3rd Person's POV

Goose bumps rose all over her body as he lightly breathed on her neck. His hands caressed her shoulders. A light kiss along her jaw made her shudder. The anticipation of what was coming was driving her wild. As he kissed her lips, he flipped them over so she would hover over him. As their lips met, electricity shot through her body. His soft tongue parted her mouth and met hers. His palms slid down her shoulders and found her lower back as he pulled her tight against his chest. Before their kiss could deepen, Laney feels herself being pulled back into a memory. She remembers hands on her back going down just as Colby's were now.

"S-stop..."

Colby freezes immediately looking concerned at her blank face. He quickly moves his hands away from her back, "Too much?"

Laney sighs and licks her lips staring ahead at the wall, "I-I'm sorry."

Colby smiles looking up at Laney as she tried not to make eye contact with him. He kisses her head of hair before sitting up, letting her go.

"Sorry for what? We have dinner in 30. I'm going to go to my room and get ready. I'll be back to get you in a few." He grabs her hand and kisses her palm before leaving out the room.

Laney groans and falls back onto her bed. She covers her face with her pillow and screams.

KNOCK KNOCK

Laney removes the pillow and looks at the open door seeing Cordelia lean against the doorway.

"I happen to be next door and I've noticed for the last month four times Colby has left with blue balls."

Laney looks at her blankly while wringing her hands together.

"Why don't you tell him?"

"Tell him?!" Laney stands up quickly making Cordelia jump, "Sorry I can't deal with intimacy, Colby. I was r... I-I ugh... I can't..."

Cordelia frowns watching Laney slide down against the wall to sit on the floor. Sighing, she steps into the room and sits down beside her grabbing her hand before she started to scratch her arms.

"You are the strongest person I know. Seriously, Laney. It's amazing really. Colby will understand."

"But he's a boy. Boys have needs."

"Just because he's a man... doesn't mean that all he cares about is sex. He can wank off until you feel comfortable for all I care. But you have to tell him why you are so distant. Eventually he will notice the distance and the comfort level change, and he's going to-"

"Leave me?" Laney pouts.

Cordelia stares at her with wide eyes, "I was going to say make you spit it out. We have got to work on your abandonment issues next."

Laney chokes out a laugh as Cordelia smiles, "You're the worst."

"You love me." Cordelia stands up holding out a hand to help Laney.

"That I do."

Right on time thirty minutes later, Colby knocks on the hotel room door and Cordelia opens it.

"She's in her lair."

Colby chuckles shaking his head, "Nice one, Cordy."

"I thought so. You two kids behave."

Cordelia smiles hurrying out the room to meet her parents for dinner. Colby walks over to Laney's room door and knocks.

"You ready, beautiful?"

Laney quickly opens the door and smiles at Colby as he stands staring at her in awe.

"What? Is it bad?"

Laney was wearing an orange dress with the sides cut out. It was cute and beachy yet still modest to a sort. She had been tanned and freckled now that the sun was beaming down on her daily. Her pearly white teeth shone as she smiled waiting for a reply from Colby.

"No... you look perfect. You look happy."

"Good I am happy. And thank you, you look great yourself. It's no surprise, my boyfriend is hot."

"Ditto."

Colby takes her hand and guides her out the room. The two enjoy their short beach walk as they cut through the sand to get to their set up picnic.

"I had Cordy help me set this up. I know you like your privacy so I figured it would be better than us going to dinner with her parents."

Laney smiles and kisses his cheek, "It's perfect."

Colby helps her sit down. Laney giggles shaking her head.

"I'm not porcelain, Colby I won't break."

"Well you're a delicate flower to me." He kisses her forehead making her roll her eyes. "A bad ass vampire butt kicking delicate flower."

Laney laughs slapping his arm, "Nice save."

"Hey I got you something."

"Really? Me too."

Colby smiles, "You didn't have to get me anything."

"It's okay Jenny bought it a while ago. I just couldn't take it out the box knowing she did. I miss her but she cared about me. She wanted to keep me safe and happy. She didn't even let me buy these."

