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Author's note: Season 4 DIDN'T happen!!!And Faith and Spike are good. Let's pretend Faith attended Sunnydale High for the sake of the story. Oh and Oz is NOT a warewolf.
Buffy Summers sighed as she rolled her chair away from her desk and tucked a strand of dark bown hair behind her ear. An invitation that she had recieved two weeks before was still lying on her desk and she picked it up now, narrowing her eyes as read it.
Sunnydale High's Ten year Reunion!!!
Come and get to know your old mates again!!
Date: June tenth Place:Sunnydale High auditorium Time: Seven PM R.S.V.P: june fifth
Buffy dropped the invitation and tilted her head back, lost in thought. Ten years. Had it really been that long? It had only seemed like yesterday she was defeating the Mayor at Graduation. She wandered what everyone was up to lately.
Although Buffy tried to stay in touch with her old gang, it had been at least a year since they had all been together in person and over a month since she had talked to any of them on the phone.
Willow had gone on to Harvard at the end of High School. She and Oz had stayed together for a while before his band made the big time and he had begn touring. It had been a painful breakup for both of them.
Like Oz, Cordelia had moved to LA and like Oz, sh was famous too. The name Cordelia Chase was famous across the world. She was starring in her own Sopa Opera and was winning countless awards.
Xander had married Anya of all people and they had two little girls and a son. Anya owned the Mgic Shop in Sunnydale and Xander had gone to Sunnydale College and had become, surprinsingly, the head of a huge import/export company. He hadn't lost his sense of humor, which Buffy was glad about.
Rupert Giles had moved to England and taken over the Watcher's Council and now allowed Slayers to have a semil normal life. Last Buffy had heard he was happy being at home.
Faith had taken over the Slaying in Sunnydale when Buffy had left. She and Spike had hooked up much to everyone's amazment and Buffy had to admit Faith was good for the vampire. Buffy herself moved to New York, where she was working as a publisher and a writer. Several of her books had been made into movies and like the rest of her friends she too was quite successful.
The there was Ange. Buffy hadn't let herself think about him in almost eight years. After he had left she had spent two years waiting for him to come back to her, before finally realizing it wasn't going to happen and deciding to move on with her life.
Buffy threw down the pen she had been tapping against her chin and picked up the invitation with her other hand. She had unconciously made a decision. The reunion was in two weeks and she was going to be there.
"Mia" Buffy called to her assitant,sticking her head out the door of her office, "can you reply to this for me? Tell them I'd be delighted to go" she handed the paper to the bored looking blonde and stepped back into her office. *********
Cordelia Chase smiled a brillent smile and threw back her head, letting her dark, shining hair fall down her back. Cameras flashed as she walked into the studio where her Soap Opera was filmed. This was normal. The Press were always hanging around her work and home, hoping to get glimpses of Cordelia. She waved to them as she pushed open a set of large double glass doors and stepped into the Studio.
As she headed for her dressing room, the studio receotionist waved cheerfully as she passed.
"Good morning Miss Chase" the plump woman greeted her. Cordelia smiled pleasently.
"Good morning Maria" she responded with an air of sophisitcation, "is there any mail for me?" Cordelia had all her bills, fan letters and junk mail redirected to the studio. She was rarely ever at home to recieve them, so only personal letters were sent there.
"Yes Miss Chase, only I'm afraid you may be displeased with this one. There is a letter dated two weeks ago. I guess the Post didn't know where to send it and it got lost in the mail" Maria held out a stack of mail.
Cordelia rolled her eyes, "typical US postal service" she muttered and accepted the mail with a perfectly manicured hand. The actress flicked through the mail slowly. There was a bill on top, the mail Maria had mentioned, two fashion magazines, a few fan letters and a couple of furniture catalouges.
"Thankyou Maria" Cordelia said distractedly as she moved towards her dressing room, ripping open the fan letters first.
They were all the same.
"Miss Chase, we love you"
"Cordelia, when will you visit our town?"
