A young girl walks down the sidewalk. The night air was cool and crisp; she could feel it even under the colorful puffy hat and jean jacket. Her boots made clicking sound on the pavement as she started to pick up her pace. She wanted to get home as quickly as possible. A gust of cold wind blew; her hat flew off, letting her bright red hair down. She looked behind her cautiously and bent down to pick up her hat. Suddenly she heard a cry, "WATCH OUT!" but before she could react, was tackled to the ground.
The attacker was on top of her. The girl tried to get away but the large man lifted her up with ease and ran her into a tree. She closed her eyes trying to fight the pain; she didn't open them again until she felt the attacker moving towards her again. Her eyes widen as she took in the dark skinned man who now had fangs. The frightened girl was against the tree, the bark scraping her back. The vampire's hand closing in around her neck choking her. She tried to scream but no sound would come out.
Buffy Summers ran up behind the vampire ready to attack but he was suddenly kicked and flew back hitting the ground hard. Buffy wasn't surprised. The young girl didn't even look at Buffy, before going after the vamp. The vampire stood up, a look of shock in his face. The young slayer did a hard sidekick into the vampire's chest and did an uppercut to the creature's jaw. She then ducked and under swiped him quickly, staking him. The redheaded slayer arose and dusted herself off. Buffy started to walk toward her, "Hey, nice job-" but before Buffy could finish, the Slayer looked up at her and quickly ran away.
"HEY WAIT! I just wanted to talk!" Buffy called after her, but the girl was gone. "Well, that was nice," Buffy muttered to herself. She shook her head, "Some vacation this is turning out to be." She turned the other way and walked into the night alone.
Buffy hadn't been in Los Angeles for quite sometime now, the last time was to visit her father four years ago. Her father had moved out since then, and was reportedly in Spain. She hasn't heard from him since her mother died two years ago. She had no idea where he is now, and frankly Buffy couldn't care less, she had more important things to worry about. She walked the dark, lonely, familiar streets, with a piece of paper in her hand and a large bag on her back. She was looking for Angel's Hotel. As she walked, she passed many abandoned buildings, people just walking around, not seeming to remember the events of the past year. An old man bumped into her and called her a whore and walked away. Buffy turned and watched him go, he was obviously drunk. She couldn't let these things get to her. Buffy moved her long blond hair out of her face and continued walking. She soon came up to the large hotel.
The hotel was magnificent and was guarded by a black iron high fence. Buffy walked in and followed the path around a large fountain. The grounds were nicely managed. Buffy stopped at the fountain and looked up at the hotel, she was very hesitant to go inside. She took a deep breath and walked up the stairs and let herself in.
Buffy stood in awe of the beautiful lobby. She looked to her left to see the check in counter, behind it was a familiar tall man, with his back to her.
"You made it," the man said soundly, not moving. Buffy walked down the two stairs and entered the lobby fully.
"Yeah, isn't it great! I didn't die this time!" Buffy said smiling. Angel turned around, also smiling. He left the counter and brought Buffy into a tight embrace. Letting her go, he leaned down and kissed her on the forehead.
"How'd everything go? I heard that a huge earthquake sucked Sunnydale into nothing?" Angel said while walking with Buffy to sit on a nearby couch.
"I wish, it would have been so much simpler," Buffy chuckled, but then her smile faded. "Big losses, new beginnings, it was–" pause, "big," she said, looking up into Angel's eyes.
"Spike? He didn't make it did he?" Buffy stared at the floor and shook her head. "I am sorry, Buffy. I know you cared for him." Angel put his hand on her shoulder. Buffy straightened up, trying to keep her full height.
"You know what? Willow is the real hero in all this." Buffy lightened her mood. "Her power is incredible, Angel. She used the Slayer Scythe to transfer the Slayer's essence into all the potentials, and all the potentials to come, forever," she hesitated. "I am not the "Chosen One" anymore, I am now the "Chosen Some". Just a regular Slayer. I thought I would never get to say that word, regular. I am supposed to live my life, that's what the others say. To live my life normally, trying not to always save the day. Save the world. But-, what else can I do? All I know how to do is to fight."
"So then fight," Angel said.
"But, I feel like the world doesn't need me anymore. That I have done my part and I am just some worn out vampire slayer. It feels like I am getting sent off to some Old Slayer Retirement home."
"You have a problem being normal? You used to be normal, Buffy." Angel stood up.
"You don't know how I am when I am normal. Angel, I was conceited, shallow. Damn I was freaking Cordelia."
Angel half smiled, "Well Cordelia is a different person now," he looked up at Buffy who was looking at him questionably. Angel cleared his throat, "You feel like you're a better person when you're saving them?" He said changing the subject.
Buffy turned her back, "Thanks for the report captain obvious." Buffy saw a woman walk down the stairs, and it wasn't Cordelia.
The girl walked down the stairs and glanced at Angel. "Oh, Fred, this is Buffy. Buffy, this is my friend and co-worker Fred."
Fred smiled warmly and shook Buffy's hand. "Wow, I have heard so much about you. The slayer huh? I heard about the Hellmouth, way to go Willow, she so powerful and beautiful!" she smiled, a little too excitedly. She started to babble her Fred babble and then stopped and looked at Angel. "Well uh yeah, I should be heading to work," she said. Fred turned back to Buffy, "Nice meeting ya!" Fred lightly punched the side of Buffy's arm and hurried out the door.
Buffy watched as the very hyperactive girl walked out. She gave Angel a side-glance. "Work? I thought you guys worked here?"
"Oh yes, I was about to get to that. But we were talking about you, first. We have been offered to run and- well, own Wolfram and Hart." Angel said. He began to get a little ancy waiting for Buffy's reaction.
"The evil bloodsucking lawyer group?" she said confused.
