The Harvest
~Keysuna
A/N: I just want to say a big thank you to everyone who reviewed. I really didn't expect this much of interest for the project. A lot of you have voiced that you have worries that I might abandon this piece because of the scope of it (a chapter for each episode to be precise). And I got to say that I agree with you. I will do my best to complete this story, and don't forget, the more reviews the more incentive there is to write!
~ ~ ~
Jesse, Willow and Xander had piled into Giles's car, still jittery from the nights events. There wasn't enough room for either Buffy or the mysterious stranger who the Watcher eyed with keen interest, and slight fear. He didn't trust the dark man, but Buffy seemed quite intent on having him around, and what was that saying about always trusting a Slayer's instincts?
"Me and Angel will walk." Buffy told Giles as he stepped into the car. "Don't. . . tell them anything until I get there."
The Watcher gave a wry smile and glanced toward the three teenagers huddled in the back. "Uncomfortable silences are always fun." He muttered and slid into the front seat. Buffy watched as the head lights bit into the darkness, and the car roared to life, driving into the night and out of even her Slayer vision.
"How did you know my names Angel?" The vampire asked, gaining her attention. He had stood silently beside her after the fight, his eyes watching the scenery rather then the humans.
"Lucky guess?" She let her gaze wander to his. ". . . or not." Buffy said lamely at his unbelieving look.
They started a slow walk past the still raging sounds of the Bronze until there silence blended in with the environment. "Do you really want to know why I know your name? Or how I knew Darla was going to be here tonight?"
He gave her a glance. "Thought it was a lucky guess."
The Slayer let out a small laugh that came out more like a sigh. "What if I told you that I know what happens to you five, six years from now?"
"I'd say your one hell of a Slayer." Angel said in a tone that Buffy hadn't hear from him in a while. "But I wouldn't believe you."
Buffy nodded and drew her eyes away from him. "Your an ensouled vampire." She stated awkwardly. He didn't respond. "You were sired by Darla, you in turn sired Drusilla and she sired Spike. The four of you plagued Europe until a group of gypsies cast a spell, restoring your soul."
"How do you know that?" No emotion seeped into his voice.
Buffy drew a hand through her hair, amazed at how short it was. "I'm from the future. . ." She wasn't sure how to follow up on that. "Seven years from the future."
"How'd you get sent back?" Again, there was no interest in his voice, just acknowledgment.
"The Powers That Be. . . they weren't exactly pleased with how I handled my life. Ends up it's my fault I unleashed the First Evil onto the world."
He gave her a first glance that actually showed something. "Well that's a feat."
"I've always been an overachiever." She told him with a smile, he returned the gesture as they turned onto a next street.
He took in what she had told him and looked into the stars. "Why are you telling me this." He said finally. "Shouldn't this be something you tell a Watcher, or your friends? Definitely not a vampire you just met."
"Well. . . we were close." The Slayer bit her lower lip, afraid of what he would read into. "And I haven't had a chance to tell Giles yet, and I'm not telling Willow or Xander." She finished in a large breath.
Angel's brows furrowed. "Close?" He echoed.
"Uh, yeah." Buffy inwardly cursed at herself. "You popped up and gave me creepy heads up on the latest creature feature, and then left." Happy with her half truth, she continued. "Your the one who told me I was going to die."
The vampire shook his head in confusion. When Whistler had first come to him with the prospect of helping out the Slayer, getting out of his rut in life, he had mentioned that the Powers had been displeased with her so far, and were trying over. When Angel had asked what he meant, the messenger had changed the subject.
"You die?" He asked slowly.
Buffy smiled shyly. "Twice."
He didn't say anything and they walked again without conversation. It slowly dawned on Buffy that her social dynamics may not work out the same as they had in her past try at this life. Maybe Angel wouldn't fall in lover with her, maybe Giles would never look at her beyond being a Slayer, maybe Willow and Xander wouldn't be the friends she had come to know. . .
"So what happens to me?" Angel asked, breaking her out of thought.
"What?" Buffy looked up at him.
The vampire stuffed his hands into his pockets. "You say your from the future, so what will I be doing?" He smiled again.
*You mean aside from having a son?* She thought tauntingly to herself. "You become head of an evil law firm." Buffy said, recalling the conversation she had had with Angel after the last encounter with the First. Those had been his exact words. . .
"Big of me." Angel said to himself, again confused at the girl. "Anything else I might be interested in?"
Buffy smiled to herself. "Your not ready to know just yet."
"Is that so?" Angel nearly laughed and met her eyes.
The Slayer gave a cocky smile and looked ahead of her. They had arrived at the high school somehow without either noticing. "If your good, I'll tell you later."
Angel nodded and they headed up the steps and to the library. As confused as he was with the beautiful blonde, he couldn't wait to start a new life at her side. She really had made an impression.
~ ~ ~
Buffy entered the library with Angel at her side. Willow sat at a computer that looked as if it didn't get much use. Her face was determined as though she was on the brink of something. Xander was lying on his back on the table, a large text held above him as he flipped through the pages, he wasn't reading it. The Slayer watched as Giles came out of the back room, a stack of books in his hand and Jesse following behind him with what looked like more of the same.
"Hello Buffy." Her Watcher said, setting his burden on the table beside Xander's feet. Jesse followed the librarians example, but as he put the books down, the pile begun to topple over and he scrambled to save them from falling to the floor. Xander looked up and laughed at his friend, before seeing Buffy.