"Your fabulous"
Cordelia opened her dressing room door and sat in an overstuffed arm chair throwing the fan letters and catalouges on her makeup bench. She would get Erin, her personal assitant, to reply to them later. She moved onto the next letter, which was two weeks late and opened it to find the same invitation Buffy had, two weeks before.
Cordelia read it, then placed her face in her chin, reading it over again, considering.
"Reunion?" she mused,"well maybe..."
"Miss Cordelia?" a young acne covered boy appeared at her door, "your needed in wardrobe right away!"
"Ok" she replied and stood up, "tell them I'll be right there" the boy turned to leave, "oh and Ray?" he turned back eagerly, "can you give this to Maria and ask her to check my schedule? If I'm free tell them I'll be there." ********
TWO WEEKS LATER
Willow Rosenburg climbed out of her convertible and stared at the sight in front of her. When Xander had given her his address, she hadn't expected it to be in the best part of Sunnydale. But it was.
Xander Harris was a successful buisness man and with that came the perks. A huge sandstone House, prefectly trimmed gardens, a mercades parked in the drive. Willow took a breath and walked up the brick path carryig her two small suitcases.
The large front door opened before she had a chance to ring the bell and a small face peeped out at her.
Willow laughed as Anya appeared in the hallway, grinning exsperatedly, "well then let her in."
"Hi Willow" she greeted her as the young girl pulled the door open wider and Willow stepped in.
"Hello Anya. It's been a long time"
"It has. Yiu havn't seen this house or met Alex Jounior yet" Anya responded, nodding.
Willow raised her eyebrows. "Speaking of Alex's, is Xander home?"
"He was called into the office" the little girl piped up, "Aunt Willow did ou bring me a present?"
"Casey!" Anya scolded, "don't be rude."
Willow giggled and shook her head, "it doesn't matter" she knelt down. "as a matter of fact Casey I did. I also brought some for your brother and sister. Where are they?"
"I'll get them" Casey said excitedly and ran off. Willow smiled and stood up then turned to Anya.
"Anya, she's beautiful. I didn't remember her being that beautiful" Willow commented.
"That's because the las time you saw her was five years ago. Casey was only five then," Anya laughed, "dump your bags there. Xander can put them in the spare room later. Would you like a drink?"
Willow nodded gratefully and followed Anya down the hall.
The reunion was the next night. Xnader had rang her a week ago to ask if she was coming to it and then had invited her to stay with them. The redhead was amazed to see how mature Anya had become. Gone was the tactless, sex obsessed ex demon. In her place was a mature, beautiful woman.
Willow smiled to herself. It just went to show, tha everyone could change. **********
Rupert Giles had arrived in Sunnydale three days before Willow and was keeping a low profile. He knew that the Scooby Gang as they had dubbed themselves in high school, were all planning to return to Sunnydale for the reunion and he wanted his homecoming to be a surpirse. He was staying in a hotel and no one but her knew that in his hotel room was caoncealed a creature of darkness.
"Hello?" Rupert called, as he unlocked his door and slipped inside after going out for coffee, "are you here?"
"It's not like I could be anywhere else" a voice responded, making Rupert jumped as a tall man emerged from the shadows. Rupert nodded.
"Yes obviously. Stupid question" Rupert held up a bag, "I got the supplies. Shall we start now?"
The man shook his head, "no wait for the full moon. It's tonight"
Rupert nodded then looked at the man seriously. "This could be very dangerous. Are you sure you want to go through with it?"
The man nodded and Rupert was surprised to see the determination flashing across his face. **********
Oz nodded his thanks as the Cab driver sped away from the curb. The musician set his guitar and bags on the sidewalk and pulled the baseball cap he was wearing tighter and lower on his head, shielding his face from passer-bys. He too was staying in a hotel unknowingly the one Giles and Cordelia, conincedentally, had chosen.
Oz walked into the reception area and while receptionist attented to someone else, he looked around the hotel lobby taking in it's elegant decor. Oz twisted his head quickly however when he heard the voice of the peron in front if him.
"Yes thankyou" the tweed clad man said in an english accent before turning and gasping as he looked into Oz's face.
"Oh my" the man exclaimed.
