Chapter 36: The Prom

Buffy laid next to Faith in the bed at Faith's apartment. They had come back here instead of heading to her house to rest after patrol. Faith was already awake and watching Buffy sleep, her expression was both loving and thoughtful.

Buffy opened her eyes and noticed Faith looking at her and smiled. "What? Do I have funny bed hair or something?"

"Or something," Faith answered.

"Guess we got carried away with the post-slayage nap thing," Buffy answered as she groggily sat up. She patted her hair and found she indeed needed to comb it out. "Oooh. Not good." She started to get out of bed as Faith held her back.

"Where are you going?" Faith asked.

"To kill the cat on my head."

Faith laughed and let Buffy up. She got up as well and followed her girlfriend into the bathroom. She watched as Buffy combed out her hair. Once Buffy was done she pulled Buffy into her arms. "You look perfect, funny hair or not."

"Perfect? Come on. I mean, that's really—" Buffy said as a smile graced her lips. "Okay. You know maybe we should set aside a drawer, for stuff of mine. I mean, that's what couples do, they have drawers."

Faith nodded. "That's right, we could, if I were going to stay here very much longer," she said. "I'm moving out after graduation."

"What!" Buffy shouted suddenly afraid Faith was saying they were breaking up.

"And into the dorm," Faith said. "I managed to swing in a summer admission, with the help of Giles, to the University of Sunnydale."

"Wow!" Buffy said proud that Faith had managed to do that. "Well until then. I could spend the night, after the prom."

"Definitely," Faith said.

"You know. I can't picture you in a dress," Buffy said. "That's …"

"Yes I am going with you to the prom," Faith said. "There is no one else I would rather go with. You better get home. I'm sure your mom, Paige and Dawn are all worried about you. Last night was the first time you and I patrolled alone."

"You are right," Buffy agreed.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Later that morning Xander, Dawn, Paige, Buffy, Willow and Oz sat in the middle of the quad. Xander had just told them who he was going to prom with.

"Anya, huh?" Oz asked. "Interesting choice."

"Choice is kind of a broad term for my situation," Xander said as he made a little talking face with his fist. "It's either Anya or the sock puppet of love for this boy." He looked to his fist as he mimed it speaking. "I love you, Xander, I will never leave you."

Paige shook her head and rolled her eyes. She was sure the little 'sock puppet' was meant to be a jab at her. She knew she still loved Xander but how could she ever get over the fact he had cheated on her with one of her best friends.

"Well, if Anya tries to get you killed, put me down for a big, I told you so," Willow said with a glance towards Paige as if to say I got your back.

Paige smiled at Willow and nodded her thanks. Even through what happened with Xander, Willow, despite being the one Xander had cheated on with, had been a rock, their relationship had barely even wavered.

"Who is this Anya?" Xander said as he continued his mime work. "Is she prettier than me?"

"She just better not cross me, that's all I'm saying," Willow said.

"At least now Willow, Oz, Xander and I all got someone to go with. Just need to get Paige and Dawn hooked up now," Buffy said.

"I do have someone. I have my pity date," Dawn said as she reminded them she was going to go with Jonathon. "Regardless though Paige, Buffy and I got kick dresses."

"The pink ones?" Willow wondered.

"Oh yeah," Buffy said. "Faith's going to lose it. Talking about Faith, anyone seen her this morning. She's running late."

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Faith grabbed her books as she got ready to head out for school. She turned toward the door when a knock came at said door. She sat her books down and opened it. "Mrs. S.?" she said as she moved out of Joyce's way.

"I'm sorry to ... I would have called but I don't have your number," Joyce said as she walked into the motel room.

"Mrs. S., you're always welcome here," Faith said. "Well till the end of the school year anyways when I will be moving into the dorms."

"Rupert did say he had helped get you early admission into the University of Sunnydale," Joyce said.

"I'm running a tad bit late," Faith said. "Is there …"

"I understand Buffy spent the night," Joyce said getting to the point.

"I'm sorry about that," Faith said. "We came back after patrolling and—"

"You both are at the age of consent," Joyce said. "So, what you two do … well actually I was a little worried, it would have been nice to have gotten a call."