"Buffy!" He exclaimed and hopped off the table, not bothering to help Jesse. "How you doing?"
The blonde cast a look at Giles. "Did you tell them?"
Giles shook his head. "I was waiting for you." He took a breath and cleaned his glasses in one known movement. "Buffy, you can't just be telling your secrete to everyone you come across, and slaying right in front of three students?" He was whispering, but everyone in the room was staring at the Watcher, and could hear every word.
"I found out about The Harvest." Willow said nervously. "It starts tomorrow night."
Buffy rose a eyebrow at her suddenly embarrassed Watcher. "Your telling *me* to be more secretive?"
"She. . . the girl knew how to use that bloody machine and there isn't much in ways of text." Giles finally said.
Jesse had finished recovering the books and placed them carefully on the table. "Someone mind filling us in on the what happened at the Bronze?"
"Yeah, and what exactly is a hellmouth?" Xander pointed toward the book. "Because if I'm reading it right, which I'm probably not, were living right on to of it."
Buffy took in an exasperated breath. "You had them researching and they don't even know what they saw tonight!"
The Watcher replaced his glasses and sighed. "Thank you, Willow, Xander, Jesse." He looked at each. "For helping. Buffy's right, you all have a right to know what you witnessed tonight."
The Slayer moved to the check out counter and propped herself up on it. She noticed in interest that Angel came to stand by her side. "You might want to sit down." She told Jesse and Xander. "This may take a while."
Giles ignored the girls comments. "This world is older than any of you know. Contrary to popular mythology, it did not begin as a paradise. For untold eons demons walked the Earth. They made it their home, their... their Hell. But in time they lost their purchase on this reality. The way was made for mortal animals, for, for man. All that remains of the old ones are vestiges, certain magicks, certain creatures..."
"And vampires." Buffy added, kicking her feet against the counter.
"Okay, this is where I have a problem. See, because we're talking about vampires. We're having a *talk* with vampires in it." Xander complained, his voice adopting a nervous tone.
"Isn't that what we saw tonight?" Willow asked, twirling a strand of red hair in her finger.
Jesse slightly shuddered as he drew out a chair to sit on. "Whatever they were, they were demons, right?"
"The books tell the last demon to leave this reality fed off a human, mixed their blood. He was a human form possessed, infected by the demon's soul. He bit another, and another, and so they walk the Earth, feeding... Killing some, mixing their blood with others to make more of their kind. Waiting for the animals to die out, and the old ones to return." Giles continued as though he hadn't been interrupted.
Jesse looked around. "So why is Buffy intentionally seeking them out?"
"Because she is the Slayer." Giles said.
Xander sat next to his friend and took in a large breath. "And that would be a what?"
"For as long as there have been vampires, there's been the Slayer. One girl in all the world, a Chosen One." Giles explained and glanced back at Buffy who gave him a large grin and a thumbs up.
"All right. The Slayer hunts vampires, Buffy is a Slayer, don't tell anyone. Well, I think that's all the vampire information you need." The Watcher let out begrudgingly.
An awkward silence fell over the room. "Hey, Wills, do you have Dugan for math?"
Willow looked from the screen she had started to scan again. "Uh. . . yeah?"
"What was the homework?" Buffy asked sheepishly. Angel and Giles were taken back by the sudden change of subject.
"Pages 135-139, evens only." The red head told her with a smile.
Buffy checked her watch and hopped off the counter. "I better get going." She said, wrapping her jacket around her. "Uh, Giles can I talk to you, alone?"
The Watcher looked around and nodded. "Actually, you should all be heading home."
Angel watched passively as the three teenagers got up and headed toward the door. The two boys left first after giving Buffy awkward hugs that the Slayer had to initiate, Willow came up to her afterward and received an embrace of her own. "I'll call you later." She told the red head, and it was hard to miss the excitement Willow held by having the new friend.
"I should be heading back." Angel whispered into Buffy's ear after the teenagers had left. Buffy nodded, and had to hang back from giving him a hug as well. The vampire left the library in a few long strides.
Buffy smiled to her Watcher in the now empty room.
"This has been completely unorthodox!" He exclaimed before she could say anything. "Everything you've done since I met you has been against the books-"
The Slayer didn't give him time to finish his rant. "I have to tell you something." She said quietly, almost painfully.
Giles kept silence, but Buffy could see slight anger in his eyes. "It may take a while." She added.
He crossed his arms and leaned against the wall. "Well?" He asked, eyeing her over after a few moments had passed.
Buffy took in a large breath, preparing to tell her Watcher everything, and all that that implied.
~ ~ ~
The Slayer let her Watcher take in what she had said. The overview had been brief, and barely any detail had been bothered in the description. She had told him that she was from the future, she was here to redo the past, and she mentioned the Big Bads. Careful to slip Acathla's name for Angelus's, and decided against mentioning Willows at all.
"And your here to make sure the First Evil does not enter this realm, correct?" Giles asked tiredly, cleaning his glasses for the umpteenth time that night.
Buffy nodded.
"And does anyone else know that your. . ."
"Not from this time?" She finished for him. "Just Angel."
Giles slid his spectacles back on. "This Angel. . . you sure we can trust him?"
