"See, Buffy? Home sweet home," Dawn said nervously, tugging on her sister's hand, pulling her through the doorway of 1630 Revello Drive.

"Home," Buffy repeated numbly, her eyes darting around the familiar interior. Her vision was still cloudy, but it was clearing up. Things were starting to fall into place. This house, this was hers. This girl, this was hers too.

The others had all cleared out, hugging her enthusiastically. Their faces made a lot less sense than the girl next to her…Dawn. And the man following close behind them, shadowing their every step, he made the least sense of them all. But he didn't seem disappointed that she couldn't locate him quite yet. He only seemed worried about each step she was taking, and whether she responded to her name. Which she was hearing right now-

"Buffy?" Dawn was tilting her head quizzically, "Buffy come on."

Buffy opened her mouth to respond but this time no sounds came out.

"Dawn," the man behind them replied for her, "Why don't you go get ready for bed?"

"Shouldn't we get her something to eat? Or maybe she should take a shower first?"

Buffy started to panic. She had to tell them this was all a terrible mistake, that she had to get out of here. She opened her mouth again and this time wailed in frustration that no sounds came out and stomped her foot.

Dawn took a step back cautiously.

"Dawn," the man repeated, this time with authority, "Dawn go upstairs and go to bed."

Buffy grabbed at her sister, gesturing wildly that she didn't want to eat, that she didn't eat anymore.

"Dawn," the man fairly shouted.

Dawn's face crumpled but she ran up the stairs and slammed her bedroom door before Buffy could see if she was actually starting to cry or not.

"I'm sorry, love. She'll be fine. She does that a lot these days, nothing to fret about."

Buffy turned to face the owner of the voice and this time a name clicked.

"Spike," she guessed hesitantly.

"Yeah, that's my name."

"I'm…I'm…" she felt tears welling in her eyes and she waved her hands in front of her face uselessly, trying to stop them, and then settled for clutching at her throat, trying to ease the pain in it.

"I know, love," he said soothingly. He reached out a hand cautiously to touch her shoulder. When she didn't flinch he took a step closer, and before she could bolt back out into the night he scooped her up and cradled her to his chest.