Disclaimer: I don't own it.

A/N I hate this stupid windows Vista! I had to search for an hour on this computer in order to find a program that would allow me to write! Now about the story: I'm sorry it took so long but I'm switching from my old computer to the new one. Unfortunately my HP can no longer handle the internet. It is seven years old after all. With the end of the school year at hand I just might be able to update more often.

Reviewers: Thank you!

April 10, 1878 London, England

Dawn was lying in a bed in a room lit by gas lamps. Her hair was wet from sweat and clung to her head, neck and shoulders in ringlets. She was tired yet happy and rather worried. She and William had been startled when her water broke during tea. There were so many things that could go wrong during labor. Probably because it seemed to last so long! Dawn had spent the entire evening praying that everything would be alright. William was pacing in the hall; she could hear his footsteps as they hit the floor. Dawn knew that he was as worried as she was. At least she was full term. That knowledge was a comfort to her.

"Very good, Mrs. Pratt. I've got the child. It's a girl! A blue-eyed little girl!"

William burst through the open door as the doctor finished speaking. A few curls had fallen in his face, his glasses were sliding down his nose and he was panting. When William's eyes fell on their daughter, Dawn could clearly see the love in his eyes. In that moment she knew that her husband would be a wonderful father. William watched as the doctor carefully washed the infant and wrapped her in a blanket. He walked up to the doctor who put the newborn into her father's arms very carefully. After a moment, William lifted his head and looked at Dawn.

"We have a little girl. A little baby girl." He spoke a little breathlessly, his words full of wonder at the miracle of life.

"Bring her over here, William. I want to see her." Dawn waved him over with her hand. Joy lit up her eyes and as exhausted as she was Dawn felt truly and fully at peace when her husband settled the infant into her arms. As the sunlight started to peek through the windows William settled next to her on the bed with his head so close to hers that Dawn could feel his glasses on her cheek.

"She's so beautiful, my Duchess Dawn. She looks so much like you. What would you like to name her?"

"How about we name her after your mother? Anne makes such a nice middle name doesn't it?"

"Yes, it does make a nice middle name. Would you be terribly upset if I called her Aurora though?"

"Of course not, William. She was born at first light, the name suits her."

"Wonderful! She's absolutely perfect, just like her mother." At this Dawn blushed and kissed her husband's cheek. The love and joy in the room was tangible enough to simply reach out and touch it. Dawn giggled and whispered to her new daughter that she loved her.

"She's got your eyes and your curly hair William. All she's got is my hair color. At least no I know why I had heartburn." Dawn was joking and he knew it. He still took the bait anyway.

"She's got your nose. Can't deny that now can you, Duchess?" It had become as natural to hear him call her Duchess as it had for her to be referred to as Niblet. It was simply another trait that distinguished the two sides of her love from each other yet bound them at the same time. Dawn's thoughts were cut off when she noticed her little girl fussing.

"William, would you please hand her to me? I think our Aurora might hungry." William handed the infant to his wife who began nursing their daughter, Aurora.

Sunnydale Crew, Present Day

"Alright Buffy, I think we have just about everything but with the First Evil making its appearance maybe we just wait a little while before bringing Dawn back. I mean, we don't want to bring her back in the middle of an apocalypse." Willow spoke a tad hesitantly to the tense Slayer. Buffy only nodded her head. She was wondering if Spike would be successful in his own endeavor to save Dawn.

Spike, wherever he is

Spike stood in front of a demon judge and started with asking his questions after completing both of tests that were set before him.

"You said that I can get what I need if I pass the bloody trials right? I passed your trials. When can I have Dawn back?"

"You have one more test and then you will be given your reward."

"It's about bloody time I got my reward."