Love On The Hellmouth

With Spike back Buffy starts to use him in her training. The girls are fighting a real vampire but one who wont rip their heads off. Buffy is able to spar properly with someone who can really fight back for the Potentials to watch and learn. They’re starting to learn their limitations and the power they could one day have. Kennedy is falling harder and harder for Buffy. But she can’t seem to get her alone. She decides to talk to Willow. Kennedy goes into her room, “Hey Willow can I talk to you?” “About what. Wait I know, Buffy?” “Yeah. I want to get her alone. Just to talk, nothing else. But I don’t know how.” Willow thinks for a bit. “You really do like her don’t you?” “Yeah.” “Okay. When Giles gets back he’s going to be taking you all on a Slayers quest. You could maybe fake sick. I’ll even help you get past Giles. Then all you have to do is get her out of the house.” Kennedy smiles. “Thanks Will.” “Don’t mention it.”
One night before Giles was expected back Buffy decided to take the girls out on a patrol with Spike. The first stop on their patrol was the demon bar. The girls become excited. “Hey, this is a bar!” says Rona. “Best damn field trip I ever took.” Exclaims Kennedy. Vi loudly adds, “They're demons! It's a demon bar! Like a gay bar only with demons!” The demons turn to look at them. Some getting a little too happy, “Spike. Long time. Nice’ a you to bring snacks.” Spike grabs the one who spoke by the collar, “Touch 'em and lose yer privates.” The demons back down then spot Buffy and most retreat. “Nice job blending in, girls.” Spike says to them. Rona answers, “We're a bunch of fifteen-year-olds in a demon bar. How much blending did you think we were gonna do?” “That's okay. Usually, when you come to a place like this, it's 'cause you
want to be seen. You want to scare someone, or make contact…” “Or maybe have a strong drink?” Asks Molly. “Do they card?” Vi asks. “Nope, go 'head. Down all the yak urine shots and pig's blood spritzers you want.” Buffy answers with a smile. They turn back to Buffy, time to get on with the lesson. “Look, if I come here, it usually means I've gotta wring some information out of something large, scary, drunk and with a roomful of friends who don't care for the Slayer. Remember that. There's not a being in here who wouldn't gladly rip out your throat.” From behind her Clem appears, “Buffy! Hey girl, how you been?” “Clem! Hey! You look great! Really toned!” They pull each other into a hug, both happy to see each other. Kennedy smirks and leans into the other Potentials so they can hear her. “He's ripping out her throat right now.” They all giggle. Buffy is too involved in talking to Clem to notice. “O mi god, it's so good to see you. I saw this special on the History Channel that I knew you'd love, but something went flooey with my Tivo…” “Clem, let me talk to you for a second.” She pulls him aside and is whispering something to him he nods. The girls watch them. Clem and Buffy reproach, “Clem, these are the girls. The Potentials.” “Howdy! So, you girls are gonna deal with demons, huh? Well, let me tell you this...” He leans in as if he’s going to tell them something but instead he shows them his real face. The scary one. The girls scream.
Next she takes them to a crypt. It’s a bit of a mess. She is talking to them, “The vampire is an animal. Sometimes the animal hunts alone. Sometimes they run in packs. Who knows where we are?” “A nest.” Rona answers. “How can you tell?” “Only a vamp could live like this.” Kennedy answers. “Some, yeah. I mean, as a group we're not known for our tasteful decor, but in all fairness to the race? This place is seriously lacking in style.” “Thank you, Spike.” “Merely saying.” “He's got a point. The vampire can live anywhere, any way it wants. Tastes, fashions, and living conditions - they can vary. But the animal inside? Always the same, well usually.” Molly looks to Spike, “Where did you live?” “What, you mean before? Well. Uh, a crypt, actually. But nicer. Bit more... dunno if "posh" is the right word, it was more like...” “Comfy.” Buffy adds. The girls look at her confused. “I mean, I'm guessing. I really wouldn't know. Moving on: You want to stay alive, you have to spot and identify a nest on sight. So - look around. All of you. Find the signs that just last night a dozen, maybe two dozen vamps were here, right where we're standing.” She gestures for them to look around. They soon find a corps. “We found something. A body.” Buffy looks, “No. It's not a body. It's leftovers.”

Buffy backs up as the body awakens turning into a vampire. As Buffy fights him with ease she is still talking to the Potentials. “No one's safe. Not here. Not ever. See this guy?” “B-but he was dead a minute ago.” “That was a minute ago. Now? He's the enemy. You can't think too much. Reaction’s better. Could mean the difference between staying alive, and the other thing. The question is never ‘what do you think?’ The question is always, ‘what do you know?’ You gotta know. Because if you don't, you make one mistake... It takes just one vampire to kill you. So you gotta know you can take him. Know your environment. Know what's around you, and know how to use it. In the hands of a Slayer, everything is a potential weapon. If you know how to see it. When you’re fighting, you have to know yourself, your brain, and your body. Know how to stay calm, centered. Every move is important. Every blow's got to be part of your plan. Because you make that one mistake... Then it's over. You're not the Slayer. You're not a Potential. You're dead. So what do you know? Right now, the only thing you know for sure is, you've got me.” At this point she drops her stake and she and Spike leave them and lock the door. They wait outside listening. The Potentials look at the door dumbstruck and scared. The vampire attacks. They fight as one and soon have dusted the vampire. Buffy hearing this opens the door. The Potentials walk out really fired up but also a little shocked they did it on their own. As they start to walk back home Kennedy stops Buffy, “Would you of come in if we were dying and calling for help?” “Maybe.” Kennedy smiles and they walk home.

When they arrived home Buffy went to the basement to train. After a few minutes Kennedy came down. Buffy stops, and knows it is Kennedy immediately, “Need something Kennedy?” Kennedy was slightly taken aback, “Damn you’re good. And no I don’t need something. Just looking to get away from crowds.” Buffy sighs, “I know. This place is way too crowded. I’m really looking forward to you guys going on the Slayer quest.” “Not used to sharing?” “With just me, Dawn and mom, no need. Even after mom’s death and Tara and Willow moved in. My house is being transformed into a youth hostel. With fighting. What about you, any siblings to fight with over bathrooms and the like?” “Got a half-sister. Didn't share a bathroom though. Her bedroom was in a different wing of the house.” Buffy drops her jaw, “Wing? Your house... had wings?” Kennedy becomes a little self-conscious, “Oh. Yeah. Just a couple. Few. Our summer home in the Hampton's didn't have any at all.” She pauses while she thinks, then remembering, “Well... one. Actually.” “Wings?” “Buffy, breathe.” Buffy realizing that she has indeed stopped breathing resumes, “Maybe we should move to you’re house.” Kennedy smiles at that. “Kennedy I think we should both head to bed. Especially with you all going on your quest.” “Sure no probs.” The two of them head of to bed.