3rd Person's POV

Giles is still pouring over his notes when Willow enters. He looks up, hoping to see Buffy.

"It's just me. So there's no word?"

"Not as of yet."

"Well, I'm sure they're... great."

"Did you find anything of interest?"

She sits, shows him copied articles as she talks, "I think maybe. I looked through the old papers, around the time of that big earthquake back in '37. And for several months before it, there was a rash of murders."

"Great! I mean, not great in a good way... Go on."

"They sound like the kind you were looking for. Throats, blood. Months, and not even a clue."

Giles nods, "It's all coming together. I rather wish it weren't."

A few moments later, Buffy and Xander enter, looking somewhat worse after their adventure. Willow takes one look at their faces and doesn't have to ask yet she does anyway.

"Did you find Jesse?"

Xander nods with a grim look, "Yeah."

"Was he dead?"

Buffy shakes her head, "Worse."

Willow sits and breathes heavily.

"I'm sorry, Willow. We were too late. And they were waiting for us."

"At least you two are okay."

Xander kicks a trash bin in frustration, "I don't like vampires. I'm gonna take a stand and say they're not good."

"So, Giles, you got anything that can make this day worse?"

Giles looks over at Buffy, "How about the end of the world."

Buffy grimaces, "I knew I could count on you."

"This is what we know. Some sixty years ago a very old, very powerful vampire came to this shore, and not just to feed."

"He came 'cause this town is a mystical whoosit?"

"Yes. The Spanish who first settled here called it Boca Del Infierno-- roughly translated: Hellmouth. A sort of portal from this reality to the next. This vampire hoped to open it."

"Bring the demons back." Buffy says understanding.

"End of the world." Xander adds making Buffy nod.

"But he blew it. Or, I mean, there was an
earthquake that swallowed about half the town. And him too-- or at least there were no more vampire-type killings after." Willow says.

"Opening dimensional portals is tricky business. Odds are he got himself stuck. Like a cork in a bottle."

"And this Harvest thing is to get him out?" Xander looks questioningly at Giles. 

"It comes once in a century, on this night. A
Master can draw power from one of his minions while it feeds. Enough power to break free, and to open the portal. The minion is called the Vessel, and he bears this symbol."

He shows them a sketch of the three-pointed star.

"So, I dust anyone sporting this look, and no Harvest."

"Simply put, yes."

"Any clue where this little get-together is being held?"

Giles takes off his glasses and rubs his forehead, "Well, there are a number of possibilities-"

"They're going to the Bronze." Xander interrupts.

"Are you sure?" Willow asks with wide eyes.

"Come on, tasty young morsels all over the place. Anyway, that's where Jesse's gonna be. Trust me."

"Uh oh."

"What do you mean uh oh Willow?" Buffy asks hoping nothing worse can happen.

"Laney is with Cordelia. They were planning on going to the Bronze. They're probably on their way there now."

Giles frowns then nods, "Then we need to get there. The sun will be down before long."

They head out toward the door.

"I gotta make a stop. Won't take long."

"What for?" Giles asks as he watches Buffy walk away.

"Supplies."

Laney looks across the dance floor from the balcony as Cordelia talks to her followers.

"Senior boys are the only way to go. They're just a better class of person. The boys in our grade? Forget about it. They're children. Like Jesse-- did you see him last night? The way he follows Laney around... He's like a little puppy dog: you just want to put him to sleep. Senior boys have
mystery, they have... what's the word I'm
searching for? Cars."

A Cordette starts to speak. Cordelia interrupts.

"I'm just not the type to settle. If I go into a
clothing store, I always have to have the most expensive thing not because it's expensive, but because it costs more."

The same Cordette tries to speak again making Cordelia frown.

"Hello! Miss Motormouth-- can I get a sentence finished? Oh! I love this song!"

She gets up and runs over to Laney.

"Let's dance Laney!"

Laney laughs as Cordelia pulls her to the stairs. They make their way to the middle of the crowd.

At the door Jesse walks in, a new man. A cool, subtle swagger in his step. His eyes go right to Laney. He smirks looking up and down her body.

Jesse makes his way slowly through the crowd, not towards but around Laney, his eyes never leaving her. He bites his lip as he stares at her tight red dress. She looks up and sees him too-- and for the first time, she doesn't look away in disgust. There's something different about him.

A slow song starts playing, and Cordelia stops dancing.

"Hey Lane I think we're gonna go take a bathroom break and powder our noses. You coming?"

Laney frowns as she tries to keep her eyes on Jesse but as Cordelia steps into view she loses sight of him.

"What? Oh um no... I'll be there in a sec."

Cordelia frowns looking at her then says okay. With the Cordette's in tow she heads off the floor.

Laney looks around and wonders where he could've gone. She turns around and he's suddenly standing in her way, smiling that distant smile.

"What do you want?"

It's the old attitude, but she's not fooling anyone. He grabs her waist, pulling her close to him. She looks at him in shock but doesn't move his hands.

"Hey! Hello, caveman-brain! What do you think you're doing?"

He look down at her, smiling winningly.

"Shut up."

And just like that she's hooked.

"Fine just this one dance..."

She moves closer to him, putting her arms around his neck as he smirks.

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JUST FOR FUN

Laney's Dress