"Come on you guys! We are gonna be late!"
"Chris, we had a really late night last night...you know...slaying vampires and all. Can't we just stay here? It's the last day before Spring Break. I doubt they will notice."
"No, we have to go to school today. Plus, we are getting out early. We can't always use the "I'm a Slayer and me and my friends hunts vamps at night" excuse. Come on you guys...we've got 10 minutes to get to school."
Chris, Mere, and Lori all walked out the front door and hopped into Chris's car.
"Hey, you guys, I was talking to Dorian last night and he said that we could probably take a trip over Spring Break. He said he's been reading up and not much is going on. So do you guys wanna go somewhere?"
"Well, at least Mr. God's Gift to the Watcher's Council is going to let you have a break. Ever since last year we've been busy every single night. Just last week we had to stop that Demon from opening the gates of Hell. We need a vacation."
"Ok, now that we've heard Ms. Negative's response...what do you think Mere?"
"Well, I think we should go to Sunnydale.
"Oh, that sounds like a good idea." Lori seemed to brighten at this.
"Well, my mom did say that I could take a road trip. But, I think we would have to fly. After all, we are in Texas, and they are in California. But I have a lot of money saved up. I am sure that Dorian wouldn't mind helping out either...you know how he likes to please his Slayer."

Chris and Dorian had had a bumpy Watcher/Slayer relationship since the beginning. He wanted her to follow orders and do what she was told, but she wanted to do things her own way. She had finally told him that it was her way or the highway. Ever since then he had been a lot nicer and had finally accepted the fact that Chris's friends knew about her 'secret identity' and that they were involved in everything that went on, paranormal or not.
"Well, I'll ask mom tonight, but right now, we have to get into school...the 3 minute bell just rang."
The girls went through the day, stopping to talk in-between classes and finally the day was over and they were out for Spring Break!
"Finally!! Free for a week and a half. So, are we Cali bound or what?"
Mere was looking forward to seeing the gang again. They had only met once, and after they found out about Chris being the next Chosen One, Dorian had informed her that the other Slayer and her Watcher would be notified.
"I think mom will let me go. I will just tell her that we have some Slayer gig to do."
You see, Chris had insisted that her mother know about her destiny from the beginning. Dorian had shied away from telling her, so Chris had finally done it. Her mother was very confused at first, but after Chris took her on a very short patrol, she began to understand. Their relationship went much smoother with her knowing.
"I will call Buffy tonight. I'll talk to you guys later! Call me if you can go!"
"Later!"
"Later my chicas!!"
                                                    
"Mom, I'm home. Hey, I need to talk to you. It's about Spring Break."
"Hey honey. What's up? How are the girls?"
"Oh, they're fine. Hey, ok, now don't freak"
"Is the world ending again?"
"NO! Gosh mom not everything is about my 'job'." She made air quotation marks.
"Well, ok, what did you want to talk about?"
"Well, it does involve slaying, but in a good way. You remember how I told you that last year, right before I found out about all this stuff, that girl and her friends came to town and stayed with us without your knowing. And we helped her fight off some vamp that was going to destroy the world?"
"Umm? Yeah, I know there was a boy named Angel involved, because that's all you talk about, but what was the girl's name?"
Chris blushed slightly. She had had a crush on Angel ever since the first time he spoke to her.
"Buffy, Mom. And Angel is NOT all I talk about. But, anyway, I was wondering, could the girls and me take a trip over Spring Break? Say, to California?"
"Chris, California? I don't know. Why are you going to California?"
"Well, we were going to drop in on Buffy and the gang for a while. See if we can help out in the slaying department. After all they are on the Hellmouth. Their activity is way heavier than ours."
"How are you going to get there? You can't drive. It's like a three day trip."
"Well, I have money saved up and I'll tell Dorian that I need to take a trip to go visit the other Slayer and I am sure he will help out. We could fly to LA and then rent a car and drive to Sunnydale. It's only a two hour drive."
"Well, if you can find the money, you can go. But I am not helping out. This is your trip and you are going to pay for it. But you need a vacation, so you can go."
"Thanks Mom! You are the best. I am gonna go call Buffy."
Chris ran up to her room and threw down her bags. She grabbed her cordless phone and plopped down on the bed. She dialed the number that Buffy had left her before she had gone back to Sunnydale two years ago.
*ring ring*
"Hello? Summer's house."
"Is Buffy there?"
"Umm...no, not right now. She's over at a friends, but I can take a message. What's this in reference to?"
"Umm...I just needed to ask her a question."
"Oh, mmhmm. Well, then...Oh, may I ask who this is?"
"This is Chris Howard. I met Buffy a couple of years ago."
"Oh, yes, I have heard a lot about you Chris. Well, Buffy is over at Angel's. I'll give you the number. Hang on just a second."
Joyce told her the number and Chris's stomach did a little flip-flop. She hoped Angel would answer the phone.
She dialed his number and waited for an answer.
*ring ring*
"Hello?"
"Angel?"
"Who is this?"
"Chris."
"Chris? Chris? Oh, Chris...hey, how are you? Liking the Slayer life?"
"Yeah sure. Hey, is Buffy there?"
"Umm.. she's training...lemme go get her."
She heard him put down the phone and yell her name a couple times.
"Hello?" Buffy was breathing hard.
"Buffy? Are you ok? You sound kinda winded."
"Oh, Angel and me have been training for the past 2 hours. I'm glad you called. Gets me away from my slave driver."
I heard that.

