Author's Note:

Glory was defeated without Dawn, or Buffy being killed. Spike defeated Doc so the portal was never opened. Joyce is still dead, Riley is gone, Dawn is still the key but Buffy doesn't see any danger in that anymore. Xander and Anya's wedding plans are still in effect, and Tara and Willow live in an apartment together. That should give you the guidelines of how my story is set up. Thank you and enjoy.




-ch. 1-


Buffy: " Dawn if you don't hurry up, you're gonna be late for school. Again."


Buffy sighed as she waited on her younger sister to descend from her bedroom.


Dawn: " I'm almost ready!" *mumbles* " Gosh, keep your pants on."


Buffy: * squints * " What did you say? "


Dawn: " Nothing! "


Finally Dawn came running down the stairs twisting her hair into a pony tail.

Buffy looked at her, her clothes were totally unmatched and she could tell Dawn had tried to put on extra make this morning to cover a zit that was clearly showing.


Dawn: " Well, are we leaving or not ? "


Buffy: * smiles and rolls eyes * - " Get in the car."


On the way to school, Dawn is constantly flipping through the stations on the radio. She explains to Buffy, that it's so uncool to listen to just one station. You never know when you might miss something important. Buffy only laughs at this and continues her driving.

After dropping Dawn off at school, Buffy heads to the Magic Box to see Tara and Willow. Giles is out of town for the week. He didn't give a full reason, other than he needed some time away.


Tara: " Willow, Anya isn't going to like you messing around behind the counter."


Willow: " Relax Tara," * giggles * " She'll never know anything about it."


Anya: " About what ? "


Tara and Willow are both startled, neither knowing that Anya was nearby.


Willow: * stuttering * " Ugh, nothing... I was... Well, see the thing is..."


Tara: * covering for willow * " We were planning to surprise you."


Anya: * confused * " Surprise me? "


Tare: " Yes. Willow and I are working on a spell."


Anya: " What kind of spell? "


Willow * finally grasping the plan * " It's a surprise! " * smiles *


Anya: * raises eyebrow * " Right."


About this time Buffy walks through the door of the Magic Box. This gives Willow the perfect chance to hide the book she was looking through.


Buffy: " Hey, guys."


All: " Hey."


Willow: * bringing up a quick subject * " Get Dawn off to school okay? "


Buffy: " Oh... yea. Well at first I thought she was going to be late, as always, but I got her there just in time."


Anya: " It's really a shame you have to drive her now, just to make sure she actually goes."


Buffy is a bit hurt by this remark, but tries not to show it. Tara and Willow exchange glances, neither knowing how to cover for Anya's rude, yet true comment.


Buffy: " So, anything new today? Any big bad's or Beasties? "

Tara: " No. Not yet anyway."


Anya looks up at the clock, 8:30 am. This is the time Xander usually stops by before he heads off to work. Within seconds the bell above the Magic Box door rings. As always Anya timed Xander perfectly.


Xander: " Hey, it's the scoobies! What's up gang? "


Anya: * brightly * " Tara and Willow have a surprise for me."


Xander: * smiles * " Is that so ? "


Anya: " Yes, but I can't tell you what it is, because I don't know what it is."


Buffy: * unable to resist * " Hence the meaning of surprise."


Willow becomes nervous, luckily a costumer peers through the window, and casually makes her way into the Magic box. She's a young gal. Around the age of 17. She has brownish-blonde hair, and close to the same size of Buffy. From a distance one may even mistake her as being Buffy. She doesn't look like she interested in buying anything. Rather she looks lost, and uncertain.


Anya: * smells money * " Welcome to the Magic Box! "


The young girl only smiles at Anya. She casts a look at Xander, who feels the need to explain.


Xander : * wipes of hand and extends to young girl * " Hi. Xander Harris."


The girl accepts and returns Xander's handshake.


Young girl: " Alexis Brooks."


Xander: " Pleasure to meet ya. Can we help you with anything? "


Anya: * cuts in front of Xander * " Yes, buy things! "


Alexis smiles again at Anya. By now she has figured out that she isn't the brightest crayon in the box. But there is something about here that seems rather sweet.


