This story is going to be a TVD/BTVS crossover. For this to work, I want Buffy to be 16, but to have gone through the experiences of seasons 1-6. Heres the run-down for important events throughout the seasons that impact Buffy's attitude:
-Movie (pre series): Buffy and her dad (Alaric) had a fight about him marrying Isabelle, and they lost contact. Hank Summers grew into the father role more and Buffy changed her last name to match her mom and step father's. She defeated Lothos, but her watcher died (same as movie). She was placed in an asylum for a week because she came home raving about being the slayer. Alaric never knew.
-Season One: Buffy died. She sent an email clearing the air with alaric, but he never responded. He changed his email because he left Duke. Buffy dies. And survives.
-Season Two: Angelus returns. Kendra dies. Angel dies. Buffy runs away.
-Season Three: Faith turns evil, Buffy loses faith (punny) in the council, Buffy forbids Alaric from coming to visit (**no graduation takes place**), though she doesn't tell him why.
-***Season Four: Buffy's HIGH SCHOOL psych teacher is involved with the initiative. all other events remain the same
-Season Five: Dawn is Buffys HALF-sister; still the key. Glory comes after Dawn; Joyce still dies from natural causes, but the legal system in Sunnydale allow Giles to take temporary custody while they locate Alaric. Buffy jumps and dies again. Once Glory is defeated, the key, and thus Dawn, disappears.
-Season Six: Buffy is resurrected, and extremely depressed over being ripped from heaven and returning to a Dawn-less world. She is shot and dies again, but is brought back. She then decides to find her dad, who she felt abandoned her.
Buffy sighed. She just pulled into Mystic Falls. Giles tracked down her father the summer she was-was dead. She had been back for months and she still felt numb. empty. She hated it here. Everything was so bright. and loud. and violent. When Giles heard that Willow resurrected her. he came back, but it was obvious he didn't want to be in Sunnydale. with her. So, when things calmed down (from yet another big bad), she left. Giles gave her Alaric, her biological dad's address, and she left.
She and Alaric had a huge fight two years before she was Called over his new wife-Bitchabelle. Well, Isabelle, but hey, Isabelle was a nice enough woman. But she didn't want kids, and hell, she didn't want Alaric's semi-grown kid. So their already limited contact became non-existant, Buffy Saltzman became Buffy Summers (and eventually Buffy Summers, Vampire Slayer).
When she had heard that Isabelle had disappeared, Buffy tried to call her father, but he didn't answer. He never answered. Not when she was Called. Not when she was put in the asylum. Not when she was moving. Not when she died (any of the times). She was done. She had one contact with him, when she was a freshman. He wanted to visit, but she burned that bridge to save him from the Mayor and psycho-Slayer-Faith. But here she was, 16, Slayer for four years, and numb. So, so numb.
She decided to make a pit-stop at the local bar, her alcohol tolerance was impossibly high, and anything to take her edge off was worth it. Because she wasn't supposed to be here. She was supposed to be dead. She deserved the peace. She fought and fought and fought. And she was done. Yet, here she is.
She hopped on a stool at the Mystic Grill's bar and ordered three shots of tequila. The young bartender raised an eyebrow, but she shot him a look of her (fake) id, some cleavage, and a smile, and he shook his head, good naturally, but poured the drinks, knowing there was no way she was legal.
Buffy shot the three drinks down her throat and asked the bartender, "Hey, do you know where Alaric Saltzman lives? He's an old friend."
The boy, suddenly suspicious, says "He lives down on Maple. With the Gilberts."
Buffy's face fell. He had a family. There was no way that he'd want her-damaged goods. He left. Hank left. Angel left. Riley left. Cordy left. Giles left. Dawn disappeared. Everyone leaves. She should give up. But, she came all this way, and Giles had a letter for Alaric (how very British of him), so she persevered.
Buffy drove down Maple slowly, before stopping in front of the Gilberts' home. There were three cars in the drive, so someone should be home. Did she want to see Alaric? She decided that her life coudln't get much worse, so she hopped out of the car and headed to ring the doorbell.
