Ok, just to introduce this. Here is my idea for a Buffy the Vampire Slayer continuation. It was actually supposed to be a friend of mine that wrote this, but she found that she didn't have the time and I loved her idea so much that I decided to write it instead. I know that plenty of these have been done (more than likely) but I haven't read them, nor have I read the comics, so I don't know what they all include. I hope that this is something different, I've tried to keep the characters from the show the same.

Its called New Beginnings for several reasons, one being because I don't want it to be just seen as a Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 8...and I've adapted this first episode from my friend's idea so it is a new beginning.

Below you'll find the characters in the episode. Each chapter will be the next episode in the series. I hope you enjoy, please do read and review.

New Beginnings

1x01: When In Rome

Starring:

Sarah Michelle Gellar as Buffy Summers

Nicholas Brendon as Xander Harris

Michelle Trachtenberg as Dawn Summers

Tom Lenk as Andrew Wells

Sophia Bush as Cossette LaPoint

Special Guest Starring:

Anthony Stewart Head as Rupert Giles

Eliza Dushku as Faith Lehne

Marc Blucas as Riley Finn

It was a warm night for September, in a fairly large house in Bath, England. This was where Buffy had moved herself and the Scoobies to after they destroyed the Hellmouth, along with the whole town of Sunnydale. It was unsure how many people died in that battle, a few of the new Slayers fell, Anya and also Spike, but how many innocent bystanders? Buffy could not have been sure if everybody had left.

She had decided to stop worrying about it, however. It was best not to think back to the battle. They had to move on, there was plenty of more evil out there.

After several months the group of Scoobies and new Slayer began to split up. Buffy stayed in Bath, with Dawn, Xander and Giles. They were staying at the house of Rupert Giles, along with the newer Slayers that they had found along the way. Willow had left to go to South Amercia, feeling like she was needed there, and her girlfriend, Kennedy, went with her. Angel still fought in L.A and a few other more experienced Slayers were dotted around the North American continent. Faith was staying in Bath, for now. She had decided that it best for her and Buffy to work together and train the newbies, in case of another Hellmouth. Of course there was another one that they all knew about, in Cleveland, which was where three of the more experienced Slayers were.

It was late on the warm night that Buffy and Giles sat at the dining table of the small house, cups of cocoa in their hands.

"You really think we should move there?" Buffy questioned her Watcher. She would always class Giles as her Watcher, even when he was fired from that duty, he was her Watcher, the one person that she could turn to for advice. He was there for her when her mother had died, he was the first person that she called. Not only was he her Watcher, he was also like a father to her. She was going to listen to the advice he had now.

"To be honest, Buffy, I think its your best option," Giles nodded his head in answer to his Slayer's question. He would be sad to see her leave, but it just made a lot more sense and he was about to tell her why, "You're not needed over in America as much now, not with Willow, Angel and the more experienced new Slayers out in that area. All the newer Slayers are here where Faith will be. England isn't that big. This could be your best option."

"I know," Buffy agreed with what Giles had said. They had been talking about this all night, since Dawn had decided to go to bed. Where they were staying now was getting crowded, too many new Slayers were turning up all over the place, right now they needed to come here so they could learn how to handle their new found supernatural abilities, "I did say the rest of Europe needed protection. I just don't wan tto leave the rest of the guys. It's bad enough being so far away from Willow. She was my best friend, Giles."

""You don't have to go alone, Buffy," Giles sighed, "You'll have to take Dawn with you and I'm sure Xander won't want you to be alone," when Buffy nodded her head, Giles could continue, "I'll still have Faith here to help me train the newer girls and also the Watchers that I'm training."

"What about me?" Buffy now thought, if she left she would leave her Watcher behind, "Don't I still get a Watcher?" After the Watcher's Council had been destroyed by the Harbringers and all the Watchers killed, Giles had had to group people together to train as Watchers, since all these new Slayers would need them. Some of the new people were children of the deceased Watchers, others were people that Giles could recruit – people that he could trust.

"I only have one that is semi-qualified, Buffy. You've got Dawn, you know she thinks of herself as a Watcher-in-Training."

