3rd Person's POV

At Pop's Pumpkin Patch, a sign counting off the days until Halloween is stuck in the ground aglow with a candle. Out of nowhere, Buffy lands flat on her back on top of it. She looks up at the vampire that just threw her and sees him coming toward her. She grabs a squash lying on the ground behind her and throws it at him, hitting him in the forehead. Quickly she follows it up with a pumpkin. The vampire staggers back a few steps. Buffy hops back to her feet as she pulls a stake out of her shirt and launches it at him.

He grabs the scarecrow and pulls it over in front of him so the stake impales it instead. He shoves the scarecrow aside and comes at her with a roundhouse kick. They start fighting hand-to-hand.

Nearby a vampire stands taping the fight as a record light is on a camcorder. He gets closer for a better view. The 'battery low' indicator starts flashing. A moment later the view becomes snowy, and the vampire takes the camcorder away from his eye. He jostles it, and it starts working again. He raises it back to his eye to continue recording.

The fight goes on, and a few hits later the first vampire knocks Buffy into the hay wagon. She holds onto the side of the wagon and kicks the vampire to the ground. She turns around with her back to the wagon and grabs the railing as the vampire gets back up. She raises her legs and grabs the vampire's head in a scissor hold. She twists her body and flips him over sideways onto the ground.

Stepping away from the wagon, she spies the sign and then looks down at the vampire. He tries to grab for her legs, so she jumps over him and somersaults to the countdown sign. She pulls it out of the ground and swings it at his legs as he comes for her, knocking them out from under him. She raises the sign and jams the end of the signpost into his chest. The vampire bursts into ashes.

Buffy huffs then leaves the sign stuck in the ground at its new location and walks out of the pumpkin patch. The second vampire lowers the camcorder and slowly backs away as he watches her go.

"Where the heck were you?"

Laney jumps in fright as she turns around quickly pushing something behind a tall hay stack.

"Huh?"

Buffy crosses her arms over her chest while tapping her foot on the ground, "You. Where were you?"

Laney chuckles nervously while running her hands through her dark hair, "Oh me... I was... I was... I had to pee."

Buffy raises an eyebrow, "You had to pee?"

"Yes?"

Buffy groans slapping her hand over her face. She pushes past Laney and pulls a sheepish looking Colby from behind the haystack.

Laney gasps dramatically, "Colby! What are you doing here? Small world."

"Cut the act."

Groaning Laney shrugs before pouting, "I was on my way to help when I ran into him. He was picking up pumpkins for us to decorate. Well me and him and Willow and my mom. Isn't that so sweet?"

"Totally sweet." Buffy rolls her eyes, "So sweet I might get a cavity."

Laney smiles poking Colby's side, "He's so family oriented. I love that about him."

Buffy stares at the two in annoyance. She couldn't believe that they were still together. It had been a month and Colby had not run for the hills yet. He was fully into being a part of the Scooby gang. It wasn't fair.

Colby chuckles rubbing Laney's back soothingly, "And I love that you allow me to be with your family so much since I don't have one."

Laney gasps slapping his chest, "You're so morbidly blunt."

Colby shrugs, "It's a fact. It doesn't hurt me any."

Buffy clears her throat making the two freeze and look over at her, "Hi hello. Teen girl slayer over here. What if I was double teamed and needed your help Laney?"

Laney pouts, "I'm sorry I got distracted for a second. It won't happen again."

"It better not."

"Besides it's not like you couldn't handle it." Laney smiles, "Anyways we gotta go. Dingoes ate my baby are playing tonight. It's my first gig!"

Colby had heard Laney singing multiple times when he gave her rides to school and when they would hang out at her house. He told her she had an amazing voice and that she had to let everyone hear it. After many refusals, Laney finally said yes. So she was now the female singer in his band.

"Aren't you excited for me?"

Laney doesn't wait for a reply as she pulls Colby's arm as he carries a basket of pumpkins.

Buffy frowns watching the two, "Yeah."

As she goes to follow them, she groans seeing another vampire scamper through the haystack.

