Chapter 6: The Prom
March 1, 2001 - Thursday
Halliwell Manor
"What?" Piper said in surprise as she looked at both her mother and elder sister.
"What do you mean, we can't change Faith's past?" Phoebe questioned.
"When I was pregnant with you, Phoebe, you gave me several premonitions," Patty said.
"Yeah we know," Phoebe said. "You had a premonition of us when we went back to stop the pact and another of Piper's wedding. So?"
"You gave me three," Patty said. "The second of the three was of a point still in the future. In that premonition I saw Faith. She was married to Buffy and together they had a daughter. She looked at Prue. "She will be named after you and Buffy's mother. Prudence Joyce Halliwell." She looked back at Piper and Phoebe. "If you change Faith's past. You risk that future will never come true."
Piper looked at her younger sister and sighed as she looked back at Prue and Patty. "But she will live for the rest of her life with the memory of that abuse."
"I know, Piper," Prue said as she sighed. "I would love for Faith to never have had to deal with that. But we can't do it. Not if my daughter never finds her true love. We could try and change her past, but she may never meet Buffy as a result. I would be a terrible mother if I didn't take that future into account."
Phoebe sighed as she laid a hand on Piper's arm. "Prue and mom are right, Piper," she said. "We have to help, Faith, to find the love she's destined for."
"Your right of course," Piper said. "I just wish we could do something so she wouldn't have to remember any of that."
"I wish that to, Piper," Prue agreed.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Night faded away, and the pale light of the dawn began to clothe Sunnydale in its ethereal brilliancy. Pushing the shadows away and blowing apart the last cobwebs of sleep in the mind of the daughter of the eldest Charmed Ones. Faith opened her eyes, to find that she was not alone.
She looked and saw Buffy sound asleep. As she quietly watched the blonde Slayer she wondered if their friendship would blossom into something more. She knew Buffy had only stayed over because of the grief she had finally let herself feel. But to find Buffy there sleeping next to her, sent her heart a flutter causing her to smile.
Buffy opened her eyes, to find that she was not in her bedroom at Revello Drive in Sunnydale but at the Manor in San Francisco. Not only that, but she had also been under her fellow Slayer's close scrutiny for some time now. Faith was looking at her with the familiar small smile of contentment.
Faith smiled as Buffy opened her eyes to see her. "Good morning."
"Definitely good," Buffy replied, smiling back at Faith; or to put it more accurately, grinning inanely.
"I didn't expect you to stay the night," Faith informed her friend.
"Well you needed a friend, Faith," Buffy admitted as Faith continued to stare at her. "What? Do I have funny bed hair or something?"
"Or something," Faith answered.
Buffy sat up, a little groggy and patted her hair. "Ooh. Not good." She started to get up but Faith held her back.
"Where are you going?" Faith wondered.
"To kill the cat on my head," Buffy answered. "Why? Did you have something else in mind?"
"Maybe," Faith said as she pulled Buffy into her arms. "I think you look perfect."
Buffy blinked as she looked at Faith. "Are you flirting?" she wondered, not that she didn't want Faith to flirt with her.
"And if I am?" Faith questioned teasingly.
Buffy smiled as she cuddled into Faith. "Keep going."
"I would love to, but I'm spending the night with Gramps tonight," Faith said. "So, I need to get ready."
"Faith," Buffy said. "Would you…" she hesitated as her nerves tried to get the better of her, "…Would you go to Prom with me?"
Faith sighed. "I don't know, Buffy," she said as she got out of bed and walked across the room to look out her window
Buffy knew a rejection when she heard one. "Okay," she said obviously disappointed. "I probably ought to head home." With that she disappeared in a swirl of fiery flames.
Summers Home
Buffy appeared in her room and sat heavily on the bed. "I'm an idiot, a big fat idiot for listening to Patty and thinking she would want to go out with me."
"Buffy?" came Joyce's voice from the hallway.
"I'm home, mom," Buffy answered as the door to her bedroom opened and Joyce stepped into the room.
"You were gone all night," Joyce said.
"Sorry," Buffy apologized. "I just thought that Faith needed a shoulder to cry on."
"I understand dear," Joyce said. "But next time, call please. I was worried."
"Sorry to worry you, mom," Buffy apologized again.
"Is something wrong, Buffy?" Joyce said noticing the dejected look on her daughter's face.
"I asked Faith to the prom," Buffy admitted to her mother. "She rejected me."
Halliwell Manor
Faith sighed as she picked up her phone when it began to ring. "Halliwell Residence, Faith speaking."
"Good morning, Faith. It's Joyce Summers," came Joyce's voice from the other end of the phone.
"Hello, Mrs. S.," Faith replied. "Sorry for…"
"It's okay, Faith. Buffy explained what was going on," Joyce replied. "That's not why I'm calling."
"Did something happen to Buffy?" Faith said suddenly worried.
"No, she's fine. Well as fine as she can be considering you rejected her when she asked you to the prom."
"I just don't know if I want to go to the prom or date or anything right now, Mrs. S," Faith admitted. "I'm glad she's my friend, and that's what I need right now."
