Trish and Cordy are chatting on the couch in the lobby. Trish explains that Roger loves the Alien movies, but adds, "Except for that last one they made -- I think he dozed off." What a daring and amusing reference to Mr. Whedon's forays into the cinematic world. To quote a popular line from the Aliens movies: "Kill me." They commiserate about what a wacky, demon-infested world they live in, and Trish says she's glad that Fred's going home, where it's safer. Roger and Gunn wander out carrying Fred's axe-in-the-box. Wesley explains that it's probably a weapon, in case we forgot that he said that earlier. Because that fact just might turn out to be important. Bets? Angel, carrying Fred's suitcase, leads Fred downstairs. Trish asks, "You got everything packed, baby? What about that shirt with the bug guts on it? You threw that out, right?" Fred explains that she wanted to keep it as a souvenir. Roger beams and enthuses, "That's my girl!" Fred makes her goodbye speech. She hugs Gunn, Wesley, and Cordelia. Cordy whispers, "I'm almost a little jealous." Fred turns to look at Angel, and they just stare at each other for a minute while she thanks him. He hands her the suitcase. No hug? Poor Fred. She gives them a final wave from the door and leaves with her parents.

The Burkles are riding a cab through L.A. Roger says that Fred's room is just as she left it, "except for the guy who's renting it out, but his lease is up in a month." Fred's shocked that they rented out her room. Even though she wasn't living there even before she went to Pylea. Unless she had one hell of a commute. There's a "comedy" bit when the cab driver overhears them talking about "alternate dimensions." Sigh. Fred opens her bag and pulls out her bug-goo-coated shirt. Except now it's covered with pretty crystals. She stares at it for a minute and then tells the driver to turn around.

Angel and the MoG are sitting around in the office, engaged in a big angst-fest. Cordelia says that she misses the Burkles. Angel agrees that they were nice, and Cordy insists, "They weren't just nice, Angel, they were --" Gunn finishes, "Parents." I don't think I quite get this yet. Could you maybe spell it out for me with scrolling text along the bottom of the screen? Wesley overshares, "They loved her. Supported her. They didn't grind her down into a tiny self-conscious nub with their constant berating, their neverending tirade of debasement and scorn and..." Seems like the next word might be "recaps," doesn't it? Was that a shout-out? After a pause in which everyone makes it clear that they don't really care about Wesley's issues -- and who can blame them? -- Cordy observes that at least Fred has a chance for a normal life. She says, "Things are just never normal around here -- you know?" I wonder if that will cue some kind of ironic situation. Oh look -- out in the lobby, the Durslar's head is starting to...uh, bubble.