Streets are dead, Angel thought as walked out of the park. Where the Hell is everyone? Angel looked down the street toward the 'downtown' area of Sunnydale. There were few cars about, but almost no people. Frowning, the vampire thought about why the streets weren't filled with teenagers walking back and forth in search of something to do on a Friday night. The Bronze, it came to him finally. Supposed to have some big band tonight. Starting down the street with a smile, Angel hummed softly to himself. When the food won't come to you, you go to the food.

Keeping away from the streetlights, leather-clad vampire headed toward the only 'cool place' to hang out in Sunnydale. He had kept himself scarce in the area for the past week, preferring to hunt in less open spaces like the park. He'd never admit it anyone, but his run in with the bokor the week before still had him slightly upset. Zombies, he thought in disgust. Vampires had a natural dislike for the raised dead, or any competition in general. They were used to being at the top of the food chain no matter where they were. The fact that zombies would eat humans and vampires was disconcerting to the demons that resided inside the bodies of the dead. Added to that was the fact that vampires could not feed of zombies, and that zombies were controlled by humans, then the seeds were laid for a battle of dominance between the two.

Spike had practically jumped out of his wheelchair when he heard that Sunnydale was now the home of a bokor. "It looks like we have a fight on our hands, don't it Angelus?" His entire demeanor had been mocking as he had watched his sire pace back and forth in front of him. "What are we going to do about?"

"'We' aren't going to do anything! I am!" Angel had growled at the crippled vampire. "What are you going to do? Get them to line up in a straight line and then run them over?"

Spike had ignored the insult, and frowned at him. "Well if you weren't so busy tipy-toeing around the Slayer, you might have noticed that we don't exactly have the numbers to fight this kind of thing." He waved his hands around at the handful of vampires in the room with them.

Angel had smirked down at the blond-haired vampire. "That can be easily fixed." Snapping his fingers to get everyone's attention, he walked into the center of the room. "Ok now listen up! We got competition for this little town and we need a new battle plan if we plan to kick their ass." As the vampires in the room gathered around him he went on in a quieter voice. "So as of now, fun and games are over. No more feeding and running. Starting tonight, we're recruiting! Anyone you feed off gets turned. No leaving them behind. Bring them here. Stay away from the usual hunting grounds if possible. If you see any zombies, don't attack! Stay away from the Slayer. By this time next week, I want thirty vampires standing in front of me! Now get to work!" he shouted when the vampires around him didn't do anything. As they scattered, he turned back toward Spike. " That should fix that problem," Angel said with a grin. Spike had snorted and wheeled himself off into his room.

Now, as the date approached for him to put his plan in motion, Angel stalked towards the Bronze, looking for one last catch. About halfway to the small club, he saw a teenage boy looking in to an ally. He seemed to be talking to someone, trying to get them to come out. "This looks promising," Angel murmured with a smile. "Two for the price of one." As he got closer to the opening of the lane-way, the boy started walking in, still talking to who ever was in there. Reaching the ally, he peered in and saw the boy talking to girl. More like a woman, he thought as he crept farther into the ally. She was taller then the boy, brown skinned, long black hair. Now that's looks good.

The woman was smiling at the boy, drawing him farther and farther into the ally. The boy, who Angel thought couldn't be more then 16, seemed hesitant as he walked toward the woman. She kept her eyes on him, drawing him in as she walked backwards, slowly calling him toward her. Accent, the vampire noticed as he moved forward. Sounds slightly french.

"Come on little one," the woman said as she reached a dumpster. "I have something for you."

The boy looked at her, an eager smile spreading across his face as he stepped closer to her. "I'm not so little," he said, his voice trembling slightly.

"Really?" she said as she opened her coat and leaned back against the dumpster. "I think I may need you to prove that." She smiled seductively, and ran a finger along the fabric that covered her breasts.