Laney pulls out two necklaces from her jacket pocket. The two silver crosses she had been looking at in the magic shop.

"Real silver to keep the bad vampires away."

Colby grins taking the necklace from her. He undoes the chain and puts it on instantly then helps her with hers.

"Matching my girlfriend. How stylish."

"Oh shush you. Anyways sorry what did you get me? Not that you had to. I love quality time more."

"I know you do. But I think you'll appreciate this."

He pulls out a ring box and clears his throat. Laney sits in awe waiting. He opens the box and she gasps at the beautiful ring that was revealed. A beautiful diamond mounted the twisted ring design on the silver band. Another ring just the band however just simply silver, no stones.

"It's beautiful."

"This is a promise ring. My promise to you. To always be by your side even when I cannot be present. To remind you my endless love towards you. I love you, Laney Rosenberg. With all my being. And I know you can't say it back right now. That's okay. I will wait until eternity. As long as a smile is on your face, my world is whole."

"This is... wow Colby. I have no words. I'm in complete awe. You are a literal god send just for me. I know I haven't said it yet. I'm trying, I really am-"

She sighs as she feels his lips against hers. Her hands graze the sides of his face as he pulls away from the kiss.

"I know you're trying. I appreciate it. And I am willing to wait."

...

The Sunnydale cemetery at night is quiet. Too quiet. A bouquet of fresh flowers lays on a gravestone titled, Andrew Hoelich, 1981-1998. A hand comes out of the freshly filled grave and claws for solid ground.

Slowly Andrew pulls himself out of his grave, now a newly made vampire. He growls when his head clears the earth, and continues to climb out on his stomach. He crawls along the ground, pulling out his legs, then stops when he sees a pair of wide-spread legs standing before him. He looks up to see who it is.

"That's right, Big Boy." Willow smiles mischievously, "Come and get it."

Andrew suddenly hops to his feet and roars at her. Taken aback by this, Willow takes a few quick steps backward. The vampire takes two steps toward her. Xander grabs him by the collar of his suit and pulls him back away from Willow. Andrew loses his balance in the process.

"I got him! Go!" Xander yells to Willow.

Oz jumps out from behind a bush and starts to run toward them, but then hesitates a moment to get a stake from his jacket pocket.

"Any time now..."

Andrew has regained his balance, and using Xander's grip to stabilize himself, kicks up with both legs and does a double pike snapping kick to Oz's face. Oz stumbles backward and falls. Without pausing, Andrew leaps up again and does a back tuck over Xander's head. Xander tries to rush him, but Andrew uses his momentum to deflect him into Willow. They both go crashing to the ground. Willow moans, but quickly sits up to watch Andrew run away.

"He's getting away! And... ow."

Oz scrambles to his feet and picks up his stake. He watches the demon running and holds his stake by the tip, preparing to throw it like a knife. Andrew leaps over a rock and continues running. Oz throws the stake. It whistles through the air as it flies end over end, and hits a gravestone, bouncing off of it with a loud thunk and flying wild.

Oz sighs shaking his head, "That really never works."

Willow and Xander get up, and Oz turns to them.

"Are you guys all right?"

Xander stands stretching, "First of all, what was with the acrobatics? How did that happen?"

Oz looks in the direction that Andrew went, "Wasn't Andy Hoelich on the gymnastics team?"

Xander gestures with his arm, "That's right, he was!" He turns shouting after Andrew, "Cheater!"

Oz gives Xander a brief look and then stares into the distance again looking for Andrew.

Xander looks to Willow, "Okay, and the, uh, second problem I'm having... 'Come and get it, Big Boy'?"

"Well..." Willow stammers, "W-well, the Slayer always says a pun or-or a witty play on words, and I think it throws the vampires off, and, and it makes them frightened because I'm wisecracking. Okay, I didn't really have a chance to work on that one, but you try it every time."

Oz holds up his hand, "Uh, if I may suggest: 'This time it's personal.' I mean, there's a reason why it's a classic."

