomes illegal. But since you are Buffy and Dawn's Whitelighter, I have my doubts she would do that. She knows that you are needed to help guide them to their destinies."

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

At Sunnydale High Dawn, Buffy and Willow exit the school coming down the steps.

"Willow, it's not that big a deal," Buffy said. "It's just a bunch of people getting together. I mean, sure, Paige asked me specifically."

"I guess I blew it way out of proportion," Willow said.

"All right, it's a big deal. Did you notice how the corners of her mouth curled up when she smiled?" Buffy asked.

"We saw," Dawn said. "And I think Willow and I agree that while you and Paige can't do anything beyond a simple date, and don't you think for one second this isn't a date, there is nothing illegal about going out with an adult."

"I know," Buffy said as smile crossed her lips. "Wait a minute."

"What's wrong?" Willow asked.

"If you listen real close, I'm starting to sound like a regular teenager. I've got friends. I've got a date, albeit with someone ten years my senior. All I need now are zits and an eating disorder."

"Good afternoon, ladies," Giles said as he walked up to them.

"Although I should probably do something about that supernatural ability to destroy the undead," Buffy said with a sigh.

"I'm under the impression there's some sort of ironic tone in that statement, but as an Englishman I'm incapable of discerning it," Giles said.

"Yeah? Well, that makes us even, because I don't get Benny Hill," Dawn said.

"In any case, that supernatural ability, which you both should cherish and treasure, if I might add—"

"You always do," Buffy and Dawn said.

"—is needed tonight," Giles finished.

"Close the beach on that idea. I've got a very big meeting tonight with Paige tonight," Buffy replied.

Giles sighed. "What is this meeting?"

"Paige is taking Buffy to the Bronze to celebrate vanquishing her first upper level demon," Dawn answered.

Giles sighed. "What I have is much more urgent."

"More urgent than me moving past 'Buffy, The Celibate Years'? I don't think so," Buffy replied.

"My books tell of a major event occurring on the evening of the 1,000th day after the Septugian Sunset. That's tonight," Giles said.

"Already? Seems like just last week was the 1,000th day after the last Septugian Sunset. Where does the time go?" Willow asked sarcastically.

"According to my calculations, we are due for a fresh rising of vampires. It is prophesied: 'On that day, seven souls will be captured into the darkness. And the Master will look upon one of them and be pleased.'" Giles said as he read from his notebook.

Buffy let out a long sigh. "Too bad, because I looked upon Paige and was very pleased."

"Buffy," Giles said. "First off you are underage; anything you and Paige do has to be simply platonic. It is best the two of you simply retain a working relationship. Second off the slayer must be present tonight. Your responsibilities to the world are paramount."

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

The cemetery was stone quiet as Buffy and Giles sat there quietly waiting.

"Perhaps I miscalculated," Giles said.

"I'm thinking yes," Buffy said.

"I was so sure," Giles said. "Well, you know what they say."

"Not really."

"Ninety percent of the vampire slaying game is waiting."

"You couldn't have told me that ninety percent ago?" Buffy asked sarcastically.

"Oh, well. At least we were here at the ready, so it wasn't a completely wasted evening," Giles said ignoring her sarcastic tone.

"Yes, Giles, it was. But that's okay. I'm sure I'll have another shot at teenage happiness someday. Like when I'm thirty," Buffy said.

Giles sighed. "Come now. What you consider a curse, others would call a gift. Be thankful you're not burdened with trivial matters like what to wear to next month's hay dance."

"And that is where you and Paige differ," Buffy argued. "She says I should worry about trivial things. Like being a teenager and what to wear to next month's hay dance, that I need to have something to live for." She started to gather her things. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I might still have a chance to salvage the remains of my dating career."

"Buffy, this thing with Paige is not …"

"A date," Buffy finished. "I know that since I'm only sixteen and that Paige and I can't really do much or I would wind up without my Whitelighter. But there is nothing illegal about Paige and me going out either."

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Buffy walked into the Bronze to find Paige dancing with a guy she didn't recognize.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Buffy slammed her locker door the next day before looking at Xander.

"So you just went home?" Xander asked.

"What was I supposed to do?" Buffy asked. "Say to Paige, 'Sorry I'm late, Giles was being a pain'."

"Or... flat tire," Xander said as he used his hands to demonstrate the weight of the situation.

Buffy sighed. "Giles should come with a Surgeon General's warning: may be hazardous to Buffy's social life. He's completely not cognizant. It's as if he's never even been on a date."

"Distinct possibility."

