Chapter 3

It was nagging at her. No matter how many tosses and turns, Buffy couldn't get her body to adjust or her mind to quiet. Hours ago, two vampires escaped her grasp while the gang was in the midst of a demon melee. The demon was slayed but the vampires still roamed free. Free to hurt. Free to kill. And Buffy couldn't let it go. Faith was out of town with Angel on a demon mission, so she couldn't call the dark-haired slayer to pick up her slack.

There was really no other choice. Buffy had to go back.

But there was a problem. There were currently two other occupants in her room. Both fast asleep in cozy mattresses on the floor. This was not going to be an easy task.

Slowly, Buffy moved her covers aside and slid her wand out from underneath her pillow. With as little sound as possible, she scooted down to the end of her bed and silently stepped onto the floor. This had to be the slowest she had ever moved in her life, and it felt like the quiet little walk to her wardrobe was taking forever. All she needed was a pair of jeans, a basic top, and shoes. Slaying in her pajamas didn't seem like the best way to go.

With all the stealth she could muster, she opened her cupboard and pulled out the first items she spotted that could do the job. And now where to change? Going to the bathroom would take up too much unnecessary time. Changing in her room might make too much noise. Changing outside wasn't exactly ideal. Maybe there was a spell she –

"Need some privacy?"

Jesus. Buffy turned around and faced a bleary-eyed Ginny Weasley. She was still on the floor, body now propped up by the elbows, and looking at her expectantly. So much for Buffy's slayer senses.

"I don't – how long have you been awake?" Buffy whispered.

"Just now," she whispered back. "I have to pee."

Buffy rolled her eyes. Of course she did. Now that any worry about waking up the occupants of her room was nearly gone, there was no better thing to do than to change right then and now. Albeit as silently as possible as Hermione had yet to stir from her slumber.

"Where are you going?" Ginny asked quietly, still on the floor.

"Patrolling. I need to get the two vampires we let escape earlier tonight," she whispered back, quickly changing behind the door of her wardrobe that gave her a bit of privacy.

Ginny was about to argue that it was only two vampires, and she might not find them, and it was late, but she realized it would be pointless, because even one vampire was still one too many. And she knew Buffy wouldn't be able to rest knowing they were out there.

"I could help," Ginny volunteered.

Buffy's hands stilled as she finished lacing up her trainers and she looked at her sternly. "No."

"Oh, come on, I helped defeat that demon, what's a few vampires."

"This is strictly a smash and grab," Buffy said as she went over and opened her bedroom window. "I wanna get these guys and get back in my bed as quickly as I can."

"Which is why two wands are always better than one."

"Ginny, you can't," she denied again, her body halfway out of the frame.

"Why?" the young Weasley couldn't help but whine.

"Because you have to pee, remember?"

And just like that, Buffy was gone from view and Ginny grumbled at the reminder of her very full bladder.

After leaving Sunnydale last year, Buffy honestly believed she would never have come back. Never live in this house again. Never climb out her window to hunt vampires. And she was proven wrong thrice over. Not only had she returned, but she helped to save the town…again, her mother had never actually sold the house – much to Buffy's surprise, and she was currently scooting down the shingles outside her window to go looking for vampires. What a funny little thing life turned out to be.

Barely any sound was made when Buffy jumped from the edge of her roof and landed on the ground. The benefits of Slayer stealth. Apparating would've been easier, except Ginny didn't know she could, and Buffy was still hesitant to share. Besides, there was something nostalgic about creeping out her room, and Buffy was very much leaning into nostalgia at the moment. The sneaking out and heading towards the cemetery, it was all very warm and fuzzy.

The walk to Sunnydale Cemetery, the scene of the crime, wasn't long, and Buffy preoccupied herself by also walking through memory lane. Like that tree she was passing by, she remembered a demon had thrown her against it that one time. Oh, and that bench where Cordelia was used as bait. And the current path down the graveyard where Xander almost got killed. Sigh, good times.

Keeping her hands busy, Buffy twirled her stake, an actual stake, no wand this time, as she made her way around the headstones. Letting her mind wander to unnecessary things, taking in the scenery, keeping her faculties sharp in the –

It was the subtle shuffle of leaves, nearly inaudible to the mortal ear, but causing enough sound for those of supernatural hearing. Buffy paused her movements and turned her head a slight inch to the right to pinpoint the sound. Another soft shuffle of leaves made noise – closer this time. Cautiously she took a step back, slowly raising her stake. A tingle rose up her spine, some one – or some thing – was nearly at her back. Any hesitation and whatever it was could dig it's claws or teeth in her neck if she didn't act now. Ready to fight, with a ready right hand, Buffy whipped around and –

With a soft admonished look, she slowly lowered her weapon and relaxed her posture. "You're not really a yodeling guy, are you."

