Disclaimer: None of the characters or intellectual property used belongs to anyone but their original creators and I am making no money off this... which kinda sucks.

The First had won.

Everything had seemed to be going their way, Willow had activated all the Slayers and Spike had used the amulet Angel had given them to destroy the army of prehistoric vamps. Unfortunately that had all turned out to be part of the First's plan, which it was now gloating over.

The First turned to face the four remaining Scoobies as they stood on the roof of the High School and demons poured out of the Hellmouth below them, the amulet that fried the vampire army having ripped it wide open. Taking the form of their hated former principal Snyder, the First sneered. "It's all over but the screaming," he said cheerfully. "The amulet's forced open the Hellmouth and the activation of all the slayers has created an imbalance that won't allow it to be closed again."

"Good choice of character to taunt us with," Xander complimented the First.

"Thank you," the First said, surprised Xander was so calm and accepting about things. "Shouldn't you be angry?"

Xander shrugged. "We beat the odds so many times, it was bound to happen eventually. Besides, I get to die surrounded by people I love. I can think of a lot worse ways to go."

"Like dying a virgin," Dawn said, turning to Xander. "Take off your pants, please."

"Dawn!" Buffy complained.

The First made a face. "I really don't need to see you two do that. I'll taunt you later," he said vanishing.

"Ah, that was a good way to get us some privacy to plan, good work," Buffy complimented her younger sister.

Dawn reached for Xander's belt and started to undo it.

"Hey!" Xander complained.

"You said if the world was going to end you'd fuck me," Dawn told Xander.

"What?!" Buffy exclaimed.

"Did you just quote Dogma at me?" Xander asked with a grin.

"Yep," Dawn said, popping the P. "I don't have time to slowly seduce you, so I am taking the quick route. You can't resist a girl with a sense of humor."

"True," Xander admitted.

"And seriously I didn't want to die a virgin. I hear that if you die a virgin they make you fuck suicide bombers in heaven," Dawn said, unbuttoning Xander's pants as he laughed.

"Willow?" Buffy asked, seeing those two would be no help as they seemed to have given up.

"Yeah?" Willow asked distractedly.

Buffy quickly stepped in between Willow and the others, blocking her line of sight. "Can we undo this somehow? Or jump to a less fucked up dimension like the one where the Master won?"

Willow thought about that for a second before replying, "I could... but that would open the Hellmouth."

"Already open," Buffy reminded her, ignoring the sounds behind her.

"Yeah..." Willow said slowly. "With the scythe for power and virgin blood..." her voice trailed off.

"Too late," Buffy said with a sigh, forcing herself not to turn around.

"No, until they finish it still counts," Willow said excitedly.

"Don't stop," Buffy ordered the pair.

"Ever!" Dawn swore with a moan.

"Wasn't planning on it," Xander said breathlessly. "You've got five, maybe ten minutes, but that's pushing it."

"I only need three," Willow swore before beginning to chant.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

The universe blinked and Buffy spun around. She was in her living room dressed in a princess dress.

"Damnit!" Dawn cussed. "All I needed was another five seconds!" she complained. She glared at Willow angrily, which made Willow grin as Dawn was covered in green body paint and twelve years old once more.

"That was..." Xander shook his head. "I need to use the bathroom." He quickly rushed upstairs.

"I... It's Halloween," Willow said as the memories hit her. "I could only insert us where there was a lot of chaos, so... surprise!"

"Then why are you three dressed differently?" Buffy asked. "I don't recall... I remember originally things went different, but this time around... you dressed as a Jedi healer, Xander as a space cowboy, and Dawn as a Star Trek dancing girl?"

"Chaos means nothing stays the same," Willow said. "And us arriving caused some backwash."

"Everyone turns into their outfits," Dawn said and glanced down at herself. "I gotta alter my outfit. I'm thinking Jedi is a great idea."

"We need to modify your outfit quickly," Willow said, as Dawn ran upstairs.

"You did it," Buffy said in wonder. "We're back in time. Mom's... in LA right now, but she's alive!"

"Yes, now let's modify your outfit so you don't become an idiot for the night," Willow said firmly, focusing on the present.

"Can't we just stop it?" Buffy asked. "We have enough time to find Ethan before he begins the spell."

"Chaos allowed us to insert ourselves in the timeline at this point, we remove that chaos and... it'd probably be bad," Willow said, "Really Bad!"

