They were silent on the way to the diner, both still tense from the fight. It was only when they entered the brightly lit restaurant that they relaxed enough to release their grips from their stakes. They made their way to a table in the back and slid into the vinyl booth.

"So, you gonna tell me where you learned to fight like that?" Gunn started.

"That depends. Are you going to tell me where you learned to fight like that?" Buffy replied.

"Lots of guys my size in a neighbourhood like this can take care of themselves. There's no way you weigh over 110 and you took out two vampires without even breaking a sweat. I think we both know you're the one who really owes an explanation."

"Vamps? I thought those must have been gang-members on PCP," Buffy said in her best perky valley girl voice, while offering up a big ditzy smile. "And anyway, I just got lucky. I mean, I take Tae Bo, so…" Gunn just raised his eyebrows at her. "Not going to work, huh?" she asked.

"Don't think so. Good effort though."

Buffy sighed. She'd have to tell him the truth and if she was being honest with herself, she kind of wanted to. In fact, right now was the first time she had felt like herself since she arrived in LA. She didn't know when ditzy Buffy had become the mask and warrior Buffy had become the real her. Maybe that's how it had always been.

"I'm the slayer."

To her surprise Gunn started laughing. "What's that, like your superhero name?"

Suddenly Buffy was struck by the sheer ridiculousness of the word. She started laughing too. "I'm Buffy, the Vampire Slayer," she said and their laughter intensified. "Hey, don't blame me. I didn't come up with the name."

"Which one, Buffy or Slayer?"

"Neither. And believe me, neither of them are anywhere near what I would have chosen. They chose me. And I choose to embrace them." When Buffy looked up she realized that Gunn had stopped laughing and was now looking right into her eyes. She was suddenly embarrassed and said "What, like Gunn the Vampire Hunter isn't equally ridiculous?"

"Hey, I never claimed to be Gunn the Vampire Hunter. I'm just Gunn."

"Well, what do you call that show back there? You look like you've had some practice with that stake."

"You think I hunt them? I'm protecting my people. We all have to protect each other. This isn't some game for me."

"You think it's a game for me? Don't look at me and assume you know me. You've probably figured out that being the slayer means I'm a lot stronger than normal girls. You think that doesn't come with a lot of responsibility? It was my destiny to die for people who would never even know it!"

"First of all, I don't believe in destiny. And second, 'was'? You've given up on the mission?"

"Far from it. I just think the fact that I already died once kind of makes my destiny fulfilled," she shot back.

"You what?"

"Never mind." She wished she hadn't said anything. She had come here to forget about the whole dying thing. "Anyway, like you said, all your people do it. I'm alone. Or at least I'm supposed to be."

"So, what, you expect me to feel sorry for you? I would love to have superpowers or whatever the hell it is that you have. People die on a regular basis 'round here because I don't."

"Look, I'm not whining, I just—"

"Yes, you are. But that's not the point. I'm not here to play a round of 'Who has the Sadder Life?' What I want to know is if you're interested in helping us out around here."

"What? You want me to be part of your little gang?"

"Not exactly how I would have put it, but yeah."

"Why? You don't even like me?"

"It's not a question of whether I like you. It's a question of whether you're gonna help me or not. I could use someone with your skills, and frankly, I get the impression you miss it. The way you dealt with those vamps…it's who you are, whether you chose it or not. "

"It's not," Buffy said quietly, not really believing it herself anymore.

"Sure. I'm not gonna push it. But if you feel like helping, meet me here tomorrow night around ten." Gunn stood, grabbing his jacket. "Come on, I'll give you a ride home." Buffy rose, her bare legs sticking to the seat, then followed him to the door. She was surprised to find him holding the door open for her. As she brushed past him to get out the door he said "And for the record, I don't…not like you."

The next day she was back there are ten pm sharp. Gunn and his crew showed up a few minutes later. "Surprised to see me here?" she asked somewhat nervously.

"No," was his only reply.