Alexis: " Actually, I'm new in town. And, I was kinda wondering if perhaps I could get a job here ? "


Anya: " A job? .... You want a job ? "


Buffy steps up to explain.


Buffy: " Um.. Giles is out of town right now, but if you could come back sometime next week perhaps we could set something up."


Anya feels threatened by Buffy, and belittled by the fact that Buffy expected Giles to do the hiring.


Anya: " I don't need Giles here to hire someone."


Buffy: * fake smirk * " Anya, you can't just hire a new employee while Giles is out of town."


Anya: " Yes, I can." * looks to Alexis * " You're hired! When can you start? "


Buffy: " Next week. When Giles is here to approve."


Alexis: " Look, I didn't mean to cause any problems. I just need a job ya know. And this looked like a good place to get one, but I can look somewhere else. No biggie. Thanks just the same though."


Buffy begins to feel sorry for Alexis. She looks like she hadn't had a good meal in a while, neither a good night's sleep. It was obvious she had came from back east, her accent was very distinctive.


Buffy: " Wait... I can call Giles tonight, and if he approves, you can start tomorrow."


Anya: * once again feeling unimportant * " I can call Giles... After all I am the co-owner of the Magic Box."


Buffy: " Fine, you can call Giles tonight then. There everything's settled."


Xander: " Well, I guess I'd better be getting on to work. Buildings don't build their selves ya know."


Tara and Willow make way to meet Alexis.


Willow: " Hi, I'm Willow. And this is Tara."


Tara: * smiles * " Hi."


Willow: " So, you just moved here? Welcome to Sunnydale."


Alexis: " Yea, and Thanks. It seems really nice here. Nothing like back home."


Buffy: * mumbles * " Things aren't always what the seem."


Alexis: " I'm sorry, what ? "


Buffy: " Oh...uh... nothing..." * smiles to Alexis"


Tara: " So, where is back home ? "


Alexis: " Ohio."


Willow: " Ohio? Wow.. That's pretty far away."


Anya: " Why are you here? "


Good old Anya. She always gets straight to the point. No loops, or curves. No matter how inconsiderate the question.


Alexis: " Well, I was hoping to go to college out here. But in order to go to college I'm going to need money. So that's where the whole job idea came in."


Buffy: " Well, I think we can help you in that department."


Tara: " It's hard to believe you're in college. You look so young."


Alexis: " Oh. It's a matter of birthdays really. I graduated when I was 17. My birthday is in September."


Willow: " So, you must have left like right after graduation day."


Alexis: " Yea, my class graduated about a week ago. I've been here for a couple days."


Buffy: " Where have you been staying? "


Alexis: " Oh, I found a motel a little ways down the street. It's a nice place. Cheap, but comfortable. It'll hold me over a couple more days, until I find a place of my own."


Anya: * again with the straight questions * " Are you alone? "


Alexis: " Yeah."


Anya: " Why? "


Alexis: * smirks * " Well, honestly, none of my friends wanted to join me. My family was against the whole idea from the start, but I came anyway. I've been planning on coming here for a couple years now. I didn't exactly plan on Sunnydale, it was a spur of the moment, convenient thing. However, I've always dreamed of California."


Buffy realizes that Alexis is a very sweet kid, and she kind of reminds Buffy of herself when she was younger. Suddenly she feels the urge to offer Alexis a place in her house.


Buffy: " Well, that motel couldn't be that nice. Besides you'll run out of money before you earn any. You can stay at my house for a while if you like. We have an extra bedroom."


Alexis is touched by this act of kindness, but isn't so sure she should accept the offer.


Alexis: " I ... I... don't know. I mean, gee thanks, but I don't wanna impose on you and your family."


Buffy: * laughs * " Family? Dawn wont mind."


Alexis: " Dawn? "


Anya: " That's Buffy's sister."


Alexis: " Oh. Well, that's very nice of you Buffy, but I'm fine at the motel really."


Buffy: " Well then at least let us show you around town, and we can have lunch together. Unless you have other plans? "


Alexis: " Oh, no , no plans. My big goal of the day was to find a job. Didn't expect to get one so soon. So I'm free for the day."


