The Balance

Rating: R

Disclaimer: I don't own the Buffy and Angel characters, but the other characters and the plot are mine.

Summary: Buffy and gang encounter someone with an interesting power to say the least, just in time for an apocalypse.

Special Note: This is obviously an AU Season 3, and takes place before Gwendolyn Post arrives (if she arrives.) Dawn is present, but she isn't the Key, just Buffy's little sister.


Darkness unfolded.

Light slowly crept in, moonlight, cold and dead, illuminating a fallen figure in the graveyard, which stirred and slowly rose to his feet. He shivered and stumbled into a gnarled tree before using it for support as he looked around.

"Where the hell-"he started in a halting voice, before being tackled by a figure that shot out of the shadows and pinned him to the ground. The man struggled vainly against his assailant, but he was too strong. The moonlight finally revealed his face, that of a hungry vampire. His victim saw this and froze in shock.

"You've got to be fucking kidding me!" he said in disbelief, and popped the vamp in the nose, which only earned a snarl from the monster.

"Free lunch. Gotta be my lucky night-"

The vamp's words were cut short when he was suddenly torn from his would-be victim and slammed into a pointed branch of the tree, dusting him instantly. The prone man breathed a sigh of relief.

"Thanks Buffy or Faith. You have fucking good timing. We need to-"The rest of the sentence never materialized when his eyes meet his savior's face, that of a seven-foot amazonian woman, wearing a cocky smirk.

"Athena?"

"Hey Neil. Miss me?"

(Insert Buffy Credits Here)