Keeping Up With the Scoobies Chapter 6: Changed Rules, a buffy: the vampire slayer fanfic

BtVS || Spuffy || BtVS || Spuffy || Keeping Up With the Scoobies || Spuffy || BtVS || Spuffy || BtVS

Title: Keeping Up With the Scoobies – The Long Way Home

Fandom: Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Tags: m/f, f/f, hurt/comfort, survivor's guilt, fluff, found family

Main Pairing: Spike/Buffy

Side Pairings: Tara/Willow, Xander/Renee, Robin/Faith, Connor/Dawn, Dowling/Dylan, Angel/Cordelia, Oz/Bay, Buffy/Satsu (briefly), Willow/Kennedy (briefly)

Buffy Characters: William 'Spike' Pratt, Buffy Summers, Dawn Summers, Rupert Giles, Willow Rosenberg, Alexander 'Xander' Harris, Andrew Wells, Tara Maclay, Renee, Faith Lehane, Robin Wood, Robert Dowling, Dylan Turner, Satsu, Kennedy, Daniel 'Oz' Osbourne, Bayarmaa 'Bay'

Angel Characters: Angel, Cordelia Chase, Connor Angel, Harmony Kendall, Winifred 'Fred' Burkle, Wesley Wyndam Pryce, Charles Gunn, Lorne

Summary: Buffy shared her powers with all potential Slayers. But that was only the beginning. Now, she has to deal with all the new Slayers, with the aftermath of LA going to hell – and coming back. The world knows about the supernatural, there's no going back.

Keeping Up With the Scoobies

The Long Way Home

6. Changed Rules

Renee heaved a deep sigh as she patrolled the perimeters of their mansion. The first few weeks in England had been amazingly overwhelming to her. Meeting Buffy Summers, learning about her powers. And then they split up into squads. It had been a tough decision at first, she didn't know anyone all that well and had no clue who among the so-called Scoobies would make for the best teacher. The thought of learning from the Buffy Summers was intimidating, because failure would feel so much more intense then. Willow Rosenberg had barely been at the Giles Estate while Renee had lived there, she was just constantly in and out, mostly concerned about her witches. Andrew Wells seemed very friendly, but Renee didn't know what kind of teacher he'd make. Robin Wood had already left with his squad when she came. And so she had gone with Xander Harris. He was also friendly, and funny. She'd heard the story of how he had lost his eye, had heard how long he'd been fighting monsters despite not having any powers at all – both Mister Giles and Willow had magic, Buffy was the Slayer, from what Renee had heard, there had been a werewolf, another witch, a demon and two vampires who had at one point been part of the Scoobies too. But he was just human. It somehow made him all the more impressive to Renee.

"Mister Harris, all clear in the backyard," called Renee through the intercoms.

"I told you before, Mister Harris is my father. Call me Xander or Sergeant Fury."

Despite herself, Renee smiled a little. "Wasn't Nick Fury a colonel when he ran SHIELD?"

"I like him better in the Howling Commando days. But your nerd points are accumulating impressively," she could hear the smile in his voice and it made her heart race.

"I try, sergeant," she grinned to herself as she headed toward the back door.

She should just ask him out, is what Satsu would say. The two had become friends, were even still in contact, though Satsu was still back in England. Renee texted with her, running her worries by her friend. It was easier than with any of the girls here, because oh how would that look – like she was trying to sleep with the boss? She didn't want a reputation, or rumors. And it wasn't like she would gain much from sleeping with him. This wasn't an actual job; there was no pay-day, no climbing up the ladder. They were all training to survive and fight another day.

"Trouble at the gates! We need back-up here. There are... There are wolves at the gates."

"Renee-" Xander sounded sharper than before, the playfulness gone from his voice.

"I'm on my way," assured Renee, picking up the pace as she rounded the building.

When she reached the front gate, she came to a sudden and surprised halt. There weren't just wolves. There were also bats and vampires and a deep fog that hadn't been there before. All of those, on their own, were one thing. The problem was that they shifted between those different states. The vampires turned into bats and wolves at will, the wolves dissolved into fog, the fog manifested as bats, and so on. Constant movement, the targets shifting in size and danger.

"Talk to me, Renee. What's going on out there? We lost visual. It's... foggy."

"The fog is vampires. And they're also wolves and bats. The... The vampires can shapeshift."

"Vampires? Plural? Only one vampire can do that and he shouldn't be here."

Renee dodged a vampire and staked a bat. "Yes. Plural. By my count, twenty. Nineteen now."

"Atta, girl. I sent reinforcements and I'll get to the bottom of this."

/break\

"This is fascinating," commented Giles for roughly the fifth time.

Buffy couldn't help but smile to herself. Oh, he loved this. Back in the library, brooding over books to figure out a magic mystery. It was nostalgic for her too, even if Giles was on a computer screen and not with them in the room, it felt like the old days. Though she could do without doing research. Especially on something as bothersome as shapeshifting vampires.

