The night air was cool and a soft gentle breeze ruffled the leaves scattered across the ground. The sky was clear, the stars shone brightly and the moon was nearly full. It was the perfect night for a slow leisurely walk through the neighborhoods and main business area of Sunnydale. Buffy was actually enjoying the quiet peaceful feel of the night as she and Spike slowly passed the time. Since coming to Sunnydale it was actually a peaceful Halloween and once all of the little trick or treaters were safely tucked away, Spike and Buffy were going to head over to the Bronze for some more adult oriented fun.

Hearing the sound of feet dragging along the pavement caused both blondes to turn around and face the three ragged figures coming up behind them. Their faces were a pale greenish color and their ripped bloody clothes were caked in mud. With their grimy hands held out before them, the three young men slowly shuffled up to the slightly annoyed due. The groaning chant of “Brains…brains….” was met with snorts and looks of pure disgust.

“Oh my God!” Buffy snorted. “Are the guys for real?”

Looking the costumed trio over, Spike couldn’t contain his annoyed growl.

“Seems like it luv.”

The annoyed attitude seemed to get through the three approaching and they stopped short of Buffy and Spike, looking at each other and the two in front of them in confusion.

“We’re undead.” The one wearing a ripped and muddied ‘Iron Maiden’ shirt answered.

“Duh!” Buffy answered with a roll of her eyes. “Your vampires, not zombies.”

“Though they’ve obviously got the brainless part right.” Spike grumbled loudly.

“It’s Halloween.” Stated the one standing in front of Spike. His combination of dirty jeans ripped sleeveless flannel and mud-encrusted mullet had Spike feeling nauseous. To top it off, the guy sounded like he’d crawled out of some trailer park in Mississippi. Spike fervently wished that he had stayed there.

“And your vampires.” Buffy stated again, only slower this time. She sounded like she was talking to a rather dimwitted child. Considering the three before him, Spike figured that child would have had more intelligence than the three before him.

“No, we’re zombies!” Grinned the third member of the idiot brigade. He was dressed similarly to his companions, ripped dirty shirt and jeans. What stood out though were his blackened teeth and the slimy brown drool hanging off of his chin. The canister of skoal in his shirt pocket told were the grimy brown substance peaking out from under his bottom lip came from.

“Oh! Eeeeewww!” Buffy cried, spotting the slimy drool.

“You know Slayer,” Spike started, “In my day these blokes wouldn’t have even rated as a snack much less being turned.”

“Quality of vamps not the same as it used to be?” Buffy asked as she quickly dusted the clueless vampires before her.

“What the bloody hell do you think?” Spike asked with a snort. “Could you ever see Angelus turning some random git like those three?”

Sighing Buffy simply nodded her head in agreement. Compared to the older vampires Buffy had come across, the quality of vampires really was going down the proverbial toilet.

Taking Spike’s hand in hers, they quietly continued their walk, ignoring the few people left outside. Looking up at the sky, Buffy let out a heartfelt sigh.

“Gotta love Halloween.”

“Why’s that luv?” Spike asked, a slight grin bring up the corner of his lips.

“Because even the vamps are getting into the spirit of things.” Buffy laughed. Letting out a high-pitched squeal, Buffy quickly evaded Spike’s attempted retaliation and took off down the street. A grinning Spike quickly followed her, his mock irritated growl echoing in the air after them.

Happy Halloween! May it be as cheesy as this story!