"I can't take this anymore," Buffy told her friend. "I feel like everyone's staring at me, the hideous dateless monster." Just then a student walked by. "That's right, I have no life. Move along, pal. Nothing to see here."

The student scurried on.

"You're reacting a little overly, aren't you?" Xander asked. "Everyone likes you. I bet you could have any guy or girl in the school."

"That's a nice thing to say. You're a good friend," Buffy said as Paige walked up to them.

"Hello, Xander," Paige said. "Buffy, can I see you for a moment?"

"I'll leave you two alone," Xander said as he moved aside and began rummaging through his locker.

"What happened?" Paige asked.

Buffy sighed. "Giles, he had me out last night. Something about a prophecy that needed to be stopped. His calculations were off or something because it didn't pan out."

"Ah," Paige said. "I thought I had sensed you at the Bronze though."

"You probably did," Buffy said. "As I was there for all of two minutes. I saw you dancing with a guy. I didn't want to interrupt your night. So I went on home."

"Well then how about tonight?" Paige asked.

"Tonight," Buffy said. "Let's see, if I rearrange, and move that to next week, and then shift that to – sure. Tonight'll work."

Paige smiled. "I'll orb by your house at seven."

"Seven," Buffy said as a smile graced her lips.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

That evening Buffy is getting ready for her night with Paige.

Willow held up two outfits for Buffy to choose. "Pick."

"Let's see. Do I want to appear shy, coy and naïve, or do I go unrestrained, insatiable and aggressive," Buffy said as she looked between the two outfits.

"You know, Paige is a little homespun. She probably doesn't like that overly-assertive look," Xander said as he looked in Buffy's closet. "Hey, here's something. A nice, comfy overcoat." He pulled out a drab, floor-length overcoat out of the closet. He also pulled out a ski cap. "And this ski cap. The earflaps will bring out your eyes."

Buffy looked to her sister and Willow. "I think I'll mix-n-match." She looked to Xander. "Xander, guy's opinion." She uncapped two lipsticks. "Which one do you think Paige will like better?"

"Oh, you mean for kissing you and then telling everyone how easy you are?" Xander asked.

"Are you jealous?" Dawn asked Xander. "What would Cordy think of you being jealous of Paige?" She looked at her sister. "I'd go with peach."

"Put this on," Willow said as she handed Buffy and outfit.

They turned and looked at Xander.

"You're not bothering me," Xander said.

Willow turned Xander around as Buffy changed into her outfit. "So, where's Paige taking you?"

Buffy shrugged. "I don't know. Where do you suppose everyone is going on dates these days?"

"Well, I read somewhere that sometimes they go to movies," Dawn said.

"Movies. Interesting," Buffy said.

"And once on TV I saw a bunch of people our age at a party," Xander added.

"Wow. I never knew being a teenager was so full of possibilities. Of course Paige isn't a teenager, so …" Buffy said as the doorbell rang. "That is likely Paige." They rushed downstairs and Buffy opened the door to find Giles standing there. "That's Giles."

"Tonight is absolutely the night," Giles said.

"I'm not home," Buffy said as she started to close the door.

"The prophecy is happening," Giles said as he placed a hand on the door to keep it from closing. "Look." He flipped open a newspaper. The headline read: 'SEVEN DIE IN VAN ACCIDENT.' "My theory was correct. Seven people were killed last night."

"Yeah. In a car crash," Buffy said.

"Those deaths were forecast more than three thousand years ago. And listen to this," Giles said. "'Also among the dead was Andrew Borba, whom police had been pursuing for months in connection with a series of brutal assaults.' That's the one the Master is waiting for. He is set to rise with the others tonight. My calculations make me sure of it."

"You were sure of it last night. You showed me charts and drafts and calendars," Buffy argued.

Giles hung his head in shame. "I forgot about leap year."

"Of all the luck. A vampire uprising on the night of your big date. Isn't that always the way?" Xander said.

"Not tonight it ain't," Buffy said.

"Buffy, you have to believe me—" Giles argued.

"You expect me to buy into your open-to-interpretation interpretation when you can't even remember to carry the four?" Buffy asked.

"You must answer your calling."

"Last night I answered it and they put me on hold," Buffy said as Paige orbed in behind Giles.

"Giles," Paige said. "What are you doing here?"

"Oh. He's, uh, out promoting Bookmobile awareness," Buffy said. "As you know we call him gruff but lovable Giles. But enough about him. What's the plan?"

"I was thinking dinner and maybe a movie," Paige said.

"Sounds good," Buffy said as she pushed past Giles.

"So you're just going to go," Giles said.

"If you say so."

"You're just going to ignore the fact that you've been chosen and have a destiny to fulfill," Giles argued.

