A/N: Here it is, Part 6! I really put a lot of thought into this one, so I would really appreciate some more reviews. Thanks to all my loyal reviewers! I also want to quickly mention a fic that I read a few days back, called Throwback by gidgetgirl. I know that just by reading it my characterization has improved, because it was so inspiring and well written. Everyone needs to read that fic! So thanks to gidgetgirl. Also thanks to Tara for her input and support. This chapter is kinda angsty, and it includes the flashback you've been waiting for! I actually might up this to an R due to angst and a POSSIBLE scene to come. So enjoy, and heehee, my twist is coming up. Please review! Pretty please?

Part 6

Sunday, June 25th, 2020

"Serena, wake up," Buffy said softly, bending over her daughter. It was a little after ten on Sunday morning, and she had entered her daughter's room to find the tv on mute and Serena asleep in her chair, the remote still in her hand.

She began to stir. For a moment she wondered where she was, and then remembered what had happened. I didn't have any dreams! She thought, very relieved.

"Serena, why aren't you in bed?" her mother asked, concerned.

Serena sat up and rubbed her eyes. "I don't know, I guess I just fell asleep watching tv."

Buffy nodded, still slightly suspicious. "Weren't you tired after your sleepover?"

Serena shrugged and forced a smile. Truth was, she was completely exhausted, because even though she had managed a solid night's sleep last night, the two nights before that had been mostly sleepless. "You know me, full of energy," she said weakly. She jumped up, using every ounce of energy in her to try and appear cheerful. "What's for breakfast?"

"Your Dad went out to get some," Buffy said, as they walked in the hall. She heard the door closing downstairs. "I think he's home."

The mother and daughter descended the stairs and joined Angel in the kitchen. He was armed with a bag from Dunkin Donuts, an envelope, and a grin that was a little uncharacteristic as of late. "There's my girls. I have a surprise for you," he said, still grinning.

"What?" Buffy asked, fairly curious.

He handed her the envelope. "I stopped by the travel agent on the way home."

Buffy glanced up at him, then tore open the envelope and pulled out three plane tickets. "Round trip to Honolulu, leaving in one week!" she squealed. She threw her arms around her husband. This was exactly what they all needed, a nice family vacation in a place they all loved. Maybe she would finally be able to stop thinking about Liam.

Serena smiled too. "That's awesome! I love Hawaii!" she joined the hug, excited. Yesterday, when she had still been freaking out about her dreams, this news would have been less than welcome. But today, considering she had Giles on it and the fact that she had enjoyed a dreamless sleep last night, she was thrilled at the prospect of getting away.

"Oh Angel, this is so great! I love you," she said, really meaning it. She surprised him with a sudden kiss, which he eagerly returned.

"Please, I haven't eaten yet," Serena joked with a smile, sitting down and opening the bag. Actually, she liked it when her parents kissed, especially since things had been so icy between them the past couple of days.

They broke off the kiss and Angel looked down at his wife, somewhat surprised. That was the first display of affection she'd demonstrated towards him in a few days. "What was that for?" he asked.

She smiled sweetly. "That was for being you. I think this trip is just what we need."

Angel nodded. "I agree." They kissed again before joining their daughter at the counter.

"Mom, I think I'm going to need a new bikini," Serena said.

Buffy nodded eagerly. "Oh, I can definitely foresee some bikini shopping in the near future." The three of them ate their breakfast and talked excitedly about their upcoming trip, for a few moments forgetting all of their troubles.

"So I'm just really happy. I think this break from everything will really help me put things in perspective, you know?" Buffy said, cradling the phone to her ear.

"That's so great. I knew that you guys would get past all this. Besides, Honolulu is beautiful this time of year," Tracey gushed.

The phone beeped. "Hold on a sec, I've got another call," Buffy said. She pressed a button. "Hello?"

There was a brief, awkward pause. "Hello Buffy, it's Giles," said the familiar British voice from the other end.

Buffy frowned. He sounded very anxious. "What's wrong?" she asked flat out.