Angel smiled tenderly. "I didn't think you'd be patrolling this late."

"Wasn't planning on it," she replied with a light sigh, "but I let a pair of vampires get away during a demon attack earlier and I couldn't sleep knowing they were out there."

"Pair of vampires?" he questioned, stepping closer. "Both wearing suits?"

"Yeah," she answered, suspicious.

"One blond? The other, brown?" he continued, a knowing look on his face.

"Yyeeess."

And slipping both hands into his trouser pockets, he confidently told her, "I dusted them about an hour ago."

She scoffed. "Of course you did."

Just her luck. Scarified good sleep on a fruitless search.

"Sorry," he couldn't help but say.

"No," she disagreed with a slight shake of her head. "It's good. At least now I know. Guess I should call it a…late night, would be the best term." She tucked her stake into the back of her jeans and looked up at him. "Walk me home?"

Angel nodded and they soon fell instep together, friendly steps, as they made the passage towards the Summers household, a passage they had made many times many moons ago.

"Your friends – they arrived today, didn't they?" he asked.

"Yep, bright and – well, not early, definitely late morning-ish."

"Are they enjoying their visit?"

"So far so good. No one got killed – a little maimed, but he'll survive." And thank goodness for that. Ron's head wasn't hurting as much by the time they made it home, because if Mrs. Weasley had noticed, then questioned, it, she would've very much maimed all of them before letting them out after dark again. "I didn't think you'd be back so soon. How was L.A.?"

"Good. Short. Faith and I took care of that demon hive. Well, Faith mainly. I was just along for the ride."

Buffy smiled at his light attempt at a joke. "And where is Miss Demon Hive 2000?"

"Still in L.A. Enjoying her vacation on Venice Beach."

"Really?" she asked, surprised. "I honestly didn't think she'd…"

Something was…there was something. Buffy stopped walking, her face turning left, turning right, searching for…she wasn't exactly sure.

Angel stopped when she stopped, and he watched her inquisitive movements. "What is it?"

"I don't know, but…"

She trailed off as she continued to look around her, and all he could do was assume. "Demon? Vampire?"

"No," she quickly replied. "It's different, it's…"

They both stood quiet as Buffy tried to figure out her…whatever it was she was feeling. But the more her eyes searched, the more there was nothing to be found. There was nothing, no thing, no one. And the feeling…the feeling had now turned into doubt, because not only did she not know what her feeling was, she was now questioning if she had felt anything at all.

Running a hand through her hair, Buffy tried shaking off whatever she had, or hadn't, been feeling. "Maybe I'm just tired. Or maybe not scratching the slaying itch left me a little unfulfilled. I don't know."

Angel looked at her questioningly. He had patrolled with Buffy enough times to know that her instincts were usually spot on. If her spidey sense was tingling, it was because it had reason to be. But he wouldn't push it, maybe she was tired, and the sun would be rising in a little over two hours, she needed sleep and didn't have time to keep searching.

"I'll stay, take another look around before I head in," he volunteered.

"Are you sure? It could be nothing."

He shrugged. "Maybe not, but I've got time."

That he most definitely did, and she was very grateful he was willing to waste some of it on her flimsy feeling.

"Okay, yeah…thanks," she said with a smile.

"Get home safe," he bade and walked off the way they came.

Buffy watched him leave for a bit. Watched as he melted back into the shadows. It was another nice touch of nostalgia for tonight and she smiled to herself. What a lovely yellow brick road of her past she had found herself in.

Quietly, Buffy closed the front door of 1630 Revello Drive behind her. She locked the lock and made her way to the kitchen. Enjoying the restful silence of a crowded household.

Taking her time, she filled the teapot with water and placed it on the stove, and while that boiled, she rummaged for snacks in the back of cupboards knowing that's where her mother hid all the good stuff, and score! Oreos, Nutter Butters, and chocolate chip –

"What are you doing?"

"Jesus!"

That was the third person to sneak up on Buffy tonight. What the hell were her slayer senses good for if not ready to kill those around her? Being out of Sunnydale for too long was really screwing up her game.

Coming down from her bit of panic, Buffy turned to Sirius's smiling face, with a packet of butter cookies pressed against her chest.