"OK, what can we do?" Buffy asked.

"We've got roughly two hours to make some changes... can you get Angel while I grab Giles?" Willow said intently.

"Sure, but do the costumes affect vampires?" Buffy asked curiously.

"It's backed by the power of a god," Willow said, it should work fine."

"Is there any outfit that could return him to life?" Buffy asked hopefully.

"Doubtful," Willow admitted, "but the laws of similarity means we can manage a more permanent empowerment by dressing as characters that we have a lot in common with."

"So if I dress Angel as a famous vampire type who has their soul..." Buffy said thoughtfully.

"And add something that repulses demons," Willow added.

"I'm not getting my hopes up," Buffy said firmly. "Now if you'll excuse me, I gotta run."

Willow grinned as Buffy lifted her skirts and literally ran out of the house. "I'm going to go grab Giles," she yelled up the stairs, "meet you at school!"

"We'll be there!" Dawn yelled back down.

Sunnydale High a little while later...

Buffy checked Angel's costume once more before making sure her's was perfect.

Angel looked at the crowds of costumed children surrounding them nervously. He really wasn't comfortable in crowds, it made his demon hungry. "Are you sure you aren't under a spell?" he asked.

"Nope, I am one hundred and ten percent me," Buffy swore. "We only have one shot at this and I really wish you had chosen Jean-Claude it'd fit perfectly with me dressing as Anita Blake, albeit one sneaking into a party for a group of vamps who were turned during medieval times."

"I'm not dressing as a French vampire," Angel replied. "You said it had to be someone similar to me and he's nothing like me."

Buffy sighed. "I know, but they were a cute couple."

"Nick Knight fits him much better," Xander said. "Seriously, I may not be Angel's biggest fan, but even I wouldn't make him dress as a poofy French vampire."

"Thanks," Angel said awkwardly.

"Don't mention it," Xander said.

"Let's go," Dawn said, pulling Xander towards their assigned area. "Snyder isn't exactly patient here."

"Good point," Xander agreed, allowing her to drag him off. "Where did you get a lightsaber?" he asked when they reached their spot. "Ethan told me they were all out."

"It's not a lightsaber," Dawn said pulling it out of her belt a little, before pushing it back in place.

"But it's got a purple blade," Xander said.

"That's not a blade," Dawn admitted. I grabbed it because it was the closest thing to a lightsaber in the house I could find and as long as I don't pull it out, no one will know any different."

"It's... your mom's?" Xander guessed.

"Yep," Dawn agreed solemnly.

The two managed to keep straight faces until they met each others' eyes, then they almost fell over laughing.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

"John Constantine?" Jenny asked amused.

"Willow wanted me to dress as a magic user I had something in common with, and this was much closer then that Stephen Strange character she suggested," he said.

"I was planning on going as a stage magician but I believe I knew of a female magic user of John's acquaintance that would fit," she said thoughtfully.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Oz examined the costume the cute redhead had asked him to wear. It looked like a detective from a 50's noir film except for the name tag that read Bigby Wolf. With a shrug he started getting dressed.

It was a good outfit and she'd promised to meet up with him later if he wore it.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Jonathan and Andrew exchanged glances, Andrew was dressed as Peter Parker and had a fake blue and red spider glued to the back of his right hand while Jonathan was dressed as a wimpy Steve Rogers with a hypodermic glued to his shoulder.

"Think she was telling the truth?" Andrew asked hopefully as they sat in Warren's basement.

"I really hope so," Jonathan said adjusting the cardboard Vita Ray projector.

Warren came down the stairs wearing a white leotard and hooded cape with a blue jewel glued to his forehead. "I got the sodas and the pizza is on its way." He set the six pack on the coffee table and unwedgied himself. "Does either of you two know why Willow Rosenberg would pay me two hundred bucks to dress as post Trigon Raven?"

"Nope," Andrew lied.

"She paid you?" Jonathan asked perking up, as it looked like this might not be a prank after all.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Cordelia sauntered past dressed as Felicity from Dark Stalkers and Xander found his head turning to follow her.

Dawn cleared her throat to get his attention. "Eyes front, we've got kiddies coming," she reminded him.

"This is going to be an interesting Halloween," Xander said.

Typing by: Abyssal Angel