Act 4

Fade In:

Int.

Watchers Council – Grace’s Office – Resume

Grace released her grip and took a step back. “You’re not coming back? We need you in this fight.”

“Oh, I’m in this fight,” Willow said firmly. “But I’m not sure if the Council is where I need to be right now, professionally speaking.”

Grace looked floored, as if she didn’t know what to say. Willow reached out and gently closed Grace’s slack jaw.

“This isn’t, like, residual totem magic making you feel this way, right?” Grace asked.

Willow smiled. “No. It’s not the totem. I just think a change in scenery might be worth exploring. Maybe it is a mid-life crisis, since I know there’s probably more years behind me than ahead of me. But no, this is how I feel, not the totem. If anything, the totem made my restlessness manifest in other ways that, as you know, hurt my wife a-and my kids.”

“Really?” Grace asked, thinking this over. “So the totem doesn’t make you feel things?”

Willow nodded. “Correct. A-and, please, don’t tell my kids this, but the totems don’t give you feelings, they just make the ones you have more intense. They magnify your insecurities a-and desires, they don’t give you new ones.”

Grace considered what she said. “So there really was a part of you that wanted to give in to dark magic and kill me?”

Willow nodded. “That part is always there. It never leaves, because it’s a part of me. I’ve been very up front with everyone about that.”

“Seeing it was very different than hearing about it, though.” Grace pointed out. “I feel like I was totally justified in firing you for threatening to kill me while floating up in the air like you’re Scarlet Witch. Most bosses would not go for that.”

“Yeah, fair,” Willow agreed. “Actually, I plan to speak to the other covens who’ve left after my dismissal. I’d like them to stay with the Council. I want Cleveland to have its coven, too.”

“Without you, who will run it?” Grace asked.

“I was hoping your hubby.”

“What?”

“Yeah. Chicago has a very talented witch, and she could take Jeff’s place there. And as for Jeff, I trust him completely, as does the Cleveland coven. It’ll be good for Alex too. He’s getting his next degree soon, and Jeff will be a great role model. And bonus: With Jeff here, it will give you two a chance to reconnect.”

“And what if he and I can’t reconnect?” Grace asked, sounding slightly frightened.

“Then you cut him loose,” Willow said decidedly. “That way, you can both have a good life, even if it’s not together.” Grace didn’t say anything at first, so Willow asked, “Be honest. Do you still love him?”

“More than anything,” she said without a single bit of hesitation.

“Then fight for your relationship. Even if some of that fighting is with yourself.”

“Meaning?”

“Drop your guard. As a friend to both of you, allow him to love you and stop keeping him at arm’s length.” Grace nodded. When she didn’t say anything, Willow asked, “Can I ask…did you get your chair before or after the abortion?”

Grace paused and looked at Willow suspiciously. “Do you think the decision was totem induced?” Willow shrugged. “It wasn’t. I bought the chair afterward.”

“I was just curious,” Willow said. “In the end, it really doesn’t matter because, again, the totem doesn’t take control. It enhances what’s already present. If you had bought the chair first, it would have just amplified the fact you’re not ready to be a mom.”

Grace furrowed her brow, perplexed. “So…your kids…”

“Yeah. Jen really wants to hurt her brother when she feels slighted and hurt. Maybe, on some level, she does want to kill him.”

“Damn. I thought they were close.”

“Oh, they are, and she’d be mortified to realize that somewhere, deep down, she’s a potential murderer. I know I won’t be able to keep this totem stuff from her forever, but for now she just needs time to find herself again. Let her process things a bit more.”

“Absolutely. You know I think of them as nieces and nephews.”

“As you should, Aunt Grace.”

The two women smiled at one another.

Cut To:

Int.

Watchers Council – Coven Room – Day

“Willow must be coming back, right?” Dawn asked the full Coven Room. Jeff, Skye, Kennedy, Wilton and several others waited nearby, either on cushions on the floor or leaning against nearby furniture. On a nearby wall, a TV screen showed several more faces, including Althenea and Andrew. “Why else would they have asked us all here?”

“Maybe Grace got outvoted,” Kennedy suggested.

“Or maybe she and Willow kissed and made up,” Wilton suggested. “Or…you know what I mean.”

This was met with a long beat of silence.

“I mean, I’d be into it,” Skye finally said. Dawn immediately slapped her on the shoulder. “Oh, baby, save it for later,” Skye told her, with a twinkle in her eye. Kennedy rolled her eyes.

“As edifying as this all is,” Althenea said over the Zoom call, “I was told the meeting would start fifteen minutes ago, and–”

The Coven Room door swung open, showing Grace standing on the other side, alone, leaning on a pair of crutches. She and the room’s occupants stared back at each other for a couple of seconds. Then she took a deep breath, held her head up slightly, and pulled herself into the room.

In the face of continued silence from those facing her, she cleared her throat and said, “Can I, uh, I’m sorry, can I get a chair? It’s just…”

Jeff nodded once and pulled out a stackable plastic chair from under a nearby desk and dragged it toward his wife across the floor. As he did, the legs of the chair made a screeching noise as they dragged across the floor, seeming incredibly loud in the room. When he finally reached her, Grace avoided looking him in the eyes and sat down without saying anything further, placing her crutches down on the floor next to her with a clacking sound.

“When’s Willow getting here?” Kennedy asked.

Grace looked right at her and said, “Willow’s not coming.”

“Yeah, I’m out,” Kennedy said immediately, as she stood up straight and then started to move for the door.

“So am I,” Andrew said from the screen. “Grace, you have to understand–”

“No, guys, wait up,” Jeff said, still standing at the front of the room. “Willow and I had the chance to talk, and she asked me to listen to what Grace has to say. I think we should hear her out. And not because we’re married, but because we all know Willow, and I don’t think she would’ve said that if she didn’t mean it. Do you?”

No one replied, but after a second, Kennedy turned around and went back to where she had been leaning against a cabinet. She folded her arms over her chest, but she stayed put.

“Willow and I did meet, and I did offer to give her back the job of High Priestess–” Grace began.

“Which was never yours to take away in the first place,” Skye pointed out.

Dawn added, “Seriously, Grace, what were you–”

“She turned me down,” the Chairwoman finished, raising her voice a little to be heard. “I’ll let her say what her reasoning was, but she basically told me she wasn’t sure if she wanted to stay as part of the Council, for her own reasons, and she needed time to figure that out.” This brought on widespread murmuring, both in person and online.

“If I may,” Althenea said, also speaking a little bit louder so she could be heard, “where does that leave us? I understand that you did what you did under the influence of a curse, Grace, I do. But–”

“But that isn’t just a get-out-of-jail-free card,” Dawn finished. “For any of us. I’m sure somebody’s explained that.”

Grace sighed. “Willow told me she wanted you all to stay with the Council, and she plans to speak to all of you individually soon. I can tell you that we are gonna need you in this fight. All of you. And the ‘we’ here is kind of the human race.”

“Taking a step back,” Wilton spoke up, “can someone actually tell me what happened here? I’m honestly not sure. Everyone was being extra crazy, and then…what?”

“Yeah, I thought we had wards on wards on wards on this place,” Skye said. “They took forever to do; I know because I did a bunch of them. How’d this bitch get around them?”

“We’ve been looking at that,” Jeff said, “and as far as I can tell, the totems got past our wards because the curse was on inanimate objects. You put a spell on a person, they can’t get in. You throw a spell at us from outside the barrier, it won’t get in. But what we don’t have are wards against putting a spell on a chair or a mug or whatever. There are so many things in this world that to guard against them all is practically impossible.”