"Just the Los Angeles branch." Angel took her hand and started to walk up the stairs, "Don't worry I'll tell you all about it."
*****
"So, where is everyone? Wes, and Cordelia?" Buffy asked as they walked down a corridor. They both stopped in front of one of the hotel rooms. Angel took out a set of keys from his leather jacket pocket.
"They are at- work," Angel replied opening the door to the suite. They walked in the door, and Angel switched on the light. Which wasn't much of a light at all. Buffy could tell this was Angel's room, it was poorly lit, and curtains hanged on the windows. Angel's drawings were scattered around the room. On every table had a sketch or a doodle.
Buffy walked to a nearby end table by a couch, and picked up one of the drawings. It was of a young man. Most of the drawings were of this boy. Buffy turned to Angel, who was hanging up his jacket in the coat rack in the corner.
"Angel? Who's this?" Buffy said holding the paper. Angel grabbed the paper from her hand and crumpled it up.
"Its no one," Angel said, darkly. He then quickly gathered the other papers and disappeared for a moment.
Confused, and a little taken aback sat down on the couch. Angel soon returned, "Want some coffee?" he asked as he walked to the small kitchen.
"Uh, no th-" Buffy started, but Angel was already making it. "Sure, why not, caffeine is always good." Buffy sat, and looked around the room. There was no television, two books were spread on the glass coffee table. The couches were black leather and very smooth. It was a very nice room, the suite was more of a small apartment, which suited him well.
After a few moments, Angel returned to her with a cup of coffee. He handed her a mug and smiled. "Be right back!" he said abruptly, and walked out of the hotel room.
Buffy sighed and took a sip of the coffee, which was extremely strong. She slightly gagged and spit it back in the cup and placed it on the coffee table. She sighed and placed her head on her hand. Time had passed and Buffy looked at her wrist watch, it has been five minutes.
A minute later, Angel returned holding Buffy's bag and a mirror. Baffled, Buffy stood up. "Well you are staying the night right?" Angel said putting down her bag down next to her on the couch.
"You are way too good to me Angel," she said with pleasure. Angel went into the bathroom and placed the mirror behind the sink.
"Anything else you need, just ask." Angel said.
Buffy put her hand on her stomach, "I am a little hungry, but I don't suppose you have any real food," She sighed.
"Oh, right, well I'll go out and get you some, um McDonalds?" Angel said questioningly. Buffy agreed. "Will you be alright by yourself for an hour?"
Buffy rolled her eyes. That was a good answer for Angel. "Alright then, I'll be back soon." Angel left.
After Angel closed the door, Buffy turned and opened her suit case. She took out some pajamas, sushi print, of course, and walked into the bathroom. Buffy looked into the mirror that Angel had brought for her. She looked tired, her blond hair was up, and her bangs were hanging in front of her face. She traced her finger on a light scar across her forehead.
"I need a change," she said confidently to herself, pulling her hair back with her fingers.
******************
"Honey I'm home, and I brought you a nice juicy Big Mac!" Angel said happily as he closed the hotel room's door. He looked around the room and paused. "Wait, that didn't sound right."
Angel didn't see Buffy as he put the McDonalds take out bag on the coffee table. He heard the bathroom door opening to his left. Buffy came out wearing only a blue towel around her body and hair wrapped up in another one.
Angel just stared at Buffy. Buffy was waiting for him to drool or something, but he only smiled. "I needed to take a shower, your bathroom is very nice."
"Thanks, Cordelia designed mostly everything. She really has never lost her styling techniques." Angel said. "Well, I think I'm gonna go set up the bedroom for you."
"That'd be great, I'll be in, in a little while," Buffy said returning to the bathroom. Angel walked into the bedroom. The bedroom was connected to the living room, but was separated by a folding door. He pulled open the doors. The bed was a king size with red satin sheets. There were two bedside nightstands with matching lamps on them. On the left far wall was one of Angel's souvenir murals from China.
Angel took off the comforter to the bed and folded it up and placed it in the closet, which was in the wall next to the large mural. He then folded down the sheet cover, revealing the pillows and making everything ready for the love of his life to sleep in it. Angel then heard from the bathroom, the blow dryer running. Angel then lit a candle which was placed on his dresser and put it on the nightstand on the right side of the bed.
Angel opened up one of his dresser drawers and took out his sleeping pants. He took off his shirt and pants, and slid his pajama pants on. He then went back to the closet and took out a blanket, and walked back into the living room. Angel lay down on the longest sofa and put the blanket over him. He closed his eyes and thought of Buffy. He flashed back to when they first met. When Buffy sprang from a high bar and kicked him in the back. He then remembered their first kiss, it was in Buffy's bedroom, it was the time she had found out who he really was. A vampire. Angel still loved Buffy, he always would, but for the time being they both had jobs to do. And also the fact that he was immortal. Maybe one day, when Angel is redeemed, they can be together again.
Angel was startled when the dark room lit up when the bathroom door opened. Angel squinted and saw Buffy's form in the light. She walked toward him. "What are you sleeping in here for?" she asked.
"Its better than the floor," Angel said. He took off the blanket and got up. Angel put back on the light and turned around to see Buffy. Buffy's hair was a medium brown and cut short up to her shoulders. Angel looked at her in shock.
"You like my yummy sushi pajamas?" Buffy said lighthearted. Angel ignored her comment and smiled.
"Your hair, looks like-" he started.
"When we first kissed?" Buffy finished. She hesitated. "I guess our first kiss wasn't really what we wanted huh?" Buffy and Angel inched toward each other.
They both kissed passionately, but Angel broke away, just as they did their first time. "What's wrong?" Buffy asked.
"There is so much that has happened Buffy, so much we need to catch up on." He said.
