Chapter 20 - Reunions and Sleeping Arrangements

-Outside Of The Summer's House-

Buffy was barely clued into reality when they came to her doorway. She was between the sleeping world and the real one when she made her way to the front of the crowd sadly out of Angel's embrace. Buffy looked back and then moved her hand to the door knob that would open the door to her home. She walked into the house followed by everyone else just in time to meet Dawn and Giles who sat at the dining room table.

Faith was in shock, "Woa, memory lane. Same old house."

Buffy looked around, "Yeah, well, every piece of furniture's been destroyed and replaced since you left, so, actually, new house."

Dawn walked up to the walkway glaring at Faith, and not really noticing anyone else. "Buffy?"

Buffy looked at her and hesitantly glared at Giles, "We have a few new house guests."

Buffy motioned to Faith who spoke herself, "Hey, got a spare bed for a wanted fugitive?"

Giles finally speaks, "Hello Faith."

Faith smiles, "I guess wanted wasn't really accurate."

Dawn sighed in disgust, "Does she have to stay here? Because there's some nice hotels that welcome tried-to-kill-your-sister types!"

Faith couldn't answer because Angel did, "I guess all the Summer's woman grow up with an attitude."

Dawn's glare turned into an extreme smile when she finally noticed Angel behind Buffy. She ran to him greeting Angel with an extremely big hug, "Oh my god Angel! I missed you!"

Angel smiled and replied the hug with the same amount of enthusiasm, "Missed you too Dawnie. It's been how long now."

Dawn pulled away but was still smiling from ear to ear. "Like 5 or 6 years."

Angel smiled, "You're a lot more grown up then I remember."

Dawn stopped smiling, "If you live on the hellmouth and you don't grow up, you kind of end up dead."

Angel glanced at Buffy then looked back down at Dawn, "I see the Summer's strength runs in your blood too."

Dawn smiled, "If you're not strong you end up dead too!"

Angel nodded, "Smart!"

Spike finally spoke and a little bit in anger, "Are you kidding me? Even the little bit loves him? What is it with the Summer's woman and Angel?"

Angel smiled, "I guess it's the fact I didn't try to kill all of them."

Spike got defensive, "Hey I didn't try to kill the bit or Joyce and as I recall you tried to kill Buffy too."

Dawn got all confused and looked up at Angel, "You tried to kill Buffy too?"

Angel looked instantly to Buffy who just sighed. She turned Dawn towards her and after glaring at the smiling Spike she spoke, "Angel didn't try to kill me. Remember that bad time I was going through a long time ago? I came to visit in L.A for a while."

Dawn nodded, "Yeah and dad and I were so worried because you only came over when you needed a few dollars and you wouldn't eat and you always looked so tired."

Buffy noticed the guilt that overwhelmed Angel instantly so she stopped Dawn, "Yes that time Dawn."

"Okay so why does Spike think Angel tried to kill you?"

Buffy shrugged, "Because what happened almost did."

Dawn nodded in understanding and then looked at Spike, "You have to be a little bit clearer on what you say!"

After looking at the pleading look in Buffy's eyes and the dangerous one in Angel's that ordered him not to tell Dawn the truth he sighed, "Sorry pet. I thought you would all know what I meant."

Dawn nodded and looked back up at Angel, "Because honestly, I don't know how I would feel about you if you did try and kill her. It's comforting to know that Buffy at least had a somewhat normal ending to a relationship, even if you are a vampire. Riley was paying vamps to bite him and that so wasn't normal and..."

Angel only nodded and looked away obviously finding it hard to lie. Buffy interrupted her, "Dawn, you've met Wesley?"

Dawn nodded and walked over to him. She looked him up and down, "Was he on one of those make-over shows? Last I saw him was right about the time Faith was killing people."

Wesley nodded, "Things change Dawn."

Dawn nodded, "I'm a teenager, I think I know that!"

