Yeah... This update came WAY too late... Blame the fact I didn't know exactly what to do, procrastination, a vacation, Christmas and procrastination. Or, you know, just blame me.

Disclaimer: I don't own Greatest Love of All. I don't own the Buffyverse either, but I said that already.

Chapter 6

Buffy looked around the room as she compulsively rubbed the spot on her shoulder. There wasn't any conversation going on and everyone was looking around, except for Willow, who was intently looking at the demon tied to the circular couch-thingy. What did you call that thing? It wasn't a couch or a chair, really. It was a basically a circle you could sit on. Whatever. It didn't really matter. Liam was the only one who was really doing anything that stood out. He was glancing all around and jumping at the slightest noise. He really was acting pretty weird. The only reason she hadn't bothered investigating him further was the fact he didn't set off any of her mental danger bells. Sometimes, she knew just to trust her instincts. Buffy was pulled out of her thoughts when she noticed the demon stirring awake. She grabbed an axe lying on a railing and crowded around the demon with everyone else.

BtVS - A:tS - Sw9

"Wait," Dawn said as she picked up another french fry. "You just decapitated it?"

Connor nodded as he dipped his fry in ketchup. "Yep."

"Wow," Dawn said, clearly impressed. The two of them had stopped by a diner after saving a girl from becoming vamp-chow and had spent the time sharing their more thrilling adventures.

"Do you have any more stories?" he asked. Dawn paused.

"I once saw my sister stake a vamp with a wooden unicorn," she finally said.

Connor let out a snort. He had seen drawings of unicorns before, and they were really ridiculous looking.

"Do you think we should head back to the hotel soon?" Dawn suddenly asked.

Connor shrugged. "I don't know. I didn't really hear anything about the spell they're doing." The two of them both reached in for a fry and felt a jolt as their fingers touched. Dawn gave a slight blush as they pulled their fingers back, but other than that, they continued their conversation.

"Well," she said. "It's been a couple hours, so they're probably done by now… but maybe we should wait a bit, just to make sure?"

Connor nodded, feeling a flair of joy at the thought of spending some more time with Dawn. That feeling was immediately drowned by guilt. He was really starting to like her, but… Cordelia... They weren't dating or anything, but there was something there... right? When it came down to it, did he want to get in anything deep with her? She was beautiful, there was no denying that, but… was there anything else he liked about her? Yes, his mind answered. She was smart and strong, but at the same time knew her limits and she was a very caring person. But… did he love her? His mind didn't answer.

BtVS - A:tS - Sw9

When Lorne opened his eyes, the first thing he noticed was the people staring at him. The next thing was the million layers of duct-tape strapping him to a chair.

"Uh… What happened, guys?"

The gang briefly glanced at each other. They hadn't really thought about what to say.

"Who are you?" Buffy finally asked, figuring that was as good a place as any to start.

"...What?" Lorne asked. They all knew who he- No side effects my ass, he thought to himself. A theory was definitely forming.

"Do you think one of you could sing for me?" Lorne hesitantly asked. If they didn't know who he was, they probably wouldn't be super friendly.

"Sing?" Cordelia scoffed.

"I'm sort of like an empath demon. I can read people when they sing," Lorne said, quickly getting annoyed at the situation. The group looked at each other.

Buffy gave a quick shrug. "What do we have to lose?" They turned to her. "That didn't mean I want to be the one to do it!"

Cordelia snorted. "Fine. Be a scaredy-cat. I'll do it."

She cleared her throat.

"I decided long ago

Never to walk in anyone's shadow

If I fail, if I succeed…" Lorne cut her off.

"I got it." Thinking she was a teenager certainly hadn't helped her vocal cords.

"Wh-what did you see?" Willow asked.

"Apparently," he sighed. "You all think you're sixteen." Stupid spells with their stupid side-effects. Reading Cordy hadn't done much other than add points his original theory, but… he had seen something else. Well, that was something he could deal with later, after they got all the teenager business out of the way.

"So, if it's not 1997," Buffy asked. The others started to protest before they realized that was just the year she remembered it being. Buffy gave them a quick glare. "What year is it?"

"2002,"he responded. "But never mind that, I think I know how to fix this." He started to get up, only to realize he was still trapped in duct-tape.

"Could one of you ragga-muffins cut me out of here?"

This chapter was short, but I wanted it to start the next chapter at a specific place (we're in the end-zone, people). Also, this chapter took long enough as it is. Catching up with Connor and Dawn. I felt like Connor needed an internal monologue, and this was the perfect spot for it. It also made the chapter more than one scene long. Thanks (again!) to Starway Man for the idea. I'm not doing it exactly, but it sparked what I will be doing. I had Cordelia sing Greatest Love of All by Whitney Houston because that's what she sang in "The Puppet Show". And does anyone know what the circulr couch-thingy is called? It's lack-of-obvious-name bugged me.