"Giles" Oz said calmly, "I guess your here for the reunion too?" *******
Buffy pulled up in front of Sunnydale High on Saturday night and killed the engine of her rental car. She sat in the car for several moments looking apprehensivly up at the high school.
"Maybe I shouldn't have come" she murmered out loud, "oh well too late now." The Slayer opened to car door and stepped out into the indian summer evening. The sun was fading behind the horizan and Buffy had the strong instinct that she should be climbing out her bedroom window and heading to the graveyard to patrol. A wave of nolstagia swept over her as she thought of the many times she had done exactly that.
A breeze blew her hair and Buffy shivered, deciding to go inside. The Slayer was dressed in a pale baby blue ankle length dress that had thin sphagettie straps. The dress was simple but made Buffy look a million dollars. Her freshly dyed brown hair was piled upon her head in elegent twists. She wore little makeup and no jewellary. Simple white heeled sandles adorned her feet.
Buffy entered the school to find a crowd of people milling around the corridoors, many reminsicing about old times and others calling to old friends. Buffy smiled feeling as though she had stepped back in time as people leaned against lockers and chatted eagerly in the din that was Sunnydale High. It was nice to see some things never changed.
"Buffy?" a familiar voice said. Buffy snapped out of her trance put on a smile as she turned.
"Cordelia! How are you?"
"I'm good Buffy. How are you?" the actress responded as Buffy took in her appearance. Cordelia looked as polished as always in a tight black dress, her hair flowing down her back and a cluster of dimaonds adoring her throat.
"Cordelia you look fabulous and your famous now! I never thought I'd know someone famous!"
Cordelia laughed graciously, "it's not just me you know. Oz's band is huge now and it's not like your some little nobody, everyone's heard of your books. But thanks anyway"
Buffy smiled appreaciatively. *********** Angel stepped out of the hotel bathroom and looked to Rupert for approval of his outfit.
"Very nice" Giles said distractedly, while thumbing through a large book, obviously old judging by the yellow fading pages.
"Well thanks" Angel said sarcastically, "Are you ready?"
"Yes" Rupert replied, "I've just been reading over the spell we did last night" he paused looking up at Angel.
"And..." Angel prompted.
"And nothing" Giles continued, "it seems as though there is no possible way for it to backfire." He stood up, "congratualtions, "you are now offially human"
Angel grinned at the watcher then looked over his shoulder to the mirror that hung on the wall behind Rupert.
"It's a nice feeling" he said passively, staring at his refelction. ********* Willow entered the auditorium of Sunnydale High and grinned. Next to her Xander was looking around in amazment.
"Everyone's changed so much" Willow commented, reading his thoughts, "I mean gone are the ragged kids of Highschool. And look at what's in their place"
Anya and Xander followed her gaze, their eyes skimming over the mature, finely dressed adults that they had spent most of their high school life with.
"Look" Anya nodded her head towards a group of people clustered near the bar. The group was laughing and talking, most of the attention focused on one person.
"If I didn't see it I wouldn't believe it" Xander commented dryly, "who would have thought Cordelia Chase would have time for a highschool reunion?"
At that moment Cordelia turned and saw them and her face lit up in a genuine grin. Cordelia turned to the girl next to her and touched her arm. The girl had her back to Willow, Xander and Anya. They didn't recognise the dark hair. Cordelia exscused herself from the conversation and began dragging the girl toward them.
As they got closer Willow and Xander let out identical gasps.
"Buffy" they chorused and rushed towards the two women. Anya who had been looking bordely at a painting, only noticed they had left a moment later and looked widly around before catching sight of them and taking off after them.
Buffy's face exploded into a grin as she saw her friends.
"Willow, Xander" she cried and enevloped them in a hug.
"Buffy, you hair!"
"Buff, Cordy, you guys look great" there were hugs all around as the gan reuntited.
"Let's sit down" Xander motioned to an area of the auditorium where tables and chairs were set up. The group nodded and moved towards one. They took seats and were soon engrossed in conversation.
Thirty minutes later Xander asked Anya to dance as the band started up and they moved off onto the dance floor. Buffy smiled as she watched them go and looked to Cordelia and Willow.
