Here's my latest fic. It's from my new series (my friend has decide to call it the future leads series), which is the sequel to the long ago series. I am doing this mostly because of the people who so kindly asked for the sequel and for those who complained when I broke up Hope and her boyfriend.
DISCLAIMER: Buffy, Angel and the gang belong to the evil Joss and I only own the characters I make up. In a perfect world however I would own all of them, Buffy and Angel wouldn't have broken up and Riley would never have existed.
RATING: PG
SPOILERS: General (if any)
TIMELINE: Ten years after the wedding (part of long ago series).
DISTRIBUTION: You want you can have it, just tell me where you put it.

Hope McKellen let herself into her parents house and was immediately overwhelmed by her three younger siblings. "Hey Munchkins" she said hanging up her coat. "Where's mom and dad?"

"In the kitchen" Hope's sister Thalie replied, "Mommy's making dinner."

"Thanks Kiddo" she answered as she rushed towards the kitchen.

Buffy heard Hope before she saw her. "Hi sweetie, I didn't realise you were coming tonight."

"I wasn't, but I just got a call that I need to talk to you and dad about" Hope replied seriously, yet she seemed to also be somewhat excited.

"Sure" Buffy replied. "Your dad's in the den and I'll be in as soon as I feed the kids". Buffy watched Hope hurry down the hall and wondered what was wrong, and if she could really do anything to help.

Ten minutes later Buffy entered the den and realised Hope hadn't told Angel anything, she had obviously thought it serious enough to warrant both their attendance.

"So...now will you tell me what's going on. I've been going nuts for the last ten or so minutes" Angel demanded.

Hope faced both her parents and said, "Less than an hour ago...I got a call from the council..."

"What did those monsters want?" Angel replied. That earned him a shut up or else look from Buffy.

"They...uh...had a proposition for me. I move to Sunnydale for a year to spy on the new slayer and her watcher and the council will forgo any obligation to them that I may owe" Hope told them.

"Wow" was Buffy's response.

Angel on the other hand said, "Take it. You'll never be rid of them otherwise."

"That's what Gran and Giles said. I'd kinda already decided to take it before I even arrived, I guess I just need your approval" Hope replied.

"As long as you're happy with your choice" Angel told her as he gave her a reassuring hug.

For once Buffy decided to be the practical one, "So...what about a job? A place to live? You know all that type of stuff."

"They've arranged a job for me at Sunnydale high and Gran has offered to let me stay with her until I can find a place" Hope said.

"She did?" Buffy and Angel asked in unison, as they were surprised at Joyce's gesture.

"Yeah, she thinks that she'll be able to control my life or something" Hope told them the reason for Joyce's unusual offer.

"And you're moving when, exactly?" Buffy asked trying not to cry. It had been hard enough to let her move in Angel's old apartment which was only ten minutes away, but now she'd be two hours away.

"A couple of weeks at the longest. They want me there as soon as possible" Hope replied praying her mom wouldn't cry because last time she did that it had taken her 2 months to stop feeling guilty.

"Oh" was Buffy's reply.

Hope stayed for ten more minutes in the den while Angel pumped her for details, after that she played with her brothers and sister for awhile, before heading back to her lonely apartment.

*

When Hope arrived back at her place, she found a note from Doyle on the door reminding her about Nick's birthday dinner the next day. She went inside and flopped down on the couch, she couldn't say she was sorry about leaving this place it just didn't feel like home to her. No where had felt right since she and her mom had moved to LA, she hoped that this move to Sunnydale was a good choice, her instincts were telling her so but they'd been wrong before. After a few minutes she got up and headed for bed, even though it wasn't late.

The next morning Hope got up early and typed out her letter of resignation on the office computer. She was so engrossed in her work that she didn't even hear Nick come in, so when he put a hand on her shoulder she freaked. "Aaahhh" Hope screamed.

"Sorry, I thought you'd seen me" Nick apologised.

"Well I hadn't and you scared the crap outta me" she chastised him. A second later she said, "Nick, I'm sorry. Just ignore me, I'm in such a crabby mood...By the way Happy Birthday".

"Thanks" Nick said hoping that this year he'd finally get his birthday wish, a kiss from Hope. Even after ten years, she was still his dream girl.

"So you wanted..." Hope pushed.

"Just making sure you're coming tonight" Nick replied.

"Of course I am, I've not missed one since I moved here have I?"

"Cool. I kinda gotta get to work, so I'll se ya tonight" Nick said heading out of the door.

Hope breathed a sigh of relief, as much as she cared for him she just didn't care the way he wanted her to. She finished her letter printed it out and headed off to work.

Two Weeks Later

Hope took a look around the somewhat empty apartment that she'd called her home since college and felt as though she might cry. Not because of the apartment, but because this was the first time she'd be away from what was familiar to her for more than a few days, she'd suddenly be in a town full of strangers, including her own grandmother.

Buffy came up behind her and gave her a hug. "It'll be okay...eventually" Buffy told her daughter.

"I really don't know how you did it?" Hope said, "I'm in awe of you".

"Don't be. I had a very important reason to be strong...you" Buffy replied. "Come on it's time you were heading off on your new adventure".

"Yeah. It's time" Hope agreed taking one last look and then following her mom outside. Within a few minutes she'd said goodbye to everyone and was on her way to Sunnydale and didn't know was waiting for her there.

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