A/N: Hi everyone. I've only just started really getting into Buffy the Vampire Slayer and I've enjoyed every episode I've seen so far. I hope the way I write the characters stays true to how they act in the show. This story takes place during season 3 and is meant to be in place of 'Helpless' since Buffy's birthday takes place in that episode. Hope you enjoy this story.

Today was a day Buffy Anne Summers usually looked forward to… sort of. It was her birthday. But she didn't feel like celebrating today. Things had been complicated for her these past few weeks. Since she came back to Sunnydale she's had to deal with another Slayer and the return of her lover Angel from Hell where he spent somewhere around 100 years of unspeakable torment; Buffy being the one that sent him down there. It's not that she wanted to send him packing to Hell, but that's what life's about; choices. She could've let Angel live and then die once the demon vortex sucked all of Sunnydale into Hell or she could stab her love and kill him. It was a no brainer when Angel was Angelus, but at the last moment Willow's soul spell kicked in changing the evil and heartless Angelus back into Angel. Why Willow chose to finish her spell at that particular moment, Buffy would never know. It was like something out of a television show.

Now he was back; almost. Hell had really messed him up. He was practically an animal when Buffy first saw him come back. Now he's somewhat better. Pushing that thought from her mind, Buffy got ready for school. Her mother made her an unusual birthday breakfast. She gave her a cake that was in the shape of a stake. That made Buffy chuckle a little that her mom was at least trying to accept her Slayer duties.

Sunnydale High

"Hey Buffy," Cordelia greeted Buffy at her locker.

"Hi Cordelia. What's up?" She asked.

"Are you alright? You've been acting weird all day. Well weirder than usual at least," she added."

"I figured I'd act my extra weirdest today just for you," Buffy quipped and then turned and walked away from Cordelia.

"Wonder what that was about?" Cordelia said.

"Oh you know Buffy," Xander said appearing behind her. "She's just in one of her moods. She'll be back to her usual self in no time."

"I hope so. I do not like this new Buffy," Cordelia said.

Buffy's mood of course was about telling her friends about Angel. She has been keeping his return a secret for a while now. She knows she has to tell her friends sooner or later about his return, but she doesn't know how they will take it; especially Giles. She especially doesn't want to see his reaction. Then again Giles would have been furious no matter when she told him especially after what happened with Jenny.

"Do you guys feel like we're forgetting something?" Willow asked Xander, Cordelia, Faith, and Oz as they all ate lunch together. Buffy was nowhere to be seen.

"It does feel like there is something we should be remembering, but I can't put my finger on it," Xander said. "It'll probably hit me when the time comes though," he said and then Faith punched him on the back of his head. "OWWW!" He shouted rubbing the back of his head. "What did you do that for! ?" He asked and almost felt like that head injury was going to make him pass out.

"I find this rather sad. I've known Buffy less than all of you and yet I seem to be the only one that knows what today is," Faith said.

"What is it?" Oz asked then recoiled when Faith looked like she was about to hit him.

"I don't know. Buffy's birthday perhaps," she said casually. Everyone's eyes widened at her answer.

"Oh shit!" Xander said.

"How could I have forgotten?" Willow asked herself.

"That's a good question. Aren't you guy's best friends?" Oz asked.

"Well we've had a lot on our plates these last couple of weeks. I mean we've been fighting vampires, zombies, and obsessive boyfriends on steroids."

"That still isn't an excuse to forget about her birthday though," Xander said then buried his face in the table.

"So what are we supposed to do?" Cordelia asked.

"I have an idea," Faith answered her.

Several hours later

-Meet at the library. Giles has some Slayer business for you. The front door is unlocked.

-Willow

Buffy didn't feel like slaying tonight, but she went regardless. She'd been feeling depressed for most of the day. Not only from having to worry that Angel would leave his hiding spot and get spotted by one of her friends, but also from the fact that her friends had forgotten her birthday. Admittedly her previous birthday had been nothing to sing about given how Angelus had been born that night, but that didn't mean they had to forget about it completely. She entered the deserted school and began jogging to the library. The faster she got there, the sooner she could find out what mission Giles had, and the faster she could go home and forget about today. As she approached the library she noticed that the lights were all turned off. Buffy pulled out a stake she brought with her in case this was just one big trap. She cautiously opened the doors and walked inside.

"Surprise!" Buffy friends announced jumping out of hiding. Buffy was surprised all right. In fact she was so surprised that she reacted on instinct and punched Xander in the face knocking his light out.

Xander? Xander! Someone called out to him.

"Anyone get the license plate of the truck that hit me?" He asked still in a daze.

"Sorry Xander," Buffy apologized helping him up to his feet.

"How bad is it?" He asked feeling his eye stinging badly.

"Bad enough that you can say you got it standing up to some tough guy. It should enhance your rep. in the school," Buffy said laughing at his black eye. She then took in the scene around her. On the table were a few presents and there was even a cake too.

"Thanks everyone," she said smiling at them.

"Don't thank us," Cordelia said. "Especially not me," she added under her breath.