"This is supposed to be my vacation," Buffy said pouting. "I always get what I want on my vacations," she then leaned in and kissed him romantically. After some kissing, they both stopped.
"Lets talk shall we?" Buffy said as she dragged her former lover into the bedroom playfully.
Buffy jumped on the bed. Angel went over and sat in the corner lounge chair. Buffy lay on her stomach, legs in the air and frowned. She then patted the bed next to her, inviting him to sit down. Buffy sat up and let her legs hang over the side of the bed. Angel sat down beside her.
He moved her new hairstyle out of her face and behind her ear, just like he always did. "So," Angel said and paused. "Spike huh?"
Buffy rolled her eyes, "Here we go," and shifted uncomfortably.
"No, its just that I wanna know. How did everything sum up?" he asked.
"You mean how we started getting involved?" she said. "Don't get me wrong Angel, I had no intention at first, to be with him. After I died, the second time-, everything was- different." Buffy said looking at the ground. Angel listened carefully, silently urging her to go on. "When Willow and the others brought me back, I felt so alone, that my soul was gone. I wasn't Buffy anymore. And when I went to see you, it made me miss so much of what we had. I wanted to feel that again. Spike and I, we had a connection. We both had died once, and he was comforting. True, he was a vampire, and had no soul, but for some reason, I knew that he cared for me truly. He would sacrifice anything for me, he felt like it was his fault for my death. I guess, I sort a took advantage of him. Knowing he would do anything for me, I became someone I never want to meet again. I was letting myself go with him, feeling the evil inside of him, I guess. One day, Riley found out about the two of us, and it made me realize what I was doing, so I stopped our affair. Spike didn't take my decision very well. He tried to rape me," Buffy paused, she looked up at Angel, her eyes started to fill with tears. Angel started to get a little wary and angry. Buffy continued. "I told him that I could never love him, so-, he left. When Willow had turned to the 'dark side' she had mentioned to me that I was using Spike, just so that I could feel. I guess I was doing just that. Spike returned, and I found out that he had gained his soul for me. I, -I felt so bad for him Angel, what he was going through-"
"I know, I know how it felt." He replied.
"I guess he took it better than you did. Spike was used to the fact that he couldn't hurt anyone because of his chip. Now he was just filled with guilt, and on top of that The First started to taunt him, making him slip into more self-loathing. I could tell that he still loved me, I felt bad for not returning the favor. We found out that Spike was being controlled by the First, and it was making him kill, ignoring the chip. Soon, he recovered, and he was willing to do whatever it took to help us. And that's when it came to your visit with the medallion. Spike didn't think once about it, he just took it. I wanted to stop him, because I feared the worst. We went into the Hellmouth, and the girls gained their slayer power thanks to Willow. And Spike blew up Sunnydale, along with himself." Buffy finished, she was emotional, and a tear rolled down her cheek.
Angel wiped her tear away with his hand and held her in a tight embrace. She started to cry. She let go of the hug. "Were you really in love with him?" Angel asked, not knowing if he really wanted to know the answer.
Buffy paused, "I thought I wasn't, but when I said it finally, before he died, it seemed real to me. But he saw through it, and said that I didn't love him. I guess I was never in love with him, but I did love him."
"I am so sorry Buffy," Angel said hugging her again. "I wish I knew the Spike you knew, I would probably get along with him." Angel smiled, trying to lighten the moment.
"No you wouldn't," Buffy said trying to smile. "I don't see how I could live a normal life. I still feel like the slayer, but I am not the anymore. I could just stop and let others save the world, but I don't see what else I could do." She said, changing the subject. Buffy was waiting for some good advice.
"I am guessing you want my opinion?" he asked. "Buffy, you are a strong, beautiful, outgoing, intelligent woman. Don't you remember all of the schools you were accepted in? You can now go to those schools and maybe get a real job." Angel moved his body up to the headboard, leaning his back on it. Buffy moved to lay next to him, putting her head on his chest. Buffy remembered what it was like laying on top of a vampire, not hearing or feeling him breathe or his heart beat.
"Maybe I don't want a real job," she said, making little designs on Angel's chest with her fingertips.
"You could do what you are doing now, and just be behind the action, like Giles and the others. Help guide young girls, help them save the world, while you live your life as a normal person. I think you have done enough for one lifetime."
"I guess I could, but- I want someone to share my new life with, and it won't be the person I want it to be." Buffy said, turning and looking into Angel's dark eyes. Angel took Buffy by her waist and moved her to the side, off of him. Buffy, looking disappointed, got off the bed.
"Forget about it Buffy," Angel said sadly. He sat up. "You're doing it again, trying to grasp something that's so far out of reach. You have to get your head out of the clouds. I am afraid your going to have to have someone else eat you- ah I mean-enjoy your cookie dough self."
"Why can't I help you redeem? It will take less time with the two of us working together." Buffy pleaded.
"It doesn't work that way, you would be a distraction, you know that. Buffy you cannot spend your life waiting for me. When and if I become human is a long time from now. And with all that is happening now, I am not even sure if I will finish making amends. Wolfram and Hart said that I destroyed world peace, I doubt that will look good on my resume," Angel said.
Buffy closed her eyes, trying to fight back tears. "No," she said calmly shaking her head. "There's no one else."
Angel arose from the bed. He tried to hug her but Buffy just turned her back to him. "Don't," she said calmly.
"I want you to find someone Buffy, preferably living this time." Angel said, and then continued, "Someone that would love you like I or- even Spike. Someone that could pleasure you, and yet have good intentions for the future. Buffy you are almost twenty-three years old; it's the time to start thinking of starting a family now. Now that you don't have to dedicate your entire life to Slaying, you could live as a normal female adult. Hell, be a housewife if you want. I just want to see you happy."
