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“I really appreciate you getting us these,” Xander said as he held his all access backstage pass in his hand and stared at it.
“Don’t thank me,” Lyra said as she lead the group through the studio. “Thank your housemate.”
“Can’t believe you didn’t want to watch the show before,” Ronnie said. She was still holding her postcard she received from Tyler. A few weeks after graduation Tyler hopped on a plane to Japan and had been backpacking it while he gathered his chi, honed on his Zen or whatever it was he was doing. Xander wasn’t sure it was the proper terms, but it sounded cool in is head.
“I’ve been busy,” Xander explained. “Gotta get everything set up for the newbies and everything.” He had decided to stay in Orlando, not just because he felt a good big brother type of bond with Lyra but also because she asked him to stay and be her Watcher. He had flown back to Scotland for a week and spoke with Vi and put her in charger of his Slayer cell. Xander had decided to not only be Lyra’s watcher but also train new Slayer’s. The large house did have several rooms for new Slayers to sleep and there was plenty of yard to train in as was the backroom of the bookstore.
“You still think I could be a Watcher?” Ace asked. He was still wearing a large leather jacket to conceal his wings. He had one arm around Rissa who was leaning against him.
“You have the potential,” Xander told him.
“If by potential you mean fun loving goofball slacker who loves to eat and crack jokes,” Ronnie said.
“Also known as a younger version of me,” Xander informed her.
“See Ace, you do have the stuff,” Lyra told him.
“Do you think it’s safe to leave Carla and Josephine alone with Ed?” Rissa asked.
“He knows better,” Lyra told her. “They may have just discovered they are Slayers but they still can kick his ass.”
“Harmony when she was still human can his ass,” Xander said. “Naw I take it back. Harmony as of now can kick his ass. Human Harmony can kick the other vampire Ed’s ass.”
“Shhh,” Lyra held up a finger as they neared the set. A few people recognized her and smiled.
The stage was set up to look like a graveyard. There were fake dead trees, tomb stones, a realistic looking mausoleum in the back ground and a fog machine at full force. Charley was dressed in his Chaz Broker get up. He smiled when he noticed Xander and the others but his smile faded when he saw the director was giving directions.
“Show is about to air,” Lyra whispered and made the zip the lips motion with her hands.
“Five, four, three,” the director shouted as he counted down the numbers.
“Good evening ladies and gentlemen,” Charley said. “And welcome to another edition of Fright Night Saturdays. Tonight we will have a treat that you will be sure to die for. We have shown the undead legions known as zombies. Tonight we will have the granddaddy of all zombie movies. The one that had broke the mold; the original and classic George A. Romero’s Night of the Living Dead.”
“Cut,” the director said as he held up his hand. “And go to the movie. That was great as usual.”
“Thanks,” Charley said as he stepped off the set. “I mean this is a major classic. I wasn’t sure if I did the set up right for something like this.”
“I think you did great,” Lyra told him. “But then again I’ve got girlfriend bias.”
“I’m not a girlfriend but I still think that was great,” Xander told him. “You gave it justice.”
“Will you show the others?” Ace asked. “I mean the original versions and not the cheesy remakes.”
“Uh the original versions were kind of cheesy,” Ronnie reminded him.
“Yeah but the cheddary goodness that oozes from those movies are what makes them great,” Ace said. “It makes them classics that should not be tampered with.”
“You know that movie The Thing?” Charley asked. “The one by John Carpenter? That was a remake.”
“What?” Ace looked poleaxed.
“I’ve heard about the original,” Rissa said. “Wasn’t it a plant monster?”
“I’ve think I seen it once,” Xander said.
“A classic movie that is a thing of beauty,” Charley said. “Not scary at all by today’s standards and not nearly as creepy as the remake but still a classic. In fact that will be next week’s movie.”
“I’ve got to see that,” Ace said.
“Might be another addition to Lina’s library when she sees it,” Lyra said.
“I have something special for you, Lyra,” Charley said and pulled a small jewelry box from out of his pocket. “It’s been a year since we first met.”
“I have never been so thankful that Tony forgot his wallet,” Lyra said. “I didn’t get you anything.”
“Seeing you here is enough of a gift.”
“But I’m supposed to remember special dates,” Lyra said as she opened the box.