"What's going on?" Paige inquired.

"It seems that prophecy that Giles thought was happening last night, is happening tonight," Buffy said.

"Alright," Paige said, "Dawn, you go with Giles. If you need us, call, okay?"

"Got ya," Dawn said.

Giles let out a sigh, while he would have preferred having Buffy, having Dawn who was also a witch would be the second best thing. Add on top of that, that should they need Buffy, Dawn could call to Paige who would orb Buffy to them. "Alright," he said reluctantly as he and Dawn turned and left.

Paige took Buffy's hand and orbed out.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Buffy sat across from Paige enjoying the casual dinner. "This is nice, Paige."

"I'm glad you like it," Paige replied.

"You know the other day I asked if Phoebe had another premonition and you said maybe."

"Yeah."

"Did she?" Buffy asked.

Paige let out a sigh. "Phoebe is meddling. I'm kind of wondering if she isn't forcing her premonitions."

"Can I ask what exactly she's seeing?"

"I don't know to tell the truth," Paige said. "She saw me giving you the cross and my jacket. She saw us having dinner. I think she's trying to play matchmaker. Not that I don't find you attractive, Buffy, I do. But you're only sixteen."

"I know," Buffy said with a sigh. "But as was pointed out to me. There is nothing illegal with you and I having a casual relationship either. As long as mom doesn't tell you to stay away."

"Phoebe said the same thing. Let's see how things go, after all you have two years before you're legally of age."

Just then Buffy noticed out of the corner of her eye a man pull the hair back from a woman's neck. "Paige," she whispered.

Paige turned and followed Buffy's gaze as the man innocently kissed the woman's neck. "Nothing to worry about," she said as she turned back to Buffy. "You're probably worried about Dawn and Giles and seeing vampire activity where there is none as a result."

"I guess," Buffy said.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Dawn leaned against a headstone as Giles paced before her. So far they had been out of luck; there had been no vampire activity at all.

Giles checked his watch and then looked at Dawn. "I guess we can call it a night." As he turned towards his car a vampire dropped down in front of him, baring his fangs. He jumped back beside Dawn. "You don't frighten me," he said confidently.

"I don't think that matters to them," Dawn said as she reached inside her shoulder bag and pulled out a string of garlic while more vampires dropped down behind them. "I think this might be time for a strategic retreat. "Paige!" She then tossed the garlic at the vampires and she and Giles took off. "I really wish I knew what my power was, it might come in handy right now. Or of course it might not."

She and Giles ran into a nearby mortuary and Giles locked the door behind them.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Paige and Buffy were in line for a movie when Paige heard Dawn's call. "We have to go," Paige said as she looked at Buffy. "Dawn, called."

"Is she?" Buffy asked suddenly concerned.

"I sense she's fine for the moment," Paige said. "But I also sense that could change."

Buffy let out a sigh as she looked at the theater in front of them. "Let's go."

They ran around a corner and into an alley where Paige orbs them out. They orb into the mortuary to find Giles and Dawn nowhere to be seen and two vampires searching the place.

"Viewing hours are over," Buffy said as she pulled out a stake from her purse. One of the vampires lunged at her. She grabbed his arm, twisted him around, and held his arm behind his back. "Funeral services will be held—" She reached around and plunged a stake through his heart and he dusted. "—now."

The other vampire had been circling Paige when Buffy came up from behind him and staked him from behind.

"Buffy?"

"Dawnie?" Buffy asked as she and Paige looked around.

"We're in a couple of the drawers."

Buffy looked at all the drawers on the wall and then at Paige. "Which?"

Paige walked toward the drawers and using her Whitelighter power to sense her charge she located Dawn and let her out.

"Okay, Giles should be in the next one," Dawn said as she opened the one next to hers.

There Giles laid next to a corpse. "So how was your evening?" he asked.

"Apparently, better than yours," Buffy said.

Dawn looked to Paige. "I really need to find out what my power is," she said. "Without Buffy's strength or an active power, and I mean no offense here, Giles, I am not a match for the three vampires we met outside and the two in here."

"We'll try and find out," Paige said. "I promise."

"Well, I suppose I don't have to say that I was correct in my prediction," Giles told them.

"Something tells me you will anyway," Buffy said.

"No, no. I won't bask in the glory and rub your nose in the fact that old Giles was right and that young, inexperienced Buffy was one-hundred percent wrong."

"Giles," Paige warned. "She was not wrong, and neither was I. I just didn't expect this big of a turnout or I would have postponed our night out till tomorrow."

"Well regardless it is just about to begin," Giles said.

"Meaning exactly?" Dawn wondered.

