You've Got a Way
by MysticMage
[reviews]
You've got a way
Written by: Mystic Mage
Edited and Muse: The WiZaRd
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from BtVS, I am simply a fan who see's a story from under lined tones, I do not claim any of the people in this story, so please don't sue.
Email: alys_willow@yahoo.com
Rating: PG- NC17, please see chapter advisory.
Comments, thoughts: Please, I love to hear what you think!
Summery: This story transcends over the years of the airing of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and also travels into the time after. All pairings up until Chosen are intact. This story will go between present and previous day.
Warning: This fic goes through a lot of the episodes in BtVS and recaps a lot of what they have said for Historical reasons.
Chapter 1
Winds whipped through the night air of the English country side as the senior Slayer walked the grounds of the newly rebuilt watchers council. Her life as had previously been busy with impending Apocalypse's, along with just being a best friend had been wiped out with the destruction of Sunnydale. She was no longer needed to save the day, girls were popping up each and every day and being trained to take care of evil. Leaving her calendar and date book looking more like a declining restaurant reservation list. When Buffy had asked Willow to activate the next in line of slayers she had never expected it would put her out of a job completely. Sure she still had the gig of showing and teaching all of these girls, but when it came to combat she was again useless. The life she had always dreamed of was now her reality. Even her responsibilities for Dawn had taken a spiral downward, her sister was now off at University, she was out there being an adult, learning how to become a Watcher with Giles. Kicking a rock tentatively as she moved over the darkened grounds lost in her own thoughts and revelations the blond slowly drifted back to her days in Sunnydale.
Sunnydale; September 1997. She was the new girl in town and she was being oogled by all the boys and propositioned by the local 'in crowd' of girls. She had never been what most would call a geek or spaz, in fact she was a lot like these girls at her new school. She was the one who would wear all the new fashions, she was a trend setter, only her trend was already taken by the Queen C. Cordiela Chase, the head cheerleader and resident Bitch of the campus. Not very long into her day she was already propositioned into joining the girl and her group affectionately by all called the Cordetts, but something inside of Buffy had changed, she wasn't sure if it was because of her recent knowledge of who she was to become, or if she herself had just grown up a little more. But when Cordy had taken on a meek and mousey looking girl in front of the water fountain and attacked her verbally she had seen herself only a year ago and that irked her. After the short altercation between the lead girl on campus and what she assumed to be the resident Teachers' pet, Buffy had turned back to look at her, to really see her. Something in that moment snapped in her, she didn't want to be like that, she didn't want to be the Cordiela of Sunnydale, or the old Buffy of Los Angeles.
That same day had been when she met the girl she had secretly been wanting to get to know more then just as a friend, but in those times it was unheard of, well for their generation it was, it was put down and ridiculed. Buffy herself hadn't realized it then either, but she just knew by looking at her she wanted to know her on more then just a school chum basis. The thought of the red head that Cordy called 'Willow' had been in her thoughts all through the morning as she sat through some really boring and embarrassing classes when she was identified as the new girl. The transition from school to school was new to her, most of her friends' back home had been friend'd in grade school, but now she was just alone as some of the loners and 'geeks' of this new school. After her class before lunch the blond had made it her mission to find that red head again and talk to her, when the newly called Slayer thought of where she would go if she was Willows' type she would most likely be lurking in the library. That and she needed to get a text for one of her classes, but instead she found the one thing she told herself she was never going to look into again. Walking in she called out to thin air. "Hello? Is anybody here?" And as she moved over to the check out counter she saw something that disturbed her more then she would of liked to have had on her first day in a brand new town. A tap on her shoulder made her whirl around. "Ooo" She exhaled deeply. "Anybody's here!" The two had a little bit of conversation as she asked for a book, a little tweaked he knew her by name and was.. expecting her? "I know what you're after!" He knew what she was after? Well aren't all these people just with the big knowledge normally seen by the great Sylvia Brown. That creepy librarian, he had just thunked a book right in front of her face, it reading 'Vampyer' freaking the Slayer back pedaled "That's not what I'm looking for."She stated with a look of shock and horror. 'Are you sure?' He asked with a puzzled dismay. "I'm way sure." She said with an emphatic air about the topic. 'My mistake.' He tried to sound calm like it was all no big deal, but really was concerned with maybe a slip he might of made. Big mistake apparently.