“Okay, but that doesn’t tell us how she got the curse on our specific stuff,” Kennedy argued. “Wouldn’t she need, I dunno, an inside man here doing the cursing?”

“She had one, but not here,” Grace explained. “All of the cursed objects were ordered from Amazon. She just had a plant in the local Amazon distribution warehouse who fed her information on who was ordering what and put the curses on for her.”

“She used online shopping for evil!” Andrew exclaimed on the zoom. “Diabolical.”

“I take it we’ve dealt with the plant?” Dawn asked.

“A slayer team went to the depot, but…” Grace cleared her throat again. “Zorgy’s minions showed up.”

“Casualties?” Wilton almost sounded afraid to ask.

“None,” Grace said. “No injuries either.”

“Zorgy got to him first, didn’t she?” Kennedy commented bluntly. She made a slashing motion across her neck.

Grace sat back in her chair. “Actually, he was alive and relatively well. He was sprinting across the warehouse like he had to same day delivery his ass outta Dodge. He got yeeted through a portal by one of Zorgy’s henchmen, maybe even the big cheese, judging by Charlotte’s description. Anyway, curse or no curse, I am here to apologize. I got so insecure about whether people were actually following me that I forgot that it was up to me to lead them somewhere.”

“That’s the whole point of the spell, as I understand it,” Althenea said. “The more you’re in contact with the item, the more it magnifies your insecurities, your worries, your weaknesses. It can’t give you any new thoughts or feelings. If it did, it would set off some of our other wards against mind control and whatnot. It was all already in there.” She tapped her own head with a finger.

“Sort of ironic that we were having a huge fight about mind controlling Zorgy while Zorgy was in the middle of mind controlling us,” Wilton commented.

“No, technically, it’s wrong–” Althenea cut in.

“So…are we staying?” Dawn asked. “Is that what’s happening here? Because it does kind of feel like the world’s gonna end if we don’t. I mean, it might end anyway, but…”

“I’m going to have to talk to the other witches in LA,” Andrew said. “And not that I don’t trust you, Grace, because I do now that you seem… saner…but I really need to speak to Willow before I can commit.”

“I understand,” Grace said cordially.

Andrew continued, “So, if Willow’s cool with it, I’m on board. I’ll just have to figure out how to break it to June.”

“There’s one other item that you should probably take into account,” Grace said, “and that’s the fact that, especially with the big battle coming basically anytime, Cleveland’ll need a new Head Priest or Priestess.”

The room quieted down again. After a long beat, Skye raised her hand. “Fine, I’ll do it. But I’m not taking guff from any of you.” She looked over to see Dawn grabbing the bridge of her nose in frustration.

“Actually, Willow herself had a nomination…” Grace turned around to look over her shoulder at her husband. He did not seem surprised. “I take it she told you that, too.”

“I mean, I kind of knew it was coming,” he replied. “Seer, after all.”

“Okay, is this a coup?” Kennedy asked, maybe a little too loudly. Everyone turned to look at her. “What? I’m serious. If Grace was gonna pull some shenanigans to take over all the Council branches, this is exactly what it would feel like. I can’t be the only one thinking it.”

Jeff sighed. “All I can tell you is, Willow asked if I would take over here. As for a coup, that’s not what’s happening. I mean, we’re not even sure…”

Grace turned back to the room and said, “Our relationship status is complicated. If that helps anyone.”

“Well, I for one feel way better!” Skye chirped. “Who’s ready to vote?”

Cut To:

Int.

Watchers Council – Hallway – Moments Later

“G-goddamn…ugh, uh, goddamnit.” Through gritted teeth as she walked ahead, Gwen persisted with trying to put her left arm through her coat. Her right was held firm in a cast and cradled in a sling. “C’mon you…b-bugger and…there you go…oh, man…”

“He’s certainly rubbing off on you,” Willow chortled, standing just ahead of her. Her face scrunched a little as Gwen looked up at her through a bruised and swollen eye. “Y-you know, if you’re making with the Queen’s English expletives. Wait, King’s…Goddess rest her.”

Gwen huffed with the slightest of smiles, then straightened her shoulders with a sharp, palpable wince.

Willow immediately closed the gap. “Are you okay? Shouldn’t you still be…”

“Laid up? Wallowing? Had my fill for all of five minutes, then I had Ethan in my head and that was all the nudge I needed. Besides, Miller said it’s a broken arm and a busted eye socket, no big.”

“No, big, the big is big, I-I’m just so sorry, especially when you were well within your rights not to come back and…look, I can’t magic your arm, I mean, I can but…”

Gwen smirked and puckered her lips. “Yeah, Ethan can both literally and figuratively sort me out soon. He doesn’t like to share.”

Stifling her embarrassment, Willow squirmed and then reached out and took Gwen by the hand. “Hey, follow me.”

Cut To:

Int.

Watchers Council – Break Room – Moments Later

Willow closed the door behind them and ushered Gwen to take a seat at the table.

“That you just made with the handholding is appreciated.” Gwen grimaced as she sat down. “Most people still don’t. I get it. Most power’s still there, I’m just controlling it. I wouldn’t have that much faith in me, either.”

“Hey, I trust you, you’d say if you were on, and I-I do good work. Pummeling can’t short circuit those nanites.” Willow took the seat opposite Gwen and shook out her shoulders. “And talking about good work and not to tread on Ethan’s toes, I can do this…” Willow raised her hand, leaning across the table, and gently cupped Gwen’s eye. Under her breath, she muttered an indecipherable word with a sing-song inflection. A brief glow swelled beneath her palm, before softly dissipating. As she took her hand away, she reached for her iPhone inside her pocket. She swiped, pressed, pressed again and then held it up with the selfie-camera open.

Gwen blinked as she noticed that her bruising and swelling had vanished. “What did you…”

“Oh, it’s still there, yeah, sorry,” Willow said all at once, “but it’s also not just a glamour. Did it for Alex’s ouchies, too. Makes you feel better, right?”

“For sure, thanks, and you? You good?” Gwen squeezed her hand. “‘Cause you seem, I dunno, lighter?”

“Yeah, about that, I heard from Jeff and you guys, and Ethan, were right. That cloud? Turns out we were cursed.”

“Hell bitch is one hell of a bitch, huh?”

Willow blew a raspberry, “Telling me.”

“She’ll get hers, I’ll make sure of it…but from a distance next time.”

Gwen and Willow exchanged a muted look and then laughed.

“Oh, so there’s gonna be a next time, huh?” Willow asked knowingly.

“Absolutely, I’m big on revenge.”

“From a distance?”

“From a distance.”

Cut To:

Int.

The Stake & Crossbow Bar – Evening

Although the bar was not packed elbow to elbow, there was still a fair number of women inside when Grace crossed the threshold. Her eyes immediately went to the bar to see Lisa tending to customers. Upon recognizing her, the owner gave her a nod and motioned toward the middle of the room. Lisa walked over to the cash register and pushed a button on a remote stopping the jukebox. Some of the slayers grumbled in response, while others turned to see Grace standing in the middle of the room.

“I’m sorry to interrupt your evening,” the Chairwoman began. “Chances are many of you recognize me. For those of you who don’t, my name is Grace Hatherley. I am the Chairwoman of the Watchers Council, as well as the Head of the Watchers Division at the Cleveland Branch.”

