Genre: Drama/Angst/Romance

Characters: Buffy, Giles, Willow, Xander, Tara, Anya, Faith and more

Rating: PG 13 (for now)

Pairings: B/G (later on), W/T, X/A.

Summary: When a powerful vampire comes to Sunnydale the Scoobies think it's just routine vamp extermination but little do they know. Situations spiral out of control and the Slayer and Watcher are in the thick of it. They are eternally bound by duty to rid the word of vampires, only things are never that simple. Even when they are pulled apart by evil they are still bound together by fate.

Notes: Set right after season 4 before Dawn arrives, (just makes things much easier). Nothing much to note at the moment...

With thanks: To Wickefox, even if you don't know it, your story 'Greater good' has been a huge inspiration to this story, not that it will ever be as good as it. So thank you! I also want to thank all the wonderful pieces of writing I've read and been inspired by, keep it up people and never let the magic of Buffy die. Lol. How corny!

AN: Just a quick note/plee. lol. I really really need a Beta reader for this story, Ive got several chapeters ready to go but I really want a beta. If anyone is interested/like the story do review or email me: I would be very greatful! Thanks.

Chapter 1: Fated

"Buffy?" Giles charged though the array of vampire minions but didn't get far. He could hear his slayer's cries from within and was helpless. The vampires around him pummelled the watcher hard and he went down. Several turned to dust as Anya and Xander nearby let their crossbows loose. The slayer shrieked again and Giles was on his feet in a flash. He dived forward, a fist connect with his cheek. His glasses flew off and he spun on the spot, everything was a blur. As he regained composer he tried again continuing to the sounds of battle within.

Inside the crypt, Buffy fell with a crash and the tombstone broke under the force, she felt her bones break and cried out.

"What a wonderful moment this is" Elondras the vampire laughed, "I always wondered what it would feel like" Buffy struggled to sit up but failed miserably. The vampire advanced on her, his ancient face came close to hers.

"A shame your cunning witch friends didn't hold out" he smiled. "I've never known such a slayer to have so many allies. I thought they we're supposed to work alone" he shrugged and smiled again, his yellowed teeth turning the slayers stomach. "Well now they won't have to worry about you anymore, its time to tip the scales to darkness once again" Buffy backed up as he came closer, but her body gave out and her vision blurred with pain.

"Its time to give the side of evil a slayer" suddenly Buffy's mind understood and she pulled herself to her feet in agony. "Oh slayer" he laughed, "Don't fight back, tonight is a glorious night, one that will go down in the history books" Elondras shot forward without warning and carted the slayer into the wall pinning her there, she seethed in pain and anger she shouted for help. But none came.

48 hours earlier

"I'm warning you Buffy I don't think you should be jumping into this so hastily" Giles' voice seemed deadly serious and he meant it. The Scoobies were gathered in the living room of the watchers apartment. The rumour had it there was a new big bad in town and it was time to think action plan. The day had mainly been spent researching. After Buffy had met this new evil and given an accurate description, Giles had come to the conclusion that it was a very powerful and dangerous vampire Elondras, he was one of only a few vampires made from pure evil itself, sent in this world to rain chaos and death to mankind.

"He is half demon, half man" Giles continued, "and a very powerful sorcerer, this is not a power to be toiled with alone. We do this together." Now he got his slayers attention.

Buffy didn't answer for a moment, unsure what to say, "I can't risk it" she cried, "I'm the slayer it's what I do, I die, another is called."

"But Buffy" Willow's soft voice chimed in, "Were a team, Giles is right, we do this together, we're not leaving you to face this Eldras guy and die, we're in this together"

"This is bad isn't it" She looked to her watcher for guidance and he nodded glumly.

"As I say, he one of few made from pure evil, as a sorcerer he is capable of much more than simple hand to hand, its going to take more than physical violence to defeat him."

"Well, Tara and I could rustle up some dark mojo to put him off his game" Willow burst in, Tara remained silent at her side. Giles gave her a look that she could quite decipher. "I'm sure there some paralysing spell of something like that that we can cast, stall him at least?"

