(A.N. This is set in Season 6, right after Bargaining and before Life Serial)

"Buffy!" Dawn whined once again, slamming her books down on the table. A customer in the shop looked up at them briefly, then back down at the jar of some kind of body parts he was studying.

"It's not fair! I finally have a date and you won't let me go! You always do this!"

"Dawn, I never do this. Normally, I would let you go. But it's vamp-central around here lately. I don't want you going until it's safer."

"Well, slay them then! That's your job!" Dawn screamed, flinging her arms up and knocking a bunch of wood carvings from a shelf.

The customer looked up again, and carefully set the jar down, walking out of the Magic Box with a glance back at Dawn. Dawn sighed and folded her arms, stalking out of the door.

"Dawn!" Buffy shouted, but made no attempt to chase after her and bent down to start picking all of the sculptures up.

Anya walked out from the back room, and, seeing Buffy knelt over the carvings, rushed to her.

"What happened!? Are any of them broken?"

"Hurricane Dawn, that's what. And, no, they're all fine."

"Thank god. What was she crying about this time?" Anya questioned, repositioning the items back on the shelf.

"The usual. You always do this bla bla bla. It's not fair!"

"I think you just don't understand her at all." Anya said, shaking her head.

"Hey, I'm trying!"

Suddenly a voice piped in from behind them.

"What? Like you understand her?"

Anya jumped, sending all the sculptures to the floor again.

"Great! Thanks, Willow."

"Where did you come from?" Buffy questioned.

"Oh, Tara and I were here... but we thought it would be safer after Dawn left."

"And then you chose to scare the crap out of me?" Anya sighed.

"I was just putting my word in."

"Well, for your information, Willow, I don't understand Dawn the least bit, but I can see what she's coming at."

"What are you talking about!?" Willow questioned. Buffy and Tara exchanged glances.

"Well, Buffy is kind of overprotective."

Buffy opened her mouth to protest, but Willow was too quick.

"Well, she has to be! This is the Hellmouth, Anya! There are things creeping around, like demons." Willow hinted.

"Hey, I am totally demon free! I don't kill anymore! And besides, even if I did, I would never hurt Dawn."

"You're just saying that..."

"Oh, here comes Xander!" Tara saved everyone as she and Buffy breathed a silent sigh of relief.

But the silence didn't last for long.

"Why do you hang around anyway? We don't need your help! We are totally non-needing-of-help. Especially from a vampire."

Xander entered the shop with his finger aimed at Spike, his face bright red.

"Well I can hang around as long as I please if you are."

"What does that mean!?"

"It means that you serve absolutely no purpose! Think about it, mate. Buffy's the slayer, the lovers over there are witches, the old man's a watcher, and your trollip's an ex-demon!"

"Hey, who are you calling a trollip!?" Anya shouted.

Spike ignored her, "Even the little bit's somewhat useful. But you, you are just the guy who orders the pizza."

Normally, Buffy or Anya or Willow would have stood up for Xander, but the look on Spike's face made them all back off.

"I'm not saying I don't order the pizza, mister, but I'm much more than that! Right, guys?" He looked to his friends for encouragement.

Buffy, Willow, and Tara nodded cautiously.

"You go, sweetie." Anya whispered, smiling hesitantly.

"Well, then, I'll guess I'll go if I'm not needed." Spike turned his back on them, walking out the door.

Tara looked at everyone. They really need to all understand each other better... she thought, then remembered a certain spell she found in a book...