July 21 1992

Sydney Australia:

Giles dodged the people who had crowded into Michael's lounge room and made his way down the hallway. It was a nicely furnished house. Carpet was a nice cream colour that matched the off white walls with white skirting boards. Paintings of tranquil scenes were hung from the walls, paintings that Catherine had probably picked out herself. Giles made his way down the hallway, peeking into various rooms before stopping when he heard talking coming from the end room. He walked quietly to the door and peeked inside.

"Mitch." Hope said quietly. "What do you want to do?"

Mitch shook his head. He was a lad of 12, with short dark hair that spiked up off his head. He was dressed in a nicely pressed suit, amazingly still looking as neat as it was when he first put it on.

"Mitch?" Hope asked again. She was only eight years old, and to have so much weight on her shoulders was something that he never wanted for her. She stood in front of her brother, her dark hair falling over her face as she looked down at him. He didn't bother to answer he, just lay still with his head leaning up against the rail of his bed.

"Hope."

The little girl looked up to see the Englishman standing in the doorway. "Mr Giles!" she cried happily, bounding towards him.

Giles bent down as she ran into his arms and hugged him tightly. He returned the affection, knowing that none of this innocence would last after her training started. "What are you two scoundrels up to?"

Hope let go of him and shrugged. "Nothin'."

"Nothing." He corrected, tapping her small nose with his index finger before turning to look at her brother who still sat unmoved at the side of the bed. "How about you Mitch?"

Mitch didn't even move to acknowledge the Englishman's presence. "Whatever." He got up and took off his jacket. "I'm going to get a drink."

"Mitch is mad at me." She explained, looking out the doorway after him.

Giles moved from his kneeling position to a full sitting position on the floor. "Really?"

Hope nodded sadly.

"Hope…" Giles started, looking into her big eyes. "When people hurt, they get mad."

"He doesn't look hurt." Hope turned and sat on the Englishmans lap.

"He is on the inside. Where you can't see."

Hope nodded. Giles didn't know if she fully comprehended. Can eight year olds comprehend death? It seemed stupid. Because if no fully functioning adult can, why should it be expected that an eight year old girl should.

"Will he get better?"

Giles nodded, kissing the top of her head in a fatherly fashion. "In time."

Hope didn't reply, just snuggled into his lap, just enjoying his company, needing someone to love and trust for the moment.

2002

USA

"Padoras Box?"

"Yep."

"I watched the movie once."

"Well, this has nothing to do with the film." Giles informed the slayerettes as he placed the large, leather bound book in the middle of the table. They all sat around it, in the middle of Giles living room, wondering what demon they must fight next. "This was a mystical box from Ancient Greek time."

"Obviously not mystical enough. Because…hello! It's real." Xander commented, looking at the painting of a woman, Pandora, that Giles had handed around.

"This box? Why on earth would vampires want it?" Willow asked.

"Well. That's simple. It will make it a lot easier to destroy mankind when this box is open." Giles informed, leaning against the kitchen bench. "This box contained all the calamities that would bring down mankind. Pandora, a human woman, the first woman by Greek myth, was the one who opened this box. Upon opening this box, everything from tidal waves to old age escaped. Hence everything we know as bad today came from this box."

"So if nothing's in it why do they want to open it so bad?" Hope asked.

"Ahh, but it's not empty. It has one thing left in it. Pandora closed the box just in time to keep it from escaping."

"What it is?" They all asked together.

Giles sighed and took off his glasses, looking around the room at the curious gazes that met his. "Hope. That's the only thing man has left."

"Hence it being the only thing left in the box." Buffy concluded.

Giles nodded. "Correct."

"But they already had the box. Why did the come back and trash the place?" Willow asked from her place on the couch.

"A key. Just as Hope suggested. The box can't be opened without a key."

"Haven't these vamps heard of a crowbar?"

"We're dealing with the mystic Xander. It takes a lot more than a crowbar to open a box like this."

"So where is this key? Because if it opens this box then I think we should find it before our undead friends do."

"That's what I was hoping you would be able to help us with Buffy. Who do we know in the underworld?" Giles asked, looking around his living room.

"Apart from Spike there's…" Xander started but stopped when Giles interrupted him.

"Exactly."

