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Stefanie stayed with Rhys the entire day. Both of them managed to set their feelings aside while she tutored him on how to injure and kill a vampire (crosses, garlic, holy water, and a stake through the heart would do the trick) and even gave him a few lessons of martial arts should he need it.
The day passed much too quickly, Stefanie thought. She found herself wishing that they could stay hidden here forever, just the two of them, for all eternity. But reality had a cruel way of intruding.
Buffy came to get Stefanie and Rhys as soon as the sun had set, informing them that it was time to move. With a sigh, Stefanie gathered her things and followed her friends out to the car.
The first thing Stefanie noticed was the two Slayerettes weren't with them, and she questioned Buffy on this.
Buffy smiled. "Xander and Willow were anxious to get to Vegas, so they left early. I didn't see any reason for them to be stuck with us while we do our thing, so..."
"Well, I hope they're having a good time," Stefanie said, thinking a moment. "How old is Xander, anyway?"
Buffy laughed, watching as Angel loaded the suitcases in her car. "Just hit the big twenty-one not too long ago. I hope he's not broke by now."
The two girls quickly got into the car, and the ride down was mostly spent in silence. But they were eventually strolling down the sidewalk outside the many casinos. After a while, Angel sensed Xander and Willow inside one called High Rollers, a combination casino/hotel, and led his friends inside.
Buffy found her two pals standing at a roulette table and stood by a moment to see how Xander was doing. Much to her shock, he was winning pretty well. But, deciding he shouldn't be pushing his luck, she stepped forward to intervene.
"Ready to quit?" Buffy said to Xander, breaking his focus. Startled, he looked at her, then shook his head.
"I'm on a roll," he protested, ready to place his next bet when Buffy grabbed him by one ear and hauled him away. Willow gathered up his winnings and followed all too eagerly. "Ow!" Xander complained. "Let go, Buffy."
She refused to until they were on an elevator and the doors had shut behind them. "Someone had to save you from yourself," she offered by way of explanation. "Another hour and you may have lost all your cash."
Xander smirked. "Ah, but I would have had fun losing it," he cracked. "That's what we're here for, is to have fun, remember?"
"Can be done without gambling," Buffy retorted. "There's plenty of other stuff to do around here... Take in a show. Eat at a fancy restaurant or something. Just expand your horizons, Xander." She paused, stepping from the elevator with her friends right on her heels.
Noticing that Angel was signalling her from across the lobby, Buffy excused herself from Willow and Xander and went to him. "What's up?" she asked her boyfriend.
Angel handed her two pass keys. "I got us some new rooms for tomorrow. One of them goes to Willow and Xander, so be sure to give this to them."
Buffy gazed up at him in confusion. "What about you? Where are you going?"
"Hunting," Angel whispered. "Rhys' crow... It's spotted Thierry."
Buffy's eyes widened. "This soon? Where?" she asked.
"A few miles outside town," Angel replied. "In the woods... I don't know how long he'll stay there, so Steffi, Rhys, and I are heading out right now. Think you can keep yourself entertained until I get back?"
Buffy smiled slightly. "I'll be fine," she assured him. "You just go... And stay safe, Angel..."
Taking Buffy's advice, Xander and Willow moved into their room, then decided to do some sightseeing. They started by watching a magic show in the hotel's theater, then ate at a fancy seafood restaurant.
After this, the young couple went to touring the boardwalk, looking for something exciting and dazzled by all the bright lights. And while they strolled, Willow managed to strike up a conversation.
"This place is like a dream," she said, a wistful look in her eyes. "I'm glad Buffy suggested coming here. How about you?"
Xander looked at her with a killer smile. "Any place is like a dream as long as you're there," he said, turning on the charm. "And right now, the city is ours for at least one night. How shall we spend it, my lovely Willow?"
She looked around, her gaze coming to focus on a neon sign a few feet ahead of them. Slowly, a smile spread across her face, making Xander look to see what had caught her attention.
The two of them glanced at the sign, then at each other. And, in a mixture of shrugs and smiles, Xander and Willow ducked inside the building...