"Our previous two 'guests' were, as you noticed, Dawn, only two. If you'll recall, the announcement about tonight's event specifically stated there would be seven in the attendance."

"So we've seen five of them," Dawn interrupted.

"On the contrary I don't believe we have," Giles continued. "For the invited ones will be dressed in, shall we say, their 'funeral best.'"

"Of course," Paige said as she realized. "They just died. So we're about to face seven vampires at the same time."

"Exactly. And we mustn't forget about the 'guest of honor' who will one of those seven," Giles said.

"So when do they rise?" Buffy wondered.

Unseen by everyone, one of the drawers slowly opened and a vampire sat up.

"I have no idea. They were scheduled to be here by now," Giles said as more drawers opened and four more vampires sat up.

"Maybe this time you forgot to account for Daylight Savings," Buffy said with a roll of her eyes.

"Sorry, we're late."

They all turned to see the five vampires have them surrounded.

The vampires lunged at the group as Buffy dove right, while Dawn, Giles and Paige went on the defense.

"Here. Hold this garlic," Dawn said as she handed Giles a clove of garlic. She pulled out a cross for herself.

Buffy kicked one vampire, punched a second and elbowed a third.

The fourth vampire came at Paige and slammed her head against a drawer knocking her unconscious. He held Paige up by the collar as he taunted Buffy. "Now see what you did? You went and got your friend killed." He lifted Paige's body over his head, and then slammed her to the ground.

Buffy looked at Paige lying on the floor and then glared at the fourth vampire. "You've made me very angry." Without looking away from him, she swiftly extended her arm to the side and staked the third vampire, who promptly dusted. She rolled a wardrobe rack between herself and the fourth vampire and then turned and faced the first vampire just as he landed a kick to her side, doubling her over.

"This old guy's still got some life in him," the first vampire said as he kicked Buffy again, but this time Buffy grabbed his leg and flipped him backwards on to the floor.

"Famous last words," Buffy said as she straddled the first vampire and staked him. The second vampire ran toward her from behind and leapt into the air. She tossed a stake backwards over her shoulder. It sailed through the air and sank into the second vampire's chest.

The fourth vampire grabbed Buffy by her collar as he looked toward the fifth vampire. "Honey, I have a gift for you," he said as he heaved Buffy through the air.

She slammed into the wall and dropped to the floor as the fifth vampire pulled Buffy up by the hair. She tried pinning the fifth vampire against the wall, but the fifth vampire grabbed her arms and pinned them to her side.

"I got her!" said the fifth vampire as the fourth vampire grabbed a stake and headed for Buffy. He raised the stake and brought his arm down to bury it in Buffy's back.

At the last second, Buffy spun the fifth vampire around and the fourth vampire planted the stake in the fifth vampire's heart. "And you two made such a cute couple," she said.

The fourth vampire screamed in rage as he charged at Buffy. She shouldered him in the mid-section and flipped him straight up into the air. She kicked open a coffin, grabbing the stick which propped the lid up. The fourth vampire flew into the coffin as she plunged the stick through his heart.

Buffy looked around at the carnage, but her moment of victory is overshadowed by the sight of Paige heaped in a corner. She walks over to her Whitelighter and knelt down next to her sister. "Is she?" Buffy asked Dawn.

"She's alive," Dawn said with a glance at Buffy. "Just I think got caught off guard. He came out of nowhere. I didn't see him till it was too late."

"Neither did I, Buffy," Giles said as he placed a hand on Buffy's shoulder.

Buffy let out a sigh. "Why did that stupid prophecy have to come true tonight?"

"Evil does not like to wait."

"It waited three thousand years. It couldn't wait one more night?"

"Buffy, I know this may be a small consolation, but you have done a great service to humankind. You prevented the chosen one from freeing the Master," Giles said.

"You think that makes things alright?" Buffy said as she looked up at her Watcher. "Paige would never have been hurt if not for this stupid prophecy. Why did she have to get hurt?"

"I gave up long ago trying to answer such questions," Giles replied.

Suddenly there was a loud thud behind them and they turn to see a sixth vampire.

Buffy rose as she turned to face him. "He's big," she said giving the vampire a once over.

"You can beat him, Buffy. Just remember your training. Don't try anything fancy. Stick with the fundamentals," Giles instructed.

"Stay out of it, Giles. This is between me and him," Buffy said as she began to circle the vampire. "You're the reason my date got hurt.

Paige's eyelids begin to flutter as she comes to. "Buffy …" Dawn started.

