"Into each generation a Slayer is born. One girl in all the world, a Chosen One. One born with the strength and skill to fight the vampires, to stop the spread of their evil and the swell of their numbers."

It had been foretold…
Joss Whedon
Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Vampire Slayers were created to tame the growing numbers of vampires in the world. No average humans, Slayers were stronger, quicker and more perceptive, more so than most of their vampire counterparts. The Slayer lived a life of solitude, with only their mentor or Watcher to guide them. All but for the most famous of Slayers.

Buffy Summers never wanted to be a Slayer. In fact, all she ever wanted was to shop, be the head cheerleader and date the cutest guy in school. However, that wasn’t her destiny. Her future lay in the destruction of vampires: a gift which she originally detested, but eventually mastered. With the help of her friends, she defeated some of the great vampire masters and eventually some power demons and demigods. And she saved the world…a lot. Not bad work for a Slayer that was killed not once, but twice.

The first time Buffy was killed it was easy to come back. A little mouth to mouth resuscitation and she was on her feet again ready to drop kick her foes into oblivion. The second time Buffy rose from the dead was a little more complex. The difficult feat was achieved by a powerful magical spell performed by Buffy’s best friends, Xander, Anya, Tara and Willow. Instead of retrieving Buffy from some hell dimension they believed she was damned to, the Slayer’s friends ripped her from the only place she had been truly happy: heaven.

So what is a Slayer to do after coming back from heaven? Others would trudge back into the battle, but not this Slayer. This Slayer became a little self destructive, which included sleeping with a vampire named Spike. Sound a little strange? It really isn’t when you consider Buffy’s first real boyfriend was a vampire with a soul named Angel. Just to make things more complicated, Angel was Spike’s Sire, or Grand Sire depending on whose story you believe. Everyone’s got a story and from time to time, they seem to contradict themselves.

Xander was always the ‘nice guy’, unless you consider that he left his fiancée at the altar…literally. Anya, the fiancée, was a harmless human, unless you considered the thousands of years she had been a vengeance demon when she killed hundreds of thousands of people. Tara…well…Tara was always sweet. Of course she didn’t start dating Willow until after a couple of averted apocalypses. It was a sweet girl meets girl, girl falls in love with girl, girl is killed by a lame bad guy so other girl flays the bad guy alive, turns evil and tries to destroy the world to stop all the pain. Never piss off a powerful witch, especially one as deadly as Willow. You might lose your skin…literally.

In the end, it really doesn’t matter if you’re a Slayer, a witch or a vampire. Life is pretty fucked up. People aren’t always reliable. Not friends, not family and sometimes, not even yourself. But then again, sometimes they are.

****

“Packing?” Buffy asked, watching Willow shove clothes half heartedly into a suitcase.

“Inserting clothes in suitcase,” Willow sighed, not bothering to look up. “Yep, packing.”

“Do you really have to go?”

“No, I can stay here,” Willow replied sarcastically, “then I can rip the skin off the next guy who really pisses me off. Or I can possibly suck the world into another worm holey thingie again…that was fun.”

“Don’t use magic anymore,” Buffy retorted, only to look away sadly. “I guess it wouldn’t be enough since…”

“I was a magic junkie?” Willow finished. She knew she sounded harsh, but there was no other way. She had to leave to learn how to control her powers. Her need to use magic had gotten out of hand and now she had no way to control it. The redhead smiled at Buffy and took her best friend’s hand in her own. “Giles said there’s this coven that could help me focus my magical energy into good. I need to go. I need to do this for Tara…for you and for myself.”

Buffy smiled and hugged Willow. Though she didn’t want her best friend gone, she knew it was best. Willow had the type of power that could end the world. That was something a bad guy did and Willow was no bad guy.

Buffy looked around the room and saw a shirt, so she picked it up and placed it in the suitcase. She grabbed a few more items then stopped when the phone rang. She picked up the phone and looked at Willow questioningly.

“Giles? What’s up?” Buffy listened then shrugged her shoulders when Willow asked what was going on. “Giles calm down, it’s not like we haven’t had an apocalypse before. What are we on…six or seven? We live on top of a hellmouth…stuff happens. Where? You sure? Where does it…alright, I’ll call you when I get there. What? I don’t think she can. I can do it by myself, Giles, I am the Slayer. Always a Watcher aren’t you? If you’re insistent, I guess there’s always Xander and Anya. Don’t laugh, with your English accent you always sound like you’re making fun of me.”