Xander streps away picking up his back, "I've always been amazed with how Buffy fought, but... in a way, I feel like we took her punning for granted."

Willow gives Xander a scolding look, "Xander, past tense rule."

"Oh, sorry. I just meant we in the past took it for granted and, uh... we won't when she gets back."

"Do you think Buffy knows school's starting tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow." Willow looks at him, "Right. Big day."

"Oh, I'm gonna be busy a lot. But, but only till 3:00, and that's when you usually get up."

"I can't wait to see Cordelia." Xander smiles then pauses, "I can't believe I can't wait to see Cordelia."

Willow chuckles, "I wonder what our first homework assignment's gonna be."

Xander puts his hands on his hips and gives her a look.

"Hey, you're excited over Cordelia, okay? We've all got issues."

Oz bites the inside of his cheek but doesn't reply. Over the summer the three had hung out a lot. Willow had constantly talked bad about Cordelia. Usually Laney was there to stop her but Laney hadn't talked to Willow or Xander all summer. In fact she hadn't even been home, she stayed with Cordelia. But Oz liked Laney and he was starting to like Cordelia. Whenever the band had practice Cordelia brought snacks and drinks. She was nice. He didn't really care for the bad Cordelia talk from his girlfriend who he believed to be sweet and innocent.

"I guess we should pack it in."

"Yeah."

They all start to walk away from Andrew's grave.

Willow frowns, "Wouldn't it be great though, if Buffy just showed up tomorrow? Like nothing happened?"

Xander sighs shaking his head, "She can't just show up, she got kicked out."

"Well, yeah, I-I know. I just wish... I wish we knew where she was."

...

Light pink heels step onto the school grounds before going up the stairs one at a time. The senior guys stop and say hi to the girl as the younger ones just stare. The girls all glare in jealousy.

"It's great to be back."

Cordelia stands beside Laney and smiles, "Ah school. I love the smell of desperation in the morning."

Laney peeks over at Cordelia's outfit and smiles. She was wearing a green shirt with a black plaid skirt and a white sweater tied to her waist.

"Well don't you look all dolled up?"

"Is it bad?" Cordelia straightens out her skirt with her hands.

"No silly. You look great as always."

Cordelia points at Laney and scoffs. Laney wore a white cropped turtleneck sweater with a blue mini skirt and thin white lace doll socks with baby pink heels.

"Says you." Cordelia poses with her hand on her hip and smirks, "Trying to come for my senior superlative title?"

"Oh you mean best dressed?" Laney smiles raising an eyebrow at her friend, "Don't hate the player..."

"Bring it on."

"May the best win."

The two shake hands before giggling and wraps their arms together to enter into the building side by side.

...

Inside Sunnydale High School, students are busy looking for books they will need during the semester in the library. Willow and Giles walk out of the stacks on the mezzanine level. Willow has several books in her arms.

"So, no joy at the cemetery?" Giles whispers.

They come down the stairs.

Willow shakes her head with a smile, "No, he got away. We still have some glitches in the system, like... vampires getting away. But I think we're improving."

They split up as Giles heads through the door to go behind the check-out counter.

"For God's sake be careful." He sighs as they meet at the counter, "I mean, uh, I appreciate your efforts to keep the vampire population down until Buffy returns, but, uh... Well, if anything should happen to you and... you should be killed, I should take it somewhat amiss."

Giles scans Willow's books to check them out.

"You'd be cranky?" Willow suggests.

"Entirely." Giles nods.

"Well, we try not to get killed," The phone in Giles' office rings, "That's part of our whole mission statement. 'Don't get killed.'"

She takes the books and stacks them together again.

"Good, good." He taps on one of her books, "I think you're going to love that one."

As he goes to get the phone, Willow picks the books up and starts out of the library. Before she can take more than a few steps, the doors swing open and almost knock her over. Cordelia smiles sheepishly coming up to her as Laney looks her up and down then walks over to the check out counter.

Willow smiles softly at the two, "Hi!"

"Hey, Willow." Cordelia replies as she puts her bag on the counter beside Laney who pulls a notebook from over the counter and begins to write in it ignoring the short red head.