The watcher hummed in thought and grabbed a nearby book looking inside for answers. "The magical force field around him is so powerful that he is almost invincible with it. I'm sure there is a spell in here somewhere about breaking mystical force fields" he hummed again and continued to read on.

"Actually, being turned into a toad maybe just what I need" Xander joke, Anya silenced him with a slap.

"This is no time for jokes Xander" Giles didn't look up from his book. "If Elondras is not stopped, chaos and death will rain down on Sunnydale."

"So another Apocalypse. Wonderful." Anya this time. "I do love a good Apocalypse" she smiled but no one else did.

"Aha" The watcher looked up, "Here." He read into the book, "A spell for breaking force fields, Its in ancient Greek, but I think I can translate it," he squinted at the page as if the words were going to jump out at him.

"Ohhh" The young Wicca took the book from the mans hands and began to read it, not understanding it but it didn't matter, she got the gist.

"Do you think you can manage it?" Giles looked uncomfortable, he didn't like Willow performing spells, and he had a twinge of guilt that it was he, who introduced her to the dark arts.

"Sure" Willow glanced back a the watcher smiling, "No problem"

"I don't like this" Buffy cried, "I don't want you guys involved"

"Sorry Buff, we're coming along weather you like it or not" Xander cut in and stood up, "we're survived all the apocalyptic fun so far, we can do this, besides what's the worst that can happen?"

Present time

Giles, Xander and Anya fought on, pushed further and further back from the crypt. Xander went down blood spilling from a fresh wound and Anya flew to his side.

"Xander" She cried. The watcher turned and glanced at them, it was all but over, they were all going to die, right here, right now. He turned his back on them, ploughing into the minions in a last ditch attempt; he was kicked and punched from several directions but carried on. Staking many as he went. Suddenly his face collided with something hard and blunt, his legs gave out and he plunged into darkness.

Willow and Tara flew around the corner taking in the melee. Willow whispered something and gestured to the sky. It filled with sunlight. The vampires screamed and burst into flames and ashes it returned to darkness, it was over.

"Xander's hurt" Anya panicked and Willow went to them bending down to their level.

"I'll live" Xander clutched his bloody side and smiled though the pain. "That was really cool that thing you did with the sunlight"

"We should get to the ER" Tara called over, she was bent down next to a half conscious watcher. His cheek was bleeding and beginning to swell with bruising, but nothing serious.

"I'm fine" he groaned. "Where's Buffy?"

"I don't know" Tara stood up peering towards the crypt entrance, Giles pulled himself unsteadily to his feet. Stumbling towards the doorway.

"Buffy."

There was silence. And all five of them stared into the darkness. Suddenly a figure appeared.

"Hey Guys" The slayer smiled at them, her face was bruised and cut but she was alive.

"Buff" Xander spoke this time, "We thought something had happened to you" He pulled himself upright clutching his blooded side.

"Nope, I'm good" she looked at his side, "Maybe we should get you down to ER though?" Buffy looked around at the others. "I'm good honestly" Giles looked dubious, something was wrong.

"And Elondras?" Willow questioned.

"As Good as dust" The slayer smiled again and for a moment Giles thought that she might be lying, but he brushed it off, she must be tired, it had been a long few days.

"I don't need to go to ER" Xander broke the odd silence which followed.

"I have some supplies at mine, If anyone wants patching up" The watcher offered and they agreed to head back to his house to get themselves sorted. Before all heading back home later and explaining their reasons for being out till past midnight.

Within 30 minutes they had all congregated in Giles's lounge and Xander had been patched up. Luckily for him, the wound on his side had only been superficial, a few butterfly stitches and he was as good as new. Tara and Willow had left soon after. Anya was eager for her and Xander to leave too.

"Can we go now? I'm bored." Anya wined, "I need to have sex with you because I was so worried that you could have died." Giles rolled his eyes at her attitude. It wasn't entirely her fault, being an ex vengeance demon and all.