Of course she 'wigged' and left the Library immediately, and upon her exit she had strolled the campus again looking for the red head and finally finding her in the courtyard of the High School. She looked so small and alone, just how Buffy felt on the inside. Taking the initiative the blond came closer to the girl who was snacking on her lunch, she didn't look like she was very busy, just maybe in a day dream, so Buffy pushed on. "Uh, Hi! Willow, right?" She gave her friendly smile to break the ice. But the response from the red head wasn't what she had expected as the girl looked up she seemed like she never saw a person before. 'Why? I-I mean, hi! Uh, did you want me to move?' Apparently she recognized her from earlier and was trying to keep contact minimal, Buffy on the other hand was more concerned about who had made her so jumpy and so eager to just give up her already claimed seat for someone else. "Why don't we start with, 'Hi, I'm Buffy,' and, uh, then let's segue directly into me asking you for a favor." Taking the seat next to the red head, she continued on. "It doesn't involve moving, but it does involve hanging out with me for a while." Willow being the skeptical starts with a question. 'But aren't you hanging out with Cordelia?' Buffy of course was confused. "I can't do both?" Willow apparently tried to negotiate the question in her mind and then seemed to come up with an appropriate answer. 'Not legally.' Buffy still undefeated continued trying to get back to her 'reason' to hang out with the girl, it wasn't a complete and total lie, but hey if she had to, she could kill two two birds with one stone.
Exhaling again she continued on to the big question that might or might not break her chance of hanging out with the red head. "Look, I really wanna get by here, new school, and...Cordelia's been really nice... to me... anyway, but, um, I kinda have this burning desire not to flunk all my classes, and I heard a rumor that you were the person to talk to if I wanted to get caught up." Continuing to look hopeful to the other girl, she was returned with an enthusiasm. 'Oh, I could totally help you out! Uh, if you have sixth period free we could meet in the library?' Releaved and at the same time a little freaked by the suggestion of the library she quickly stated her displeasure for said place of meeting. Of course Willow being the accommodating soul she is, totally understood and thought of another place but continued on to why she liked the library and it's newest addition of staff being the Librarian himself. 'Yeah, he just started. He was a curator at some British museum, or, or The British Museum, I'm not sure. But he knows everything, and he brought all these historical volumes and biographies, and am I the single dullest person alive?' With a quick reply Buffy shot down the question with a "Not at all." Unfortunately her time with Willow was not only interrupted twice but three times, one by the guys (Jesse and Xander) second by Cordiela and third by a really really dead guy stuffed into a locker. Oh what her luck.
England; Present day. The cool winds were now starting to turn into a chilling freeze for the slayer, even with her enhanced body functions she was feeling the pre winter chills of an early storm coming their way. It wasn't at all unusual for the country but it was a tad bit annoying when you were in the middle of an all out hells fight with a big honkin demon and then to all of a sudden be stuck in mother natures thrall of untimely emotions. She had been a stranger to the untimely weather changes the first few weeks in the new place, but soon came accustom to it and learning to sometimes use it to her benefit. But that was another story, right now she was more deeply into revisiting her past and the times that had made her the happiest. Of course knowing that now she had a huge army of active slayers to help her defeat evils' ass she was ecstatic, just the part of mostly losing her friends were what bugged her. She herself had moved a few times since the closing of the Sunnydale Hellmouth, in fact she had moved twice. The first time was to a quaint little apartment in Rome, which she had shared with Andrew and Dawn. But after her most recent boyfriend had tried to put the slayer into a very early grave she had since kicked his ass into next year and then packed herself and the other two up and moved on to a nice little cottage in a remote location.. Again that was foiled when an alert was risen after Angel had signed up as CEO as Wolfram and Heart.
Taking that as her cue to come home, well her newest home living at the Slayers Council with Giles and the girls, Buffy had made it her business to disown Angel and Co as a back up to her newly formed Army, having sent Andrew as a liaison the blond had learned of the return of Spike. Something that had pained her deeply, when he had given his life up for the Slayer and her cause, Buffy had thought he was everything he had made him self into. (She was completely wrong, but with the evidence and suspicion she couldn't take anymore chances.) Sending an all points bulletin out to the remaining members, insisting they all return to the new base, Buffy had begun to grow anxious because one of her members was still MIA, the one she cared for the most. Willow had been missing since she had gone on to another plain to take care of some inner hopping demons, Kennedy had been the one to respond with a short telegram stating they would return as soon as Willow got back. A deep anger had boiled in her blood when she received the very vague and basically shitty response from the leader of the SIT's. Buffy just couldn't understand how the girl couldn't be going out of her mind with grief or sheer panic at the thought that maybe the red head wasn't coming back. Okay so maybe that was an over dramatization, but Willow was her girl, her back up. Buffy had always worried every time the witch had joined them into battle, but knowing her friends she couldn't stop them, they would come in when the heat was on her and help save the day, it's how they had worked. It's how they always would.
