Dark Times

Part Four

Posted: October 2, 2004

Disclaimer: see the first chapter.

Author's Notes: I would like to apologize for not getting this up sooner. I've been working on so many things, and this kind of took a back burner. I have been working on it, though, writing it out, though I just need to get a chance to sit down and type like there's no tomorrow.

Reader Reviews:

Melanie: I'm sorry about the lack of updating!

Queen Boadicea: Where would I be without your helpful spelling tips? Lol. I can never spell the names on the shows right. But now I know that one, and I shall try to commit it to memory! As for why she gave Jennifer up, that's what this chapter is all about!

"Why?" she whispered. They were alone in the room.

"So many reasons...I was only 17, and your father, Angel, a vampire, he was...in hell. I sent him there. He was evil, and then he wasn't, but it was too late...he had opened a portal to hell, and only his blood could stop it..."

"I had run away from home...I didn't even know I was pregnant until...I couldn't keep you...I could barely feed myself...

"And I wanted you to have the normal life you deserved. No demons, vampires, or any other sort of evil or darkness.

"Because I am the slayer. One girl in the whole world. Chosen. Trust me, it sucks. I've been lucky, slayers don't live to this age, but...I've also died twice...

"I hope you understand, I couldn't keep you. With my luck, I would have died when you were a baby, or just a little older, and...It broke my heart to let you go..." she ran her hand through Jennifer's blond hair, "You were the only thing I had after Angel was..."

"But why didn't you come looking for me after?"

"And ruin the fantasies of the great life you were living? Not a chance. No, I finished high school, blew up the school, Angel left me, I went to college, stopped about a million apocalypses, fought a cyborg, found out I had a sister made of mystical energy, my next boyfriend left me, my mom died, I went against a Hell God, lost my life, but saved the world.

"Three months later I was brought back to life by my best friend, ripped out of heaven, and forced to continue my calling when I was set free of it. Got a job at minimum wage, my best friend's girlfriend died, and she went psycho, she killed a man, and almost killed me.

"She went to England and got better, and when she came back, we were going up against the First Evil. The reason why evil exists. I was put in charge of almost thirty girls a little bit younger than you. We won the battle, but we lost some girls, and we lost my hometown...

"My life sucked, Jennifer. There was no way I was going to drag you into it, when you had escaped."

"It's ok, uh..."

"Call me Buffy."

"Ok," she smiled.

"So, ah, how's your life been?"

"Good, as long as I didn't venture out after dark."

"So, ah, you've gotten pretty much whatever you wanted, within reason?"

"Yeah, I guess," she shrugged, "I'm glad I got to meet you."

"Me too."

They sat in silence. Both of their keen ears could hear the murmur of feminine voices from the next room. One could almost hear what they were saying, while the other just heard the noise.

"So..." he said. He couldn't believe he had let them talk him into this. He was not a social person.

"So, all my dreams were true?" he asked finally.

"Yes," he sighed.

He nodded, trying to think of something to say to this vampire who was also his father.

"Uh, how's your life? You and your sisters getting along?"

"Uh, yeah. How'd you know?"

"I uh...check up on you from time to time," he said sheepishly.

Connor nodded. They sat in silence until a tentative knock came on the door.

"Are you guys ok?" the blond woman asked. They stood as soon as the door opened. They looked at each other a moment.

"Yeah, we're ok," Angel said, and Connor nodded vigorously.

"So, what about this prophecy?" Buffy asked as they all traveled into the living room.

Angel recounted the prophecy.

"Well, with things written about me, why not my daughter?" Buffy sounded peeved.

"So, the way I see it, Jena, you're the child of light and dark, being the daughter of the slayer and a vampire. And Connor's the child of evil parentage, being the son of two vampires, though I had a soul both times...."

"So these two have to save the world?"

"And bring it back to what it once was. When demons hid in the shadows, and humans weren't ruled by fear. It's really not a prophecy, but foreshadowing."

