Disclaimer: I don't own Buffy. If I did Angel would have never have left Buffy!

Chapter 1: It all began with a bit of fun

Buffy stared into the empty beer bottle. Lost in her dwelling thoughts she jumped slightly as her friend removed the bottle from her tight grip. Faith replaced the empty bottle with a full one; she sat next to Buffy in silence. Buffy immediately took a sip of her drink, Faith watched on determining what to say to her troubled friend.

"Well..." Faith started.

Buffy ignored her and started to guzzle down her drink. After she had downed her drink she threw the bottle to the side; the sound of smashing glass echoing across the park. Faith laughed under her breath.

"Easy there, this is your what fifth beer? Wouldn't want you to come home drunk now would we," Faith teased.

"And yet I still don't feel the effects of a good buzz," Buffy replied in a monotone.

Faith shrugged as she gulped her own drink down and copied what Buffy did. "Damn our high tolerance for liquor eh?"

Buffy shifted her gaze to the ground. It was hard to see as there were no lights surrounding the park. The darkness always made Buffy feel at home. Buffy was no stranger to the dark, she embraced it whenever she could. The only source of comfort she could find in her world. It was a sad thought.

"I have to say I never expected you to burn down the gym. I mean I know you like to break the rules B; it's a part of our nature. But..." Faith laughed. "But to actually burn down the gym, I'm impressed seriously, never saw that coming. You are in the league of badass!"

"Yeah well this badass now has daddy dearest having interest in having me where he can keep his eye on me. Oh the joy," Buffy exclaimed, sarcastically.

Faith snapped her head towards Buffy. "What!"

Buffy nodded. "Exactly, got a phone call from him yesterday telling me to to be packed by the week-end."

"But... but," Faith stuttered. "That's tomorrow. Have you already started to pack?"

Buffy snorted. "Course not besides won't take that long to pack my belongings, don't have a lot of stuff."

Faith frowned. "I never thought I would say this... ever. But, I think I'm going to miss you B."

"You think?" Buffy repeated, teasingly.

Faith nudged Buffy with her shoulder as they both fell into fits of laughter. Faith quickly sobered up realising that her best friend, her partner-in-crime was moving away to god-knows-where.

"So where does your sperm donor live?" Faith asked, curiously.

Buffy pondered. "I think a place called Sunnydale, I think."

"Sunnydale," Faith repeated.

"Yeah."

"What a crap name for a town," Faith stated.

"I totally agree."

The day had come; the week-end was finally here. Buffy sat on her dingy mattress in her pathetic excuse for a room. Her mother was on the sofa drinking herself into oblivion. It was probably where Buffy picked up her drinking habits. She didn't want to move from Boston. This was where she belonged, not some Californian town where everyone is so cheerful that would make Buffy sick to her stomach. She was a Boston girl born and bred.

The door bell ranged. Buffy lifted her packed bag up that was filled with just clothes. She didn't have the luxury of having any personal belongings. Any that she did have, her mother would have most likely pawned them off to pay for her alcohol addiction. It was a tough life, but Buffy had managed to survive. Faith was the main reason. Buffy was grateful for meeting Faith. Two screw ups the best of friends, very fitting.

Buffy rolled her eyes at her mother clearly passed out on the sofa. The living room was littered in empty vodka bottles, cans of beer and other stuff. It was a complete dump. Buffy didn't care what her father thought of their living arrangements. They probably wouldn't be in this state if he had decided to man up and stay with them.

Buffy unlocked the door and opened it. She stared expressionlessly at the person on the other side of the door: her father or sperm donor she loved to call him. She smirked as she watched her father nervously wring his hands. It was obvious that he was uncomfortable in this neighbourhood, the bad side of town.

"Hello Buffy," Hank said, nervously.

Buffy walked away allowing him inside to collect her bag. His eyes widened at the state of the apartment. Buffy leant on one leg jutting out her hip as she observed her father look around. Buffy cleared her throat to make her presence known as her bag hanged by her side.

"Is that all you got?" Hank asked, incredulously.

Buffy continued to stare at him not responding. Hank gulped. His eyes lingered on the form of his old and first love.

"Will she... will she be ok?" Hank stuttered.

Buffy shrugged. "Probably, she'll probably drink some more when she wakes up. Wouldn't want to be here for that I speak from experience, best get going yeah?

Hank nodded sadly. "Yeah, here let me carry your bag."

He moved toward Buffy, but Buffy stepped back. A crestfallen expression fell on Hank's face. Buffy didn't care; he put himself in this situation. She didn't ask for this lifestyle. Hell she didn't want this lifestyle, but now this was all she knew: the life of a drunken screw up and one night stands.

Hank consistently bit his lip and kept glancing towards Buffy every so often as they strolled towards his car. It was starting to irritate Buffy.

"What?" Buffy demanded.

"Umm, I...I just wanted to say... I'm sorry Buffy. I didn't know she would be this bad after I left. I thought she would kick the habit if I left..."

"Wow, wow, wow!" Buffy interrupted. "Look Hank, I don't care about your guilty feelings and your stupid attempt to apologize. Shit happens; you can't clear the mess you created up now, it's too late. So, the only way you can apologize to me is to live with that knowledge that you daughter is a screw up just like her mom for the rest of your miserable life, ok?"

Buffy stormed passed Hank towards his flashy car. She didn't care about his feelings. They weren't important, they never will concern her. The indicators flashed meaning that the car doors were open. Buffy climbed into the car and slammed the door shut. Hank winced at the force distributed on his car, yet he knew he couldn't say anything. He didn't really have the right anymore, not since the moment he left his month old baby with her clearly unstable mother.

Hank climbed into the driver seat and placed the key into the ignition. The car pulled away leaving the Boston neighbourhood behind. Buffy felt disheartened knowing that there was a chance she would never see her old friends again.

The drive to Sunnydale took a couple of hours. Buffy could tell instantly that it was a nice town, full of nice people. Buffy groaned seeing the lush, green lawns. It was like Desperate Housewives just Sunnydale style. She should have known that Hank would pick a place like this to live. It was obvious from his attire.

The car slowed down and pulled up in front of a posh two story house. Buffy rolled her eyes at the home. This setting wasn't her. The door opened and a small girl with brown hair ran out towards Hank as soon as he climbed out of the door. The girl lunged herself into his arms and he spun around in circles; in the doorway stood a woman watching with a small smile on her face. Buffy was gobsmacked. She should have known that he would have had another family. Why was she so surprised? Why did it hurt deep inside? She didn't care why should she, he obviously didn't if he had another family.

Hank turned to face his eldest still in the car. The happy smile that was graced on his face fell instantly. Buffy felt smug, knowing that she was reason for the change of emotions. The only thing that Buffy did was raise one eyebrow as she got out of the door. Slowly, she walked towards him.

"Why aren't I surprised?"

Was the only thing Buffy said causing the happy feeling to plummet, oh yes she would have fun stirring up this perfect family.