Welcome Back to the Hellmouth [S/B, G/Joyce, most canon ships]

A

Alexannah

Nerd in Training
Joined
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Age
36
Location
The Nancy Tribe
Summary: A war-worn and grieving Buffy is sent back into her sixteen-year-old body. She knows what's to come over the next seven years, but can she prevent the tragedies of last time?

Rating: T

Warnings: Most stuff that appears in the show, nothing really extra. (The rape attempt is not included in this fic.)

Ships: Spike/Buffy, Giles/Joyce, and eventually Xander/Andrew, plus most canon ships as the timeline progresses

Canon: Series 1-7, very little AtS. The characters appear "“ that's about it.

Author's notes: This is the last new Buffy fic I'm starting for a while, so make the most of it. WBttH will be a very long fic, as it spans all seven series. Plus an epilogue, of course 🙂
Thanks to Dawn for beta-reading. First chapter coming very soon!

Welcome Back to the Hellmouth

by Alexannah

Can we bring yesterday back around
'Cause I know how I feel about you now
I was dumb, I was wrong, I let you down
But I know how I feel about you now
Not a day passed me by, not a day passed me by
When I don't think about you
And there's no moving on, 'cause I know you're the one
And I can't be without you
- Sugababes

Prologue: The First Goodbye

Cleveland, 2003

Gentle rain trickled down the back of Buffy's neck, and she drew her coat tightly around her. It was nearly midnight. The moon was full, casting sinister shadows around the cemetery. Buffy stopped at a large tombstone in the centre, sat cross-legged in the middle and emptied her bag.

She lit a circle of white candles around her with difficulty as the rain kept extinguishing them, and used the one in front of her to light a sage stick. Willow had offered to help her with the ritual, but this was something she had to do herself.

"Spike," she spoke to the empty night, "I "¦ It's me. Buffy." She swallowed. "I hope you can hear me. I'm not really sure where "“ where you are. All things considered." Buffy hiccoughed. "Sorry "“ I want to say so much, I just d-don't know how to do it." She took a deep breath. "I guess "¦ I'm sorry. For everything. I don't think I ever really took the chance to say it "“ I've been a complete bitch to you, and when I look back I'm so ashamed of it. I can't believe you could still love me after everything I said to you." She smiled slightly, although her cheeks were no longer only wet from the rain. "Wherever you are now, I really hope you can forgive me."

Buffy paused. "When we parted, I told you I loved you, and you didn't believe me. I should have seen that coming. Know, wherever you are now, that I meant every word. I fought my feelings for so long "¦ I wish I hadn't. If I could rewrite it all "¦" She wiped her eyes on her sleeve. "But I can't.

"There's so much more I want to say. I miss you so much. More than I ever could have predicted." Buffy looked up towards the sky and closed her eyes, just letting the rain run down her face and mingle with the tears. "I love you. I always will. You were the one, Spike. After all you've been through, I hope now your soul finds peace."

The tears were now flowing thick and fast, but Buffy ignored them and pulled out a memorial bundle Willow had helped her make; various leaves and lavender flowers, tied up in a cloth Spike's favourite colour "“ black. She used his cigarette lighter "“ the only part of him she had left "“ to set light to it.

For a moment she just watched it burn. A sudden gush of wind extinguished the candles, and Buffy looked up, frowning, as the area around her suddenly glowed with light. Before she had a chance to react, she felt a strange sensation, like being sucked down a plughole, and the world around her disappeared.

TBC "¦
 
Nice one.

Interesting concept there. Right away it's open to all possibilities. I'm interested in seeing where you go with this one. I forgive the Spuffy goodness of the Prologue as well 😉 😛
 
Chapter One: Wish Granted

Suddenly it was daylight. This, and the fact that the tombstone had turned incredibly soft, was all Buffy had time to process before a voice spoke beside her, making her jump.

"Okay! Have a good time. I know you're gonna make friends right away -"

"Mom?" Buffy gasped.

There Joyce was, beside her. Alive. Buffy stared at her, not believing what she was seeing.

"What is it, honey? Are you all right?" The expression on her face was enough to choke Buffy up.