Angel watched the boy stare at the woman. Oh yeah, the vampire thought as he looked on. She's perfect. The boy was breathing heavy as he reached the woman. She leaned forward into him, and wrapped an arm around him a pulled him into a kiss. The teenager put both hands on the dumpster and pushed forward, practically crushing their bodies together. He's an eager little bastard, Angel thought with a smile. I almost feel bad to have to break this up. As he readied himself to attack, the woman pulled back, a smile playing briefly on her lips. "I want to give you something," Angel heard her whisper to the boy.

The teenager flashed another smile as he took another look at the woman's body. "You can give me whatever you want to, baby"

"Oh, just what I wanted to hear." The woman ran her fingers across the boys' face, while her other hand went toward a zippered pocket. "Now I want you to open your mouth and closer your eyes. I'm going to give you a big surprise!" The boy did as asked, his smile widening as he heard a zipper being opened. Angel watched as the woman withdrew something small from the pocket and placed it in the boy's mouth. As soon as the object touched his tongue, the boy's eyes snapped open and he began to gag. The woman grabbed the teenager and threw him against a wall, forcing his mouth shut with both hands. After a few minutes of thrashing about, the boy's eyes rolled back into his head and he slid to the ground. "Well that was messy," the woman said with some disgust as she wiped some of the boy's saliva off her hand with the edge of the boy's letterman coat.

"Well I for one thought it was a hell of a show," Angel said as he walked into the open. "That whole come-hither routine you did? Whoo-wee! I really believed that you were going to do it with the kid right there against the dumpster."

The woman watched as the vampire approached with an annoyed look on her face. "Glad I could entertain you," she snapped. "Just so I know before I kill you, who the hell are you?"

Angel gave the woman his best look of fear. "Oh no! You're going to kill me? Me? Just when I found a purpose to existence!" The vampire stopped and stared at her. "I don't think so." He said, his features shifting into his demon image. "No, I think the person that's going to die here won't be me. However, it'll only be temporary. You see, you're about to join the few, the proud, the undead!"

"Uh-huh, well as smooth as that recruiting line is," the woman said she moved away from the dumpster and toward the unconscious boy. "I have more important business to take care of. But if you're looking for someone to play with, I'm sure my companions would be more then willing."

Angel smelt them first, the putrid odor of decaying flesh came at him as the wind shifted. There were five of them, walking out of the darkness toward him. All were men. Some looked to have been dead no more then a few weeks. Others looked like their bones could barely support their sagging flesh. All walked toward him with a steady rhythm, staring at him with dead eyes. The vampire looked back at the woman, who was busy picking the boy up off the ground and throwing him over her shoulder. He noticed for the first time, the string of beads and bones she wore around her right arm. "Well since you seem to have friends waiting for you, I'll just go and fine someone else to play with." The vampire started backing away from the zombies coming toward him.

"No, stay! Play! My friends have worked all night, and disserve a chance to have fun with a real vampire." The woman began to walk away from Angel, seemingly unconcerned with the vampire she has left behind her. "Besides, they haven't eaten tonight." With that, she headed off deeper into the ally, leaving Angel to face the group of zombies.

As the zombies circled around him and the woman walked off into the darkness, Angel felt a twinge a fear. That was quickly pushed aside by his natural hatred of zombies, and he let a tight smile spread across his face. "What the Hell?" the vampire muttered as he moved to meet the first of the walking dead.

.----.----.

"So," Xander said casually to Buffy as they watched the band finish their last song. "You and Eddie are going to go patrol now, right?"

Buffy nodded. "That be the plan from the old folks! First we party, then we patrol!"

Xander gave the Slayer a look. "You didn't exactly party tonight like it was 1999, Buff. You ok with all this?" His tone was concerned.

"With what? Having some gun happy warlock tagging along with me? Or maybe you were referring to the fact that I was supposed to have the night off, which of course was changed when the 'dancing-Slayer' over there breezed into town." Buffy slumped in her seat. "I'm sorry Xander," she said wearily. "I know you've been getting along with Eddie, but I've had it up to here with everyone telling me how to do my job."

