I don't own anything BtVS or AtS.

Pairings: B/A/Aus, D/A/Aus, A/other, A/Aus/other, X/Anya, W/O... and B/Nest

Okay about the B/N... when I read the fic, I'm reasonably okay with it, when I have to write it into the pairings it bugs me. - These fics were written for fun and there were years I didn't even look at them and then I'd read one and add a part or two to it. - Anyway at some point that pairing got added.

Also if I put up a new chapter and edit an old one, I'm only trying to fix small problems with it. It's probably stupid, but sometimes I'll reread something and want to bang my head against the wall.

-This one's going to be 6 chapters.

Darla always said it was fitting they were named after a prayer and a god. - Ares and Angelus

Angelus stood over the drained slayer and licked blood off his lips. She'd been a new slayer, but then slayers never lasted long on *his* hellmouth. This one had lasted six months.

"Was she good?"

"They always are, Spike my boy." He slapped his grandchilde on the back and grinned. "I've never had one yet that wasn't worth the fight."

The bleached blonde smirked. "From what I hear, Joseph can't say the same."

Angelus's eyes narrowed at the mention of the other hellmouth ruler. "So I've heard," he answered shortly.

"They say she's the best slayer... maybe ever." Spike lit a cigarette, took a puff, and flipped the match away. "She's been Sunnydale's protector for three years." His eyes locked on his grandsire. "I wonder what she's going to think of the clan games?"

Angelus snorted and picked up the slayer before grinning unpleasantly as he started to walk toward her watcher's house. The clan games were held in different locations every fifty years... and this year Sunnydale had been offered, and accepted. Of course the speculation was Joseph needed help with his slayer problem. His smile widened. "I doubt she's going to be pleased. There's going to be too many demons in her nice little town." He chuckled. "It should be interesting."

"Interesting... right," Spike agreed as he followed the older vampire. "I take it that's why we're leaving Los Angeles early?"

Angelus shrugged. "It's been close to sixty years since I've set foot in that town. I just want to take some time to enjoy what it has to offer."

Buffy cursed as she found herself surrounded by vampires before narrowing her eyes. "A going away present for me? Guys you shouldn't have." She slammed a stake into the one closest to her and turned to the one behind her. "Of course if it wasn't for your brethren I wouldn't have to go away." Her stake hit home with a vengeance and she spun to give a roundhouse kick to the one coming up beside her. He managed to grab her arm on the way down and Buffy fell heavily on top of him. Her stake hit his heart and she was back on her feet. Dust was still in the air when the last vampire started to run. "Don't go. Stay." She threw a stake and he disappeared in another cloud of dust.

Sighing, she looked down at her dirt smudged clothes with annoyance. "Great. On my last night here, I get mugged." She frowned before it turned into a scowl as she picked up the stake she'd thrown and turned toward the house she shared with her watcher.

"Buffy?" Giles asked with surprise when the teenager returned home fifty minutes after leaving. "Are you okay?"

"Just peachy," she answered ruefully before slowly twirling around. "It's a fashion statement, Giles. What do you think?"

Buffy's guardian looked her over critically before reaching for his journal. "I'll need specifics," he murmured as he flipped open a notebook to the first blank page.

"There were four vampires." She shrugged. "Slow and dumb. Probably none of them older than ten years. Now, if you'll excuse me..." she headed for the stairs, "I need to change, or I'm going to miss my party."

Giles watched her run gracefully up the stairs, more worried about seeing her friends than her slaying, and he sighed before giving a grudging smile. It was unusual for a slayer to be as carefree as she was. Most of them died before their first year was up... and that brought him back to her trip to Los Angeles. The L.A. slayer had been killed, and the council had decided to send Buffy to replace her for a few weeks while the new slayer, the one that had been called last night, would train on the Sunnydale hellmouth.

He picked up his empty cup with a frown before heading for the kitchen. They'd assured him it was only for a month, but that didn't mean he liked it.

On the south side of town near a string of large mansions, the night was as still as the grave. Nothing alive stirred there anyway.

"Sire," Darrel kept his head down, doing his best to show respect.

"Is she dead?"

"No, Master. She killed the hunting party."

Joseph slammed his glass of wine against the wall. "The clans will be here in four days, Angelus will be here tomorrow night, and I've got one of the oldest slayers in history on *my* hellmouth." Joseph stared at the shattered glass as his eye ticked with resentment. He hated Buffy Summers, hated that she wouldn't die, hated that the mocking rumors he needed help to take her out were true.