Buffy didn't answer, she was quiet. With her back turned she slowly nodded her head. She turned to face him. Her eyes were swollen and red. "I'll do my best, -for you." They both hugged intimately. Buffy kissed him softly on the lips.
"Its almost two in the morning, you should get some sleep. I bet you have a busy schedule tomorrow." Angel said pulling out of their embrace and started for the living room.
"You're not going anywhere," Buffy smiled. She grabbed his waistband and pulled him back to her. "What's just one night?"
Angel smiled and they both walked to the bed, he lay down, and Buffy shuffled next to him. Angel pulled the covers over the both of them, and he wrapped his arms around Buffy's waist. Buffy quickly fell asleep in his arms.
**************************
Buffy jolted from her peaceful sleep in Angel's arms. "Spike!" she gasped, and started to breathe heavily. The room was almost pitch black, except the shine from the moon gleaming through the edges of the curtains; which made vertical light beams on the wall. Buffy gently moved Angels' arm off of her and sat up. The red lights on the alarm clock read 4:36. Buffy shook her head, trying to forget the images of her nightmare. She rubbed her eyes. When she opened them back again, she saw a dark figure standing in the open folded doors.
"Who's there?" she asked quietly. The figure moved towards her and a light beam appeared, revealing its face. Buffy's eyes widened.
"Hello love," Spike said to her. "Dreaming of me again?" The figure that was in the form of Spike, moved closer to Buffy.
"Why? You've lost. It's kind of hard to taunt once you lose." Buffy said. She stood up, facing the imposter.
"Don't you get it, pet, I have only lost a battle. As long as this universe exists, I will continue filling the hearts of people everywhere." Spike/First said to her. "Look at you, all sad and lonely, -again. You beat me, luv, you deserve a vacation. Yet you run to the nancy-boy, just to get yourself more depressed. Its pathetic, is what it is." Spike moved to the other side of the bed where Angel lay. He looked at Angel sleeping. "You know what he's not telling you? What he really wants in this world is to jump your bones and shag you until you pop." The First/Spike said laughing. "Its true, I can read every dark desire inside of him. Oh, and also what he's not telling you, that your not the only love in his life anymore either."
Spike/First looked at Buffy with a half grin. Buffy closed her eyes and silently mouthed for it to go away. "Now who could it be, I wonder?" it said putting his finger to his lips, looking like he was in deep thought.
"Bugger it, I'll just tell you, -Cordelia," he said. Buffy opened her eyes with a start.
"Now I know your lying, he would never touch her, sure he's friendly but never-," she started.
"Don't believe me? Then go and open the bottom drawer of the nightstand that's behind you."
Buffy backed away slowly then turned and bent down. She pulled open the drawer. There was a picture frame lying face down. "Pick it up, luv." Spike said.
Buffy did so and she turned it around. It was a picture of Cordelia. "Now why would he hide it from you?" Spike asked. Buffy looked at the picture in disbelief. She put it back into the drawer and stood up and faced Spike, who now had his shirt off.
"I guess your both even now, eh?" Spike/First said. Spike started to walk toward her. "I know you always liked me with my shirt off."
"Leave me alone," Buffy said angrily under her tone.
"Oh don't worry," (Spike's shirtless form morphs into a blonde Buffy, wearing a purple top.) "you won't be seeing me very much now. I must prepare for my next apocalypse. Now that I've come so close I'm not giving up quite so easily. I am just here to watch you squirm." Buffy/First laughed. "And a warning to you girl, next time, if you're still living, won't be as easy..."
The First/Buffy fades into the darkness of the night.
**********************
Angel awoke to find Buffy not next to him. He took off the covers and put a shirt on and made his way into the living room. Buffy was sitting on the couch. She was fully dressed, and looked like she was waiting for him.
"Buffy?"
Buffy turned her head and smiled. "Hey," she stood up. "Listen, I got a call from Willow and she has a location on a slayer nearby. I had seen the girl before but she ran off. I'm gonna have to go find her. It shouldn't take me long." She said distantly.
"Oh, well, do you need some assistance? Wolfram and Hart has the best researching technology." Angel asked.
"Thanks, but no thanks, I'll be fine on my own. You're starting to sound like Riley." She said heading toward the door. "I'll see ya later."
"Wait, whats that supposed to mean?"
Buffy turned before opening the door. "Nothing, sorry, didn't get much sleep, got lots of work to do," Buffy opened the door and stepped out. When she entered the hallway, Wesley suddenly brushed past her.
"Oh hey Wes!" Buffy called after him. Wesley turned around.
"Buffy? I am sorry, I didn't recognize you." Wesley hugged Buffy.
"I almost didn't recognize you until Angel told me about your new lifestyle, points for the Wes-man." She said smiling as they started to walk down the stairs and into the lobby.
"Thank you, well I talked to Giles and he invited me to teach at the school." Wesley said.
"Oh really? Why don't you?" Buffy asked.
"I thought about it, maybe I will, but right now we have Wolfram and Hart. And that's been taking most of my time." He said. They both stopped in the center of the lobby.
"Well it was great seeing you Wes, make sure you stop in at the school. I got leads on a slayer in the area, I gotta go play messenger of the information packets. That's my mission now, the official info gal." Buffy said smiling.
"That sounds great, oh and I will keep an eye out for slayers running around for you," he returned her smile. They both hugged again.
"I might see you again today, I'm going to Wolfram and Hart tonight, will you be there?" Buffy asked as she walked up the stairs to the exit.
"I am pretty sure I will see you,"
"Okay then, see ya tonight," And with that Buffy left.
