"As I have already told Jenny, then Giles" Buffy glared at the two newcomers, an excited girl and a dumbfounded-looking boy – "I was supposed to go to my dad's. I must have taken the wrong bus, got kicked out of it at Sunnydale station, had this name in my head, and went to see who went with it. And voilá, here I am."

"So - you're not a ghost?"

"Xander, she doesn't even look like our Buffy. She just happens to have the same name, right? I mean, that is right, right? Giles?"

"Yes Willow, as far as we know it's all pure coincidence. Although I wonder how you knew my name. I'll have to look into that..."

"Rupert, I'd say seeing as Buffy has already told us her story -"

"Three times!" Buffy chimed in –

" It is only fair of us to tell her our side."

"Yes, of course. You see, our Buffy was a rather special young woman. She – she had a calling of some sort – "

"I thought you weren't into religion?" Buffy piped in. Giles sighed and looked at his wife for help. Jenny acted promptly:

"Buffy, this may come as a shock to you, or you might think us deranged, but you are a young woman living in this world, and therefore you should know the dangers it contains: demons. They are real, and they are here, in our world. And the next time someone approaches you in a dark alley, watch out for more than just your purse. They might be after your neck!"

There. She knew it went all too well. A satanic circle. Thank Parker she was no longer virginal sacrifice-material.

"Oh, demons. And – now you want to feed me to them?"

"Buffy, please, I know this sounds absurd, but you just have to believe us. I wouldn't want you to learn the hard way. And to be fair: we don't sacrifice, we save. And that was what Buffy was doing, too."

"But, but please! Demons! Just because there are movies and books doesn't make them real. All that slime and the antlers and the smell! I've taken science, and they are just not compatible with our world. I mean, no sunlight and oh please – bursting to dust?" Buffy stopped when she felt 4 pair of wide-opened eyes resting on her.

"You do know a lot about demons, don't you?" Jenny said.

"Well, I have vivid dreams, and too much imagination?"

"You dream of demons? And you were led to Sunnydale by a dream? Oh my-I need to consult-" "Buffy – catch!" she heard Jenny say, and even before she had finished speaking Buffy found herself holding the glass orb she had effortlessly caught.

Jenny gave her a sad smile:" Welcome to the hellmouth, slayer."

The train was speeding on, with a steady rhythm. Spike paced the length of the container wagon, feeling – and looking – very much like a tiger in a cage. Dru was sitting in a corner, keeping her eyes fixed on her lover.

"Will you stop looking at me like that! We could use this confinement for some fun, if only you would come out of your corner."
Drusilla kept her fixed gaze: "I am very cross with you, William. Sweet Angelus lies on the bottom of the sea, and can't get up. He is watching the fish flitting around his head, gleaming, glittering, sparkling like stars."

"Dru, I admit, I tossed the bloody marionette into the bloody river. But can't you see, pet, I did it for us. So that we can be together again." Yes, that was what he wanted. To live with Dru like they used to, several decades ago. He adored her, but things had become difficult. Her visions had gotten stronger and more frequent, until she was hardly lucid anymore, living beside Spike in a world he had no access to. A trip to somewhere new, a change of scenery, would fix it. Spike had after all started out as a Victorian Englishman: There was nothing a trip to the coast couldn't cure.

Meanwhile, Drusilla had finally stopped watching his every move. Her eyes unfocused to watch distant sights only she could make sense of. It was a lovely place her white knight was taking her. He had killed Angelus, but he was hers all the same. He was going to lay this town down to her feet, and she would be its princess – the fair princess with long golden hair, her Spike sitting net to her – Drusilla screamed out in rage. Spike hurried over.

"Pet, are you alright? Did you see something nasty?"

Drusilla didn't care what he said. Her teeth crushed into his neck, her fingers gripping his slender body. She would show all the world what he was: hers! Forever!

The black car crashed full on into the road sign. With a "wham bam thank you mam", Spike stepped out of the car and took a good look down at the city.

"I hope this town isn't as boring as it looks. Dru? Dru! You hungry? I could use a little snack."

Drusilla had silently crept to his side:

"There is a buffet all ready for us, " she pointed to a row of twinkling lights that suggested summer outings and garden parties.

"Great, it's all you can eat for us."