She heard Angel in the background.
"So, what's up? You need my help or something?"
"Oh, well, I was going to see if the girls and me could come and visit you guys over Spring Break. We have some extra money saved up, so we were thinking, Road Trip? I just wanted to call and make sure you guys didn't have anything going on."
"Umm...let me think." There was a pause on the line.
"I don't think we have anything going on. Plus, we get off for Spring Break so we will be able to spend some time together."
"Oh, Ok, cool. Hey, but don't tell the Xander and them. We want to surprise them.

Tell Angel and your mom not to say anything either. We will see you guys day after tomorrow."
"Ok. I can't wait to see you. Be careful. See you soon. Bye."
"Bye Buffy!"

***

Chris hit the ground hard.
"Do you vamps ever learn to pull your punches?

 She was answered with another punch in the jaw.
"Guess not."

 She punched the vamp in the jaw and then snap kicked him in the stomach. When he fell on the ground she quickly staked him.

"Are you guys ok?"
Chris looked down at both her friends lying in the grass.
"Yeah. Nothing a little aspirin won't cure. You are gonna have to start training us so we don't end up with our faces in the dirt every time we go patrolling."
"Well, maybe we could use that great new training center that Giles set up for Buffy when we go to Sunnydale."
"You mean your mom said yes?"
Chris nodded. Both her friends squealed with joy.
"So, what did your parents say?"
"Mine said I could go as long as I had the money. I told them we were staying with some life long family friends."
"Mine told me the same thing, and I gave them a story similar to that."
"Ok, well, I told Buffy that we would be there day after tomorrow, but we are going to surprise them. You guys be ready to go tomorrow. Ok?"
"Sounds like fun."
"Well, let's call it a night and I'll go home and make the plane reservations."
Chris walked both her friends home and then headed back to her house the long way, making one last sweep of the cemetery, and then stopping by Dorian's.
"Hey, Dorian, you home?"
"You know there is such a thing as knocking and letting the door be opened for you."
"Yeah, but that's too formal. So, what's the haps? Any thing new going down?"
"No, like I told you earlier in the week, its going to be fairly slow over the break."
"Well, that's good because I am leaving. I'm going to meet up with Buffy in Sunnydale."
"Oh, yes. The other Slayer."
"So, I was wondering if you could lend me some money from the 'special' account. I have most of the money I need. I just need some money to rent a car to get us from LA to Sunnydale."
"Well, I am only going to give you $200, so spend it wisely."
"Look who you are talking to. The Queen of Money Management am I."
He gave her a quizzical look.
"What?"
"Oh, nothing. How was patrol? Anything unusual?"
"Nope. Just your average vamps. Hey, I need to get home and make our flight reservations. Look, if you need to reach me, just call me on my cell, or you can call me at either of these numbers. I will call you when we get settled in Sunnydale."
"Ok. I hope that you girls have a nice time. Please keep in touch while you are gone. We may end up needing you after all."
"Ok. Thanks Dorian. See you later."
Dorian handed her the money and she left and started back home.