Willow: " Great. I'll get my coat."


Buffy: " Tara you coming with? "


Tara: * looks away, then glances back to Buffy * " Actually, I think I'll go back to my apartment and study."


Buffy: " Ya sure? We've defiantly got room for another."


Tara: " It's alright. You guy's go on ahead. Have fun."


Willow: " Ready."


Buffy Willow and Alexis head out of the Magic shop. Tara collects her things and soon leaves as well. Anya is left with the whole store to herself. At first she feels left out, then a customer walks in. " Money! " she thinks.


Anya: " Hi! And welcome to the Magic Box"


-*-

When Willow and Buffy walk outside they see that Alexis has no vehicle of transportation. When asked why, Alexis replies that she had to sell it for extra cash. Willow and Buffy assure Alexis it's no trouble walking. They both would like to lose a little weight anyway. They walk to Sunnydale University Campus. Alexis gazes at the tall building.


Alexis: * admiration fills her eyes * " This place looks perfect."


Willow : " Yeah... Lot of good times there. Too bad I had to drop out."


Buffy: " Same here."


Alexis: " You both went here? "


Buffy: * with pride * " For a short while, until I had to start taking full time care of Dawn."


Alexis: " Oh... I'm sorry to hear..."


Buffy: * cutting in * " It's okay."


Buffy sees a soda machine and decides she is thirsty, she asks the others if they would like something to drink. Willow requests a water, but Alexis replies that she is fine. Willow senses that Alexis didn't understand Buffy's actions.


Willow: " It's not your fault Alexis. Buffy just doesn't like to talk about some things. So she avoids them when she can."


Alexis: " Call me Lex. That's what everyone in Ohio called me."


Willow: " Alright. Deal."


Lex: " So, why does she have to take full time care of her sister? "


Willow: * casts a downward stare as they walk along the sidewalk and over to a bench * " A few months ago, Buffy's mom passed away. Since then, Dawn has been like Buffy's own kid. Buffy takes care of her the best she can. She promised her mom she would. She tries, but most of the time her and Dawn end up hurting each other's feelings. That's typical for a teenager though as Xander would say."


Lex: " Wow... I guess I would avoid talking about that too. That's got to be rough on them both. How old is Dawn? "


Willow: " She'll be 15 soon. Right now she's finishing up the last couple weeks of school. She's really excited about the summer. She says she's going to stay up late every night and watch corny tv shows, just cause she can."


Lex: * laughs * " Well, at least she has a plan."


Buffy returns with the drinks. Knowing nothing of the conversation that had took place while she was gone. The day continued on normally, until Buffy looked at her watch and saw that it was time for Dawn to be out of school.


Buffy: " Oh geeze. I almost forgot about Dawn. I have to pick her up after school."


Willow: " Want us to come with? "


Buffy: " Sure, if you like."


Lex: " Alright, I'd like to mean this Dawn you speak of. She sounds like an awesome person."


Willow and Buffy laughed. You could tell that this was the beginning of a new friendship.


-*-


Buffy Willow and Lex pull up to the Sunnydale Jr. High. Dawn is sitting on a bench waiting for them. She has a sour look on her face. Clearly she is embarrassed to be picked up from school by her sister. She hurries to the car and gets in.


Willow: " Hey Dawnie. How was school? "


Dawn: " Educational."


Buffy: " Dawn, this is Alexis. She's new in town. She'll be working at the Magic Box soon."


Lex: * friendly * " Hey. Call me Lex. Nice to finally meet you Dawn. I've heard so much about you I feel like I've known you my whole life."


Buffy and Willow smile, Dawn however doesn't find Lex amusing.


Dawn: * sarcastically * " Lucky you."


For the most part the drive home was quite. Willow and Buffy asked simple questions and Lex answered. Dawn stayed silent staring out the window occasionally glancing over at Lex. When the car pulled up into the Summer's drive way Dawn stepped out of the car without saying a word, walked through the house, and straight upstairs to her bedroom. The girls heard her bedroom door shut.


Buffy: * sarcastically * " Their so loveable at this age."


