It has been a long year…

I guess it all started last May after the Hellmouth was closed and all these new slayers were called. Once Sunnydale became nothing more that a large crater we spent a few days in one of the neighboring towns resting, regrouping, and going to the mall. Since the destruction had been so widespread, everyone had been curious as to what exactly had happened down in the hellmouth after they had left. I hadn't really spoken about what took place between Spike and me down there afterwards, but it's not like it was really any of their business anyway. The Hellmouth was closed, the big evil was thwarted, what more exactly did they want. Eventually though people began to ask questions. Everyone kept asking, "What happened to Spike? "And "Where exactly did you get that amulet anyway?" I of course told them what happened to Spike (omitting the last few words that I spoke to him… that was private and none of their business anyway), and I told them that I got the Amulet from Angel.

Of course that wasn't good enough because that led to "Who is Angel?" from the potentials… oh sorry! New slayers… and Robin (as you can imagine that was a fun conversation), and from my friends it was "Where did Angel get the amulet? Is it a trustworthy source? Can Angel be trusted?" I didn't have the answers to all of their questions so I called Angel to let him know what had happened, and to find out more information about the amulet. That's when we found out about Wolfram and Hart. From then on Giles was all "You never should have used that amulet! You don't know what could have happened! Angel can NOT be trusted! Do you hear me?" I really didn't know what he was on about until Giles told us that Wolfram and Hart is this evil law firm. Although I'm still not sure what is so evil about them, other than being lawyers.

Anyway, it was right around then that we started making plans for the future. Somehow we have to tell thousands of girls around the world, that they are vampire slayers, and train them in their new abilities. Those girls would literally be walking targets since many vampires and demons can either smell or sense a slayer. Until they were trained, they wouldn't be able to defend themselves very easily. Giles thought it would be best to set up base camps around the world run by "watchers" and then of course have the main watchers council as headquarters back in England. It was a good plan, but we couldn't find a big enough headquarters in England so we set up base camp in Scotland, with an office for the council near their old headquarters in London. He decided that Xander would go to Africa to set up a base camp there before coming back to help me, and I would go to the new headquarters in Scotland. Willow would go to South America to aid the coven in finding all of the new slayers, Robin and Faith would go to Cleveland, and Andrew volunteered to go to Rome. Dawn would of course be going to college here in California. Each of the new slayers that had worked with us in Sunnydale would also get assigned a post. A few of them came with me, Kennedy of course went with Willow, a few went with Faith and Robin, Rona originally went with Andrew, Vi went with Xander, and the rest went with Giles.

Giles also decided that now that there were so many slayers in the world that I might be in danger. He decided that there should be three of me: One in Rome, one underground (literally!), and one being the real me. The one underground would be responsible for reporting information about the underground kingdoms back up top, and the one in Rome would be a decoy for the real me. No one, other than us, would know that the Buffy in Rome wasn't me. Before I left Giles had me call Angel and tell him at least part of the plan. He wanted to through Wolfram and Hart off are trail as much as possible and he knew that Angel would believe almost anything I told him. I hated lying to Angel, but at the time it was necessary. I wasn't sure Giles was right about not being able to trust him, but I did know that as CEO of Wolfram and Hart Angel was basically in the spotlight and that evil things would be keeping tabs on him. If HE was convinced that I was in Rome, then it wouldn't take much to convince the other evil things that I was in Rome. I warned Giles though that if for some reason Angel came to visit me in Rome it wouldn't take much for him to figure out that something was up, so they would need some sort of a plan to deal with that.

I've been in Scotland with Xander now for a while. He came to work with me after only about a month in Africa and left Vi in charge of that base camp. Apparently it hadn't taken very long to set up the base there since they were already pretty used to the idea of watchers and slayers over there. After he left Africa, Xander spent a few weeks staying with Dracula for some reason (which by the way I will never understand that ewww!), but otherwise Xander has been spending his time helping me. It's kind of nice to be back with old friends since none of my other friends are around much, and because we have all these cool gadgets and stuff, but it is also kind of lonely. Which is odd… because I live with at least 30 other people, sometimes more… I shouldn't be lonely… but I am. Everyone keeps talking about this amazing connection that they all feel. Even Xander can feel it…. And he is not even a slayer! I, on the other hand, feel nothing. I am completely alone. I don't understand it.

I don't know much about what has been going on with the others. Giles has been in research mode big time, especially after the whole Twilight symbol surfaced. Willow has been busy playing mega Wicca all over the world after a short stint in South America, and she still won't talk much about the past several months. Apparently Kennedy died for a short time (which might have something to do with Willow being all secretive all of a sudden). Andrew has been busy in Rome convincing the world that the other me is the real me. He's been the busiest; he even has a crazy slayer named Dana who surfaced at a loony bin in L.A. I wanted to go get her myself (I didn't like the idea of trusting Andrew with something so important), but Giles reminded me that Angel thinks that I'm in Rome, and if I stopped by for a visit in LA it might compromise that story. Giles wanted Dana to come here to Scotland afterwards, but Andrew insisted that she stay with him. He told Giles why, and apparently was able to convince him, but neither one of them will tell me why. For God sakes! I know that he is trying to hide something from me, but what could that crazy girl possibly know that I shouldn't.

The other me has been busy partying hard in Rome and dating some guy called "the immortal". Apparently Andrew set that up. He said that it would be hilarious for some reason. Robin has been busy running slayer central on the hellmouth in Cleveland after Faith apparently decided that it was too hard to work with others…typical Faith… She still lives in Cleveland, but she's too busy doing the solo act now to care about anyone but herself. I think that's everyone… oh wait… Dawn! Yes! How could I forget her?! … Dawn spent the first few months at college, and after sleeping with a Thricewise (although she won't admit it to me). She is now a giant and living with us in Scotland until Willow can figure out how to make her people sized again.