"With my life." She answered simply as her eyes caught the time on the clock. "Look, I really got to go, moms probably worried about me. I'll stop by before school." Buffy picked up her jacket she had taken off and slung it over her shoulder. "Don't forget, The Harvest is tomorrow!" The Slayer called out as she disappeared into the dimly lit hall and out of sight.
Giles slid off his glasses one more time. "No, however could I."
~ ~ ~
The next day dawned bright, and Buffy jumped out of bed as her alarm went off. The prophecy was haunting her dreams, and she was sick of it. What did whoever that sent these dreams think he was helping? She knew how the world played out, prophecies and power were the only things that could influence the outcome of the future.
Well, that and her.
~ ~ ~
"So what's the deal with Angel?" Willow asked as the two climbed the stairs toward Sunnydale High school.
Buffy let out a grin, more out of the sound of the name then for her friends benefit. "He's pretty cute, don't you think?"
"He's damn hot!" Willow exclaimed, as they reached the thong of people.
The Slayer stared. "Willow!"
"What, I do have eyes you know." The red head laughed. "So, you like him then?"
"Maybe just a little. . ." Buffy smiled as she swayed a bit in thought, Willow pushed her back to reality. "OK, a lot."
"Get out." Willow told her friend jokingly.
Not wanting to stay on the subject of Angel, Buffy quickly gave Willow something else to think about. "What's the deal with you and Xander?" She asked innocently enough as they reached the hall.
"We used to go out." The nerd said with a sigh, her humor leaving. "But then he stole my barbie."
Buffy laughed. "Kindergarten romance I take it?"
Willow nodded solemnly. "I don't date a whole lot actually."
"You should ask Xander out." The Slayer said decisively. "That is. . . unless you don't want to." She finished quickly after getting a look from Willow.
"I. . . I could never. . . him and Jesse are obsessed with you at the moment." Willow told her lamely and a hint of regret held in her voice.
Buffy felt embarrassed, she had almost forgotten the infatuation Xander had had with her. "If it makes you feel any better, there just friends to me." She grinned awkwardly.
"Oh, I know. I like this obsession of his way better then the others. . . because he doesn't have a chance with you. . . right?" She ended the statement on an uneasy note.
"Totally right, I'm into Mr. tall, dark and broody, remember?"
The two laughed as they entered the library.
~ ~ ~
Buffy walked slowly toward Angels home, careful to keep her self hidden against the night, she had no intention of spilling her strength on fledglings when she had bigger fish to fry. . . er, stronger vampires to dust.
Her thoughts turned to the conversation in the library earlier that day. Willow and her had arrived to find Jesse, Xander and Giles already waiting. They had discussed last night, an overdue book of Willows, the upcoming Harvest, and who would help Buffy. The Slayer clearly told them all that she would take Angel along for help, she wasn't prepared to risk anyone else.
Jesse and Xander had wailed, ready to show off their bravery against the demons in front of Buffy. The Slayer was surprised at their stupidity while they were still under raging hormones, and expected it to wear off once they encountered a few more vampires. Giles, still shaken from what she had told him the night before, let her decide on her own. It wasn't as if she was child after all, just a 22 year old stuck in a 16 year olds body. She did have a suspicion however that all four of them would meet her at the Bronze, not that she could do anything to stop them.
Buffy arrived at Angels, and let herself in. The lamps were dimmed, casting shadows against the walls.
"Hello, Angel. . . you here?" She stepped in cautiously. Her eyes feel upon the silver chain he always wore that was sprawled on an end table. It glinted in the faint light, and Buffy trailed the 'A' with her index finger.
*It's real silver* She realized suddenly, and her hand went to the cross on her neck, the one he had given her. *I suppose this is too. . .* Her thoughts turned as she let her hand hover above the necklace. *Whatever happened to you?* Her mind asked her from her past life. After graduation she had locked the necklace away in her jewelry case, not wanting to be reminded of her lost love. She had taken it out again after a sex session with Spike, and feeling more emotion from the necklace then the intimacy with the other vampire, she had wept.
"Buffy." The word made her jump as Angel stepped out of the other room. His skin glistened with a light sheen of water as he dried out his hair with a towel. Dark jeans hugged his hips, and he walked over to her shirtless. "What are you doing here?"
The Slayer forced her eyes away from the unclothed chest and became mesmerized with the statue behind him. "Harvest, tonight, I was wondering if you wanted to help."
Angel met her eyes, letting the towel hang limply in his hands. "I. . . I don't know." He let the last of it come out weak.
"Why not?"
He ran a hand through his hair. "Because I'm afraid."
The Slayer met his gaze and walked up to him until she had too look up to see the drowning pools of chocolate that were his eyes. "Of what?"
Angel shook his head and stepped away, his hand going to a shirt that hung over the couch. "My past." He finally said, slipping on the T shirt, not having the energy to button it as his pained look met Buffy's.
"Your past?" The Slayer echoed.
"You don't know what I've done." The vampire told her slowly, his fingers fumbling for the button while his gaze was directed away from her. "What I'm still capable of doing."
Buffy came up him and lightly took his hands away from the shirt, fastening the material herself as he looked on helplessly. "I know exactly what you've done." She stepped away too see his eyes. "Because you've done it all to me."
The loss she saw in Angel's eyes nearly overpowered her. "Your afraid that seeing your past will bring out the demon again." She clarified for both him and herself. "It won't, your stronger then that."
