Disclaimer: I do not own these characters. Aslo, I haven't written BtVS in 9 years. So, feedback is greatly appreciated. Enjoy!


Chapter One

"Dawn!" Buffy called, for about the fifth time, pouring the Frosted Flakes into a small bowl.

"Coming!" the annoyed tone was met with hefty foot steps running down the stairs.

"You're going to be late. Eat." Buffy looked at her sister in the sternly and handed her breakfast. Dawn rolled her eyes and sat down at the table, pouting.

"Remember that idea of home-school? I think I like that one better now."

"This was your decision," Buffy sat next to her, munching cereal straight out of the box.

"But it's so early!" Dawn sighed and sat back in her chair crossing her arms "And plus I'll learn more here, more important things. Demon things! We're on a new Hellmouth Buffy, should we really-"

"Yes." Buffy said clearly. "School is important."

They were on a new Hellmouth. And, since Sunnydale fell through the Earth, the new Hellmouth.

"Dawnie!" A perky voice echoed throughout the house, as a familiar redhead peeked around the corner. "Your first-last day of high school!" Willow wrapped her arms around Dawn, which was greeted with a smile.

"That kind of makes it better!" Dawn thought as she instantly cheered up.

"Oh, yes, remember our first-last day of high school?" Willow sighed with contentment, remembering the old Scoobies.

"Ah, well I was waiting tables in a town full of people being enslaved against their own will." Buffy added with a hue of cynicism.

Dawn looked over at her, brow furrowing. She sometimes forgot about that entire summer her sister was gone, never saying a word of goodbye. Just leaving for three months. Living a completely different life. But after all these years, that was always true. Buffy would always be living a different life.

Willow frowned at her friend then looked back over at Dawn.

"It'll be great. Senior year is a lot of fun!" She said smiling. Buffy nodded in agreement.

"You'll be fine." The Slayer rubbed the back of her neck and smiled, thinking about how strange it would going to a high school that wasn't built over a Hellmouth, although, this Hellmouth wasn't far at all. They just didn't know yet exactly where it was.

Of course Willow had done a couple spells, to try and harness the energy coming from it, but the strange thing was…this Hellmouth didn't radiate evil energies like the one in Sunnydale did. And Buffy knew why.

It was just starting to activate.

Or so said Giles, in some long-winded speech about energy and mystic power at work. Evil things. Word about Sunnydale traveled fast, and quickly made it's way to the East, where another Hellmouth dwelled. Cleveland.

It was a lot different than Sunnydale. There was rain and snow, and the closest beach wasn't much of a beach at all. Just dark, murky water and way too many dead fish.

But it was different. Willow just moved in with them, and Xander was moving there soon. Giles just arrived two weeks ago, and after so much traveling it felt good to call somewhere home.

On the Hellmouth.

Of course.

But after the battle in LA, Buffy knew the powers were emerging here now more than ever. She could sense it coming, almost like a light rumble in her stomach.

Something was coming.

As something always does.


The sun had just set as Buffy made her way through Lake View cemetery, the biggest and oldest in the city. On her first night here she counted about two vampires she slayed, but now the count was up to ten, maybe twelve, a night. Still no comparison to some of her rougher nights back home, but still a notable growth in numbers.

These past few weeks have felt different. Six weeks ago she was living in Italy with her sister and randomly Andrew, doing what she always does. Fighting demons.

But just a few short months ago her two great loves were fighting for their lives in the streets of LA. Both survived, or so she thinks. Thats what she hears.

The past year and half she hardly heard from Angel or Spike. She heard how Spike came back, and she wanted more than anything to see him, but something always got in the way.

Mainly evil things going on in her life, and probably the same in his.

But he had survived yet another apocalypse, and still no word? Nothing.

Even Angel sent his regards. "Everything is fine. For now." And by email. Buffy chuckled to her self, thinking of Angel tinkering with a computer.

But they were all so different now. Three completely different people.

She loved Angel, that would never change.

She loved Spike, that was true. And more importantly, at that brief moment, she missed him, Whole-heartily, it slightly burned. Burned right through her very core. Part of her thought it was due to that last memory of him, burning to save the world. Burning to save her.

A lot of time had passed since Sunnydale. A lot of things had happened to her, to her friends.

More than anything, and especially lately, she just needed someone. A companion. Loneliness was not a new feeling for Buffy. But in a new town, her sister starting school and her friends coming and going, Buffy just wanted something familiar.

Something solid. Something that was hers.

Something like, oh, I don't know…Spike.


His wheels hit the gravel, screeching, scraping at the earth. He kicked off the engine and flicked his cigarette to the ground. He wasn't really sure where he was, she just knew he was driving, and had been for what had to be weeks now.

He was at a well-lit diner, which he instantly regretted as he entered the fluorescent lighting. They did not do his complexion any good. He took off his jacket and swung it over the counter chair.

"What can I get you?" A curvy brunette asked, placing a menu down in front of him.

"Uh," he stared down at the bland menu but couldn't focus or think, "you've got any of those bloomin' onion things?" He looked up at the waitress who was nearly stereotypically smacking her gum.

"No, but we've got onion rings!" She exclaimed pointing to the menu. He nodded and smirked. "And what do you want to drink? Coffee? You look tired."

"That'll do." He pulled out his pack of cigarettes and lit one up.

"You can't smoke in here." She said brushing the lifting smoke out of the air, then point to a 'NO SMOKING' sign right behind her.

"Are you serious?" He squinted, taking in another hit.

"Yeah, they just passed that law." She handed him a glass to toss his cigarette into. He nodded and apologized, waving the remaining smoke away.

"If you don't mind me asking, without sounding completely off-my-rocker, but what state are we in?" The last sign he saw was miles back, and just the other day was it, maybe, he was in Chicago. He was headed East. He knew that much.

The waitress placed down a coffee mug, pouring him a steaming mug.

"Ah, you're in the great and wonderful state of Ohio." She chuckled to her self. Poor guy. He doesn't know where he is, and he is no where great. "Where you even going?"

He looked up and smiled, dumping a creamer into his drink.

"Cleveland. I've got to see a girl."