"I-I "¦" Buffy looked all around her. She was in her mother's old car, with Joyce in the driver's seat. They were parked outside Sunnydale High. The way it had been when she first started going there, before it had been blown up, rebuilt, and then disintegrated.

Oh "¦ my "¦

Something snapped inside Buffy and she enveloped Joyce in a fierce hug, fighting tears. "I love you Mom."

"I-I love you too, honey," Joyce replied, rather thrown by her daughter's sudden display of affection. "What's all this about?"

Buffy drew back. "I - just - Nerves, I guess."

Joyce smiled. "Don't worry, you'll be just fine." She kissed Buffy on the cheek. "I'll see you later."

Buffy looked down at the car floor and saw her old schoolbag. She picked it up with trembling hands and got out the car. Her mother "“ her mother "“ wished her luck and left. Buffy stood, watching her drive away, not wanting her to go.

What the hell is going on? Have I gone back in time?

She turned and looked at the mass of students. Several she recognised to be dead. Buffy considered her options. Still in shock, all she could think to do was continue the day as she remembered it. She started forwards, and a boy on a skateboard came whizzing towards her.

"Look out!"

Buffy and the boy collided and they both crashed to the ground. It wasn't until they'd both, laughing, got to their feet and checked for injuries that she realised that Xander had just run into her.

Boy, he looked young.

"Wow," he said, seeing her properly for the first time. "I mean "“ wow, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to run you down. Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine, thanks." Buffy brushed off her skirt.

"You're new, right? I'm Xander."

Buffy smiled. "I'm Buffy Summers, nice to meet you."

"Oh, and this is "“ Willow!" Xander called behind her. Buffy turned to see Willow watching them. Xander waved her over.

"Hi, Willow," Buffy said. "Wow, I love your hair."

"Really?"

"Yeah, it's nice and long. I've been growing mine out forever and it's still not past my shoulders."

"Thanks," Willow smiled shyly, touching a hand to her hair. "So, you're new?"

"Yeah, I just moved." Buffy hesitated slightly. "From L.A."

The three of them made their way into the school, Buffy's old "“ or new "“ friends firing questions at her, and her answering as best as she could. Once inside, she excused herself with a "Great to meet you guys" and hurried off in search of some privacy.

Alone in the girls' bathroom, Buffy stared at her reflection in the mirrors. The image they showed her was of a sixteen-year-old Buffy Summers, with one difference. She moved closer to see better, and sighed. She might have a young face but there was no mistaking the maturity in her eyes. Buffy leaned against the wall, trying to get her head around what had happened.

She had gone back in time.

Not only that, but she was actually inside her past self. What would happen when she went back?

If she could go back.

If she wanted to go back.

I fought my feelings for so long "¦ I wish I hadn't. If I could rewrite it all "¦

She could, Buffy realised with a gasp. She could rewrite everything. The Cleveland Hellmouth had granted her, her wish!

I can save Mom. I can save Spike. I can save everyone!

Buffy suddenly burst out laughing. It was the first time she had laughed properly since Spike had died, and it hurt her chest for a moment, but now she felt full of hope. Because everyone she had lost was now alive. And as long as she played her cards right, there was no reason why that fact had to change.

Okay, first things first, she thought. I've got to see Principal Flutie.

Leaving the bathroom, Buffy pondered she ought to keep up the illusion of not knowing where things were, and asked a student she didn't know where she could find Flutie's office. The bell rang, making her jump, and she broke into a run as she passed the library, skidding to a halt as the doors opened and Giles came out.

"Sorry!" she gasped, stopping just short of her second collision that day.

"That's quite all right." Giles looked her up and down, and enquired, "Miss Summers?"

"Uh-huh." She smiled innocently at him. "Principal's office?"

"Oh "“ just down the corridor. You can't miss it."

"Thanks."

"Er, Miss Summers," he started, "I would like to take this opportunity to, um, welcome you to this school, and, if there are any books you should need -"

"Drop the act, Mr. Giles, I know you're my new Watcher."

He stopped short. "Oh."

"I'm kinda late to see the Principal, but I'd love to discuss impending disasters with you later."

"I "¦ of course," Giles replied, obviously somewhat thrown.