"Can you and Angel come over? There's something we need to discuss," Giles said, avoiding her question.

"Giles, we're in the middle of planning our Hawaiian getaway. I really don't have time for the cryptic," she said nervously.

"Don't be alarmed, I just need to see you. It's urgent," Giles added. Buffy could almost hear him cleaning his glasses.

She sighed. "Okay. We'll be there in half an hour, all three of us."

"Buffy, I think it's best if you don't bring Serena," Giles said hesitantly.

Buffy frowned, getting upset. "Giles, why on earth would you not want to see your own granddaughter?"

"It's not that. This is merely an adult matter," he replied tightly.

She closed her eyes for a moment. "Okay. Angel and I will be there soon."

"Very good." There was another awkward pause. "Well, see you then." Before she could reply, the line went dead.

Frowning, she switched back to the other line. "Trace, something came up. Can I call you back tonight?" she said, preoccupied.

"Sure! I'll be here. Ta!" Tracey said cheerfully.

"Ta," Buffy said distantly. She put the phone back in the receiver, deep in thought. Something was definitely up, she could hear it in Giles's voice. She just wondered what.

She hurried from the room, running into Serena in the hallway. "Hey Serena, I have to go run a few errands."

Before she could continue, her daughter replied. "Can I go over to Liz's to study for finals?" she asked.

Buffy smiled, relieved that the situation had been resolved so easily. "Of course. We'll drop you off on the way."

"Just let me get my books," Serena called, heading to her bedroom. Buffy smiled after her. She didn't know how she could have survived the past several years without her beautiful daughter.

"What's up?" Angel asked, emerging from the bedroom.

"Giles wants to see us. We're gonna drop Serena at Liz's," Buffy said quietly.

Angel frowned. "Did he say why?"

She shook her head. "But I got the impression it was something serious."

A short while later the two of them entered Giles's home. "Okay, spill," Buffy said, sitting on the couch and facing her former Watcher expectantly.

Angel sat down beside her. "Is Joyce here?"

Giles shook his head. "No, she's out running errands." He paused. "I don't really know how to begin."

"How about, I don't know, why we're here?" Buffy asked impatiently.

He sighed. "You're here because I have been doing some research. I discovered a new...loophole to the slayer prophecies."

"What kind of loophole?" Angel asked, taking Buffy's tense hand in his own.

"Well, we all know that Buffy hasn't been incredibly active in her slayer duties over the past years," he began.

"But that doesn't matter. Angel takes care of things, and another slayer cannot be called unless the last one dies. And hey, alive and kicking," she said, holding up her hands.

Giles sat down opposite from them. "Yes, that is what I believed as well."

"Not loving the use of the past tense," Angel said.

"I was re-reading the Pergamum Codex, and it seems that there was another part to the prophecy," he said slowly. "I suppose, you could say, the fine print."

"Well, what does it say?" Buffy asked worriedly. "Is it about me?"

"Well yes, it does affect you considerably," Giles continued. "But I'm afraid that it more directly affects...your daughter."

"Serena? What does Serena have to do with any of this?" Buffy asked, as her heart began to beat faster.

"Giles, you are not telling us everything here," Angel said impatiently, tightening his grip on his wife's hand.

"The latter part of the prophecy implies that if a slayer has a daughter, at some point in her life that daughter will succeed her mother as the slayer. Even if the mother is still very much alive."

Buffy shook her head. "No, that's not true. Giles, you know the drill. One girl, in all the world. Not one girl and her daughter."

Angel tried to remain calm, for Buffy's sake. "Giles, you don't sound that definite. Maybe you translated wrong."

"No, it was quite clear," he replied sadly.

Angel shook his head. "But you said at some point in her life, so this might not happen for a few years at least." He hated believing it was true at all.

Giles looked down. "I'm afraid that things have already been set in motion."

"Giles, what aren't you telling us?" Buffy said. Her whole body was rigid and her voice was rising. It was taking all of her strength to remain seated.