"Who is it that you have, Giles?" she waited for an answer but did no like it when she found out exactly who Giles had in mind, "No! No way am I taking Andrew!"

"Buffy, he did prove himself in the fight against The First," Giles explained to her. If he was honest, he wanted to get rid of Andrew, he knew why Buffy was not impressed with the idea, "And you did say that you wanted a Watcher."

"Fine," Buffy sighed, reluctantly, "But its only temporary. If he gets on my nerves just a little, or even thinks about doing something evil, I'm sending him back to you," Giles nodded, but Buffy was not sure whether it was because he was agreeing to her ultimatum or whether he was just sympathising with her. She decided not to ask, she had too much to do, and people to find in the house, "Well, I'd best go tell the others."

---Opening Credits---

Buffy looked at the bags that were in front of her on the bed that she was staying in. Next to her bed was Dawn's, which looked exactly the same. They were both packing in silence, but not an awkward silence, they were both looking forward to their new journey. Dawn was excited about the prospect of the move, it was just a shame some of the others were not. Faith being one of them, who stood in the doorway to the bedroom, watching as the two sisters packed.

"Giles told me you were leaving," she spoke, causing Buffy and Dawn to look at her. She did not really know what to do with herself, "Looks like its true."

"Well, we're needed elsewhere," Buffy nodded her head, surprised in herself that she would actually miss Faith. The two had had their differences over the past few years, both agreeing that two Slayers were never meant to survive at the same time, it made Buffy wonder how they would survive with handfuls of Slayers around the world, "You'll be ok with the newbies, right?"

"You know me, B. Five by five," Faith put up her usual defence. Before Buffy came along, there was nobody who really gave her a chance. Buffy had tried to kill her once, Faith had turned evil, but still Buffy gave her another chance – after a long talk with Angel – they fought side by side to destroy the hellmouth, "You know, I'm actually gonna miss you, B. I never thought I'd sat that."

"Well, the same goes for you." Buffy smiled softly as Faith looked over to Dawn.

"I'll miss you too, kid."

"I'm not a kid." Dawn rolled her eyes, wanting to remind everybody that she was a 17-year-old woman. Nobody ever listened to her though.

"I hear Xander's going with you."

As if on cue, Xander appeared behind Faith, an eye-patch still covering his left eye – the eye that had been taken out by Caleb. He never thought he would be able to get used to it, and for a while he doubted that he would be able to forgive Buffy for leading them all to the vineyard, but after the years that she had sacrificed herself to save the world, after the years they had fought side by side, he needed to. She was his best friend and he would never forget that. That was the main reason he was going with her now. Willow was happy in South America with Kennedy and even though Buffy would have Dawn, he knew she needed a friend too.

"That I am," he said with a smile and then looked at the Summers sisters, "Are you two lovely ladies ready for me to take your bags to the car?"

Their bags were fully packed, so Xander picked up as many as he could and took them down to Giles' car. Giles had insisted that he drive them to the airport. Dawn took some bags too, following Xander while the two Slayers said their goodbyes.

"Will you be ok on your own?"

"I won't be on my own, B," Faith smiled, but she knew what Buffy really meant, "I've got Giles, everything will be fine. You don't need to worry all the time, I'm not going to try and kill any of them."

"I never thought you would," Buffy jumped in quickly, she knew Faith had repented for her sins, she had put herself in jail. The only reason that she was out was because the Harbringers had come after her. She would have turned herself back in, but Buffy had decided it best that she stay with the new Slayers, she would be needed to help training, "It's just, with them being new and the job and with what happened to Robin…"

"Really Buffy, you don't need to worry about it," Faith did not want to remember what had happened to Robin, it still hurt too much to think about it, "I'm fine, the girls are fine. Everything is going to be fine. Now get to the airport, get on that plane to Rome and have a good time away from all this. Just call me if you ever need some help."

"I will do," Buffy nodded and then hugged Faith, "Bye Faith."

Faith returned the hug, closing her eyes she fought back the tears. She really was going to miss Buffy.

