As they walked into the restaurant, Connor looked around. He's never seen the inside of one so fancy, Angel had taken him to McDonalds on the way to Sunnydale, but McDonald's paled in comparison to this. There was a chandelier on the ceiling, tables and booths everywhere and a buffet table where the food was. "What is this place?" he asked Dawn who was unconsciously still holding his hand.
"It's what we like to call the place of feasts" said someone from behind Dawn and Connor. Connor turned abruptly going instantly into fighting stance. "Connor, its ok, this is a friend of ours, Xander," interjected Dawn before Connor could cause any damage.
"Heel boy, I'm friendly, you can sniff my hand if you want," Xander said looking confused.
"I'm sorry," Connor said softly relaxing, "I'm still getting used to not having to protect myself anytime I see someone new." He looked smiling awkwardly.
"It's ok," Dawn said hurriedly, "We totally understand, don't we?" she looked at the others in the group and they all nodded their heads. Angel looked at Connor and smiled reassuring his son that these were very excepting people.
As they walked towards the table Xander had reserved Connor looked around the 'place of feasts' as the gang moved towards the back. When they got to the table Buffy noticed that Willow hadn't come. She hoped that Willow would get better soon, she missed talking to her like old times. She sadly thought about Tara and how much she missed the quiet women. She made such a profound effect on everyone's lives and just like that she was taken from them. Buffy knew that Dawn missed her more than Xander or Buffy herself, the girl had become fast friends with Tara and had a special bond.
After Dinner the gang walked out onto the sidewalk in front of the resteraunt.
"Well, it was nice seeing you Angel," Xander said nervously, with that he grabbed Anya's arm and they started walking towards Xander's apartment a couple blocks away.
Buffy started off in the direction of her house with Dawn following behind. When Buffy looked behind her she saw Angel and Connor were involved in a conversation that seemed to take most of their attention. She went to say something to get their attention when Dawn screamed behind her.
Turning around to find out what was going on she saw that a rogue vamp had grabbed Dawn from behind and was attempting to drag her to the alley. Angel and Connor had noticed at the same time Buffy did and were about to help when a black blur ran past them almost toppling them over, it ran into the alley after Dawn and Buffy.
Buffy was in the midst of fighting the vamp when in the middle of grabbing his arm to throw him to the ground the vamp turned to dust. Surprised she looked to see who had dusted the vamp and almost fell over from the shock of seeing who was standing in front of her.
"Spike, what…" she never got to finish her sentence because Spike was tackled to the ground by a very mad Connor.
"Bloody Hell, get off from me" he angrily got off the ground to see a mini Angel standing in front of him.
"What…" he looked at Buffy for an explanation when he noticed Dawn laying on some boxes with a gash in her head. Running towards the unconscious girl he bent down and checked her for bite marks, seeing that she was bite free he looked at the cut on her head realizing she'd most likely need stitches. He was about to pick her up but never got the chance because Angel and Connor grabbed him and dragged him away from her. Buffy ran to her sister and tried to pick her up. Being to heavy Connor walked over to help. He lifted the petite girl off the ground and looked at Buffy.
"Take her to the hospital, Angel can show you the way, I'll be there as soon as I can, take good care of her," she said softly looking at Dawn. Watching the Boys leave she turned to Spike, "What the hell are you doing back?"
"Not exactly the Welcoming I was expecting luv, but I guess it'll do," he smiled cockily then noticing the expression on her face looked down and scowled. "I came back to say I'm sorry for what I did," he looked at her but was disappointed that she still looked pissed.
"Look luv, I'm sorry, I had no right to do what I did, and I want you to understand, I'm a changed man,, Bloody hell, won't you stop glaring at me."
Buffy shook her head then started to walk away. She turned abruptly looking into his eyes. What she saw caused her to hesitate. His eyes had changed, somehow. They were different. Catching herself staring at him she turned and ran the way Connor an Angel had gone.
In the alley Spike looked dejectedly at Buffy's retreating figure and started walking towards the cemetery vowing her would show Buffy he had changed.