Timeline: Set between Normal Again & Entropy.
Disclaimer: Not Mine, Never will be Feedback: Yes Please! A/N: This story was inspired by RedDwarfette's, 1 Tequila, 2 Tequila, 3 Tequila, Floor, and she has been kind enough to give me permission to use her idea. Thank you again and to everyone else who hasn't read it I would totally recommend it. Put simply, It Rocks! You can find the link on my favorite▓s page.
A/N 2: This is the sequel to Weekend in L.A. It can be read as a stand alone but I would recommend reading the other first.
Chapter 1
Dawn sighed as she followed her sister into the new offices. "How much more stuff could there possibly be?"
"One more load." Willow answered coming out from the kitchen. "Thats from the house, this is the last of the books from Giles' personal collection at the magik box and Xander brought over most of the magic supplies last night on his way home." She bounced lightly on her toes. "Tara should be arriving any minute to do the de-invite spell and put up the protection spells."
Dawn shared an amused smile with her sister at Willow's enthusiasim.
"And how are things going with you two." Buffy asked as she started unpacking the boxes they'd just brought in into the new shelves Xander had installed earlier that week.
Willow grinned at her. "Well, she doesn't hang up when I call now."
A confused look settled on Dawn's features. "Tara hung up on you?"
"Well no... but she may have well as. And that was when she answered the phone, most of my calls went straight to voice mail." Her grin grew even wider, "But not anymore."
Buffy smiled. Glad to hear that her two favourite Wiccans were at least talking to each other again.
She had always liked Tara. Ok, there was the time where she didn't understand most of what the blonde said. Then there was the guilt she felt over what had happened to her because she refused to give up Dawn. But there was also the deep gratitude for the way the soft spoken witch had looked after Dawn while she was 'away' and the way she had helped her with the whole Spike fiasco. Tara had become much more to her then just Willow's girlfriend which she was ashamed to admit that thats all she was for a long time.
"Well I propose that those with Slayer strength go and get the rest of the stuff while those with the actual patience to cataloge properly stay and start putting this stuff away." Dawn said offering her sister a cheeky smile.
"Tara should be here any minute and Xander not long after to put in the last of the shelves so if you wanna stay Dawnie I'll go back with Buffy and help her sort through the last of the stuff."
Dawn pulled the small stereo out from under the desk the't installed and plugged it in. "No problemo." She paused for a minute and looked at her sister. "You okay with that?" She asked unsure if Buffy would let her stay on her own even if Tara and Xander would be here soon.
Buffy looked into her little sister's eyes and had a flashback to when Dawn had taken care of the Vamp at the warehouse in L.A and nodded her head. "Keep a sword nearby and I'm cool." She smirked. "I think you're old enough now."
Dawn let out a loud whoop that had both the older women grinning. "Finally she notices."
"So are Angel and Cordy still coming?"
Buffy put the phone back on it's cradle and turned around to face her little sister "Yes Dawn, Conner's still coming" She said, a smile on her face. "Your in luck, they have no urgent cases at the moment and baring Cordelia having a vision they will be here at sundown"
Dawn rolled her eyes and hoped she was putting up a convincing act of indifference "Why would I care if Conner's coming or not, I just wanted to see what clothes Cordy and Faith got me for my birthday, unlike a certain slayer I know they actually have fashion sense" She said the last part teasingly.
When her sister didn't answer Dawn knew she was back in one of her moods. Though they were becoming less frequent over the past week, Dawn knew that she was still having trouble with the whole coming back from heaven stuff. With a sigh she stood up "I'm gonna go upstairs and see what Willow's up to and then start getting ready, there's only about 3 hours till sundown, they're meeting us at the bronze right?"
Buffy nodded and as Dawn started to walk past she grabbed her arm gently "Dawnie, I'm sorry, I know I'm not exactly the most cheerful person right now, but I don't wanna upset you on your birthday." It came out almost pleadingly.
The youngest Summers smiled gently "I know Buff and it's ok, honestly, I understand... Well I don▓t actually understand cause I haven't been there, but I can imagine what your going though and I'm totally ok with it, you just take the time and space you need and if I can do anything to help or if you wanna just talk, I'm here, anyth-"
"Ok babble girl, I can see you've been taking lesson's from Willow haven't you" Buffy said with an eyebrow raised
Dawn flushed lightly "I just don't wanna put any extra pressure on you than you already have to handle, you just deal with your stuff right now, I promise, my stuff will still be here later." She finished with a grin
"Ooof" Dawn grunted, the air expelled from her lungs at the sudden introduction to a Slayer strength hug. She was also becoming a lot more emotional, which considering the mask of cold indifference she used to wear all the time, was, in Dawn's point of view, a big improvement. "Uhh Buffy..."
"You know I love you right"
She let out a soft laugh "Yeah I know, I love you too"
Pulling back slightly Buffy ran her fingers though her little sisters long brown hair "I can't believe your 17 already"
Reveling in the comfort, she smiled "Yup, lil sis is getting to be not so little anymore huh"
"You got that right, when are you gonna stop growing, your not allowed to be too much taller than me"
The smile that is on her face is the first real smile she's worn all day, and for a moment Dawn could see the old Buffy shinning through, and while that moment passed a little to quickly it gave her hope that maybe one day soon she might have her big sister back for good.
Pulling back completely Buffy sat down on one of the breakfast stools. "You go see Willow and then get ready and I promise we'll have a great time tonight, no more mopey Buffy" And for a moment that smile flicked in her eyes again.
Grinning Dawn nodded her head before leaving the kitchen and heading for the stairs.
-
knock knock
"Come in"
Opening the door, Dawn peeked her head in "Heya Will, what'cha doing?"
"Oh hey Birthday Girl, just going over some notes from class.■ Willow sat up putting the lid back on her highlighter. "What can I do for you?"
Sitting on the edge of the bed, she looked up at the red head. "I was just wondering if you knew who was playing at the Bronze tonight?"
Her forehead crinkling, Willow had to think for a moment. "Nope, Sorry Dawnie, apparently they did have a band booked, The Clashers, or The Trashers or something like that but I heard someone at school yesterday say they cancelled or something, so unless they can get another on such short notice we'll probably just have a D.J or something, why?"
Standing up Dawn just shook her head, "I was just didn't wanna get there and have some crappy music to listen to. A D.J will be cool though." She headed for the door before turning again "We're meeting the Fang Gang, Xander, Anya and Tara at the Bronze at sundown and hopefully Spike as well, so I'm gonna go and start getting ready"
Grinning Willow looked up "That's fine, two and a half hours to get ready though, isn't that a bit mu... ahhhh Conner's coming huh?"
"Aaargh" and Dawn stomping out was her only response. Laughing she took the cap off her highlighter and got back to work.