"Doesn't anybody yodel anymore?" she grumbled.

Sirius scrunched his eyebrows. "What?"

Buffy sighed and placed the cookies on the kitchen island. "Nothing. What are you doing up?"

"Giving heart attacks to teenagers."

"Funny."

He sidestepped her current lack of humor and looked at the packets of biscuits on the counter. "Are you stealing from your mother's secret stash?"

"Yep. You want in?"

"Absolutely." He went to grab two cups from the shelves and that's when he noticed her nighttime attire. "Do you usually wear jeans and trainers when taking tea in the middle of the night."

"Makes for a quick getaway," she played off but gave in when she realized he was looking for a proper answer. "I was patrolling."

"Any luck?" he asked, fiddling with a hot teapot, teabags, and cups.

"Yes and no. Didn't run into demons and bad vampires, so good for the town, but bad for my sleep schedule," she replied, taking a seat by the island, and smiling in gratitude when Sirius placed a cup of brewing tea and a carton of milk in front of her. "So, what are you doing up?"

He gave a casual shrug, facing her from her across the countertop. "Couldn't sleep."

"No kidding."

Sirius wasn't planning to add any additional information, not even when Buffy kept her curious eyes on him while she bit into her Oreo, or even when silence stretched out between them while he made his tea just as he liked it, really he –

"It's nothing," he confessed. "I was just…overthinking, is all."

There was that natural instinct to tease and mock, as was their relationship, but it didn't feel like the right time. But she was interested. "About?"

Sirius couldn't help the heavy sigh as he leaned forward, hands wrapped gingerly around the hot cup. It wasn't really anything, but it had been heavy on his mind – especially since living in Sunnydale where he walked around town like a free man. Like a man who was once considered a criminal in the world he had grown up in. A world where the majority, now believed him to be dead. It was hard thing to not think about it.

"Life," he admitted, seriously. "Mine, specifically."

And Buffy immediately understood the sentiment. How could she not? Despite all the death destined in her predetermined destiny, life was something Buffy couldn't help but think about often. Even if she rarely admitted it. It was hard not to when you knew for certain that you may not be able to live a long one. Something a previous resident of Azkaban may know something about.

"You mean the sudden and frightening realization that once this as all over for the better, you might actually have to face having one?" she inferred.

Sirius was surprised. "That's very astute."

Buffy shrugged and reached for another cookie. "Being a slayer, and a teenager, comes with some very astute moments. There's not much to do when patrolling, so overthinking is a constant fallback."

Yes, it seems like it would be, wouldn't it? In that moment, Sirius couldn't help but watch her as she dunked a shortbread biscuit into her tea. It was so casual, so innocent, a little bit of joy in a carefree moment in a word full of everything but. And he smiled. He smiled at this girl, with her soft heart and hands made of iron, this girl who seemed to be destined to not only save one world, but two, and willing to fight until her last breath to do it. This girl…this girl who had saved him. This girl…whom, despite every battle, every scar, every tear, and scream, was just a girl. Just a girl currently sitting in the safety of her kitchen and his chest couldn't help squeezing at the innocence of it – because he knew how often people forgot that Buffy Anne Summers, Slayer, Witch, World-Saver, was simply a girl who liked dipping biscuits in her tea in the middle of the night of her warm kitchen.

Sirius slowly receded from his thoughts and reached for a Nutter Butter.

"And what has all that overthinking revealed to you about life," he inquired casually.

Buffy had just placed the tea-soaked biscuit in her mouth at his question, and she relished in the comforting sweetness, before replying, "That it keeps going. And it's good, if you're lucky."

He gave a short 'hm' at the observation, but couldn't help but wonder, "So does that mean we're the lucky ones?"

There was no real answer to that, because she didn't have one, and with all the knowledge of the lives she had lived, and currently living, she answered him honestly.

"I'm still trying to figure that one out."

And that was that. Sirius nodded in understanding and Buffy reached for another cookie. Both of them slowly working through Joyce's not-so-secret stash until they finished their tea.

Life's questions wouldn't be solved tonight, or morning, but this…this was good.

a/n: I had forgotten how much research, and lining up timelines, and world zipping goes into fanfiction. Trying to bust through the shackles of thinking too much about who says and does what, and how realistic would this and that scene be, and would it matter if I chopped this and added that, I decided to just have fun with this world again – while also trying my best to stick to the tentpoles of the Buffyverse and Potterverse with their respective timelines and plot points, of course.