Disclaimer: I don't own anything and dialogue you recognise from the episode Life Serial is by David Fury and Jane Espenson. Script courtesy of my DVD player and www. mostlydeadthings. com

LIFE SERIAL (Part 1)

Tuscany was propped up in the bed. Her body ached but an enthralled expression adorned her face as she leant closer to Spike.

"You really killed two slayers?" A hint of awe crept into her voice. Spike nodded proudly.

"Wow, that's incredible," Tuscany sighed. Spike was confused. Buffy had acted revolted whenever he mentioned his past acts as a de-chipped vamp.

"You make it sound like is a cool thing," Spike said making the statement sound like a question.

"I can appreciate grand acts. I'd thought the guy who stole the Mona Lisa was cool even though it was totally wrong. Any challenge that is over come is kudos to the over comer!"

Spike raised his eyebrow at the slayer who seemed so young lying in the bed. He was reminded of Dawn, when she used to visit his crypt and he'd tell her stories. They were censored of course… so Buffy wouldn't stake him but Tuscany was a grown woman and if she wanted the gore… well who was he to deny her.

"The Chinese slayer was cool," Tuscany decided.

"Uh uh pet, The New York slayer had spirit," Spike disagreed.

"But the Chinese have this sick wisdom and professionalism!" Tuscany proclaimed.

"Sick?"

"Um cool or wicked."

"Aussie slang. Change from American slang," Spike nodded his approval.

"Aussie high school slang," Tuscany explained.

"High school? How old are you?"

"Eighteen. But I sorta dropped out when I became the slayer. Didn't finish year twelve," Tuscany confessed.

"That musta pissed you off," Spike said leaning back in the arm chair.

"Nah. Not really. I wasn't really an academic person," Tuscany paused before a quick change of subject, "Chinese Slayer sounded way more powerful."

"The New Yorker had flair, style. A bit like Buffy," Spike argued.

"Buffy. My sister. THE slayer. And Dawn too. I didn't know about Dawn. Angel could have told me…" She broke of as Spike growled. She looked at him confused.

"Sorry. Don't like the sodding buger s'all!" Spike told her.

"Why?"

"Long long long story about a girl and another girl," Spike didn't elaborate.

"I can't believe she's the slayer still. It's amazing. My sister is a slayer. And my other sister is a mystical key… or was. Half sisters," Tuscany abruptly corrected herself.

"Half-sisters, sisters, what's the difference? Blood is blood," Spike informed her.

"Than why hasn't Dawn bothered to say two words to me since she found out?" Tuscany asked. Spike couldn't think of anything to say.

"I'll tell you why," Tuscany said with feeling, "I'm older than Dawn, which meant I was conceived before my father and their mother divorced. I am a painful reminder of our fathers cheating ways. Dawn, to a degree, blames me and I don't blame her for that."

"Not your fault," Spike said quietly.

"I know," Tuscany shrugged, "and Dawn's young. But how will Buffy react to me?"

"Scared?"

"A little."

"Don't be she's a good person," Spike said with a small smile.

"And that's why you're all with infirmity watch. Like I'm some invalid," Tuscany smirked at the bleached vampire.

"Wanna explain that, Luv."

"You're in love with Buffy. So obvious. You're eyes light up at the mention of her name," Tuscany's eyes were on the vampire. Spike didn't deny it. He waited for the repulsion and the disgust. Instead she shrugged.

"Ok," She said nodding her head.

"Ok? That's it?" Spike asked in disbelief.

"Why? Not what you were expecting? I can try again if you like," Tuscany said seriously.

"No," Spike said shaking his head, "it's just that people find the idea of me being in love with Buffy foul."

Tuscany lowered her head sympathetically and smiled, "Willow told me about Buffy's death and how you protected Dawn."

Spike looked away as he remembered how failing to protect Dawn originally had gotten Buffy killed in the first place. Tuscany was still speaking.

"I didn't know you when you were an evil vampire. I never met the massacring vampire who tried to kill Buffy. You have a chip that stops you killing humans but it never made you protect people. You did that on your own accord. You helped save the world. That's the guy I'm getting to know. And frankly you're the only person not talking to me like I'm a ticking time bomb."

Spike was grateful. He had never heard anyone talk about him that way before. He pushed aside the thought that it was only because she didn't know him. He noticed her trying to stifle a yawn and Spike remembered that not too long ago she had been hit by a car.

"You need sleep," He instructed, standing up and reaching for his leather duster.