Someone from the back yelled out, “We’re not interested in what you’re selling,” which garnered a couple of giggles, claps and whistles in response.

“Pipe down,” Lisa said from behind the bar. “Give the lady her due.”

Grace nodded her thanks to Lisa and then continued. “I’m here tonight because something is coming that threatens your life as you know it. The Council believes that knowledge is power. You are entitled to this knowledge. This is not something that we have shared with anyone else yet. I’m here because I know that you’re slayers. As such, you will have a mark on you when the Hellmouth opens. You deserve to know what dangers lie ahead for you.”

“We’re not fighting your war,” one of the slayers said.

“It’s not the Council’s war,” Grace countered. “This impacts everything on earth, including you.”

“We’re not joining,” someone else shouted.

“We’re not asking you to. While it’s true that we wish that you would use your gifts to aid the Council every day, we understand that you’re free to make your own choices. As I look around this room, I realize that many of you were not even alive when the old Council was in place. They viewed the Slayer as a tool, a weapon, in the fight against evil. They viewed themselves as the keepers of knowledge, marksmen when it came to where to point their weapon, known as the Slayer. We are not that Council. That’s why we’ve never tried to make working for the Council mandatory for slayers. And you might not realize this, but we could take your powers away, if we needed to. The Old Council had what they called a test, the “‘Cruciamentum”,’ where a slayer’s powers were removed with a series of injections on her Eighteenth birthday. They thought that was necessary. We don’t agree.”

“Are you threatening us?” another slayer asked.

“Far from it,” Grace said immediately. “The intent of the practice was to establish the Slayer’s intelligence and practical capabilities, testing her ability to out-think her enemies as well as outfight them without her powers.”

“Rupert Giles got sacked over it,” Lisa added.

Grace nodded. “He, and many watchers, found it to be, and I quote him, ‘an archaic exercise in cruelty.’ They were right. Buffy Summers was the last to endure it. The point I’m making is that I accept the choices that you’ve made in your life. Why? Because every woman should be allowed to make whatever choices she thinks are best for herself, her body and her life without judgment from others.”

“And if we don’t want to help, then what?” a slayer asked.

“Then you don’t. But I’m here because you deserve to know your lives will be threatened soon, whether you take part or not. You’re slayers. That means you’ve got a big bullseye on your back. Now, do I want you to join this fight? Absolutely. The world needs you. Am I willing to make you join this fight? Absolutely not.”

“Lisa,” one of the women asked. “Did the Council strong-arm you into letting them walk in here?”

Grace didn’t say anything, just turning to the bartender.

Lisa stopped to consider what to say next. She took a steadying breath and then said, “They ain’t all bad. I left the Council decades ago because I couldn’t agree with their practices. And they couldn’t agree with mine. I don’t agree with everything they do today, but truth be told, they’re far and away superior to the Council that I was part of.”

No one breathed, no one moved, everything fell silent.

“You’re with the Council?” a slayer asked.

“No, I was with ’em years ago,” she answered. “But this visit now ain’t about me. You all need to listen to what she has to say. Your lives and the lives of the people you care about, and the people you earn money from, depend on it.”

Lisa then motioned toward Grace to continue.

“Your help is needed to beat back this threat to our existence.” Grace went on. “Again, as I look around this room, I remember the last major threat we faced. Many of you have no memories of it, because you were either too young or not even born. As someone who has lived through that, and as Lisa can attest to, things are going to get bad – really, really bad.”

“So we just charge into battle and hope we don’t die?” a slayer asked.

Grace began to nod. “Yes. Defending the earth is what slayers do. That’s the job description.”

“We didn’t apply for this job,” one girl called out. “It just happened to us.”

“Don’t get me wrong,” Grace said. “While blowing holy water bubbles on vamps is entertaining…” She paused to look over at SlayBae, who grinned back at her. “…your calling was designed for something far greater. The Council doesn’t care how you use your gifts, as long as it’s done lawfully. Again, they are your gifts, but we are asking for your support. And I cannot stress enough to you that to continue to exist freely, the way you have, it’s imperative that you come to our world’s aid now.”

“We’re being drafted,” someone muttered.

Grace considered the term. “I prefer to say…temporary recruitment. I’ve tasked Faith Lehane to be my recruitment liaison – a job she’s happily accepted. She’s ready and willing to tell you more about our situation. In my hand are business cards with some basic info and Faith’s contact info. My hope is that every one of you will take a card and tell Faith you want to learn more. My ultimate wish is that you’ll help humanity once you hear it. Again, it’s temporary enlistment, unless you decide otherwise.”

“Soooo….if we survive, then what?” another of the women asked.

“Once the conflict is over and we’ve won, go back to your normal life or, if you like it, you can stay with the Council. Again, it’s your choice.” Grace gave a polite nod to Lisa and then set the business cards on the bar. “Any questions?” When no one said anything, the Chairwoman nodded and said, “Thank you for your time, ladies, and again, I apologize for interrupting your evening, so the next round is on me.”

Grace reached into her pocket, pulled out three hundred dollars and handed the bills to Lisa, who took it with a grin. With that, Grace turned and made her way to the exit. Lisa pushed the button again, and the jukebox restarted, while the room erupted into conversations about what had just transpired.

“You lied to us,” one of the slayers said to Lisa.

“Life ain’t always about the questions we ask. Sometimes, it’s ’bout the questions we don’t ask. So no, I told the truth. I’m not with t’Council. I just never said I was with ’em once upon a time, many years ago…”

Fade To:

Int.

The Stake & Crossbow – Later

“Fuck. How long ago were you a watcher?!” Maddie exclaimed, slamming her palms straight down on the top of the counter. Behind her the bar was vacant, save for herself and a few others.

“Oi, you mind your fuckin’ language, Miss.” Lisa cocked her head as she poured a pint. “Long before most of ya ‘re even alive.”

“Y-You betrayed us. All of us!” SlayBae bleated, her arms crossed tight against her chest. An iPhone hovered over her shoulder, held by Lexi.

“Like hell I did! I bloody quit…as they were firing me,” Lisa protested, tilting the pint glass back upright. “But ‘ave I ever commanded you, any of you, to go out every bloody night to go kill suckers in some fuckin’ crypt? No.” She brought the pint glass up to her lips and took a long drink, and kept going, and going, and going and then put the empty glass on the bar with an audible thud. She cleared her throat. “No, I only ever gave you options, advice, guidance…safe harbor, for fuck’s sake. Brenda? Did I ever judge you? Shame you for how you choose to slay?”

Her eyes cast down, SlayBae gingerly looked up at Lisa, then between the other girls. “Uh, no?”

“No,” Lisa repeated, and then reached for a shot glass and bottle. “And Kelly, did I ever tell you to stop cosplaying and just slay vamps? Did I go to the press and tell everyone who you were?”

Slaygirl sulked at the back of the group, the bar’s red mood lighting glinting off the leather panels of her suit, catching on the edge of her mask. “N-No,” she responded, her throat full of gravel, “you’ve helped me try to be the light in the darkness that this city needs.”

“Wow.” Maddie lifted her head up from her hands. Then she screwed up her face and batted away the iPhone Lexi held in front of her.

“What?! She has!” Slaygirl’s voice edged into a shrill cry.

