(act one, chapter four: family ties)

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"I can confirm that a twelve-foot puma lion attacked a hunter and was subsequently killed. The hunter is in stable condition." Liz Forbes' voice echoed through the house as Buffy made her way downstairs.

"The animal terrorizing Mystic Falls has been caught." Another voice said, and Buffy noticed the local news playing on the TV.

"Scumbag." Jenna muttered, her eyes locked on the screen.

"Hey, Mom." Buffy greeted, standing next to her, drawing Jenna's attention away from the television.

"Morning, honey." Jenna smiled, pressing a kiss to her daughter's head before turning back to the TV with a frown. "Scum bucket."

"Who are you talking to?" Elena asked as she walked into the room, perplexed by hearing the word "scum" multiple times in the span of a few minutes.

Jenna nodded towards the screen. "Him."

"The news guy?" Elena questioned, still confused.

"Also known as Logan Scum Fell. Did your mom ever tell you why I moved away from Mystic Falls with Buffy when you both were four?"

"Oh, no way. You and him?"

"He was going to be my Daddy 2.0." Buffy said, wrinkling her nose in distaste.

"He's cute." Elena mused.

Both Buffy and Jenna turned to Elena with a horrified look. "He is not cute." Jenna scoffed. "There's nothing cute about that man." She switched off the TV as Buffy and Elena sat at the table.

"What are you doing with that?" Buffy asked, noticing a small velvet box Elena was holding.

"I got it from the safe deposit box. Mom told Mrs. Lockwood she'd loan it to the Founder's Council for their heritage display."

"Is that Grandma Beth's wedding ring?" Jenna asked, picking up the ring and examining it.

"Oh, I loved Grandma Beth." Buffy smiled, rummaging through the box.

"It originally belonged to Great-Great-Grandma Mary."

"How much do you think this stuff is worth? Like, on eBay?" Jeremy's voice cut through the room, startling Buffy.

"Where did you come from?!" Buffy jumped. "I didn't even hear you!"

Jeremy chuckled, clearly enjoying the surprise.

"You're not going to find out." Elena said, taking something out of Jeremy's hands.

"It's Mom and Dad's. You can't give it away," Jeremy said, frowning as he walked towards the kitchen.

"I'm not giving it away. It's called a loan, Jeremy." Elena corrected.

A knock echoed from the front door, drawing Buffy's attention. She glanced at Elena, silently asking her to get it, but Elena was already heading over.

When she opened the door, Stefan stood there, his presence immediately lighting up Elena's face, while Buffy's smile faded into a scowl.

This damn dead ass. Quite literally.

Without hesitation, Elena took Stefan upstairs, leaving Buffy behind.

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Buffy didn't follow him right away. She wasn't some weirdo stalker who stalked her sister's boyfriend, after all. Instead, she stood outside for a few moments before finally ringing the bell at the Salvatore house. Zach opened the door.

"Hey, Buffy, what brings you here?" Zach asked with a friendly smile.

"I need to talk to Stefan. Is he here?" She asked, though she already knew the answer.

He better be here. I did not walk all this way just to be going home without some fucking answers.

Zach nodded, calling for Stefan, and soon enough, he appeared at the door.

"Buffy, wh—"

She cut Stefan off. "Why don't you sparkle? I want to know why you don't fucking sparkle."

Stefan was confused. Why would anyone asked that. "Why don't you sparkle?"

"You're supposed to be sparking. Edward Cullen does, like an actual disco ball. He shines. Or are you more like a Jasper Cullen one? He's always staring as a creep at Bella when she's bleeding. Why not you? How do you walk in the sun? How old are you?"

"Buffy calm down. What are you talking about?" Stefan asked, trying to play obvious, but he already knew that she knew.

"You're a vampire. Why don't you burn in the sun? Do you have some Gem of Amara, or something? Like a ring? Like that blue one you are wearing right now, isn't it." She looked down at his had with the ring on it.

"How did you figure it out? Why are you not freaked out?" Stefan questioned, knowing it wouldn't help his case to pretend.

"Freaked out? Do you know how awesome this is?" Buffy asked. "Would you also go like poof in ashes if somebody staked you? Like in the show?"