"Are you leaving?' Tuscany seemed disappointed to see the vamp leave and she was. He told good stories and she would get bored just lying here. And the fear would eat at her. The fear of Buffy's reaction to the new sister. But she was tired. So tired because, even though the bruises had faded and she was looking almost normal, the emotional strain and the injuries made her sleepy.

"Yeah, but I'll be back," The vampire made a move for the door. Just as he was about to close it behind Spike turned around.

"Hey Convict. You were only half right."

"About what," she asked as she snuggled deeper into her sister's bed.

"Why I'm here. Checking on you. Part of it is because you are Buffy's little sister," He smiled as she winced at little, "and because you're an interesting person. I'm big on first impressions and I think I'll get along with you a damn sight better than, say, Xander for example."

With that he closed the door quietly behind him. Tuscany smiled. For a vampire he was pretty cool. And she had seen his love for Buffy. She closed her eyes thinking about her own prince charming… whoever he may turn out to be.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Buffy opened the door holding a bucket of fast food chicken. She could here voices from within the house. She sighed. She was tired. Seeing angel was always a bit emotionally testing. She walked further into the house.

"Hello?" she called.

"Buffy?" A voice that sounded like Willow's responded from the dining room.

Buffy walked towards the room saying as she went, "Oh. Yep it's me and I brought dinner. Deep fried chicken parts. Hope you're all…" Buffy trailed off as she entered the room.

Tara, Giles and Dawn sat at the table and Willow was standing holding a stack of plates that had recently held food. Giles had a glass of wine resting easily in his hand. They all exchanged glances looking slightly guilty. Buffy didn't know why. They couldn't have known she was bringing food.

Despite that Buffy could not leave the disappointment out of her voice when she said, "you already ate."

"No," Giles replied automatically before blushing and stammering, "well, yes…Obviously."

"We didn't know when you'd be coming back," Dawn said avoiding her sister's eyes.

Buffy shrugged and tried to look like she didn't care, "It's ok. More for me."

She sat down and so did Willow. There was silence for a brief spell before Tara said with excessive enthusiasm, "I don't know about anybody else but I would love some chicken."

Just like Tara. Always caring about the people around her. What Buffy didn't know is they were just delaying telling her the news about the girl upstairs in Buffy's bed.

"Yes. As would I," Giles reached for the bucket as well.

"I'll take a drumstick," Dawn chirped.

"I'm a breast girl myself," Willow began with a pointed look at Tara, "but then… you already knew that."

Tara gave her a small smile back. Giles stared for a brief second before turning back to his chicken. There was an awkward vibe in the room. Buffy couldn't quite figure out why.

"So?" Dawn asked, trying to make some noise in the room.

"What so?" Buffy turned to look at her younger sister.

"So how was it? Seeing Angel… Him seeing you. Was it weird?"

Giles stood abruptly and moved to the back of the room while the three females stared at Buffy expectantly. Buffy looked down, unsure what to say. How to describe it.

"It was… Intense," She finally answered. It wasn't an adequate explanation but it would do.

"Well, If you wanna talk about it…" Willow offered, not certain about how to approach her friend when it came to Angel.

"I don't," Buffy told her too quickly and immediately regretted the harsh sound of her voice. She sighed, "I… It's not important. Past. I'd just rather keep this one to myself, if that's ok."

"Sure whatever," Dawn agreed immediately. Buffy found that strange. Normally Dawn would be pulling the little sister routine and pestering for information. Buffy got the feeling everyone was trying a little hard to please her and she found it supicious and she didn't think it was because just recently she had been dead. Giles could see where this was headed and leapt in to distract with a conversation that was bound to take Buffy's mind off her doubt.

"Buffy, there was some discussion," He sat down and looked at his slayer, In, uh, your absence about, um, what you're going to do now. You know, your plans."

Buffy was starled before she rushed out a response, "Oh, um, I've been giving that a lot of thought actually. I think I've figured it out, what I should do."

Willow beamed, "That's good. That's good."

"Yeah. I figure, if I hold off paying the plumber, I can pay the utility bill. And then I can wait to re-shingle the roof until we get the refund back…" Buffy paused as she realised that wasn't what they meant.

"I meant… with your… life," Giles struggled with the last word.

"Oh," Buffy stopped, "Life plans."

She trailed off hoping they would back off but they continued to stare at her.

"I have no idea."

The others looked at each other and Buffy felt a rush of anger. She had just come back from the dead for Gods sake… why couldn't they leave her alone. But at the same time she wanted to keep them happy. Let them think she cared when the whole time she was twisting in agony on this planet.

"So I-I was thinking about re-enrolling, but I missed the registration cutoff. Busy being dead and all," Buffy instantly regretted those last words as the pain crossed everyone's face.