"I'm afraid it'll kill me." His arm stretched out past her to grab the chain, yet he didn't slide it on as he spoke his defeat.
"It won't." The Slayer kept her gaze steady on him.
"How can you be so sure?" He asked with almost anger in his voice as he pulled the chain over his head and tucked it under the shirt.
Buffy let out a sigh. "Because I'm reliving my past, and so far I'm OK." She continued. "It's not easy, nothing in lives ever was, but it's worth it."
Angel let his eyes wander to the floor. "All right." He said at last, bringing his eyes back up.
The Slayer grinned, and the vampire let his lips curl into something resembled a smile. She nodded, and they headed toward the door and into the darkness of their fight.
~ ~ ~
They arrived at the Bronze to see the three teenagers and Giles standing outside the club, waiting her arrival.
"Your late." The Watcher told her, his eyes taking a glance toward his wristwatch as both her and Angel stepped into the light.
Buffy shrugged off their joining her, although she felt irritated at their actions. She should have known better then to think that Giles would trust her, technically, he barely even *knew* her.
"Hey Willow." The Slayer went over to the red head who was nervously holding a wooden cross.
The girl smiled and shifted her weight on her feet. She was jumpy, then again, this was her first official slayage outing. "Hey," She took in a shaky breath. "Are we waiting for something?"
"For them." It was Angel who it said determinedly, it seemed as though her pep talk had hit home and Buffy grinned.
The Slayer cast a glance toward Jesse and Xander who hung back in the half light. They cast somewhat nasty glares at the vampire, then again, she was standing somewhat close to him. . . Deciding that this time over it would be much easier if Xander didn't have a burning hatred toward Angel, she edged back.
"Do you know the mark of which the vessel wears?" Giles voice had turned scholarly.
Buffy turned. "What?"
"The vessel." He repeated, somewhat annoyed. "Please tell me you know what I'm talking about."
"Big strong ugly vamp." Buffy said. "That's all I need to know."
The Watcher sighed, and let his eyes wander to what he expected to be an empty lot. "I suppose they've arrived." He told them, referring to the group of figures that were making their way told them.
The Slayer nodded, and drew a stake out of her pocket, trying to see in the dim light which one was the vessel.
"We're here for you Buff." Xander supplied, grasping a stake himself.
She flashed both boys a grin. "Thanks, but I think me and Angel can handle this." Seeing a flash of almost jealous zeal flash through their eyes, she covered. "But if he falls, you guys are backup." Buffy didn't need to look out Angel to tell her she didn't mean it, he already knew.
They waited impatiently for the vampires to descend them, and the only thought crossing Buffy's mind was that she hoped to the powers that Angel wouldn't change to his demonic face with the still new scoobies standing right there.
"Angelus!" Darla was the first to greet them, her voice came out a silky pure against the night. "Siding with the Slayer now? This is low, even for you."
The souled vampire didn't respond.
From behind the blonde demon, a large vampire brought himself into the light. His features seemed overstated, and his eyes gleamed with sadism. Buffy didn't give him time to register her presence. If his looks hadn't jogged her memory, the tall tell sign painted on his forehead was proof enough, this was the vessel.
The Slayer rushed at him, ducking as he swung hard at her to come up so close that he had no way of attacking. She punched him the nose and was surprised as her feet were side swiped from under her. Buffy fell to the floor, her stake scattering away from her. She mentally cursed at the her clumsiness in her fight. She wasn't used to her body at this age, and for a fight of this size, she needed to know how to use all of her weapons. The vampire came out top off her, straddling her hips to the floor with his body mass.
"The master will walk!" He declared as though he had won the fight. Buffy took the moment as he looked into her eyes, trying to strike fear into her she supposed, to pick up her leg and extend it fully, kicking him hard in the head. The vampire toppled forward, and Buffy followed his momentum so that she was on top this time.
She positioned the stake at his heart and grinned evilly. "Yeah, on your dust." With that, she let the weapon penetrate his skin, and stood up before he crumpled before her.
Buffy hadn't realized that as she fought, both vampires and humans had watched in silence. What looked like a young fledging was the first to back into the night, he was followed by the rest until the only one who hadn't disappeared into the dark was Darla.
She let out a low animalistic growl, her eyes locked on Angels. He nodded toward her, if it was dismissal or an acknowledgment, Buffy didn't know, but the female vampire followed the others into the shadows without a second glance.
The Slayer turned toward the others as the demonic threat disappeared.
"Well that went well." Jesse said in a tight voice.
"Yeah." Xander agreed, a little shaken at the sight. "Who's up for pizza?"
"I am!" Willow voiced a little to eagerly.
Buffy pondered that for their second demonic encounter, they were handling it pretty damn well. "Sounds good, Giles can buy."
"What?" The Watcher asked in disbelief, his name forcing him back to the reality he had drifted off to.
Buffy and Willow started off away from the Bronze, leaving their weapons behind on the darkened floor. "I'm thinking mushrooms and pepperoni."
"You know, they have the cheese baked right into the crust." Xander said, catching up to them.
"Amazing." Jesse laughed.
The Watcher just stared at the four teenagers. "The earth is doomed." He told himself decidedly starting a slow walk toward them.
Angel smiled to himself. "I'll be damned." He said when they had all drifted out of earshot. "She did it."