"Great. I'll come and find you." Buffy turned and started hurrying towards Flutie's office.

"How did you know who I was?" Giles called after her.

"Lucky guess."

-----

One excruciating interview later, Buffy, deciding to skip what was left of History since she'd done it already, after all. Instead, she headed to the library, where she found Giles busy sorting books. He looked up as she entered. "Ah, Miss Summers "“ Buffy?"

"Buffy's fine."

He removed his glasses and began to polish them. "May I enquire as to how you worked out who I was?"

Buffy had prepared her answer to this question. "Please. You're English, you work with books all day, and the way you dress? It's a no-brainer."

"I "¦ well, yes, I suppose "¦" Giles cleared his throat. "Maybe, then, we could have a talk about, er, the impending disasters you mentioned?"

"Okay then. Fire away."

As he began talking about Sunnydale being rife with odd occurrences that were growing more frequent, Buffy sat on a table and just watched and listened, wondering exactly how much to tell him. Should she mention the Hellmouth, speed things up a little, or just wait until she met Angel and then repeat what he told her?

Angel. Buffy zoned out for a moment. The prospect of seeing him wasn't as confusing as she would have expected. Instead, she found she felt nothing. The thought that, potentially, she could repeat their entire relationship left her cold. With Spike, however--

"Buffy? Are you listening to me?"

"What? "“ Oh! Yeah, yeah I'm listening. Sorry."

With Spike, it was a lot more complicated. Buffy felt a chill down her spine as she realised that, when she saw him, she would not be looking at the same Spike she had come to know, but the evil bloodsucker he had been when they had first come face to face. It wasn't that she was afraid of him "¦ More, she was afraid of herself. Would she really be able to fight him, while being in love with him?

There were a lot of things she needed to consider, Buffy realised. Time travel was not as simple as it sounded.

Bet Andrew could have told me that.

"Giles," Buffy said when his speech had come to an end, "you're absolutely right. And you know what? I'm going to need to be prepared for anything. I was thinking maybe I could do a bit of ground reading? You've got a lot of mystical books here, right?" She glanced around.

"Yes, I have. I think that's a good idea."

"Got anything on time travel?"

Giles gave her a strange look. "Time travel?"

"It's an area of interest. Thought I'd start with that and go from there."

"Well it's not a common subject, but I'm sure I have a book or two somewhere. Would you like me to look for you now?"

"Yes, please." Buffy paused. "And, Giles "¦"

"Yes?"

"I also need a History textbook."

TBC "¦
 
F
Fredsicle
Just a question- does she remember Dawn, and that Ben is Glory?
Chapter Two: Light Reading

When the bell rang, Buffy made her way to the bench outside where she knew Willow would be, dragging a schoolbag that was so heavy with books she feared it would rip. In addition to her textbook, she was carrying two volumes Giles had found that covered time travel, as well as a familiar-looking spellbook she had packed on a whim, and a particularly heavy book on mystical artefacts that could be very useful later. She hoped the bag wouldn't rip; she would have some explaining to do if the contents fell out in full view.

I'm gonna turn into a bookworm, she realised in horror. Oh well. Hope Giles appreciates it.

"Hi "“ Willow, right?"

"Hi!" Willow said brightly. "Um, w-would you like to sit here?"

"Sure, thanks," Buffy said, sitting down next to her. "So "¦ tell me more about Sunnydale High?"

This time, as Willow told her things she already knew, she paid attention. I can't just spend half the next seven years zoning out of conversations. Got to focus. It was only a minute or so before Xander showed up with a boy in tow that Buffy realised was Jesse.

He'll be the first, she decided as the pair laughed and joked with each other. Jesse is not going to die tonight. I'll stop it. Somehow.

-----

Buffy collapsed onto her bed the minute she got home. She felt exhausted. She also knew she had a busy night ahead of her.

"Okay, Buffy, think," she said out loud. "Can't just wing it tonight. Need plan of action." She put her head in her hands and tried to relive the night as she remembered it. The problem was, seven years was a long time and the details had gone fuzzy.