It was around ten in the morning, the sun was up shining bright, like most days. Buffy heard on the news a few months earlier that it once had gone out. Angel still hasn't filled her in, on what had happened here. Buffy felt like he was keeping a lot from her, and she felt very uncomfortable. She put up her now brown hair up with a clip, her bangs hanging over her face. As she walked into the park, that she was in the previous night, she took off her jean jacket and held it over her arm. She began her search for the girl she encountered the night before.
Willow had told her that Buffy should be able to sense a Slayer from a short distance. But she had no sense. Buffy took out her cell phone from her jean jacket pocket, and dialed.
"Hello?" Willow greeted as she picked up the phone on the other line.
"Hey Will, its Buffy, I need a location on that slayer. I am right now in the park, she must be somewhere far from here."
"Uh sure, just hold on a second," She said, her voice disappearing for a moment. Buffy heard her typing at a keyboard. Soon she returned.
"I have an address. 66 Jacobs Street, its about 5 or so miles from where you are now." She said, "Hope that helps."
"Wow, that was really fast Will, how'd you get all this information?" Buffy asked.
"You know me. Hey, have you talked to Dawn recently?" Willow asked.
"Yeah, I did, she seemed kind of upset, I talked to Giles about it."
"Good, well I got some work to do so, I'll call in later for a check up?" Willow said. "By the way Buffy, how's Angel?"
"He's- good," she said with a sad tone to her voice. "Bye."
Buffy closed her cell phone and turned around and called a taxi.
The taxi stopped in front of a small condo. She checked the house number and got out of the car. She walked up the stairs and rang the doorbell. No answer. After some time she looked inside the window next to the door. She saw an overturned chair. She walked over to the other window on the opposite side. Buffy saw a body lying face down in the middle of the floor.
Buffy kicked open the door and walked inside. She saw the woman on the floor; she was slightly overweight and had dark brown hair. She knelt down and checked her pulse. She was dead. Buffy turned the body over; she was guessing this was the slayer's mother. There was no vampire bite; Buffy saw that her neck had been snapped. She shuddered thinking of her own mother.
Buffy looked around, it looked like a fight had taken place. Furniture and objects were scattered all over the place. Buffy saw no sign of anyone or the Slayer. She ran up the stairs. A bathroom to her right and two bedrooms to her left. She walked into the room that must have belonged to the girl's mother. Yet again things were thrown around. She stepped out back into the hallway. Buffy was afraid to see what was in the next bedroom. She slowly walked in.
Blood was everywhere. All over the bed, couch, dresser, carpet. Buffy walked around the bed, she saw the girl, dead, with three sets of vampire bites on her body. They really had a field trip. Buffy covered her mouth in disgust. She must have been dead for hours. Buffy started to feel guilty for not running after her last night.
Buffy ran out of the house and vomited in the lawn. She took out her cell phone and dialed 9-1-1.
*************************
Buffy sat at a local tavern drinking a strawberry margarita. She felt after the events of the day, she felt like having a drink. She hated to drink too much; she's had bad luck with alcohol. But today was an exception. It was a small tavern, and was crowded. The bartender was kind of cute, she had thought. But she was in no mood to flirt.
The bartender came up to her and put in front of her a screwdriver. Buffy looked at it and said to the bartender, "What's this? I didn't order anything else."
"Yeah, well a guy from over there said for me to give it to you," the bartender said pointing to the other side of the bar. Buffy looked and she saw a familiar face, but could not quite put her finger on who it was. She slowly got up and started to walk toward him. As she got closer his features started to become clearer. He had short brown, spiky hair, with long sideburns, a goatee and was wearing an eighties ensemble. A short black leather bomber jacket, and white tee underneath. The man who looked about twenty-four smiled at her and raised his glass.
"Buffy Summers!"
Buffy's eyes widened. "Pike!?"
*******************************
"Pike's not a name, it's a fish," Pike said smiling and got off his bar stool and gave Buffy a giant hug.
Buffy broke away from the hug, "My God, what the hell are you doing here?"
"Um, Buffy I do still live here, I think that's the question I should be asking you," he said pulling a bar stool next to him for her to sit. The bartender returned with her drink that she had left. "Its on me, you look sorta tense."
"Wow, you look great." He continued. "So what are you doing back in good ole' LA?"
"Just visiting a few friends, trying to take a break from you know what." She said taking a sip from her drink.
"Oh right, forgot, still a vampire sla-," Pike said. Buffy gave Pike a sharp look. "Layer, uh yeah didn't mean that either," he said smiling. "Haha, Vampire Layer, that's funny."
"Yeah sure." Buffy continued. "Yes, but we aren't really called Vampire Slayers anymore, we slay a lot more than that," she whispered.
Confused, "We? I thought it was only you. Chosen or some bullshit like that."
"Well now there's a few hundred, long story." She answered him.
"Seems like you've been busy. Man, you look great. You're no longer the cute fifteen year old I knew when I was eighteen. Now you're a hot-?"
"Twenty-two year old woman?" Buffy said blushing.
"Yeah, you know me, always bad with the math. Maybe that's 'cuz I dropped out?" Pike said laughing.
"So, Pike, what have you been up to?"
"Hmm, well I just got out of the military, served for four years. And ever since you left I have been working on vampire hunting. So I am pretty good at it now, for a human anyway. Well my life is boring, I noticed you're here by yourself? It's never good to drink alone, you must be having a hard time." Pike said. He looked deeply into Buffy's eyes, remembering when he had left her in Las Vegas seven years ago.
"I'm not alone anymore," Buffy smiled, hopefully they could get on another topic. "Well, I told you that there are more slayers. They have been just activated, and my job is to find some and talk to them. And I was on patrol for one of them, and I found her dead, so I am kind of shook up, that's all."
"I'm surprised your telling me all this, how do you know I am not a vampire?" Pike asked smirking.
"I can see what your talking about, the whole eighties montage your into, it does pinpoint you as one, but I can sense vampires, and your just not one." Buffy said, she took another sip of her drink.