"Maybe," Joyce replied. "But maybe you need more. I have never seen my daughter this heartbroken before, even when Angel turned."
"Tell, Buffy, that I'm sorry for hurting her, but I just don't know…" Faith said with a sigh.
Sunnydale High School
Xander sat, smiling and a little confused, with Buffy, Willow and Oz.
"Anya, huh?" Oz asked with a raised eyebrow. "Interesting choice."
"'Choice' is kind of a broad term for my situation," Xander said. "It's either Anya or the sock puppet of love for this boy." He held up his fist. "'I love you, Xander, I will never leave you,'" she said miming the words with his fist.
"Well, if Anya tries to get you killed, put me down for a big 'I told you so.'"
"'Who is this Anya? Is she prettier than me?'" Xander continued to mime.
"She just better not cross me, that's all I'm saying," Willow told her friends.
"At least you all have all got someone to go with. Me. I will be the dateless lose with a kick dress," Buffy said.
"Angel isn't taking you?" Willow wondered.
"I didn't ask, Angel," Buffy said as her friends looked at her with raised eyebrows. "I asked Faith."
"Uh, Buffy," Xander said. "Two things. You do know she is a girl and you remember she tried to frame you for murder."
"She was confused," Buffy told him. "You should see her now, Xander. Her family has done her good. It doesn't matter anyways she didn't accept."
Victor's Apartment
"So," Victor said as he finished showing Faith around the small apartment. "This is my room here." He waved a hand at the nearest door. He then moved to the door across the hall. "And this will be your room. I'm really happy you wanted to spend the night here."
Faith smiled. "Me too, Gramps," she said. "I could tell that mom was giving you a weird look earlier. Like she wanted to ask me something but wasn't sure how to ask. And I think she wanted you to ask me."
Victor nodded as he looked at his granddaughter. "Yes," he answered. "Your over eighteen, so you are officially an adult. But she would like to enroll you in school. At least finish out your senior year."
"It would be a waste of her time," Faith admitted as she looked around her room. "Diana, my Watcher in Boston, had me enrolled in school. When I was called as a Slayer, she pushed for me to finish. She reached into her bag and pulled out a piece of paper before handing it to her grandfather.
Victor's eyes went wide at what he saw. "This is a GED certificate." He looked at Faith and smiled. "I am so proud of you, honey. Why didn't you tell us?"
Faith sighed as she sat on the bed. "You do remember I was abused and humiliated, right?" she questioned. "We're not talking about just physical abuse either. She never once praised me on any accomplishments. And made sure that if I had any thing that I was proud of…Nothing I did was good enough for her. Shoot I actually made the honor roll in elementary school and she didn't care."
"That woman never deserved you," Victor told his granddaughter as he sat beside her. "I can tell that something is bothering you what is it, Faith?"
Faith looked down, not wanting to meet his eyes. "There are two things. The first is after talking to Uncle Leo, I was told that I can't see my dad, that is mainly because he's non-magical. So we can't summon him like Grams and Grandma Patty. The only way I could possibly see him is if I'm asleep."
Victor looked at her confused. "I'm not understanding the problem," he admitted.
"I've never had good dreams," Faith admitted, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I've only nightmares. So, I don't think I could ever see my dad."
Victor pulled Faith into his arms as the tears finally stream down her face. "What's the other thing, honey?" he questioned.
"I have to go to the bathroom," Faith said obviously embarrassed. "And I have to ask to go like a toddler would. That was her orders."
"You don't need permission, Faith," Victor said. "I understand that stuff is ingrained in your mind since you had to endure it for years. But you never have to ask permission. If you need to go, then go. Okay?" He stood up and led Faith out of her room. "The bathroom is through that door." He pointed to a nearby door.
"Thanks, Gramps," Faith said appreciatively as she headed into the bathroom.
Sunnydale High School
Buffy sat with Xander, Oz and Willow around the table of the library. Across from her Willow sat happily in Oz's lap as Giles, in research mode, walked out of his office. "So - what? It was blue and sort of short?" she asked her redheaded friend.
"Not too short. Medium," Willow clarified. "And it had this wild sort of fringy stuff on its arms."
"What's this?" Giles interrupted. "A demon?"
"A prom dress," Buffy explained. "That Will was thinking about buying. Can't you ever get your mind out of the Hellmouth?"
"I'd be delighted to," Giles answered. "However - the day of the Mayor's Ascension is rapidly approaching and we don't know what to expect."
"Mr. Giles is correct," Wesley stated as he entered the room.
"Haven't you left yet?" Xander asked him.
Wesley frowned at the boy. After he had tried to ship Faith off to England, Buffy had told him she had enough. So, she ordered him to pack his bags and leave. "I'm here for another two months at the Council's insistence in case Buffy should need our resources with a situation this big."
"I still want you gone," Buffy told the Watcher. "But if your staying, it might be okay as long as its only for resources. I'm not taking orders from the Council. Not after what you tried to do to Faith." She turned and looked at Giles. "Regardless if we know his plan. At least we know he's likely over a hundred years old, that's something right?"
"Yes, that is something," Giles agreed.
