The vampire hit the ground with a thud, but rolled quickly out of the way of the stake. As the demon was jumping back to his feet, Buffy did a spin kick from her crouched position, hitting the vampire in the back of the legs. Once again the vampire hit the ground with a thud. This time, though, she was faster than the vampire, and staked it before it could finish it’s roll. She stood up and wiped the dust of her clothes.

“Well, another one bites the dust,” she said.

“Yes, very good job tonight,” Giles commended her. “You disposed of this creature rather quickly this evening, and you used good technique as well.”

“Thanks Giles, I just know that I have to be my best to beat Angel,” she replied. I wonder where he is tonight, she thought.

“Well, he knows where you usually patrol, so we should keep an eye out, incase he decides to pay you a visit. Do you want to step up your training?” Giles asked.

“I thought I had stepped it up,” she said, wondering what it was he was holding back from her this time.

“Yes, you have, but as you said, to beat him, you will have to be at the top of your abilities. You’ve never fought a vampire as strong as him before,” he explained.

“I had him once, I can take him again,” she stated.

“I’m not entirely convinced he wasn’t just testing you, to see if you could kill him. And if he was testing you, he was right.” Giles quickly moved on, knowing that the memories would upset her. And knowing that it would help him not think about it as well. “I know it will be hard for you, but he has to be destroyed. And I know you can do it. And do it you will.”

Buffy looked down, she felt the guilt over Jenny building up inside her, and she could feel his anger building as he spoke. “I can do it. I will do it. But am I ready? What if I fail?”

“I’m going to do everything that I can to make sure that won’t happen.” He saw that it was too late to keep her from getting depressed, and his anger was probably showing. He wished he had her skills, but he didn’t. She would have to be the one to kill Angel, and he was going to make sure that she was ready, and that she wouldn’t fight him until she was.

“I’m sorry I let you down. I’m sorry I couldn’t stop him when I had the chance.” she said, nearing tears.

“No, I’m sorry I almost got myself killed. I’m not the slayer, I don’t have the skills to beat him. You do. But we have to hone them to their sharpest. You won’t fail me, as long as I don’t fail you.” Giles thought for a second, “We can add an extra half hour to your training after school, if you can do that.”

“I can. I’ll tell my mom I’m staying after with Willow,” Buffy said. “Tell me, is there anything about Angel that you know that you haven’t told me?”

“I had hoped that I wouldn’t have to tell you, but you deserve to know. There are a few holes in the watcher diaries about Angel’s life before the curse. These holes coincide with the death of at least two slayers, and,” he added, lower, “their watchers. I don’t want you to fight him unprepared,” he said.

“Thank you, Giles,” she spoke. “I knew you were holding out on me again. Please don’t do that anymore.”

Giles looked her right in the eye, “I won’t. I swear it.”

“Thanks. Well, at least I know I’m not like other slayers,” she sighed.

“No, you aren’t. And I do believe that will help you,” he said reassuringly. “I genuinely do.”

“Well, being the slayer, I better see if there are any other vampires hanging around here.” Buffy looked around at the empty park. “Let’s go hit up the cemetery, see if we have any new recruits.”

“Yes, let’s do that,” Giles said, and together they walked towards his car in silence.

"*"

“I love that movie,” Willow exclaimed. “It deserved to win all those awards.”

“Well, it still sank,” Oz said teasingly. “You hungry?” he asked as they stood in front of the theater.

“No, I just ate all that popcorn, are you still hungry?” she asked, surprised.

“Yeah, actually. I could use some pizza,” Oz said. “I think it has to do with the werewolf thing. When it gets close to the full moon, my appetite goes through the roof.”

“Oh,” she said. “So we better get you some food. I’ll just watch though.’"

“I can buy you a soda?” he offered.

“And I could drink it, too,” she replied and gave him a wide smile. They walked hand in hand over to his van. He opened her door for her, and kissed her when she got in. Then he walked around the other side of the van, and everything went black.