Part 4
AU Magic Box
11:10 am
"You're who now," Buffy asked again.
"I'm Laney…the Vampire Slayer. She who fights in cemeteries against the creatures of the night," the slayer said.
"But what about the slayers before you…Kendra and Faith," Buffy requested.
Jesse flinched at the mention of the name Faith.
"Kendra," Jesse said. "Was one tough as nails slayer. She was sent her at the beginning of our junior year to take your place to protect the Hellmouth. Took Wes upwards to three weeks to send her down Monster Island. She arrived at night and she tried to kill Angel. Almost did it too, but we caught her before she managed to stake him."
"She almost killed him," Buffy questioned.
"Sort of. After you died, he felt responsible for not helping you out sooner. If someone had been there to give him the kick in the butt he needed, you would still be alive," Amy said. "When Kendra came to town he was ready to let her stake him. But eventually he helped us out of a lot of scrapes."
"Is he still in Sunnydale?"
"Yeah. Never had a reason to leave," Willow said.
"When did Kendra die," Buffy asked softly.
"She was killed by some mutant fish," Jesse sadly. "I tried to help her, but the swim coach knocked me out. When I came to they had already devoured her. I still feel it was my fault."
"But it wasn't Jesse," Wesley said. "We assured you it wasn't. You gave it your best and you've come a long way since then."
"Didn't help Faith though," Jesse said sadly.
"Yes it did," Laney said sternly. "You saved them all the night of the apocalypse."
"He did," Buffy questioned.
"It was nothing," Jesse said. "Anyone would have done it in my place."
"Wait a minute," Buffy said. "Which apocalypse, what are you talking about?"
"In January of our senior year," Jesse began. "There were these sisters trying to open the Hellmouth."
"The Sisterhood of Jhe?"
"Yeah…anyway that night these zombie guys were trying to blow up the school. I managed to stop them before the blew up the school and ending the world in the process."
"Oh my God," Buffy said. "If that happened here then how could that have not happened in my…"
Lorie appeared behind Wesley and snaps her fingers, freezing everyone in place.
"Xander was the one who stopped them. I have to tell you that moment belongs in his top five moments of bravery."
"But Xander was safe at home. He told us," Buffy said.
"He lied. He didn't want you all to know he was there that night. He was hurt enough all of you have been shutting him out of everything the past few days before."
"Why didn't he tell us anything," Buffy said.
"That's not his style," Lorie said. "He's more of the quiet hero, but you wouldn't know that would you."
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
"It means you still don't know half of what Xander has done for you. You are too blind in your selfish little world to realize it. I'd say he'd be better off without you, but in that world he is a vampire. Although he does look good in leather pants."
Buffy glared at the angel.
"Are we done here yet?"
"Not yet…time to learn a few more lessons before you return."
Lorie snapped her finger and disappeared. Everything went back to normal.
"Talking about that night still hurts," Jesse said wiping a tear from his eye. "Excuse me."
Jesse got up and left the store.
"What's the matter with him," Buffy asked. "What else happened that night?"
"She and Jesse were somewhat of an item that year. The night that happened was the first night they…consummated the relationship," Wesley said.
"It wasn't long after Faith died at Graduation," Amy said. "They were so happy together."
"What happened the night of Graduation?"
Wesley took off his glasses and wiped his eyes. Buffy had never known Wesley to be so emotional.
"She didn't make it out of the library in time," Wesley said sadly. "We had the explosives set in the library to destroy the Mayor in his demon form. She lured him there, but she wasn't fast enough. The mayor ate her…then I had to set off the explosives…we couldn't even find the body."
Wesley got up and went to his office.
"Faith was one of his favorite slayers," Willow said. "He always said she had promise."
"Now I'm the world's hope," Laney said. "I was called and I came here. Been here since."
The ringing from the store caused the group to turn to the front.
"Hey sis," Dawn said. "Been looking everywhere for you."
"Dawn," Buffy said.
"Okay, who's the blond with the dye job and how does she know my name," Dawn asked.
"That's Buffy. She used to be a slayer before she died," Laney said.
"How can she be here if she died," Dawn said. "I may not be that smart, but I'm smart enough to know if your dead you stay that way unless you're a zombie or vampire."
"Same old Dawn," Buffy mumbled.
"And how do you know me," Dawn asked.
"That's a long story," Buffy said while laughing nervously.
"We filled you in," Willow said. "Care to fill us in."
Buffy takes a deep breath. "Maybe you should all sit down…this is a long story."
Sunnydale Mall
December 24, 2001
4:45 pm
Dawn and her friend Lisa are walking through a department store.
"So did you get your sister a gift," Lisa asked.
"Why," Dawn replied. "She hasn't gotten me anything. I don't even think she cares anymore."
"Your sister seems to be a bit unemotional for a few months now. What's up with that?"
"Wish I knew."
"Maybe it's all the stress she has been under this year," Lisa said. "With your mom dying, being forced to grow up and take care of you must be getting to her."