"So, it's safe to say we shouldn't waste any time on such trifling matters as a school dance," Wesley finished.
"Well, that's too bad, because I bet you would look way 007 in a tux," Cordelia mused in a slight mocking tone.
Which Wesley failed to pick up on. "Except of course, on the actual night, when I shall be aiding Mr. Giles in his chaperoning duties."
"What?" Giles queried, looking at him. "Excuse me?" Wesley stared back at him pleadingly, until he tired of the expression. "Fine, fine, fine. You all are suffering from a touch of Spring Madness, if you ask me," he said shaking his head.
"Mine is more space madness," Oz remarked. "But I'll feel better once I get used to the weightlessness."
Willow smiled at her boyfriend. "Promise me you'll never be linear."
"On my trout," Oz pledged.
Buffy turned to Willow. "We'll get you a dress," she proposed. "Why don't we check out April Fools?"
"Don't go there!" Cordelia objected as everyone turned to look at her. "I shop there!"
"I myself am dipping into my hard-earned road trip fund to procure a shiny new tux, so look for me to dazzle," Xander added.
Victor's Apartment
"You have a shower," Faith said as she walked out of the bathroom. "Cool."
"You've never used a shower," Victor said with obvious concern.
Faith shook her head. "No," she answered. "After Mr. Lehane was killed. Mrs. Lehane moved us into an apartment and if I answered the door I would be beaten. "I was forbidden to use the shower. I would get clean in the rain outside. I was taught that bad and dirty girls got clean that way. I don't remember exactly when but the Council moved Diana in downstairs. About when I was ten-years-old, I made a wish, to what I don't know. But the next time Mrs. Lehane was hitting me, she had a heart attack and died. Because of how much she had been beating me, I wound up in a coma and didn't come out of it for an entire year. I was then placed in foster care and Diana adopted me when I was twelve. I lived with her till I watched Kakistos rip her apart."
Victor looked at his granddaughter and pulled her into his arms hugging her tightly.
"Thanks, Gramps," Faith murmured into his chest. "This feels nice."
Victor looked at Faith for a long moment as he realized there was one more piece to the puzzle. "There is something else, isn't there?"
Faith nodded. "Buffy, invited me to go to the prom with her. With everything that woman did. Buffy deserves someone better than me. Besides I've never been to a school dance I don't know what to do and I don't even have a dress."
Victor nodded. "Grab your coat I'm taking you to the mall for a dress," he told her.
"Gramps, she can do…" Faith started.
"No arguments," Victor said. "You are good for her, Faith. And obviously she thinks so too, or she wouldn't have asked you."
Summers Home
"So…that's it?" Willow questioned as she looked at friend. Buffy had told her about the premonition that Patty had when she was still pregnant with Phoebe. "You're not going to even try?"
"What's the point, Will," Buffy said with a sigh. "She doesn't want to go with me."
"Well. Faith's a fool. She's just a big, dumb jerk person if you ask me," Willow said. "And, I mean, she's a super-maxi-jerk to not want to go with you to the prom."
"I don't blame her, Will," Buffy sighed as she moved to her bed and sat down. "Not after what that woman who raised her did to her. And, Will, please don't make Faith out to be the bad guy in this."
"But - that's the best friend's job," Willow countered. "Vilifying and grousing."
"Usually yeah," Buffy agreed. "But not this time."
"It must have been horrible when she…" Willow started.
"It was," Buffy said. "After what Patty told me and knowing that Faith and I are meant to…" She sighed. "It was devastating," she admitted as tears began to fall down her cheeks.
Willow sat on the bed next to her friend. "Oh, Buffy..."
Buffy sank her head into Willow's lap - scared, gasping through her tears. "I can't breathe, Will. I feel like I can't breathe."
April Fools
Xander passed the dress shop and noticed Cordelia through the window. He turned and entered the store, which was fairly busy. He found her standing in front of a mirror holding up a spectacular dress in front of her. "Okay. How long does it take you to buy a damn dress?" he questioned.
Cordelia spun at the sound of his voice. "Xander..." she said shocked to see him there. She quickly tried covering. "I'm considering things more carefully these days. Don't want to get stuck with another dud," she said pointedly as she brushed past him. She put the dress back on the rack.
"Well I think that dress works for you. It positively screams nympho—" Xander said.
"Is this a customer or a friend?" said a woman who was approaching them and looking straight at Cordelia
"Neither," Xander answered. "Just stopping by for my daily helping of bile."
"Then you'd better get back to work and quit goofing," the woman said as she toward an older, stern-looking woman, who was watching them like a hawk. "Ms. Finkle so has it in for you," she said over her shoulder as she went to help a customer.
Xander looked at Cordelia with surprise. "You work here?" he asked.
Cordelia looked at Xander with shame. "Yes!" she said with a sigh. "Yes, I'm working here."
"Uh, why?" he wondered.
"I'm trying to buy a dress," Cordelia admitted.
"Don't you already have all the dresses?" Xander asked in confusion.