"I go to the Bronze," she muttered. "That I remember. Was Willow there? Oh, yeah, she was - And Jesse went off with Darla - Of course! Willow went off with a vampire too "¦ So how do I save Jesse without getting Willow killed?"

She looked around her old bedroom as if hoping it held the answers. "This is no use." She kicked her schoolbag in frustration, and let out a yelp of pain as her toe connected with a sharp corner of a book cover. "I have to remember more clearly than this "¦" She trailed off, inspiration striking, dropped to her knees and pulled out the spellbook.

Of course, she thought she had recognised it. The spell Willow had used on everyone's memories had been in it. Surely if there was one to remove memories "¦ Buffy flicked to the index, and ran her finger down the page, searching for "memory" under M. "Ah-hah!"

She nearly tore the pages turning frantically to the ones listed, and the entry listed after the spell was a potion "“ one to sharpen the memory.

"Perfect," Buffy whispered. She scanned the ingredients. The magic shop should have them all. It would take only half an hour to make. She scribbled a list down on a spare piece of paper, hunted for and found her purse, and left the house.

The bell above the shop door jingled as she stepped inside. It was darker and dingier than it had been "“ or rather, would be "“ when it was Giles' Magic Box. Buffy hesitated, unsure where to start looking "“ everything was arranged differently.

"Can I help you?"

She jumped, and spotted a man behind the counter. "Oh, hi. Yeah, you can." She pulled the list out of her pocket. "Uh, I need these items. And I'm kinda in a hurry."

He glanced at it. "Well, you're in luck. We have all this here." He looked at her quizzically. "Memory potion, huh?"

"Yeah."

He started taking things off the shelves. "You sure you know what you're doing?"

"Positive. Thanks."

"I only ask because you're young, and that's a powerful potion. You want to be careful with it." The shopkeeper paused. "How much are you making?"

"A lot."

"In that case, you'll want something to carry these things in." He reached behind the counter and brought out a carrier bag. "Just be careful, love; you need a lot less of that stuff than you think, and you can find yourself remembering things you might not have wanted to."

"Thanks. I'll be fine."

Buffy paid for the ingredients, and he wished her good day. As the door closed behind her, she said quietly, "And I'm older than I look."

-----

Buffy re-read the tiny, handwritten print for what seemed like the hundredth time as she added the last ingredient to the third potion attempt bubbling merrily on the stove. Underneath the ingredients list, she noticed, there was a warning: The potion is strong; only a small amount will suffice. Large quantities can result in damage to the brain.

"Well, it's not like I'm planning on chugging the stuff down," she muttered. She would just take it sip by sip until it worked and bottle the rest.

When the potion was ready, it turned clear, which Buffy was relieved about "“ beforehand it had been a murky kind of grey-brown. She poured a single swallow's worth into a glass and downed it in one.

Okay, first night at the Bronze, she thought, and gasped. The moment it had crossed her mind she was there, chatting to Willow, looking for Giles; she could even feel the beat of the music. She remembered every detail: what was said, what she wore, even every word the band sang, which she hadn't even been paying attention to at the time.

"Wow," she breathed. "The shop owner was right, that's powerful stuff."

Buffy grabbed a pen and paper and started scribbling down the events of the evening, unsure how long the potion would last. When she finished, she folded the paper and put it in her pocket, filled an empty water bottle with the rest of the potion and washed out the saucepan and glass. As she worked, she noticed how the slightest thought could immerse her into any other memory, even ones she hadn't realised existed. Buffy smiled as she relived a cuddle with her father when she must have been about a year old. The potion really was incredible.

"And going to be very useful," she muttered.

Perhaps the best way to tackle her situation was to sit down, under the potion's effects, and draw up an exact timeline of everything she knew. That would help her work out what she wanted to change, what didn't matter, what she had to be careful about, and what she had to let happen, as well as hopefully help to predict any consequences of what she did change.

It would take a long time, she realised. Right now, she had to focus on stopping the Harvest whilst keeping everyone alive. Buffy thought hard and eventually came up with a plan of action, which she also wrote down. Checking the clock, she realised her mother would probably be home soon, and it was beginning to get dark.