The minion carefully kept his eyes lowered. "Perhaps Angelus would like to try his hand with the slayer?"

Joseph's face darkened before he nodded. Taking her out was why he'd offered his town for the games, and if Angelus could do that, he would allow the... boy his bragging rights. But if the slayer won, and she took out one of Nest's celebrated grandsons, he gave a slow smirk, that would be delightful as well. Her death warrant would be signed either way.

"Perhaps," he agreed with a dark smile before looking at his minion, "Is the Aurelius mansion ready?"

"Yes, sire. The lights were hooked up this morning along with the water.

"Excellent."

Darrel turned to go, and Joseph called him back. "Make sure when Angelus arrives there's fresh blood waiting for him. It wouldn't do to insult his clan."

"Yes, sire." The minion left.

"Thanks, Will," Buffy gave a half smile to the redhead, "but the watchers are upset you even know what a slayer is... there's no way they're going to let you patrol with me while I'm in Los Angeles."

"It's not like you could stop Angelus from killing her anyway," Anya spoke up before rolling her eyes at the looks she got. "I mean, it's not a secret he's more dangerous than Joseph."

"Yes," Xander agreed. "That's why we thought we could go with her."

"I know that," she answered. "My point is..."

"Would you like to dance sweetheart?" he interrupted before tugging her out of her chair.

Silence fell as the two left before Oz turned back to the girls at the table. "I've got a gig in L.A. Saturday night. I can guarantee free tickets and a discounted hotel rate."

"Oh, I forgot." Willow bounced excitedly, and Oz smiled at his girlfriend who was looking at Buffy. "And maybe we can bring Riley. He really likes you, Buffy."

Buffy's smile faded, and she shook her head. "I just... I don't know... Riley's great, but he kind of reminds me of Owen... Kind of like he's a little too interested in things that go bump in the night."

"Well," Willow started brightly, "so are we, but that just means we can help you... and Riley might make a good addition to the team."

"Maybe," Buffy conceded before taking a sip of her drink thoughtfully. "But I only met him last week, and now I'm heading to L.A. for a month..." she broke off and shook her head. "It's probably not the best time to try to start a relationship."

"It's just for four weeks, Buffy. They'll train Kendra here... and maybe even get Faith involved. I mean, the watchers might let her out of prison." She frowned and tucked hair behind her ear before looking back at her friend. "You guys could have L.A. cleaned up before summer vacation's over."

"That would be great," the blonde murmured even as her thoughts turned to the number of slayers killed on the L.A. hellmouth since she'd been called. In three years there'd been seven.

"Oh... and we can help Giles show the new girl the ropes," Willow continued cheerfully before frowning. "She'll be here tomorrow, right?"

"Yeah," Buffy answered. "She was already with the council, so they think she'll know what to do." The slayer shrugged. "She'll probably patrol with Giles for the first few days."

Willow nodded before casting Oz a smile. "I think we know where we can find a patrolling slayer."

Oz nodded. "Cemeteries maybe?"

Buffy grinned. "Good place to start."

Ethan Rayne opened the door to the hotel room before picking up his luggage and heading inside. Everything about his newest 'job' would come down to timing, and there was no better time than the next two weeks to place the energy gathering stones on the L.A. hellmouth. He kicked the door shut before placing the suitcase on the counter in the bathroom. A moment later, he flipped it open and looked at the two large crystals.

It wasn't the safest job, but he was being offered a thousand for less than an hour's work. Of course there'd be expenses. He'd offered Gwendolyn Post a hundred to help distract any vampires on the hellmouth, and she'd readily agreed. He shook his head at her willingness to throw her slayer under the bus. One thing about her, she took the motto 'one killed, one called' to heart. He chuckled before thoughtfully closing the suitcase.

At least with Angelus in Sunnydale, they wouldn't have to deal with him. Not that he wouldn't leave someone in charge, but the only other vampire he could think of that would be as unpleasant to deal with was Ares, and he hadn't been seen for a hundred years.

"Soo..." Buffy drew out as she watched Gwendolyn Post with a frown as the woman assessed her coolly. Her condolences for Kennedy's loss were accepted with the same cool briskness as her statements that Buffy would be expected to slay seven days a week, sleep during the day, and that dating was out of the question. "I thought maybe I'd grab something to eat and figure out a patrol route. Maybe watch some tv," she continued as she looked over the almost empty living room.