Cordelia sighed. "I have nothing!" she admitted almost reluctantly. "Okay? No dresses, no cell phone, no car – everything got taken away because daddy made a little mistake on his taxes for the last twelve years! Satisfied? Are you a happy Xander now? I'm broke. I can't go to any of the colleges that accepted me and I can't stay home because we no longer have one."
Xander looked at Cordelia in sympathy. "Um... wow."
"Yeah, neato," she retorted. "You can run along and tell all your friends how Cordy finally got hers, how she has to work part time just to get a lousy prom dress on layaway. How she has to wear a name tag." She pulled back her cardigan to show him her name tag. "Yeah, I'm a name tag person! Don't leave that out; the story just wouldn't have the same punch!"
Her tirade was cut short as a monster hurled through the front window of the store. People yell and scatter everywhere.
Xander shoved Cordelia to safety and went after the beast. He tried to hit it, but the creature easily grabbed him and overpowered him. The beast was about to take a nice big chunk out of Xander when it stopped and threw Xander to the side. It turned and headed toward a cowering young man, wearing a tuxedo.
Victor's Apartment
"Faith," Victor said as he led his granddaughter back into the apartment. "I'm so sorry the mall was closed."
"Not your fault, Gramps," Faith said. "I think I am going to head to bed."
"Are you sure?" Victor asked as Faith nodded. "I will see you in the morning then." He watched as Faith went into her room and closed the door behind her. He then walked over to the phone and dialed.
"Halliwell Residence, Piper speaking," came Piper's voice from the phone.
"Hey, Piper, is Prue home? It's about Faith," Victor told his middle daughter.
Summers Home
Buffy sat, perched too close for comfort to the edge of the roof outside her bedroom window. Her knees hugged to her chest as she thought about Faith's rejection that morning.
March 2, 2001 – Friday
Sunnydale High School
Buffy, Giles, Xander, Willow, Cordelia, Wesley and Oz are watching the video of the beast's attack on the dress shop.
"And you say the beast just - stopped?" Giles said looking at Xander and Cordelia.
Xander pointed to the TV. "Yeah. See there? It's like he suddenly realized he forgot to put money in the meter or something."
"The other part that totally weirded me out?" Cordelia said. "That thing had good taste. I mean, he chucked Xander and went right for the formal wear."
"That's right," Xander agreed. "And he left behind his copy of Monster's Wear Daily."
Cordelia rolled her eyes. "I'm serious! Look at Xander's outfit. Now look at the kid the monster went after. Very smooth lines, till he was shredded." She moved to rewind the tape.
"I... I don't want to see it again," Buffy said as she moved away from the TV.
"I know it's horrible, Buffy," Giles said. "But you'll be hunting this creature - you should study it."
Buffy sat in a chair across the room, listless. "I think I got it."
"She's right," Willow agreed. "I mean, you've seen one big, hairy death bringer of death - you've seen 'em all."
"Not really," Wesley interjected. "If I'm not mistaken, this is a Hell Hound."
Giles nodded. "Yes. Particularly vicious foe. It's a type of demon foot soldier, bred during the Mahkash wars. Trained solely to kill, they feed on the brains of their foes—"
"Look!" Cordelia said, cutting Giles off. "Right there. Zoom in on that."
Xander looked at Cordelia shaking his head. "Zoom in? This is a video tape."
"So?" Cordelia retorted. "They do it on TV all the time."
"Not with a regular VCR they don't—" Xander told her.
"Perhaps we could stay on topic for once," Wesley said before turning to Cordelia. "What were you doing with Xander?" he asked, a tone of jealousy in his voice.
"What?" Cordelia stammered. "Um. I was..."
"Burning a hole in daddy's wallet as usual," Xander said covering for Cordelia. "I just bumped into her on my tuxedo hunt."
"What's that?" Oz said motioning toward the TV. "Pause it."
"Guys, it's just a normal VCR, it doesn't," Xander said as he looked at the remote. "Oh wait. It can do pause." He paused the tape and they saw a boy peering through the window with what looked like some kind of transmitter in hand. "Hello Hellhound raiser."
Victor's Apartment
"I don't know if mom told you," Faith said as she and Victor ate breakfast. "But when I was born, she named me after Grandma Patty and my dad…Patricia Andrea."
"Patricia Andrea Halliwell," Victor said testing the name on his tongue. He smiled at his granddaughter. "It's a beautiful name, honey. I'm just wondering why you don't change it back, not that Faith is a bad name.
Faith sighed. "I don't think I am worthy of bearing Grandma Patty or dad's names not after I stole money from dead kids."
"Dead kids?" Victor questioned in confusion.
Faith nodded. "In SunnyHell, my nickname for Sunnydale, there are really stupid kids who clean out their bank accounts and usually get turned into vamps. Buffy and I would take them out. They usually had hundreds or thousands of dollars just lying around. Buffy wouldn't take the money even after I pointed out it could help her mom. Anyways I didn't have much choice. I needed the money for food, clothes and the rent at the motel I was staying in."
"Motel?" Victor said with sudden concern. "You were living in a motel? Faith, what were you thinking?"