"Yeah," Dawn said softly. "That must be it."
Dawn looks at some necklaces spread out on a counter while Lisa is looking at dresses.
Dawn thought to herself.
She glances toward the security guard who is talking to the owner, and then Lisa who is checking herself out in the mirror with a dress over her clothes. Dawn quickly grabs a necklace and puts it the back pocket of her pants.
"Love the dress, hate the price," Lisa said. "Find anything?"
"Uh…no. Let's go."
As Dawn and Lisa walk out the door a hand grabs Dawn's shoulder.
Magic Box
5:00 pm
"Can we go," Xander said. "Parking is going to be murder this late…we need to get Dawn."
"Why can't Buffy do it," Anya said as she was stocking some shelves.
"Because she is still AWOL," Xander said.
The phone begins to ring.
"Xander, grab that. I need to take these to the basement," Anya said pointing to some small boxes.
"Happy Holidays from the Magic Box, How can I help you," Xander answered.
(I'm trying to reach a Miss Summers, ) a voice said.
"She's not here right now," Xander said.
(This is Officer Williams at Sunnydale Mall…I need to speak with her or a guardian. This is in reference to Dawn Summers.)
Xander cupped the mouth piece and swore.
"Uh…this is Miss Summers' fiancé. What's the problem," Xander asked.
Anya had gotten from out of the basement to hear the end. Xander put his hand to shush Anya before she could whine.
(We caught Dawn shoplifting in one of the department stores. We need someone post bail.)
Xander sighed.
"I'll be there in 10 minutes," Xander said.
He hung up the phone.
"What's going on Xander," Anya said. "When did you and Buffy get engaged?"
"Since Dawn got arrested and I have to pretend to be a guardian and bail her out of jail."
Xander left the magic shop and slammed the door.
"Dawn had better be the reason you slammed that door mister!"
AU Magic Box
5:00 pm
Buffy has just finished explaining what happened with her and why she was here.
"So…when do you get to leave," Willow said. "Not that I don't want you here, you should be back in your world."
"As soon as I learn my lesson I guess," Buffy answered.
"Have you," Wesley asked.
"I don't know," Buffy said. "I'm starting to see how important Xander is but…"
The Magic Box door swung open and there stood Angel, beaten to a pulp.
"Angel," Buffy said rushing to his side.
"Buffy? How this possible," the vampire asked.
"Long story. What happened?"
"Spike and Drusilla are back in town."
End Part 4
AU Magic Box
11:10 am
"You're who now," Buffy asked again.
"I'm Laney…the Vampire Slayer. She who fights in cemeteries against the creatures of the night," the slayer said.
"But what about the slayers before you…Kendra and Faith," Buffy requested.
Jesse flinched at the mention of the name Faith.
"Kendra," Jesse said. "Was one tough as nails slayer. She was sent her at the beginning of our junior year to take your place to protect the Hellmouth. Took Wes upwards to three weeks to send her down Monster Island. She arrived at night and she tried to kill Angel. Almost did it too, but we caught her before she managed to stake him."
"She almost killed him," Buffy questioned.
"Sort of. After you died, he felt responsible for not helping you out sooner. If someone had been there to give him the kick in the butt he needed, you would still be alive," Amy said. "When Kendra came to town he was ready to let her stake him. But eventually he helped us out of a lot of scrapes."
"Is he still in Sunnydale?"
"Yeah. Never had a reason to leave," Willow said.
"When did Kendra die," Buffy asked softly.
"She was killed by some mutant fish," Jesse sadly. "I tried to help her, but the swim coach knocked me out. When I came to they had already devoured her. I still feel it was my fault."
"But it wasn't Jesse," Wesley said. "We assured you it wasn't. You gave it your best and you've come a long way since then."
"Didn't help Faith though," Jesse said sadly.
"Yes it did," Laney said sternly. "You saved them all the night of the apocalypse."
"He did," Buffy questioned.
"It was nothing," Jesse said. "Anyone would have done it in my place."
"Wait a minute," Buffy said. "Which apocalypse, what are you talking about?"
"In January of our senior year," Jesse began. "There were these sisters trying to open the Hellmouth."
"The Sisterhood of Jhe?"
"Yeah…anyway that night these zombie guys were trying to blow up the school. I managed to stop them before the blew up the school and ending the world in the process."
"Oh my God," Buffy said. "If that happened here then how could that have not happened in my…"
Lorie appeared behind Wesley and snaps her fingers, freezing everyone in place.
"Xander was the one who stopped them. I have to tell you that moment belongs in his top five moments of bravery."
"But Xander was safe at home. He told us," Buffy said.
"He lied. He didn't want you all to know he was there that night. He was hurt enough all of you have been shutting him out of everything the past few days before."
"Why didn't he tell us anything," Buffy said.
"That's not his style," Lorie said. "He's more of the quiet hero, but you wouldn't know that would you."