"Buffy, if you don't come now, we're going to leave without you." Dawn's voice called out from down the stairs, causing the two Slayers to laugh. It was time to leave.

---Commercial Break #1---

The sun was hot, it hit them the minute they stepped off the plane. It was much like the California sun that they were once used to, but after spending so much time in England, they forgot all about the humidity.

Buffy, Dawn, Xander and Andrew all stood outside the doors of the airport, bags in hands as they looked around for their lift. Giles had said that a car would be waiting for them, he and Buffy had made sure everything was arranged before she left.

"I'm not sure I like it here." Andrew said, looking around as everyone who passed him spoke in Italian.

"Andrew, you've been here two minutes." Dawn sighed.

"Remind me why he came here again." Xander now asked, looking towards Buffy but it was Dawn that answered him, glaring at her sister.

"Apparently we need a Watcher, not just me." She was just as good as any Watcher-in-training, she had been doing the research stuff for years now.

"Well, when we need someone to do the dangerous research we can just send him," Buffy shrugged her shoulders at Dawn, "I'd rather not risk you neck, Dawnie."

"Oh right," Dawn suddenly liked the idea that Andrew had come with them, not surprisingly, so did Xander, "Well, that makes sense." However there was something that was annoying Xander, why did it have to be him? Of course, everything that Giles had told Buffy just a week ago was explained, while Buffy continued to look out for the car that was collecting them. That was when a large, black car pulled up. The windows were blacked out with American flags sitting on the bonnet. This was definitely their car.

Nobody said a word as the doors opened and a figure stepped out. The figure was smartly dressed, in civilian clothes. He was muscular, his blond hair shining in the Italian sun. Buffy smiled as she looked right into Riley Finn's blue eyes.

"Hey, Buffy." Riley smiled, ignoring the shock on Xander and Dawn's faces. Buffy knew to expect him, the only people that she and Giles had been in touch with were the military, knowing that they would be able to help out straight away.

"Thanks for meeting us, Riley."

"Ready to go to your new humble abode?" Riley asked, taking Buffy's bags and putting them into the car. Xander soon snapped out of his trance and followed suit, while Riley then took Dawn's bags, "I'll warn you now though, its not as big as Giles asked for at first. I hope it will be big enough in case you have any potentials turning up."

"They're all Slayers now." Dawn snapped out of her shock to correct Riley, who looked back at her with a confused expression. It was then that they realised Giles had not mentioned anything about the spell at the same time as mentioning Sunnydale was gone for good. That could be explained in the car though, right now, Buffy wanted to see her new home.

As they all climbed into the vehicle, Riley could not help but glance at Xander's eye patch, "I'm sorry about your eye, by the way."

"I'm getting used to it," Xander said with a smile and then decided the best way to deal with this was to crack a joke, "I think the patch makes me look cooler actually."

---

The car soon pulled up outside the new Summers' residence. It was two storeys high and a fair bit larger than the house back in Sunnydale. There were plenty of windows around, large windows too, no vampires would survive in there during the day.

As Buffy looked up at the house, she sighed sadly, Spike would not have been able to come with them if he had have survived the battle in Sunnydale, and Angel would not be able to be in the house during the day. The sun would definitely kill him. She did look at the house with a smile though.

"Our new home."

"Big enough?" Riley asked, as he and Xander got the bags out of the car. Dawn climbed out of the car and stared at the two storey building, she could not believe he was asking whether it would be big enough, it was twice the size of their house back in Sunnydale.

"It will be, Riley, don't worry too much." Buffy turned to him and winked.

"Well, there's four bedrooms, two bathrooms," Riley explained, placing Andrew's bags by him and then picking up Buffy and Dawn's. He began to make his way into the house, carrying them, while Xander took his own, "There's a kitchen, dining room, sitting room and a basement. The basement is already set up as a training room, with a large café too, in case you bring anything home with you." It was Riley's turn to wink now, causing Buffy to laugh and blush at the same time. She knew what he was implying but also knew it was in a joking way. He really meant anything evil, at least she hoped he did.

"Oh, and there's a large library too towards the back of the house." Riley looked at Dawn, remembering that Giles had mentioned that Dawn was now in charge of the research. Next, he looked at the two males that were with them, "There's also two separate apartments behind the house for you two."