Willow frowns slightly then shakes her head, "How was your summer?"

Cordelia gasps, "Oh, I can't believe you brought that up. Las Palmas was the nightmare resort. They order you around and make you have organized," She makes quotes with her fingers, "'fun', and I used sarcastic quote marks."

"Nice one, Cordy. I thought the organized fun was fun."

Cordelia glares playfully at Laney as she takes her bag and puts in a book Laney hands her from behind the counter, "Plus the fact there are cockroaches in Mexico big enough to own property. It was all about dread. How was your summer?"

Willow shrugs, "Oh, it was okay."

She wanted to ask Laney but she knew the stubborn girl wouldn't even give her the time of day.

"I'll see you in Spanish, Lane." Cordelia whispers to Laney as she walks out the library with Willow following her.

"She misses you. They both do."

Laney drops the notebook from her hands as she leans across the counter watching Giles exit his office.

"Don't care. This is their punishment for being bad friends and a bad sister."

"Touché. Have you heard what they were doing the summer?"

Laney nods rolling her eyes, "Yeah they're gonna get themselves killed. They have no organization. No strategy. No-"

"You."

"I was going to say Slayer."

"You are just as good."

Laney raises an eyebrow, "Is that supposed to make me feel better or shittier?"

Giles sighs as he walks over to the weapons gate, "Language. Now you have training later tonight unless you help them catch this Andrew that they were speaking of."

"Andrew? The gymnast?"

"I assume so."

Laney laughs, "No wonder they can't catch him. He probably was doing tricks and flips all around them. How funny."

"Quite hilarious I'm sure."

Laney rolls her eyes, "Giles it was a joke. Laugh with me. Ha ha."

Giles smiles shaking his head.

"I got a smile. I'll take it."

"Get to class before you're late."

Laney nods and starts on her way then pauses and quickly turns around and runs over to Giles. She hugs him tightly as he hugs her back.

"Have a good first day."

Laney smiles with an excited squeal, "Last first day. I'm a senior!"

"You will do splendid." He hands her a small crossbow that she fits into her backpack.

"Thanks da-um Giles... see you later." She stammers as she hurries out of the library.

Giles watches as she leaves then smiles to himself. He had heard her slight mistake of almost calling him dad. And honestly it brought him joy. He was a parental figure to her and they meant he was special. He was important. She was to him and he was to her. She would always be his priority. And as much as he didn't want to admit. She would be over his watcher duties as well.

...

"Is Xander around?" Cordelia asks as she looks around the crowded halls.

Willow nods looking around as well, "Well, uh, yeah. Somewhere."

They stop in the hall as Cordelia starts messing with her outfit and pulling her hair behind her ears.

"Good. Great. I haven't seen him yet. Do I look okay?"

"Oh, yeah!" Willow nods and smiles.

Cordelia frowns worried, "How's my hair?"

"Uh, it's good!"

"He didn't meet anybody over the summer, did he? No, who's he gonna meet in Sunnydale, but monsters and stuff? But then again he's always been attracted to monsters." She freezes worried, "How's my hair?"

"Still good."

Willow turns to leave and sees Oz. She smiles hugely, "Hi!"

Cordelia grabs her arm and turns her around to look at her.

"Maybe he's forgotten me." She lets Willow go and smiles, "Well, I'll just have to make him remember. See ya."

Willow stares confused as Cordelia walks off. She shrugs then turns back to Oz, "You came to visit me."

She sees his books and frowns.

"You came with books? Are the books for me?"

"Well, actually, they're kind of for me."

"I don't get it."

"Well, it's sort of a funny story. You remember when I didn't graduate?"

"Well, I know you had a lot of incompletes, but that's what summer school was for."

"Yeah. Well, you remember when I didn't go?"

Two students run past them, and the camera follows them down the hall past a teacher.

"Whoa. Slow down, people." A teacher we yells making them stop running, "Summer is over. Be somber."

Willow and Oz walk by as the teacher goes back into his classroom.

"But you never said anything. How am I supposed to react to this rather alarming news?"