“Whole new century girl,” Ronnie told her. “Things shift and change.”
“I see,” Lyra said. Her eyes widened at the star shaped earrings in the box. “These are pretty.”
“Faith called you Little Star,” Charley said. “You are my star. I saw your light and it shone and you saved me.”
“I can’t take all the credit,” Lyra said. “I wouldn’t have gotten as far as I did without my friends and Xander and Faith taught me everything.”
“When the worlds first merged I dreamed of a princess that rescued me,” Charley said as he held her hand. “You are my princess.”
“You will always be my Tuxedo Mask.” She looked into his eyes and the two kissed.
“I need an insulin injection,” Ace said and was slapped by Rissa and Ronnie. “Aw come on you two and Rissa you always said this type of stuff was too sappy for you.”
“For me yes,” Rissa said. “But not for them and they should enjoy it uninterrupted.”
“Yo Charley,” someone on stage shouted.
“Gotta go,” Charley gave Lyra another small kiss on her forehead before he ran off.
Lyra sighed and sat down.
“You are one lucky girl,” Ronnie told her.
“All three of us girls are lucky,” Lyra said.
“Did I just receive a compliment?” Ace asked.
“Sometimes it isn’t about you,” Xander told him. “But yes you did.”
“I guess I’m lucky,” Ronnie said and shrugged. “I wish Tyler were here, but this was something he planned on doing. This is what he wanted to do and I think it will be good for him. He writes me long letters and I get more of them and postcards from everyone.”
“Not to mention he will get your really nice gifts,” Xander told her. He knew he would have gotten something really special for Anya and Renee if he were spending a year in Japan. “The rest of us will get the typical souvenirs.”
“I wish I knew when he was returning,” Ronnie sighed. “All I know is that he said he was going to be away sometime between the whole summer and a whole year.” She turned to Rissa. “Did he tell you when he was coming back?”
“You’re his girlfriend,” Rissa said.
“But you’re his cousin.”
“He didn’t tell me anything more than what he told you,” Rissa said.
“The next time he calls me…” Ronnie trailed off and shook her head. “No this is something he had to do for himself. I should be pleased. How many girls can say they are dating a ninja?”
“As many girls who can say they are dating a guy with wings,” Xander said. “Or as many that are dating uh semi vampires? We really need to get an official name here.”
“Especially since their numbers are growing,” Lyra said. Charley had convinced Ed to use the demon blood since Ed would still have his vampire abilities at night. They also gave the cure to detective Calvers and Willow’s two vampire friends have received it.
They were quiet while Charley was filming cuts for the commercial breaks. As Charley was on stage Xander thought about all that had happened in the past year. He found Lyra, informed her of being a Slayer showed her the world of vampires and other evil creatures. He met Lyra’s friends and they became involved. He met Charley and Regine, learned there were different kinds of vampires and nearly became one himself. He found out that vampires can be turned back into a human, or at least be a human by day depending on what kind of vampire they are. A powerful vampire was resurrected tried to turn Buffy and was also defeated. Somewhere in there Faith become part of his life.
“I miss her,” Xander said. The movie and show as about an hour in and he and Ace were hanging out together and enjoying a cup of coffee.
“Faith?” Ace asked.
“How did you know?”
“You two had something special together, and I don’t just mean the sex. The was this spark this thing and well it was special.”
“You actually defined it.”
“Call me Mr. Definition,” Ace said and took a sip from his cup. “Have you called her?”
“She still doesn’t have her own cell,” Xander said.
“What about this Giles guy?” Ace asked. “He’s got a phone right? You call him and ask to speak to her or send her an e-mail or better yet you send her a nice hand written letter and mail it the old fashion way.”
“I should do that.”
“Yeah you should.”
“You are getting more and more insightful,” Xander stared at him. “Are you sure you are not ready to be a Watcher?”
“Well maybe I can start learning,” Ace said. “I can learn while I take a year off from school and get a part time job and then the following year I can still learn about being a Watcher while I attend Valencia. Tyler will be back and Lyra and Ronnie would be done with high school. The four of us can attend together.”
“What about Rissa?” Xander asked.
“She just finished her Sophomore year,” Ace said. “She would be a senior by then.”