"Mom, I'm home."
"Hey honey. How was patrol?"
"Oh, you know. The usual. Vamps out trying to grab little people happy meals. But they usually don't make it through me. I am gonna go upstairs and make our flight reservations. We are gonna surprise the guys and go a day early."
"Oh, I bet they will like that. I hope you have fun. Call me if you need anything. I am gonna go get some shut eye."
"Ok, night Mom. I love you."
"Love you too sweetie."
Chris ran upstairs and threw her bag down in the floor. There was a knock on her door.
"Yeah?"
"Oh, honey, I meant to tell you, Clay called while you were out on patrol."
Chris blushed a little. Clay was her new boyfriend. They had known each other since about the 2nd grade, but only recently had they begun to have feelings for each other. He had just moved away the year she found out about her being the Slayer. He moved back about a year ago. They had picked up where they had left off, and now they were a couple. She had decided to tell him about her being the Slayer. She explained it to him, just as she had her mom.
"Yeah? What did he say?"
"Well, he said he was sorry that he couldn't come with you guys on patrol tonight, but the band had a rehearsal. I didn't tell him about the trip. I didn't know if you had told him you were leaving or not."
"Oh, thanks for telling me mom. And thanks for not mentioning the trip. Hey, can I ask you a question?"
"Ask away."
"Do you think Clay could come on the trip with us? I mean, we are best friends and all, and now well, we are together."
"Chris, I don't know."
Chris looked at her mom with pleading eyes.
"Oh, ok. But no funny stuff...if you get my drift."
"Mom! Get your mind out of the gutter."
Gail just laughed.
"Good night hun. Sweet dreams."
"Good night mom. Thanks!"
Chris picked up the phone and called Clay.
*ring ring*
"Hello?"
"Hey, what are you doin?"
"Oh, hey Chris. You ok? Everything go smooth on patrol? Sorry I couldn't make it."
"Oh, don't worry about it. It's cool. And yes, everything went fine. Hey, I have something to ask you."
"Hmm?"
"Do you have anything planned over Spring Break?"
"Umm..nope. My folks are out of town and they said I could do whatever I want as long as I informed them of where I was going to be."
"Well, could you 'inform' them that you are going to be in California?"
"What?"
"Well, you remember how I told you that there is another Slayer?"
"Yeah."
"Well, Mere, Lori, and me are going to go and visit her and her buds over Spring Break. We meet back a couple years ago and we have been keeping in touch ever since."
"Sounds like fun. Where do I sign up?"
"Well, we are leaving tomorrow. I am about to call and book the flights. Do you have enough money for plane tickets?"
"Yeah, I got a little stashed away from my job. I believe I can afford it."
"Yay! I am so happy you are coming with us. I wouldn't have any fun missing you."

"Aww...you would find ways to keep yourself busy. But you don't have to worry about it because I am coming with you. Dwell on the positive. I better let you go though. You are going to have a long day tomorrow. Call me tomorrow and tell me what time the flight leaves. I love you!"
"Love you too. Sweet Dreams."
"You too. Gnight."
Chris hung up with Clay and called information to make their flight reservations. She talked to a very nice lady on the phone and booked 4 flights to LA leaving at 2:00pm. Chris went downstairs, threw on some laundry, and went back to her room and went to bed.

The Next Morning

Chris's alarm went off at 9:00. She jumped out of bed and into the shower. After she showered, she spent about an hour getting ready. When she went downstairs, her mom had already dried her clothes and they were folded neatly on the couch with a note that said: "I am going to miss you. Please be careful. I love you. You're Welcome! Call me!"
My mom..the funny duck!!
Chris grabbed her clothes and ran upstairs and threw them all into a big bag along with her numerous pairs of shoes. She also packed a small bag with her toiletries and some stakes, just in case. She threw on her leather jacket and grabbed her bags, purse, sunglasses, and keys, and headed out the door. Two seconds later, she ran back inside and grabbed her pop tart that she had left sitting in the toaster
Breakfast of Champions...or Slayers
She started up her car and went to pick up Mere. When she got there, Mere was standing outside on the front porch with three bags.
"Gosh Mere, are we going to war or something, or were you afraid the house was going to burn down and all your stuff would burn up?"
"Cute. Very Cute."
"Well, throw your bags in the car and we will go pick up Lori and Clay."
"Clay? He's coming?"
"I swear I told you. Didn't I?"
"No, but its cool. I love Clay. Hes my best buddy...not in a romantic sort of way, of course."
"I know that Mere. Anyway, buckle up!"
The girls drove over to Lori's and loaded her stuff into the car, and proceeded to tell her about Clay's coming, and then they went to pick up Clay. When they got there, the three girls realized that he had managed to pack a week and a halfs worth of stuff into one bag.
"How do guys do it?"
"We only need two things...clothes and underwear."
"Ok, bad pictures...WTMI ('Way To Much Information')."
"I dont' think so." Chris smiled and gave Clay a kiss.
"Get a room." Chris shot Mere a bad look.
"Shut up!"
"Oh, hun, give her a break, she's just mad because she doesn't have a honey!"
"SURE!! Whatever!"
They had about an hour before their flight left, so they decided to head to the airport and check their bags in.
After all the baggage checks and security scans, the four friends were at their gate with:
"Only five minutes until the plane leaves?"
"Boy time does fly when you're having fun" The rest of the day was full of flying and when they reached LA they had a rental car waiting for them. The car trip was fairly nice. It was very quiet considering that all three of Chris's friends had fallen asleep. Finally, she saw the sign:
~Welcome to Sunnydale~