Sunnydale; September 1997 later that night. After the learning about the boy being killed by a vampire, Buffy had decided that it was a good plan to scout the local hang out of the kids in Sunnydale. That was the first night she met Angel, boy had that been creepy at first. Well kinda, he was a bit of a hunk and she wasn't opposed to nice looking guy's following her. Well unless they were the kind that wanted you for one thing and one thing only, and not what is beneath your clothes. He had given her a cross, a nice one too! Not one of those dime store costume jewelry types. Even when she was out not looking for something to come out and give her more guilt to continue this chosen thing past there it was standing right before her in that oh so handsome face, how could she refuse? She did try, she tried so hard to refuse this damn chosen thingy. "Okay. What do I want?" She knew in the back of her mind this wasn't going to change anything, well okay it would, this was where her destiny started once again after trying to squash it like a bug. 'To kill them. To kill them all.' He said it like it was just written on her forehead in big neon letters. Feeling spiteful she chose to ignore what she and this dark and handsome guy both knew. "Sorry, that's incorrect. But you do get this lovely watch and a year's supply of Turtle Wax. What I want is to be left alone!" She started to walk away but for some reason what he said when she did turned her back around. 'Do you really think that's an option anymore? You're standing at the Mouth of Hell. And it's about to open.' Damn it! Why was she supposed to care, just last year she was your normal girl trying to stay in the latest fashion and keep up on the hottest celebrities. That's when he tossed her the little box holding the cross inside, she was so slack jawed she could barely think. 'Don't turn your back on this. You've gotta be ready.' Okay, ready for what? Vague much? Really a good way to get a girls attention. "What for?" God did she seem as blond as she looked? 'For the Harvest.' Damn.. Did everyone know about this whole slayer vs vampire gig? Was it on CNN or something? "Who are you?" Buffy just had to ask. 'Let's just say... I'm a friend.' Still thinking she could be an ass about this whole deal shot back at the 'unknown' stranger. "Yeah, well, maybe I don't want a friend." 'I didn't say I was yours.'
This town was just getting weirder by the minute, she remembered thinking as she went into the local hot spot called the Bronze. It wasn't to bad, the tunes were relatively up to date, the people seemed to be interested in the party more then the creepy stuff she had been dealing with all day. Well that was of the good, at least she had found an escape when things might get a little tough around here. It wasn't like she could just go home and tell her mom they moved into the Twilight zone. First her mom would just think it was new town jitters and then maybe it would click there was a problem, but not the kind Buffy meant, more in likely she would think it was just her daughter starting the same problems they left LA because of. Okay so that option was out the window, but tonight she would just relax, maybe give this place a little more of a chance. Again spotting the red head alone, Buffy couldn't help but wonder why she had no friends at all, well except those two dorky guys earlier from school. Choosing again to approach her, she was for some reason drawn to this girl, not really sure she just went with her instincts. Starting with a hearty 'Hey!' Buffy received two back while she was taking a seat next to the girl at the bar. Worried she quickly asked if the red head was here with someone. "Oh, you're here with someone?" 'No, I'm just here. I thought Xander was gonna show up.' Well that was better then her saying yes and Buffy feeling like a fool for interrupting her on a possible date. Then again, maybe she was waiting to hook up with Xander for a date, being concerned that she might look like a fool again the blond tried to dig for more information. "Oh, are you guys going out?" 'No, we're just friends. We used to go out, but we broke up.' Again a negative response, that was looking a little better, she hadn't interrupted nor did she move in when the other was waiting on someone. Small conversation, that was the best way to go. "How come?" 'He stole my Barbie.' The apparent confusion on her face must have enticed the red head to continue because she explained further. 'Oh, we were five.' Well that made a little more sense.