"It's Dracula, right?" asked Dawn, voice eager as she bounced in her seat a little. "I mean, has to be. Bats, werewolves, fog. That's Dracula. Even Google knows that."

"Yes, quite, but..." Giles furrowed his brows as he looked at her. "The thing is that this is exclusive to Dracula. So we have to figure out how his gift has spread."

"How are we going to do that?" Dawn frowned.

"We're sending our Dracula expert over to talk to the count," Buffy smirked to herself.

"We have a Dracula expert?" asked Satsu surprised, looking at her.

Things between them were still a bit awkward. Buffy tried not to blush like an embarrassed school girl. She needed to get over this, but it was hard with the heart-eyes that Satsu looked at her with. Buffy really should have known better than to sleep with one of her own. Then again, where in the world was she supposed to meet someone? Her life was all about training the newbies. And she didn't regret the sex itself, or the revelation that had come with it.

"Xander. He was kind of... Dracula's personal manservant for a while," Dawn giggled, before she blinked a few times. "Though he was also super obedient to Dracula..."

"...Yeah, you're right, we should definitely send a Slayer with him," Buffy frowned. "I don't know Xander's squad that well. Should call him, so he can make the call."

"Can I..." Satsu spoke up tentatively. "Make a suggestion? Renee Falkner. She's dependent, best of her class, and she's... close... to Mister Harris."

"Xander. Don't call him Mister Harris. It makes me feel old when you call my friends Mr. and Mrs." Buffy flushed but got her phone out. "Renee Falkner, it is. She better babysit him well."

The thought of Dracula, of their first meeting with him, also made Buffy feel nostalgic. She truly missed the old days of going out on missions together, with Xander and Willow. Now, Xander was out there, taking a Slayer whose face Buffy didn't actually recall because there had been so many Slayers lately, while Buffy was here, doing research with Dawn, and Willow was... Well, Willow was currently in another dimension to broaden her magical horizon.

"How are you holding up, Giles?" asked Buffy concerned.

"Faith has my back," assured Giles. "I'll go through everything I can find in the Watchers' library and contact you with any news. Call me when you hear back from Xander."

Faith had Giles' back. Only two years ago, that statement would have made Buffy laugh. But now, she genuinely trusted Faith with the man who was like a father to her. She knew she could rely on Faith. That still felt a bit surreal, if she was being honest.

/break\

"Faith. You can't go on like this," Giles gave her the most disapproving look he could.

Thankfully enough, Faith was immune to parental guilt-trips. Instead, she offered him a carefree smile. This wasn't his business, or his problem. It was hers. And she... had no idea what to do with it. Or about it. She rested a hand on her stomach, tapping it with her fingers.

"There's wolf-bat-vamps trying to invade the Watcher council. I can let you and the nerd brigade handle that on your lonesome if you insist, G," offered Faith leisurely.

Giles heaved a sigh at that and shook his head. "No. Not right now, of course. This situation, we need to get ahead of it. But afterward, it's time you make a decision on how to continue."

The two of them had been out there, collecting stray Slayers. Taking out the corrupt parts of the Watcher council and checking in on the other Watchers to make sure they'd behave themselves. They had only returned to this place because of the attacks, the weirdness.

"I don't see all that many options," shrugged Faith, looking out the window. "Everyone got their squads going. Pretty sure we took care of the biggest problem children for now. No need to scour the Earth in case there might be more. Let's get active if we're actually needed. I figured I'd start a squad of my own, take care of the wayward kids after all. Maybe."

"That's not what I meant and you know that," Giles glared at her pointedly.

Faith continued ignoring him, even more actively so when she spotted three wolves heading their way. Finally something to punch. Beat Giles' fussing dad routine.

/break\

"Aaaah!" Willow and Buffy both squealed loudly as they hugged.

Xander yelped when he was pulled in by the two and nearly suffocated. Xander was the last one to arrive in Tokyo. That was their best lead, from Dracula. That he'd been gambling with vampires in Tokyo. Though Buffy didn't know what to think about that. Buffy's eyes wandered to the Slayer who had come with Xander. She was pretty. Dark skin, short curls and warm, deep eyes. She was standing next to Satsu, talking to her. That must be Renee Falkner. And judging by the glances Satsu and Renee threw them, Buffy felt as though there was a reason Satsu had suggested Renee.

"So, how's the Slayer holding up who went with you?" asked Buffy teasingly.

"Renee? What? Why are you saying it like that? We are very professional. Super professio-" Xander gave up when both Willow and Buffy threw him pointed looks. "...So I have a crush on a Slayer. Sue me. She might have one on me too. I might have actually asked her out while we were visiting my Master... Dracula, I mean. Far as first dates go, taking the girl to Tokyo seems good, right?"