Faith sighed. "You have to remember, Gramps. That Diana was dead. I was on the run trying to get away from Kakistos. It's not like I had a lot of money to rent an apartment. What I stole was it, so I would never have been able to afford an apartment along with electricity and whatever else I would have to pay for when it came to an apartment."
Sunnydale High School
Oz was looking at a yearbook with the picture of the boy from the video. "Tucker Wells. I had chem with him," he said.
"Let me guess," Wesley said looking toward Oz. "He was quiet, kept to himself - but always seemed like a nice young man?"
Oz nodded. "Didn't seem like the murderous type, anyway. Something must have happened."
"How's it going over there, Buff?" Xander asked as he looked at Buffy, who sat apart from everyone else.
"Fine," Buffy said not even looking up from the book she was looking at.
"Well - I just wanted to say that your impersonation of a inanimate object is really coming along," Xander quipped.
"Thanks," Buffy replied.
"Ooh!" Willow said excitedly. "Ooh! I got into Tucker's e-mail account –"
"Cool," Xander said as he looked at his redheaded friend.
"Listen to this message Tucker sent to this kid, David Metz, at school last week," Willow told them. "The Sunnydale High lemmings have no idea what awaits them. Their big night will be their last night."
"So," Giles said. "We have a threat against the students on 'their big night...' A hell hound - trained to attack people n formal wear." He was beginning to realize that the Hell Hound was being trained to attack the prom.
"Oh, are we all catching up now?" Cordelia said, obviously full of herself.
"This Tucker is planning an attack on the prom tonight," Giles continued.
"Once again - the Hellmouth puts the 'special' in special occasion," Oz retorted.
"Why do I even buy tickets for these things - I ask you?" Xander said with a sigh.
"I wonder if I can take my dress back," Willow suggested.
Buffy looked up from the book, as if woken from a numbing sleep. She turned to Willow. "Don't you dare," she said intensely.
"But Tucker's going to—" Willow started.
Buffy stood. "No," she said cutting her friend off. "You guys are going to have a prom. The kind of prom everyone should have. I will give you all a nice, fun, normal evening... if I have to kill every single person on the face of the Earth to do it."
Everyone looked at Buffy and saw that she was determined and perhaps a little bit crazy.
"Yay?" Xander said.
Victor's Apartment
Victor opened the door to reveal Patty, Prue, Grams, Phoebe, Leo and Piper, each of whom were holding items.
Prue stepped toward her daughter. "Dad called last night and told me that Buffy asked you to the prom and that you had nothing to wear." She held up a necklace she was carrying. "This locket was your grandmother's, from Andy's side of the family. He told me it had been in his family for generations. We had agreed to wait to give to you till you turned eighteen."
"Then you were kidnapped," Grams said taking over the explanation. "When I erased Prue, Piper, Phoebe, Andy and his parents' memories of you to help them forget the pain of your loss. I took several items in case I did find you and stored them away."
"This locket was one thing, Grams stored," Prue said. "Inside…" she opened the locket to show what was inside, "…is a picture of me and Andy." She handed the locket to her daughter.
Patty was the next to step forward as she held up a dress bag. "This, my sweet, sweet granddaughter. Was my prom dress. I hope that you will wear it with honor."
"I'm not…" Faith started.
"She told me what you named her, Prue," Victor cut in. He turned and looked at his ex-wife. "She believes she isn't worthy to carry your name."
Patty sighed. "You are worthy, my dear, dear sweet, Patricia. Don't let anyone tell you you're not, honey."
"Okay," Faith agreed.
Grams was the next to step forward. "These are my red go go boots," she said holding up a pair of boots. "I used to cast a return to owner spell on my favorite clothing, but I made sure that the spell was removed for you. After all my great granddaughter needs to have bitchin' footwear."
Faith chuckled. "Grams, language."
Grams smiled at Faith. "I see what you did there, young lady."
Phoebe was the next to step forward. "My gift to you, Faith, is these kickass bracelets," she said as she held up the bracelets.
"My gift are these earrings," Piper said as she stepped forward holding up a pair of earrings.
"My gift," Leo said as he stepped forward. "Is to be your limo driver. Well technically anyways. I will be taking you to Sunnydale. And I'm sure, Buffy, won't mind bringing you home."
"Thank you," Faith said looking at her family.
Sunnydale High School
Buffy - galvanized - addressed Giles, Wesley, Oz, Xander, Cordelia and Willow. "Wes, go to his house. Probably not there, but it's worth a shot."
Wesley nodded. "All right. Perhaps strength in numbers is –"
"You can take Cordy," Buffy interjected.
"If that's your plan, all right... and the others?" Wesley asked.
"Oz - you said you know this David kid Tucker e-mailed," Buffy said looking at the werewolf. "You and Will go track him down. Find out what he knows - if he's involved."
"We're on it," Willow said as she and Oz headed out the door.
Buffy turned back to Wesley and Cordelia. "Maybe you guys should stop by the Magic shop too."
"Magic Shop?" Wesley questioned.
"The one by the dress store," Buffy answered. "On Main."
"I can swing that one," Xander said eagerly. "What's the mission?"
"Ask if anybody's been in buying supplies to raise a Hell Hound," Buffy told him.