"No worries, Buff," Xander said with a sympathetic grin. "I can't say I can relate, but I could see where that would start to get old. Just take it easy on him," he said leaning in as if he were sharing a secret. "He'll be tired from all the dancing he's been doing."

Buffy looked up at her friend and laughed when she saw he was kidding. "Who is that girl anyway? I thought Harmony was the one who wanted to dance with him."

"Melissa.something. New girl. Friend of Cordy's." Xander shrugged. "You now have the entire dossier I've gathered on her so far. I'll keep you informed, though." Xander watched Buffy as she looked out on to the dance floor. Where Eddie just happened to be laughing his ass off with his new friend. "You wouldn't want to know all this because, oh I don't know, you're slightly jealous."

Buffy snorted. "As if! I barely know the guy, and from what I do know, he isn't exactly my type. Anyway, it's not like your secret info is all that informative!" she mumbled at the end.

"Not your type?" Xander laughed. "Let's look at your type, shall we? First there was Owan, or whom I kindly dubbed Danger Boy! Then there was he of the Goth freaks, Ford. Let us finish off our list with the one and only Angel. Mysterious past, brooding, likes the leather. Sure he was a vampire, but no one's perfect right?" Xander laughed again as he saw the sour look Buffy was giving him. "So tell me again how our new friend Eddie isn't your type."

"Point taken!" Buffy snapped.

"Look Buff, I'm just saying you've been in the dumps for awhile now." Xander touched his friend on the shoulder. "I just want the old Buffy back. Not the glumy-guss that now sits beside me. You gotta start having some fun again, is what I'm saying."

"So Eddie's the one you think I should be having 'fun' with?" Buffy teased. "Cause maybe you're right, he's good looking, we have a lot in common with the slaying."

"Hey now," Xander said slightly panicked. "Let's not take this fun thing too fast. I was thinking more of a nice game of Snakes and Ladders. Yes, slow fun. Fun without.being too fun! Start slowly! Some board games, maybe a bag of popcorn."

Before Xander could start to ramble on about the types of fun he had mind, Buffy laughed. "I was kidding Xander! Jeez, overact much?" Buffy's laughter faded and she smiled weakly. "I appreciate the thought Xand, but I'm fine. Really! I'm just not in the party-hearty mood tonight."

"You haven't been in the party-hearty mood since Angel." Xander stopped when he saw the pained look in Buffy's eyes. "Look Buffy, I'm sorry that your honey's turned into a fiend, but you can't keep locking yourself away from us. We miss ya Buff!" he said gently.

Buffy smiled at Xander's concern. "I know. I just need some more time," she said quietly, putting a reassuring hand over Xander's. "I'm ready, and I know it's going to happen sooner or later. I'll be back to being myself soon." Even to herself, Buffy's voice sounded less then sure.

"Sure Buff," the dark-haired boy said with a small smile. "Whatever you say." He gave her hand a gentle squeeze.

Their tender moment was broken up when Oz and Willow came bouncing back from the dance floor. Oz walked, Willow bounced. "Hey!" the hacker said with a grin as she and her boyfriend took their seats. "What's with the serious faces?"

Xander looked over at Buffy, who had here eyes elsewhere. " Why, Buffy and I were in the middle of a rather in-depth discussion on the advantages and disadvantages of globalization, and what the repercussions of such a process on our age group," he said with a straight face.

"Really?" Oz said, his voice serious but a hint of a smile on his lips. "Come to any conclusions?"

"Not really," Xander said in equally serious tones. "Though Buffy had some fascinating ideas on how to revitalize automotive industry by giving the consumers a larger selection of cup-holders."

Everyone was still laughing when Eddie and Melissa walked up to the table a few minutes later. "Hey, what's so funny?" the male Slayer asked.

The group turned to stare at the pair of newcomers, Oz with mild interest, Willow with overt interest, Xander with blatant interest, and Buffy with an almost hostile interest. "Nothing. Willow was just speaking in tongues again." Xander smiled as Willow stuck a tongue out at him. "She sounds remarkably like Mickey Mouse."