Oz shrugs, "Well, actually, I was pretty much banking on you finding it cute."

"Well, traditionally, you know, repeating a grade isn't exactly a turn-on." They stop by the lounge, "A-and you're practically a genius. You're Mr. Test Scores. I-it's all a little weird."

Oz smiles sheepishly, "So the cute thing is out?"

Xander appears out of nowhere and rushes up to them, "Have you guys seen Cordelia?"

"Yeah. She's around here somewhere." Willow replies.

"I don't want to come on too geeky, but, uh, okay, I'm psyched!" He flashes a big grin, "There's gonna be some heat, if you know what I mean, so you guys might want to duck and cover."

Willow sighs and slaps her forehead. 

"And I'm starting to be geeky." He grins again, "Okay, bye."

He goes to leave , but comes right back, "How's my-"

Willow interrupts knowingly, "Your hair is fine."

"Cool."

Behind a couple of football players at the vending machine, Xander and Cordelia finally meet.

Xander smiles, "Hey!"

Cordelia smiles back, "Hey."

"Good summer?"

"It was all right."

Xander nods, "Cool!"

Cordelia shrugs sounding disappointed, "Yeah."

They stand around looking uncertain for a moment.

"Well, I'll see ya." Xander says.

"Yeah, whatever."

He turns and goes down the steps. Cordelia walks the other way toward the hall.

...

That night at the Bronze. Bellylove is on stage performing their ballad.

Why did I come again?
To find my own way to freedom
And the change is gonna come
I'm gonna find my way
Find my way
Find my way back to freedom

t's not a very busy night. A couple people stand around chatting or slow dancing. Xander lays lounging on a couch off to the side. Willow is sitting in the loveseat set at a right angle to the couch.

"Boy, I'm glad we showed up for 'Depressing Night.'"

Willow frowns, "I wonder what she's doing right now."

Xander shrugs, "Oh, I know what she's doing. Gabbing to all of her friends about her passionate affair with Pedro the Cabana Boy, laughing about me, thinking how she still might have feelings about me."

He glances over at Willow and sees her sadly raise her eyebrows at him.

"Oh, it's possible you were talking about Buffy."

"It's possible. The Bronze just never seems the same without her."

Oz arrives, hands Xander a drink and sits down next to Willow.

"Yeah, and the slaying isn't getting any easier, either."

Oz smiles, "I don't know. I think we're kinda getting a rhythm down."

Xander stares blankly, "We're losing half the vamps."

"Yeah, but... rhythmically."

Willow nods, "We just need to work on our timing, I think."

Xander looks up as someone catches his eye, "No, I know what we need."

"A Vampire Slayer?" Oz suggests.

"Next best thing."

Willow follows his gaze and sees Laney coming into the Bronze with a few friends.

"Um... She hates us. I don't think she'll help."

Xander sighs and then smiles slowly looking at Cordelia, "Next best thing... Bait."

...

In the Sunnydale cemetery, Xander, Cordelia, Willow and Oz walk along a pathway. Oz is twirling a stake.

"Why do I have to be bait? I'm always bait. Why can't Willow be bait?"

Xander sighs, "He's already seen Willow. And could you complain louder so that all the vampires leave?"

Oz shrugs, "I think this is a good spot."

They all stop and look around.

"Is everybody packin'?"

Willow and Xander each pull out a stake. Willow also has a cross.

"Let's do it."

Willow, Oz and Xander split up and look for places to hide, leaving

Cordelia alone out in the open. Cordelia is not liking this, and she quickly makes tracks after Xander.

"I'm doing this for Giles' and Laney's sake. This has nothing to do with you."

"Yeah, like I needed that cleared up." He finds a hiding place, "Go away. This is my hiding spot."

Cordelia pouts, "Where do I hide?"

"You don't hide. You're bait. Go act baity."

Cordelia frowns not understanding, "What's the plan?"

Xander shrugs, "The vampire attacks you."

"And then what?" She asks angrily.

"The vampire kills you. We watch, we rejoice."