Giles sighed. "Serena spoke to me yesterday. I was reluctant to tell you because I gave her my word. But I see that this cannot be avoided." They looked at him expectantly. "She said she's been having dreams. Dreams of the...demise of past slayers."

Buffy stared at him in horror. "What?" she asked in a hushed voice.

"How long has this been going on?" Angel asked, horrified.

"It's only happened twice, thus far. As of yesterday," he added. "She ," he refrained from using the word 'frightened' as to not scare her parents further. "I found her looking at my books and got her to admit what was going on."

"Did you tell the council?" Angel asked quietly.

Giles shook his head vigorously. "No. I knew that I had to talk to you first, before taking any action. Years ago, the Council would have already known, but their resources and contacts have dwindled severely over the years, especially considering there is no active slayer. I am assuming that they have no idea what is happening as of now. If they did, we would have heard from them."

Buffy stood up suddenly, no longer able to contain herself. "No. This is not happening. Not my baby."

Angel stared at her helplessly. "Buffy..." he reached out to touch her hand but she yanked it away.

"No, Angel. I don't want you to comfort me. You know that we're only all touchy-feely today because you put me in a good mood with tickets to Hawaii. But we both know that things haven't been the same since you found me with that STUPID stuffed animal. Hell, things haven't been the same for the past FIVE YEARS!" she yelled angrily. Angel stared at her in shock, while Giles looked away uncomfortably.

"Buffy, that's not true," Angel lied.

She nodded quickly. "Yes it is. Don't stand there and lie to me. And now you," she turned to face Giles, anger gleaming in her eyes. "You have the nerve to stand there and tell me that my baby girl is doomed just like her mother? Doomed to never have another quiet, normal moment throughout the rest of her years in high school? Dammit Giles, she's just starting out in life! She CAN'T be a slayer," she said helplessly.

"Buffy, do you think I want this either? I saw what being the slayer put you through, because I was by your side the entire time. Believe me, that is the last thing I want for my granddaughter," Giles shot back.

"Buffy, I hate this too. But there is nothing we can do about it," Angel said quickly, before she could yell at Giles again.

She spun around to face her husband, the tears now streaming freely. "What do you expect me to do Angel? Just sit there helplessly and watch another child die?" Angel fell silent.

"Buffy, you know that once something has been written it is bound to come true," Giles said slowly. "I'm afraid that all we can do at this point is stand by Serena, and prepare her adequately for what's to come."

"What's to come? WHAT'S TO COME?" she yelled. "What, you mean the despair, the loneliness, or the misery? Because I personally forget what comes first."

"Buffy, it doesn't have to be that way. Serena has us. We understand what is happening, especially you, more than anyone. We can help her through this. We have to. But you have to be strong," Angel begged.

She laughed. "You know what? I'm sick and tired of being strong." Without another word she ran to the door, flung it open, and ran out into the evening. Angel started to go after her, but Giles stopped him.

"I think she needs some time alone, to process...everything," Giles said softly.

Angel shook his head. "What am I going to do?"

Giles slowly removed his glasses. "I don't know. We really just need to take this one step at a time. First, we need to let Buffy deal with this information until she is ready to approach Serena. She needs to know what is happening to her. When I spoke to her yesterday, she was...quite frightened," Giles admitted.

Angel sat back down. "I don't understand. Why didn't she come to me, or Buffy?"

"I think that's rather obvious. It is clear that you and Buffy are having...problems. Serena probably just didn't want to add to the pain," he replied sadly.

"But I don't even know what our problems are! She still hasn't let go of what happened five years ago. She needs to stop living in the past, like I have," Angel said sensibly.

"Have you really?" Giles asked.

Angel frowned at him. "Yes. What's done is done," he said, sounding not so convinced himself. He rubbed his forehead. "I'll go home and wait for Buffy. If she doesn't turn up soon I'll go looking for her."

Giles nodded. "Do call if you need anything." Angel nodded in reply and headed for the door that his wife had stormed out of moments earlier.