"By the time I'm done with you, you'll wish you were dead. Or, weren't dead. I mean—" Buffy said as she leapt at the vampire. They crash 8into a table full or urns, which collapsed beneath them.

"Easy Paige," Dawn said as she held Paige to sit up. "You had pretty bad blow there."

Buffy managed to pin the vampire to the ground as she swung wildly. "Our first date—" she said as she hit him with a left hook. "—and I get Paige hurt!" She then hit him with a right hook and then slammed his head against the floor.

The vampire kicked Buffy off, sending her flying across the room as he got to his feet. He leapt at her as she rolled out of the way and flipped him, sending him crashing to the floor. He reached for her as she dove into a somersault and landed on the other side of him before kicking him in the ribs.

Before he can counter she flipped backward, vaulted vaults off the coffin behind her, and landed with the coffin between them.

"What's going on?" Paige asked as she looked at Buffy and the vampire.

"Let's just say that Buffy is taking her frustrations out on her date being hurt," Dawn replied.

"Date?" Paige said as she looked at Dawn. "Buffy and I …"

"Don't kid yourself, Paige," Dawn said. "Yes there is two obstacles to hurdle, first mom's permission, and secondly that Buffy is still a minor. But I see how Buffy looks at you; I see how you look at her. Don't tell me that last night and tonight was not a date, because it was."

The vampire lunged at Buffy and she hit him with the the coffin lid, smashing him in the face. He staggered backwards into the corner of the room. She cartwheeled over to him, which ended with a flip landing her facing the wrong way.

Buffy realized she was staring at the corner of the room as she turned to face the vampire.

"Oops," he said with maniacal laugh.

And then suddenly the vampire dusted to reveal Paige holding a stake.

"I'm sorry for getting you hurt," Buffy said.

Paige smiled. "It wouldn't be the first time, nor the last time I am sure."

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

The next day Paige orbed with Leo into the Summers family home and found Joyce sitting in the kitchen having a cup of coffee. "Good your still here," Paige said.

"Hello, Leo," Joyce said as she stood and hugged the man.

"Joyce," Leo said as he returned the embrace. "Paige, what is it that you wanted to talk to us both about together?"

"It's not an easy conversation. And while legally I am not really breaking any laws. I want your permission before it goes any farther," Paige said.

"What goes any farther?" Joyce wondered.

"Dating Buffy."

"Dating … Buffy …" Leo and Joyce said simultaneously.

"I know, I am ten years her senior," Paige said. "She's still in high school. And I know it could be just a crush on both of our parts. She is after all my charge, and I am after all her Whitelighter. But right now I definitely want to see where it goes. Especially with Phoebe's meddling."

"How has Phoebe been meddling?" Leo wondered.

"I don't know if she is forcing them or what. But since she got her premonition power back …"

"What?" Leo said surprised at this information.

"She didn't tell you and Piper?" Paige said surprised at Leo's reaction. "I thought she was going to do that after she had told me."

"No she didn't," Leo said. "So Phoebe has been getting premonitions, about you and Buffy?"

Paige nodded. "At first there was this cross I got for Buffy, she said she saw me giving it to Buffy. Then there was my jacket and finally the little celebratory outing. I think she may have seen more and is steering me to what she has seen. While I don't like her meddling any more than I did when she meddled when I was trying to end the feud between Richard's family and the Callahan's. I want to see where this path she has set me on leads."

"As Buffy's mother, I see the age difference and my first reaction is hell no," Joyce said. "But I remember my relationship with Leo and how we had been forbidden. I don't want that for Buffy. That said, I will allow you and Buffy to find out what this means. Is it a crush like you think or the beginnings of something more? I think both you and Buffy deserve the chance to be with someone who will make you happy. It doesn't hurt any that you both are the same, half-witch half-Whitelighter."

Paige smiled at Joyce and then looked toward Leo.

"I look at my age difference between myself and Joyce or myself and Piper," Leo said. "While physically I'm in my thirties, I'm over seventy years old. And I can't say no when it comes to the age difference." He looked to Joyce. "And really while I understand as Buffy's mother why that is your first reaction. You should also remember us and our age difference."

Joyce sighed. "You're right of course."

"That said, Paige," Leo said as he looked at his former charge and sister-in-law. "I myself have no problems seeing where this may go. And from what you are saying Phoebe may not either. But Piper could. Even though Buffy and Piper do not call each other step-mother and step-daughter, they still are. It might be a little weird for Piper to find her step-daughter is in love with her sister and vice versus."

"I know," Paige said. "I'm going to find a way to discuss this with her that will have her giving me her blessing."

"It should help," Joyce said. "That both Leo and I have approved of you finding out where these feelings are going."