Disclaimer: Nothing here is ours.

Rating: PG 13

Pairing: B/A, W/T, D/C, X/A, maybe others eventually

Timeline: Set one month after Not Fade Away, therefore a year and a month after Chosen, but in an alternate universe where Tara, Anya, and Wesley never died.

Author's Notes: This is a round robin fanfic done by the neopets guild Simply Buffy. Therefore each chapter will have a different author. So we are asking you to please review each chapter so all the authors can get some individual feedback. After talking about plots, we decided to do a future fanfic set after the end of Angel. It will be interesting to see where we end up. Most of the stuff in this opening chapter is based on Andrew's knowledge of the Scoobies whereabouts as heard in Damage. So here goes!

Prologue and Chapter 1

by buffygirl52789

Prologue

London, England

June 18th, 2004

The vampire dragged the unfortunate victim through the dirty alley in the bad part of London. It was well after midnight, and he had to hurry, or his master would have his head.

He lifted the unconscious body and entered an abandoned warehouse. Immediately he heard his master speak from the shadows. "You have brought the final sacrifice?"

The vampire nodded nervously. "Yes master."

"Please make haste. There is only a small window of time in which the ritual can be performed."

He quickly carried the victim over to where several other vampires were preparing the ritual. Nine other unconscious bodies lie bound and gagged in a circle, around a smaller circle of candles and sand. He quickly placed the body in the empty space and stepped back to watch. Another vampire lit the final candle, and turned toward their master. "It is ready."

In the shadows their master grinned evilly. Then the chanting began.

"In the name of the darkness I command you. Bring forth the one who will destroy the earth. The one who will vanquish the final drop of humanity. The one who will join the forces of darkness in controlling the world once more. Come forth!" shouted their master.

Immediately the room began to shake. The other vampires looked on in excitement. Then the circle of candles exploded into a ring of light. The sacrifices vanished, and their screams echoed into the darkness before dying. When the shaking stopped, and the light vanished, everyone turned their attention to the being standing where the circle had once been.

The master of the vampires grinned, still concealed by the darkness. "You have joined us, oh great one."

Chapter 1

June 20th, 2004

London, England

Rupert Giles sat in his study, organizing his many books onto the shelves of his new apartment. After a long year of contacting new slayers from around the world, he was finally settling down. Granted their was still much work to do, because a large number of the potentials-turned-slayers were right here in London, and still required training. But Giles was looking forward to some quiet time.

He jumped when the phone rang. He was surprised because as of an hour ago, he hadn't had service yet. He hurried over and picked up the phone. "Hello?"

"Giles, it's about bloody time I got a hold of you," spoke the voice on the other end. Giles hesitated before identifying the voice.

"Morton?" he asked. Morton Whyler was an old colleague of his from the Watcher's Council. He was surprised to hear from him, because he presumed he had died in the explosion along with the others. Morton had once been very into spell casting, and had extensive knowledge of supernatural happenings.

"Yes. Listen, I have reason to believe that a dark power has risen in London," he said anxiously. "Something very evil."

Giles frowned. "How do you know this?"

"Well I sensed it of course. Anyone tuned in to the supernatural sensed the great disturbance that occurred nearly two days ago," he said. "I have been trying to reach you ever since."

Giles sighed. "What do you suggest we do about it? Do you have any other information?"

"Unfortunately no, that's where you come in. I suggest you begin gathering your slayers, because I think we have one hell of a battle ahead of us."

Rome, Italy

Dawn bounced in the door of the apartment, grinning from ear to ear. "School is so out," she said happily, dropping her heavy book bag, full of stuff she'd accumulated over her first year at school in Rome.

Buffy walked out of the bedroom and smiled at her sister. "Hard to believe it's been a year, isn't it?"

Dawn smiled, now relaxing on the couch. "It's been a very cool year though. What with the foreign country, and the sexy Italian boys, and all the new slayers and stuff," she said thoughtfully.

Buffy nodded in agreement before joining her sister on the couch. "Definitely." Their moment of reminiscing was interrupted when the phone rang. "I'll get it," Buffy said, moving quickly to the bedroom. "Hello?" Dawn heard her say. She slipped off the couch and began to unpack her book bag.

