Disclaimer: Serena, Tracey, and the original plot belong to me. This fic is the companion piece to Bound By Fate. I suggest reading that if you want to better understand this. This will follow the life of Buffy and Angel's daughter Serena. Each chapter will be a stand alone story of sorts from a different point in her life, some from her POV, some not. These chapters will not go in chronological order. Some of these little stories will be angsty, some will (hopefully) be funny. I hope you enjoy.

Rating: PG 13

Author's Note: Here it is! I have been thinking for weeks on what the first little chapter should be, and this came to me the other night. I just wrote this all in one shot, and I am very pleased with it. This story is an excerpt from Serena's diary, so therefore it is in her point of view. This particular story contains major angst. Reviews would be very appreciated, please let me know what you think. Make sure you also read the above Disclaimer for more info on the future of this fic.

April 29th, 2015

An Excerpt from the diaries of Serena Lynn O'Leary

Dear Diary,

My parents and I just had a really long talk. Mommy said that I "deserved to know the truth" about everything. I was a little surprised because she hasn't really talked to me since Liam went away. But last night I heard her arguing with Daddy. I thought they might start fighting a lot after what happened. But they barely talk anymore. Daddy spends a lot of time alone in his room. When I ask him what's wrong he just says "don't worry about it princess."

Last night I was bad. I stayed out in the hall and listened to their fight. Mommy kept saying the same thing she said to me, that I deserve to know. She said something about what really happened to Liam. That made me confused, because Grandma Joyce told me that Mommy fell really bad and Liam went to heaven. I know that Grandma Joyce doesn't lie to me. I wondered if Mommy and Daddy lied to her. I hope not. I know I would never lie to my Mommy.

In the fight Daddy kept saying that I was too young. I am not young! I will be ten years old in one month and 24 days. But then my Mommy made me smile because she said that I am very wise for my age. My Grandpa Giles tells me that too. He says I remind him of when my mommy was a teenager and he was her school librarian. I think Grandpa Giles would be a good librarian.

I wanted to listen more but I was very tired and I went to bed. But I heard them up very late. Today when I came home from school my Mommy and Daddy were waiting for me on the couch. Mommy said that she wanted to talk to me about grown-up stuff. I like grown-up stuff, like when my Aunt Tracey comes and we go get our nails painted really pretty. My Daddy was very quiet. I don't think that he wanted Mommy to tell me the grown-up stuff. But she did anyway.

"Serena, do you remember a few years ago when you heard your Mommy fighting outside?" she said carefully.

"Yes," I said. I had heard a noise outside and Mommy had gone to see what it was. I looked through the crack in the door and I saw her fighting, then there was dust everywhere.

"You know how I told you that when you were older I would explain what happened that night?" she continued.

"Am I old enough now?" I said hopefully. I know I'm getting older. Aunt Tracey is giving me more lip gloss for my birthday.

"I think so sweetie," my mom said. She took my hand. "Baby, that night Mommy was fighting because it's my job to fight the bad guys. That man was bad, and he wanted to hurt people."

"Did you kill him?" I asked, my eyes wide.

"Yes, but only because he wasn't human," she said.

I frowned. I didn't really understand.

"What your Mommy is trying to say is that man was a vampire," my Daddy said.

I instantly thought of something. Two years ago I had been out shopping for a Halloween costume. There was a really scary vampire one with a little purple cape and fake teeth. I wanted it really bad but my Mommy got a funny look on her face and she made me pick out the Cinderella one instead. "I thought vampires are only in the movies."

"No, honey, sometimes they are real. But ever since I was very young I have been trained to fight them. So if you noticed some weird things happening? It was because I was doing my job," she said. She was smiling, but it was only with her mouth. Her eyes were still sad.

"So you're like a super hero Mommy!" I said, impressed.

She continued with the fake smile. "Not exactly, baby."

Something occurred to me. "Mommy why are you telling me this now?"

"Because I don't want to shelter you any longer. You're growing up so much. And I want you to be aware of what's out there."

I looked at my Daddy. "Daddy, did you think it was cool that Mommy fought the bad guys? Like when you guys met?"

They both got very stiff, and I started to worry if I said something wrong. "Princess, things were different between your Mommy and I then. We...we were very different," Daddy said. He seemed like he didn't know what to say.

"Didn't you want to help her fight the bad guys?" I asked, confused. I know that Daddy helps people now. He has a business in LA with Aunt Cordy and Uncle Wes.

"Honey," my mother started to say.

"Buffy, no," my Daddy said.

"What's wrong?" I said, frowning.

"Sweetie your Daddy did want to help me. But it was hard, because for a while...back then...he was a vampire," my Mommy rushed.

I thought about that for a minute. "But a good one, right?"

She smiled again, and this time, her eyes smiled a little too. "Yes."

"When I get bigger, am I going to fight the vampires too?" I asked.

"Only if you want to," my Daddy said quickly. "That's another thing we wanted to talk to you about. If you would like to, I can help you learn how to protect yourself. From the vampires. All your mother and I want is for you to be safe," he added.

"Mommy, did the vampires kill Liam?" I asked.

My mother suddenly got very quiet, and she looked like she might cry. My Daddy touched my shoulder. "No. What happened to your brother was a very bad mistake. Some vampires were there, but in the end it was just a terrible thing that happened."

I nodded. "But was it the vampires' fault?"

My Daddy suddenly stood up. "It's not important whose fault it was." I noticed that he wasn't looking at Mommy.

"I'm sorry if I made you mad," I had said.

"No, it's okay baby. It's just...we still miss Liam very much," my Mommy says, wiping her eyes.

"I miss him too," I said. "I wanted to be a big sister."

Suddenly my Mommy got up and ran out of the room. "Daddy what happened?" I said, very upset. I hated it when Mommy cried, and she had been doing it too much lately.

"Your Mommy's just very sad," he said quickly. "Are you okay? Do you understand what we told you?"

I nodded. "I want you to teach me Daddy. I want to be like Mommy."

He smiled at me. "You already are." He kissed me on the forehead and then he left.

When I came up here to my room the door to their room was shut. Mommy must be in there. But I saw Daddy go outside. So I know he's not making it better.

I think that Daddy didn't want to tell me about the vampires because he thought I would be scared. But I'm not. I watch scary movies and it doesn't scare me. I think it's cool that Mommy and Daddy fight the bad guys. But it doesn't make sense that they are so sad all the time. I think they told me because the vampires made Liam go to heaven and they don't want the same thing to happen to me. So maybe if I let Daddy teach me how to fight Mommy won't be so sad anymore.

After Liam went away Grandma Joyce told me that my parents would probably be quiet and sad for a while. But she said that the important thing to remember is that they love me very much, and they aren't sad because of me.

I think I am going to go to bed now. Having grown-up conversations is hard work.

Serena Lynn O'Leary