Buffy Summers walked slowly into Sunnydale Catholic Church, arms crossed. She hated what she was about to do, but she needed some sign that she was forgiven for some of the things she had done. She had no clue how she was going to explain herself to a Priest, especially when she had to make up alternate topics for vampires and demons and The First.

Buffy walked to the front pew and sat down. The priest in Sunnydale Catholic never used confession boxes anymore. She did not have to wait long for the priest to appear. “Confession?” he asked, and she nodded. He sat down next to her, fingering the cross around his neck. He was dressed in the traditional priest outfit, and his black hair was messed up and poofed. His dark skin looked dry, and he looked exhausted.

“I am father Thompson,” he said. “You may begin.” Buffy shifted a little. “Do I have to say the whole forgive me father speech?” she asked. Father Thompson smiled. “No child. Just tell me why you are here,” he replied. Buffy uncrossed her arms and leaned back in the pew. “I feel like I am shutting the ones I love most out of my life,” she said. Father Thompson’s eyebrows rose. “Oh?” he said. She nodded. “I’ve been so...harsh...with them for the past few weeks. My little sister pointed out this morning that I wouldn’t talk to anyone. But there’s been so much going on, I don’t know who to talk to, who would understand. Its like I’m leading everything, with no outlet.”

“Did you ever consider the fact that you could be doing just that? Leading everything, but finding no outlet to take the pressure off of yourself?”

Buffy sighed. “Yes,” she said. “But something—someone—is after me. And I can’t put my friends in danger like that,” she said.

“Who is after you?”

“It’s a long story,” Buffy replied.

“Care to share it?”

“Not really.”

Father Thompson nodded. “Continue,” he said. Buffy shut her eyes briefly. “I have a rough job,” she said cautiously, “And it takes up a lot of my time. And a lot of energy. But I can’t seem to split down the middle; friends versus job.”

“What do you do?”

Buffy paused. She had no idea how to answer that. “Uh...Law, uh...enforcement,” she said. Father Thompson nodded, and Buffy continued. “My job is to save people, and I seem to be getting more killed. And what really bothers me, is that there’s nothing I can do about it. I feel like I’ve caused it.”

“How on earth could you be responsible, child?”

“I don’t know. I mean I do, but I don’t know how to explain it.”

Father Thompson was quite for a moment. “What is your name?” he asked. “Buffy Summers,” Buffy replied. Father Thompson nodded. “Buffy, god will see you through this. You have not sinned. You have simply caught yourself in a mess that you did not create,” he said. Buffy pondered that, then nodded. “Thank you,” she said quietly.

“Was there anything else you wished to discuss?”

“No.”

“Then I wish you a pleasant night, and leave you with this advice: follow in the steps of the Lord, and you will remain pure.”

Buffy smiled a little and stood. “Have a good night,” she said, and walked towards the doors. She felt that the last remark he gave her was a bit over the top. As she opened the doors, Spike stood up from the steps. “Alright, pet?” he asked. “Got all of your tears out?” he smirked, and she rolled her eyes. “Very funny, Spike. Let’s go.” With that, the two descended the steps and made their way towards Revello Drive.