Title: Come To Play
Author: Starla
Email: starla@buffymail.com
Disclaimer: These Characters belong to Joss Whedon, except Gorlock, Alana, Adrian Townsend, and anyone else you don't recognize.
Distribution: Take it, but let me know. If you have any of my other fics, go ahead.
Author's Notes: It *will* be B/A I promise. I realise this part is a little depressing. Sorry. Season 4 did happen, Fish Boy did date Buffy, Angel went to LA, etc.
Spoilers: I dunno. Anything is possible, be warned.
Summary: 150 years after the Scooby Gang die, they return to Earth to help out the current Slayer and her Slayerettes.

Part 9


Alana ran a hand through her blonde hair as she stalked into the Mansion at 10am. It had taken her an hour to get back to sleep after Faith had dropped in for a little chat the night before.

There was something so...unbalanced about Faith. She was creepy.

Ok, she was scary.

Terrifying.

The cold friendliness she displayed. The angry glint in her eye. The twisted smile.

Alana shuddered, wrapping her arms around herself.

She walked into the great hall, repressing a scowl when she saw the others lazing around on Angel's furniture.

Buffy and Angel were sparring in front of the fireplace, and Alana had to take a moment to watch Buffy's fluid movements and powerful strikes.

It killed her to admit it, but she had to admire Buffy. As a fighter, anyway.

She grabbed Angel's shoulders, flipping him over, and jumping on him, straddling his waist.

Alana wasn't sure she liked her in that position.

It didn't matter, because they weren't in it long. Buffy brought her hand downward, as if she were holding a stake, and then smiled.

"Loser." She grinned, jumping off Angel.

He glared at her. "I think you broke my ribs."

She winced, and gave him an apologetic smile, shrugging. "You'll heal."

He nodded. "I think I already did."

He was the first to notice Alana's presence in the doorway. "Alana. Hi." He said, walking over to stand near her.

She gave him a small smile. "Hi Angel." She looked around at the group. "I don't remember all your names, but hi."

A few of them gave small waves.

"Hey, Alana." Buffy said, a not entirely forced half smile on her face.

They studied each other, a silent agreement passing between them.

In that moment, Alana trusted Buffy. She wasn't sure what Buffy and Angel felt for each other now, though their was no doubt in her mind that they still felt *something*.

But she knew that Buffy wasn't out to destroy her.

Knew that if something did happen between her and Angel, that it was out of passion, rather than a desire to hurt Alana. To beat Alana.

Alana smiled and nodded back, signaling that she knew they weren't in competition

Then she looked back at Angel, who was watching the pair uneasily.

"I had a little visit from Faith." She announced.

Angel groaned.

"Nice girl. Little Psychotic." She went on.

"You're telling us." Xander muttered.

"What did she say?" Willow asked, frowning.

Alana's eyes darkened. "Compared me to Buffy." She met Buffy's eyes. "She says we're just like her."

"We're not." Buffy said angrily. "Never forget that."

"What else?" Angel asked, placing a hand on Alana's shoulder.

Buffy looked away from the simple gesture.

"She said...she said I wasn't ready yet."

Giles shook his head. "It's her that's not ready."

"She's not done playing her little mind games." Willow agreed.

Buffy watched them for a moment before turning back to Alana. "It look's like you've just been called into play." She cocked her head to the side. "You up to it?"

Alana stared back at her, lips twitching into a smile.

"I'm game."




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