"Well, I suggest we pay our English friend a visit." Buffy said, getting up from the table and slamming the book shut. "Let's see what's going on via the undead grapevine."

"Are you sure this is safe?" Miranda asked, awkwardly trying to find her feet between the rocks that lined the cave floor. The walls rose above her at some horrid angle, claustrophobia creeping over her as she ducked her head, keeping a tight grip on the back of Declans jacket, who shone the light ahead, revealing more wet rocks.

"Of course this is safe."

Miranda nodded as she continued to creep through the cave, gripping the slimy walls with her free hand to steady herself as she kept sight of the light ahead. "So, what does this key look like?"

"Ahh…I don't know."

"Well do you know exactly where it is?"

"I thought we went through this before Miranda. Scott just told me he heard the vamps searching for a key to open some box of hell. Apparently it's around here."

Miranda sighed. "So we are looking for a key to open a box of hell that is somewhere in this cave?"

Declan stopped, turning abruptly to face Miranda, torch light streaming up on his face, stretching it into some incomprehensible mask. "Yes. Listen, you didn't have to come. If this is freakin' you out…?"

Miranda narrowed her eyes at Declan. "I'm not freaked out. Are you freaked out?"

Declan shook his head and pushed up his glasses. "No. Of course not."

"I'm just confused as to why we are out here looking for a mystical key."

"Ah ha. Well, what if this key isn't so mystical? If this key really does exist, well, so does everything else."

"Everything else? Like Vampires?"

Declan nodded. "Right again."

"But Declan…" Miranda started as they made their way down the cave again. "Don't you think this could all be a trick? I mean, if we do find a key, how on earth would we know that it is the key to this box that isn't even real?"

"Well, we won't know until we find it. Will we?"

"IF we find it that is." Miranda corrected. "You're really getting into this vampire stuff."

"You saw that guy turn to ash Miranda. I know for certain that wasn't a trick of light."

Declan and Miranda ducked under another overhanging before they jumped down into the second level, the torch light revealing nothing more than dirty walls and dank rocks. Both knew that it could go on forever.

Miranda sighed before she reached into her leather jacket and handed him a bottle. "Here."

Declan took it from her grasp, shining the torch light upon the bottle that was warm from her body. "Holy water?"

"Just in case."

Declan smiled. Miranda believed in him. She would go along with his crazy notions, even if they were so nuts as to believe in vampires. "Thanks Miranda. But you have it."

"Why?"

"Just in case."

Miranda tilted her head slightly and took the bottle from his grasp, placing it back in her jacket. "Thanks."

Declan smiled. "Now, lets go find this key."

"Spike. If this is the wrong you know you will be dust in an instant."

Buffy's threat echoed throughout the dark cave in which two of the six slayerettes had decided to venture down. The others had decided to check out the museum once again, and maybe stop of at The Bronze on the way, leaving Buffy and Giles to follow Spike on what could be a wild goose chase.

"I assure you this is the right way. Would I lead you astray?"

"Don't ask questions. Just walk." Buffy replied, pointing her torch forward so the light bounced off the approaching rock. "How do you know it's here anyway."

"I was down the pub. You know. Just mindin' my own beezwax when I heard these blokes chattin' about it."

"The key?"

"Yeah. Ruin mankind? Ring a bell?"

Buffy nodded. "Unfortunately it's the story of my life."

"Well, every vamp knows where the key to Pandoras box is. It's been here for centuries. Just that no one knew where the box was. Now it's like Christmas. The question is, who will get the key first."

"Hopefully us." Buffy answered, jumping down onto a bunch of rocks before shining to the torch around. "How much farther?"

Spike laughed, getting out a cigarette and lighting it. He sucked it in before slowly letting the smoke filter out his nose. He sighed with pleasure. "Not far now sweet."

Buffy and Giles jumped ahead of him, walking deeper and deeper into the cave, the torchlight streaming out onto the mossy walls. He footsteps stopped when she heard chatter. Buffy hid the torchlight and crept closer, just up ahead there was a small gathering of people, smoking and laughing as they dug with their shovels into the those dirt on the bottom of the cave.

Buffy turned to her watcher, torchlight stilted against her body. "Looks like it's time for a party."