Buffy rolled her eyes and put her hand on her hip when she heard her Watcher’s reply. She looked at Willow and said a little surprised, “Oh, you are making fun of me. Fine, I’ll go and I’ll take someone with me…and by the way Giles…” She paused just to make sure she got his full attention. “I had nasty sex with Spike a few weeks ago.”

Buffy hung up the phone and laughed.

“Why’d you tell him that?” Willow asked, a little shocked by her best friend’s declaration.

“There has to be some sort of good in sleeping with Spike,” Buffy answered. “And since it can’t be Spike, I guess it’ll have to be me grossing out Giles. I’ll bet you that he’s washing his ears out as we speak.”

“Probably true,” Willow agreed, sitting on the bed in her room. “So what was he saying about another apocalypse? It’s not in Sunnydale?”

“Nope, the end of the world has changed locations,” Buffy replied nonchalantly. She sat next to the redhead and linked their arms. “Pittsburgh.”

“Sounds fitting.”

“Apparently it’s some big brouhaha,” Buffy said. “The Watcher’s Council doesn’t want me to go it alone.”

“I’ll come.”

“What about-”

“Who else is going to go?” Willow interrupted. “Xander and Anya?”

“You sound like Giles.”

“He’s right.”

“I know,” Buffy sighed. “Honestly, I was going to get Spike.”

“Even after he-”

“He didn’t do anything,” Buffy stopped Willow. “Like I told Xander, you guys just don’t understand.”

“Explain it to me.”

“I can’t,” Buffy replied. “Not now. I kinda think I have to talk to Spike first.”

“I’m going with you.”

“Figured.”

“Only this time I’m going to try and save it,” Willow assured her best friend. “Instead of, you know, trying to make it go kablooie.”

“Always a bonus,” Buffy said, pushing Willow’s suitcase aside and standing up. “I guess I’d better start packing myself. I might have to go shopping. I’d hate to wear the same thing I wore to the last apocalypse. It’s like wearing the same dress to your junior and senior proms.”

“Ooh, bring your new green outfit and the leather pants.”

“A must,” Buffy agreed. “Only I think maybe this time we should take more winter clothes. You know, the vinylly Matrixy type wear. I’m thinking sort of the Trinity or Niobe thing, only with poufier hair.”

“I’m thinking winter in Pittsburgh will need something warmer,” Willow disagreed. “Think me in sophomore year or those poofy jackets that look like floatation devices…ooh, think the movie Fargo, only with not so much snow.”

“Sounds really ‘brrr’,” Buffy replied, “but I was thinking more of what Giles had to say about the apocalypse which had something to do with the birth of something.”

“Oh.”

“Birth means gooey, slimy stuff,” Buffy reasoned. “I’m thinking much easier to wipe of Matrixy clothes than my new Versace blouse. Even on sale that thing cost me most of my paycheck.”

“Nice find,” Willow said with a smile. “That would totally suck if you messed it up the first apocalypse after you bought it.”

“Tell me about it.” Buffy looked at the clock and sighed. “I guess I better start packing. Giles said we have a little over a month to stop it and considering we don’t even know what the hell it is, I’d say we have our work cut out for us, especially since we’ll probably have to drive there.”

“I vote we take a plane.”

“Vampires don’t do well on planes,” Buffy chuckled. “So since Spike’s the third wheel, I vote that we make him drive the whole way.”

“It’s a good plan.”

“Glad we can agree,” Buffy replied confidently. “And since we’re voting, I’ll make one last one. I vote we kill the mother before she has a chance to give birth to anything much less the end of the world.”

“I second that.”

“Then it’s all agreed.” Buffy smiled, taking a sword in her hand. “The mother dies.”

****

Justin stood at the window, sweating. It was broad daylight and he hadn’t eaten. Though the curtains were drawn, the warmth of the sun tanned his flesh. He closed his eyes and gripped the wall concentrating when his body flashed in and out of sight. The baby was trying to teleport them again. He guessed the baby wanted to be with his father and Justin couldn’t blame him. His cravings for Brian never ceased. His body didn’t understand that he needed to be with his clan at that time. His body only knew that it needed Brian. He needed Brian.