"Great, thanks Riley." Xander grinned. They were being spoilt.

As Buffy took all of this in, a worry came to mind, a worry that they had had while in Sunnydale. "This is all great, Riley, but we can't…"

"If you mention price, Buffy Summers, I'm gonna kick your ass." Riley smirked at her, causing her to raise her eyebrows.

"'Xcuse me?"

"Giles mentioned you'd be worried about it when he contacted me about getting you all kitted out," Riley explained, now looking at the three Scoobies, "There's no need, the military are paying for it all, after all, Slaying is a full time job."

"Will they pay her?" Xander wonder whether he was pushing the boat out with this question.

"You bet'cha," Riley grinned and looked back at Buffy, "It will mean they might call on you for some demon help, but it will be unlikely unless it's something big like a nest of vampires that we can't take out ourselves."

That was something that Buffy could deal with, as long as there was not anybody like Dr Walsh that would try and have her killed again. Their conversation was cut short as Riley's beeper went off. He placed the bags down in the foyer of the house and then checked his pager.

"I'd better go, I have an exped in China tomorrow," Riley explained to them all, "If you need anything just give me a call. There's also a list of numbers by the phone in there," he pointed towards the sitting area, "If you need them." With that, Riley was out of the door of the house, back towards his car.

"Thanks Riley!" Buffy called out to him but he was already gone.

"Bye Riley, it was good to catch up!" Xander called out just after Buffy, even though there was no hope that Riley would hear him.

"I didn't like him." Andrew spoke, suspicion in his voice, causing Xander to roll his eyes.

"There's nothing wrong with him," he defended Riley, "Sure he let vampires bite him so he actually felt something and then left and got married without telling anyone…" Xander stopped as he felt Buffy's eyes glaring into him. He looked at her with an apologetic look, "But he's a great guy. A really great guy."

"I'm going to find my room."

"I'll race you." Buffy grinned at Dawn and then ran up the stairs.

"Hey! No fair!" Dawn called back out, after her sister, You got a head start! You better not take the biggest room!"

"Well, I'm going to check out the apartments." Xander sighed and picked up his bags once again, making his way through the house to find the way to the apartments. Andrew followed him, picking up his own bags again and then whinged.

"But these bags are so heavy! And you better not take the bigger apartment!"

---

Buffy stood at the doorway of her new room. It was perfect, she already loved it. It was reasonably sized, with a double bed near one of the large windows. A large closet stood in one corner of the room, with nightstands either side of her bed. A set of draws sat next to the closet and a small table with a mirror sat on the wall near the foot of her bed.

Her bags sat on her bed, she had not yet completely unpacked and would need to finish, but there were so many other things that she wanted to do. She could not believe the military had done all this for her.

"You don't to leave already, do you?" Dawn's voice came from behind her, laced with worry. Buffy turned with shock and looked at her sister.

"Of course not, what made you ask that?"

"Just the way you're standing here," Dawn admitted, "Its awesome here, Buffy, please tell me you'll give it a chance."

"Of course I will, Dawnie."

Dawn took that as an honest response, maybe it was just the fact that Buffy was missing Willow, she had been quieter than usual since they won the battle against the First, "Have you seen the library?"

"Only Watcher Junior could be so excited about a library." Buffy smirked at her sister, causing Dawn to blush a little.

"Have you checked out the training room, yet?" Buffy shook her head, she had come straight up to her room wanting to get as much unpacking done as possible, but now she wanted to explore. She felt like a small child on Christmas Day, "Do you want to check it all out now?" Buffy grinned at Dawn and nodded her head. Did Dawnie really need to ask?

---

The doorbell rang out through the one storey apartment building, causing Xander to rush through. He thought he would have gotten lost earlier, he had already gotten confused as he forgot which of the two bedrooms he had chosen to sleep in.

"Andrew, if this is you again, I'm gonna slam the door in his face." Of course, Andrew had been over three times now, to make sure that Xander had not chosen the bigger apartment. Xander had no idea on why it would matter though, it was not like Andrew would have anybody over, so who cared. On opening the door, Xander was pleasantly surprised to find the Summers sisters both stood there, both with matching looks of shock and confusion on their faces.