~Keysuna
A/N: I just want to say a big thank you to everyone who reviewed. I really didn't expect this much of interest for the project. A lot of you have voiced that you have worries that I might abandon this piece because of the scope of it (a chapter for each episode to be precise). And I got to say that I agree with you. I will do my best to complete this story, and don't forget, the more reviews the more incentive there is to write!
~ ~ ~
Jesse, Willow and Xander had piled into Giles's car, still jittery from the nights events. There wasn't enough room for either Buffy or the mysterious stranger who the Watcher eyed with keen interest, and slight fear. He didn't trust the dark man, but Buffy seemed quite intent on having him around, and what was that saying about always trusting a Slayer's instincts?
"Me and Angel will walk." Buffy told Giles as he stepped into the car. "Don't. . . tell them anything until I get there."
The Watcher gave a wry smile and glanced toward the three teenagers huddled in the back. "Uncomfortable silences are always fun." He muttered and slid into the front seat. Buffy watched as the head lights bit into the darkness, and the car roared to life, driving into the night and out of even her Slayer vision.
"How did you know my names Angel?" The vampire asked, gaining her attention. He had stood silently beside her after the fight, his eyes watching the scenery rather then the humans.
"Lucky guess?" She let her gaze wander to his. ". . . or not." Buffy said lamely at his unbelieving look.
They started a slow walk past the still raging sounds of the Bronze until there silence blended in with the environment. "Do you really want to know why I know your name? Or how I knew Darla was going to be here tonight?"
He gave her a glance. "Thought it was a lucky guess."
The Slayer let out a small laugh that came out more like a sigh. "What if I told you that I know what happens to you five, six years from now?"
"I'd say your one hell of a Slayer." Angel said in a tone that Buffy hadn't hear from him in a while. "But I wouldn't believe you."
Buffy nodded and drew her eyes away from him. "Your an ensouled vampire." She stated awkwardly. He didn't respond. "You were sired by Darla, you in turn sired Drusilla and she sired Spike. The four of you plagued Europe until a group of gypsies cast a spell, restoring your soul."
"How do you know that?" No emotion seeped into his voice.
Buffy drew a hand through her hair, amazed at how short it was. "I'm from the future. . ." She wasn't sure how to follow up on that. "Seven years from the future."
"How'd you get sent back?" Again, there was no interest in his voice, just acknowledgment.
"The Powers That Be. . . they weren't exactly pleased with how I handled my life. Ends up it's my fault I unleashed the First Evil onto the world."
He gave her a first glance that actually showed something. "Well that's a feat."
"I've always been an overachiever." She told him with a smile, he returned the gesture as they turned onto a next street.
He took in what she had told him and looked into the stars. "Why are you telling me this." He said finally. "Shouldn't this be something you tell a Watcher, or your friends? Definitely not a vampire you just met."
"Well. . . we were close." The Slayer bit her lower lip, afraid of what he would read into. "And I haven't had a chance to tell Giles yet, and I'm not telling Willow or Xander." She finished in a large breath.
Angel's brows furrowed. "Close?" He echoed.
"Uh, yeah." Buffy inwardly cursed at herself. "You popped up and gave me creepy heads up on the latest creature feature, and then left." Happy with her half truth, she continued. "Your the one who told me I was going to die."
The vampire shook his head in confusion. When Whistler had first come to him with the prospect of helping out the Slayer, getting out of his rut in life, he had mentioned that the Powers had been displeased with her so far, and were trying over. When Angel had asked what he meant, the messenger had changed the subject.
"You die?" He asked slowly.
Buffy smiled shyly. "Twice."
He didn't say anything and they walked again without conversation. It slowly dawned on Buffy that her social dynamics may not work out the same as they had in her past try at this life. Maybe Angel wouldn't fall in lover with her, maybe Giles would never look at her beyond being a Slayer, maybe Willow and Xander wouldn't be the friends she had come to know. . .
"So what happens to me?" Angel asked, breaking her out of thought.
"What?" Buffy looked up at him.
The vampire stuffed his hands into his pockets. "You say your from the future, so what will I be doing?" He smiled again.
*You mean aside from having a son?* She thought tauntingly to herself. "You become head of an evil law firm." Buffy said, recalling the conversation she had had with Angel after the last encounter with the First. Those had been his exact words. . .
"Big of me." Angel said to himself, again confused at the girl. "Anything else I might be interested in?"
Buffy smiled to herself. "Your not ready to know just yet."
"Is that so?" Angel nearly laughed and met her eyes.
The Slayer gave a cocky smile and looked ahead of her. They had arrived at the high school somehow without either noticing. "If your good, I'll tell you later."
Angel nodded and they headed up the steps and to the library. As confused as he was with the beautiful blonde, he couldn't wait to start a new life at her side. She really had made an impression.
~ ~ ~
Buffy entered the library with Angel at her side. Willow sat at a computer that looked as if it didn't get much use. Her face was determined as though she was on the brink of something. Xander was lying on his back on the table, a large text held above him as he flipped through the pages, he wasn't reading it. The Slayer watched as Giles came out of the back room, a stack of books in his hand and Jesse following behind him with what looked like more of the same.
"Hello Buffy." Her Watcher said, setting his burden on the table beside Xander's feet. Jesse followed the librarians example, but as he put the books down, the pile begun to topple over and he scrambled to save them from falling to the floor. Xander looked up and laughed at his friend, before seeing Buffy.