"Sorry," Faith said.

"The reason I came was because I am wondering with early admission to college, what do you intend to do …"

"About Buffy?" Faith asked. "I'm hoping that when she gets in, in the fall, that we can share a dorm room. Mrs. S., I know you are worried for Buffy, and I don't blame you. If I were in your place I would be. But as I said when I came to you, I'm in love with Buffy. That's not going to change. And even if it ever did, I would hope we could end on a note where we could still be friends. I don't want to hurt her."

Joyce smiled. "Good. That's all I needed to know."

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

At Sunnydale High in the library; Dawn, Paige, Buffy, Xander, Oz and Willow hung around the table. "So - what?" Buffy asked Willow who sat in Oz's lap. "It was blue and sort of short?"

Willow shook her head. "Not too short. Medium," she said as Giles exited his office. "And it had this wild sort of fringy stuff on the arms—"

"What's this?" Giles said with a bit of interest. "A demon?"

"A prom dress," Paige said. "That Will was thinking about buying."

"Can't you ever get your mind out of the Hellmouth?" Dawn wondered.

"I'd be delighted to. However—the day of the Mayor's Ascension is rapidly approaching and we don't know what to expect," Giles replied.

"What about those books Paige, Faith and Buffy scored?" Xander asked. "Don't tell me their worthless."

"On the contrary," Giles said. "We know the Ascension refers to a human transforming into a demon. Becoming the living embodiment of an immortal. Graduation day, our Mayor Wilkins is scheduled to do just that."

At that moment Wesley walked out of the stacks, carrying an armload of books. "The trouble is, we have no idea which demon he's going to become."

"There are thousands of species," Giles explained. "And the books don't exactly narrow it down as there are a lot of them and their individual rituals."

"So it's safe to say we should not waste time on trifling matters such as a school dance," Wesley said. "Except of course on the actual night of the event when I will be aiding Mr. Giles in his chaperoning duties."

"You …?" Giles said surprised, he had heard nothing of the sort. "Excuse me?" He let out a sigh. "Fine. You're all suffering from a touch of Spring Madness, if you ask me."

"Mine is more space madness," Oz said. "But I'll feel better once I get used to the weightlessness."

"Promise me you'll never be linear," Willow said as she looked over her shoulder at her boyfriend.

"On my trout," Oz said as he and Willow nuzzled.

"We'll find you a dress, Will," Buffy.

"We should check out April Fools," Paige suggested as both Buffy and Dawn nodded in agreement.

"I myself am dipping into my hard earned road trip fund to procure a shiny new tux, so look for me to dazzle," Xander said.

"And I of course will be wearing pink taffeta as the chenille does nothing for my complexion and can we please talk about the Ascension?" Giles said a tad bit exasperated.

"Giles," Buffy said, "We got it. Miles to go before we sleep. But, especially if we're going to vaporize or something on graduation day? We should be able to have a little prom-y fun. One night of glory; not too much to ask."

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Somewhere in town Tucker Wells inserted a video tape into the VCR. As he pushed play he looked at the hellhound in the cage and smiled as he watched it thrash and snarl as it gets agitated from watching what is playing on the TV.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Later that night Buffy and Faith drop down into the sewers and look down the tunnel.

"Oh Goody," Buffy said. "I always say patrol's not complete without a trip to the sticky sewers."

"I'm sure I saw him come down here," Faith suggested.

"Can't we let this be the vamp that got away?" Buffy suggested as she made a big fish gesture. "We can tell everybody he was this big."

"What can I say? I need closure," Faith said.

"And clothes," Buffy said changing the subject. "Did you get a dress yet?"

"Yes," Faith said. "And you're going to die when you see it. Of course not literally, I hope."

Buffy smiled and just as she was about to kiss Faith was when the vampire dropped down from above and attacked. She grabbed him and in one swift motion and whipped out a stake. "Not now," she said a tab bit irritated as she plunged it into his heart and he dusted. Not missing a beat she turned back toward Faith and she leaned in again as they kissed each other passionately.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

The next morning Faith walked into a dress shop. She spotted Cordelia looking at a mirror holding a dress up in front of her. "That one looks good on you," she said as she walked up next to Cordelia.

