AN/: I'm upping Dawn's age to sixteen, with a birthday coming soon. I'm not sure if it'll help the story, but it'll make me feel less like I'm helping certain characters rob the cradle in later chapters.

DISCLAIMER: This is what happened when Joss Whedon and the people at the CW got together in Tijuana; utter chaos.

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Dawn made her way outside the airport, needing air. The coldness of the night filled her lungs, centering her. She wasn't worried about the others not finding her, between Spike and Faith she could never get lost, no matter how much she wanted to.

Dawn leaned against the wall, soaking in what she knew to be her last minutes of peace, alone. They didn't last long, though; Spike and Faith came out loaded down with bags, Xander trailed behind, duffel bag and map in hand.

"Trying to hide from us, niblett?" Spike asked with a grin that didn't reach his tired eyes.

Dawn shook her head, pushing off the wall. "Just getting some air. I'm not so big on flying." She reached over and took a bag from Spike.

"So what kinda car didya get for us Harris? Somethin' fast?" Faith asked.

Xander answered in a subdued voice. "I… don't remember. Faith. Something, big, like an SUV I think."

"Hey man, are you doing okay?" Faith asked him quietly.

Xander looked at her, his face full of hostility. "Don't act like you care Faith; we all know you don't." He spat at her.

Stunned, she stood there as he walked across the street towards the rental place. Spike hesitated in following.

"It's not you, luv. He can't handle this. You're just the most painful reminder of what's missin' is all. Nothing y'can help."

"How the hell do I remind him of her?" she asked angrily.

Spike looked at her, his face empty of everything but pain. "You're The Slayer now, the only one. He can never forgive you for that, for not bein' her." He turned and strode away, muttering to himself. "And neither can I."

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Luke paced the diner, waiting for her to arrive. He didn't understand this nervousness; why was this so different than Jess? Because she was a girl? Because he had never met her? He didn't know.

He stopped pacing as headlights flooded the diner. A car pulled up and he took a deep breath; they were here.

Luke opened the door and stepped outside. The first thing he saw was a young burly guy get out of the driver's seat. He turned to the passenger side as a woman dressed in leather pants and a very low-cut red tank top step out. A feeling of dread washed over him. 'oh, god,' He thought. 'is that her?' The feeling left as a much younger, less skanky girl got out of the back, along with a blond guy in even more leather. He knew the minute he saw her that she was Dawn; she looked like Joyce.

"Excuse me, are you Luke?" the young guy in front asked him.

Luke looked away from Dawn. "Uh yeah, that's me. You're Dawn's friends?"

The guy nodded. "I'm Xander, this is Faith, Spike, and of course, Dawn."

"Yeah, I could tell; she looks like her mom. Um, why don't you guys come in? I've got questions, I'm sure you guys have questions, so we might as well, get comfortable."

Dawn was the first to follow him in. "So, you run a diner?" she asked.

"Yup, the only decent one in town. You're free to work here, if you need money. Your cousin did when he was here. You don't have to or anything, but the pays good and I'm a decent boss on my good days." He told her.

She gave him a small smile before confusion hit her. "Wait; I have a cousin?"

Luke raised his eyebrows. "We've got a lot to get through, I guess."

Luke went behind the counter and started a fresh batch of coffee.

"You guys hungry? I can get ya whatever you want." Spike's face lit up at that until Faith elbowed him in the stomach.

"What? Was just gonna see if they've got flowered onions here."

Luke turned towards him, a coffee filter in hand. "Flowered onions? I have no idea what that is."

"Oh, it's beautiful, mate. See, first y'take an onion and ya-"

"You got burgers? Well all take burgers." Faith interrupted him.

Dawn shook her head. "No thanks, not hungry."

"I don't care if you're hungry or not, you're gonna eat something, got it? You haven't eaten since lunch yesterday." Faith ordered.

Dawn rolled her eyes, but said nothing. Luke took the opportunity to go cook while they settled at a table.

Xander looked around the diner, impressed. "Man, if you have to live somewhere besides with us, this is definitely the place. What's cooler that living above a diner? Really, think of the handiness of this- when you don't wanna cook and are craving fried food, you just have to go down the stairs! I should open a diner. 'Xan's'. it sounds nice, doesn't it? Anya would make a great waitress and I could be the cook in the back, yelling 'order up' when food was ready and stuff."

They all looked at him. Spike didn't even try to hide his smirk. "You're forgetting somethin', Harris. A cook has t'be able to do more than go across the street and order; he has to make food; a skill you're seriously lacking."

Xander opened his mouth to say something, but at that moment, the diner's door opened. A tall, skinny man came over to them, frowning. "You're at my table."

"The place is empty, buddy; you can have any table here."

"Yes, but I eat at this table almost every day; we have history. My butt is imprinted on that chair; it's like those touch-memory beds they have on TV. It's molded perfectly."

Dawn stood up and quickly got a new chair. At that moment, Luke came out with their food. Pleased was not what he felt when he saw Kirk.

"Out Kirk,"

"But the lights are on. There's people here."

"The sign says we're closed, so out."

"But you're serving food. My table's occupied. Are you discriminating against me? Is that is, Luke? If I'm not part of your posse, I can't eat here?"

"Yeah, that it. We weren't in the same clubs in high school, so now you can't eat here. Just get out Kirk." He told him, pushing him out the door. Kirk turned and stopped.

"Luke there's something I have to tell you that will maybe change your mind."

Luke sighed. "What?"

"I love you. Not like I love Lulu of course, because she's a woman and I like to have sex with her, but I love you. If I were gay or female, I would be in love with you, but I'm not, so I just love you. You're my best friend, Luke."

Luke just stood there, staring.

"Kirk," he said quietly.

"Yes, Luke."

"Get. Out."

"Ok." He shrugged, heading out the door. Luke continued to stand there, rubbing his eyes.

"I should start out by saying that this is a very strange town; nothing but nut jobs and eccentrics live here. I'm pretty sure I'm insane, since I continue to live here, and I apologize that you're stuck here for at least the next two years. If I could change that, I really would. I wouldn't wish this town on anyone." Luke apologized. He turned to see them all with amused looks on their faces.

"What?"

"We're from California, babe. It'll take a lot more than that to shock us." Faith answered.

Luke's face scrunched.

"Did you just call him 'babe'?" Xander asked her.

She shrugged as she put her feet on the table. "What? He's hot; got the whole rugged manly-man thing goin' for him. And his ass looks good in those jeans."

Spike laughed as Dawn's face scrunched, much like her uncle's. "Ew! I might not know the guy a lot yet, but he's till my uncle. Please try not to gross me out so much, okay?"

"Whatever Dawnie. A little uncle appreciation never killed anyone." Faith brushed aside.

Xander and Spike fell silent. Dawn stiffened, her face hardened. "Don't ever call me that." She told Faith through clenched teeth.

Faith suddenly remembered, and she looked stricken. "God, I'm sorry kid. I forgot."

"Don't." Dawn turned to her uncle. "We've got a lot of stuff to talk about and not much time. We should probably get started."

Luke nodded, and pulled up a chair. He looked at Dawn right then, and all he could see was Joyce. He suddenly realized why he had been so much more afraid of taking her in than he had been with Jess; Jess had been a pain, had learned not to trust at a young age, had hated him. Dawn though, Dawn looked like Joyce, and Luke didn't think he could handle seeing the same angry looks on her face that he had on Jess'. He couldn't bear to see his sister look at him with hate. He looked in Dawn's eyes, the fear stabbing him, and hoped that he wouldn't have to.