(A/N: Dawn Summers enters the story in this chapter and there's lots of mention of Buffy and her two vamps. Dawn, Buffy, Spike, and Angel are property of Joss Whedon. Sadly, I do not own them. Just a little disclaimer)

The next day Trina entered Kelly's in need of a coffee. Today was a busy one. She had to get up early to head to PCU to register for classes, which was a maze in itself. Then she had to apply for a dorm. Hopefully, she won't have a roommate. She'll never forget the story that the OG slayer Buffy had once told about how her college roommate had ended up being a demon who had just wanted to escape home and go to college. Trina couldn't help but shudder at the aspect of that happening to her. Now, she was here to meet up with her watcher, who was arriving today. She couldn't wait to see her again. It's been a while since she had a meet-up with Dawn.

"There you are! We have to talk about the company you've been keeping, darling!" Luke Spencer came out of the kitchen, slinging a drying towel over his shoulder as he gave Trina a serious side-eye.

Trina frowned. "What do you mean? I was doing my job, which was slaying a vampire."

"And hanging out with one."

Trina blinked a few times, not understanding what she had just heard. "Um...if you're talking about Spencer, he is not a vampire. I mean...he was almost eaten by one until I came along, but he's not one. I know a vampire when I see it. He's definitely human. Besides, vamps don't eat each other."

"The vamp must be a new one because they usually leave the Cassadine humans alone," Luke pursed his lips, "That's not the point. He is still a Cassadine and I know that the lot of them are vampires and soon he'll be one too! Mark my words!"

Trina sighed, feeling really really tired. She did not want to argue with the man. "Look, my job is to slay vampires. Not humans. So as long as Spencer has a beating heart and is not trying to bite people, he's pretty much safe from me."

"Fine. Suit yourself. Don't forget that I told you so when it comes to that kid."

Trina just laughed and rolled her eyes. "Yeah. Sure. By the way, do you think I can have a cup of coffee and a Danish?"

"Sure."

Once her coffee and Danish were in hand, Trina walked out onto the outside patio and took a seat at one of the tables. Bored, she took out her art portfolio and opened it to the picture of Spencer that she had been working on. She sighed, tracing his features with a slender finger. He really was handsome and interesting. And human. But his father certainly wasn't. What was going on here? Why the difference? One thing she did know. The Cassadines were obviously a different breed of vampire from what she was used to.

Trina sighed, unable to take her eyes away from the picture. She had never been one to be boy-crazy, but Spencer's looks were extraordinary. There was a beautiful vulnerability there that just drew her in. Intranced her.

"Trina!"

Trina looked up to see a tall woman with chestnut hair pulled back into a braid enter, her eyes bright with excitement as she waved at her.

Trina squealed in excitement and got up to go greet the woman that had been her watcher from the moment she had been called. Dawn Summers.

"Dawn! I'm so happy to see you! Port Charles is something else!" Trina pulled her watcher over to her table and took a seat.

"What's going on? Normally, you've seen one vampire, you've seen them all. Have you met with that Luke Spencer person yet? I've been wanting to meet him. According to Giles, he stopped a weather machine back in the eighties. It was national news!"

"Oh, I met him, alright. He's very...eccentric."

"Oh really. I have to meet him. It's been a while since I've met anyone really interesting. You'd think I was eight not thirty-eight, you know? Gosh, it's hard having a slayer for a big sister...no offense," Dawn began to rant, much to Trina's amusement.

"None taken. I completely understand. My mom treats me like I'm twelve and not 20. It's aggravating. She keeps forgetting that I'm a slayer and can take care of myself."

"So...what do you think of Port Charles? Are there many vampires here? Are we going to like living here? How is the vampire population?"

Trina laughed and held up her hands as if defending herself against the onslaught of questions. "Slow down. One question at a time. I haven't seen much of the town, but I like it. It's not too big, but not too small either. It has a university some night cubs, a movie theater and restaurants of course. Gyms...rumor has it that the mob runs the town. But so far that's a rumor. The vampire population...well, I did slay one last night. She was pretty new though...but something was up. According to Luke Spencer, the Cassadine family of Cassadine Industries are all vampires…"

"Oh wow, really? Wait...I do think that there's something about them in our archives. I'm going to have to call Giles and have him pull up the info. It's probably not much, so don't get your hopes up. Ever since the old council had blown up...information on different beings has been somewhat scarce. We're kind of rebuilding on a report-as-you-go basis. Hopefully, between us watchers and you slayers, we'll have our database full again!"

"Here's hoping. Especially since...I've already met one Cassadine...and he's no vampire…"

"Oh, really? Is he cute?"

Trina rolled her eyes and pushed over the picture she had drawn of Spencer. "What do you think?"

"Wow...move over Spike…"

"Are you still crushing on your sister's man?" Trina arched a brow, trying not to laugh. She loved Dawn. Having her as a watcher was so much fun! She was like an older sister! But when it was time to get serious, Dawn went strictly into watcher mode, with a side of understanding when the cases may be too much for Trina to emotionally handle. She understood that sometimes, this job can be rather scary for a young girl, whether she had slayer strength or not.

"No! I haven't done that since I was fifteen, thank you very much. I just think he's hot. There's no danger of that. I may be an old fuddy-duddy watcher now, but I still have eyes."

Trina just giggled and shrugged. "Well, good. Maybe you'll meet someone interesting here. I know I have…"

"You like him."

"I don't know him. I do think he's very handsome. And he's nice….flirty...and human. Very human."

"What's his name?"

"Spencer Cassadine. Heir to the throne, according to Luke."

"Hmm…"

"He almost got eaten last night...so I saved him…"

"So he knows that you're a slayer?"

"There's no way I could hide it. But get this...his father showed up...but he is a vampire...but there's something different about him...there's a...sense of humanity there, you know? Like...Angel and Spike…"

"Hmm...maybe he has a soul. Angel was cursed with his, but Spike went to see a demon and fought for his soul."

"Do you think Spencer's father was cursed or did the same thing that Spike did?"

"Did he look like someone who could survive a trial like that?"

Trina winced and shook her head. "Maybe he was cursed...oh and according to Mr. Luke Spencer, the Cassadines have these rings that make them able to walk in the sun…"

Dawn's eyes widened in alarm. "Like the gem of Amora?"

"No. They don't make them invincible. We can still kill them. They're just safe from the sun."

"Oh...I wonder if we can get Angel and Spike a couple of them. That'd come in extra handy and Buffy would love it if she could take her man out in the sun."

"I still don't understand your sister. I mean, Spike is hot and all, but...he's a vampire. Isn't that like sleeping with the enemy?"

"I can see why you don't get it...but Spike has his soul and he really loves her. He had even died for her saving the world! He nearly died trying to save me! It's a long sordid story, but I'm happy that they're finally together and at peace. They both deserve it."

"It'd be nice if I can find happiness like that...but...I don't think that's in the cards for me. I'm too busy dusting vampires and other creatures of the night to have much of a love life."

"Oh come on, Trina! Buffy was able to do it and she was the only slayer most of the time! Now there are thousands in the world! It's not all on you like that! Of course, you can have a love life. You just have to find the right guy. Someone that you connect with…"

Just as Dawn said that a shadow fell over the table. Frowning, Trina looked up and gasped, meeting deep dark eyes that seemed to connect to her very soul.

"Spencer," She breathed, stunned that he was standing right there.

"Hello Trina," Spencer smiled, also feeling the spark between them.