Cordelia jumped as she spun around. "Faith," she said. "What are you …"

"Doing here?" Faith finished. "Making a payment on my dress."

"I never expected you to be the kind of person to wear a dress," Cordelia said.

"Normally I'm not. But I'm taking Buffy to the dance and since …"

"It's the last one of the year," Cordelia nodded in understanding. "You decided to treat her and go all out?"

"Yeah," Faith said.

"Is this a customer or a friend?" came a voice from behind them.

"Customer," Faith said as she looked toward the woman who had spoken. "Came in to make my final payment on my dress."

"Then you'd better ring her up," the woman said as she nodded toward the manager. "Ms. Finkle so has it in for you."

Faith looked at Cordelia shocked. "You're working here? From what Buffy told me your family has money."

Cordelia sighed. "Not anymore. Daddy made a little mistake on his taxes for the last twelve years! We're broke."

"Your secret is safe with me," Faith said.

"Thanks," Cordelia said and Faith could tell she genuinely meant it.

It was just then that a hell hound burst through the front window. Faith shoved Cordelia to safety and went after the hell hound. She saw it was making a beeline for a teen in a tuxedo. She grabbed the beast and with every ounce of strength she had she threw it at the window. It turned its attention toward Faith and then suddenly stopped as if listening to a silent command and then darted back out the window it entered through.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Back at the Library later that day Faith and Cordelia were telling everyone what had happened at the dress shop.

"And you say the beast just - stopped?" Giles asked.

Faith nodded. "Yeah," she said. "He suddenly just turned and lunged back out the window he came in."

"The other part that totally weirded me out?" Cordelia said. "That thing had good taste. I mean, he went straight for the formal wear."

"She's right," Faith said. "I barely managed to toss him away from the kid before he was made sushi."

"From Faith and Cordelia's description, if I'm not mistaken, this was a Hell Hound," Wesley said.

"Yes," Giles agreed. "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 –"

"When the creature left I got a look out the window trying to see which way it went. I noticed something odd," Faith said. "There was this kid. Looked like he was holding something."

"Can you describe him?" Giles asked.

"I think we can do one better," Willow suggested. She went into the stacks and came back a second later with a stack of high school yearbooks. "If he is currently or is a former student. Faith could find him."

Faith looked through the yearbooks. They found the kid, by the name of Tucker Wells in one of the yearbooks Willow had grabbed. "That's him," she said pointing at Tucker's picture.

"Tucker Wells," Oz said. "I had chem with him."

"Let me guess," Wesley said. "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."

"Ooooh!" Willow said. She had moved over to the computer and was busy trying to hack into Tucker's email account. "Ooooh! I got into Tucker's e-mail account –"

"Cool," Xander said.

"Listen to this message Tucker sent to this kid, David Metz, at school last week. The Sunnydale High lemmings have no idea what awaits them. Their big night will be their last night."

"So. We have a threat against the students on their big night..." Giles said as realization began to dawn on him. "A hell hound trained to attack people n formal wear."

"Oh, are we all catching up now?" Cordelia asked, quite full of herself.

"This Tucker is planning an attack on the prom tonight," Giles said.

"Once again - the Hellmouth puts the special in special occasion," Oz said.

"Why do I even buy tickets for these things - I ask you?" Xander wondered.

"I wonder if I can take my dress back," Willow suggested.

"Don't you dare," Buffy said.

"But Tucker's going to," Willow started.

"No," Buffy said. "You guys are going to have a prom. The kind of prom everyone should have. Faith and I will give you all a nice, fun, normal evening... if we have to kill every single person on the face of the Earth to do it." She looked at Wesley. "Wes, go to his house. Probably not there, but it's worth a shot."

"All right," Wesley agreed. "Perhaps strength in numbers is –"

"Take Cordelia and Paige," Faith said.

"If that's the plan, all right... and the others?" Wesley asked.

"Oz - you said you know this David kid Tucker e-mailed," Buffy said. "You, Will and Dawn go track him down. Find out what he knows - if he's involved."

