As Luke descended on Buffy, he jumped up, screaming in pain. Buffy looked up to see Spike standing behind him with an empty Holy Water vial in his hand. Spike held out his hand, and Buffy grabbed it, hauling herself out of the coffin. She and Spike ran out of the mausoleum and ran through the cemetery, still holding hands.
They caught up with Willow, Xander and Jesse. Willow lay on the ground, about to be bitten by a vampire. Spike and Buffy reluctantly separated, each heading to a vampire. Buffy dusted the vampire on Willow and Spike got the one off of Xander.
"Are you ok?" Willow asked Xander.
"Man, something hit me." Xander said, holding a hand to his head.
"Where's Jesse?" Buffy asked.
The others looked around.
"I don't know! They surrounded us." Willow said.
"The girl grabbed him and took off." Xander told her.
"Which way?" Buffy asked.
"Slayer, they're long gone by now. We won't be able to find them tonight. We could get ambushed, pet." Spike said, running a hand through his hair.
Buffy looked at him for a moment.
"We need to talk." she told him.
"Don't I know it?" Spike answered.
After seeing that Xander got home safely, Spike walked Buffy and Willow to the house. Willow went in the front door, waving slightly at Buffy and Spike. Buffy motioned for Spike to follow her, and they climbed up into her window. Buffy went over and silently shutting the door.
Spike stood next to the window, the moonlight highlighting his platinum hair and cheekbones, making him seem angelic. Buffy shook her head at her straying thoughts and sat on the bed.
"So, how did you know I was the slayer?" Buffy asked.
"Well, pet," Spike started, coming over to sit next to Buffy. "I never told you my last name, did I?"
Buffy thought for a moment.
"No, come to think of it, you didn't. But it really didn't strike me as suspicious." she answered. Then her eyes widened. "You're British. Giles is British."
Spike nodded.
"William Giles, luv. Rupes is my dad. We moved here a few months ago when we heard about you. Dad is your Watcher. I guess you can say that I grew up knowing about vampires and demons or whatnot. Never thought I'd have a chance to meet the Slayer." he finished, smiling.
"Well, I guess it was just your lucky day then, huh?" Buffy asked, giving him a smile of her own.
"Very lucky." Spike answered quietly.
Spike leaned over and brushed his lips across Buffy's. Buffy leaned into the kiss, and parted her lips, allowing Spike to slip his tongue into her mouth. They kissed with a fiery passion, before breaking apart, panting for air. Spike still held Buffy against him.
"I should go." he said.
"Yeah." Buffy said, dazedly.
They started kissing again, until someone bursting into the room interrupted them. They sprang away from each other.
"Andrew!" Buffy yelled.
"You left me by myself. In a club! With people! Lots of people!" Andrew accused, pointing his finger as best as he could around the Hot Pocket.
"Go, Andrew!" Buffy said, exasperated.
"You have a boy in your room!" he yelled.
"Andrew!" Buffy hissed.
"Fine. But you owe me...something."
Andrew looked at Spike, and then slowly backed out the door. Buffy slammed the door shut and turned back to Spike.
"So, pet, you want to patrol with me tomorrow night. It's kinda lonely when you're by yourself." Spike said.
"You patrol?" Buffy asked, smiling.
Spike nodded, and started to climb out of the window, when Buffy caught him.
"You forgot something." she said, before capturing his lips in a kiss.
"Bye kitten." Spike whispered, and left.
Buffy watched him walk through the night, before shutting her window.
"I think I'm gonna like this town."
The next day, during their free period, Buffy, Spike, Xander and Willow sat in the library. Giles walked around slowly, a book in his hand, as he prepared to lecture them on vampires. Spike sat next to Buffy, his hand resting over hers under the table.
Giles spun the globe and made his way over to the table.
"This world is older than any of you know. Contrary to popular mythology, the world did not begin as a paradise. For untold eons demons walked the earth. They made it their home...their Hell. But in time they lost their purchase on this reality. The way was made for mortal animals...for man. All that remains of the Old Ones are vestiges, certain majicks, certain creatures..."
"And vampires." Buffy and Spike said simultaneously.
"Ok, this is where I have a problem." Xander said, leaning forward. "See, because we're talking about vampires. We're having a talk with vampires in it."
"Isn't that what we saw last night?" Willow asked.
"No. No, those were guys in desperate need of a facial. Or maybe they had rabies. And that guy turning into dust? Just a trick of light. That's what I said when I saw my first vampire. Well, when I was done with the screaming part." Buffy said.