"I wonder if..." she looked hestiently at Willow, "...if Oz is coming or Faith for that matter"
A downcast expression crossed Willow's face, "I don't know" she answered, "I havn't talked to Faith in a while."
"We don't have to wonder anymore" Cordelia spoke nodding gracefully across the room to the double doors. The other women turned to look.
Faith was walking across the room towards them, her arm linked through a platiumine blonde vampire's. The other slayer was looking very unlike herself, dressed in a short white dress with thin sphagettie straps with white heeled shoes.
Faith grinned as she reached the table.
"Hey all" she greeted them, smiling widely.
"Hello"
"Faith you look awesome"
"Yeah. How are you Faith?"
"We're great" Faith answered, nudging Spike, "Spike say hello" she muttered. Spike looked at them, disinterested.
"Hi. I'm going to get a drink" the vampire walked away and Faith rolled her eyes before pulling up a seat where the group began talking eagerly again.
Twenty minutes later Buffy was standing at the bar, waiting for the bartender to bring her a Rum and Coke. He came back and handed her the drink, smiling easily as he accepted her money. As she turned to walk back to their table Buffy felt a strange feeling wash over her.
A tingly feeling that started in her feet that travelled through her stomach to her head. The feeling was familiar yet it wasn't. She hadn't felt like this for almost ten years.
The Slayer looked wildly around. Her green eyes flased as they scanned the room and landed on the door. A young man was standing there. Correction he looked young. But loks could be decieving. Next to him an elderly tweed clad man was cleaning his glasses and a young man dressed in a sports jacket was running his hand through his red hair while surveying the room.
Buffy felt her heart leap.
At their table the rest of the gang had fallen silent, all of them focused on the door. They watched as the Slayer started across the room her eyes on one thing.
They watched as the englishman touched the red head's arm lightly and nodded toward their table and they watched as they started toward it.
Smiles crossed their mouths as the red haired man reached the table and silently held his hand out to the red haired wicca. She accepted it then walked with him to the dance floor, neither of them taking their eyes off the other.
Buffy tilted her head up as she reached Angel.
"Your here. Your really here" she breathed.
Angel nodded. "I am" he answered.
"Why?"
Angel smiled the half smile she had longed to see for ten years. "I couldn't stay away."
Buffy felt her eyes dampen, "you stayed away fro ten years" she whispered.
"No I didn't" Angel whispered back, "You didn't see me but I was there. The whole time"
Buffy clenched her jaw, "so why can I see you now?" she asked. Angel didn't respond only picked up her hand and placed it on his heart.
Buffy gasped.
"I'm human now that's why." ********* "Well another Slayer has been called" Giles told them, "the council has decided that as Buffy and Faith have been doing this for so long that they need a break, a chance to live their own lives"
Buffy and Faith gasped, "our own lives?"
Buffy shook her head, "Giles not that I'm not grateful but we've been Slayers for so long, almost thirteen years. How do we go back to a normal life? How do we ingore what's out there?" Angel tightened his grip around her waist.
"Hey B, this is a good thing. Don't knock it" Faith grinned, leaning against Spike. Rupert shook his head.
"You don't ingore it" he looked pensive as the group fell quiet and watched him, "you do what you can. You see someone in trouble and you help. But your not repsonsiable for the world's safety anymore"
"So no more one night stands with evil huh?" Cordelia joked, "cool."
"There's more then one type of evil. Evil is a child without food. Evil is unjust war victims.Evil is a man without a home or a husband that beats his wife. It's just that we do what we can to stop the evil we can fight" Giles told them gently.
Rupert picked up his drink and paused for a moment, "actually speaking of evil you'd be interested to hear about an artefact I picked up last week. It belonged to an ancient cult of demons..."
The rest of the group groaned and rolled their eyes. Willow laughed and leaned towards Oz who was holding her hand tightly as the group began to chatter loudly.
"It's true what they say" Willow whispered.
"What's that?" Oz rubbed her nose with his. Willow smiled brightly.
"The more things change, the more they stay the same."