"We're on it," Dawn said as she, Willow and Oz headed out the door. She noticed that Paige orbed out with Cordelia and Wesley.

Faith looked at Giles. "These guy need supplies; food and what not right?" she asked as Giles nodded. She looked at Xander. "You and Giles go to the Magic Box."

"See who's been stocking up on Hell Hound Sausages. I hear those pups will do anything for a tasty snack treat," Xander said.

"Before you guys go," Buffy said. "Giles, you said they eat brains. Any brains?"

"I suppose..." Giles said.

"Then Faith and I will be checking out where Tucker could get the brains from," Buffy said.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

At a meat packing plant Buffy and Faith waited while a heavy-set guy in a blood stained white uniform finished writing down an address on his clipboard. He ripped the piece of paper and handed it to them.

"Yeah," he said. "This kid orders cow brains a couple times a week. Goes to this address. Weird kid."

"Thanks," Faith said as he walked away.

As the girls began to turn away they spotted Angel at the other end of the loading dock. They could tell he was giving another worker some money. The worker handed him a bag in exchange. When Angel spotted them he slowly made his way toward them.

"What are you two doing here?" Angel asked.

"Someone has some hell hounds trained to attack the prom," Faith said.

"I was surprised to see you here," Angel said as he looked at Buffy.

"Me too," Buffy said. "Even though I shouldn't be. I mean - where did I think you got your blood? McPlasma's?"

"How are you?" Angel asked.

Buffy looked toward Faith and smiled. "Right as rain. Whatever that means."

"I'm glad," Angel said.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Later back at the Library Buffy and Faith returned to find Paige, Dawn, Oz, Willow, Xander and Giles looking a little bummed.

"Zeroes all round, Buff," Xander said.

"Sorry," Willow added.

"Make not with the long faces," Buffy said. "Faith and I got the address. Now. The prom starts in a little while. You guys go on. We'll catch up with you as soon as we put a lid on this jerk."

"What?" Xander said. "No way."

"We can't just leave you, Buffy," Dawn said.

"Buffy, Faith, they're right. You two need," Giles said.

"To see tail lights. Hit the door," Faith said. "We've got everything under control."

They all know better than to question Faith. Everyone except Buffy, Faith and Giles head out the door. Giles looked at Buffy and Faith questioningly.

"We want you at the gym," Buffy said. "Keep an eye on them till we get there."

"I don't need to tell you two that you're being rather rash," Giles said. "Getting an address hardly adds up to case closed."

"We know," Faith said. "Hence why we want you there. We know how Paige feels about orbing in public. But with you keeping an eye on things. You can make sure she is a last line of defense without them having to worry about the night."

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

At the dress shop the place was still a mess from the attack. Cordelia and the other employees were cleaning up.

Ms. Finkle strode through from the back office, on her way out. "Get as much done as you can tonight, girls. I'll see you tomorrow," she said as she walked out the door.

Cordelia and the others wait a moment and then wordlessly drop their brooms and grab their coats. Cordelia was almost out the door when the one of the other girls stopped her, a garment bag in her hand.

"Don't forget your dress. Aren't you wearing it tonight?"

Cordelia wrestled with her conscience for a moment. "I hate myself for saying this. I haven't
finished paying for it.

The other girl checked the receipt and then handed it to Cordelia. "Well somebody did."

Cordelia took the receipt and looked at it, her eyes going wide at what she saw. 'Enjoy the night, Faith.'

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Across town Buffy violently kicked opened the door to Tucker's lair, a ramshackle mix of part animal kennel and part amateur TV repair shop. They saw Tucker about to open the cage of a hellhound. Buffy grabbed him hard as Faith slammed the cage shut and locked it.

"Sorry," Buffy said. "New plan. The prom is go and you're pathetic."

"Maybe..." Tucker said as he grabbed an electrical cord and yanked a heavy lamp off a tall shelf and onto Buffy. That one action managed to stun Buffy enough that he was able to break out of her grasp. "Maybe not."

Faith grabbed a screwdriver that she noticed that Tucker was going for. "No way."

"Faith," Buffy said as she saw a tv in front of the hellhound's cage.