"Please don't slam the door in my face." Buffy pleaded with her friend, a glint of a smile at the corner of her lips.

"I would never do that to you, Buff," Xander smiled and stepped to one side, allowing the two of the girls in. Dawn looked around, noticing that the front door led to a small hallway, with steps to one side and a small hallway that led of a room. To the left of her was a door to another room, "What's up? How not big enough you have to come here?"

"Actually, I was going to get a lay of the land and wondered if you wanted to come along." Buffy smiled at Xander, glancing around the apartment just like Dawn.

"My one eye isn't going to put you off?" Xander questioned, the thought of Buffy wanting him away from the battle against the First still fresh in his memory. It was not that he blamed her for that, it would have been safer for both him and Dawn to be out of the way, but did she really think Dawn would have gone along with that?

"One, its daylight, so if any vamps are jumping out then there's something seriously shifty going on," Buffy explained to him, "Two, I thought you'd want to see exactly what's in Rome too."

"And Dawn?"

"I only came to nosey at your apartment." Dawn grinned at Xander.

---

Evening had now fallen. Buffy still was not back, but that did not worry Dawn, as she looked through the many books on the many shelves in the huge library. She was amazed at how much the military had kitted this library out with, there was everything to do with anything demonic and magical, but what surprised Dawn even more was the fact that there were every book she could possibly need for school and lots of fiction books. They had thought of everything.

Dawn placed her hand on a book on witchcraft, it had always intrigued her but after what had happened to Willow, she had decided to stay away from it. Now, though, she was going do some light reading.

Suddenly the doorbell rang, causing Dawn to jump and the book to knock off the shelf. Dawn sighed and picked it up, putting it back, before going to the door.

"It's just a door," she said to herself on the way there, wondering why she had gotten so jumpy about it, "Buffy's probably forgotten her keys."

The doorbell rang again, as she made her way through the house, into the foyer. This time the sound of the doorbell was frantic though. "I'm coming! I'm coming!" She called out just as she reached the door and opened it. Andrew ran in, making her jump a little, the fear in his eyes made her panic – but only a little.

"There's something after me."

Dawn remembered then that this was Andrew, there was always something after him – usually it was his own shadow. Dawn sighed and rolled her eyes, which Andrew saw.

"No really," Andrew whined, "There's something in my apartment and its going to hurt me."

"You're such a girl!"

"I am not!" argued back, sticking his tongue out at Dawn and then went on to explain what it was, "It was big and hairy. I didn't see exactly what it was, it was too fast, but it was going to kill me."

Dawn sighed and made her way into the sitting room, where a trunk of weapons sat by the couch. She wanted to leave Andrew with this 'big and hairy monster' but knew that he would just pester her even more, so she would deal with it herself. Besides, she was not a kid anymore, she could deal with the big bad stuff.

Taking out an axe from the trunk, she turned to face Andrew, who's face had gone even paler than it was before.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm going to see what it is," Dawn explained to him and made her way past him to the front door, "Are you coming or are you going to be a wimp?"

"I don't have anything to protect myself with." Dawn simply rolled her eyes to his statement and made her way out of the house. At first Andrew stayed, looking around nervously, but then decided that he was going too.

"Dawn! Wait up!"

---Commercial Break #2---

The sun had set over the Italian sky, and the moon shone out. If Buffy was honest, she wanted to be back indoors by now, she was not sure about the demons and vampires here, especially with a one-eyed Xander. However, they had decided to spend too long wondering around certain areas.

"I think this concludes our tour." Xander was the first to talk, after the long silence they had had since getting an ice cream. It was then that Buffy realised that they were back at the square where they started their circular tour of Rome. She smiled and looked at Xander.

"Just in time too," the two began to make their way down a street with very few passers-by. There was no traffic on this street, unlike some of the others, Buffy never thought it would be so daunting trying to cross a road, "I don't think its that hard to find my way around, either."