Xander nodded as he gathered his things before heading for the door. "Got ya. Or who's been stocking up on Hell Hound Sausages. I hear those pups will do anything for a tasty snack treat."
Buffy turned to Giles as Xander walked out the door. "Giles, you said they eat brains. Any brains?"
"I suppose..." Giles said.
"Well, Tucker's got to be feeding that thing, right?" Buffy questioned.
Sunnydale Meat Packing Plant
Buffy waited while a heavy-set guy in a blood-stained white uniform finished writing down an address. He ripped the piece of paper off and handed it to her. "Yeah. This kid orders cow brains a couple times a week. Goes to this address," he told her. "Weird kid."
"Thanks," Buffy said. "Thanks a lot." She turned away from him to see Angel at the other end of the loading dock. She had yet to tell him that she had fallen in love with someone else.
Angel turned and saw her and smiled. "What are you doing here?" he asked as he walked over to her.
"Hello to you too," Buffy replied.
"Sorry," Angel said.
"Anyways just following a lead. Someone has some Hell Hounds targeting the prom tonight," Buffy told him.
"Need any help?" Angel questioned.
"No, I'm good," Buffy answered.
"Buffy," Angel started. And then he caught a scent wafting from Buffy. "Have you and…"
Buffy closed her eyes. "Let me guess you can smell her on me," she said as he nodded. "She was having issues. I slept over to help comfort her."
"Are you in love with her?" Angel wondered.
"I thought so," Buffy answered. "But I think she would rather just be friends. I asked her to the prom and she rejected me."
"I'm sorry to hear that, Buffy," Angel said as he laid a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"Thanks," Buffy said. "I guess that you realize what that means."
"I do," Angel said. "All I want is for you to be happy."
"Thanks, Angel," Buffy admitted.
"So, are you planning to go to the prom?" Angel wondered.
"Strictly in the chaperone capacity," Buffy admitted. "It's cool. I'm fine with showing up stag. I'm over the whole 'Buffy gets a perfect high-school moment' thing. But no way am I going to let some subhuman rob the entire senior class of theirs."
Victor's Apartment
"There." Grans smiled as she finished styling Faith's hair. "Perfect," she whispered and kissed Faith on the cheek.
Faith ginned at her great grandmother then turned slowly to face her mother, aunts and Patty who stood on the other side of the room. "Well?" she asked. "What do ya think?" she asked spinning slowly in a circle.
The four women gasped and Prue placed one hand over her heart, "Oh, Faith…you look beautiful." She smiled walking towards her daughter and pulling her into a loving embrace.
And it was true: Faith did look beautiful. The dress that Patty had given Faith was strapless with a corset bodice and lace embroidery that stopped just below the bust, the skirt crisp and white with soft folds across the middle. Her hair was curled in loose and slightly messed ringlets that fell just past her shoulders. Her make-up light and gentle. The beautiful pearl clasp bracelet, that Phoebe had given her adorned her right wrist. The pearl earrings that Piper had given her, hung from her ears. Her locket lay perfectly on her chest just at the top of her cleavage. Grams go go boots finished the outfit.
"Oh, Faith." Piper whimpered with a smile, tears pooling in her eyes.
Phoebe sniffled as she pointed at Faith extravagantly, "...You, you look so beautiful and, and you're going to the prom with Buffy and it's...it's just all so perfect," she sobbed.
Sunnydale High School
Buffy returned to the library to find Oz, Willow, Xander and Giles all looking rather bummed.
"Zeroes all round, Buff," Xander told his friend.
"Sorry," Willow added.
"Make not with the long faces. I got the address," Buffy said. "Now. The prom starts in a little while. You guys go on. I'll catch up with you as soon as I put a lid on this jerk."
"What?" Xander said surprised Buffy wanted to go it alone. "No way."
"We can't just leave you, Buff—" Willow started.
"Buffy, they're right," Giles agreed. "You need—"
"To see tail lights," Buffy interjected, cutting the others off. "Hit the door. I've got everything under control."
"Buffy, it makes sense to –" Oz started.
"Have…A…Nice…Time," Buffy said pointedly looking at her friends.
Willow, Xander and Oz know better than to argue with that. "Okay then," Willow said.
"See ya," Xander added as he, Oz and Willow headed out of the library.
Giles looked at Buffy questioningly. "I want you at the gym," Buffy told him. "Keep an eye on them till I get there."
"I don't need to tell you you're being rather rash," Giles told her. "Getting an address hardly adds up to 'case closed.'"
Buffy walked over to the book cage and began to arm herself. "Look. It's done. You want to run after them and tell them that they can't go? You want to tell them that all their planning and dreaming was for nothing? That they can't be with their honeys on tonight of all nights?"
Giles took that in. "Angel's not taking you, is he?" he asked.
"I didn't ask, Angel," Buffy answered. "I asked Faith. And no, she's not. I understand why, but it's still hard."
"I'm sorry, Buffy," Giles said. "I don't really know what to say. It's my understanding that this is the sort of thing that requires ice cream of some kind."
Buffy smiled ruefully. "The ice cream will come. First, I feel like taking out psycho boy."