A man answered the door. A man too recognizable. "Buffy?" He asked "What are you doing here?" He ushered her in, taking note of how broken his daughter looked. How beaten and worn down. And the alcohol on her breath didn't help.
"Hey, Ric. Um, this letter is from-is for you." She stumbled over her words, looking around, noticing how normal her dad's life looked. Did she really want interrupt that. She died-a lot. She saw that her dad had gone to the couch, expecting her to follow.
Alaric read the letter and couldn't believe what his daughter had gone through. Her sister disappeared, mother dead, and her step-father left her. He trusted Hank to take care of his baby so she wouldn't be tainted by the supernatural, but she faced so much human hardship. Such a poor, poor girl.
Suddenly, Elena and Jeremy walked in "Alaric, we're home! Stefan dropped us off! Whose car is in the driveway?"
Buffy's eyes grew the size of saucers. "Elena, Jeremy, this is my daughter, Buffy. Buff, these are my...wards...Elena and Jeremy. I dated their Aunt Jenna before she died."
Buffy felt like she was suffocating. She was wrong, she snorted. Things could always get worse. And it wasn't fair.
"Daughter?" questioned Jeremy.
Alaric nodded and said "It was with my ex-girlfriend, Joyce. They were living in California, but Joyce died a few months ago."
Buffy began to shake. She couldn't cry here. No. It would be so easy if Willow just didn't bring her back. She started to back up, knocking over some magazines, drawing the attention of Alaric. "Buffy?" he questioned. She shook her head and stammered "I'm-i'm sorry, I shouldn't have come. I'm sorry. I-I have to go. Nice meeting you." With that Buffy grabbed her keys and peeled out of the driveway, leaving behind a worried Alaric and confused Jeremy and Elena.
Buffy found herself back at the Mystic Grill. She didn't know why she didn't just return to Sunnydale. Be with Willow and Xander. Live her life as Slayer, and die again. She'd get to return to Heaven. But something was telling her to stay.
"Back again?" The bartender from before asked her. Buffy nodded, but made no motion to explain, so he continued. "I'm Matt, by the way. You don't look like you're from around here. Why'd you want to see Mr. Saltzman?"
Buffy snorted. Really? Mr. Saltzman. Her dad was hardly an upstanding citizen worthy of a title. "He's my dad." She said simply.
"Oh" Matt looked startled by her answer. "I didn't know he had kids, granted I don't know him as well as Elena and Jeremy, I'm sure they know-"
"Kid." Buffy interrupted. "As far as I know, I'm the only kid Ric has, and that's a stretch." She took a deep breath. "Elena and Jeremy didn't know. He never told anyone about me. I don't think he loves me. No one does."
Matt's eyes were wide. "Buffy, I've known you for ten minutes, and I love you. I think it's impossible not to. You have this attraction that draws people to you."
Buffy nodded and ordered a drink, and Matt knew the conversation was over, and brought her the order.
After Buffy's sixth drink, Matt took her keys, citing that it was really her ninth, and he had no idea how she could hold so much alcohol down. He called Alaric, who seemed relieved to find his daughter safe and still in town (albeit a tad drunk).
Alaric stormed into the bar, walking over to Buffy. "I was so worried! Why would you ever come and drink at a bar, Buffy Saltzman?"
"Buffy Summers. Not Saltzman." Buffy said, completely sober. "And I'm fine thank you very much." She was careful to only use a human amount of strength to pry Alaric off of her. "I'm getting ready to leave. I shouldn't have come. You have a life here."
Alaric snorted. "Buff, I'm a borderline alcoholic, please, stay. I want to catch up. I want to know you. I want to protect you. No matter your last name, you're still my baby girl."
Buffy nodded. "I won't stay long. I have responsibilities. But it may be nice, being protected for once."
Alaric wanted answers, but was content enough to have Buffy at a close proximity, she was his daughter, and he needed to ensure her safety, even if Mystic Falls may not be the best environment for that
