"So, you're going to a club tonight?" Xander's voice was slightly muffled through the phone receiver.

"Probably more than one, knowing Kym," Buffy replied.

"And you knew this Kym from school?" Xander asked. "I thought you didn't talk to any of your old friends anymore."

Leave it to Xander to be blunt. "Well, Kym moved before the whole Slayer thing happened. So she doesn't know I was the one responsible for burning down the gym."

"How lucky for you, you cute little pyro you." Buffy could hear Willow making gagging noises in the background and couldn't help but smile. At first, she had been worried that Willow was going to hate her. Buffy had known Willow liked Xander, but she couldn't deny her own attraction. Buffy could remember parts of her dream and she knew Willow would get over it. She would be happy. Willow had surprised both Buffy and Xander by being happy for them. They could tell her heart was breaking, but she was happy for them in the end. Isn't that what a true friend does? Deal with the pain in private while wanting to be happy for your friends. Buffy felt horrible, but she had to make that choice. She knew she was destined to be with Xander.

"Let me talk to Wills," she commanded.

"What? I'm no longer good enough for you?" Xander feigned surprise.

"No. I'm sorry, Xander, there's something I need to tell you," Buffy paused. "I've decided to come out of the closet."

Xander was silent for a moment. "You're joking, right. Because if you're not then maybe you, me, and Wills…"

"Xander!" Buffy interrupted. "If you're getting ready to suggest a threesome, you'd better stoop right there or else I'm gonna have to hurt you."

"I was going to suggest we hit the gay bars to find you a lady friend, but now that you mentioned it…" Xander laughed. "Geez Buffy, you're such a pervert!"

"Xand," Buffy growled.

"Now, now, Buffy," Xander said. "You know you're still my girl."

"That's better," Buffy said with a smile. "Now put Willow on the phone."

The Slayer could hear her boyfriend grumbling as he handed the phone over to their friend. The redhead got on the phone. "Hey Buffy," she said with a laugh.

"Did he just call me a hussy?" Buffy asked, shocked.

"Something like that," Willow admitted. "Oh! But don't worry, I'm sure he didn't mean it."

Buffy giggled. "Relax Will, I know he wasn't being serious."

"Oh," Willow said. Changing the subject, she continued, "So, you're going out tonight?"

"Yeah, I ran into an old friend at the mall and we decided to hit the clubs tonight," Buffy explained.

"Sounds like fun," Willow sighed, wistfully.

"I hope so," Buffy told her. "I just wanna have a good time so maybe I won't miss you guys so much."

"Is it bad?" Willow asked.

Buffy understood the question. "It's worse sometimes than other times. Will, it's like I'm missing a big part of myself. I didn't know I could hurt this bad. It hasn't even been that long."

"Well, it'll get better."

"Will it really?" Buffy hoped so. "How is he?"

"Same as you," she replied. Then she dropped her voice to a whisper. "Buffy, he's lost without you. He sits around and acts all depressed and stuff. Frankly, I'm worried."

"I wouldn't worry, Will, I'm sure he'll be fine," Buffy said, trying to convince herself. "We just have to adjust. We've survived the past three weeks. We can get through the next few."

"How long before you come home?" Willow asked her friend.

"Six weeks, two days, five hours," Buffy rattled off. "But who's counting?"

"Yeah, who's counting?" Willow mimicked. "Oh, Giles wants to talk to you."

"Hello, Buffy?" Giles' voice came over the line.

"Giles," Buffy said. "What are you doing at my house?"

"Er, I thought I might joint your mother for a cup of…" Giles began before losing his train of thought. "Oh forget it! I knew you'd be calling tonight and I wanted to talk to you."

Buffy could hear the muffled cough in the background that sounded vaguely like Xander saying "Liar." "Aw, Giles, do you miss me?" she teased.

"Have you been keeping up with your training?"

Buffy groaned. "Once a Watcher, always a watcher," she muttered.

"Buffy, must I remind you that it is your sacred duty…"

"Giles," Buffy interrupted. "I know. I plan to start training again tomorrow. Or the next day. It's not like I have anyone to train with though. It's kinda boring by myself."

"I know it must be tough for you," Giles said as Buffy rolled her eyes. "You must realize that your training is essential and taking a vacation…"

"I did not 'take a vacation,'" Buffy said through gritted teeth. "I got shipped off. It's not like I want to be here. I miss my dad, but he's never here. So why couldn't I just stay in Sunnydale?"