“Are we interrupting you lovebirds?” Spike was heard from behind them.
Xander turned around to express his annoyance at the vampire but didn’t. He could see Drusilla leaning against Spike and he was holding her. They both were wearing the same passes the others were wearing.
“You guys are late,” Ace told him.
“Would have left sooner,” Spike said. “The two of us were preoccupied.”
“Pony ride,” Dru said as she continued to smile at her lover.
“I’ll give you all the rides you want, baby,” Spike said before the two of them kissed. Spike had returned to the house two weeks after he left to find himself, and to Dru’s arms.
“You are going to do that in front of everyone?” Xander asked.
“Xandy is right,” Dru said. “Not proper and our love should be special and cherished. It should be private, just for the two of us”
“I love the way you phrase things,” Spike said and pulled away from her. “I wouldn’t miss the show tonight, especially tonight.”
“Why?” Ace asked. “What’s special about tonight.”
“You’ll see,” Spike said.
“The message will be heard by all,” Drusilla said. “You can’t stop the signal.”
“Now now pet,” Spike waved a finger at her. “Don’t want to ruin the surprise.” He turned back to Xander. “I’ve also been thinking about what I want to be.”
“You want to be more than a pain in the ass?” Xander asked.
“Yes, no, wait.” He closed his eyes and held up his hands. “About what creature I want to be. I was thinking it would be better for Dru and me if I took the cure.”
“You are serious?” Xander asked. He always thought Spike loved being a vampire and did not want to change that aspect about himself.
“Very,” Spike said. “I get cut on one hand, get the blood on it and then have Boy Next Door or the Hyena sire me and then take the cure again.” He pulled Dru close to him. “I can be with Dru all the time. I can see the beautiful garden she is working on during the day and still be able to fight at night.”
“You think that would work?” Ace asked.
“It might,” Xander said. “We might want to wait just to see if when you do get bit again that you wouldn’t already be a day walker.”
“Good point,” Spike said as he held up his finger.
“You think that other vampire might be interested?” Ace asked. “The one that helped us in Iowa?”
“Angel?” Spike blinked. “Oh sure he would like to be human or half human, but he has to do things the hard way. Feels he has to Shanshu and work hard before he would be rewarded justly. Still has to brood and pine while helping the helpless and redeeming everyone like that bird.”
“Abigail,” Xander repeated. The last he heard about her was that she had her magic bound and sent to her mother but Angel had told him he had gotten through, or at least he felt like he had gotten through.
“I want to watch Charley’s show,” Drusilla said. “Can’t miss the surprise.”
The four of them regrouped and watched Charley on stage. When he was asked what the surprise message was he had said nothing. Just have to wait until the end. It took nearly a whole hour for them to reach the end of the show and Charley took the stage for the last time that night.
“A wonderful movie,” Charley said. “That is the one that set the stage for many zombie movies.” He pulled out a small card. “Before we end tonight I have a special message that needs to get out. Some people are saying that what we once thought was make believe is now real. The monsters and fears and things that go bump in the night are not just movies and stories and there are those that fight em like me but this message is for young women who are between fifteen and thirty. “
“What’s he doing?” One of the cameramen whispered.
“I think it’s a public service announcement,” someone else whispered back.
“Do feel things are different,” Charley said. “Have you noticed a difference in yourself? Have you gotten stronger, faster and able to do things that you haven’t done before? If so then there are those that can help you please call the following number“
“He’s sending out a message to all possible Slayers,” Xander said. “We were talking about doing something like this. Andrew, Vi and I.”
“As a commercial?” Ronnie asked. “In the days of DVR and mute buttons?”
“Yeah this might get a larger audience.”
“And end show,” the director said as he held up his hand. “Charley what was that?”
“Public service announcement,” Charley said as he walked off stage and headed straight towards Lyra.
“That was great,” Xander said. “And thank you.”
“Don’t mention it,” Charley said as he pulled Lyra into an embrace and kissed her.
Xander glanced at the others. Rissa and Ace were also staring at each other. Ronnie was looking at her post card from Tyler and smiled. Dru and Spike were deep in another kiss. Xander pulled out his phone. There was one person he needed to call, not just about his feelings but also about the show. Their work was going to increase.