"I think I know where I'm going to apply for a job." Xander now pointed out.

"Xander, you don't speak the language."

"I'll get a book." Xander simply shrugged as the two continued to walk down the quiet street. It was peaceful, something that Sunnydale never was – too many vampires.

"Well, I definitely found some vamp nests," Buffy sighed, sometimes she wished that she could get away from all this and it was a little easier now with so many Slayers, " forgot to tell you that the Coven said there was some demonic activity here, didn't I?" when Xander nodded his head, Buffy screwed up her nose, "I'm sorry. I can tell you now the Vatican looks to have s few spots."

"Just the Vatican?" Xander asked, a hopeful glint in his brown eyes but he sighed as he saw the look on Buffy's face.

"I wish, the ruins, the factory just down there," Buffy pointed back towards the way they came, "and this…" She stopped as a sound could be heard from the building in front of them. Xander stopped next to her with a sigh.

"Vampires?"

"Probably," Buffy pulled out a stake from the inside pocket of her jacket and began to walk towards the building, Xander was close behind her, "Stay here, Xander." Without another word, Buffy walked quietly into the building, leaving Xander out on the street, nervously pacing. He sighed, there was no way he could just wait, he never waited. Xander followed his friend into the building.

---

Dawn walked up to the door of Andrew's apartment. It had been left open a crack in Andrew's rush from it. Dawn could not help but roll her eyes, it was probably nothing, she was sure Riley would not put them somewhere with demonic activity. She pushed the door open and then took the axe with both hands, just in case, and shuffled over the threshold.

"Hello?" she called out into the building, "Who ever is in there, come out. I have an axe." The sound of shoes on the wooden floor behind her unnerved Dawn a little and she turned quickly, axe held high, until she heard a girly scream.

"Don't hurt me, Dawn."

"Andrew!" Dawn growled, "What the hell are you doing?"

"I didn't want to stay there on my own." Dawn wanted to throw another insult at him but bit her tongue, she was really wishing that Buffy hadn't agreed to bring him with them. Dawn made her way into the house, down the hallway that was very similar to Xanders, but the opposite way around, until she felt a hand on her shoulder.

"What if it's a burglar?" Andrew questioned, in a whisper, "They might want to…"

"After what we dealt with in Sunnydale, you're worried about some burglar?" Dawn shook her head with raised eyebrows, amazed at this boy, "You really are a wimp, Andrew." Dawn continued to walk through the house but stopped as she felt something pulling her back, "Andrew, get off my top!"

"Sorry, I'm just really scared."

"I don't care," she growled again, "If you're not careful, I'm just gonna leave you here with whatever is here." In a flash of light, Andrew let go of Dawn's top, so she could continue to search through the house.

Suddenly the sound of something crashing in the kitchen could be heard, causing both Dawn and Andrew to jump. Andrew was now terrified, hiding behind Dawn, she Dawn took a tighter grip on the axe in her hands. Maybe Andrew was right, there was something in here.

---

Buffy looked at the nest of vampires in the building. There were seven, maybe eight, of them, they were all ready to fight her. They grinned, showing their teeth, they were up against a Slayer and they knew it. One of the vampires attacked her, but she easily flung him over her shoulder, next two attacked her at once. She was able to push one of them back but the second got the better of her, kicking her in her stomach. Buffy stumbled back, falling into a pair of arms. She looked behind her, thinking it was the vampire at first, but then realised that it was Xander.

"Thanks."

"I've got your back."

Buffy nodded and got back into the fight against the vampires. She spun around and kicked a vampire that was coming towards her, forcing him back into two of the other vampires. A third vampire backhanded her across the face, she grunted at the hit but then grabbed the vampire's arm, pulling it closer and staking it. The vampire turned to dust before her eyes.

Two of the vampires were going after Xander, who looked around for something to grab. There was a broken chair lying on the ground, which Xander was able to pick up. He held it as he looked at the vampires coming towards him. The two vampires laughed at him and advanced.

Buffy blocked a punch from another vampire and then punched him in the face. The vampire grabbed his nose in pain, as he stumbled back, but Buffy did not have time to regroup as another vampire came towards her.