"You're sure?" he asked.
Buffy nodded. "Great thing about being a Slayer. Kicking ass is comfort food."
Tucker Wells' Lair
Buffy violently kicked the door open. As she moved through the room, she saw it was a ramshackle mix. Part animal kennel. Part amateur TV repair shop. She turned and corner and saw Tucker about to open a Hell Hound's cage. She grabed him and slammed the door to the cage shut again and locked it. "Sorry. New plan," she said. "The prom is go and you're pathetic.
"Maybe..." Tucker said as he managed to grab an electrical cord and yanked a heavy lamp off a tall shelf and right onto Buffy. She was more surprised than hurt, but it was enough of a distraction that Tucker was able to break her grasp. He scrambled away from her and grabbed a screw driver and held it out menacingly. "Maybe not."
Buffy advanced on him undaunted. She noticed that the TV in front of the Hell Hound's cage. A few discarded video boxes were nearby such as Carrie and Pretty in Pink. "So that's it? You brain-washed the hound to go psycho over all things prom?" she asked.
Tucker grinned. "Neat, huh?"
"I don't get," she told him. "What kind of sicko would want to destroy the happiest night of a senior's life?"
Tucker shrugged. "I have my reasons."
Buffy closed in on him. "Whatever. Every maladjust has a reason. Lucky for me you're an incompetent maladjust."
Tucker lunged at Buffy with the screwdriver. Buffy easily disarmed and overpowered him. She pinned him as she took some rope from her weapons bag and quickly tied him up. She dragged him over to what appeared to be a utility closet. "Now," she said as she grabbed the door. "I'm just going to lock you up in here - and then I'm going to party like it's –"
Buffy opened the door and saw three more Hell Hound cage along with three more TVs.
Tucker grinned. "Got to have a redundancy system. Any 'incompetent' knows that. My three fiercest babies are on their way to the dance right now. You think formal wear makes them crazy? Wait till they see the mirror ball."
Summers Home
Faith knocked on the front door and a second later Joyce opened it. "Faith?" Joyce said surprised to see the brunette Slayer. Then she took in Faith's appearance and smiled. "I wish she was here to see you. You look beautiful. She's already gone to the prom."
"Thanks, Mrs. S," Faith said. "You don't mind if Buffy and I…"
"You both are eighteen," Joyce said. "So, if you would like to spend the night with her. You have my permission."
Sunnydale High School
Colored lights glowed from inside the gym as Buffy arrived. She could hear the music and her fellow students happily partying. She spotted the Hell Hounds heading toward the building. She stopped, pulled a crossbow from her weapons bag and took aim on one of the hounds.
She let the arrow fly. It hit one of the Hounds only seconds before it entered the gym. It bellowed as it fell down dead.
The remaining two Hell Hounds stop to check out their felled companion. Properly alarmed, they turn and looked at Buffy preparing to launch another arrow their way. They take off straight for Buffy, snarling - their teeth bared.
Buffy tried to get the drop on another hound. But they were coming at her too fast. She turned and ran away from the gym, the hounds following in hot pursuit. "That's right, follow Buffy... good dogs..." she said.
Indeed, Buffy seemed to be leading the hounds away from the prom and their objective. But a moment later a popular dance tune could be heard starting up in the gym and the prom-goers issue a happy cry of approval that stopped the Hell Hounds.
"Oh - come on! That song sucks!" Buffy said trying to distract the Hounds.
But the Hell Hounds were no longer interested in her. They turned tail and head back toward the prom. Buffy ran after them, trying to take aim with the crossbow.
But it was no use. The hounds disappeared into the building with Buffy hot on their heels.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
The Hell Hounds were just about to hit the doors into the main area of the gym when Buffy entered through the exit doors. She quickly spied some decorative drapes that hang over the doors. With a wave of her hand she telekinetically pulled them down over the Hounds stopping them.
One of the hounds immediately got out from under the drapes. Not wasting a moment, Buffy drew a knife and fell on the free hound. She and the Hound tumbled across the floor. Then suddenly she drove her knife straight into its heart, causing it to shriek and fall off her.
Buffy spun and saw the last remaining Hound had recovered and pulled itself out from under the fallen drapes. It was skulking toward the main doors to the gym when one of them opened and an unsuspecting guy wandered out.
"Get back!" Buffy ordered.
The guy looked confused before spotting the Hound hurtling toward him. Buffy leapt at the hound and caught it by its legs, stopping it with only inches to spare. The guys just stood there, terrified as Buffy and the Hell Hound went at it. Eventually she managed to get the beast in a head lock and snapped its neck. It collapsed on her in a breathless heap.
Buffy looked up at the boy who was hadn't moved. "B-B-B-B-Bathroom?" he stammered. Buffy just nodded and pointed down a nearby hallway. "Th-th-th-th-"
"You're welcome," Buffy answered as the boy hurried away. She rolled the hound off her as she breathed a sigh of relief.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Buffy dragged the dead Hell Hounds into the bushes and then hurries over to her weapons bag and retrieve the garment bag that held her dress.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
The prom was in full swing when Buffy finally walked into the gym. She saw Giles and nodded, letting him know it was taken care of. He nodded back, quietly pleased.