It had been a good year. It was great to be out of Sunnydale and away from all the constant apocalypses and whatnot. But Dawn was still lonely. She had a few friends, but no one really close. On the bright side, she had spent more time with Buffy this year than ever before.

She heard her sister hang up the phone, and Buffy came back into the living room, looking grim. "Pack a bag. We're going to England."

Brazil

Willow sat alone in the small apartment, surfing the net. She was looking for more training tactics to use with the new slayers, the group that she and Tara were training here in South America were getting bored with the old routine. She was interrupted when Tara came home.

"Hi baby," said the blonde, giving Willow a kiss before carrying the groceries to the kitchen. "What are you doing?" she called.

"Looking for more training routines to use with the girls," Willow called back. "They did really well today. Especially the new girl, Sam. I think she's turning into one of the best."

"I never thought I'd say this, but it's too bad there aren't more vampires around here. So they could get some experience," Tara said, reentering the room.

Willow started to reply, but then the phone rang. "I'll get it," Tara said, heading back to the kitchen. She answered, and there was a brief silence. Then she handed the phone to Willow. "It's Giles."

Egypt

Xander walked in the door of the brand new magic shop. "Wow Ahn, the place looks great," he said truthfully.

Anya came out from behind the counter, looking very pleased. "I think it will come to be very profitable."

Xander smiled. It was good to see Anya happy again.

Over a year ago, after the final battle in Sunnydale, it had taken some convincing for Anya to come with him after all the Scoobies had went their separate ways to find and train the new slayers. But she had finally agreed, and now, a year after they had arrived, she had opened her own magic shop again. Granted they were not together together, they even had separate apartments. But they were friends, which was probably the most Xander could hope for after what he had done to her over 2 years ago.

The slightly awkward moment was interrupted when the phone rang. Anya grinned with glee. "My first phone call!" she squealed, running to answer it. "Egypt's Magic Box, how may I help you?" she said proudly. There was a brief silence. "Giles, what's wrong?"

Los Angeles

After the battle one month earlier, it had taken the former members of Angel Investigations a while to recover. They had all sustained injuries, but amazingly they had all survived. Now they were working on starting up the business again, out of a small building on LA's east side.

Today they were moving the things they had salvaged from the wreckage of Wolfram & Hart into the new office. Wesley and Gunn were carrying boxes, Illyria was becoming fascinated with a pencil sharpener, and Angel and Spike were arguing as usual.

"If you don't want to be here, then why am I still looking at you?" Angel said angrily.

Spike smirked at him. "Because I want to help the bloody helpless."

"Can you two please stop bickering, there is a lot of work to be done here," Wesley said, dropping a box on the new desk.

Spike made a face at him. "Well I'm not lifting a bloody finger to help you lot. You're damn lucky to have me here in the first place."

"Oh yes, we must thank God daily for that blessing," Wesley said sarcastically.

Before Spike could insult him back, Illyria spoke up. "What does this contraption do?" she asked, still examining the pencil sharpener.

Gunn raised his eyebrows at her. "It sharpens pencils. Hence the name 'pencil sharpener'."

"Angel, is the phone working yet? We need to get our new business cards distributed," Wesley said.

Angel picked up the phone and heard a dial tone. "Yup, we have service." Then he jumped when the phone rang the second he hung it up. Spike chuckled quietly from the corner. Angel ignored him and answered the phone. "Angel Investigations, we help the helpless." He frowned when he heard Giles's voice on the other end. Immediately thoughts that something happened to Buffy invaded his mind. "Is Buffy..."

"She's fine," Giles said, smiling at his obvious concern. "But I'm afraid we do have a bit of a problem. An old colleague of mine informed me that a great evil has risen here in London."

"Do you need my help?" Angel asked.

"Yes, it would be much appreciated."

"When do you want us to come? I can bring the whole team, Wesley, Spike-"

"Spike? Excuse me, Spike is dead."

Angel sighed. "Long story. But he's back now, he's been annoying me all year now," he said, glaring at Spike.

There was a brief silence on the other end. "Very well. It would be appreciated if you would come as soon as possible, I still don't know exactly what we're dealing with, but I am afraid it's very dangerous."