“See!” Lisa pointed the now empty shot glass toward Slaygirl. “Never once did I take the piss and say that I didn’t wanna be your fuckin’ boozer Alfred. I did all that, all…all this….” She threw her arms open wide and motioned them around the entire bar. “…for you. All I’ve ever done for any of you, slayers…all I’ve…” her voice began to break and she raised a hand, closing it to a fist in front of her mouth. Then she let out an almighty burp that broke the silence and left the others with their eyes wide in surprise. After a beat, Lisa sniffed.

“You lied, Lisa. You lied to us,” Anisha softly said, her eyes downcast as she approached the bar.

She shook her head. “No, I wasn’t entirely truthful, and I am sorry, truly I am, but this, this is what I feared w’happen.”

“And how’d you think we’d react? Like, shit, lady, you know my feelings on that place, and now you’re queen fascist?” Maddie grumbled.

Faith began to grin and shake her head at that remark, but for the moment said nothing.

“It’s understandable,” Anisha said quietly, looking about the group, “I’m not condoning it. It hurts, a lot, but would we have even given her a chance if she had told us? It’s not like we don’t make our feelings on the Council known. Every single night. We must take some of the blame for not making Lisa feel as if she could, well, come out.”

“Don’t go makin’ excuses now, Ani. This is on her, not us!” Maddie hissed, her eyebrows about to meet her hairline.

“I am sorry,” Lisa interjected. “I shouldn’t have kept quiet, but where would you be?” She put a finger up. “Not like that, not ’cause of me, you’d all be fine without me, but this place? Each other? Where would Crystal be without you?”

“No, where would I be without you, Lisa?” Crystal piped up from a nearby booth where she sat, her eyes intently on Dylan, who sat between her and Faith, furiously scribbling something on a large pad. She glanced up at the others, “Y’all came through for me ’cause of her, ’cause she brought all y’all together. For me. For Dylan.” She brushed her hand gently over the top of her son’s head. “She may have been a watcher in a past life, but I’m a…if anyone should have shame ’bout who they are and what they’ve done it’s me. I will be forever thankful for that woman, ’cause she knew what I needed better than myself.”

“Hear, hear,” Faith said, raising a bottle of beer. “Seriously, ladies, I get it, I do. I’ve had some real whoppers of watchers in my time, but Lisa? She’s legit. And so not a watcher. A stone-cold boss bitch, yes. She’s got my seal of approval any day of the week.”

Lisa bowed her head and curtsied, holding another bottle.

Then Faith frowned with a mouthful of beer. “If this ends up on YouTube, my daughter’ll cringe herself into next week.” She put a hand up in front of the iPhone.

Lexi retracted her selfie-stick and pouted. “But the Faith Lehane on my channel. I can see the thumbnail now…so many arrows…and all those likes…”

Faith just continued to shake her head, bottle to mouth, waving her outstretched hand.

“She’s got my vote,” Slaygirl added quietly, her head suddenly over Faith’s shoulder. The elder woman, startled, spit out some of her beer.

Lisa smiled at Slaygirl.

“And mine,” Anisha added, reaching over the bar to lightly touch Lisa’s hand. “We have to be better. And forgiveness and understanding is better, and so much easier, than holding a grudge.”

Lisa quickly put her other hand on top of Anisha’s and squeezed. Then she looked over to Maddie, who rolled her eyes and pushed herself up off of the bar and took a place beside SlayBae, both of their arms crossed tight across their chests.

“I am so very sorry for biting me tongue, and I’m even more sorry that I’ve lost your trust. I’ve not changed. I’m still me, for cryin’ out loud,” Lisa said, waving her hand up and down herself.

“I mean, have you guys ever seen a watcher chug?” Lexi asked, pressing her glasses back up her nose. Maddie and SlayBae glared at her. “And we were, like, super together. That’s thanks to Lisa.” She waved briefly toward Faith and added, “And the Council. We were, like, squad goals, because of Lisa and the Council…like a team, and teams need names, like…” Lexi clicked her fingers a couple of times, and then her face lit up, “…the Epic Awesome Ohio Girl Squad!”

Lexi blinked and then continued, “Seriously, Kelly can have an actual secret identity, but Lisa can’t have a past? Brenda can’t have a stage name? C’mon.”

With the hiss of the opening of a bottle cap, Lisa looked at Lexi and raised the bottle toward her and took a swig.

SlayBae’s eyes turned back to Maddie’s and she pursed her lips.

“Don’t. No, do not,” Maddie started, raising a finger. “You have not had a front row seat to the Council like I have recently.”

“They kinda got a point and…look, I’m pissed, I am,” SlayBae said, “But she’s…she’s Lisa. Our Lisa. Den mother? Bailer-outer? Giver of drinks? But she’s got some making up to do.” She looked back at Lisa, softly smiled and took a seat on the barstool and tapped her fingers. “Honestly, a grovel wouldn’t go amiss.” She winked. Lisa reciprocated with a small kiss from her lips and a mouthing of ‘thank you.’

For a long moment, Maddie stared at the back of SlayBae, then turned to Anisha, who nodded towards Lisa. Maddie huffed under her breath and looked at Lexi, then to Slaygirl. Her eyes momentarily rolled to the ceiling as she looked over at Crystal tickling Dylan and at Faith, arm wrapped around the back of the booth chair grinning widely, then, slowly, back to Lisa.

The pair held a long glance. Lisa’s eyes slightly misty, she swallowed, hard. Maddie’s steely gaze narrowed and the corner of her mouth scrunched to the right. Arms still folded, she rolled her eyes once more and then plopped herself down on the barstool beside SlayBae.

“Fine,” she barked. Lisa blinked back the tears and let out a small breath. “But you’d better make mine a Jack and Coke, ’cause I ain’t drinking that Sprite shit anymore.”

Lisa stifled a laugh, “Don’t fuckin’ push it.”

Faith walked over and leaned down to Maddie’s ear. “Don’t be a hypocrite,” she warned. Maddie’s face was a mix of surprise and offense. “You’ve been snuggling up to the Council lately. And not with just anyone – one of the ‘founder’s’ sons. Yeah, I know about you ‘patrolling’ with my nephew.”

Maddie looked terrified. Faith grinned as she rose and then took a long pull on her beer. “There are some really great things about the Council, right?” she said in a normal voice. “Be warned. There is a wrong answer here.”

Slaygirl nodded. “They kept my cover.”

Lexi offered, “They didn’t shut down my feed.”

“They can’t do that,” SlayBae said.

Faith snorted. “They can do that and much more.”

“Shit.” SlayBae blinked a couple times. “Okay, then they didn’t shut down my feed either.”

“So,” Faith said, turning back to Maddie. “Is the Council really that bad?”

Maddie took a deep breath. “I’ve been…working with someone at the Council.”

“We all just worked with Faith,” Anisha pointed out. “She’s with the Council.”

“It’s not Faith, it’s… Alex. Rosenberg. We’ve been patrolling and…” She trailed off into something unintelligible. When those present began to badger her about not understanding her, in a louder voice she said, “We kinda sorta went to his spring formal together.” The bar was a mix of emotions – sounds of surprise, but also happiness, with ‘oohs’ and ‘ahhs’ filling the room. “This is why I didn’t say anything,” Maddie complained.

SlayBae gave her a hug and said, “Our little Maddie is growing up and becoming a woman.”

Maddie chuckled. “The whole becoming a woman happened over two years ago,” she pointed out.

“Just be smart,” Faith said. “Don’t make me a Great Aunt.”

“Geez,” Maddie grumbled. “I barely kissed the guy.”

“You kissed him!” Lexi squealed. “That was me! I got you guys together.”

“False,” Maddie said flatly.