'I-I-I don't actually date a whole lot... lately.' Okay that bugged the Slayer some, how could this beautiful girl not catch guys left and right? Sure she was a bit on the brainy side, and hey she didn't really dress like the rest of the girls at school, but that should make her stand out more and the guys to glance and lust even harder, she seemed the hard to get type. Maybe just a little to shy, but she still had some rockin vibes and her looks were just wow! "Why not?" Keep it simple, she kept repeating inside her mind, the girl seemed like she had a hard time being open with people, let alone the talking seemed pretty hard for her, well only in the few instances the blond had to go off, but it was enough to know, she could read people pretty good.' Well, when I'm with a boy I like, it's hard for me to say anything cool, or, or witty, or at all. I-I can usually make a few vowel sounds, and then I have to go away.' Yep she knew, it hit it right on the button. Trying to coax the girl more Buffy did get her to chat a bit more. ' No, i-it is. I think boys are more interested in a girl who can talk.' So she was a bit shy? This seemed more like a new fun project, maybe a great friendship, Buffy wanted that. She liked Willow, thought she was cute and funny, and even though she was shy she still was pretty witty without knowing it, maybe that was the charm the boys were missing out on.
"It's not that bad!"
'No, i-it is. I think boys are more interested in a girl who can
talk.'
"You really haven't been dating lately." Buffy was completely shocked at how little this girl dated, was everyone in this town blind? Or were they just interested in the cheerleaders? Then again, wasn't it like that in every town? It seemed sad that the greatest people around you were over looked, well not if Buffy could help it. Nope this girl was gonna get noticed somehow, she just wasn't sure how yet.
'It's probably easy for you.'
"Yeah, real easy." She answered automatically, not really realizing how bad it sounded, like she was shoving it in Willow's face.
'I-I mean you don't seem too shy.' Willow tried to back peddle where none was needed.
"Well, my philosophy, do you wanna hear my philosophy?" Perking up, instead of being concerned with the crowds around them, Buffy figured maybe a little self influence would get this girl to think about what she should think about when trying to talk to a guy.
'Yeah, I do!'
"Life is short."
'Life is short!' The red head thought about that for a moment while repeating what the other had said.
"Not original, I'll grant you, but it's true. You know? Why waste time being all shy and worrying about some guy, and if he's gonna laugh at you. Seize the moment, 'cause tomorrow you might be dead."
'Oh, that's nice!' Willow said that a little to enthusiastically, but it was true, she did think it was some good advise, whether she used it or not she liked it.
'Damn it!' Buffy cursed inwardly when she saw that strange Librarian up in the loft of the club, why couldn't one night she just get away from the mess, first he had to wig her at school, then that creepy guy in the alley on the way here, and now here he was again, a regular stalker. She grumbled in her mind and got off the bar stool next to Willow, boy was this night just picking up with the fantastic.
"Um, I'll be back in a minute."
'Oh, tha-that's okay, you don't have to come back.'
She smiled reassuringly at the girl "I'll be back in a minute." her tone was a bit more then she wanted it to seem, but then again, maybe the reassurance from the smile and her promising tone was something Willow needed, oh boy did she need something. Walking away from the bar she walked up the stairs to meet Giles. "So, you like to party with the students. Isn't
that kinda skanky?" Buffy tried to point out the fact it was border lining on Mrs. Robinson.
England; Present day. Knowing she should be returning to the house, the senior Slayer took in one more look of the country side before turning back and looking over the large rolling green hills to the house standing proudly like a beacon. Starting her trek back up the now squishy feeling ground, the water having soaked into the soil making it a bit of a difficult terrain to walk on. She tugged the leather bomber jacket tighter, her chin and neck covered by a wool scarf she had put on earlier before leaving the sanctuary. A deep sigh released from her lungs while she thought about the red head, wondering and worrying if she would ever see her again. When they had parted it wasn't the happiest of all goodbyes, it was the first time she had really ever let Willow out of her sight. Granted the few years before the biggest battle in the seven years she was in Sunnydale, the blond hadn't really been what you would call a friend. Even if Willow and the rest of them understood, she still kicked herself each and every day for not being there when her friends needed her the most. Even her attention to Dawn had slipped and the gang had picked up the slack, watched over Dawn like she was their own little sister. Especially Tara. Tara had taken on the role of mother hen while she was on vacation? what would you call that? It was supposed to be something permanent, but she was brought back, so what would you call that? Resurrection? Whatever it was, Tara had taken on the responsibility not only of herself, but also of the group, of Dawn.. She made sure she was going to school, she got her things when she needed them, all while she kept up with her full time schedule of going to school herself.
