Xander knocked on the Summer's door.
"Xander."
"Miss Summers. Is Faith here?"
"Yes. Come in."
Xander walked into the living room and fiddled with a picture of Buffy and Joyce. Faith walked in at that point.
"Hey Boytoy."
Xander smiled. "Good think Joyce didn't hear you say that. She'd be in shock."
"So what's up Xander?"
"The prom. It seems I'm without a date. I could've gone with Anya, but I thought Jonathon needed some backbone. Saying he was shocked is an understatement."
"So you're here because... Xander, I don't even have a nice dress."
"So?"
"I don't even go to school."
"We are allowed to take dates, Faith. Of course, if dancing scares you..."
"I am not scared!"
- - - - - -
Buffy walked into the prom after changing, and nodded at Giles to let him know the creatures had been killed. After talking to Willow and Oz, she leaned up against a wall to watch everything. A little while later, awards were announced.
Xander stood with Faith, and glowered.
"Oh come on! I'm a much better clown than that idiot."
Faith elbowed him and grinned.
"What?"
She pointed.
Xander blinked at a golden umbrella being held a couple feet from Jonathon. Then he focused on the words.
"So the senior class offers its thanks, and gives you ... this." The umbrella was handed to him. "It's from all of us, and it has written here: Buffy Summers, Class Protector."
The Scooby gang looked proud. Xander just grinned at the very stunned Buffy who took the Umbrella and stammered out a thanks.
As Xander and Faith danced, he looked over and saw Wimpy dancing with Cordelia. Then he saw Angel, and nodded. The vampire hesitated, then nodded back. The night was peaceful.
- - - - - - -
The mayor was looking at his suits, and chose one. It wouldn't do to dress badly even if it was his night. Appearances had to be kept after all. As he made sure everything was straight, a knock came.
"Come in."
The vampire, while not as good as Trick had been, still had his good points.
"It's done."
"Ah good. Well, let's not keep Angel waiting for his gift."
- - - -
"Xander, Jonathon and I are going to do something this weekend. You and Faith want to come too?" Anya asked.
"No thanks Anya. This Ascension thing has got us all frazzled. You two enjoy though."
"What did you say?
Xander walked in to the Library with Anya. They both saw Wesley, Giles, and Buffy.
"Anya just confirmed what we know. Only it looks like the snake will be bigger."
"And pure, the ones you've been fighting are not. It's going to be nasty. I've seen an ascension before."
The mayor walked in after that.
"Well hello. Enjoying yourselves? I trust you will be around for the speech I'm giving."
Xander smirked. "Unless you've got some good jokes, we're going to be snoring."
"I think I'll eat you when I ascend."
Bond walked out from behind the bookshelves. When he heard that, he took out his gun and fired. It had a silencer of course. As he did that, Giles rammed a sword into the mayor.
The bullet fell into the Mayors hand. He dropped it after looking for a second. Then pulled the sword out and wiped it clean before handing it hilt first back to Giles.
"Nice balance, a definite keeper. I do hope that all of you including your entertaining gun wielding friend will show. I assure you the speech will be riveting." Then he walked out.
Anya looked around. "I'm leaving town, if you know what's good for you you will too. This is very big."
Xander blinked. "What about Jonathon?"
"Do you think he might go too? I'm not sure... men are unpredictable when they're not being bastards."
"Trust me, it'll be hard for him to resist you."
"Ok. Well, bye. I hope for your sakes that The Mayor kills you quickly. I'd hate for you to die painfully even if some of you are men." She walked out.
Bond blinked. "Ah... who was that?"
Xander shook his head. "Anya, formerly Anyanka. A Vengeance demon who granted wishes for scorned women. She's human now."
Bond shook his head. "I keep learning new things."
- - - - - -
Jones was driving along in the modified car that Xander wasn't using, when he noticed Angel walking along. Then the radar picked up something on a rooftop. He activated the cameras and zoomed in. He saw someone holding a crossbow, pointed toward Angel. Without a thought, he turned on the crosshairs and centered on the figure. Then he fired.
Angel jumped and turned. He watched a piece of the roof of an abandoned building across the street explode. Then he turned and saw one of Xander's "uncles". He walked forward.
Jones stuck his head out. "Somebody was gunning for you. I took him out."
Angel nodded. "Thanks."
"You're welcome."