Several days before Halloween - The Bronze

"I don't know, Willow." the Slayer was saying, "I'm just not in 'date-mode'

right now."

"I understand, having your boyfriend return from Hell, then leave town can

have that effect on someone. Gee, did I just say that." Willow replied a

little meekly. "Sorry, Buffy."

"No prob, Will. Don't worry about it. But just so you know, it was a

'mutual' dump sort of thing."

"So, you still haven't answered my question. Are you going to meet us at

the Bronze for the big Halloween party Saturday night?" the net girl asked

trying to get the conversation back on track.

"Sure, why the heck not. Unless of course there is some sort of prophecy

or something that I have to avert first." the Slayer responded half joking,

but yet half serious.

"Good, I'm glad" Willow responded "What you need is to have fun. Who knows,

maybe you'll meet some mysterious stranger and he'll sweep you off your

feet."

"This is Sunnyhell, Will. Fat chance of that happening. And besides....."

Buffy and Willow were unaware that someone lurking in the shadows across

the room was watching them. His preternatural hearing had allowed him to

divine

on their conversation without being noticed. He had heard enough and smiled

as

he took one last look at the Slayer before drifting off into the night. He

needed to

get busy, he had plans to make.

============

Halloween Night - The Bronze

The Bronze was bustling with activity when Buffy arrived. She blushed a

little at the look that the bouncer at the door gave her as she went by.

Maybe dressing of Seven-of-Nine from Star Trek, Voyager wasn't such a good

idea. She wondered how she let Xander talk her into it. But he did have a

few good points, if she had to fight any vamps she could move easily in it

and if they were all turned into their Halloween costumes again, she could

still kick some serious butt!

She made her way through the crowd and over to the table where the

Scooby-Gang was sitting. Willow, Oz, Xander and Cordelia were already

there.

"Hey, Buffy" Willow said cheerily "I'm so glad that you came. Great

costume."

Buffy was feeling a little uncomfortable being the odd man at the table. As

if he could sense her feelings, Xander instinctively said, "Okay Summers,

let’s go boogie down."

Buffy and Xander had been dancing for about 10 minutes when a hand tapped

Xander shoulder. He stopped dancing and turned around to see who had tapped

him. The stranger who stood before him held his hand out to Buffy and said,

"May I have this dance?"

Buffy stared for a minute at the sight before her. The man asking her to

dance was dressed as Zorro. He was dressed all in black from his leather

boots and pants to his silk shirt and cape save for his red silk cummerbund.

He wore a black mask over his eyes and he had a wide brimmed black hat

pulled down low on his forehead.

When her breath returned to her, Buffy said, "Yes." The man bowed to her and

led her further into the dance floor. As if on que, the dance floor thinned

out and a slow song started playing.

They read you Cinderella

You hoped it would come true

That one day your prince charming would come rescue you

You like romantic movies

And you never will forget the way you felt when Romeo kissed Juliet

And all this time that you've been waiting

You don't have to wait no more

'Zorro' took Buffy in his arms and started dancing, never once removing his

eyes from hers. Buffy was mesmerized by the man who was holding her. His

touch was electric and her heart raced at the feelings it was provoking in

her.

I can love like that

I would make you my world

Move heaven and earth if you were my girl

I would give you my heart

Be all that you need

Show you your everything that's precious to me

If you give me a chance

I can love you like that

Buffy's mind was swimming with the sensations that were coursing through

her. Unknown to her, the man who held her was having similar feelings. He

should have never come back here, but the urge to see her again was

overwhelming. He didn't understand it, nor did he try. When he'd seen her

and heard that she would be here on this night, the desire to hold her in

his arms had been too much.

I'd never make a promise I don't intend to keep

So when I say forever, forever's what I mean

I aint no Casanova but I swear this much is true

I'll be holding nothin back when it comes to you

You dream of love that's ever lasting

Well baby open up your eyes

The eyes that held her captivated were like fathomless black pools. Buffy

wanted to sink into them, let them drowned out her world. Here in his arms,

this 'strangers' arms she felt at peace as she gazed longingly into those

eyes. At the back of her mind, she felt the slightest sense of dejavu, of

recognition. But those thoughts were quickly quelled.

I can love like that

I would make you my world

Move heaven and earth if you were my girl

I would give you my heart

Be all that you need

Show you your everything that's precious to me

If you give me a chance

I can love you like that

The arms that held her tightened slightly and pulled her in closer. She

felt her knees weaken a little at the nearness of him. The cool silk of his

clothes was a sharp contrast to the fire of his touch. His scent was

unique, but yet oddly familiar. It was a very male musk with a hint of what

she could only describe as earth and damp grass. Her senses were on

overload.

If you want tenderness, I got tenderness

And see through to the heart of you

If you want a man who will understand

You don't have to look very far

Just then, he pulled her even closer, nuzzling her neck and caressing her

back with a lovers touch. All other sounds and sights faded from Buffy's

senses. It was if they were the only two people in the room. He brushed

little kisses all along her neck and jawline. Her stomach clenched as

desire flooded through her whole being. She had never felt like this

before, so out of control, so swept along with her emotions.

I can love like that

I would make you my world

Move heaven and earth if you were my girl

I would give you my heart

Be all that you need

Show you your everything that's precious to me

I can love you like that

Oh yes I can love you

Make you my world, always kiss and hug you

Move heaven and earth

I can love you like that

As the final strains of the song played his mouth captured hers in a deep

kiss. His tongue sweeping past her lips and caressing hers. Buffy returned

the kiss with all the passion and longing that she was feeling. As the

music stopped he pulled back from the embrace and held out one long stemmed

red rose. When she took the rose, he grasped her hand and kissed it. Then

turned on his heels and disappeared into the crowd leaving a bewildered

Buffy staring after him.

When Buffy made her way back to the table, they all asked, "Who was that?"

She sighed and replied "I have no idea..."

========

In the alley outside the Bronze he stopped and leaned against the wall,

looking up towards the heavens. "What the bloody hell was I thinking!

She's the damn Slayer." he muttered to himself. He could still smell her

scent on his clothing, still almost feel her in his arms. He knew that he

shouldn't have come here, knew that he should have never seen her again.

But the opportunity to see her and hold her in his arms was too much. There

was no denying it now, Slayer or not, he had fallen in love with her and he

would move heaven and earth to be with her if he could. If only she felt

the same way and if only he weren't a vampire....

The end

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