"You're-a not welcome here, Slay-er." The vampire told her, his Italian accent strong. Buffy simply rolled her eyes and punched the vampire in the face before round-housing it. The vampire stumbled like the other although also landed on his back. Buffy jumped onto the vampire, her stake held high.

"Well, that's tough luck," she said, staking the vampire in his heart, "I'm here to stay." The vampire turned to dust and Buffy looked up to see who was next. She did not have time to react, as another vampire grabbed her from behind and threw her over his shoulder.

Xander ducked out of the way of an attack from one of his two vampires, but the second was too fast for him. Xander felt a foot connect with his stomach and then a blunt pain. Xander flew backwards through the air until a wall stopped him. He had no idea what hurt more, his stomach or his back.

"This is-a too easy." One of the vampires laughed in a thick Italian accent and was about to advance on Xander, but Xander saw the vampire disintegrate. He wanted to be happy, but was confused, since he could see Buffy fighting to one side. Through the dust, a figure formed into a young girl, her redish brown hair hung in lose curls. She wore dark, tight fitting trousers and a red T-shirt, with a dark leather jacket over the top. A stake was in her hand.

The other vampire that was going after Xander turned to face the newcomer and narrowed his eyes, instantly recognising her. "You!"

"Me." The girl nodded her head. She went for the vampire, but he kicked out at her, causing her to drop her stake. The brunette round-housed the vampire and then kicked the piece of chair up to her. She threw the piece of wood at the vampire, the point connecting with his heart. The vampire simply turned to dust as Xander stared in wonder at the girl.

---

Meanwhile, back at Andrew's apartment, Dawn had made her way slowly and carefully into the kitchen. The axe was held as high as she could get it while she walked around the breakfast bar. She looked at the breakfast bar too see that a box of cereal had been knocked over, spilling its contents over the top and onto the floor. Next to the spilled cereal laid a smashed mug – it must have been the reason for the smashing sound.

"This is one messy demon." Dawn sighed.

"Actually that was me," Andrew confessed to the mess that he had already caused in his house. Dawn glared at him, "I was scared! I dropped it!" Dawn shook her head, disapprovingly and then looked back at the mess.

Suddenly, the flash of orange and white caught her attention, towards the door to the sitting area. Dawn frowned, wondering what she had seen, and made her way there.

---

Buffy was kicked in the neck, causing her to fly across the room. She had not seen the new girl that had shown up just in time to save Xander until she came to her rescue too. The girl made her way over to this vampire, she had taken out the rest of them, he was the only one left.

"You-a fight on the wrong-a side." The vampire told the girl, but she shook her head with a small laugh.

"Not quite." The brunette uppercut the vampire, causing him to fly into the air and land on his back. He got up quickly though and she had to duck out of the way from a punch, and then kicked her leg out on the ground. She stood up as the vampire scrambled to his feet, so looked back at Buffy and pointed at the stake.

"Can I?" she questioned, but did not wait for an answer. She simply took the stake, "Thanks." She then stood up fully and threw the stake at the vampire, hitting him straight in the heart. The vampire looked down at the stake and then at the girl. He turned to dust before he could say anything.

Buffy and Xander simply looked at the girl as she turned towards them, as small smile on her face.

"You must be the new Slayer." Buffy did not know what to say, "I was told you were coming. Cossette LaPoint." She held out her hand for Buffy to shake, Buffy did, but cautiously.

"Buffy…"

"Summers," Cossette finished her sentence with a laugh, "Like I said, I was told you were coming. They said to keep an eye on you, make sure you didn't get into too much trouble on your first night."

"They? Who are they?" Buffy asked, but Cossette never answered her question, instead she looked at Xander, who was still staring in shock.

"Xander Harris, right?"

"How do you know my name?"

Cossette looked between the two and sighed, she should have known that they would not have heard of her, "Finn didn't tell you?"

"Finn? Riley?" Buffy clarified, "How do you know him?"

"He should have given you some contact numbers," Cossette explained to Buffy, with a slight frown on her face, she would have to contact Riley and find out what he was doing, "He said he would."

