Disclaimer: I don't own a thing, and I don't get paid to write.
Author's Note: A/U after all seasons of BtVS and AtS.
Desty entered the office she had turned into her bedroom. Her dog, Snuggles, jumped off of the cot and ran to greet her. She scooped up her floppy-eared friend, and he bathed her face in puppy kisses. She had found the dog the same day she had found this building. He had been almost as hungry as she had been, and she had just found some money. She purchased two roast beef sandwiches and won an instant friend-for-life when she gave the second sandwich to the stray. It had actually been Snuggles who had found the old Wolfram & Hart building. She had merely followed him after he ran inside during a rainstorm. She had named him Snuggles when he had curled up next to her as she was going to sleep that night. Desty put the puppy down and set her backpack on the desk. "You hungry, boy?" The dog began yapping and bouncing around Desty's feet. Desty shook her head in amusement. "Silly me, for even asking, you're always hungry. Good thing I brought you something, isn't it?" She said as she pulled a container of meat and a loaf of bread out of her back pack. She set the items down and walked over to the mini-fridge. She pulled out milk and mustard and closed the door. She picked up Snuggles' bowl and walked back to the desk. She fixed some bread, meat and milk for Snuggles and set his bowl back on the floor. She fixed a sandwich for herself and the put the meat, milk and mustard back in the fridge. Desty ate her sandwich and then sat down on the cot. She pulled off her combat style boots and picked up the book that was lying on her pillow. "I'd like to see Hudden and Dudden and Donald O'Neary." She said as she opened the book. Instantly, her favorite Irish fairytale appeared. Snuggles joined on the cot as Desty began to read aloud to him. When she finished reading, she got up, put the book on the shelf and turned out the overhead light. She turned on the lamp, next to her cot, and pulled her pajamas out from under her pillow. She changed out of the blue jeans and black tank top she'd been wearing and put on a grey t-shirt and black pajama bottoms. She had found them in the only bedroom in the building. They were far too big for her thin 5ft. 3in. frame. The pant legs were extremely baggy, and they dragged on the floor. They thankfully had a drawstring, which kept them from falling off. She didn't sleep in the bedroom because it felt too weird. The fact that whoever had lived there last had just left everything behind was just too creepy. As Desty got into bed, she turned out the lamp. Snuggles curled up next to her stomach, and Desty stroked his back. "I brought to friends back tonight." She whispered. "I'll introduce you in the morning. Goodnight Snuggles." She whispered as the dog licked her hand. She closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.
The powers that be were stirring. "It is time." Said a voice. "Time for what?" Another asked. "Time for two things." Said two. "Time to call. Time to wake." Said one. "Wake who? Call who?" Asked several at once. "Time to call the next slayer and wake the guardian. For behold, a new day dawns." The first replied. "Let it be so!" Echoed the rest.
The guardian had been hidden in a cave, and placed in an enchanted sleep that allowed her not to age. She stirred at last, after nearly 400 years. "Wake up Willow." A voice whispered. Willow was instantly woken. There was no one there. "Get to Los Angeles, for it is time." The voice called again. "It is time indeed." Whispered the guardian.