"Buffy!" He exclaimed and hopped off the table, not bothering to help Jesse. "How you doing?"
The blonde cast a look at Giles. "Did you tell them?"
Giles shook his head. "I was waiting for you." He took a breath and cleaned his glasses in one known movement. "Buffy, you can't just be telling your secrete to everyone you come across, and slaying right in front of three students?" He was whispering, but everyone in the room was staring at the Watcher, and could hear every word.
"I found out about The Harvest." Willow said nervously. "It starts tomorrow night."
Buffy rose a eyebrow at her suddenly embarrassed Watcher. "Your telling *me* to be more secretive?"
"She. . . the girl knew how to use that bloody machine and there isn't much in ways of text." Giles finally said.
Jesse had finished recovering the books and placed them carefully on the table. "Someone mind filling us in on the what happened at the Bronze?"
"Yeah, and what exactly is a hellmouth?" Xander pointed toward the book. "Because if I'm reading it right, which I'm probably not, were living right on to of it."
Buffy took in an exasperated breath. "You had them researching and they don't even know what they saw tonight!"
The Watcher replaced his glasses and sighed. "Thank you, Willow, Xander, Jesse." He looked at each. "For helping. Buffy's right, you all have a right to know what you witnessed tonight."
The Slayer moved to the check out counter and propped herself up on it. She noticed in interest that Angel came to stand by her side. "You might want to sit down." She told Jesse and Xander. "This may take a while."
Giles ignored the girls comments. "This world is older than any of you know. Contrary to popular mythology, it did not begin as a paradise. For untold eons demons walked the Earth. They made it their home, their... their Hell. But in time they lost their purchase on this reality. The way was made for mortal animals, for, for man. All that remains of the old ones are vestiges, certain magicks, certain creatures..."
"And vampires." Buffy added, kicking her feet against the counter.
"Okay, this is where I have a problem. See, because we're talking about vampires. We're having a *talk* with vampires in it." Xander complained, his voice adopting a nervous tone.
"Isn't that what we saw tonight?" Willow asked, twirling a strand of red hair in her finger.
Jesse slightly shuddered as he drew out a chair to sit on. "Whatever they were, they were demons, right?"
"The books tell the last demon to leave this reality fed off a human, mixed their blood. He was a human form possessed, infected by the demon's soul. He bit another, and another, and so they walk the Earth, feeding... Killing some, mixing their blood with others to make more of their kind. Waiting for the animals to die out, and the old ones to return." Giles continued as though he hadn't been interrupted.
Jesse looked around. "So why is Buffy intentionally seeking them out?"
"Because she is the Slayer." Giles said.
Xander sat next to his friend and took in a large breath. "And that would be a what?"
"For as long as there have been vampires, there's been the Slayer. One girl in all the world, a Chosen One." Giles explained and glanced back at Buffy who gave him a large grin and a thumbs up.
"All right. The Slayer hunts vampires, Buffy is a Slayer, don't tell anyone. Well, I think that's all the vampire information you need." The Watcher let out begrudgingly.
An awkward silence fell over the room. "Hey, Wills, do you have Dugan for math?"
Willow looked from the screen she had started to scan again. "Uh. . . yeah?"
"What was the homework?" Buffy asked sheepishly. Angel and Giles were taken back by the sudden change of subject.
"Pages 135-139, evens only." The red head told her with a smile.
Buffy checked her watch and hopped off the counter. "I better get going." She said, wrapping her jacket around her. "Uh, Giles can I talk to you, alone?"
The Watcher looked around and nodded. "Actually, you should all be heading home."
Angel watched passively as the three teenagers got up and headed toward the door. The two boys left first after giving Buffy awkward hugs that the Slayer had to initiate, Willow came up to her afterward and received an embrace of her own. "I'll call you later." She told the red head, and it was hard to miss the excitement Willow held by having the new friend.
"I should be heading back." Angel whispered into Buffy's ear after the teenagers had left. Buffy nodded, and had to hang back from giving him a hug as well. The vampire left the library in a few long strides.
Buffy smiled to her Watcher in the now empty room.
"This has been completely unorthodox!" He exclaimed before she could say anything. "Everything you've done since I met you has been against the books-"
The Slayer didn't give him time to finish his rant. "I have to tell you something." She said quietly, almost painfully.
Giles kept silence, but Buffy could see slight anger in his eyes. "It may take a while." She added.
He crossed his arms and leaned against the wall. "Well?" He asked, eyeing her over after a few moments had passed.
Buffy took in a large breath, preparing to tell her Watcher everything, and all that that implied.
~ ~ ~
The Slayer let her Watcher take in what she had said. The overview had been brief, and barely any detail had been bothered in the description. She had told him that she was from the future, she was here to redo the past, and she mentioned the Big Bads. Careful to slip Acathla's name for Angelus's, and decided against mentioning Willows at all.
"And your here to make sure the First Evil does not enter this realm, correct?" Giles asked tiredly, cleaning his glasses for the umpteenth time that night.
Buffy nodded.
"And does anyone else know that your. . ."
"Not from this time?" She finished for him. "Just Angel."
Giles slid his spectacles back on. "This Angel. . . you sure we can trust him?"