Willow and Buffy exchanged a look and rolled their eyes fondly. This was actually going to be fun. Finally out in the field again. Yes, Buffy knew she shouldn't be happy about major magical crises, but they allowed her out again. These days, everything had been regular demon and vampire attacks and the squad took care of it in teams. They did good, actually. She was proud of her Slayers and she thought that, at this rate, one of them could soon take over the squad to train the next wave of newbies and Buffy could, just maybe, get back together with her family.

"Let's take care of this, old school style," Buffy grinned as she looked at Willow and Xander.

/break\

So there was no longer an old school, it turned out. This hadn't been on Dracula. Vampires evolved. Because Slayers evolved. Newly turned vampires got a power-upgrade, were stronger than the old.

"Vampires and Slayers exist as two sides of the same coin," stated Giles when he joined her outside.

They were in the Tokyo headquarters. It was a beautiful, traditional Japanese style estate. It was also now without a leader, because the Tokyo squad leader had died. There had been too many Slayers, too many squads for all the Scoobies to cover. They'd assigned the other Slayers who had fought with them at the Hellmouth, but it was all a lot to take care of for them. Buffy felt guilty for her death. Xander was sitting with Renee, who had been hit pretty badly but thankfully had made it.

"I know that. But... So this is our fault? My fault?" asked Buffy frustrated.

The two were walking through the garden together, under the moonlight. Giles sighed and took off his glasses to clean them slowly, using the time to pick his words. She appreciated that.

"What you and Willow did was... the right call, Buffy. You saved the world. You wouldn't have without it. And I do think that, on the long run, once the girls are trained and the squads are properly running, it will change the world for the better, will allow the world to be protected, instead of just one city, protected by one Slayer," Giles' voice was gentle. "But magic has a price. And magic like this has a great price. The balance between Slayer and vampire was thrown off and the laws of magic are trying to balance it out once more. You increased the power of Slayers, making them a greater threat to vampires than ever before, and now vampires have evolved."

Buffy sighed and nodded. She knew that, she'd been listening when he had explained it to her and the other Scoobies. It still frustrated her though. She thought things could be easier now.

"Vampires who no longer have to hide from the daylight," whispered Buffy annoyed.

"It's going to be a challenge," agreed Giles. "But not one we can't face, Buffy."

A small smile formed on her lips as she turned toward him. Wrapping her arms around him, she pulled him into a tight hug, startling him. With a chuckle did he return the hug too.

"It's good to see you again," admitted Buffy. "I was really stressing out about taking care of the Slayers all on my own when you left to do your thing with Faith."

"I knew you could handle yourself," assured Giles. "You're so strong, Buffy. And you are a role-model to them all. Having me there, teach alongside you, you would just hide behind me again. You don't need that. You have become such a strong, young woman, Buffy. And from what I have seen today, also a good teacher. Your squad handled themselves well. Especially the blue-haired one."

"Satsu," Buffy chuckled a little. "Yeah. She's... outstanding, honestly."

Giles nodded in understanding and for a while, the two simply walked in silence. Though bringing up Satsu made Buffy's heart catch in her throat. Not because of any feelings for Satsu, but because of the other thing. The thing she had realized about herself. The big thing. The bi thing.

"I'm bisexual," blurted Buffy out all of a sudden, wincing and closing her eyes tightly. "I just. I wanted you to know. Mom is... And Hank is never around, I don't... care what he thinks. But I care... I... I just wanted you to know. Wanted to say it, out loud. That I'm... bisexual."

Giles rested a hand on her shoulder, gently squeezing. "It's... alright, Buffy. You don't have to be nervous. I've always been proud of you and I will always be proud of you."

She hadn't expected any less. Giles had never treated Tara and Willow any different for being lesbians, and though Giles had been concerned about Buffy's taste in men, he had never made her feel wrong for it. Still, even with someone she was sure would accept her, there was so much nervousness and adrenaline about actually saying it. Claiming it. Like saying it aloud made it real. The way being with Spike had only truly felt real after she had told Tara. What she felt was hers, inside her, and it only started feeling real when others knew about it.

/break\

"I... came out to Giles," admitted Buffy, biting her lower lip and hiding a grin.

"Good for you," the smile on Satsu's lips was genuine. "Honestly, I was... worried. At first. That I was a... pity-fuck from a straight girl. I know you're not madly, deeply in love with me, Buffy. But I'm glad that I could help you embrace part of yourself."

"I like you a lot, Satsu," whispered Buffy, carefully reaching out to take her hand. "And I think, in another world, or if we had met at a different time..."

"It's okay, Buffy," Satsu chuckled softly. "I don't need you to let me down gently. I never expected more than that one night. I never even expected that, to be quite honest. And I know you love someone else. And I know he's out there. I know you're waiting for him."