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
"It means you still don't know half of what Xander has done for you. You are too blind in your selfish little world to realize it. I'd say he'd be better off without you, but in that world he is a vampire. Although he does look good in leather pants."
Buffy glared at the angel.
"Are we done here yet?"
"Not yet…time to learn a few more lessons before you return."
Lorie snapped her finger and disappeared. Everything went back to normal.
"Talking about that night still hurts," Jesse said wiping a tear from his eye. "Excuse me."
Jesse got up and left the store.
"What's the matter with him," Buffy asked. "What else happened that night?"
"She and Jesse were somewhat of an item that year. The night that happened was the first night they…consummated the relationship," Wesley said.
"It wasn't long after Faith died at Graduation," Amy said. "They were so happy together."
"What happened the night of Graduation?"
Wesley took off his glasses and wiped his eyes. Buffy had never known Wesley to be so emotional.
"She didn't make it out of the library in time," Wesley said sadly. "We had the explosives set in the library to destroy the Mayor in his demon form. She lured him there, but she wasn't fast enough. The mayor ate her…then I had to set off the explosives…we couldn't even find the body."
Wesley got up and went to his office.
"Faith was one of his favorite slayers," Willow said. "He always said she had promise."
"Now I'm the world's hope," Laney said. "I was called and I came here. Been here since."
The ringing from the store caused the group to turn to the front.
"Hey sis," Dawn said. "Been looking everywhere for you."
"Dawn," Buffy said.
"Okay, who's the blond with the dye job and how does she know my name," Dawn asked.
"That's Buffy. She used to be a slayer before she died," Laney said.
"How can she be here if she died," Dawn said. "I may not be that smart, but I'm smart enough to know if your dead you stay that way unless you're a zombie or vampire."
"Same old Dawn," Buffy mumbled.
"And how do you know me," Dawn asked.
"That's a long story," Buffy said while laughing nervously.
"We filled you in," Willow said. "Care to fill us in."
Buffy takes a deep breath. "Maybe you should all sit down…this is a long story."
Sunnydale Mall
December 24, 2001
4:45 pm
Dawn and her friend Lisa are walking through a department store.
"So did you get your sister a gift," Lisa asked.
"Why," Dawn replied. "She hasn't gotten me anything. I don't even think she cares anymore."
"Your sister seems to be a bit unemotional for a few months now. What's up with that?"
"Wish I knew."
"Maybe it's all the stress she has been under this year," Lisa said. "With your mom dying, being forced to grow up and take care of you must be getting to her."
"Yeah," Dawn said softly. "That must be it."
Dawn looks at some necklaces spread out on a counter while Lisa is looking at dresses.
Dawn thought to herself.
She glances toward the security guard who is talking to the owner, and then Lisa who is checking herself out in the mirror with a dress over her clothes. Dawn quickly grabs a necklace and puts it the back pocket of her pants.
"Love the dress, hate the price," Lisa said. "Find anything?"
"Uh…no. Let's go."
As Dawn and Lisa walk out the door a hand grabs Dawn's shoulder.
Magic Box
5:00 pm
"Can we go," Xander said. "Parking is going to be murder this late…we need to get Dawn."
"Why can't Buffy do it," Anya said as she was stocking some shelves.
"Because she is still AWOL," Xander said.
The phone begins to ring.
"Xander, grab that. I need to take these to the basement," Anya said pointing to some small boxes.
"Happy Holidays from the Magic Box, How can I help you," Xander answered.
(I'm trying to reach a Miss Summers, ) a voice said.
"She's not here right now," Xander said.
(This is Officer Williams at Sunnydale Mall…I need to speak with her or a guardian. This is in reference to Dawn Summers.)
Xander cupped the mouth piece and swore.
"Uh…this is Miss Summers' fiancé. What's the problem," Xander asked.
Anya had gotten from out of the basement to hear the end. Xander put his hand to shush Anya before she could whine.
(We caught Dawn shoplifting in one of the department stores. We need someone post bail.)
Xander sighed.
"I'll be there in 10 minutes," Xander said.
He hung up the phone.
"What's going on Xander," Anya said. "When did you and Buffy get engaged?"
"Since Dawn got arrested and I have to pretend to be a guardian and bail her out of jail."
Xander left the magic shop and slammed the door.
"Dawn had better be the reason you slammed that door mister!"
AU Magic Box
5:00 pm
Buffy has just finished explaining what happened with her and why she was here.
"So…when do you get to leave," Willow said. "Not that I don't want you here, you should be back in your world."
"As soon as I learn my lesson I guess," Buffy answered.
"Have you," Wesley asked.
"I don't know," Buffy said. "I'm starting to see how important Xander is but…"
The Magic Box door swung open and there stood Angel, beaten to a pulp.
"Angel," Buffy said rushing to his side.
"Buffy? How this possible," the vampire asked.
"Long story. What happened?"
"Spike and Drusilla are back in town."
End Part 4