“Ya don’t have to kiss to make a baby,” Faith pointed out.

“That’s true,” SlayBae agreed as others around them also chimed in with noises of agreement. Lisa burped again and Dylan giggled.

Cut To:

Int.

Rosenberg-Allister House – Living Room – Evening

The house was quiet and dimly lit as Willow walked into the foyer and further into the living room. She was looking at her phone and not really paying too much attention to her surroundings. Whatever was on the screen seemed to captivate her attention.

Absently, she called out, “Ro, you home? We got the totems for the majority of the Council. There still may be…”

As she rounded the corner to step fully into the living room, her eyes widened and her jaw dropped. At the same time, the phone fell from her fingertips and clattered to the floor. The device was now completely forgotten.

Rowena sat in the middle of the living room, completely naked, in front of a chessboard. “Welcome home,” she said casually.

Willow wore an expression between shock and elation. Her lips continued to move, but no words would come forth. Finally, she managed to ask a one-word question: “Kids?”

“With Becca. We’re alone for the night,” Rowena replied.

“Buffy’s right. That woman is a saint,” Willow said.

Rowena pointed toward the smartphone which was now sitting on the floor. “You dropped your phone.”

“Forget the phone,” Willow said with a growing smile as she continued to move closer. “Not complaining in the least, but…what is happening here?”

Rowena thought for a moment and then said, “Xander.” Willow began to look around the room for him. Rowena giggled, “He’s not here. I’m just following his advice.”

Willow looked at her with an appraising eye and said, “I’ll have to thank him, even if I’m still not entirely sure what’s going on.”

“When we were having totem induced problems, he asked me a question. It was something along the lines of, ‘Is there anything that you and Willow enjoyed when you were younger that you haven’t done in a long time?’ The two things that came to mind were chess and…I think you can figure out the other thing.”

Willow grinned. “I definitely have to thank Xander.”

“So, what would you like to do?” Rowena asked, and then licked her lips. “Chess or me?”

Willow’s grin transformed into a smile. “My choice?”

Rowena nodded. “Of course, there’s nothing that says we can’t do both. I know you enjoy chess, but a strong part of your magic is tied to your body. If I can aid you in any way in this next battle…well, I’m here to do my part.” Willow’s smile never dipped. She took a seat across from Rowena. Rowena cleared her throat. “Are you going to be able to concentrate on chess?”

The witch picked up her queen and rolled it in her fingertips as she examined it for a moment. She then rested it on the other side of the board, in front of Rowena.

“I’m giving you my queen.”

Rowena picked it up and held it in her hand for a moment. When she looked back up at Willow with deep affection, remembrance in her eyes, the witch no longer looked surprised or amused. Instead, what Rowena saw was desire. She let the piece fall from her fingertips. Willow captured Rowena’s face in her hands and pulled the watcher into a passionate kiss.

“You first,” Willow told her. “Then chess if we have time.”

Rowena grabbed Willow by her long cardigan. She brought her in for a searing kiss and then pulled the witch toward her and over the small table as the both tumbled toward the sofa. The chess pieces went in several different directions as Willow dragged over the table, her lips not leaving her wife’s. When the pair made it to the sofa, she reached out one hand to steady herself and keep from collapsing, while the other hand cupped Rowena’s face, pulling her closer.

As soon as Rowena’s back connected with the fabric, Willow rested her forearms on either side of her wife’s naked form, almost as if shielding her with her cardigan as their clothed and unclothed bodies came together. Willow’s lips descended on Rowena’s neck, her tongue and teeth nipping at the skin. The watcher arched into her wife’s touch, her fingers tangling in the red tresses, pulling her even closer. Both women whimpered at the same time, making both of them grin slightly.

Willow rested her weight on one arm and used the back of her hand to run her fingertips over Rowena’s cheek, down her neck, down her arm and to her hip. “Your entire essence is pulsating,” Willow said, with a mix of amazement and anticipation. “The energy you’re giving off…”

Rowena’s lips curled into a sultry grin, and she took Willow’s hand and led it farther south down her body. When their movements stopped for a moment, suddenly, together, both women’s breaths caught at the same time.

Rowena rose slightly, snared Willow’s earlobe with her teeth and gave a soft tug before letting go. “Some things you just can’t fake,” she whispered in the witch’s ear.

Willow groaned and used her head to raise Rowena’s chin up. Her tongue licked down the watcher’s chin to the nape of her neck. Her body quickly arched into the redhead and from somewhere deep in the back of her throat she let out a carnal growl.

Fade Out

Fade In:

Int.

Rosenberg-Allister House – Master Bedroom – Later that Night

The room was illuminated by a solitary nightstand lamp, giving the bedroom a soft warm hue. One pair of naked feet hung over the corner of the mattress. Willow laid on her stomach, tangled in the sheets. From her bare back, it was obvious she was nude. In front of her was a chess board, with pieces set up as in the middle of a game. One stood out among the others – it was a salt shaker. On the other side of a chessboard was Rowena, wearing only a Cheshire cat grin. She was lying on her side, with the sheets around her body and a single leg exposed. Willow gave a pained groan.

“I’m glad you’re better at sex than chess,” Rowena told her. “I have to admit though, using the salt shaker for the missing rook was pretty intelligent.”

“I’m not feeling very intelligent right now,” Willow sighed, still not making her move.

“You have a choice,” Rowena said with a teasing sound in her voice.

“Is that so?” Willow said in distrust, while still grinning. “Seems like I’m stuck.”

“The choice is, you decide how soon you want to end this.” Willow snickered in response as Rowena continued. “If you go here,” she said, pointing, “it’s over in one move. If you go there, it’s over in two. I know it. You know it. How long do you want the agony to go on?”

Resigned to her fate, Willow reached over and moved a piece, and as soon as her fingers left it, Rowena picked up hers and placed it closer to the witch.

“Check…mate,” Rowena said, with a playful grin that matched Willow’s.

“The temperature is forty-nine degrees Fahrenheit,” Alexa said from her perch on the dresser.

Willow and Rowena looked at each other in surprise before they both giggled, with the witch adding, “I didn’t ask you the temperature, Alexa.”

“Do you believe how she just talks on her own?” Rowena asked.

“Playing ‘Believe’ by Cher on Amazon Music.”

Willow and Rowena’s laughter nearly drown out Cher’s “After Love, After Love” refrain at the start of the song.  Rowena paused her amusement long enough to say, “Alexa, stop.”

The watcher continued to grin but the merriment quickly fell from Willow’s face. Upon seeing her wife’s expression change, Rowena asked, “Do you want me to turn the song back on?”

Pulling the covers with her, Willow wordlessly marched over to the Amazon dot and pulled it out of the wall. She shook it at Rowena.

“Intelligent my ass. I’m extremely stupid,” she growled in frustration. “How did I not see this?” She continued to shake the unplugged device. “Especially after the Trio. Hell, why didn’t Andrew notice this?”

Slowly, Rowena began to put two and two together. “Zorgy’s listening.”

“Zorgy’s listening,” Willow said firmly. “We’ve said things in this house we didn’t say anywhere else in the world. That’s how she knew about Tamara, a-and Robin, and all the personal stuff. That bitch is listening to all of us on all of our devices, but definitely the in-home ones. It’s kind of like when you talk about having another kid in the same room with your phone, and then the next day you get ten social media ads for diapers. Except Zorgy wants to murder us all instead of selling us diapers.”

“She certainly got an earful tonight,” Rowena said with a sideways grin.