The care Tara had put into her family had meant the most to Buffy, had made her grow closer to the blond witch, to see what Willow had seen in her all along, even if she and everyone else wasn't sure. Not that they hated her, they just didn't know her all that well. To this day she still blamed herself for the witches death, she blamed herself for a lot, whether it was her fault or not, she was the leader, the hero. The one they all counted on when times were tough, it was her job, duty destiny. She should have been quicker, she should have taken care of Warren when she had the chance, should of slapped his ass in Jail instead of playing Super Joan and trying to scare them. Underestimated is what she had done. But that underestimation had cost her, the group, and most of all Willow dearly. She had lost Tara to that painful mistake. End result, Buffy not only lost Tara, but lost her best friend in the process. Almost. If it hadn't been for Xander and his courageous bravery to stand up to Willow, or what ever you would say she had become. He had been the one to save the day in the end, he had stopped her. No magic, no super slayer strength, just pure and unconditional love. If Buffy had learned anything that year it was the meaning of a true hero. No matter what you could do more then the average Joe, at the end of the day, it wasn't about strength, speed, brains, skills.. Nope it was about friendship and love; Understanding, loyalty, condition less, raw and true love. The hardest fight she had ever faced, had been won by a carpenter. Was she jealous? A little, but not because Xander had no special calling like she did, but because he was there for Willow in the end, unlike herself battling some kind of messed up tree friends. She was jealous because no matter how long she knew Willow, how much time they spent together he would always have her, he would always have that special bond unlike herself. Even Tara was privileged to that, so was Kennedy. Yes the girls were her lovers, and Xander, well he was her best friend.
They would always know a side to the witch she would never be privileged to, and that stung her, it broke her. One of her only weaknesses, and it was the most petty, the worst that could bring her down. Closing in on the Slayers Council, Buffy felt a pang in her heart at seeing what she would never be privileged to anymore, to be special, to be the only one. Sure she was grateful her work load was lighter, now she had the time and stress free life to continue knowing she wouldn't be destined to die sooner then later... Again. Deep in her thought she had been bowled over by a running streak of brown when she started to defend herself she realized what was holding on to her. "What the hell." she said a little unsettled by her slip, what if it had been a vampire. 'She is here!' Buffy heard her sister say with more excitement then she had seen in a long time. "Who is here?" she asked not understanding what her little sister was talking about. Dawn jumped off her excitedly and helped her up. 'Willow you dork! Who else?' She said with a little squeak of excitement. "Willow? Our Willow, missing Willow?" She asked confused and excited all at the same time. 'Buffy are you okay? Did you get into a fight with a demon while you were gone? Yes that Willow! She is here, she's been here for almost an hour!' The younger sister replied dancing from foot to foot. "But Kennedy, she said-" 'Does it matter? Willow's here! Come on let's get inside, she brought presents!' Dawn said again while she turned and ran back off in the blur she had rode in on.
Buffy stood there in a shocked silence, her heart jumping and screaming for her to run into the house and just hug and kiss Willow silly, but she couldn't Willow still didn't know her feelings, okay well she knew a little of them, but she didn't know all of them, just the friend ones, the ones that made it okay to give her a hug and tell her she loved her. But not the kind to allow her to hug just a little more, or a little longer. Not the kind she could gaze into the soft sweet green orbs and just smile like a silly goof, she could never show her those, never. Sliding her hands over her arms to warm herself more, the blond decided to wait outside, she had to get her feelings in check before she went in there guns blazing. Of course her feet tried to tell her differently, even if her mind was saying 'no-no No!' walking slowly she got to the bottom step of the porch this time her mind won, and she sat down.
Sunnydale; September 1997 same night. Buffy was leaning on the edge of the railing looking down into the crowd, her eyes continually gazing over to the unsuspecting red head, watching her talk to herself and then they would go back to roaming over the crowd, she wasn't enjoying this very much, she wanted to know more about Willow, wanted to get back down there and talk to her, she so desperately wished just this one time a vampire would attack this guy and drain him so she was free to go back to her business. She did tell him she was the wrong girl for the job after all.
'This is a perfect breeding ground for vampire activity. It's dark, it's crowded... Besides, I knew you were likely to show up, and I have to make you understand...'
"...that the Harvest is coming. I know, your friend told me." She interrupted with an air of annoyance.
'What did you say?'
"The Harvest. That mean something to you? 'Cause I'm drawing a
blank."