"Show?"

"Buffy The Vampire Slayer." She saw the confusion on his face. "You don't know-. Okay, now I'm offended. Buffy Sommers." She pointed towards herself. "Buffy Summers, with an u." She punched his arm.

"Hey."

"So it's the ring, isn't it?"

Stefan nodded. "How did you figure it out."

"Oh, last night. When Elena told your hand got cut but there was no scratch. And I saw you leaving that night at the bonfire when Vicki's body got dragged out of the woods. That was weird, by the way dude. Never mind that, how old are? Cause I sweas to God if your like 500 years old and you're dating Elena that would make you a pedofiele. Please don't be a pedofiele. Also don't kill me. Or do, at least I'll leave a beautiful corpse. But then my mom is gonna be sad. Nope, don't kill me."

"I'm 17." He said, sitting down.

"How long have you been 17?"

HEY, that was from twilight. He he.

"Since 1864."

"How old does that make you? Sorry, I'm bad at Math. I hate it. It makes no sense. Like who even invented Math. But I guess it's alright when I get what I'm doing. But when I don't know, it's hell. Do you know who invented it? Because if you knew them, you could have seriously punched their head against the wall. Sorry, I'm rambling. Your age."

"161."

"Damn, you're old." She shrugged. "Well, I guess it's better than a thousand years. Imagine if you were. That would be weird. Is Damon also one?"

"Yes and you have to stay away from him, Buffy. He is dangerous."

Buffy nodded. "So you're not gonna kill me because I know what you are."

"No, I care about you and wouldn't wish you to die. But you can't tell anyone."

"Only if we watch Buffy The Vampire Slayer together, because buddy you're missing stuff."

"Deal."

"But you don't go poof?"

Stefan shook his head, chuckling. "No, I don't go poof."

"Well, now I have to get home. Bonnie is coming over to get ready."

Buffy hugged Stefan unexpectedly, catching him off guard. "And tell Elena. She deserves to know."

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"Hey Tyler, bye Tyler." Buffy spoke as she passed Tyler and passed through the front door, closing it behind her.

Tyler smiled at her as she passed. If only she would give him a chance, Jeremy could have Vicki all he wanted.

"Delicate Flower versus Naughty Vixen." Bonnie said, looking at the nail polish which she had brought as Buffy stepped in the kitchen. Bonnie looked up at her.

"Though call. Can we mix them?" Elena asked.

"Look at you, getting all pretty for your date. You seem happy-ish."

"I am-ish. Tonight's gonna be a good night. But don't let that stop you from telling me whatever it is you wanted to tell me as soon as you walked in the door." Elena spoke as she sat down next to Bonnie.

"What if I tell you in the morning? I don't want to ruin the night."

"Bonnie, out with it." Buffy spoke, wanting to know.

"Okay, but it has to go in the vault because Amy will kill me. if it gets back to Damon that she squealed."

Buffy didn't know Amy and Bonnie were friends. Amy deserve to have some friends, because after all she doesn't have that many. But what she did last night was a little to far.

"Apparently, Stefan has a very interesting back story."

OOOH, gossip.

I know you love me, XOXO Gossip Girl.

Okay, maybe not the time, Buffy Sommers. Wait my name also starts with a B. I'm gonna be the next Blair Waldorf. Caroline can change her name to Saroline. So we can be B and S. Cool. And I'll just paint my hair brown. HAH. What am I saying?

Elena hummed.

Buffy's eyes lit up. "Oh? Do tell!"

"Do you know what happened with Katherine?"

Damn, I should've asked him that.

"I know that they both dated her and that's why they have issues."

"Yeah, they both dated her, only she chose Damon."

That's gotta hurt. But isn't Damon the dangerous one?

"That drove Stefan mad. So he did horrible things to break them up. He manipulated Katherine. He filled her head with all these lies until it worked and she turned against Damon."

"That's sound like one person's side of the story, meaning Damon's."

"I just wanted you to know."

The bell went off and Buffy went to open it. Most gossip was already done talking about so.