Justin turned around and ignored the praises from his clansmen. Though he cared for them dearly, it seemed hollow. Maybe it just seemed hollow because they weren’t Brian. Justin sat down and took the glass given to him. It was full of his mate’s blood. Brian had made sure Justin always had plenty. It wasn’t fresh like taking it directly from his mate, but Justin drank it happily. Brian was still taking care of him. The more he thought about it, the more he wasn’t surprised.

“Call Isis,” Justin ordered. “Tell her I need to see her immediately.”

“Yes, My Lord.”

Justin waved Regilio away. When the Nosferatu left, his plump belly was exposed and he began to rub it. He felt a magical charge coming from within and he concentrated. The baby wanted its father and was doing everything in its power to get to him, including magic. Not that Justin could blame his child, but he had other things to do. There had been a conspiracy from within his clan which caused the death of his mother and he had yet to punish all of the traitors. He still had work to do and he was sure Brian wouldn’t disagree, if Brian wanted him back at all. Justin wasn’t so sure. All he knew was that his baby wanted to be with Brian. He had no idea what Brian wanted. He never really did, did anyone…even Brian?

Justin held his large belly and concentrated. The baby wasn’t stopping, it wanted its father and was using magic to try and accomplish something its mother wouldn’t do. Justin couldn’t do, even though he wanted to. There he was, a Toreador Primogen, surrounded by beauty and love and all he wanted was Brian. Justin supposed it was because that was where his heart truly belonged. With his mate.

“We’ll be back home with Daddy,” Justin whispered to his belly. “I’m not sure when, but we will.”

A twinge of pain hit Justin and the future parent knew his unborn wasn’t pleased. Maybe that was because there was no lying to the baby. Justin didn’t know when or if ever he’d return to his mate. Things were just so uncertain. And though he knew they could, Justin hoped that things wouldn’t get worse. The worse things got, the more he felt obligated to stay with his clan.

Justin couldn’t believe he had gotten himself into yet another strange situation. He was Primogen, he was mated to the Prince and he was about to give birth to the Prince’s child. Things should be perfect. He sighed and shook his head knowing that things would get worse. They always did.

****

“Was that the phone?” Buffy asked as Willow walked into her room.

“Yep, talked to Giles again,” Willow answered. “He said that he forgot to warn us about going to the East Coast.”

“As opposed to living on the hellmouth?”

“He says slayers don’t live long there,” Willow explained, “something about the vamps being highly organized or something. He said he wished he could tell us more, but that the Watcher’s Council didn’t know anything either. You know the Council…with the rhyming and the funny accents.”

“Yeah, they always give advice in Seussian,” Buffy agreed. “Would you, could you slay a vamp? Would you, could you on their face stamp?”

“Would you, could you be less of a tramp?”

“Hey!”

“Sorry,” Willow laughed. “Couldn’t help it.”

“S’ok,” Buffy replied. “We’ll need lots of good vibe to kill the Big Bad.”

“Speaking of Big Bads, did you contact Spike?”

“Sent Xander over to his crypt,” Buffy answered a bit concerned. “He said when he went there, Spike had someone crypt-sitting for him. So no Spike. I told Xander that if Spike were to come back to tell him where we are, we can use all the help we can get.”

“So it’s just me and you,” Willow sighed. “Ok…we can do this. We can kill the apocalypse birthing mother and her army protecting her.”

“Army?”

“That’s what Giles said,” Willow explained. “He said he was still trying to decipher all of the ancient text, but there was something about the birth of a great evil and some royal something or other protecting it.”

“Again with the vagueness.”

“Of course we can’t forget the leader of the vampires,” Willow continued. “Giles said that there’s a leader for all the vamps in Pitts and that he won’t be so pleased a Slayer’s in town if he finds out.”

“Well you know how subtle I am,” Buffy said straight faced. “So what do we do when the leader of the vamps knows I’m there?”

“Kill him,” Willow replied. “And the rest will fall by the wayside.”