"Ahh, cool, spidey sense."
Pike reminded Buffy of Xander and Spike all wrapped into one. I guess that was a nice combination in her terms. "So what else? How many apocalypses have you beaten the crap out of?" Pike asked chuckling.
"Just about eight,"
Pike stopped laughing.
The two talked, both trying to sum up the last seven years of their lives in five hours. Buffy tried her best to tell him everything, all about Sunnydale, and her mother, and her friends, and of course the slayers.
Buffy's cell started to ring. "Hold on a sec," she got up and walked to a quite corner of the tavern.
"Hey?" she answered.
Pike watched her from the bar. She was beautiful. Her hair loosely pulled up, with strains hanging in front of her face. Her lips were crimson, her eyes green as ever, and her chestnut hair was a delightful change from what he remembered. She was wearing a red top with a plunging neckline, showing some light cleavage, with fringe hanging from her sleeves. Her pants were black capris that fit perfectly. Pike admired her; he had missed her so much. He didn't want to let her go again this time.
Buffy started to walk back to him, Pike let go of his hypnotism. "Hey I just got a call from my friend Willow, she said that there's a slayer that goes to Hemery. She said that I should make a stop bye, school should let out soon, in about a half hour. Would you like to come? I could always use some company, especially that of an experienced vampire hunter," she flirted; Pike helped her get out of the bad mood.
Without hesitation, "Sure!" Pike got up and assisted Buffy with her jean jacket. They both walked out.
Pike's motorcycle stopped in front of he and Buffy's old high school. Buffy got off the bike, and Pike turned it off. He took of his helmet and he and Buffy sat down on a nearby bench outside the front steps of the school.
"Wow," Buffy said.
"Yeah, I know right, Hemery High, feels like ages." Pike said looking at the school.
"No, look," she pointed to a building that looked like the gymnasium, "it looks so much better than it used to, they did a good job." Buffy said smiling, her hair being blown by the wind. She let her hair down and said, "Kids should be leaving any minute now."
"How will you be able to find this girl?" Pike asked.
"Willow said that I should be able to sense her power, so yeah, I guess we just wait until I get a feeling." Buffy said. She heard the bell ring and stood up. Pike did the same. They both started to watch the doors.
Teenagers started to flood out of the door. Pike looked over to Buffy who was standing on his right.
She shook her head.
A few moments passed, kids still were leaving, but they got fewer. Buffy suddenly turned her head. As if she targeted something. "There!"
Buffy started to walk fast, Pike stayed behind her. They both were dodging through the crowd, Buffy not knocking into anyone, Pike was having a little more of a hard time.
"Hey!" Buffy called out to a girl that was standing, holding books talking to two of her friends under a tree, in the yard of the school. The girl had pin-strait blonde hair, and had very expensive clothing. She looked as if she just walked out of a catalog, the stretchy ultra-low low-riders that if she had moved a little bit more would have fallen off.
The girl looked at Buffy with a strange look. "Yes?"
"I'm Buffy, and this is my friend Pike-," Pike walked up behind Buffy.
"Man forgot how rude teenagers are." He said. "Oh hey,"
"Whoa, weird names? Are you trying to sell me somethin'? Cuz' I'm not interested." The girl said.
One of her friends, the one with long black hair came closer to her side and checked out the couple. "What's with the 90210 wannabies?"
Buffy ignored their comments and talked with the blonde again. "Listen I need to talk to you somewhere privately. Its important."
The blonde replied, "Yeah right, like I want to be seen with a chick who so obviously dyed her own hair." She said laughing.
Buffy rolled her eyes and grabbed her arm. "Listen, I do not have time for your valley girl, Los Angeles, I'm so hot attitude. Been there done that, its time for the real world now, 'Clueless'." She said angrily.
The girl attempted to take Buffy's hand off her arm but couldn't. She then punched Buffy straight in the face. Buffy let go of the girl's arm and struggled back a bit. The girl was in shock, Buffy quickly recovered. "Now are you ready to talk?"
*************************
Buffy, Pike and the girl started to walk in the school's football field. "So what's your name?" Buffy asked.
"Kristy," she replied, her head hanging low staring at her hand. "Why doesn't my hand hurt? And how could I punch you like that?"
"Kristy, you are a slayer. You have a destiny, to fight and slay demons and vampires, and to join a race of superhuman fighters in swelling their numbers. Hey its a lot better than the original moto." Buffy said.
Kristy seemed like she ignored everything Buffy just said, "Ew, gross. I have to join a heavy metal band?"
"Hey I take offense to that," Pike said annoyed. Buffy rolled her eyes.
"No, not a band. God, Pike was I like this? Because if I was, remind me to apologize to Giles." Buffy asked.
Pike just shrugged and looked away. He then walked in front of Kristy. "Listen kid, you're a kick-ass superhero chick. You have to stop the evil men from killing other people."
"Oh," she replied. "By the way I am no kid, I am eighteen years old. So what kind of bad guys? Criminals?" Kristy didn't seem to catch the seriousness in it.
"No, hon, Vampires, Demons everything that goes bump in the night." Buffy said. "Pike do you know of any underground nests nearby?"
"Uh yeah I think so, but no one is crazy enough to take on a nest by them- oh right forgot." Pike said. "C'mon lets go." He said, starting to walk back to the school.
"Wait huh? Where are we going?" Kristy asked as she walked alongside Buffy.
Buffy and Pike dropped down into a manhole. Buffy looked up. "Hey come down here!"
Kristy was kneeling, looking down at Buffy hovering over the manhole. "Are you crazy? Like I'm getting my shoes in that!"
Buffy was starting to get very impatient with the shallow girl. "You know, vampire's roam the streets looking for poor helpless pretty girls. You might want to come down here, underground, where its safe, with us."