"Okay so, I have the perfect dress for you and I think you should wear it." Is the first thing Caroline says as Buffy opens the door.

"Hmm.

"Stefan is none of those things." Elena spoke, suddenly talking louder, making the two blonds turn around and looked at the two sitting at the table.

"Yeah? How do you know?"

"Let's just get ready?" Buffy said as she dragged Caroline upstairs with her.

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"You look beautiful," James said softly as Buffy opened the door to the Gilbert house. His gaze lingered on her for a moment longer than usual, taking in her elegant dress and the way she carried herself with such confidence. "Absolutely stunning." He added, his voice filled with admiration.

Buffy smiled, a slight blush rising to her cheeks. "Thank you." Her eyes flicked over his sharp suit, the way it accentuated his broad shoulders. "You look very sexy yourself." She replied with a teasing grin, stepping forward to pull him into a quick, tender kiss.

As their lips parted, James smiled, his hand resting on her waist. "Shall we?" He asked, extending his arm with a playful glint in his eye. Buffy took it, her fingers intertwining with his as she closed the door behind her.

"Let's go." She said, excitement bubbling in her voice as they headed off to the party.

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"Hey, Mrs. Lockwood." Buffy spoke to Mrs.Lockwood as she and James arrived at the party.

"Oh, good to see you Buffy. And how many times do I have to tell you, just call me Carol." The Lockwood replied before hugging the girl. "Good to see you too, Mr. Devereux."

The blonde smiled at her before turning to the mayor. "Mr. Lockwood." She spoke as they shook hands.

"Nice to see you, Buffy."

Then she turned to shake her hand with Tyler, but to her surprised he took her hand and kissed her cheek.

Well this is totally not awkward at all, Ty.

He's weird. People are weird.

Ha. Not me.

I'm cool. Very cool.

I need alcohol. Or chocolate.

Chocolate is better.

Behind her, James was glaring at the younger Lockwood.

"Tyler, nice to see you." Buffy spoke, before she looked behind his shoulder. "I see Caroline. Um Bye." She awkwardly waved at him, before grabbing James' hand and almost running to Caroline.

"Care. I missed you." Buffy muttered as her arms wrapped around her best friends neck.

"B, you saw me an hour ago."

"She never hugs me like that." James spoke sadly seeing his girlfriend and Caroline. Liz who was standing next to him gave him an amused smile.

"I know but still. Have you seen Bonnie or Elena and Stefan?"

Caroline shook her head.

"Hey, Liz." Buffy said as she turned around and greeted the sheriff, only to be met by two open arms.

"Buffy."

When Liz let Buffy go, James offered her his hand. "Wanna dance?"

"Yes." She turned back to the Forbes duo. "Is someone sees Bonnie or Elena let me know, okay?"

"Will do."

But to dancing they didn't get. Somewhat further from them Amy and Stefan were standing.

"Hey, have you seen, Elena?" Buffy asked them as her and James joined them. If Stefan was here, where in hell is Elena? And what about Missy Bonnie Bennett?

"Buffy, hey." Elena spoke as her and Damon approached them.

Something very weird is going on here. Very. He warnt me not even six hours ago that we have to stay away from Damon. His own goddamn brother and now he willingly lets his girlfriend go with him?

"A drink Damon." Stefan offered as Buffy looked back inside.

"No, thanks, I'll pass. Hello, Buffy." Damon spoke.

"Hi." Buffy gasped as she looked inside the Lockwood mansion. "Is that my mother with scum shit blah Fell? Ew. Oh, she walked away. Yeey."

"Stefan, do you have another dance in you?" Elena asked and Stefan took her to the dance floor.

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"Amy, there you are, we've been looking everywhere for you." Elena said as she and Buffy made her way over to the blond. Elena had caught her up with the bruises she had seen all over Amy's body.

Despite already knowing the answer, Buffy asked it anyway. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine." Amy replied, with shaky breaths.

"Amy, what happened?"

"I'm fine."

"No, you're shaking. Amy, what- come here." Buffy said, before hugging Amy, who started to breath fast every second. "Come on, we're going home."

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Words: 2180

Posted: January 17, 2024

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x Kat