"Oh, I-I need to sit down." Willow stuttered.
"Will, you are sitting down." Spike told her.
"Oh. Good for me."
"So vampires are demons?" Xander asked.
Giles picked up a book and flipped a page.
"The book tells of the last demon to leave this reality fed off of a human, mixed their blood. He became a human form, possessed, infected by the demon's soul."
"Then he bit another, and another, and so they walk the earth. Feeding, killing some, turning others. They wait for the animals to die out, so the Old Ones can return." Spike finished.
"So where do you fit in all this?" Xander asked.
"Rupes is my dad." Spike told him.
"Wow." Willow commented, leaning over to stare at Spike. "I never would've known."
"So you go around killing vampires too?" Xander asked.
"Yeah, I guess. Though I'm not as strong as Buffy."
"Wow." Willow stated again.
Luke and Darla dragged Jesse into the Master's lair.
"Move!" Luke roared.
Luke threw Jesse to the floor. The Master walked toward them.
"This is for me?" he asked.
"An offering Master." Luke said, bowing.
"He's a good one! His blood is pure!" Darla exclaimed.
"You've fed off of him!"
Darla looked at the ground in shame.
"I'm your faithful dog. You bring me scraps!"
"I-I didn't mean..." Darla stuttered.
"I have waited. For threescore years I have waited. While you come and go, I am stuck here...in this house of worship! My ascension is almost at hand. Pray that when it comes," he said, grabbing Darla by the throat, "I am in a better mood."
"Master, forgive me! We had more offerings, but there was a girl." Darla pouted.
"Yes there was a girl. She fought well and knew of our breed." Luke stated. "Is it possible that she is...?"
"A slayer."
"And what is that exactly?" Xander asked.
"For as long as there have been vampires, there has been the Slayer. One girl in all the world, the Chosen One." Giles started.
"He loves doing this part." Buffy said, rolling her eyes.
"Tell me about it. I had to hear this everyday." Spike told her, grinning.
"Alright, fine. The Slayer hunts vampires, Buffy is the Slayer, don't tell anyone. I think that's all the vampire information you need." Giles said.
"Except for one thing. How do you kill them?" Xander asked.
"You don't. I do." Buffy said.
"We do." Spike said.
"How come he gets to kill them?" Xander whined.
"Cause I know how." Spike said.
"Watcher's pet." Xander mumbled. "And besides, Jesse is my friend."
"He is my responsibility. I let him get taken." Buffy said.
"That's not true, luv." Spike told her.
"If you hadn't shown up, we would have gotten taken too." Xander said.
"Does anyone mind if I pass out now?" Willow asked.
"Willow, breathe." Buffy told her. "This big guy, Luke, he talked about an offering for the Master. Now, I don't know what or who, but if they weren't just feeding then Jesse may still be alive. I'm gonna find him."
"Uh, this may be a dumb question, but shouldn't we call the police?" Willow asked.
"And tell them what, exactly?" Spike asked.
"Well, we don't have to say vampires. We could just say, bad men."
"They couldn't handle it if they did show up. They'd only come with guns." Buffy said.
"You have no idea where they took Jesse?" Giles asked.
"I looked around, but as soon as I got clear of the graveyard, they were just...vroom!"
"They can fly?" Xander asked, incredulously.
"They can drive." Spike answered.
"Oh."
"I don't remember hearing a car." Willow said.
"Let's take an enormous intuitive leap shall we? Let's say they went underground." Giles said.
"Vampires really love sewer systems. They can go anywhere without worrying about the sun. But I didn't see any access around there." Buffy said.
"Well, there's an electrical tunnel that runs under the whole under the town." Xander said.
"If we had a diagnostic of the tunnel system it might indicate a meeting place. I suppose we could go to the building commission." Giles told them.
"We so don't have time for that." Buffy said.
"Uh, guys? There may be another way." Willow said.
"A Slayer?" the Master said, grinning. "Have you any proof?"
"Only that she fought me and lives." Luke stated.
"Hmm. Very nearly proof enough. I can't remember the last time that happened."
Luke sighed.
"1843, Madrid. He caught me sleeping."
"She mustn't be allowed to interfere with the Harvest!" the Master yelled.
"I would never let that happen." Luke vowed.
"Don't worry about it. I'm sure she'll come to us. We have something that she wants." the Master said, looking at Jesse. "If she is the Slayer, and this boy lives, she'll try to save him.
Luke walked over to Jesse and hauled him up.
"Congratulations, boy. You've been upgraded. To bait."