"Please leave" The watcher said as kindly as he could. Xander looked rather embarrassed, he made a face as if to say sorry and Giles smiled kindly at him. "Go on." He added, "I'll see you tomorrow and we'll check out the crypt in the daylight"

"Do we have to" Anya huffed in annoyance.

"Come on Anya." Xander pulled her to the door wishing to flee the embarrassing scene and take her with him. "See you tomorrow G man" he opened the door and nodded, "Great job Buff" he pulled the door closed behind him. As the door closed Giles turned to the slayer sat on his couch.

"Yes. Great job" he said, in a not so Giles tone. "Funny that it seemed you were in trouble last time I remember, how did you manage to defeat him anyway?"

"Just good old deceiving" Buffy looked to him and his face was blank.

"Yes" he laughed falsely, "It seems I taught you that trick a little too well, even your best friends don't realise." He stepped closer to her now.

"But you realise, don't you watcher mine" Giles seethed as she called him that, "Your watcher instincts tell you, you don't miss a trick do you?"

"Not when it concerns you, no" his face remained blank. "I'm sorry"

"I'm not" Buffy stood up, "everything feels amazing like this" her face shifted revealing the demon within and confirming the watchers suspicions. Giles almost lost his footing at the sight of it, and he backed up fast.

"Oh don't be so quick to run" she sighed, "Don't you want to know what it feels like, it's wonderful Giles"

"Don't call me that" he growled and spun around grabbing the crossbow which he kept under the kitchen work surface. He pointed at the demon. "You're not her" he cried fearing his voice might break, "her soul is gone"

"Yeah but I'm still Buffy, I'm still your slayer" he shook his head pointing the crossbow.

"You couldn't do it" she laughed, "You love me too much to finish me off" Giles's hands shook and he almost dropped the weapon.

"Leave" he said simply "leave this place and never return" he could barely speak now, cold clammy sweat was gathering on his forehead, he was loosing his grip. The vampire stepped forward and he backed up finding the wall.

"Oh I'll be back" she bent in towards him.

"Then I shall leave" his voice shook badly now, "I..." he was loosing it, his legs faltered and he slid down the wall to sit on the floor, his worst nightmare was coming true. The slayer followed him to the floor, pulling the crossbow from his sweaty palms. She turned the weapon around shooting a bolt clean through his hand, impaling him to the wall behind. He stifled a cry.

"I don't think you'll be going anywhere soon" she whispered teasingly in his ear and he shuddered in both pain and fear. "I'll be back, but I have to go home and see some people first" she dropped the cross bow at his feet and left. He watched the silhouette of what was once his slayer disappear through the doorway until he could no longer see her. With that he lost control.

Giles's body shook then and tears streamed down his face. He had failed to protect her, failed his sacred duty as a watcher. He grabbed the arrow, snatching it from the wall and through his hand, he screamed briefly and slumped to the floor in agony.

"Buffy" he cried. "Dear God" he muttered weakly. The blood flow from his injured hand was soaking his clothes and the carpet. "I'm so sorry" his voice was barely a whisper. He lent back onto the wall behind and stared at the open door through the eerie shadows of the dull lit room. The watcher stayed there frozen on the spot in pure grief, this was all too much to take in. 'I have to go home and see some people first' he remembered her words, her voice, Buffy's voice, but it wasnt Buffy really. And then it clicked.

"Oh God. Joyce"

I blind fear he hauled himself up and found his car keys heading out of the door at record speed, Buffy was going to go home, Joyce had no idea what had happened. He flew down the steps two at a time and reached his new convertible and agilely he jumped inside without opening the door. The watcher turned the key in the ignition, forcing it into gear he hit the accelerator and the car lurched forward wheels laying rubber into the road. As Giles sped down the street he ignored the burning pain in his injured hand, the steering wheel was slick with blood but he didn't notice. His head swam but he kept his focus, he had to get to the slayer house, he needed to warn Joyce.