The only light was the dim glow of the lamp sitting in the corner, giving the room a nice seductive feel as Hope flicked the channels on the TV. Mute was a good button. You needn't hear the incessant waffling of advertisements or late night telemarketing programmes. But then again, the silence gave way to a whole new set of noises.

Hope sighed. This night had gone as slow as possible for her. She felt sleepy but couldn't be bothered making her way up the stairs to her bed, so here she lay, curled up on her side, watching the muted TV, waiting for sleep to creep up on her and take her for another night.

The door creaked open, causing Hope to pull herself back to the reality. She sat up slowly and looked towards the doorway. The wooden door was closed tight, just as it always was.

"Hope."

Hope jumped from the couch at the sound of the deep, accented voice. She turned quickly to see a man standing in front of her, numerous bags strewn around him as he looked at her with dark brown eyes, expecting something other than the short squeal of surprise Hope offered him. It took Hope a second before the dark eyes became recognisable. It had been so long since she had seen him, he had aged more than she could imagine. His dark hair was flicked with grey, cut short-back-and-sides, his tanned face had more lines than she had left him with, but his dark eyes remained the same, framed with think glasses similar to her own.

"Dad?" Hope's voice came out in a short croak. "You gave me a fright."

"It's nice to see you too." He replied sarcastically, holding his arms out towards her. "How's it goin' sweetheart."

Hope walked over and let his arms surround her body. "I'm pretty good. I didn't know you were coming. Does Giles know?"

Michael shook his head. "I wanted to surprise you."

"Well you certainly did that. Haven't you heard of knocking?"

"I did, but no one answered. The door was unlocked, so I decided to let myself in."

"Oh. Well, I must have fallen asleep." Hope explained, walking back over to the table where she took a seat.

"You look well."

"Thanks. Though I don't feel it."

"Beautiful in fact. Never thought I'd see the day." Michael tilted his head slightly and took her in. She had grown up a lot since he last saw her, her hair was longer, her eyes darker and more disturbed than before.

"You almost didn't. So take it in. We'll soon be calling you grandpa."

"I also wanted to talk to you in person."

"About what?" Hope narrowed her eyes.

"About you having a baby. About you not being able to tell me. About your responsibilities and…"

"Dad please." Hope started. "You flew ten thousand miles to ask me stuff that you could have done easily over the phone. Surely Telstra hasn't got that stingy with their overseas rates that you couldn't just call me."

"I thought it best if I talk to you in person. See if we can all have a civilised discussion about your predicament."

Hope raised her eyebrows. "Predicament?"

Michael nodded. "Well, this is a complicated situation."

"Only if you want it to be. I've made my position quite clear, especially to the council if that's what you're talkin' about."

"And do you know what the council thinks of this?"

Hope nodded. "Yes, I think a little upset would be an understatement, but I'm sure they'll get over it."

"The council does what it thinks is best."

"Like throwing me down a flight of stairs? Of course that was the best solution."

"Hope. I'm not defending them…"

"Well your not defending me either."

"Will you just hear me out?" Michael sighed, exasperated. He walked over to the table and sat down across from his daughter, looking at her sternly. "You didn't tell me anything. I had to hear it all from the council. Do you know how hard it is to hear that your only daughter is pregnant and that…"

"What? What dad? That she won't slay vampires for a couple of months?"

"You have a duty to the world."

"Don't give me the duty routine. It's to late to be talking about this."

"I just think this mess needs to be sorted."

"This isn't your mess to sort. It's mine." Hope replied angrily, slamming her fist down on the table, causing it to shake. "And I don't feel like talking about this now. I have talked about it before, so I don't feel like repeating it to you."

"Hope…"

Hope shook her head and got up from the table. "There's the lounge. Linen is in the cupboard. Surprise Giles when he gets in. Goodnight."

"It almost looks to cosy to breakup." Buffy commented, looking over at the group of vampires that sat in a circle fifty metres from where the slayer was positioned. "Do you think I should?"

Giles frowned at his slayer. "Buffy."

"Fine. I guess we should stop their little smoking circle." Buffy sighed handing Giles the torch. "You stay here. I'll distract the vamps and you get the key."

All three nodded as the slayer jumped from her hiding place and made her way towards the vamps. "Ok boys. Party's over. Time to pack up and go home!"

