A/N: Again, thanks to everyone for the reviews! They are so encouraging! I'm really busy right now with school, so unfortunately I can't update as often as I'd like, but I hope I'll be able to do a lot more this weekend. To answer the questions of 'spikeywolfie', in Buffyverse, this is set roughly at mid-season six, with a few minor adjustments for my needs. It's pre-wedding for Xander and Anya. Pre-sex with Buffy and Spike. They've never had that sort of relationship, but that doesn't mean that Spike isn't still 'obsessed' with her. And other than that I think you all can figure it out. Tara and Willow are obviously together. If you have any other questions, feel free to ask!! Thanks again!!

"You don't mind, do you Buffy?" Dawn asked when they were alone.

"Of course not Dawn," Buffy put her arm around her sister's shoulders. "It is kind of scary here. It's like an old haunted castle or something. I'm not sure how comfortable I am sleeping alone here either." She looked at Willow. "Are you going to be okay alone?"

Willow grinned. "Don't worry about me, Buffy! I'm used to these weird magical places!" She blew a kiss to the girls and went into her room.

"Hey Dawn," Buffy let her arm slip to her sister's waist as they entered Buffy's new quarters. "I'm not sure if I had thanked you yet...for coming with me." She was speaking quietly and very sincerely. "It means a lot to me you know. Don't think I'm completely clueless about your feelings in leaving Sunnydale to come here. But I couldn't leave you for who knows how long. You're my little sister," Buffy noticed Dawn's disbelieving stare and stopped her rambling. "Wow! Look at this place! It's...huge!" Buffy exclaimed, changing the subject, as she glanced around her new living area.

"It's awesome!" Dawn agreed.

They had entered an enormous room with walls of a deep crimson and floors of a thick carpet in a matching shade. At the entrance of the room there was a setup of an elegant brown leather couch and a matching oversized chair, around an ornately carved, gold-legged, coffee table. At one side of the room, lining the wall was a large oak desk and beside it was a large bookcase. The other wall held a fireplace, much like the one in the room they had just left, except a little smaller. Past the entrance sitting room, was an open arch, covered by dividing crimson and gold curtains. Pushing aside the thick drapery, let Buffy and Dawn into the bedroom, which was just as exquisite in décor as the front room. A large bed stood at the center of the room, against the back wall. It's canopy drapes were a sheer gold beneath a deeper gold velvet. A wardrobe against the other wall was spacious enough to hold clothes for five people! Beside the closet was a floor-length mirror. On the opposite side of the bedroom was another door which led to the bathroom, complete with a Jacuzzi size tub, only it looked more antique than any bathtub Buffy had ever seen. In the entrance room there had been windows all around the walls, each one covered individually with gold curtains, but in the bedroom there was only one window. It reached to the high ceiling and stopped just a few feet above the floor at a window seat. Buffy was instantly in love with her room.

"Wow! I wish I could stay with you every night!" Dawn exclaimed when they had finished their exploration.

"Yea, but I'm sure yours will be just as nice!" Buffy comforted her jealous sister. "I'm tired, so I'm going to get ready for bed. You probably should too. I don't know how early they're going to want us to get up tomorrow." Buffy looked about for her suitcases but found a note on the door of the wardrobe informing her that everything had already been put away. Dawn's bags were still unpacked by the bed. Both girls quickly changed into their pajamas and climbed into the bed. They had to literally climb because the mattress was so high off of the ground.

"Goodnight Buffy," Dawn reached to turn off the floor lamp that was standing beside the bed.

"Goodnight Dawn," Buffy replied. Her mind was on other things. She really wanted Dawn to understand how much she meant to Buffy. With her short speech earlier, Buffy had hoped to feel better about dragging Dawn to another continent, but she didn't. She felt that everything she had said had had no effect on Dawn at all. She sighed. I couldn't leave her in Sunnydale! Not with everything that happens there. She wouldn't have been safe! Besides, I didn't want to leave her. Finally Buffy decided just to speak her mind. "Dawn," she waited for an answer.

"Yea?" Dawn sounded half asleep already.

"I love you." Buffy stated solemnly. "You know that don't you?"

Dawn turned over so she was facing her older sister. "Yea, I know."

Buffy faced Dawn and took her hand. "That's why I couldn't leave you behind. You mean too much to me." Buffy couldn't see much in the dark but she almost thought she saw tears in Dawn's eyes.

"I know, Buffy." Dawn said quietly. "I love you too." She was barely whispering, but her voice was filled with emotion. The girls embraced for almost a minute before releasing each other and turning back to sleep.