As she made her way upstairs to get changed, Buffy's thoughts turned to Joyce. She was determined to save her mother no matter what. Even if she had to pull Slayer moves on every doctor in the hospital until they agreed to keep her in longer. Much longer. Long enough to be able to act quickly enough to save her.

There's only so much I can do, she realised suddenly. Just knowing it's going to happen doesn't necessarily give me the power I need to stop it. Buffy shivered and blinked back tears. She couldn't lose Joyce all over again. She just couldn't.

But just in case "¦ she would make the most of the next five years. Make more of an effort to spend time with her, Buffy thought. And maybe she should tell her about the Slaying earlier, so it wouldn't be the huge divide between them that it used to be.

Buffy sighed. She would have to think about that later. She changed her clothes, pocketed a stake and three small bottles of holy water, and slid another stake up her sleeve. After a pause, she had a brainwave and pinned up her hair with a wooden cross. Examining it in the mirror, she concluded that it was impossible to tell what it was "“ no vampire would see it coming, she thought smugly. Shame a stake would be too difficult to disguise. Maybe she could work on that idea another time.

"Hi, hon."

She jumped and looked up. Joyce was standing in the doorway. Buffy had missed hearing her come in. "Mom!"

Joyce laughed as Buffy positively bounded over and hugged her. "You're very excitable today, Buffy." She paused, and looked at her daughter suspiciously. "What's going on?"

"Nothing," Buffy said in what she hoped was an innocent voice. "Can't a girl just be happy to see her mother once in a while?"

"When it's you, it usually means you want an allowance raise."

Buffy mock-pouted. "Not every time." They both laughed.

"So, how was your first day?"

I aged seven years, and there was a dead guy in the locker. Instead of saying this out loud, Buffy just replied, "Okay."

"Did you make any new friends?"

"Possibly. I'm gonna see them tonight, at a club."

Joyce raised her eyebrows. "Will there be boys there?"

"Two of them are boys, Mom. And yes. Don't worry, I'll be careful."

She waited for Joyce's next comment, about how she had a good feeling about Sunnydale "¦ but it didn't come. Instead, she was looking at Buffy with a strange expression. "Mom? You okay?"

"Just "¦" Joyce smiled and shook her head. "It's nothing "“ I just thought "“ something's changed."

"What do you mean?"

" just seem a bit "¦ different," Joyce said slowly.

Buffy shrugged and faked a smile. "Just the same old me. Honest," she said, crossing her fingers behind her back.

Joyce smiled. "If you say so, honey. Well, have fun."

"I will," Buffy murmured.

TBC "¦

AN: I know the memory potion seems to make it too easy "¦ but I have plans. Mwahaha.

Review response to Fredsicle: Yes, she does, although it would be interesting if she didn't, wouldn't it? Too complicated though - this fic's going to be complex enough 🙂
 
J
Joyce Summers
Great so far and really good writing style. ;)
AN: Sorry about the long wait! I keep forgetting to update here 🙂

Chapter Three: Plans of Action

Buffy's plan was simple, but risky. She was banking on the fact that none of the vampires had ever seen her before and, therefore, would not know she was the Slayer. She ran through it again in her head. She had to keep both Jesse and Willow from being taken, but still make sure that Willow saw the vampires. Xander would have heard her and Giles talking in the library, but if neither of them actually saw vampires for themselves, Buffy might well have a hard time convincing them that they were real.

It was a good plan. Buffy just hoped it would go without a hitch. She may have the knowledge, but Luke was still stronger than she was. Still, she considered optimistically that she was armed better than before and had the element of surprise.

As she made her way to the Bronze, she could hear Angel's echoing footsteps behind her. When she reached an alleyway, she knocked him down and pinned him to the ground as before.

"Is there a problem, ma'am?" he asked.

"Yeah, there's a problem." Buffy paused. She hadn't planned for this moment as much as she had planned the rest of the evening. But it was probably better to get it done now. "You want to help me stop the Hellmouth from opening, you better tell me what you know and quit stalking me."

Angel looked surprised, which made a change. "How did you know?"

Buffy released him. "I know who you are. I also know that you don't kill any more, and why."

"How do you know all of that? Your Watcher -"

"Is not my only source of supernatural information. Look, buddy, let's get one thing straight here. You give me information without the riddles, and you stop following me around. Got it?"