"Buffy, I just meant," Giles tried again.

"I know," Buffy apologized. "I'm sorry, Giles, but it's been a rough week. I promise I'll train tomorrow." She sighed. "Happy?"

"Ecstatic," Giles dryly replied.

"Good," Buffy commented. "Now put Xander back on the phone."

There was a few moments of silence before Xander's familiar voice sounded in Buffy's ear, "Pushy, pushy."

"Tell Giles I'm sorry for snapping at him, okay?" Buffy told her boyfriend.

"I can do that," he replied. "Anything else, my fair Buffy?"

"I just wanted to tell you that I miss you," the blond replied.

"I miss you, too." Xander told her. "And Buffy?"

"Yeah Xand?"

"Leave the boys at the clubs."



*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*



Buffy frowned as she made her way along the sidewalks towards Kym's place. Buffy shivered involuntarily as she passed the cemetery. she thought as she remembered that first night with Merrick. Somehow, she had ended up at the cemetery after cheerleading practice with this crazy old man. He had told her to sit next to a grave and wait.

Buffy would never forget his name. Robert was the first vampire Buffy had ever seen. He rose and Merrick tried to stake him, but his efforts failed. Buffy could still hear Merrick's voice calling to her that night.

Buffy had wanted to help him, but another vampire had grabbed her from behind. Buffy struggled against the female vamp while Merrick fought with Robert. Robert had the upper hand and was leaning in for a taste when Buffy shoved the stake into his unbeating heart from behind. Merrick had tossed her a stake and she quickly turned and dusted the female. One, two. Just like that.

That night led to many more with Merrick. They trained together and he taught her a lot. He had seemed a bit stuffy at first, a lot like Giles, but had lightened up a lot. At least, he was lightening up right before he…

Buffy wiped the tears from her eyes as she continued down the road. It still hurt to think of Merrick. He may have died, but it wasn't until after she had grown to care for him. After Merrick was murdered, Buffy promised herself that she would never allow herself to grow close to another person. It simply hurt too much. Being involved with a Slayer was too risky. A day didn't go by that Buffy didn't fear for the lives of her friends and family, but she was too weak to push them away. She needed companionship too much. She wouldn't, make that couldn't, give up the people that meant the most to her.

Lost in thought, Buffy almost didn't hear the twig that snapped a few feet behind her. She tensed up as her Slayer senses kicked into full gear. She could sense someone following her but could not tell if it was human or other. Buffy knelt down, as if to tying her shoe. Instead, she grabbed the stake she always had nestled inside her purse.

Buffy didn't have to wait long. She could hear the figure draw closer, its footsteps barely above a whisper. When it was right behind her, Buffy sprung up and swung around, launching a vicious backhand.

Startled, the vampire slipped into his demon visage. Buffy kicked out with her right foot and slammed it into the creature's chest, knocking him backwards. The vampire snarled in anger and charged, tackling her and sending her stake flying.

"Great! Football player," Buffy grumbled. She used her feet to push the demon off of her with ease despite his two hundred plus pounds. He flew back and Buffy used her own momentum to flip back to her feet.

The Slayer glanced around for her stake. She saw it lying a few feet away, right inside the entrance to the graveyard. She scanned the surrounding area. There were a few trees, but they were either too far away or they had no branches close to the ground.

Buffy ran at the vamp and faked left before running to the right. He predicted her maneuver and intercepted her with a right hook, followed by an uppercut that knocked her head back and caused her teeth to rattle.

"You're not going anywhere," the monster growled. He flashed a cruel grin.

"Wanna bet?" the blond retorted. She kicked high and her boot connected with his jaw. Before she could bring her leg down, the vampire grabbed her heel and flipped her over backwards. Buffy landed in a crouched position. Thinking quick, she did a back handspring, pushing off a headstone for extra momentum. Turning, she proceeded to do a cartwheel over her stake, grabbing a hold of it as her hand touched the smooth wood. Once upright again, she twisted and flung the wooden stake at her target. It almost whistled as it soared through the air and struck the demon in the center of its heart. With a scream, the creature dissolved into nothing more than a pile of ash.

"Woo-hoo!" Buffy cried. "Touchdown! Score now is Slayer, six; Vamps, zero, zilch, na…da," Buffy's voice faded as she turned full circle, noticing the advancing figures. There were at least ten, if not more.

One vampire drew closer, apparently the leader of the group. "Slayer," he hissed. "We knew you'd be back. Welcome home."