Title: Innocence Lost

Author: Settiai

Disclaimer: "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," "Angel," and other related characters are all properties of Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, and other related corporations. No infringement is intended. This story, such as it is, was written as a sign of respect and love for the characters, the show, and their creator. I claim no ownership of the aforementioned show and characters.

Rating: PG-13

Summary: Dawn makes a mistake that will change her life, and the lives of all those around her, forever.

Feedback: Comments and helpful criticisms are always appreciated.

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Author's Notes:

If you have previously read this story, I highly suggest that you read it once more. My writing has improved quite a bit in the years since I first started this story, and I've also matured some since then. I know that certain aspects of the original story were highly implausible and very much out of character, and I'm trying my best to correct those faults.

This chapter, and the next two, takes place after the episode "Older and Far Away" but before "As You Were." Starting with the fourth chapter, the story starts veering AU from near the end of "Hell's Bells."

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Fifteen-year-old Dawn Summers was careful to shut the door quietly behind her as she crept out of the house, but she couldn't help but flinch at the sound of it clicking shut. Even though the noise was almost inaudible, her heart started beating faster in anticipation of someone hearing her. She knew that it was much too early for her sister to be home, but Willow was asleep on the couch... and she didn't want to risk getting caught just yet.

After a few seconds had passed, she her racing pulse slowly began slowing back down. Deep inside of her, a twinge of hurt sprang up because no one had attempted to stop her, but on the surface she appeared calm and collected. A grim smile crossed her lips as she hurried into the darkness of the Sunnydale streets.

As she walked under a streetlight a few yards down the street, Dawn glanced down at her outfit. Anyone who saw her tonight would have no clue that she was only fifteen, not with her wearing something as skimpy as this. She doubted that anyone would mistake her for being older than twenty-one, but she hoped that she appeared to be at least eighteen or nineteen.

As she picked up her pace, she felt a single tear make its way into the corner of her eye. She furiously reached upward and wiped it away, berating herself for the momentary lapse. Dawn knew that she would probably regret her actions in the morning, but for now she wanted nothing more than to just go wild for the night. No one understood her, that was obvious to her now. God, none of them had even had a clue that she had been stealing. None of them...

A grim, determined look came to her face as she hurried along towards her destination. She would have hell to pay when Buffy found out that she had snuck out, but for the moment she couldn't care less. Let her be angry… if she even noticed that Dawn was missing before the morning came.

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Dawn looked around, grinning wildly at the mass of people crammed into the small bar that she was in. No one had even glanced twice when she had walked in, so she assumed that she had been correct in assuming her outfit would make her appear several years older. Even though she knew that she still looked too young to legally buy liquor, no one seemed to mind as long as she had some money with her.

The music in the room was loud, and she probably would have been in shock if she had been able to actually understand half of the lyrics… which she couldn't. There was a smoky haze throughout the entire place, and she was already feeling slightly dizzy from the variety of familiar, and unfamiliar, smells.

She hadn't come there just to stand around though.

With a determined look on her face, Dawn pushed her way over to the bar. She caught the barkeep's attention and waved a ten-dollar bill in the air. "Give me a shot of..."

She quickly glanced around before letting her eyes stop on a cute guy who was probably only a few years older than her. "...whatever he's having," she finished.

The barkeeper gave her a quick glance before shrugging his shoulders and pouring the murky liquor into a glass. Dawn shoved the money towards him and, without hesitating, brought the glass up to her lips and let the liquor slide down her throat. She resisted the urge to gag and quickly set the glass back down.

As the alcohol burned its way down her throat, she thought for a moment that maybe she should just call it quits and head home. That thought disappeared, however, as the college-age guy she had glanced at earlier stood up and walked over to her. With a warm smile, he turned towards the barkeeper.

"Give me another glass -- and the lady too, if she wants one," he said, winking at Dawn as she did so. "My treat."

Dawn looked up at him, momentarily uncertain of what to say. She finally just smiled and then nodded her head towards the barkeeper. With another shrug, the man poured them each another glass and walked down towards the other end of the bar.

The young man sat down beside her and picked up his glass. He held it up and then quickly downed it. She quickly followed his example and was surprised to discover that this time the drink didn't seem to taste quite as horrible. The young man grinned at her and leaned in closer. "I'm Kyle. How about you?"

She looked up at him with a smile. "I'm Dawn," she said after a moment or two. "Dawn Summers."

Kyle gave her another wink as he stood up and held out his hand. "Well then, Dawn Summers, would you like to dance with me?"

She merely smiled and let him guide her onto the middle of the dance floor. After that, she was barely aware of anything else. The rest of the night seemed to be a mix of loud music, strong drinks, dancing, and…

Kyle.

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Dawn felt as if everything was flashing by her. There were loud noises, bright lights, and tons of people. Her head was spinning, and everything seemed distorted. Her eyes didn't seem to focus clearly, but at the same time they seemed to be more focused than ever before. Kyle was standing in front of her, a shark-like grin on his handsome face.

She felt his arms around her and then his lips on hers. Unlike the last time she had been kissed, she seemed to know exactly what was going on now. She let him gently caress her hair as he pulled her closer to him. Everything was crazy, wild, exciting...

And then, suddenly, it was quiet.