"With my life." She answered simply as her eyes caught the time on the clock. "Look, I really got to go, moms probably worried about me. I'll stop by before school." Buffy picked up her jacket she had taken off and slung it over her shoulder. "Don't forget, The Harvest is tomorrow!" The Slayer called out as she disappeared into the dimly lit hall and out of sight.
Giles slid off his glasses one more time. "No, however could I."
~ ~ ~
The next day dawned bright, and Buffy jumped out of bed as her alarm went off. The prophecy was haunting her dreams, and she was sick of it. What did whoever that sent these dreams think he was helping? She knew how the world played out, prophecies and power were the only things that could influence the outcome of the future.
Well, that and her.
~ ~ ~
"So what's the deal with Angel?" Willow asked as the two climbed the stairs toward Sunnydale High school.
Buffy let out a grin, more out of the sound of the name then for her friends benefit. "He's pretty cute, don't you think?"
"He's damn hot!" Willow exclaimed, as they reached the thong of people.
The Slayer stared. "Willow!"
"What, I do have eyes you know." The red head laughed. "So, you like him then?"
"Maybe just a little. . ." Buffy smiled as she swayed a bit in thought, Willow pushed her back to reality. "OK, a lot."
"Get out." Willow told her friend jokingly.
Not wanting to stay on the subject of Angel, Buffy quickly gave Willow something else to think about. "What's the deal with you and Xander?" She asked innocently enough as they reached the hall.
"We used to go out." The nerd said with a sigh, her humor leaving. "But then he stole my barbie."
Buffy laughed. "Kindergarten romance I take it?"
Willow nodded solemnly. "I don't date a whole lot actually."
"You should ask Xander out." The Slayer said decisively. "That is. . . unless you don't want to." She finished quickly after getting a look from Willow.
"I. . . I could never. . . him and Jesse are obsessed with you at the moment." Willow told her lamely and a hint of regret held in her voice.
Buffy felt embarrassed, she had almost forgotten the infatuation Xander had had with her. "If it makes you feel any better, there just friends to me." She grinned awkwardly.
"Oh, I know. I like this obsession of his way better then the others. . . because he doesn't have a chance with you. . . right?" She ended the statement on an uneasy note.
"Totally right, I'm into Mr. tall, dark and broody, remember?"
The two laughed as they entered the library.
~ ~ ~
Buffy walked slowly toward Angels home, careful to keep her self hidden against the night, she had no intention of spilling her strength on fledglings when she had bigger fish to fry. . . er, stronger vampires to dust.
Her thoughts turned to the conversation in the library earlier that day. Willow and her had arrived to find Jesse, Xander and Giles already waiting. They had discussed last night, an overdue book of Willows, the upcoming Harvest, and who would help Buffy. The Slayer clearly told them all that she would take Angel along for help, she wasn't prepared to risk anyone else.
Jesse and Xander had wailed, ready to show off their bravery against the demons in front of Buffy. The Slayer was surprised at their stupidity while they were still under raging hormones, and expected it to wear off once they encountered a few more vampires. Giles, still shaken from what she had told him the night before, let her decide on her own. It wasn't as if she was child after all, just a 22 year old stuck in a 16 year olds body. She did have a suspicion however that all four of them would meet her at the Bronze, not that she could do anything to stop them.
Buffy arrived at Angels, and let herself in. The lamps were dimmed, casting shadows against the walls.
"Hello, Angel. . . you here?" She stepped in cautiously. Her eyes feel upon the silver chain he always wore that was sprawled on an end table. It glinted in the faint light, and Buffy trailed the 'A' with her index finger.
*It's real silver* She realized suddenly, and her hand went to the cross on her neck, the one he had given her. *I suppose this is too. . .* Her thoughts turned as she let her hand hover above the necklace. *Whatever happened to you?* Her mind asked her from her past life. After graduation she had locked the necklace away in her jewelry case, not wanting to be reminded of her lost love. She had taken it out again after a sex session with Spike, and feeling more emotion from the necklace then the intimacy with the other vampire, she had wept.
"Buffy." The word made her jump as Angel stepped out of the other room. His skin glistened with a light sheen of water as he dried out his hair with a towel. Dark jeans hugged his hips, and he walked over to her shirtless. "What are you doing here?"
The Slayer forced her eyes away from the unclothed chest and became mesmerized with the statue behind him. "Harvest, tonight, I was wondering if you wanted to help."
Angel met her eyes, letting the towel hang limply in his hands. "I. . . I don't know." He let the last of it come out weak.
"Why not?"
He ran a hand through his hair. "Because I'm afraid."
The Slayer met his gaze and walked up to him until she had too look up to see the drowning pools of chocolate that were his eyes. "Of what?"
Angel shook his head and stepped away, his hand going to a shirt that hung over the couch. "My past." He finally said, slipping on the T shirt, not having the energy to button it as his pained look met Buffy's.
"Your past?" The Slayer echoed.
"You don't know what I've done." The vampire told her slowly, his fingers fumbling for the button while his gaze was directed away from her. "What I'm still capable of doing."
Buffy came up him and lightly took his hands away from the shirt, fastening the material herself as he looked on helplessly. "I know exactly what you've done." She stepped away too see his eyes. "Because you've done it all to me."
The loss she saw in Angel's eyes nearly overpowered her. "Your afraid that seeing your past will bring out the demon again." She clarified for both him and herself. "It won't, your stronger then that."