"Got it," Angel assured her. "Can I give you this now?"

Buffy accepted the cross in the jewellery box gracefully, although she was now starting to feel awkward at how hard she had been on him. Before she could think of how to set things right, he took off.

She sighed. She had probably been so hard on him because she was still afraid of how he might make her feel. But like before, there was nothing. She just felt fondness for him as an old friend and annoyance at his following her. At least the message from her heart was still clear.

Buffy put the cross on and continued towards the Bronze. It occurred to her that Angel hadn't actually told her any information at all "“ maybe she had scared him off. Oh well. Least I know what he would have said anyway.

-----

"It's probably easy for you," Willow said in a wistful tone. She and Buffy had been talking for a couple of minutes, Buffy keeping to her "script" based on what they had said before.

"Oh yeah." Buffy nodded a little forlornly. "Real easy."

"I mean, you don't seem too shy."

Buffy smiled as the conversation reached its turning point. "That's sort of my problem, really. See, I have this unfortunate tendency to get talked into going off with complete strangers. Trust me, it's got me into all kinds of trouble."

"What, like getting mugged?" Willow asked.

"Yeah," Buffy said slowly. "Something like that. Anyway, by all means, chat with a guy here in the club "“ life is short, you know? Seize the moment - just don't go off with anyone you've just met. Okay? Oh, and if I do, please come after me and kick my ass till I see sense."

Willow laughed. "Okay, it's a deal."

"Look, I'll be back in a minute, okay?"

"Oh, it's okay, you don't have to -"

"I'll be back in a minute," Buffy assured her friend, smiling, and took off towards where she knew Giles would be. "Hey, Giles."

He gave her a quizzical look. "How did you know I was here?"

"I'm psychic," Buffy joked. "Look, Giles, I want to ask a favour, okay?"

"Go on."

"In a couple of minutes, I want you to let Willow know I've gone off with a strange guy. Okay? I'll explain later."

Before Giles could answer, she hurried off in the direction of the vampire who had his eye on Willow, as Jesse and Darla made their way out of the club.

The vampire introduced himself as Thomas, and it took less than half a minute of flirting with him to convince him to take her as an offering to the Master. Buffy played at being the innocent victim, pretending to believe his story of taking her for ice cream and letting him lead her hand-in-hand out of the club and towards the cemetery.

-----

"Hey, Will," Xander said, sliding into the seat next to her. "You seen Buffy?"

She frowned. "Actually, Xander, I was just wondering where she was myself. She said she was coming back." Willow couldn't help but feel disappointed. Buffy had seemed so nice. "What did you want with her?"

Xander grinned. "You might want to watch it round her, Willow. She's nuts, I tell you. Heard her and Giles talking about all sorts of weird stuff in the library earlier."

"What kind of weird stuff?" Willow asked.

"Oh, hello, Willow." Giles' voice sounded from just behind them and they looked round. The surprise sounded insincere.

"Oh, hi, Giles. What on earth are you doing here?" Xander asked.

Giles decided to ignore the incredulity of Xander's question. "Delivering a message from Buffy. She says she's gone off with a strange guy. I hope that means more to you than it does to me."

"Sure does." Xander whistled. "Buffy's scored on her first night here. Good on her."

Alarmed, Willow shook her head and stood up suddenly. "No, not good. I said I wouldn't let her go off with any strangers."

"Why not?" Xander and Giles asked simultaneously.

"She asked me. Come on, we've got to go after her. Giles, do you know where they went?"

As all three of them fought towards the entrance, it occurred to Willow that maybe this was a test on Buffy's part to see if Willow was good friend material. It was a good idea if it was. Willow was definitely going to pass.

There was no sign of Buffy outside the Bronze, but Cordelia saw them and approached.

"Buffy said to tell you losers she was taking a short-cut to the ice-cream place through the cemetery. Dunno why, "˜cause there isn't one "¦"

-----

"Jesse!"

Buffy rushed over to him where he stood swaying in the doorway of the mausoleum. "Are you okay?"

Jesse looked at her groggily. "Buffy, right?"