...

The Bronze.

A waitress picks up a tray of cappuccino and cupcakes. She pushes through the crowd and passes by Angel who was sitting alone at a table, looking very bored.

A huge spider web and other Halloween decorations adorn the staircase behind him. Cordelia spots him with his bored look and comes over to his table.

"I know. Is the Bronze so not happening? Or what?" She sets down her drink and sits.

Angel raises an eyebrow, "Oh. Hi."

She smiles, "Hi!"

"I'm waiting for Buffy."

"Great! I'll wait with you. Oh hey Laney!"

Angel's head snaps to the front of the Bronze as Laney and Colby walk inside. Colby kisses her head and makes his way to the backstage as Laney hurries over to Cordelia and hugs her.

Laney looks at Angel and smiles, "Hey guys."

"Hi." Angel nods.

Cordelia sighs looking around, "I'm supposed to be meeting Devon, but he's nowhere to be seen. It's like he thinks being in a band gives him an obligation to flake."

Laney laughs as Angel smiles at the joke.

Cordelia shrugs, "Well, his loss is your incredible gain!"

Angel grimaces, "Great."

About ten minutes later, Buffy comes running into the Bronze. She looks around and sees Angel at the table with Cordelia and Laney, laughing.

"So I told Devon, 'You call that leather interior? My Barbie Dream Car had nicer seats!'"

Buffy frowns upset and turns around to leave but Angel notices her just as she's about to go.

"Buffy?" He gets up and hurries over to her.

Buffy freezes then turns back around, "Hi! I'm..."

"Late."

Buffy nods, "Rough day at the office."

Angel reaches up to her hair and pulls out a piece of straw.

"So I see."

Buffy shrugs shyly, "Hey, it's a look. A seasonal look."

Cordelia appears behind Angel, "Buffy. Love the hair. It just screams street urchin."

Buffy smiles awkwardly as Cordelia then moves away sipping her drink and Laney slaps her arm, shaking her head.

"Know what? I need to go..." Buffy loses the smile, "put a bag over my head."

Angel grabs her arm as she starts to leave, "Don't listen to her. Please. She's kidding. You look fine."

"You're sweet. A terrible liar, but sweet."

Angel frowns, "I thought we had..."

"A date. So did I. But who am I kidding?Dates are things normal girls have. Girls who have time to think about nail polish and facials. Like Cordelia and especially Laney... You know what I think about? Ambush tactics. Beheading. Not exactly the stuff dreams are made of."

Buffy hurries and runs out the door as Cordelia pops back up beside Angel smiling.

"Cappuccino?"

She holds the cup up to him. He looks at her, down at the cappuccino and then back at the door. He shakes his head and quickly makes his way out.

Laney groans and gives Cordelia a look, "Cordy..."

"What?"

"You know what..."

Cordelia rolls her eyes with a small smile before pointing towards the door, "Well go stop him. You seem to be the mediator of all arguments and issues these days."

Laney shakes her head, "You're a mess. I'll be right back."

"Hurry you're on in ten."

Laney nods as she jogs out the front door. She glances both ways before sighing and going right. She passes by a lit alleyway and sees a figure walk away from where she was standing.

"Angel! Wait!"

The figure stops and stands before turning around. Laney lets out a breath of relief before jogging over to Angel.

"Hey... I'm sorry about Cordy. She's sorry too. She just really likes messing with people. One of her few flaws."

Angel grins slowly, "Few?"

Laney smiles chuckling to herself, "Hey watch yourself buddy. That's my best friend you're talking about."

Angel smiles shaking his head, "Yeah I know. Sorry... you two... You're like polar opposites."

"Yeah... but I know something great about her. I know who she truly is. She's not as bad as she likes to put out."

Angel stares at Laney intensely, "You're a good friend Laney. You always have been and always will be."

Laney smiles tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear, "You sweet talking me Angel? Trying to get on my good side."

Angel chuckles, "I don't need to. I'm already there."