Willow was looking at the device when she heard Rowena’s comment and then did a double take before grinning herself.

“Seriously though, we need to tell the Council members to shut down all their devices,” Rowena insisted.

“Yeah…No,” Willow replied.

Rowena cocked her head, confused. “Why not? She’ll hear all our conversations, our battleplans–”

“Right. She’ll hear it all. Or more accurately, she’ll hear everything we want her to hear.”

“We can control the information she receives,” Rowena replied. “Fake troop movements, misinformation…yeah.”

“Hell yeah,” Willow corrected.

“Wait,” Rowena held up a finger. “If she’s tapped our devices, she’s probably got access to our computers. And if so, she’ll see any emails we send out on those devices, or even our word processing documents.”

“Word processing documents,” Willow remarked with a grin. “Most people just say ‘Word’, just like they say ‘Kleenex’ when you say ‘facial tissue’.”

“Those are just brands,” Rowena said defensively.

“Not criticizing. I think it’s adorable. And you’re right about the tech,” Willow replied. “How do we let the masses at the Council know we’re giving away fake intel without Zorgy finding out via our electronics?”

Rowena looked suddenly excited. “We go old school!”

“Emails instead of texts? We already said–”

“Older than that,” Rowena told her.

The other woman thought for a moment. “Paper,” Willow replied firmly.

“Paper,” Rowena repeated. “But not any paper – mimeograph.” Willow raised one brow at her wife. “If she’s tapped into our devices,” Rowena continued, “let’s say, anything with wi-fi, like printers, she might see us printing or copying the announcements. But with the mimeograph…”

“Yeah,” Willow began, the ideas starting to churn in her mind. “We find someone with great penmanship and they hand write one letter each day, and then we mass produce it away from any cameras or technology.”

“Exactly! We instruct them to not read it around any kind of tech.”

Willow smiled. “Old School.”

“Old School.”

Willow paused. “One question: where are we going to find a working mimeograph that won’t set off alarms to Zorgy about our retro purchase?”

Rowena smiled.

Cut To:

Int.

Rosenberg-Alister House– Attic – Moments Later

Now in their PJ’s, the pair walked through the stacks of boxes of different shapes and sizes in their attic.

“As you know, my brother Joseph’s Parkinson’s isn’t getting any better, so he’s been downsizing. He came across something from when we were kids and asked if I wanted it.” Rowena pulled back a sheet to reveal a good-sized machine with a large roller at one end to Willow. “I took it for old times’ sake.”

“How did you get this?” Willow asked as she began to inquisitively examine it. “I haven’t seen anything like this since Miss Harper’s first grade class. I remember because the sheets smelled funny and we had to match the animal with its baby, like cats and kittens or goats and kids…a-and I’m getting off topic. How did you get this?”

“Like I said, Joseph and his wife were going through stuff.”

“No, I mean originally. This isn’t just something you’d pick up at Staples.”

“Grand and Toy,” Rowena replied.

“What?” Willow said in confusion.

“Sorry. No Staples in Canada back then. It was a store called Grand and Toy.”

“They sold office stuff and toys? I’m confused.”

“No, they sold office supplies.”

Willow paused for a moment. “Then why’d they call it…Know what? I’m off topic again. My point was, this isn’t an ‘off the shelf’ purchase, right? Didn’t only offices and schools have these copiers?”

“Pretty much,” Rowena replied. “Da went to an auction and got some supplies for his office. It was a bundle that came with two filing cabinets, a desk and this. I remember because Joe and I knew what the other stuff was, but we wondered what the hell this was,” she giggled. “Da didn’t need it, so he gave it to Joe to play around with. He drew cartoons that he gave out at school.”

Willow continued to grin as she examined it. “How does it work?”

“How do you think it works?” Rowena asked as she stepped aside for Willow to get a closer look.

The witch focused on the large round cylinder and what looked like an empty tank. She pointed and said, “The ink goes in there and the drum probably rolls and puts an image on the paper.”

Rowena leaned over and nibbled on Willow’s earlobe a moment. “You’re very sexy when you’re figuring things out,” she remarked with a sly grin, which Willow returned.

Willow turned and kissed her wife. then resumed looking at the machine. “I’m not sure where you put the page being copied, though.” Rowena pointed to another part of the machine. Willow turned to her and asked, “Does it still work?”

“Joe said he thought so, but I haven’t tried it. I remember how it works. When I was old enough, probably around eight, we’d make a weekly newsletter to sell to the fishermen at the docks before I was called to the Council as a Chosen Watcher. I wrote the stories. He did the art. We called it ‘Catch of the Week’…you know, because of fishing, they say…”.

“We all get it,” Willow sighed, with a small smile.

“And yes, I realize how incredibly geeky that makes me and my brother sound. I think our customers bought them more out of a sense of nostalgia than actual riveting Thornkirk news. Some of the buyers just smelled them like a bouquet of flowers…It was the Eighties, so it was weird.”

Willow smiled. “So you’re printing ‘zines to take on the man? Little Miss Fight the Power, like a Sixties anarchist, huh?”

“Again, it was Thornkirk, Nova Scotia,” Rowena said, sounding bored. “Not much to uprise against when it’s a one-ferry town.” She chuckled a few seconds, and a far away look overtook her. “Joseph and I had fun doing our weekly recap for the fishermen who missed the local news. Made a little money, too. Not as much as the twins do with their creative pursuits, but for us, it wasn’t about that. We just had fun doing something together that Mary Grace couldn’t care less about.” Rowena seemed to physically shake off the memory and turned back to her wife. “Anyway, he got quite a bit of paper, figured his kids might like to do the same. Of course, by the time he had his kids, just like Mary Grace, they couldn’t care less about it. So that means we’re great on paper, but I’ve nothing in the ink department. What he had was dried up.”

“Would they even still sell ink for this?” Willow wondered as she pointed to the machine.

“I’m sure they sell something comparable, like stencil ink. Grainger might have it. I wouldn’t want to tip our hand with an online order, though. It would be best to just walk in, but it needs to be someone who’s not directly linked to the Council that we can trust with a lot of cash.”

Cut To:

Int.

Grainger – Brooklyn Heights, Ohio – Day

A man in a store smock told the large figure entering, “Welcome to Grainger. If you need help just let me know.”

“Actually,” a voice answered. “There is.”

“Certainly,” the worker replied.

Clem held up one finger and asked, “Do you have Stencil ink? And where might I find it?”

“Right this way,” the man said, motioning for the wrinkled demon to follow him.

Cut To:

Int.

Watchers Council – Weapons Warehouse – Day

Buffy stepped out of the way of a large forklift carrying several pallets and kept walking. The shelves of the warehouse seemed to extend a fair distance in all directions, all locked and secured to control access. Soon she found her husband, carrying a tablet computer and speaking to several other workers standing around him in a group.

“Okay, Shannon’s going to want all those options, right? We’ve heard a few things, but we can’t be sure what they’ll be facing out there. So first thing, we’re going to need bladed weapons in as many different metals as possible. I know Ro was talking about the periodic table, but… I don’t have that memorized, so right now we’re just going to organize everything alphabetically.” He looked over at his wife, then back at the group around him. “All right, let’s get going! We’re on a quick mobilization schedule here.”

As the group broke up, Buffy closed the distance toward him. “This is a surprise!” he said. “What are you doing slumming it down here in the warehouse with us plebs?”

She sighed. “Can we talk? Maybe somewhere with less…people?”