"It was too easy to figure out," Buffy nodded, "Without any research and obscure texts. As soon as they're out of school, they can come to the Academy with me."

"What?! I'm their father-"

"But neither of us were there. They can get the best training in England, where we can keep an eye on them, and unlock whatever powers they possess."

"'We'?"

"The Scoobies and I, Angel. And all the professors and the watchers."

"And what if I want to see them? I gave up Connor, though with a heavy heart, willingly, to give him a better life, but I never knew of Jennifer, never got to make that decision," they argued as if the two teens weren't even in the room.

"I, well..... You weren't around! I had to make the decision on my own!"

"If I had known-"

"What? You would have stopped yourself from losing your soul? Or would you have stopped your evil side from awakening Acathla?" she snapped, "Things happen for a reason, Angel," she said quietly, ashamed of her outburst. She turned to the teens, who were standing next to each other, looking uncomfortable. "Would you like to go to England with me? Jena, you'd fit in at the Academy, but Connor...You'd stick out, being the only guy, besides teachers. And watchers.

"The prophecy pretty much states that it's your job to do something about the way the world is. Two average teenagers couldn't do it alone. You have powers somewhere deep inside, and we need to find them and unlock them.

"At the Academy, we have the resources to tap into that power, to bring it out."

"Uh, Connor's powers were...vampiric. He had super strength, endurance, and speed. He's human, but during a no demon violence spell at the hotel, he got....'spanked'."

"Then he'll fit in as well," she shot at him, too pissed off at him to care. She was using the anger to hide her real emotions towards him, and it felt good to be able to release some of the tension she had been feeling since entering his presence, "If your parents need the info, it's one of the top schools in the world, run by the richest men and corporations. We can give you 'full boat' scholarships for the summer sessions, or more even, if need be. What do you day?"

"England...wow..." was all Jennifer could get out.

"Sounds cool," Connor mumbled, playing the cool card. Momentarily, Buffy wondered if he played the guitar, because his indifference and seemingly no verbal skills reminded her of Oz.

"Oh, trust me, it is. It's a slayer's academy, meaning all girls, over 400 at the moment, in the high school alone, with over 1,000 grads in the past ten years. It must have been...13 years ago that my best friend did a spell to share the slayer power. Two years later we started small, 100 girls in all in an after school program, but now we have a great K-12 program, as well as the University on campus for those who wish to prolong their studies. Included in the University is a department, a program really, for both men and women who do not possess the power that makes slayers slayers, who wish to be watchers. There are dorms on campus, as well. There is a fee, for those that can afford it, but many girls are on either a half or full boat scholarships. There are also work-study programs, with everything being expanded.

"With so many slayers coming up through the school, they only have to put in about five years of active duty, and then they can go on to live a normal life. It's a lot like what I've heard of the military, including the choices to stay on active duty, going into the 'reserves' or becoming watchers, teachers or mentors at the school, or at the girls' homes.

"I'm sorry for babbling, it's a disease I'm cursed with, but it's amazing to me that we went from sheltering 20 or so potentials in my own home, with self defense classes in my back yard or in the basement, to this awe inspiring campus."

"Sounds like you should have bragging rights," Jennifer smiled at her newfound mom, "If it's just for the summer, I'd like to try. But...ah, I think my parents would need some sort of proof about me getting accepted-"

"Of course. I'll call admissions and have a letter sent to your houses. You are in, right, Connor? I know it's a lot to take in, but it's a prophecy. You might be thinking that you can do something to stop it, change it, but you can't.

"When I was 16, my watcher, Rupert Giles, you'll meet him, found a prophecy about my death. It was to be about a day later. I swore I wasn't going to go, but something changed my mind, and I went. And I died. But the friend I wasn't supposed to have, being a slayer is like being a super hero, secret identity, he have and brought me back to life with CPR.

"And trust me, callings and prophecies are pains in the ass, and the social life, but we need you."

He thought about it a moment, "Yeah, I guess...."