"Well, if it's too late for late registration and too early for early, you can always come to classes with Tara and me," Willow with a solution for everything.

"Right. Y-you can audit for the rest of the semester until registration," Tara agreed.

Buffy really didn't want to audit but she didn't want to upset anyone, "Audit. I-I guess I could do that."

"Yeah, that ... sounds like a good plan. What do you think, Giles?"

Giles looked lost for words and he removed his glasses. He did all he could by nodding. The tension was now over-whelming. Buffy had to get out of there. She was suffocating.

"Well I think I'll just go to bed," Buffy announced standing up. Panic flittered across every member of the rooms face.

"No. you can't," Willow burst out. Buffy narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms.

"what Willow means to say is… there is some one… something we didn't tell you," Giles walked towards his slayer.

"Start talking," Buffy commanded tilting her head expectantly.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

"This is my sister?" Buffy demanded. The woman sleeping in front of her looked nothing like her. She had a completely different build to herself and Dawn.

"Shh," Giles said with a finger to his lips, "she got hit by a car."

Buffy moved closer examining her. When she looked closer the girl… Tuscany… had the same nose. Dawn had her hands on her hips and was staring at Tuscany with something that looked like hate.

"I can't believe it. How in gods name did mum hide this from me?"

Every one went quiet.

"She's your half sister," Tara explained quietly.

"And she's older then me," Dawn said sourly.

"Oh," Buffy replied, "OHHH," She finally comprehended.

"Her mother put her up for adoption. She lived in Australia. Angel sent her here and Spike found her," Willow told her.

"Angel… He never mentioned it," Buffy was in shock.

"Maybe he didn't feel like it was his place?" Giles suggested.

Buffy nodded in agreement and moved to sit on the edge of her bed. Tuscany stirred and slowly opened her eyes. They widened immediately and she moved back.

"Buffy?"

"That's me!"

"I'm finally meeting you. The original slayer."

"You know about the slayer?" Buffy asked. Just how much had her friends told this stranger… her sister.

"Of course… wait you don't know?" Tuscany sat up and stared.

"She's the slayer. The one activated while you were d… gone!" Giles moved closer.

"Something you have in common," Dawn spat out and left the room. Tuscany watched her go, closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Buffy knew she should be appalled and embarrassed about Dawn's behavior but for some reason she wasn't. Lying there, before her, was proof of her fathers cheating. But Buffy was numb and she couldn't bring herself to be nasty to the woman… not yet.

"You never heard of me before? Didn't the council tell you? Your watcher?"

"My watcher never really did his job properly," Tuscany interrupted.

"I think it's time you gave us some information about your past," Giles suggested.

Tuscany sighed defeated, "I was activated a while ago, you know when, and I got my watcher. I got orders through him from the council. One day I needed something from him. A book. He wasn't home so I," Tuscany paused and coughed, "Broke into his house. I couldn't find it on the bookcase so I went downstairs. There was a dead body. My watcher's body. I automatically assumed something had killed him since I had last seen him but as I got closer I realised the person was in an advanced degree of decay. I was stunned and terrified.

"If my watcher had been dead all this time, then who had I been talking to, working with? I moved upstairs and sat silently on the couch until my 'watcher' came home. He knew something was wrong and tried… he tried to stab me. I fought him and it turns out he was a demon. Killed my watcher and took is place. I've never had real contact with the council. After that I was determined to know the truth. About my real family and parents. I'd always known I was adopted and it had never been an issue but suddenly it seemed important. So I tracked my mother and my father down. My mum is dead. Cancer, I think. Dad was out of the country. I heard I had a sister. Then I met Angel fighting vampires. He told me where to look and here I am. I found you."

Nobody spoke. Every one just stared! Buffy stood silently.

"I'm sorry…about your mother," Tears were in her eyes.

"I never knew her," Tuscany said shortly looking at Buffy. She knew that her mother had died of a brain tumor. Buffy stumbled towards the door.

"I need sleep. Do you mind if we do the rest of this tomorrow? You keep the bed… I'll sleep on the couch."

Tuscany nodded pity in her eyes and Buffy left the room swiftly. It was all too much to deal with. As every one left the room Tuscany groaned and threw herself back against the pillow and put her hands over her eyes. That hadn't gone well.

AN: well each episode is going to end up being two chapters because it's too long otherwise and I'm tired. Please review. Thank you so much to my reviewers. Specially A.P because you've really made me think about my story and logics in it. You put so much detail into your reviews. Thanks.