“Ruh roh,” Xander said, but he was smiling as he nodded over her shoulder for her to follow him.

Cut To:

Int.

Watchers Council – Weapons Warehouse Office – Moments Later

Xander led Buffy into a small office, most of the space in which was filled with filing cabinets from before all the warehouse records had been digitized.

“So…” she began, but nothing further came out. She just ran a finger over the dust on top of a filing cabinet.

“So,” Xander replied as he leant forward and picked up his coffee mug.

Buffy took another deep breath and said, “Okay. I know that we’ve had some…discussions lately about our family. How Joyce and Emma both fit into it, especially. And I don’t know how much of that was the totems and how much of that was real, or what that even means, y’know, but Will says that the totems don’t change what you’re feeling, they just make it, y’know, bigger, so I guess…”

“Okay, we’re just gonna slow this train down,” Xander said, reaching out and putting a hand on her shoulder. “We’re fine here. I actually kind of feel like, compared to basically all of our friends, we handled being cursed by a malevolent demon empress pretty well. Nobody slept with anyone else, or got accused of sleeping with anyone else, or almost murdered anyone, or almost blew up the Watchers Council by firing the one person that people weren’t gonna go for them firing, so…yay us, I say.”

“Yay,” Buffy said, in a tone that could not have had less enthusiasm behind it.

“Not yay?” he replied searchingly.

“It’s just…okay, so Emma told me the other day that Grace wants her to go to DC to be the new Lead Slayer there, and that she’s going to take it. She then suggested that I – we – go too. And I said, basically, you go have fun with that, I’m staying here. And that was before Zorgy beat the hell out of her for the second time. When I was de-cursed, at first it was like this huge weight was lifted, but after a little bit I realized that I still needed to lose some weight.”

“I mean, you said it, not me. I think you keep it tight,” Xander said with a grin. She smacked him hard on the upper arm, and he grimaced and rubbed the spot. “Ow, actually. You’re not getting your powers back by any chance, because I’ll need to be more careful…”

“Just learning not to hold back,” Buffy said with a small smile as he took a sip of his coffee. Then she shook her head. “Point is, I realized that, between your stuff and my stuff, I’ve been pushing Emma away. Like, a part of me doesn’t want to really let her in because, what if I do and something happens? I’ve done that before, so many times, and I just…I think it’s a defense mechanism to keep me from getting hurt again. And I don’t want to be that person. That way has led to so much badness, and I just can’t…but how can I ask her to stay? That’s not fair, either. Oh, and remember when the Council tried to throw its weight around when Glory came to town? They threatened Giles with deportation, and I was scared to death they’d take him away. And if that’s how Emma feels about me…”

Xander looked at her for a second, then asked, “So, when are we moving?”

Buffy blinked. “Sorry, what?”

Xander leaned an arm on one of the filing cabinets. “You were right, Emma is part of our family, just like Giles. She isn’t a part we were planning for, but that doesn’t make it any less true. And you can’t undo that by putting up a wall now. I’ve lost plenty of people, too, you know that, and I can tell you life is about risking the pain.”

“But…”

“And you know that this is the opportunity Emma’s been working for, and that she’s the best person we have for the job. And I can see now, post-totem, that I pushed her away too. Having one flesh and blood daughter seemed like more than I could handle, let alone a young adult quasi-daughter. It was too much, but now I see the truth,” he continued, “and I also know she’d be the best lead slayer DC will ever have, because you’ll be there with her.”

“But you and Joyce, I can’t…”

“We can also move. There are weapons anywhere. In fact, it might even open the door to cooler weapons, thanks to being closer to the Pentagon and all those defense contractors. Do I want to be further away from other people I love? Heck no. But two thirds of the time I talk to Will, Ro and the gang, it’s on Zoom or text or email anyway. We’ll figure stuff out. And I know Grace has been telling people this isn’t forever. We can do this.”

Buffy continued to look at him skeptically.

“We can, I promise,” he repeated.

She sighed. “Yeah.” Then she took a step forward, leaned her head back and kissed him. It was long and slow, and neither of them pulled away for several seconds.

When they did, they gave each other small smiles. Buffy’s, at least, faded quickly. “God, I’m going to have to clean out our bedroom closet. I don’t think I’ve seen the floor of that thing since the Bush administration.”

“On the bright side, there’s a decent chance Zorgy might kill us all,” Xander pointed out. “So maybe hold off.”

“That’d be nice,” Buffy agreed. “I could use a break.”

Cut To:

Int.

Los Angeles – Dave’s Auto – Early Morning

Andrew pulled the piece of paper from his pocket and started to dial the old rotary phone at one side of the floor of a repair shop as a gruff mechanic looked at him. Palm trees could be spotted in the background beyond the parking lot as the sun peaked just above the horizon.

“Thanks again,” Andrew said meekly. “This’ll just be a minute.”

He turned his back to the man to avoid his hard suspicious gaze as he listened to the phone ring on the other end of the line.

Cut To:

Int.

Marc’s Grocery – Morning

Willow sat in the manager’s office of the local grocery store. She looked at the clock when the phone rang, then glanced at the caller ID. The area code was California. “Marc’s,'” she answered.

“Willow?” Andrew said, unsure.

“Yeah, it’s me.”

Cut To:

Int.

Dave’s Auto – Same Time

“Okay, the mind alarm at five a.m. about finding a landline in an hour was scary, but this feels freakier, and much more stressful than Mulder made it look. What’s with the cloak and dagger?” he whispered, placing his hand over his mouth to disguise what he was saying.

“Did you turn off your cell before you left, like I asked?”

“Yeah.”

“You’re sure?”

“Yes, and make this snappy. The beefy mechanic is cute, but he’s giving me serious WTF side-eye. What’s up?”

“Zorgy is watching all of us on our devices – everything that’s cellular, internet based or voice activated. Plus, I don’t know if she can break into my telepathic ‘calls’ like I made to you this morning. She’s powerful with the magics, so I’m taking extra precautions by both not using tech and keeping ‘brain chat’ to a minimum, unless it’s an emergency.”

“Smart,” Andrew agreed. “What do you need from me?”

“A few things. Write it down on paper and don’t look at if you’re around any electronics – computers, security cameras, anything. She could be watching.”

Andrew groaned. “This is weird with a beard.”

“Says the guy that spent months spying on the Scoobies in Sunnydale.”

“Exactly. I speak from experience. That was weird. I was weird.” Andrew turned and grinned nervously at the mechanic, still hovering nearby, before turning his back to him again. “Seriously, I’ll do whatever you guys need. Just name it.”

“Okay, I don’t have much time because Ro and I have to meet the kids at Giles’s house and then I’ve got more things to do this morning.”

“Hey,” the mechanic grumbled, “how much longer you gonna be, pal?”

Andrew’s eyes went wide. “Oh, just a moment. I promise, and…could I trouble you for a pen?”

The man grunted in annoyance, but he did as Andrew asked. For good measure, he put the writing utensil down in front of Andrew with probably more force than necessary.

“Goddess, Willow, make this quick!” Andrew said in a heated whisper. “I’m ticking off a guy approximately the size and shape of Drax the Destroyer.”

Cut To:

Ext.

Giles House – Day

“I’ve been blindfolded for half an hour,” Liz said, a sleep mask over her eyes. Her brother wore one as well. Becca and Giles guided each of them down the stairs until they were standing outside in the driveway.

“No doubt. Can we take these off now?” Marty asked.

“No!” Becca and Giles said at the same time.