"Carrie, Pretty in Pink," Faith said as she saw a couple discarded video boxes. "So that's it? You brain-washed the hound to go psycho over all things prom?"

Tucker grinned. "Neat, huh?"

"I don't get. What kind of sicko would want to destroy the happiest night of a senior's life?" Buffy wondered.

"I have my reasons," Tucker answered.

"Whatever. Every maladjust has a reason. Lucky for me you're an incompetent maladjust," Buffy said.

Faith grabbed Tucker and shoved him toward Buffy. "Buffy, closet."

Buffy grabbed Tucker as Faith grabbed some rope and tied him up. They dragged him to the door and opened it to find out it was not the door to a closet but another room with even more hellhound cages.

Tucker grinned when they saw that the cages were empty. "Gotta 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."

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Later outside the gym Buffy and Faith arrive to find that the prom is in full swing. They then notice three hellhounds heading for the building. Buffy pulled a crossbow out of the weapons bag she and Faith had and fired it at one of the hellhounds. It hit with only seconds to spare as it was about to enter the grym. It bellowed as it fell down dead.

The remaining two hellhounds stop and check on their fallen companion. Then they take off heading for Buffy and Faith snarling, teeth bared.

"Run," Faith said and they turned and ran leading the hellhounds away from the gym.

The hellhounds were suddenly distracted by music coming from the gym and they turn tail and once more are heading for gym. Buffy tried to fire her crossbow again but it was no use as the hellhounds ran into the building.

Buffy and Faith followed them into the building. "Drapes," Faith said as Buffy nodded. Buffy and Faith leapt for the drapes and pulled them down over the hounds stopping them. They each drew a knife they were carrying and plunged them into the hounds killing them.

Before anyone can see they pull the hounds back out of the building and hid all three in the bushes to be disposed of later. They then walk over to the weapon bag and pull out a garment bag.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

The prom was in full swing when Buffy and Faith walked in, looking breathtaking. They saw Giles and nodded to him to let him know it was all taken care of.

Giles nodded back, quietly pleased.

"Buffy," Paige said as she walked up to Faith and Buffy, "Faith, you two didn't need me here keeping an …"

"No," Buffy said. "But this is your time too."

Paige nodded as she smiled and hugged her sister.

"Buffy!" Willow said as she and Oz walked over. She hugged her friend. "You look awesome."

"Everything cool?" Oz asked.

"Everything is five by five," Faith said.

"How's the prom?" Buffy asked.

"Strangely affecting. I teared up when they played We Are Family," Oz said.

"Everything's perfect, Buffy," Willow added.

"Where's Dawn?" Buffy asked.

"Not sure," Paige said. "She and Jonathon are kind of missing at the moment."

It was then that Jonathon and Dawn came out on stage.

"Can Buffy, Paige and Faith come forward," Dawn said into the microphone.

Buffy, Willow, Oz, Paige and Faith look around confused as Xander and Anya come up to them.

"It's your time," Xander said.

"Before we start with the normal prom awards. The prom committee has asked me to read this. It's a result of a number of ballot entries," Jonathon said as he produced a piece of paper. "Most of us never found the time to get to know the four of you. But that doesn't mean we haven't noticed any of 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. But whenever there was a problem or something creepy happened, you four seemed to show up and stop it. Most of the people here have been saved by you four, or helped by at least one of you, at one time or another. We're proud to say that the class of '99 has the lowest mortality rate of any graduating class in Sunnydale history. And we know at least part of that is because of the four of you. So the senior class offers its thanks, and ... gives each of you, uh, this..."

There is some fumbling by some kids on the stage as they pass four awards to the front. Four small umbrellas, decorated and spray-painted with gold. "It's from all of us, and they have the same written on them. Buffy Summers, Class Protector. Paige Summers, Class Protector, Dawn Summers, Class Protector and Faith Lehane, Class Protector."

Buffy, Paige and Faith slowly walked to the front of the gym and up onto the stage to stand next to Dawn as everyone in the gym began clapping. One by one they are handed the umbrellas. They each take them and faced the crowd unsure of what exactly they should do.