"Really?" Kristy asked frightfully.
"Uh huh!" Buffy said with delight. "You don't want to die? Now do you?"
"Alright, I'm coming down!" Kristy called down. She started to slowly climb down the latter. She got down and made a disgust face.
Buffy said to Kristy, "Sorry, Hon, its about four hours until the sunset. Vamps only come out at night." She smiled.
Kristy gasped, "No fair! You tricked me!" and started back up the ladder.
"You really want me to tell all your friends, that the shirt you are wearing was bought at Target?" Buffy said, threatening the distressed teenager.
Kristy turned around and dropped. "Alright, you win."
Pike, Buffy and Kristy started to walk down the sewers. "God what is that awful smell!" Kristy said. The pair looked at her.
"Your in a sewer! Its supposed to smell like this!" Buffy said angrily.
"God, I am sorry that I am no professional in trudging around in sewers, like you seem to be!"
Buffy just continued to walk. The three of them stayed quiet. Until Buffy spoke, "How much farther Pike?"
"We should be coming up to it, its around this corner." Pike said, he was holding the flashlight.
Buffy took out two stakes from her jacket and handed one to Kristy. "What's this?"
"It's a wooden stake, geez have you ever watched a horror movie in your life?" Buffy asked.
"Horror movies? Hell no! Those are looser movies, no one cool watches those anymore. Plus, Blood? Guts? No thanks to grotesque for me."
"Your hopeless!" Buffy yelled. She turned to Pike, "I fear the worst for her."
Pike had someway of talking to the girl. "Listen, that stick in your hand? It's very sharp. It's the only way to kill a vampire, -well besides sunlight and beheading. You must take this end," pointing to the sharp end of the stake, that Kristy was holding. "And stab it through the heart."
Kristy started to shift nervously. "Do I have to do this?"
"YES!" Pike and Buffy yelled in unison.
"Alright, alright, I'll do my best," Kristy said.
"Pike are you equipped?" Buffy asked. Pike opened up his bomber jacket and revealed four stakes, and a glass of holy water.
"Never leave home without them," he said winking at the girls.
Kristy smiled, Buffy was cool. "I also got some nifty artillery from the military at my apartment." Pike said. They stopped in front of a sewer gate. "Here, this is where they are."
Buffy turned to Kristy, who was looking scared and trembling. "It's going to be alright, just stay behind us and watch. This is your future."
Buffy did a quick dash and did a drop kick at the gate, which broke off and fell inside. She and Pike walked inside. It was completely dark, Kristy stayed behind, not entering. Suddenly a vampire attacked her from the side, pinning her to the ground. Pike threw the vampire off of her. She quickly did a flip back to her feet and did a jumping kick in the vampire's chest. Buffy spun around and kicked another vampire that was coming. Pike was fighting a vampire nearby but could not see him clearly. Buffy turned around.
"Come here, I need you to shine the flashlight around the room so we can see!" Buffy called to Kristy. She shook her head, refusing to come out. Buffy was attacked from behind by a balding vampire. He gave her a bear hug from behind. Buffy struggled. Trying to breathe. "KRISTY! HELP!"
Kristy gritted her teeth and slowly stepped out and shined the flashlight on Buffy's face. She then scanned the area; two other vampires were cornering Pike. She just stood there. Suddenly a vampire grabbed her hair and pulled Kristy into him. The vampire had dark hair and was young. Kristy screamed.
The vampire ripped Kristy's shirt, exposing her neck and shoulder. Kristy's eyes went wide and did a strong back hand to the vampire's face. The vampire fell backward. "NO ONE TEARS MY CLOTHING!" she yelled, holding her torn shirt in place. Kristy picked the vampire up and punched him again in the chest. It flew backward in the wall and hit its head on a low hanging pipe. She heard Buffy behind her.
"The stake! Stake him!" Buffy cried, as she back headed the vampire, releasing his grip, she quickly staked him. Pike came up to her, dusting his clothes off.
"No worries," Pike said panting, "All in the days work."
"Look," Buffy said looking at Kristy.
Kristy held the vampire by his collar and was pummeling him in the face. "Kristy, stake him!" Pike yelled to her.
She looked at them confused, "Oh right!" She withdrew the stake, which was protruding from her back pocket and stabbed the vampire in its chest, exploding into ash. Buffy walked up behind her. Kristy didn't move.
"Its ok, its over, for now. Great job!" Buffy said trying to comfort her. Kristy slowly turned around with tears in her eyes. She hugged Buffy.
*****
Buffy, Pike and Kristy were above ground now. It was nearly eight pm and getting dark. They were sitting in the park on a bench. Buffy was talking to a troubled Kristy. She had just finished her talk about the school.
"And here's the information packet. I hope you will be attending soon," Buffy smiled. "And don't worry, things will look up. There are hundreds like you and me, we can get through this all together." She smiled and hugged Kristy.
Kristy nodded her head and looked up at the sky.
"I'll drop her home Buff, its almost dark." Pike suggested. He stood up, Buffy did the same.
Buffy lead Pike away from the bench, so that they can talk privately. "I would like to leave, tonight." She said. "I've down all my work here, and I really should get going, more people to see."
"Oh, alright." Pike said with a sad tone. "I thought maybe we could do more of that catching up thing?"
"Pike, you've been a great help, but I just don't have the time. How about this, promise to me that you will come to see me in New York?"
"Sure, I would like that," Pike hesitated, and looked around the park. "Funny, it's almost how we first parted."
Buffy hugged him tightly and gave him a peck on his cheek. "I haven't forgotten." She whispered in his ear.