***

She followed the directions that Buffy had given her to her house. When she pulled up, Chris was surprised to see three different cars in the Summer's driveway. She woke Clay up with a kiss on his nose and shook the two girls sleeping soundly in the back seat.
"We're here sleepy heads. It looks like we are going to be getting a warm welcome too. Looks like the whole gang is over at Buffy's."
"Oh yippie. Hey, let me see your makeup Chris, I wanna freshen up before we go in." Clay sat back and shut his eyes again because he knew it would be at least 10 minutes before they actually got out of the car, but when he opened his eyes again, he was rewarded by the site of three lovely women.
"Shall we go in?"
"We shall," they all said at once. The gang got out of the car and went up to the door. They didn't even bother to get their bags, because they weren't sure where they would be staying.
*ding dong*
"I got it."
Angel ran to the front door and looked through the door to see a blond girl that looked quite familiar. He opened the door.
"Hey. Chris? Is that you?"
"Yep. New and Improved."
She gave Angel a hug as she walked in.
"Hello Meredith, Lori. How are you guys? We haven't talked since the last time I saw you."
"Great."
"Fine."
Angel turned to the guy who had his arm around Chris's waist.
"I'm Angel." Angle stuck out his hand.
"Clay. Nice to meet you."
"Hey, Angel, what's all the...Chris Mere, Lori, and some really hot guy."
"Hands off Buff, he's mine." Chris kissed Clay on the cheek.
"Got it. Besides, I got my own guy.
"Mere, Lori, how are you guys? We weren't expecting you guys until tomorrow. What gives?"
"Oh, just a little surprise. We couldn't wait to see you guys."
"Well, its a nice one. Oh, I'm Buffy."
"Clay." He shook Buffy's hand.
"So, Buffy, what's new? Anything weird going on? Because you know that's what we specialize in."
"Nope. Nothing. Nada. Except for the occasional vamp activity. Nothing big though. Come on in the living room, the gang's here."
They all followed Buffy and Angel into the living room.
"Look what got dropped on our doorstep."
"Hey, look, it's the newbie to the Slayer world. How're things treatin ya kid?"
"Great! Once you get use to the lifestyle its not so bad. How are you Xander?"
"I'm pretty good. Just trying to get done with school. Mere, Lori, how are you guys?"
"Fine. A little tired, but good."
"Great. It's good to see you again."

"Good. Good. So, who is this guy?"
Xander nodded towards Clay.
"Clay. And you are...umm..Xander, right?"
"The one and only."
"Oh, you guys this is Cordelia. She didn't come with us on the last trip."
"Hello. It's nice to meet you. So, Chris, doing the Buffy thing. That's cool. Have you died yet?"
"Umm. That would be a big negative, hence the fact that I am standing right here."
"Well, Buffy died, and she's still here."
Chris looked over at Buffy and quirked an eyebrow at her.
"It's a long story. We'll talk about it later."
"You know you wankers could introduce me to the Slayer and her little kiddie friends."
Spike was sitting on the couch watching the group exchange greetings. He was sick of being ignored.
"Spike, this is Chris, Meredith, Lori, and Clay. You guys, this is Spike."
"Hello Slayer. Let's get one thing straight, I am a vampire, but you don't kill me. Got it?"
"Ok. Sure. Whatever. I don't really care. "
"So, I guess you guys must be hungry. Why don't you come and have lunch with us? We have plenty."
"Oh, sure. Just as long as we aren't intruding."
"Nah."
The group walked into the kitchen and sat down at the table and began to chow down. "So, what have you guys been up to?"
"Oh, you know, the usual. School, slay, school, eat, school, hang out. The normal teenage life. So, when is ya'lls graduation? You guys are seniors now, right?"
"Yeah, and you guys are too. Our graduation is on May 23. Hopefully it won't be as eventful as our High School graduation. You know with the whole ascension thing."
Buffy gave a smile.
"So, anyway. What do you guys wanna do while you are here?  Have any ideas?"
" Well, we mostly just wanted to hang out with you guys. You know, do a little shopping, hang out, have fun."
"Sounds like fun. So, sleeping arrangements. I guess since I am living with Angel now, you guys can stay with us. After all, we do have the room."
"Sounds good. And that means we don't have to spend the money on a hotel. Thanks. So, enough of eating, what do you guys wanna do today?"
Chris looked at everyone around the table. She looked in Mere's direction and saw that her and Xander were having a private whispering conversation.
"Hey, you guys wanna share with the secrets? What are we still in kindergarten?"
"What? We're just talking."
"Sure!!"

