Chapter 1

Extract from Dawn's diary

It's a year today now, a year since we lost Buffy, for the last time. Willow and Tara took me to her grave to lay some fresh flowers, it hit them hard too, one second she was alive, fighting off vamps, the next, she died, taken down from behind. I tried to warn her, why did she die? No wait, I know that one, so I could escape, so that I had a chance to live, someone she was sent to protect from Glory and anyone else who wanted to use The Key, me...her sister, her blood. Some sister I turned out to be, I was right there! DAMMIT I CAN'T TAKE THIS!!! Why did the monks make me a teenager? WHY!? I've lost a mother and a sister and I don't know what to...

"Dawnie, Dinner!" The sound of Willow's voice dragged Dawn out of her confused ramblings in her diary. Buffy had sacrificed herself against odds that were stiff for even a Slayer to contend with. Dawn had been hurt, Willow and Tara were trying to drag her out. Then they heard the death cry from Buffy, that was it. Dawn tried to run back, tried to avenge her sister or die trying, Willow held her tight, there was no way Dawn would have walked out alive. "Dawn?"

"Yeah I'm coming!" Dawn shouted back. Dawn locked her diary and walked downstairs, she didn't even try to hide the tear stains down the sides of her face. Dawn walked into the kitchen to see Willow and Tara talking, they heard the door open and there was an awkward silence, neither Willow or Tara knowing what to say. Dawn sat down to eat.

"Are you ok hunny?" Tara's voice full of concern.

"Yeah just fine," she said quietly, lying. Inside, Dawn was in turmoil, it had been a long day. "I'm just tired, I think I'll head to bed after I've eaten."

Dawn, Tara and Willow ate in silence.

...

"I'm worried about her, baby, she hasn't been herself," Willow said to Tara as she was taking her top off, her back to the bed, Tara in it.

"I know sweetie, it's hard on her." Tara inched across the bed closer to Willow as she got in and settled under the duvet, Tara put her arm around Willow. "It's not easy to lose someone you love," she continued not wanting to imagine how she would feel without Willow. Tara and Willow were looking after Dawn, it was what Buffy would have wanted. Faith was out of jail now, but she was needed in The North Pole where it was almost permanent night, no rest for the wicked.

Willow turned in Tara's arm to face her, her hand now caressing Tara's cheek, "We have to take Dawnie up to the University tomorrow remember?"

"Yeah. It's been a long day sweetie, get some sleep." Tara and Willow shared a tender kiss as they fell to sleep.

...

That night, a soft tune plays, lulling, making all outside drowsy, three people followed the sound of his pipe, unable to resist the hypnotic lure of his music.