"Then who…?" Buffy started to ask and Xander pointed behind her. Buffy turned and saw Faith.

"The whole thing was her idea," Xander said. "Since she's the only one that remembered," he added sounding ashamed.

"We're really sorry, Buffy," Willow apologized sounding sincere. Buffy only sighed.

"Like I can stay mad at you guys," she said. "Well, not counting you that is," she said to Cordelia who only rolled her eyes though Buffy was certain she saw the faintest traces of a smile.

"Well let's get the presents out of the way shall we," Oz said. "That way we can get to the cake must faster." The group moved to the table and Buffy pulled up Faith's gift first. She picked up the card attached to it and read it aloud:

To the most bad ass girl in this world or the next and the coolest friend anyone could ask for.

Love,

Faith

Buffy opened the present and raised an eyebrow before letting out a little laugh.

"Yeah that movie's not the best around, but the acting's so terrible its freaking hilarious," Faith said.

"Thanks Faith," Buffy thanked hugging the other Slayer. "Let's do Giles next," Buffy said putting down the vampire movie Faith got her. Buffy had guessed Giles gift before even seeing it. She tore open the wrapping paper and saw her guess was correct; it was a book.

The Big Book of the Worst Monster Movie Clichés

"Didn't peg you for having a funny side," she said to Giles who was just standing apart from the group. "Get over here," she said holding out her arms for a hug. Giles walked over to Buffy and hugged her. There were a lot of times that Giles felt like a father to Buffy and this was definitely one of them.

"Mine next," Oz said holding up his gift. "It's actually something I was planning on giving you this week. My band and I cooked it up about a week ago," he said handing a CD to Buffy.

"One of your greatest hits?" Buffy asked. Oz went under the table and pulled up a boom box.

"See for yourself," he said. Buffy inserted the CD into the boom box and hit play. A very catchy song filled through the entire library.

"What was that?" Buffy asked once it ended.

"Your theme song," Oz answered with a grin.

"My theme…never mind. It's actually pretty good. Thanks," she said hugging Oz as well.

"And last but not least," Xander said sliding his present over to Buffy. "Joint gift from me and Willow," he said. Buffy opened the box their present was in and looked at her two friends.

"Faith got you the so bad, it's hilarious vampire movie. We went a step further and got you the so bad they're hilarious vampire books," Willow said.

"I'm not going to read them, but thanks," Buffy said.

"I wouldn't say that," Xander said.

"What are you talking about? What did you do to these books?" Buffy said picking one of them up. The book as well as the others glowed vibrantly at Buffy's touch.

"Just a little gag gift," Xander chuckled; a chuckle that slowly died out at Buffy's not amused look.

"Well you see," Willow stammered.

"It was Willow's idea," Xander said.

"No it wasn't. It was your idea!" She shouted at him.

"Well it was your idea to listen to my idea!"

"Stop!" Buffy yelled. "I don't care whose idea it is. I just want to know what just happened to me."

"Well the thing is, is that when you touched the book, you activated a hex I put on all four of them. You'll have to through each book and the hex won't lift until you finish the last one. You'll have to read so many pages a night," Willow explained uneasily.

"How many?" Buffy asked.

"It depends on which book," Xander answered. "But look on the bright side," he said laying a hand on one of the books. The books all glowed for Xander like they did for Buffy.

"Willow? What just happened?" He asked.

"I kind of put the hex on you as well," she revealed.

"What! ? Why me! ?"

"I wasn't going to make Buffy suffer this whole ordeal on her own," Willow answered taking a few steps back from Buffy.

"Then why didn't you put the hex on yourself. You're her best friend!"

"Well consider this karma then, since it was your idea!"

"With friends like them who needs enemies," Faith said to Buffy as Willow and Xander continued to argue.

"Yeah, but I wouldn't trade them for anything in the world," Buffy said. Suddenly her body started to glow; Xander's did as well. "Willow what's happening?" Buffy asked starting to feel worried.

"I don't know. This isn't supposed to happen," she said nervously. As she said this all four Twilight Novels started to glow along with Buffy and Xander.

"Everyone get back!" Buffy ordered running to the books. There was a bright flash of light and Buffy and Xander vanished from the library.

Buffy felt rain pouring down on her face; she opened her eyes and found herself in the middle of the woods. She jumped on her feet and pulled her jacket hood over her eyes.

"Xander!" She called out. "Hello! ? Is anyone there! ?"

In another section of the forest, Xander came to consciousness again. "Buffy! ?" He called out into the forest, but heard nothing except an enormous clap of thunder. As he looked around the forest he thought he saw something quickly moving through the trees. "Buffy? Is that you?" He asked praying it was her. The being jumped out of the trees and lunged at Xander.

Xander's yells could be heard throughout the entire forest. "Xander!" Buffy yelled and raced off in the direction of his screams.

To Be Continued…

A/N: I know the Twilight Novels hadn't come out yet during this season of Buffy, but just pretend they had for the sake of the story. Hope this chapter was good and everyone was in character. Any guesses as to the movie Faith got Buffy? See ya soon!