"You make me sound like a pining damsel," Buffy pouted cutely.

"You kind of are when it comes to him," argued Satsu. "But from what I've heard, he is the exact same when it comes to you. Just... Promise me you'll figure it out, okay? If things between us can't work out, I can accept that, if I know you'll be happy. So stop waiting for him to come around and be the active badass you are who goes and gets what she wants. Be happy. Because you deserve to be happy, Buffy. You're... amazing. More amazing than you realize."

Buffy blushed brightly and averted her eyes. "I... I guess you're right."

"I'm not going back with you," whispered Satsu after a moment. "Things between us have been awkward. You've noticed, right? And the girls in England talk about us now. I don't... I want you to be happy, but I don't think I could actually live under the same roof as you and the love of your life. That would be too much. Tokyo lost its squad leader. All the local girls are still too new to step up. I'm Japanese American, I speak the language. I can take over. I think I'm ready to take over. I-"

"I know you're ready," interrupted Buffy, turning her head to offer Satsu a half-smile. "I... was hoping you'd step up in England for me, once I leave. But I know you're ready. You are my best student. If... If staying here is what you want, you have my support."

They were still holding hands, Satsu's eyes on their linked fingers. This was going to be goodbye, for a long time. Impulsively, she pulled Buffy closer by the hand, until she could kiss the other.

"Can we say properly goodbye to each other?" asked Satsu with yearning in her voice.

Buffy's free hand ran through Satsu's hair, cupping the back of her head to bring her closer until their lips met in another kiss, deeper and more passionate than the first one. "Yes. Sounds good."

/break\

Buffy was giggling as she watched Xander heroically carry Renee bridal style into the plane back to their squad. Renee looked flustered and protested, mentioning Slayer healing, while Xander claimed she should 'let him have this'. Well, someone's first date had gone well, it seemed.

"Aren't you getting on the plane too?" asked Willow curiously.

"No. You and me, we have somewhere else to go," stated Buffy, the laughter dying.

She straightened her back, her eyes firm with conviction. Willow smiled softly.

"So you're finally ready to see him," Willow sounded far too pleased with herself. "Good for you. I told him that he needs to get his act together when I saw him last week, you know."

"You... saw him? Actually saw him?" Buffy frowned, turning toward her. "I know Andrew saw him three weeks ago and he said that 'Spike looks fine as always', which... But you saw him?"

"Oh. Oh, yeah. Sorry, been so busy. A member of Angel's team had some problems. I helped out."

Slowly, Buffy nodded, before she took a deep breath. "I can't possibly be the last person to see him again since he came back. If Xander sees him before me, I'll lose it. Yes, Will. I'm... I'm ready. I talked to Satsu last night and... what she said, it was... like the... final push I needed?"

"Unexpected," Willow raised her eyebrows surprised. "But okay. Please hold onto your local witch and onto all valuables, thank you for teleporting with Air Willow."

Buffy huffed and wrapped her arms tightly around her best friend. Over Willow's shoulder did she see Satsu. There was a pained smile on Satsu's lips as she waved at Buffy. This was goodbye. And it hurt, because Satsu had been a loyal friend and a great help with the other Slayers. But Buffy knew it wouldn't be fair to force Satsu to stay. If distance was what Satsu needed to get over her feelings for Buffy, then Buffy would respect that. Besides, it definitely was going to be awkward once Spike would move to England. Which, she was aware that she was getting ahead of herself. But that was the only outcome she could see. Yes, she dreaded that first meeting, that first confrontation after everything. After Spike's self-sacrifice, the end of the world, the first time Buffy had said 'I love you', the way Spike had... opted not to believe her. It was going to be awkward, but she was finally ready to push through that awkwardness. To get through this, with him.

"...Will, where did you take us? I was kind of aiming for Wolfram & Hart. Or at least, you know, anywhere Los Angeles might be fine too," Buffy frowned as she looked around.

They stood in the middle of a crate. She spun around once. It seemed endless, but at the horizon, she could actually see the ocean. Where in the world had Willow taken them? With a frown of her own, Willow closed her eyes and channeled her magic to figure out what had gone wrong.

"I... did," Willow's voice dropped to a whisper. "This is... the location of Los Angeles. But it seems that Los Angeles is... no longer in this dimension. It's gone. Someone took all of Los Angeles."

Author's note: One of the things I liked about the comics was how vampires evolved. I didn't like that it happened after all magic broke and they got a magic book where they could rewrite the rules of how magic worked; we're NOT doing any of that. So I had to find a different way and honestly, I figured with the way the world works, vampires naturally evolving after there are suddenly literally HUNDREDS of Slayers instead of just one, that might just do the trick. Also! Renee lives, because I like her!

Next chapter, we're going to investigate what happened to Los Angeles and check in with Spike in hell! ;D