Willow and Oz were out on the dance floor when she spotted Buffy. She pointed out the Slayer to Oz who followed her over to Buffy. "Buffy! You look awesome," she said admiring Buffy's dress. She pulled Buffy into her arms for a hug.
"Everything cool?" Oz questioned.
Buffy nodded. "Coolest. Devil dogs are history. How's the prom?"
"Strangely affecting," he replied. "I teared up when they played 'We Are Family.'"
"Everything's perfect, Buffy," Willow beamed.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Buffy stood by herself at the punch bowl table. A bit removed, a bit forlorn, but still glad for the warmth she was not sharing.
"And the award for Sunnydale High's 'Class Clown' for 1999 goes to..." said someone up on stage. "Jack Mayhew!"
Jack reacts to his triumph and ran up to the stage.
Xander rolled his eyes in disgust. "Please. Anybody can be a prop class clown. You know, none of the people who vote are funny."
The student at the mic turned and motioned toward Jonathon Levinson who stepped up to the mic. "We have one more award to give out... Is Buffy Summers here tonight?" he asked. "Did she, uh..."
The crowd clustered around the stage turned around to locate Buffy. She was getting punch when the spotlight hit her. She turned around completely confused on what was going on.
"This is actually a new category," Jonathon said, "first time ever, I guess there were a lot of write in ballots... and, uh, the prom committee has asked me to read this." He produced a piece of paper and read it a little stiffly, "We're not good friends. Most of us never found the time to get to know you. But that doesn't mean we haven't noticed you. We don't talk about it much, but it's no secret Sunnydale High isn't really like other schools. A lot of weird stuff happens here."
There were murmurs and chuckles as students called out:
"Zombies!"
"Hyena people!"
"Snyder!"
"But whenever there was a problem or something creepy happened, you seemed to show up and stop it," Jonathon continued. "Most of the people here have been saved by you." He looked at Buffy. "Or helped by you, at one time or another. We're proud to say that the class of 2001 has the lowest mortality rate of any graduating class in Sunnydale history." The crowd clustered around the stage turned round to locate her. Soon they found the reason for her failure to answer to the call. "And we know at least part of that is because of you. So, the senior class offers its thanks, and ... gives you, uh, this..."
There was some fumbling about between the kids as they passed Buffy's award to the front. Even from where Buffy stood, she could tell it was a small umbrella, decorated and spray-painted in gold glitter and affixed with a small plaque. "It's from all of us, and it has written here, 'Buffy Summers, Class Protector.'"
The entire crowd broke into applause. Buffy, nearly in tears, she walked up to the stage to collect her award. Jonathon smiled at her as he shyly handed her the trophy, the golden glitter sparkling from the lights above.
Jonathon leaned in to kiss her cheek, and uttered his own thanks for her saving him from himself when he was ready to take his own life in the bell tower. "I'm not only grateful for myself," he whispered, "but for the opportunity of giving this to you. Until afterwards, I had no idea how many of our fellow students felt the same way."
"Neither did I, until tonight," Buffy replied. "Thank them for me, Jonathon, and yourself. Tell them that they have made everything worthwhile."
"I will," he replied, before stepping back to let her take center stage and show her appreciation to all who were gathered.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Giles spotted Buffy, standing alone with her award, watching her friends dance. He walked over to her. "You did good work tonight, Buffy."
"Yeah, and I got a toy surprise," Buffy said.
"Yes," Giles agreed. "I really had no idea that children—en masse—could be gracious."
"Every now and then, people surprise you," Buffy admitted.
Giles saw something behind Buffy and a smile appeared on his face. "Every now and then," he agreed.
Buffy turned as she followed his gaze. She saw Faith in her prom dress walking toward her.
Giles stepped gracefully away—taking the umbrella with him.
Buffy simply stood there her eyes locked on Faith. "I never thought you'd come," she said.
Faith smiled. "It's a big night. I didn't want to miss it," she said. "Will you dance with me?"
Buffy smiled as she folded into Faith's arms, her head on Faith's shoulder as they began to move to the sound of the music.
"I love you, Buffy," Faith whispered into Buffy's ear.
"And I love you, Faith," Buffy answered.
Victor's Apartment
Faith laid in her bed asleep, Buffy's arm wrapped around her protectively.
Faith's Dreamscape
"Hello is there anyone there?" Faith asked looking around. She could swear she was being watched.
"Hello, Patricia," came a voice from behind Faith. "Or do you prefer, Faith?" he asked.
Faith spun around and instantly recognized him from the picture in the locket that Prue had given her. "Daddy?"
Andy Trudeau smiled as she stepped toward his daughter. "Hello, my darling girl."
"Please tell me this is real," Faith begged.
"It is," Andy said. "For everything you have gone through your entire life. The Elders decided to give you a gift. Since I can't be summoned, the only way for you to see me was like this, in your dreams. But this sadly is a one-time deal. Once you wake up…"
"I understand," Faith said. "Even if its just for tonight, I'm happy to finally have met you."