Eddie laughed softly as Melissa gave him a confused look. "Don't ask," he said quietly.

After being introduced to everyone, Melissa looked a Xander with interest. "You're Cordelia's boyfriend, right?

"Yeah," Xander answered, his smile fading slightly. "Some of the time."

"Ok," Melissa said, slightly put off by Xander's less then joyful tone. "Do you know where she is? She's my ride home."

Xander shrugged. "I haven't a clue. She's probably in the washroom again fixing her make up." His voice sounded slightly scornful.

Willow sent Buffy a worried look. What's going on between Cordy and Xander? Buffy thought as she watched Xander turn to look somewhere else. Is he feeling guilty because of what happened with Willow? Just then, Cordelia walked up to the table, her coat on and a bored look on her face. "Hi Cordy!" Buffy said in fake cheer. "We were just talking about you."

"You want a ride home?" Cordelia asked Xander, utterly ignoring Buffy's greeting.

"No, I'll walk." Xander answered. He barely looked at her as he said it.

Cordelia stared at her boyfriend for a moment, expressionless. "Whatever," she said finally and turned to Melissa. "If you want a lift, come on. I'm getting out of here."

"Ok." Melissa said and turned to face Eddie. "I had a good time tonight. Maybe we can get together again. Before you leave."

Eddie smiled uncomfortably. "Sure, that'd be nice. I should be around the school a few times. Maybe we could have lunch or something." A slight blush was creeping its way up the Necromancer's neck.

Melissa ignored the snickers coming from Xander and smiled. "That'll be nice." Casting a fast look at Buffy, she leaned in quickly and gave Eddie a kiss on the cheek. "Bye!" she said as she walked off behind Cordelia.

Eddie frowned as he watched the two girls walk off, confusion on his face. "Looks like someone likes you," Oz said diplomatically from beside Willow.

"I guess," Eddie said, frown still on his face. He turned to look at Buffy. "You ready to go to work?" he asked briskly.

Buffy looked up at her new partner in puzzlement. "Yeah, sure." What's with the sudden 'tude? the Slayer thought as she got up from her seat. Oz, Willow and Xander quickly followed suit and the five youths made their way out of the club. Gathering outside the Bronze, they stood around uncomfortably for a moment. "So Xander, you really gonna walk home?" Buffy said eventually.

Xander shrugged. "I guess. My house is only about twenty minutes from here."

"I don't like it." Eddie declared as he slipped into his coat. "This town ain't exactly Mayberry. Vampires and zombies, you odds of getting home without something taking a bite out of you, just got cut in half."

"I'll give you lift if you want," Oz said to Xander.

"I don't want to be a problem for you two," Xander said uncomfortably. "You guys might want to drive for awhile." He stopped talking when he realized what he was implying. "Not that you should drive for awhile. You should really go straight home and go to bed. Dangerous driving at night."

"It's not a problem," Oz said with a smile. "You don't live that far from Willow's. We'll drop you off first." The sometimes-werewolf looked over at his girlfriend and winked.

Willow seemed torn. Buffy realized that while she was worried about Xander's safety, she was uncomfortable with the thought of her, Oz and him alone. "Yeah, you really shouldn't walk home alone, Xander," she said carefully, her voice neutral.

Eddie, who had been watching impassively, snapped his fingers. "Good, it's settled. You guys give Xander a lift home. Come, lets go earn paychecks," he said to Buffy. He started to walk off down the laneway. "Later," he said without turning around.

The group watched the male Slayer walk off, slightly confused at his sudden coldness. "Well I guess I better go catch up to him," Buffy said. "You guys get home. Willow, I'll call you tomorrow. We need to talk about somethings." Noticing Xander's panicked look, Buffy waved and headed in the direction that Eddie had gone.

Xander, Oz and Willow watched until both Slayers had disappeared into the darkness. "We better get going," Oz said first.

Willow and Xander looked at each other and smiled nervously. "Yeah," the said at the same time. The three of them began to walk toward Oz's van.