Buffy gave Xander a warning look. She would have to remind herself to tell Xander NOT to flirt with the company. She giggled to herself.
"Well, about what we are going to do today. There isn't much of today left. It's 7 o'clock. You guys wanna Bronze it?"
The gang all agreed and Chris and her buds were eager to go to the club. They all changed clothes, freshened up, and got their coats and headed out the door.

The Bronze Experience

The gang walked through the doors of the Bronze and stopped a few steps inside.
They grabbed a couple tables, and then Buffy, Angel, Xander, Mere, Clay, and Chris all went to dance. Willow and Oz opted to stay at the table with Cordy, Spike, and Lori. Chris and Clay danced to We are the Lucky Ones. Chris thought she was so lucky to have Clay, and all her friends here with her and to have them watching her back every day of her life. She saw Spike ask Lori to dance and they stepped onto the dance floor. Oh great! Lori is fallin for a vamp.  She laughed and Clay gave her a funny look.
"What's up with you?"
"Oh nothing. Just thinking about something funny. So, how do you like the gang?"
"Well, they are all really nice. They seem to like you guys, so in my book, they are great."
"I knew you would love them.  So, what do you wanna do while we are here? We have to go shopping of course, but I can do that with the girls."
"I don't know. We'll think about it later. For right now, let's just dance."
The song came to an end and the couples walked off the floor and back to their tables.
"I'm thirsty. Hey, Angel, will you get me a drink?"
"Sure. Anybody else want anything?"
"Diet Coke for me." Chris was suddenly very thirsty. Angel and Clay got everyone's drink orders and walked over to the bar.
"So, how did you meet Chris? How long have you two known each other?"
Clay suddenly felt like he was being given the third degree by Chris's big brother.
"We have known each other since like the 2nd grade. I moved away 3 years ago and then after a year, my dad go transferred back, so I got to be with all my friends again. Me and Chris have only been together for like 4 months. She is so amazing. All the stuff that she has to deal with. It's all weird! But, I've gotten use to it. Mere, Lori, and me, we all help out a lot. We enjoy it."
"I know how it goes. But, seeing as how I've spent centuries as a vampire, it doesn't seem to weird to me."
" That must have been an unusual experience."
"Yeah. Well, we better get these drinks back over to the table before our girls come and put their moves on us."
The guys walked back over to the table and found the gang was all laughing about something, well, everyone but Spike.
"Oh, you must think its all so funny. Well, its not bloody funny!"
"Does anyone want to tell us what's going on?"
Angel and Clay were standing next to the table with questioning looks on their faces.
"Oh, Will just scored on Spike. It was REALLY funny. Although he doesn't think so."
"Beg off Slayer."
He got up, put on his duster, and walked out.  Chris looked over towards a corner and stopped laughing suddenly. Clay looked at her funny.
"Hey, what's wrong?"
"Vamp, over there in the corner. He has a girl with him."
Buffy grabbed a stake out of the waste band of her pants and Chris pulled one out of her jacket pocket.
"Shall we?"
 Be back in a few minutes."
The girls walked out of the Bronze, following the 'couple.'
The vamp was just about to go in for the kill when Chris spoke up.
"Ahem!"
The vamp turned around and saw two girls standing behind him.
"If you know whats best for you, you'll leave."
His voice was raspy and hollow.
"Well, seeing as I don't know what's best for me, I won't leave, and neither will my friend here.