"I'm afraid it'll kill me." His arm stretched out past her to grab the chain, yet he didn't slide it on as he spoke his defeat.
"It won't." The Slayer kept her gaze steady on him.
"How can you be so sure?" He asked with almost anger in his voice as he pulled the chain over his head and tucked it under the shirt.
Buffy let out a sigh. "Because I'm reliving my past, and so far I'm OK." She continued. "It's not easy, nothing in lives ever was, but it's worth it."
Angel let his eyes wander to the floor. "All right." He said at last, bringing his eyes back up.
The Slayer grinned, and the vampire let his lips curl into something resembled a smile. She nodded, and they headed toward the door and into the darkness of their fight.
~ ~ ~
They arrived at the Bronze to see the three teenagers and Giles standing outside the club, waiting her arrival.
"Your late." The Watcher told her, his eyes taking a glance toward his wristwatch as both her and Angel stepped into the light.
Buffy shrugged off their joining her, although she felt irritated at their actions. She should have known better then to think that Giles would trust her, technically, he barely even *knew* her.
"Hey Willow." The Slayer went over to the red head who was nervously holding a wooden cross.
The girl smiled and shifted her weight on her feet. She was jumpy, then again, this was her first official slayage outing. "Hey," She took in a shaky breath. "Are we waiting for something?"
"For them." It was Angel who it said determinedly, it seemed as though her pep talk had hit home and Buffy grinned.
The Slayer cast a glance toward Jesse and Xander who hung back in the half light. They cast somewhat nasty glares at the vampire, then again, she was standing somewhat close to him. . . Deciding that this time over it would be much easier if Xander didn't have a burning hatred toward Angel, she edged back.
"Do you know the mark of which the vessel wears?" Giles voice had turned scholarly.
Buffy turned. "What?"
"The vessel." He repeated, somewhat annoyed. "Please tell me you know what I'm talking about."
"Big strong ugly vamp." Buffy said. "That's all I need to know."
The Watcher sighed, and let his eyes wander to what he expected to be an empty lot. "I suppose they've arrived." He told them, referring to the group of figures that were making their way told them.
The Slayer nodded, and drew a stake out of her pocket, trying to see in the dim light which one was the vessel.
"We're here for you Buff." Xander supplied, grasping a stake himself.
She flashed both boys a grin. "Thanks, but I think me and Angel can handle this." Seeing a flash of almost jealous zeal flash through their eyes, she covered. "But if he falls, you guys are backup." Buffy didn't need to look out Angel to tell her she didn't mean it, he already knew.
They waited impatiently for the vampires to descend them, and the only thought crossing Buffy's mind was that she hoped to the powers that Angel wouldn't change to his demonic face with the still new scoobies standing right there.
"Angelus!" Darla was the first to greet them, her voice came out a silky pure against the night. "Siding with the Slayer now? This is low, even for you."
The souled vampire didn't respond.
From behind the blonde demon, a large vampire brought himself into the light. His features seemed overstated, and his eyes gleamed with sadism. Buffy didn't give him time to register her presence. If his looks hadn't jogged her memory, the tall tell sign painted on his forehead was proof enough, this was the vessel.
The Slayer rushed at him, ducking as he swung hard at her to come up so close that he had no way of attacking. She punched him the nose and was surprised as her feet were side swiped from under her. Buffy fell to the floor, her stake scattering away from her. She mentally cursed at the her clumsiness in her fight. She wasn't used to her body at this age, and for a fight of this size, she needed to know how to use all of her weapons. The vampire came out top off her, straddling her hips to the floor with his body mass.
"The master will walk!" He declared as though he had won the fight. Buffy took the moment as he looked into her eyes, trying to strike fear into her she supposed, to pick up her leg and extend it fully, kicking him hard in the head. The vampire toppled forward, and Buffy followed his momentum so that she was on top this time.
She positioned the stake at his heart and grinned evilly. "Yeah, on your dust." With that, she let the weapon penetrate his skin, and stood up before he crumpled before her.
Buffy hadn't realized that as she fought, both vampires and humans had watched in silence. What looked like a young fledging was the first to back into the night, he was followed by the rest until the only one who hadn't disappeared into the dark was Darla.
She let out a low animalistic growl, her eyes locked on Angels. He nodded toward her, if it was dismissal or an acknowledgment, Buffy didn't know, but the female vampire followed the others into the shadows without a second glance.
The Slayer turned toward the others as the demonic threat disappeared.
"Well that went well." Jesse said in a tight voice.
"Yeah." Xander agreed, a little shaken at the sight. "Who's up for pizza?"
"I am!" Willow voiced a little to eagerly.
Buffy pondered that for their second demonic encounter, they were handling it pretty damn well. "Sounds good, Giles can buy."
"What?" The Watcher asked in disbelief, his name forcing him back to the reality he had drifted off to.
Buffy and Willow started off away from the Bronze, leaving their weapons behind on the darkened floor. "I'm thinking mushrooms and pepperoni."
"You know, they have the cheese baked right into the crust." Xander said, catching up to them.
"Amazing." Jesse laughed.
The Watcher just stared at the four teenagers. "The earth is doomed." He told himself decidedly starting a slow walk toward them.
Angel smiled to himself. "I'll be damned." He said when they had all drifted out of earshot. "She did it."