Willow overhears from her hiding place and sighs.

"Everything's a joke with you."

Xander chuckles, "No, just our relationship."

Cordelia scoffs, "What relationship?"

Willow looks down at her stake, contemplating using it on them. Andrew appears behind her and smiles evilly.

"Oh, that's right, I forgot. We actually want to bury that piece of the past, don't we?"

Andrew begins to sneak up on Willow. Cordelia and Xander are still arguing.

Xander sighs, "Let me just ask you one thing: how long did it take you to forget me? Were you still taxiing down the runway, or was it actually in the cab?"

Cordelia sneers, "Oh, yeah, Mr. Faithful? You probably met up with some hot little Inca Mummy Girl. Yeah! I heard about her. Laney told me!"

Xander raises his finger at her and is about to respond when they hear Willow get tackled to the ground and scream.

"Help!"

Their attention is immediately diverted to Willow, and they begin to run to her aid. Oz is quicker and beats them there. He jumps over Andrew and grabs him on the way, using his momentum to pull Andrew off of Willow and then throw him aside. Andrew and Willow both quickly get to their feet. Oz holds up his stake, ready to attack Andrew as Willow runs away.

Oz lunges at Andrew, but he just diverts Oz to the side and sends him rolling to the ground. Next Xander comes at Andrew, stake held ready, but Andrew grabs his staking arm by the wrist with one hand and his shoulder with the other, and they begin to struggle. Cordelia watches them struggle, worried.

"Xander!"

She decides to join the fight, and attacks Andrew from behind. She punches his back over and over making him roll his eyes. He quickly pushes Xander down to the ground then turns around and grabs Cordelia throwing her down as well. Xander catches her laying on the ground groaning. Cordelia lays on top of him before looking down at him. The two gaze into one another's eyes for a moment then in an instant, grab each other and start kissing passionately.

"Guys not the time!" Willow yells as Andrew turns back to her ready to attack.

Before he can take a step, he jolts back in surprise as he is punched in the face. He goes to hit back but his hit is blocked. The person grabs his arm and pushes him away then leaps up into the air kicking him in the face. He grabs his nose and growls then flips out the way. The person quickly runs towards him and waits for him to stop flipping. As he stands on his two feet once more, the person kicks his knees making him buckle to the ground. She backhands him then grabs his head and slams it into her knee. Grabbing his coat, she pulls him up from his kneeling position and throws him into the nearby mausoleum. He hits a tombstone as he flies through the air breaking it into pieces. Dust falls over him as the girls black combat boots step into his view.

"Cute flips and tricks but I got a trick for you... I'm gonna make you disappear."

Andrew lets out a pained yelp as he feels a stake plunged into his chest.

"Now that's a good pun."

She watches him fall to the ground in ash then claps her hand together interrupting the couple making out on the ground.

"What were you trying to do? Scare him away with your awful make out?"

Cordelia grins shaking her head, "Sorry."

Oz smiles, "Thanks. We seriously needed you."

Xander stands up dusting himself off, "I think we could've done it-"

Willows yells vampire pointing behind Xander making him cower for a moment. Before anyone can move, an arrow flies past the group and hits the newly turned vampire in the chest.

"Aw man." He curses as he turns to dust.

Laney smirks now holding a crossbow as she stands with a hip poked sassily, "What were we all saying again?"

"Thank you, Laney."

"That's more like it. It's like music to my ears."

~ JUST FOR FUN ~

Laney's Ouftit For Her Date

Beach Picnic Date

Laney and Colby's Promise Ring

Laney's Outfit For First Day Of School

What are our thoughts?!?

I'm so excited to get this season started!! It's so jam packed it's gonna be crazy!!

Who's our favorite character at the moment?

How did y'all feel about Buffy's disappearance?

What about when she came back? Do you think they forgave her too easily? Did she need to be forgiven?

Cordy and Laney's friendship?

Colby and Laney?

Willow and Xander?

Oz?

Giles and Laney will always be the best not real father daughter duo there is. They are just too precious.

Future predictions?

Any special requests...