"If you require food Ms. Summers the kitchen is through that door." She motioned toward another room where Buffy could see a refrigerator. "However you will not find a television in this house. Nor will you find any junk food. And regardless of how much sleep you get, I will expect you to begin your patrol promptly at nine o'clock and be back no earlier than four am. I think you will find that L.A. is a bit different from your sleepy little town of Sunnydale where a slayer doesn't have to earn her keep."

Buffy's expression darkened. The only thing making her new slaying assignment bearable was the knowledge it was only for a month. The woman standing before her however was anything but bearable. "Yeah, I'll try to remember that," she muttered as she turned to the small room she'd been told was hers.

Closing the door behind her, she leaned against it and took a deep breath as she tried to fight back annoyance. She was a slayer. She fought... it was what she did, and she'd do it here too. But she already had a watcher, and there was no way she was replacing him with that... she broke the thought with a shake of her head and walked over to drop onto the bed with a sigh. She'd fight, try to help break the hold Angelus had on L.A., and then go back to her town, her friends, *and* her watcher.

"Ripper's slayer's in Los Angeles?" Ethan hissed as he looked at Post with narrowed eyes. "What happened to Kennedy?"

"She ended up drained and on my doorstep two nights ago," she answered sharply. "How was I suppose to know they would bring Ms. Summers here?"

"And Ripper? Is he here too?"

"No. I've taken over as her watcher for the next few weeks."

Ethan looked at her incredulously before shaking his head. "I'm surprised he allowed it."

She gave him a cold look. "He's a watcher. He does what he's told. As for the slayer, I'm going to patrol with her on her first night and show her the hellmouth. Any vampire guarding it will go after her, and you shouldn't have any trouble dropping off the gathering stones."

Silence fell as Ethan looked at her skeptically. "I visited Giles a year ago, and she knows me. Needless to say, I'm not on her list of friends."

"Then I'd advise you to stay out of sight. I'll do my best to keep her attention on her duties."

Ethan looked at her with a neutral expression. It wasn't the way he'd intended to do it, but Buffy's fighting abilities might be what he needed to get the job done. He couldn't place the stones with magic, but he could use it when it came time to remove them. The hard part, the dangerous part would be in placing them... especially since the hellmouth was guarded by demons day and night.

The door of Walsh's house opened, and they both looked up as Buffy stepped onto the front porch and looked over the neighborhood. A moment later, Ethan melted back into the shadows thoughtfully before giving a reluctant smile. He could do worse than having Buffy on his team. He waited patiently for a few seconds before beginning to follow when they started down the street.

"The hellmouth is about an hours walk away," Post stated coolly, "and I'm sure we won't have any trouble finding vampires for you to dust after we get there."

Buffy cast her a scowl. Everything about the woman was irritating. Not to mention she'd caught a glimpse of a man talking to her when she'd exited the house... And it didn't improve her mood. Evidently, even Gwendolyn Post was capable of meeting men and possibly carrying on relationships with them while her track record was almost zero. She sighed before rolling her eyes. Maybe Willow was right, and she should give Riley a chance. In the meantime though she needed to make it through the night, and she had a feeling it was going to seem a lot longer than seven hours.

"Hey," Willow smiled at the pretty girl walking with Giles and another man in tweed before looking at Buffy's watcher. "We were in the area," she stated brightly, "and thought we might find you out here."

"Uh... yes," Giles stepped toward Buffy's friends. He was well aware of the disapproving look Wesley was giving him as well as Kendra's incredulous one. "Did you need something?"

"Well, no," Willow tucked a stray hair behind her ear. "We just thought we could help." Her gaze shifted to the clearly annoyed girl watching her. "I mean, if it's okay," she added defensively.

"Mr. Giles," Wesley spoke up, "this is highly irregular. While the council is aware Ms. Summers wasn't trained before being called, that is not the case with this slayer."

Giles glanced at him with a frown before straightening to face him. "And I'm certain her council training suits her well... just as I can assure you Buffy's rather unorthodox style does the same for her."

The two faced off before Kendra broke the silence. "And you are not afraid of being killed?" she asked in a challenging, softly accented voice as she looked at the group of high schoolers.

Anya rolled her eyes. "I've been alive for hundreds of years. Does the thought of death scare me? *Yes*. Not that it probably bothers you as much since you're only about seventeen." She turned to look at Xander. "And if I'd known this is what you had in mind for tonight, I wouldn't have come."

Kendra stared at her uncertainly as did Wesley while Xander glanced at her with a frown and pulled her closer. "Look," he spoke up as he looked at Giles. "We're already here. Can we just patrol?"