"We'll be on a flight soon. We'll have to get one tonight because of the sunlight."

"That's fine. Buffy and the others are on their way here as well."

Angel's stomach did a little flip at the thought of seeing Buffy again. "Great. Well I'll see you soon."

When they hung up Angel turned to face the others. "Wesley, call the airport, get us booked on a nighttime flight to London. Giles said some big evil has risen and they need our help."

Wesley looked concerned. "But what about the office? The new business?"

"It will have to wait. No one knows we're back in business yet anyway, it's not like we'll miss any customers."

Spike stood up. "Will Buffy be there?" Angel nodded. Spike sighed. Buffy still didn't know he was alive, and he wasn't sure how she would react. He had dreamed of the moment he would see her again many times, but he highly doubted that the meeting would go anything like his fantasies.

Illyria looked very confused. "What is Giles and Buffy?"

Later that day

Still LA

"Do we have everything?" Angel asked. They were preparing to go to the airport.

"Yes, I believe so. It's a shame we can't bring some weaponry, but with airport security these days we don't stand a chance," Wesley said.

"It's okay, Giles will have plenty." Angel lifted his duffel bag and headed for the door when, to his surprise, in walked his son. "Connor! Hey. Actually, we were just leaving," Angel said.

Connor glanced around at the others. "I just heard you had a new office. It's nice," he said, looking around. "Where are you going?"

"To England. Giles, Buffy's old watcher, called, some dark force rose in London a few days ago."

Connor perked up. "Then I'm coming with you."

Angel frowned. "Connor, you don't have to. And besides your parents-"

"I'm in college now. On break. I'll just tell them I went away with my friends. I want to come," Connor insisted.

Angel sighed. "I suppose you can. But we have to leave now, so you don't have time to get your things."

Connor shrugged. "It's okay. I survived a childhood in a hell dimension, I can manage without a change of clothes for a while." The rest of the group looked at each other. Angel and Wesley were the only ones who had memories of Connor, but the others had been filled in.

Angel smiled. "Okay. Well, let's go then," he said, trying to hide his pleasure at the fact that his son was coming along.

The next day

London, England

The next morning Buffy and Dawn entered Giles's apartment. "Giles!" Buffy said, hugging him tightly. She hadn't seen him very much this past year, and she'd missed him terribly.

"Willow! Tara!" Dawn squealed, as she ran to hug them. Buffy looked up and saw the two witches reuniting with her sister. Grinning, she rushed over to give them a hug. Meanwhile, Xander and Anya entered the apartment, bickering as usual.

"Anya, it's not my fault airplane food is crappy. And your store will survive without you," Xander said, sounding like...someone who'd just spent a few hours on a plane with Anya.

Anya frowned. "Those Egyptians can't be trusted. They will probably vandalize my store."

Dawn smiled. "Some things never change."

Xander and Anya stopped bickering long enough to reunite with the others. When everyone had settled in, Giles began to speak. "Well you all know why we are here. When everyone arrives, we should come up with a plan, perhaps some can do research while others can patrol the city-"

"What others?" Buffy asked. "Is Kennedy coming with some other poten-I mean, slayers?"

Giles hesitated. He had been wondering how Buffy would take the news that Angel was coming, not to mention Spike. "No. I called Angel in LA, he and his team should be arriving shortly."

Buffy stood up. "You called Angel?"

Giles paused for a moment. "We need all the power we can get here, if this dark force is as powerful as my colleague says."

Buffy sat down again. "I just wish you'd told me you were going to call him."

"Well I am sorry." Giles paused again. "I think there is something you should all know before they arrive."

He was interrupted when the door opened, and Angel walked in. "Hi everyone," he said, making eye contact with Buffy first. She was momentarily distracted when a teenage boy walked in behind Angel.

"Who's that?" Tara muttered to Dawn.

Dawn smiled at the boy. "I don't know, but he sure is cute."

Buffy opened her mouth to ask Angel who the boy was, but froze when Spike walked through the door.

"Spike?" she said incredulously. She continued to gape as Wesley and a tall black man entered the room, accompanied by a strange looking blue sort of demon thing. She sighed. There was definitely going to be interesting days ahead.