'I'm not sure. Uh... W-who told you this?'
"This... guy. Dark, gorgeous in an annoying sort of way. I figured you two were buds."
'No. The Harvest. Did he say anything else?'
"Something about the Mouth of Hell. I really didn't like him!"
The song ended and the band set up to play another one, as Buffy's gaze continued to look over the crowd, she really wasn't into this, she felt like she never would be. To say she was ignorant and pressing the immature button a little to hard was an understatement, but who wouldn't at 16? Hell most girls her age were more interested in hair, boys and what was the latest in Seventeen, not what a vampire looks like, hanging around in a graveyard, and training to be a proper fighting equivalent to her opponent.
'Look at them, throwing themselves about, completely unaware of the danger that surrounds them.'
"Lucky them." She stated with a look of wishful thinking.
'Or perhaps you're right. Perhaps there is no trouble coming, the signs could be wrong. It's not as though you've been having the nightmares.'
"I didn't say I'd never slay another vampire. It's not like I have all these fluffy bunny feelings for them, I'm just not gonna get way extracurricular with it. You know, if I see one, sure I'll..." Ignoring the nightmare comment, she didn't want him to know she was having them about this, she just wanted to be a normal girl.
'Will you be ready? There's so much you don't know about them, about your own powers. A vampire appears to be completely normal until the feed is upon them, only then do they reveal their true demonic visage.'
"You're like a textbook with arms, I know this." Buffy said trying not to go over board at being cut off, and also trying to let him know he was as stiff as a corpse.
'The point is, a Slayer should be able to see them anyway. Without looking, without thinking. Can you tell me if there's a vampire in this building?'
"Maybe..." She stated glancing out into the crowd.
'You should know. Even through this mass and this... din, you should be able to sense them. Well, try! Reach out with your mind. You have to hone your senses, focus until the energy washes over you, until you, you feel every particle o-of...'
"There's one." Buffy interrupted him while he was in the middle of his speech, she would eventually come to know it was his favorite part of having a slayer, telling people about the history and being so-so what was he being? Dull? Boring? Informative? Well kinda informative, but still she just couldn't think of the word at the moment, other then text booky.
'W-where?' Giles said stunned at how quickly she had picked one out of the crowd.
"Right there, talking to that girl." Buffy pointed out with her slim index finger.
'You don't know...' He scoffed at her assumption, he thought it silly of the little American girl thinking she could just look out into the crowd without proper training and just say simply.. 'there.' You had to have the proper and special training of a Watcher or a very wise individual.
"Oh, please! Look at his jacket. He's got the sleeves rolled up, and the shirt! Deal with that outfit for a moment." Buffy practically let her eyes roll around in her sockets as he dismissed her knowledge, she knew her outfits, that was one of her best qualities.
'It's dated?'
"It's carbon dated. Trust me, only someone living underground for ten years would think that was still the look."
'But you didn't... hone.' He said a little hurt because he was being proved useless.
"Oh, no."
'Isn't that...'
"Willow."
'What's she doing?'
"Seizing the moment!"
Buffy in her worry goes into complete Slayer action, she found the best thing she could use as a stake and broke it off the leg of a chair, and began her hunt. Stalking though the club she thought she saw something when she headed back in the area of the bathrooms and walked slowly on the prowl looking and 'honing' her abilities, she just needed a quick glance of the red hair and she would be able to track them faster, better, quicker and save.. Willow. Cautiously looking in the back hall she went to the edge and was getting angry with herself. This was why she was the slayer, this was why she was called. To save the innocent. Damn it! Why did she have to be so immature about this. Her mind was torn and she was distracting her self when she spun on someone thinking they were another vampire and she was about to cream this cronie and beat him for information on her friend.
"Cordelia!" She let go quickly feeling embarrassed but still not caring because Willow was in trouble, so what her reputation was now non-existent.
'God! What is your childhood trauma?!'
"Have you guys seen Willow? Did she come by here?" Buffy asked quickly, not giving the question a second thought.
'Why? Do you need to attack her with the stick? Jeez!'
Buffy realizes she isn't going to get anywhere with the bobble head and leaves quickly continuing to look around the large club for her new friend.' Excuse me, I have to call everyone I have ever met, right now.' The Slayer heard the small tidbits of what Queen C was up to, making her stomach churn and flip flop inside, if Cordy told everyone and Willow came up dead by morning - she felt a pit in her stomach at the thought of her possibly causing the red head's death. If only she had kept her philosophy to herself, then Willow would have never tried to talk to that guy, she would have just ignored him and never tried to change. As she came around a group of people dancing and completely oblivious to the invasion of blood sucking pale community members she ran into Giles.
