The Fallen Slayer {1}

End Of An Era

MYSTIC FALLS, VIRGINIA

One hour.

It had only been an hour since her college graduation and Buffy still hadn't even had a moment to herself. It had been made clear since Caroline shoved her into the car that a week's worth of parties and goodies would be taking place in the span of the next 6 hours.

Hence why still clad in her graduation gown, Buffy was frantically trying to escape her very persistent temporarily alive mother.

So far she was losing the battle.

Walking toward the parlor room, her Graduation gown still draped over her shoulders given that Caroline had threatened to tear her eyes out if she wasn't wearing it for the rest of the day, Buffy grumbled in annoyance as her mother continued to chase after her.

She felt like she was in another reality. Joyce Summers of all people was encouraging her to go to rager during the midst of a Ghost invasion.

Honestly, Buffy had never been more grateful that her mother had decided against moving them back to Mystic Falls following the Hemery fire incident because clearly just being in this town brought out the old bad girl Jocye which was disturbing for Buffy on far too many levels.

"I'm not going to the party, Mom." She huffed wanting nothing more than to spend time with her lost ones and then go track down Bonnie so she could hug her, as well as make sure the ghosts weren't a problem anymore.

She still had people she loved here and while she was in no way staying, she at least wanted to make sure everyone was safe before she bolted like the wind.

Joyce just narrowed her gaze sternly in a way that had Buffy's body going into auto-pilot mode. That was the look that normally followed when she had done something stupid or gotten caught sneaking out of her bedroom window.

It was still as terrifying as it had been when she was 15.

"Buffy, you need to celebrate. Your experiences with graduations are not exactly positive."

"But you can't wander around town without everyone who knew you passing out thinking zombies are taking over!" Buffy countered stubbornly. While she knew deep down she wouldn't have a choice about attending the party, she in no way planned to be there for the full thing. Not when by the end of the night her mom and Jeremy would disappear forever.

She wanted to spend as much time with the two of them as possible before Bonnie raised the walls back on The Other Side.

Joyce's eyes softened as she spotted the way Buffy's lip quivered slightly, smiling softly she stepped forward cupping her cheeks in the palms of her hands, her thumbs moving soothingly against the girl's skin "Honey, we will have our goodbye. So for me, I want you to have as much of a human experience as you can today."

Because after today, everything was going to change...Buffy just didn't know that yet.

Despite how sweet the sentiment was, Buffy couldn't help the small groan that escaped her as her mother grinned smugly down at her and tapped her playfully on the nose, knowing that she had won this little debate. 

How was she 22 with her own child but still unable to win a debate with her mother who had been dead for five years?

The universe seriously hated her, it was the only explanation.

A sharp gust of wind had Buffy grumbling in annoyance as more evidence about how much the universe hated her purposely moved in front of her mother, with a familiar grin and flirtatious glint in his eyes as he eyed her up and down.