“I just heard Liz and Marty,” Jen called out. “I thought we were headed home.”

Cut To:

Ext.

Giles House – Driveway – Continuous

In the driveway stood Rowena and Willow along with Jen and Alex, who were also blindfolded, and Jake and Sophie, who were all smiles but being extra quiet.

“Me too. What is going on?” Alex asked.

“The twins are back!” Liz said.

Marty groaned. “Yes, Liz. My ears work. Again, can we take these off now?” he asked. He started to reach up to do so, but his mother grabbed his hand and he grumbled.

“Where are we?” Jen asked anyone who might answer.

“Our house,” Liz replied.

“Why are we back? We just left,” Alex challenged. They all heard Sophie and Jake giggle.

The parents positioned the kids so they all faced forward. Rowena and Willow pointed at Giles, and he said, “Take off your masks.”

Not needing to be told twice, all four of them quickly took them off and stood still, looks of surprise and amazement on their faces, before they started to look at each other. Directly in front of them was a cargo van with a large Stoned Platypus logo emblazoned on the side.

Jen, the first teenager to speak, said, “Oh God! Is this ours?”

“Technically, it’s Liz’s, since she’s the legal adult,” Rowena offered.

“But yes, it’s for the band,” Becca added. “Go check it out.”

Giles held the keys out to Liz, who was trembling in excitement with her hand over her mouth, struggling for something to say. When she managed to speak, a single complete sentence still couldn’t pass her lips.

“How did…who did…I….Really?!”

Becca found her way into Giles’s arms after Liz took the keys and they both looked at her reaction in joy.

“As for the how did,” Willow teased, “your dad suggested a few weeks ago that maybe we look into getting something used, but affordable and reliable, for your tour.”

“We’re really going on tour?” Alex asked excitedly.

“Yep,” Becca agreed, and added, “as for the who did… Go to the other side.”

The teens paused for about three seconds and then sprinted collectively around the other side. Once they got there, they saw Brell and Belizet waving at them.

Brell told them, “Your dad and moms said what you needed. So I made a good deal with them.”

“A very good deal,” Giles said as he walked around and then extended his hand to Brell, giving it a firm shake. “Thank you.”

“Good kids need good starts,” Brell replied. “This will help.”                  

Belizet pointed to the side of the van and told Liz, “The logo was my idea! I took it from your site, so I hope you don’t go after me for copyright infringement.”

Liz giggled, then pulled him into a hug and kissed his cheek. She quickly went over to do the same with his father.

“Thank you both so much,” she told them.

As the other teens were chatting excitedly and exploring the vehicle, the moms walked them through a few features. Liz looked at her dad, who simply grinned at her. She made her way over to him.

“I got an answer to how and who, but I never got an answer to my last question…Really?”

“Really,” Giles said firmly.

“A year ago this time, you wouldn’t even trust me enough to look after Frank, let alone the three of them.”

“A lot can change in a year,” Giles said. “Hell, a lot can change in a matter of seconds. I know your brother gives me the business about being the old man, but with age sometimes comes wisdom. In my youth, I made a lot of mistakes. I think many were because I felt trapped in a legacy. I think sometimes you feel the same.”

Liz looked away for a moment, but said nothing.

Giles continued, “You have years ahead of you. S-So go on your tour this summer. Look after them. While I-I don’t regret where my past took me, because it led me to your mother and you both, I admit I’ve wondered what might have been. I-I mean, my father is the one who pressured me to become a watcher, and I-I want to be more understanding than him.”

“I’m lucky you’re my dad,” she said, then pointed to the van behind her. “And not because of this.”

“It really was a group effort. Thank your Aunt Will and Ro, too. They helped with the purchase and agreed to the tour. And please, just remember, wherever you end up, I don’t want you to spend your life thinking about what might have been. Whatever you decide about your future, give it one hundred percent. So, for this summer, go on the road, have your experiences and be a better person because of it. Just one rule.”

“Anything,” Liz answered.

“No black magic?”

Liz smiled.

“I’m serious,” Giles said unflinchingly. “I meant what I said about avoiding my regrets.”

“I promise. No black magic.”

She pulled him into a hug and he closed his eyes as he held her.

Cut To:

Int.

College Student Union – Basement – Night

Xander and Grace, leaning heavily on her crutches, walked into the student union basement. Xander had a large box tucked under one arm. There they found a group of twenty-five or so men and women sitting in chairs in a circular fashion. As they began to get closer to the group, the men and women began to talk to each other in hushed tones, with some of them pointing at the pair.

One of the men stood up and motioned to the duo to come into the circle. As they did so, Xander gently put the box on the floor.

“Welcome,” the man said. “Everyone, I’ve been asked that you please turn your cell phones completely off.” The group looked at each other in confusion, but then began to do as he asked. After a few moments, once that seemed to be done, he added, “This is my friend Xander from the Council with his colleague, who some of you may recognize.”

“We know Hatherley. What is the Council doing here?” a woman asked nervously. “And why no cell phones?”

“I come in peace,” Grace replied. Then she paused a moment in thought and then said, “Actually, I come in war, but not with you. I came to save you.”

Cut To:

Int.

Vor – Tunnel – Night

“Status report, Number One,” Zorgy ordered, as if mimicking Captain Picard. The joke seemed lost on Krog. The two of them walked side-by-side down a long, dark tunnel, lit only occasionally by sputtering torches. She sighed. “It’s an Earth reference, never mind. What’s up?”

“Nothing, your highness,” he replied.

“I meant with our Council friends,” she corrected.

“As do I,” he told her. “They seem to be preparing for what they might do when you open the Hellmouth, but they seem to be at a loss about what would work. There is something you may find humorous, however.”

“Do tell,” Zorgy said, in a tone not far off that of a gossiping teenage girl.

“Elizabeth Giles pinpointed our arrival location. At first, they believed her, but then they started to second-guess themselves. Now it seems they’re convinced the arrival location is in the Flats. Chairwoman Hatherley is assigning a large number of teams there. That aside, there has been some chatter regarding a large weapon of unknown capabilities. Testing, it seems, was done away from the Council on private property in a burgh of pits.”

Zorgy looked confused at first, but then started to laugh. “Are you trying to say Pittsburgh?” she asked, chuckling.

He nodded in response. “This weapon may need to be countered. ”

Zorgy did a short standing jump and patted Krog on his tree trunk-like, leather bound bicep. “‘Eh, whatevs, let ’em have their brief moment of hope with the weapon of doom. Oooooh,” she said in faux fear. “As NFG, the legendary bros of Coral Springs, sang, ‘it’s all downhill from here.’ See, Kroggy, my dude, there is always a silver lining.” She locked her tiny arm through his and led him to the exit of the tunnel.

The pair emerged into a cavern, both dwarfed by the scale of the expanse.

“…’Cause they don’t know what I got.” A wicked grin curled on Zorgy’s lips, and the pair stopped and slowly craned their heads up. And up. And up. And further up still.

An incessant heavy breathing groaned over the sound of crushing rocks that thundered throughout the cave.

The only other noise was that of Zorgy laughing. Soon her crescendoing, maniacal laugh was the only sound. A moment later, it turned into a barking cough.

“Uh, ugh, uh… sorry, still with the inter-dimensional dry throat. Anyone got a Diet Pepsi?”

A guttural, deafening roar erupted. The force expelled was akin to a hurricane. It blew Zorgy’s hair in every direction.

Black Out

 

End of Act Four