'That was quick. Well done! I-I need to go to the library. This Harvest thing...'
"I didn't find them!" She says still looking around and in predatory mode.
'The vampire is not dead?' Grabbing the girl by the arm, he turned Buffy towards him and looked directly in her eyes with worry and panic.
"No, but my social life is on the critical list."
'So, what do we do?'
"I'll take care of it!"
'I-I-I need to come with you, yes?' Giles stammered clearly afraid of the thought to come face to face with a vampire.
Buffy said quickly not wanting to waste one more second chatting it up, she could do that tomorrow when she knew Willow was alive. "Don't worry. One vampire I can handle." Leaving Giles standing in a confusion and slack jawed expression, she didn't care she had one focus and when she was focused better move. Walking straight to the exit again she was delayed and felt the growing rock in her stomach inflate just a little more then it was before, how could she of been so stupid to think she could give this life up, be someone regular. This time though she felt a little relief when it was Xander who stopped her, maybe he had caught up with Willow and the red head had decided to hang back with her friend, after all it was why she was out tonight.
'Hey, you're leaving already?'
"Oh, Xander! Have you seen Willow?"
'Not tonight, no.'
"She left with a guy."
'We're talking about Willow, right? Scorin' at the Bronze, work it girl...' He started to give his bestie props for her success when he was interrupted.
"No, I need to find her. Where would he take her?" Buffy seemed a little psychotic at this point.
'Why? Oh, hey, I hope he's not a vampire, because then you might have to slay him.'
"Was there a... a school bulletin? Was it i-in the newspaper? Is there anyone in this town who doesn't know I'm the Slayer?" Now was her turn again to feel like she had just been slapped with the shocked stick. What the fricken hell!
'No. I only know that you think that you're the Slayer, and the reason why I know that...'
"Well, whatever, it doesn't matter, just tell me, where would Willow go?" Her mind was refocusing and taking in all of the information from just this one excursion.
'You're serious!'
"We don't find her and there's gonna be one more dead body in the morning!"
It wasn't to long before Buffy and Xander had found their friend, she had been taken to a crypt, not something that was uncommon in the vampiring community, it was like a calling card, when ever you want to find one, just go straight for the graveyards, that or the local hot spot serving walking happy meals. The scream was the reason she was able to locate the red head so quickly, and boy was she grateful to hear that, sure it wasn't a good thing, but it wasn't bad either, it meant her new friend was still alive. Meant she hadn't failed... yet. Meant she still had a chance to redeem herself for telling the girl to go out there and just try and not to worry about the reaction the guy gave her. Thankfully she was able to get them all safe and they had survived their first nights on the hellmouth. Unfortunately it was now of the marrow and she had to own up to what they had seen. Bad because her cover was now burned, but Good because she could have someone to talk with about these things she called her life. Just she prayed they would accept it.
'This world is older than any of you know. Contrary to popular mythology, it did not begin as a paradise. For untold eons demons walked the Earth. They made it their home, their... their Hell. But in time they lost their purchase on this reality. The way was made for mortal animals, for, for man. All that remains of the old ones are vestiges, certain magicks, certain creatures...' Buffy went ahead and had Giles start the explaining, she really didn't have all the book knowledge, she was just the utensil that kicked demon ass, she wasn't really big on knowing the who's and why's of this whole thing, it still freaked her out pretty bad.
"And vampires." She interrupted trying to be helpful.
'Okay, this is where I have a problem. See, because we're talking about vampires. We're having a talk with vampires in it.' Xander started to flip, he was taking it better then Buffy thought he would.
'Isn't that what we saw last night?' Willow asked with a quizzical and yet distraught expression.
"No. No, th-those weren't vampires, those were just guys in thundering need of a facial. Or maybe they had rabies. It could have been rabies. A-and that guy turning to dust? Just a trick of light. That's exactly what I said the first time I saw a vampire. Well, after I was done with the screaming part."
'Oh, I, I need to sit down.' Willow started to feel a sensory overload coming on.
"You are sitting down."
'Oh. Good for me.'
'So vampires are demons?' Xander tried to clarify.