Laney giggles looking away from Angel's intense stare before rubbing her arms as a slight wind passes them.

"You cold?"

"What? Oh no I'm fine."

Angel shakes his head and starts to take off his leather jacket. Laney shakes her head holding her hands up, accidentally touching his chest.

"No I don't need it. I promise you."

"No I'll feel much better if you take it."

"I'm going back inside in a second. I really don't-"

As Laney takes a step back she trips over her feet. Angel quickly grips her waist holding her up steadily. They both freeze and then look into each other's eyes.

Nearby, Buffy frowns as she watches Laney and Angel stare into each other's gaze. She sees Laney's hands on Angel's chest and Angel's hands holding Laney's waist. She sighs sadly then quickly turns around and makes her way home.

Laney chuckles awkwardly as she pats Angel's chest and takes a step away from him. She grabs the jacket that was now in his hand and wears it, "Sorry I'm so clumsy."

Angel chuckles as well and runs his hand through his hair, "Yes you are. I'm very surprised you haven't broken your neck yet with everything you do."

Laney giggles and sways back and forth on her heels to her tip toes, "Me too. Quite the mystery. Look Angel I just wanted to apologize on Cordy's behalf. She really isn't trying to ruin whatever it is you have with Buffy."

Angel waves a hand disregarding her comment, "Eh it's fine. We know how Buffy is... it's very hard sometimes to figure out what she truly wants. I don't know... I think she's in her own head too much sometimes."

Laney nods, "Yeah that's probably it. I'll talk to her and see what's up. We need to get you two together because you guys are most definitely future goals.. once we get over this tiny speed bump."

Angel's eyebrows furrow in confusion , "Goals?"

Laney smiles, "Yeah. Like other couples would see you as perfect. But no one else can compare. Ever."

Angel chuckles shaking his head slowly, "You do know we're not even dating right?"

"Not yet you're not."

"Hey Lane! You're on in two!"

Laney quickly twists around to see Colby running up to her and Angel. Angel watches as Laney's eyes gleam and her smile widens even more than he thought possible. He smiles happy that she was happy and found someone who liked her and her only.

"Sorry I was just talking to Angel."

Colby wraps his arm around Laney's waist before realizing she was wearing Angel's jacket. He doesn't say anything though, he knew Laney. It was so fast but he knew what kind of person she was, and she would never cheat. And he was slowly starting to figure out Angel too, he was a good guy and he wasn't a two timer either. Colby saw how Angel looked at Buffy; it was how he looked at Laney. Like she was the only other person in the world.

Colby does a quick nod then smiles at Angel, "Okay... Hey man how's it going?"

"Uh it's going..."

"Buffy a no show?" Colby frowns.

Laney's eyes widen. She slaps Colby's chest before giving Angel an apologetic smile.

"Uh no she just had to go as soon as she got here... Um I'll see you guys... whenever."

Angel turns around and walks down the alleyway as Laney sighs. She glances back at Colby who looks at her with a grimace.

"That's my bad. Are they fighting again?"

Laney shakes her head and grabs his hand playing with his fingers, "No... well not really. I just think Buffy may be in her head right now when it comes to Angel liking her. I mean I get it. I've been there."

Colby smiles kissing Laney's forehead looking down at her, "Yeah you're stubborn just like her."

Laney sticks out her tongue making Colby ruffle her hair. She gasps and slaps his back.

"Colby! I have to be on stage in... Now!"

Colby laughs to himself watching Laney run back to the Bronze. He shakes his head seeing her disappear.

He already knew she was the one. This was the girl for him. This was one person that he wanted in his life for a long time. He would treat her like she was everything. He already knew that if he lost her, life wouldn't be the same.

He was already falling for Laney Rosenberg, and he was falling hard.

Are Laney and Colby not feeling adorable?!?

I felt bad for Buffy this episode but also girl like Angel is into you. Don't let someone else try to dim your confidence.

Fav moment so far?

Fav character?

Fav duo?

Fav trio?

Fav ship? Future ship?

Future predictions?

Any special requests...