A/N: So here it is a brand new story that I wrote half of in a span of 2 days. It was insane I mean I've gotten inspiration before but nothing like this. I couldn't seem to put my laptop down and the words just poured out of me. Its going to be split into 2 separate parts. I've already finished the first part and am now working on the second part as well as my other Buffy story. Things are a little AU, well obviously a lot, but this is season 4 of Angel and the break in between season 6 and 7 of Buffy. Its a crossover but I figured it get more attention here. B/A, C/D, C/X, a little bit of Faith and more. I hope you enjoy this and please leave reviews, they really and truly make my day.

Disclaimer: I do not own Buffy the Vampire Slayer or Angel. I don't own any of the dialogue used from the two shows. It all belongs to that genius we call Joss Whedon.

Carpe Noctum

PART I

Prologue

There are a few things Buffy Summers has learned since being called on to be the slayer, at the tender age of fifteen.

For one, vampires outfits are basically always carbon dated. That's usually how you spot them, well that those weird tinglies, and when said vamps are conspicuously shoving their fangs into some innocent person's neck. That pretty much always gives it away. Its sort of like knowledge that just comes automatically with the whole slayer gig. Kind of like the way she wishes French or Chemistry would have just come to her in high school. Bottom line, vampires equal fashion disasters.

Second thing she's learned, on a more serious note, is life isn't easy or even remotely fair. She's known that for a long time now, ever since she was called, actually.

You could save the world a thousand times and still end up flat on your face. Trust her, she knows plenty about that. She's had her fair share of heartache and pain throughout the years.

But over time you could say she's started getting used to it… well no. She will never get used to, or ever be okay with, the pain that comes with her destiny. Because she has gone through so much, too much, some might say. Its like clockwork to her.

First there's the denial. Not wanting to believe what she sees.

Then the heartache, the grief.

Then there's the acceptance.

And with that, thus begins the long, arduous healing process.

But even with the difficulty her life presents Buffy has always searched inside herself to deal with it. Because its really all she can do. That is until recently.

She knows saving people is always worth it, in the long run and short term, because everyone deserves to live their life without having to worry about the next inevitable and impending apocalypse.

But things haven't been the same for her, ever since dying for the second time she just cant seem to muster up all of that self righteousness that she's always been known for.

Her and Spike even struck up a … relationship, before he left town. If you could even call it that. Is having sex to feel something, anything, really defined as a relationship? She doesn't know.

What she does know is that The Powers That Be must really have it in for her, because it seems like every time she manages to pick herself up, after what she thinks is the lowest she can go, they just send some other god sent tragedy down to wreak havoc in her life. And then the process starts all over again.

But Spike is gone, left for who knows where and now she doesn't have the distraction he would usually bring her. She knows she's messed up. Six years of slaying, betrayal, grief, will do that to a girl. To anyone really.

But since Sunnydale's latest and 'greatest' apocalypse, involving Willow murdering Warren and almost massacring Jonathan, Andrew and the rest of the world in the process, Buffy has been trying to regain some semblance of self. If not just a little bit.

Willow was sent to England to get her own special kind of rehab. A few months of mourning for Tara and some rehabilitation left her feeling fresh and ready to fight the good fight, which jump started her return to Sunnydale. That and a vision of some uber evil coming, like usual. Giles stayed behind, promising to keep in touch and also to eventually come back, unfortunately not knowing exactly when.

Things were finally starting to get back to some kind of normal, or at least as close to normal a person could get living on the hell mouth and all. She was still struggling silently, putting on her brave face for her friends. Life was… okay. She wasn't perfect and she wasn't completely miserable. She was there. She was okay. That is until she has a mysterious and possibly prophetic dream followed by a phone call she never knew was coming.