'The books tell the last demon to leave this reality fed off a human, mixed their blood. He was a human form possessed, infected by the demon's soul. He bit another, and another, and so they walk the Earth, feeding... Killing some, mixing their blood with others to make more of their kind. Waiting for the animals to die out, and the old ones to return.' Giles text reference for the quizzical teen.
'And that would be a what?' Xander asked again.
'For as long as there have been vampires, there's been the Slayer. One girl in all the world, a Chosen One.' Giles was feeling a bit of pride when he spoke of the Slayer.
"He loves doing this part." Buffy smiled.
'Alright. The Slayer hunts vampires, Buffy is a Slayer, don't tell anyone. Well, I think that's all the vampire information you need.' Giles gave the brief and very cut down version, compared to his normal speech.
'Except for one thing: how do you kill them?' Xander thought that a good point to put out there.
"You don't, I do." Buffy squashed his thought right there.
'Well, Jesse's my...'
"Jesse is my responsibility. I let him get taken." Buffy again cut him off, and made no mistake to point out where each of them stood on the sides of Hero and civilian.
'That's not true.' Xander beginning his protest.
'If you hadn't shown up they would have taken us, too. Does anybody mind if I pass out?' The red head chiming in.
"Breathe."
'Breathe.' She repeated.
"Breathe." Buffy said one more time to remind her as she turned her attention to her Watcher. "This big guy, Luke. He talked about an offering to the Master. Now, I don't know what or who, but if they weren't just feeding then Jesse may still be alive. I'm gonna find him."
'Uh, this may be the dumb question, but shouldn't we call the police?' Again the red head tried with her formal and more obvious question and thought.
'And they'd believe us, of course.' Giles said a bit dryly and sarcastic.
'Well, we don't have to say vampires. We, we could just say that there's a, a bad man.' Willow tried to protect her theory of calling the police.
"They couldn't handle it even of they did show up. They'd only come with guns."
'You have no idea where they took Jesse?' Giles quarried trying to get back on track.
"I looked around, but soon's they got clear of the graveyard, they could have just, voom!"
'They can fly?' Xander asked dumb struck.
"They can drive."
'Oh.'
'I don't remember hearing a car.' Again the red head tried to be helpful with her recollection.
'Let's take an enormous intuitive leap, shall we, and say they went underground.' Again the Librarian tried to get this group back on track, he was really only used to working with a Slayer, not a Slayer and a posse.
"Vampires really jam on sewer systems. You can get anywhere in the entire town without catching any rays. But I didn't see any access around there."
'Well, there's an electrical tunnel that runs under the whole town.' Xander piped up.
'If we had a diagnostic of the tunnel system it might indicate a, a meeting place, it would, uh... I suppose we could go to the building commission.' Giles started to form a plan out loud.
"We so don't have time."
'Uh, guys? There may be another way.' Willow brought their attention to another way, the computer system, a skill that most of her friends and schoolmates had little knowledge of, but were about to now see the computer wiz at her finest.
England; Present day. A little smile perked Buffy's lips while she remembered the first few times she had spent with Willow, just she had only wished that now was then, maybe each wouldn't of been hurt so badly, stung each time they found love. But then again this time it seemed the red head had found someone she would be spending the rest of her life with, even if it wasn't with Buffy, the blond had to respect that out of friendship and love. This was why she still hadn't told the one woman still in her life she treasured so much. Of course the rumors of herself and Faith had been true, the brunette had just rubbed her the right way not to, no pun intended, but the way she had no care in the world about who and what she did with them, it made Buffy jealous. Jealous because she wasn't as free, she wasn't about the kill. She herself was more about doing it with plan and strategies. Maybe that was why she had found Faith so appealing, she was everything the Senior slayer wasn't.
Shifting her body a little she let the wood porch fence hold her up, looking off into the distance, Buffy couldn't seem to get out of her own head, it was like a deep vast of secrets, some she should have shared years ago, but now she kicked herself each and every day because of it. These days though she wasn't as busy, had more time to think and understand all the places she had gone wrong. It was an endless amount of time, and frankly it disgusted her, she wanted to be out there, doing what she did best, not just patrolling on the girls off nights, and being the one who directed orders. She wanted to be back out in the field, doing what everyone else around her was, it wasn't fair. Willow, Giles and Xander had all been doing this as long as her, so why should she get a break? The soft touch on her shoulder caused her to jump in defense, a quick spin and she was in a crouch position her back sweep connecting with the other persons ankles causing them to fall.