There was blood on his fingers and blood on his throat, but Buffy knew he hadn't been given the full treatment yet "“ he was going to be presented to the Master. But the wound didn't look too minor.

"Jesse, listen to me. It's gonna be okay. We'll get out of here."

"You're not going anywhere," Darla said, gleefully. "Till we've fed!" As she spat out the last word, she thrust her face into Buffy's and it changed to reveal her true form. Buffy did her best to fake a dramatic flinch accompanied by a horror-movie scream. Darla and Thomas laughed just as Buffy heard her name being called from outside.

"Oh, thank goodness," she muttered. There was only so long she could keep up the act.

Giles, Willow and Xander appeared at the entrance, the teens' mouths open at the vampires' faces. Buffy grabbed Jesse and thrust him in Giles' direction as she pulled a stake out. "Get out of here! Now!"

Thomas tried to stop Giles from taking Jesse out of the crypt, but Buffy plunged the stake into his heart.

For a moment, it was just Buffy and Darla facing each other after Giles hurried the other teenagers away. Darla hesitated, but lunged at Buffy without warning. Knowing it was likely coming, Buffy was prepared and met her every blow, staking her just as she heard the door to the tunnels opening.

She counted the milliseconds and then, just before Luke had a chance to grab her from behind, she whirled around to face him and threw a bottle of holy water in his face.

He cried out in pain and stumbled backwards. Buffy took the opportunity to thrust the stake into him. Half-blinded, he had no chance.

Now to save the others.

-----

The next morning, Buffy, Giles, Willow, Xander and Jesse were all in the library. Giles was talking about how vampires had come about, and the teenagers, save for Buffy, all looked in shock. Jesse had gauze taped over his neck, which he had taken to telling everyone was a bite from his dog.

Buffy had used the rest of the holy water on the other four vampires, the last one needing a jab in the eye from the cross as well, but she had staked them all. No food for the Master.

The problem was, even Luke and the other vampires being dead didn't mean that the Harvest would not happen. When Giles was finished explaining vampires and slayers, Buffy told all of them about Angel. She left out the part where he was a vampire cursed with a soul, but said that she had met an ally with information, and told them what Angel had told her the last time.

"Do you have any idea how to contact this, Angel?" Giles asked.

Buffy nodded. "I think I'll be able to find him okay if we need him."

"Good. With the Harvest, we're going to need all the help we can get." Giles removed his glasses. "I think you four should go to classes. You don't want to get into trouble."

"How are we supposed to concentrate on class when there's vampires out there planning a scary-sounding celebration?" Willow asked.

"I didn't say anything about concentrating in class," Giles corrected her. "Willow, didn't you say you have computer class next?" She nodded. "Could you do some research?"

Buffy slid into thought as Giles and Willow talked. Tonight should be a breeze. Luke was dead, so either the Harvest was stopped anyway or another vampire "“ one not as strong "“ would be picked. All she had to do was make sure she got to the Bronze before the vampires and get everyone out before they arrived so nobody died. She knew where she was going now, and wouldn't get grounded tonight over leaving campus, ergo early escape.

As the teenagers left the library, Giles called, "Wait, Buffy, can I have a word?"

She looked round. "Sure."

Giles waited until the other three were completely out of earshot, then said, "Was there a particular reason why you chose to directly endanger three civilians last night?"

Buffy knew she should have seen this coming. "Yes. To save two of them." As Giles frowned, she said, "Look, Giles, something you need to learn about me is that sometimes I make seemingly reckless actions in order to save someone's life. It was a calculated plan and it went perfectly, okay? Just trust me. I have really good instincts."

"Nevertheless -"And yeah, I know that now they know my secret, but maybe that's for the better. I'm never gonna make friends here if I have to hide my secret identity from everyone." Buffy paused. "Actually, that's something I want to talk to you about -"

"Buffy! Will you let me get a word in edgeways, please?"

She grinned sheepishly. "Sorry. Go on."

Giles took a deep breath. "I know slayers have good instincts, and I accept that sometimes reckless actions are necessary. But, I am your Watcher, so next time please run any calculated risks past me. Is that clear?"

"Crystal," Buffy said.

TBC "¦
 
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