"Angel, what are you going to tell Serena?" Giles asked hesitantly.

He looked back at him helplessly. "Nothing yet. This is something we need to do together. First, I need my wife back." He lingered for a moment before turning and walking out the door.

March 30th, 2015

The sun was setting as the car pulled up on the street outside Restfield Cemetery. "You think our guy will be here?" Buffy asked.

"I hope so," Angel said. He climbed out of the car and got some weapons from the trunk. He peered in at her through the open window. "Stay in the car, okay?" Buffy nodded.

"Be careful," she warned. She worried about him a lot, especially with the baby coming.

He smiled. "I always am." He started away from the car, but after reaching the sidewalk on the opposite side of the street near the entrance, he stopped dead in his tracks. It appeared that he was sniffing the air. At first Buffy thought nothing of it, but over a minute passed with him just standing there and she began to get worried. She banged on the car window, but he didn't acknowledge her. Frustrated, she opened the door and climbed out next to the car.

"Angel! What's wrong?" she called.

Startled, he turned around. "Buffy, get back in the-"

He was interrupted when a burly vampire wearing a tattered leather jacket tackled him. "Angel!" she yelled, alarmed. Great, he had let his guard down when she had distracted him, and now an ordinary vampire was hurting him.

"Buffy, get back in the car!" Angel yelled, struggling to get the vampire off of him. She just stood there helplessly as he shoved the vampire off himself and pulled out a stake. Buffy started to get back in the car, as Angel seemed to have things under control now, but was interrupted when a strong hand grabbed her shoulder. She instinctively kicked back a leg, but with her large and growing midsection it didn't quite reach high enough to inflict any harm. Instead she was spun around and faced the vampire that had attacked her with wide eyes.

"BUFFY!" Angel yelled. He tried to run to her but the other vampire kicked him hard in the stomach and he fell.

"Slayer," the vampire holding her hissed. She tried to swing her arms but her grasped them tightly. He glanced at her stomach and grinned evilly, baring his fangs even further. Then he hoisted her up by her arms and threw her.

"BUFFY! NO!" Angel screamed as she landed heavily in a heap about five feet away from the vampire. He struggled to get free, finally besting the vampire and plunging a stake through his heart. As he turned to dust Angel spun to fight the other vampire, only to see him fleeing down the street. His eyes fell on his wife, who was lying on the ground with a funny expression on her face. He ran to her, skidding to a stop next to her. "Buffy! Are you okay?"

She looked at him. The look in her eyes was unlike anything he'd ever seen before. It was a mix of shock, confusion...and fear. "Angel, something's not right. I can feel it."

He could tell from the tone in her voice that she was truly frightened. "Is it..." his voice trailed off but she simply nodded, understanding. "We need to get to the hospital." He scooped her up in his arms and ran to the car.

Present

The sun was setting as Buffy reached the main drag in Sunnydale. She had walked a long way, feeling completely numb both inside and out, yet deep in thought. She walked slowly down the street, near the Espresso Pump. She stopped when a voice called out to her.

"You look troubled." She turned to see a girl, no more than seventeen years old, with long, light blonde hair and a curious expression sitting at the counter in the coffee shop, staring at her intently.

Buffy sighed. "I am." Without really thinking about what she was doing, she sat down next to the girl. "Do you ever wonder how differently your life would have turned out if you have made just one choice different?"

The girl smiled knowingly. "Sometimes you don't even realize how pivotal a moment is to your life."

Buffy shook her head. "But I did. I thought about this for months. Let's just say I had to choose between coming back here, to my old life, and staying on the other side of the country with my new life."

"You regret coming back?" the girl asked.

She smiled. "I don't even know why I'm sitting here pouring my heart out to a total stranger."

The girl laughed. "I don't mind. It's good to get your feelings out in the open."

Buffy sighed. "Things have just gone so wrong, that I wonder what things would have been like if I'd stayed in New York."

The girl stood up and looked Buffy straight in the eye. "What if I told you I could show you?"