****

Brian thrust over and over until he finally spent himself. His eyes still closed, he imagined the perfect ass, the perfect face he wanted to be inside of. He wiped away the sweat from his brow and pulled out of his trick. After a few unneeded breaths, he looked down into his trick’s face and snarled.

“You growl like you fuck,” the trick giggled, “like an animal. This has got to be one of the best fucks I’ve ever had.”

“Whatever.”

“Nice,” the trick said sarcastically. “Do you think I can use your shower?”

“No,” Brian replied sternly. “There’s no need.”

“Do you expect me to drive home with cum all over me?”

“No,” Brian answered, taking the trick by his neck. “I don’t expect you to drive home at all.”

Brian took a bite from his sex partner and fed until there was nothing left. He quickly slipped on his pants and ordered his minion to remove the dead man. When they came and left with the corpse, Brian strolled to the window and opened the shade. The sun hit his skin and though it stung, he basked in its ray impervious to its deadly effects.

“My Lord,” Daedalus said. When Brian turned to face him, he kept in the shadows. “No matter how much I feed, we Nosferatu are susceptible to the rays of the sun.”

“Then speak from there,” Brian replied, clearly not in the mood for small talk.

“Lord Justin asked for Isis’ presence,” Daedalus notified. “She sent me here to notify you of her location…since you were otherwise occupied when she tried to contact you telepathically.”

“Fine,” Brian sighed, waving the Nosferatu Primogen away. He didn’t move until he was alone again, but for Bartox who was as still as a statue. Brian stared at the Gargoyle long and hard, never saying a word.

“Lord Justin is sitting amidst many of his Clan,” Bartox told his Prince. “I see what my childer see and it is clear that Lord Justin isn’t pleased about something. His belly is full and he rubs it constantly.”

Brian turned from his protector and walked away stating, “Like I care.”

“Of course, Your Majesty,” Bartox replied, knowing full well Brian would want another report on his mate in an hour or so. It was a game they played…or Brian played with himself, though the Gargoyle never really understood why.

Brian sat in the sun and tanned while he could. It was something to pass the time when he wasn’t bombarded with work. He closed his eyes and let the rays tan his skin until he felt the presence of his father. Without opening his eyes, he smirked and asked his father what he wanted.

“To inform you, my son.”

“What of?” Brian asked, finally looking up.

“I have heard word that she will arrive soon,” Ulugh replied.

“Who?”

“The Slayer.”

“The who?”

“I have so much to tell you, my son,” Ulugh said, sitting down next to his boy. “You must listen to me and listen to me well. This Slayer that I speak of can cause great trouble, for she is well known amongst our people.”

“Then how come I don’t know shit about her?”

“Listen,” Ulugh replied softly. “For if you do not listen, it can cost you your life and the lives of your childer, your mate and your unborn.”

****

“We ready?” Buffy asked, putting her suitcase in Xander’s car.

“Xander’s inside making sure our flight is on schedule,” Willow replied. “Other than that, we’re ready to go.”

“Alright ladies,” Xander said, jogging out to the two women. “You ready?”

“All ready to go kill some bad guys,” Buffy sang, getting in the car. “Calling shotgun!”

“Like I wanted shotgun,” Willow retorted, looking very disappointed.

“Hey Will,” Xander said, pulling his friend aside. “While I was inside, I got a call from Spike. I told him you guys were going to Pittsburgh and he totally freaked, said you should stay away from there. After we exchanged some choice words, he hung up the phone on me.”

“Did he say he’d meet us there?”

“No,” Xander answered. “But you shouldn’t depend on him…he’s a vampire for crying out loud. In fact, I want to know why I can’t go with you.”

“You’re the responsible one,” Willow replied. “You have to take care of the fort around here, while we go off to kill a vampire leader and the mother of the end of the world.”

“You guys always have all the fun,” Xander chuckled.

“Should I be a part of this meeting?” Buffy wondered aloud, sticking her head out of the car.

“Just telling Xander our goals for this little vacation from the hellmouth.”

“We have to get going or we’ll miss our flight,” Buffy said. “So let me sum it up for you…kill, kill and kill. Any questions?”

“Where to start?”

“I dunno,” Buffy replied with a smile. “I’ve always been fond of the beginning…so let’s get there.”