Buffy the Vampire Slayer


Oz looked up in surprise at the clapping that came after he finished the song. He looked over the edge of the stage to see Buffy, Xander, and Willow watching him and his band. "You guys came to my rehearsal?" he asked in disbelief.

"Surprised?" Buffy asked.

"Very. What's going on?" he asked as he set down his guitar and jumped down to join them.

"We came to visit you," Willow explained.

"Visit me," Oz repeated, staring at them.

"Come on, don't act like we never did anything for you," Xander laughed.

"Okay, so you came to visit me... Not what do you really want?"

"Actually, I got an emergency call from Giles," Buffy spoke up.

"Really? What's happening?" Oz asked curiously.

"Well, apparently he and Wes..." Buffy began to explain.

"Whoa, hang on. When did Wes come back from the mother country?" Oz asked in confusion.

"I have no earthly idea. But if he did come back, then it must be for a pretty good reason," Buffy replied.

"You don't think..." Willow began.

Buffy stopped her. "I don't even want to think that there may be another Acsension-type threat on Sunnydale. It's got to be something else."

Oz nodded. "She's right."

"But aren't you bored, Buffy?" Xander asked. "I mean, all the summer long we've been bored out of our minds waiting for something big to happen."

"True, but it's just..." Buffy trailed off, touching the amulet hanging around her neck as she walked away.

"Buffy?" Xander asked.

Buffy didn't reply.

"You miss Faith," Willow brought up suddenly.

There was a deadly silence in the atmosphere.

Buffy turned and ran out of the Bronze.

Willow sighed heavily. "I knew something was wrong."

"Faith?" Oz asked. "She misses Faith?"

"Yeah, it's the slayer bonding syndrome," Xander joked. "She's lonely. She wants some one like her around so she won't feel so out of place."

Willow frowned. "I guess I'm not good enough for her anymore."

Oz didn't say anything.

Xander put his arm around her. "Wil, that's not true. Buffy just needs a little adjusting. It's a phase; it'll pass. Just wait and see."

"You're right, Xander," Willo realized.

"I'm always right. Now how about we go see what's up with Giles and Wes?" Xander asked as they headed for the door.

--

Cordelia frowned as she stepped into the house. "Angel?" she called out.

No answer.

"Where is he?" she asked herself, checking her watch.

--

"So now I'm home..." Spike proclaimed as he kicked down the door to the Hellmouth. "I've haven't been here for a long time." He looked around the room, then laughed. "Of course, it wasn't really that long ago compared to the rest of my life, but without Druscilla it feels like it's been forever."