"Yes." Giles quickly agreed. "I think that would be best."

"I take it your clan home meets with your approval?" Joseph asked as he glanced over the recently cleaned mansion.

"Quite nicely," Angelus answered as his eyes bored into the Sunnydale ruler with a hint of amusement.

"Ah... good." Joseph held back irritation as he finished his drink. "I will leave you to settle in then, and," he looked at Angelus, "hunt."

Angelus gave a slow smirk as his eyes lit with delight. "I believe your town will have much to offer... master," he hesitated before offering the term of respect expected of him.

The shorter vampire's eyes narrowed at the slight, and he set the empty glass on a table. "I do hope your brother joins us this year." Amused eyes suddenly turned cold, and Joseph shifted uneasily as he looked into them.

"Perhaps he will," Angelus answered with a deceptive casualness, "but you should be warned Ares isn't always as congenial as I am. He has a tendency to do as he pleases and ask questions later... I have little doubt he would love to meet your slayer though."

"Yes," Joseph murmured as he walked toward the door before pulling it open and looking back. "I suppose many would be worried about having a three year old slayer in their town. I can assure you however she is only a problem for those too afraid to face her." He turned away and closed the door at Angelus's knowing smile.

Kendra looked over the cemetery impatiently. Just like the last three they'd been in, it was empty of anything to kill. "There's nothing here." She threw out her hands before turning to the watcher that had accompanied her from England. "There's no mistake? This town is a hellmouth?" she questioned incredulously.

"Yes," Wesley answered. "It's a hellmouth."

"And this other one... this slayer that survived for three years. *This* is where she survived?"

"Yes," Wesley answered again with a frown.

"No wonder she lived so long if there are no demons to fight."

"Hey..." Xander started only to have Giles interrupt him.

"The hellmouth was not always this quiet, Kendra. It was Buffy's job to keep demon activity to a minimum." The older watcher tried to reign in his irritation. "It's a result of her fight for this town that the demon activity is what it is."

Kendra glanced at him before turning to continue her patrol. "I don't understand why the council feels I'm only capable of patrolling this tamed hellmouth."

"They don't believe that," Giles responded. "You're only here for a few weeks of training."

Kendra frowned as she walked. She could fight. She'd trained for four years with the Watcher's Council and had already staked a vampire that was chained to a wall. She knew where to strike. She'd dusted him on the first try.

Buffy's stake slammed home, and before the orange haired vampire completely turned to dust she managed to stake the vampiress coming at her. She turned to study the darkness carefully before sighing and looking at the woman standing several feet away. "Angelus?" she continued their earlier conversation as she slid the stake back into her waistband and made her way over to her *temporary* watcher. "I've heard of him. Giles says he's two hundred and fifty-six years old. For a hellmouth ruler," she shook her head, "he's pretty young isn't he?"

"Don't be fooled," Gwendolyn informed as they started walking again. "He's more dangerous than Joseph."

Silence fell before Buffy forced a shrug. "He kills young slayers because he's afraid to take on one with experience. That doesn't make him dangerous as much as a coward."

The older woman gave a tight smile at Buffy's easy dismissal of the volatile vampire. It didn't matter to her who killed who as long as she wasn't one of the ones dying. Her cell rang, and she flipped it open and up to her ear with precision. "Post," she greeted before listening with satisfaction as Ethan updated her on the gathering stones he'd placed on the hellmouth. A few seconds later, she slid the phone back into her pocket and looked thoughtfully at the blonde walking beside her. The girl really could fight. She'd taken out ten minions so far, and allowed Ethan the time he needed to place the stones. Soon she'd receive her check for a hundred dollars. It was easy money, and it didn't bother her at all that the crystals would be on their way to Sunnydale in a few days.

Xander breathed in the cool night air as he followed the others before catching sight of a group of demons moving off to their right. He just had time to shout a warning before eleven vampires stepped out of the darkness, nine moving toward them while the other two stood several yards away.

"Vampires," Kendra called as she turned to face them with a stake in her hand.

"Slayer," a redhead hissed as he smiled at her cockily. "Are you ready to die tonight?"

Kendra stared at him before lunging for his heart and ended up hitting his side instead. He took a swing at her, and Giles took him out with a bolt from his crossbow.

"The heart," Wesley called instructions as he tried to aim his crossbow. "You have to hit them in the heart." He never saw the vampire coming up behind him, and Xander staked it before being tackled by a blonde vampiress.