Pike smiled and turned to Kristy who was staring off at a distance. "Hey, Kris, lets go!" Kristy got up and followed Pike to his motorcycle. As she walked Kristy waved goodbye to Buffy. Buffy returned it. She watched them drive off.
Buffy pushed her way through Wolfram and Hart's revolving doors. She looked around, even though it was eight thirty at night, it was still crowded with employees. She walked to the security desk, a man with a graying moustache, slicked back graying hair, and wearing a suit was sitting behind it.
"Yes, may I help you?" he asked.
Buffy replied, "I am looking for Mr. Angel's office?"
"I am sorry but you need an appointment to see Mr. Angel," the man said.
Buffy rolled her eyes and sighed. "Can you possibly call him and tell him Buffy is here? He would surely let me see him, we are good friends."
"Sure, that's what they all say," the man said picking up the phone. "I am sorry he is in a meeting right now you will have to come back tomorrow."
Buffy was getting impatient. "How about a Mr. Wyndam Price? Would I be able to see him?"
The man started to type on his computer. "Yes, you can," he handed her a visitor's pass. "He is currently in the research quarters. You must go through the metal detector and take the elevator to the fourteenth floor."
"Thank you," she said taking the pass. She clipped it on the lapel of her jacket and walked through the metal detector.
Wesley sat at a large office desk reading the newspaper. Around him were large bookshelves filled with demonology books. His intercom ringed. He pressed the button to answer, "Yes?"
"Mr. Price? A young lady is here to see you, Ms. Buffy Summers." The secretary said.
"Let her in Lucille, thank you." He said clicking off the intercom. A few moments later Buffy came in. "Buffy, great to see you," he said standing up.
Buffy shook his hand and sat in a chair opposite the large desk. "So what's up Wes?"
"Actually I have some free time, just catching up on some news." He said. "Would you like anything to drink?"
"No thanks, I'm good. So, where's Cordelia?"
"Angel hasn't told you?"
Buffy hesitated, "No."
"Cordelia has been in a coma for quite some time now, about four months. She is not expected to wake for a while." He said.
"Oh God, what happened?" Buffy asked.
"I will try to sum it up for you. Angel told you about Jasmine right? Well, Cordelia gave birth to her, and once Jasmine was done using her body, she hasn't woken up. Our medical staff has her right now. What possibly happened is, when Cordelia ascended to become a higher being, she hasn't came back yet, and Jasmine took her body as her host. We aren't sure if Cordy will be even coming back." He said.
"Poor Cordy," Buffy said. "You should have Willow take a look at her. She can do anything now."
"So I've heard. We should do that." Wesley smiled.
There was some silence, then Buffy broke it, "What meeting is Angel in? I really need to talk to him. I would like to leave toward Cleveland tonight."
"Ah yes the new and improved Hellmouth?" Wesley said. He got up from his chair and walked out of the room for a moment. He soon came back in pushing a cart with ten books on it.
"We know just about everything here at Wolfram and Hart." He handed her a book. Buffy looked confused as she took the book from him. "Just put your hand on the cover and say 'Hellmouth'"
Buffy, looking quite doubtful did so. "Hellmouth," and opened the book. The book's pages started to fill with text, all about the Hellmouth. It was filled with information about the past Hellmouth, in Sunnydale and how it was destroyed. "Ooh, my name is in it!" Buffy showed Wesley the book. She turned the page and she saw the information on Cleveland and where it was located. "Here it is."
Wesley took the book from her and ripped out the pages. "What are you doing?" she asked.
"Don't worry." He said, handing her the pages. He closed the book and reopened, the pages returned, duplicating itself.
"Cool beans," Buffy said.
Angel walked in. "Hey Buffy! Sorry, I was in a meeting." He gave her a quick hug.
"No problem, Wes was kind enough to give me some info on the Hellmouth."
"Good job Wes," Angel said. "I also have something for you, actually Fred does." Angel handed Buffy some sort of device.
"Thanks, What is it?"
"Its something that will help you on finding slayers. Press that button." He said pointing to a button on the side of it. The screen lit up and it showed a black and green map of the LA area. "The red dots on the screen show a slayer. It tells you the navigation location of them as well." Angel then pointed to a dot. "That's you"
"Wow, this is great, thanks!" Buffy said, hugging him. Angel handed her, her suitcase.
"You left it at the hotel."
"Thanks again. Well I should be getting on my way." She turned around and hugged Wesley, kissing him on the cheek. She lightly kissed Angel on the lips and picked up her bag. "I count on you guys visiting on the school, Bye!"
Buffy was just about to leave the building when Angel stopped her. "Buffy wait!"
She turned around, "Yeah?"
"Would you come with me for a minute?"
Buffy sighed, and walked with him to a nearby empty office. "Listen, I'm sorry for not telling you about Cordelia." Angel said taking her hands in his.
"Its ok Angel, I was just sort of upset that you didn't tell me, when I told you all about Spike."
"Oh? What about Sp-, oh God," Angel looked at his feet.
"You were talking about her coma?" Buffy said. She hesitated, "The First came to me last night, he told me about you and Cordelia. But its ok, you don't have to explain. I was just hurt that you didn't tell me."
"I'm sorry, I should have told you," Angel said. He let go of her hands.
Buffy smiled, "I guess we are even now huh?" They both slightly laughed.
"Well you should get going, the bus just drove up," he handed her, her bag.
She turned and left the office, and back into the lobby. Angel stopped in the office doorway. "Buffy,"
Buffy turned her head. "You still my girl?" Angel asked.
She smiled and replied, "Always," and with that she walked out of the building.
Buffy walked down W&H's steps and toward the awaiting bus. Pike sat on the curb a few yards away next to his bike. Buffy didn't see him as she got on the bus. The bus started up and started to pull away from the curb. Pike arose and got on his motorcycle and followed the bus.
End Chapter 3