"There's a book of numbers by the phone…"

"You'll find me in there," Cossette nodded her head as she quickly checked her watch, "If you don't mind, I need to go now. Sorry." Cossette ran past the two without another word, into the night.

"Ok, thank you!" Buffy called out, even though the girl had gone, "I think."

"Who was she?"

"We're calling Riley."

---

The sound of something crashing could be heard from the sitting room, causing Andrew to hide behind Dawn again as they walked in. Dawn had had enough now and simply shrugged Andrew off of her. She needed to be able to swing if she had to.

Her grip on the axe was a lot tighter now, her knuckles had gone white. She knew Andrew was right, there was definitely something here in the house. Slowly and quietly, she walked around the couch, he view becoming clearer with every step. The orange and white came into view more and she was ready to swing until she realised exactly what it was. Dawn's gaze softened and she put the axe on the couch, walking around to find that the orange and white monster was actually a cat, which was now laid on its front, licking at a broken lamp that had smashed.

"Oh, you're so cute!" Dawn smiled and reached down to pick up the cat. She held it in one hand and stroked it with the other, looking towards Andrew, "This is what you were scared off, Andrew. You are sure a girl."

---Commercial Break #3---

"This girl just showed up?" Dawn questioned as she sat on the couch of her own house, the cat, which she had decided to name Ginger, laid on her lap so she could stroke her. Buffy and Xander had been back for two hours now, explaining what had happened to them and about the girl that had shown up.

Buffy had, at first, tried to contact Riley but he was unavailable due to his exped in China tomorrow. She would have to call someone else in the military.

"She saved my life." Xander explained to Dawn. He had to admit, he was a little suspicious of the girl, but she knew about the military and she saved his life, a good point in his book.

"She did give a name though, Cossette LaPoint," Buffy explained to her sister, "She knows Riley, but I can't contact him at the moment. She's connected to the military."

"She didn't look like she really belonged there though."

"Or fought like it."

"Or spoke like it."

"I can check up on her." Dawn offered, indicating towards the library, that housed an ultraspeed computer too, with perfect internet access, everything she would need.

"Good, I could do with that," Buffy nodded her head, feeling like she was getting back into battle mode for a while, "See if there's anything about her. Her name is in the book though, she was telling the truth about that but…"

"She was strong Buffy," Xander cut her off, "She took out those vampires too easy for my liking."

"Tell me about it."

"Now about the cat…" Andrew changed the topic of conversation, a hint of questioning in his voice.

"Can we keep her, she's so cute," Dawn broke Andrew off at the mention of the cat, picking her up from her lap, "I always wanted a pet but mom wouldn't let me…"

Buffy could not help but smile as Dawn stroked Ginger. She knew Dawn always wanted a pet, it was one of the many discussions she remembered being young, and after everything she knew her sister could do with a pet to look after.

"You'll have to look after her," Buffy would agree on these conditions, "Make sure she has food and water."

"Yes, I promise I will," Dawn nodded her head in excitement, "Does that mean we can keep her?" After seeing Buffy nod her head, Dawn squealed, happily, "You're the best. I love you. But what about when I'm at school?"

"I'm sure Andrew can…"

"I don't like cats, they scare me."

"What doesn't scare you," Xander rolled his eyes, but no matter what Andrew said, there was no way that he was going to see Dawn upset now that she had been told she could have this cat, "I can make sure she's fed and watered while Dawnie's at school. Don't worry about that. Plus, I'll put a cat flap in the back door and she can come and go whenever she pleases."

"That sounds like a plan".

"Yay! You're so awesome." Dawn smiled, looking down at the cat. She was definitely going to love it here.

---

In a very basic apartment, in an underground basement, Cossette stood by the telephone, while twirling the cord around her finger.

"I met her, yes, she found the vampire next you suspected," Cossette looked into her apartment's sitting area, that led through into her bedroom. An old tattered couch sat in front of a small TV screen, she did not mind about the state though, it had everything she needed, "I will keep an eye on her, don't worry about that. I will make sure she doesn't find herself in the hands of the Wolf, Ram and Hart."

---End Credits---