The vamp lunged at them. Chris grabbed it when it tried to head butt her and knocked it off its feet. She turned towards the girl who was still cowering in the dark corner of the alley.

Run. Get out of here.

 He recovered quickly and landed a punch to her face. Buffy grabbed it from behind, and punched it hard in the jaw and then in the stomach. He went down hard on the ground and Chris staked him.
"Good work. We rock together. We will have to do this more often."
Chris just nodded her head.
"Oww!"
She moved her jaw around.
"I think that idiot popped my jaw out of place."
There was a big *pop* and Chris looked happy again.
"All better."
The girls headed back into the Bronze. 
"One less fangy creep to terrorize this town. So, what has been going on with you guys since the last time we saw you?"
"Nothing really. Just trying to finish up college and get on with our careers. You know, everything that college students usually do, except for the whole saving the world on occasion."
They all laughed.  Strong was being played and everyone got up to dance, switching partners; Buffy danced with Clay and Angel and Chris danced together.
"So, how've you been doing? I know that finding all that stuff out at once can be a major load to carry."
"Oh, I dealt. I'm not permanently damaged...Promise. I am just happy to be getting a break. Me and my Watcher, Dorian, we don't get along too well. We don't exactly see eye to eye on how things should be done."
"You mean you wanna do things your own way, and he wants you to follow the Watcher's Guide to Being the Perfect Slayer?"
She laughed.
"How did you know?"
"Because Buffy was the same way. It took Giles about a year to adjust to her running things. She's always been very, 'my way or the highway.' "
" I'm beginning to think that all Slayers were like that...ever since I read up on the past Slayers out of the Watcher's Guides, anyway. What was Faith like?"
Angel gave her a surprised look.
"Why?"
"Well, her story just changed so quickly. One minute she was kickin ass with Buffy, and the next she's trying to kill you. I just don't get it.  What was so different about her?"
"Chris, you have to understand some things about Faith. She had to watch her watcher die. Her watcher was like her best friend, a mother even. I think, eventually, she just snapped. But, I tried to help her. Wesley just wouldn't have it. But I think even if he hadn't taken her I still never would have gotten through to her. She eventually came around, but it was too late. You know I saw her when she got out of jail. I went to go and pick her up. She actually requested me...I will always remember that day.  But, it's over now. She's gone, but you're here. And I know you won't make the same mistakes. "
"Angel, don't feel guilty. I know you tried to help her. It wasn't your fault."
Chris was glad she had gotten a little information about her predecessor. The song ended and they all went back to sit down.
"Hey, where's Lori?"
Chris looked around the club and noticed Lori standing over in a corner with Spike at her neck. Chris panicked. She ran and jumped onto a couch, flipped into the air, and onto a pool table, ran across the room and pulled a stake from her waistband. She pulled Spike's head back by his hair.
"Chris, what are you doing?"
Chris gave a very confused looked to Lori.
"What are you talking about? I am about to stake this peroxide freak because he tried to bite you."
"Uh, hello, I can't bite. Slayer, would you kindly let go of my head?"
"Chris, there's this little thing called making out. I think you know what it is."
Chris turned beet red. She put her stake back into her waistband.
"Sorry about that guys."
"What the hell is going on? Spike, what are you doing?"
"None of your business Fluffy."
"Seems that him and Lori were just having a little make out session. You know, no Grrr involved."
Buffy punched Spike hard in the face.
"That's for being rude. Now, stay away from my friends."
"It's not like I was doing anything wrong. Me and Blondie here were just having a little fun, right pet?"
Lori just grinned.
"Whatever...I don't even wanna think about it. It's to.... ICKY!!"
Chris turned around and walked off.
"Spike, try anything funny, and you'll be sitting in an ashtray somewhere."
Buffy turned on her heal and headed back over to the table. Spike flipped her off as her back turned.
"You guys wanna get outta here? I am thinking one last patrol before bed. Besides, its almost 1."
"Well, how bout I see that these guys get home ok, and you and Chris can go patrol."
"Sounds good to me...you up for it?"
"Ready and able."
"Sounds like a plan. You guys be careful. I love you."
"Love you too."
Chris walked over to Clay.
"Promise me you'll be careful."
"Promise."
They kissed briefly and then Chris and Buffy grabbed their jackets and left the Bronze.

***