Wesley nodded, "If I remember correctly, you accept change better then Buffy does."

Dawn stared at Buffy, "Some of the people in this room may have been evil and they still know you better then I do."

Buffy sighed, "Look Dawn, technically you're only 2 years old."

Dawn just sighed and made her way to the stairs. "I miss the days when me being the key used to get you to be nice to me."

"I miss the days when you were actually the key!"

Spike stepped in as he heard the harsh stompings up the stairs, "Buffy, calm down."

Buffy sighed, "Sisters can be a pain."

Conner finally spoke, "So that would be your sister."

Buffy sighed, "Yep, welcome to the broken family of Sunnydale."

Giles finally spoke, "She'll calm down."

Buffy replied with an attitude. "I think I know myself and mine better then you do now."

Giles sighed, "You met our preacher?"

Buffy nodded, "Stabbed me, told me I was useless and then said he had something of mine. Now if you don't mind being stabbed makes you quite tired and I would like to sleep. I hope I can trust Spike stays alive while my eyes are shut."

Giles tried to speak, "Buffy..."

Buffy started walking up the stairs, "Good night Giles."

Giles just sighed and watched as she walked up the stairs. Spike was next to quip about Giles' little plan with Wood, "I guess that's my cue to leave. I could die if I stay here."

Spike smiled and made his way downstairs. When the door shut Willow looked directly at Giles, "What the hell was that about?"

Giles sighed and sat back down, "Nothing."

Xander spoke next, "It was obviously something."

Giles stood up again and walked right to him, "Look it's very late and we're all tired. Let's find everyone a place to sleep and get some rest. We'll talk about it tomorrow."

Giles didn't wait to dictate any directions but just walked upstairs to his room. Willow took charge then, "Okay then, Xander you're in my room."

Xander smiled uncontrollably, "Are you in anyway kidding? Kennedy sleeps in there with you."

Willow shook her head, "There will be no me and Kennedy on my bed. I said it because you and I have slept on the same bed without any action since we were little. If you can't handle it you can always sleep on the couch here with a bunch of girls to wake you up at 6 in the morning."

Xander smiled, "I'm with you!"

Willow nodded, "Good. Wesley you can be in Giles' room because there's already a bed made on the floor." Wesley just nodded. "Faith, I was going to bunk you with Dawn but she doesn't seem to take a likeing to you."

"I wonder why!"

Willow nodded uncomfortably, "So I'm afraid I have to put you downstairs with Spike. Evil with Evil."

Faith just sighed knowing she deserved it, "Blondie doesn't have a say in this?"

Willow shook her head, "Buffy just said that he had to live here, she didn't say we couldn't move other people in with him."

Faith smiled back, "Smart one you are."

Willow nodded and looked to Angel, "Angel and Conner, it only makes sense to put you both in..."

Conner smiled, "Buffy's room."

Willow nodded, "No other girls sleep in there, like a leader sanctuary so feel really lucky."

Angel nodded to Willow, "Already do!"

Xander yawned, "Well, I'm going to go crash out."

Willow nodded, "Alright hunny I'm coming."

Wesley sighed, "I'm with you."

Willow smiled and followed Xander up the stairs to her room while guiding Wesley towards Giles' room. Faith nodded to both Conner and Angel, "Looks like Angel and Buffy here can't have their fun."

Conner smiled, "From what I hear the people in the room didn't matter how close those two got."

Angel looked down to Conner, "How much did Buffy tell you?"

Conner smiled, "Only the romantic stuff."

Faith smiled, "Night boys."

Angel nodded, "Good night."

They both watched Faith open the basement door and walk down the stairs. Conner looked up at Angel, "I could always crash on the couch if you want to be alone with Buffy."

Angel smiled and started up the stairs, "No it's okay. I think Buffy loves you a little more then me right now."

Conner shook his head, "I highly doubt it." Angel just smiled and continued his way to Buffy's room followed by Conner.