The group of vamps look up from their spot in the cave to se the small blonde girl jump towards them, stake in hand, smiling invitingly at them. They all stood up, putting out their cigarettes as their faces morphed into the soulless beings that they were. Wrinkled, cruel, and tough. They growled like wild animals, standing strong, feet planted widely apart in the dirt as they readied themselves for the fight.

"Well, come on boys. You're not just going to stand there are you?"

The vampires growled before they all pounced at once, diving towards the slayer in a wave of cold blooded terror. Buffy jumped high, somersaulted over them and landing sturdily on the ground, turning to see them fall on top of her pals.

Buffy sighed. "God. What do I have to do to get a job done around here?"

Three of her enemies rose and started towards the slayer, the other three staying behind and laying into the other two. Buffy kicked and punched the vamps down, all of which got straight back up before she did it again, this time they blocked and replied with their own attack, throwing the chosen one into the rocky earth beneath them. Winded, Buffy dodged more punches coming at her from above. She looked over to find her friends, occupied with the other three vamps that tried to make them snacks. Buffy blocked another punch before sending her foot up into the thorax of an unsuspecting vamp, sending him tumbling into the rock wall. Buffy flipped from the ground, again, preparing herself for another assault.

"Did you here that?" Declan asked Miranda, ducking under a rock before stopping suddenly. He held his finger to his lips and listened into the cave. A loud scuffle could be heard, along with voices which automatically made Declan curious. He shone the torchlight down the tunnel, searching for the source of the noise.

"What is it?" Miranda asked, seeing nothing but darkness.

Declan shook his head. "I don't know." he continued forward, Miranda following him quickly as they jumped over rocks and through tight squeezes till they came to found the cause of the disturbance. Covering the torch with his hand, Miranda and he slipped up against the cave wall, trying to camouflage themselves as they peered ahead. Torchlight lit the scene of a number of people scuffling with each other.

"It's that girl again."

"What girl?" Miranda asked.

"The girl from last night. The 'slayer' or somethin'?" Declan whispered back, taking in the scene.

"What are they doing here?"

"I don't know." Declan replied sarcastically. "Maybe you should go ask her?"

Miranda crinkled up her nose at her friends distasteful humour. "Don't be stupid Declan."

"Well, I don't know do I? Maybe…" he stopped when her voice called out to her friends who were tackling their own vamps on the opposite side of the cave.

"Someone! Grab the Key! Grab the key!" She squealed before being tossed up against the rock wall, ducking a punch that came flying her way before slamming her foot back into the torso of her attacker.

Declan raised his eyebrows as he turned to his assistant. "Well there you go. What do you think?"

"What do I think about what?"

"The Key?"

"What about it?"

"It's right over there." Declan nodded towards a wooden box sitting in the dirt about 50 metres from the fight.

"So?"

"So…lets go get it."

"And do what Declan? We don't have the box it opens."

Declan shrugged. "It's proof Miranda. You could do tests. See how old it really is. All that kind of junk that you do so well."

Miranda squirmed. "I dunno Declan…"

Declan cringed as he witnessed Giles get thrown up against the wall with a crunch, letting out a terrible groan before being slammed again by the vampire. The professor turned back to his dark haired assistant and smiled cheekily. "You're chicken."

"Am not." Miranda defended.

"Well then…lets go." Declan dropped his torch on the ground and grabbed his assistant, pulling her towards the place where the key lay. They kept themselves hidden behind boulders before making a dash for it, grabbing the box from the dust and making their way back the way they came.

Buffy slammed her vampire into the ground before staking him with one quick thrust. He mixed into the dirt covered floor before Buffy looked up to spy Declan and Miranda making their escape with they key in hand.

"Hey!" she called. Declan and Miranda turned for a split second, not knowing what to do. "Give that back!"

That was their cue to run. He quickly urged Miranda in front of him, grabbing his torch before jumping over numerous rocks, under overhangs, and disappearing into the darkness.

Buffy darted after them, but was stopped but a quick yell for help by her watcher, being knocked to the ground by one strong hit. She hesitated a second before turning to help her friends in trouble, pulling the vamps of him and slamming them into the dirt. She quickly looked out to the darkness where the two strangers had grabbed the one precious thing she had come here for.