It seems that Sunnydale where her parents had moved for a 'better life' had turned out to be on a Hellmouth. At first she thought the idea of vampires and werewolves and all the things that go bump in the night being real was insane, after she'd seen a vampire tear off her Mother's head she'd had other thoughts. She'd mourned her friends and family as one by one they were picked off. Then one night as she had been walking home from school just a little too late she was attacked by one of the blood suckers.

She'd been saved obviously by the small band that was out to save them all from Hell. Giles, the librarian, who fought to keep the children of Sunnydale safe. Oz, the quiet intense guy, who she had come to be close to, well, as close as anyone got to Oz. He had issues. Larry, he had all the humor of the group. He was a ex-jock and the muscle for them all, he had a good heart though. And now her. She'd lost everything and now she wanted to pay the vampires of this town back.

She slipped behind the shadow of huge willow tree watching a few vampires sit around what looked to be a fresh body. Too bad the guy was stupid enough to be out past curfew and get himself killed. One of the vampires sniffed the air and looked in her general direction. She yanked out her super soaker filled with Holy water and sent a spray in their faces as they raced at the fresh meat. She hit one, dead in the face and it screamed in rage as his buddies closed in on her. She almost laughed with the thrill of the fight... God, she'd been in this town too long.

She dodged as a vampire made a swipe at her head and rolled bringing her legs around in a move Giles had taught them all with great patience. He fell hard trying to take her down with him she felt excited from the exertion of fighting as she moved to easily stake the fallen vampire. He exploded into a cloud of dust. The last of the three vamps closed in on her, he was a smart little vampy with a big knife. He kicked her stake and it flew across the wet grass he grinned at her.

She moved with a catlike grace moving forward to take him down. She felt a boot hit her in the ribs and she feel down all the air flying out of her lungs. Damn. She'd forgotten about the one she hadn't quite killed with the holy water. Mild worry filled her mind. She groaned and tried to pull herself to her feet as they re-grouped. The ugly fellow seemed to feel like he'd already won the battle. Fat chance. She rolled over and reached into her back pocket and pulled out a wooden cross. They hissed and backed up from her... right into Oz's stake. The vamp exploded, Nancy smiled tightly and then moved in on the last vampire they staked him together.

She fell into pace beside him as they made their way back to the library. "You shouldn't have been out on your own." Oz said giving her a worried look. "Hey I can handle myself." She grinned. "And you always seem to show up to save my sorry ass when I can't." Oz wasn't smiling.

"Giles wants us back at the library, patrol together in the van." Oz looked half worried about everyone. "Is something up?" She asked feeling worried about his worry. He half smiled for her. "Yeah." he said then tensed as there came a crashing sound through the bushes. Larry jumped out in front of them and she wanted to slug him for scaring her. "Hey guys, vamps on my tail let's get some backup supplies.. lots of vamps on my tail." He said heading quickly towards the library. They fell into a light jog behind him.

Yeah, she was just like a normal girl, except normal was a idiom she didn't use anymore. It didn't mean anything unless you were talking about fighting. But she would keep up training, keep trying, keep breathing. Maybe in some lifetime after this one she would have a normal life. Maybe.

~*~End~*~