"Guys..." he called as he struggled with her, "a little help would be good."

Kendra moved to press a stake into the blonde's back, and a cloud of dust settled over Xander. Before he could thank her she was knocked to the ground, her stake jarred out of her hand, and Xander got to his feet and joined the fray.

"Unbelievable," Angelus growled as he threw open the door to the mansion.

"Tell me about it," Spike snorted as he walked in before dropping onto the sofa. "If that's his slayer problem..." the bleached blonde broke off and shook his head before looking back at his grandsire. "Maybe that wasn't her. Maybe it was one of her friends."

Angelus cocked an eyebrow before shaking his head and sitting down across from Spike. "She felt like a slayer... and was patrolling Sunnydale with Ripper and her little group of friends."

"Maybe the bint was having a bad night?"

"Maybe," Angelus answered neutrally.

Silence filled the room, and Spike sighed as he got to his feet. "Well, I'm going to take a look at the tunnel system. It wouldn't surprise me if Joseph doesn't have minions keeping an eye on us."

Angelus watched him go before flopping back into his chair with disappointment. Joseph's slayer wasn't what he'd hoped for. Still though if the Sunnydale ruler couldn't take care of *that* slayer... maybe he didn't deserve to have a hellmouth. A slow smile grew before he turned toward the door when it opened.

"Angelus," a voice broke through the silence, and the brunette got to his feet with surprise.

"Grandsire... I wasn't expecting you so soon."

Nest eyed him. "I was informed you were arriving early and simply decided to join you." The older vampire stepped farther into the room and looked it over fondly. "I see the mansion is still well kept."

"Yes," Angelus agreed without bothering to look over his clan's home.

"And tell me," the Master walked through the room before turning to look at him, "does Ares think so as well?"

"Ares is in Los Angeles," he answered dismissively, "and will not be attending the games."

"And yet the mage told me you wanted a spell put on the cells, one making them strong enough to hold a demon."

"Yes," the brunette answered before his lips drew into a tight line as he walked over to pour a glass of whiskey. "All they'll hold are humans." He knocked back the drink as Nest moved up beside him.

"And what pray tell do you plan to cage if not Ares?"

"A slayer perhaps," the brunette answered coolly.

Nest looked at him before pouring a glass of wine and holding it up to study the burgundy color of the drink. "You want the Sunnydale slayer Angelus?"

He shrugged. "Of course... who wouldn't want a three year old slayer?"

"And you think you can take her alive knowing the embarrassment that would cause this town's ruler?" Nest asked as he turned to look at his grandchilde.

"Is that a problem?"

"Not for me my boy." The master murmured with a hint of amusement before slapping Angelus on the back. "Not for me."

10 am the next morning:

Buffy stepped out of the bathroom and adjusted the towel wrapped around her hair before starting down the blue carpeted hallway. She stopped abruptly at the voice she could hear drifting up the stairs.

"I had a source tell me you're getting a thousand," Gwendolyn Post hissed into the phone. "What does it matter who? My price just went up to four hundred dollars." Silence fell. "If you disagree I'll take the slayer back tonight, break the invisibility spell you put on the stones, and leave with them. She listened to the response. "Just bring the cash, Ethan. I'll expect you here by tomorrow night, or our deal's off." A moment later, she hung up the phone.

'Ethan'... Buffy mused thoughtfully as she stepped into the room she'd been given, Ethan Rayne? She rubbed at the back of her neck with irritation before dressing in comfortable jeans and a tank top. She was just stepping into the hall when her new watcher walked around the corner. "Ms. Summers, I wasn't aware you were awake."

She glanced up. "Yeah, well... I guess I'm not used to the new schedule yet."

"Yes," the blonde agreed. "I can see that. You'll find a gym in the basement. Perhaps it will help you adjust if you work out for a few hours."

Surprised and annoyed by the suggestion, Buffy returned the older woman's cool appraisal as she crossed her arms. "Tell me, Gwen... how long have you known Ethan?"

Post's eyes narrowed. "Ethan? Ethan who?"

"Rayne," Buffy supplied even though she knew it was a long shot.

Walsh's eyes cooled even more before she stepped closer. "You know Buffy... just between you and me, I was giving you a day or so to acclimate yourself to L.A., but I think you're ready for the real slaying... don't you?"

Buffy eyed her before giving a slow nod. "Yeah. I guess I am."

"Good. Tonight I'll show you Angelus's lair."