Lex: " Looks like she just had a rough day. She'll probably feel better in a little while. All she needs is some time to herself, to reflect on whatever happened."


Buffy: * impressed by the wisdom Lex held * " Do you have any brothers or sister's? "


Lex: " Sadly, yes." * laughs * " I have an older sister much older, about 10 years older. It's like having two mom's."


Willow: " Gosh, Buffy is only 6 and a half years older than Dawn."


Buffy: " So you're the baby in the family? "


Lex: " Yep."


Buffy: " Then you know what it's like."


Lex: " For the most part. Sometimes though there are things that not even I understand."


Buffy shows Lex the layout of the house. Lex comments on how beautiful the Summer's home is. Dawn begins to wonder about Buffy's new friend. She seemed nice Dawn thought. But a little too friendly. But apparently Buffy couldn't have known her very long. Curiosity filled Dawn, and she opened her bedroom door and walked down stairs to where the 3 girls were sitting.


Buffy: * looking up at Dawn * " Hey, it's alive after all. " * grins *


At first Dawn feels the urge to run back upstairs after hearing her sister's snotty remark.


Lex: " I saw your poem on the table its very good. Do you enjoy writing? "


Dawn feels some sort of understanding towards Lex she comes completely into the living room and sits down.


Dawn: * cautiously * " Yea, sometimes."


Buffy: " Dawn's has a lot of diaries. Don't you Dawn? "


Dawn: * annoyed * " That's none of your business."


Lex: * lightens the conversation * " I have diaries too. If I didn't have them I'd probably be in a mental institution right about now."


Dawn: * amused * " Really? You keep a diary? "


Lex: " Oh yeah. Ever since I was about 15 I've kept one regularly."


Dawn: " I've been keeping mine since I was 7."


Lex: " Wow... You've really stuck with it, huh? "


Dawn: * beginning to forget her anger * " Yeah. I used to write short stories, and poems. Ya know the easy stuff. But I kinda grew out of that stage. Now I usually just right about everyday life."


Lex: " Your everyday life is story. An autobiography to be exact."


Dawn: * smiles * " Hey, you're right. I've never looked at it like that before."


Willow motions Buffy into the kitchen. They leave the two girls sitting in the living room chatting.


Willow: * astonished * " Can you believe that? That's the most Dawn's talked in days."


Buffy: * same level of astonishment * " I know... and that snotty tone in her voice disappeared."


Willow: " Looks like Lex can really get through to her."


Buffy: " Seems like Lex can really get through to all of us."


Willow: " You're right. There's something about her. Shes.... charming. She makes you want to talk to her. And do things for her. Like you've known her your whole life. You don't think she could be an angel or something." * jokingly *


Buffy: * smiles * " If she can get Dawn to behave normal she must be an angel."


-*-


The conversation continues, Dawn giving in on most everything to Lex. Lex, looks at the clock and realizes its almost 7:30 pm.


Lex: " Oh. Look at the time. I guess I'd better be heading back to the motel."


Dawn: " Aw.. Really? Can't you stay just a little longer? We could order a pizza or something."

Lex: " That's sweet Dawn, but I think it would be best if I ..."


Buffy: * interrupting * " Lex, this part of town isn't very friendly during the night. Maybe you should stay here. Dawn's got a good idea, we can order a pizza, and Willow can pick up a couple movies."


Willow: " Hey, yeah. I know this great movie rental store right down the street, I could be gone and back in no time."


Lex thinks this over, apparently Buffy and the crew won't take no for an answer. She must admit she liked her new friends, and the motel really wasn't as nice as she said it was.

Lex: " Well.... Okay. But I'll need a few things."


Buffy: " No problem, I'll go with you to the motel, Dawn and Willow you're on pizza and movie patrol."


The girls split into groups of two and headed off to their destinations. When Lex and Buffy arrive at the motel Buffy looks the place over. She sighs.


Buffy: " No offense Lex, but this place is a dump."


Lex: * smiles * " None taken. I know it's not for the rich, but it was the most I could afford."


Buffy: " Well, lets get you signed out of here. You can stay with us til you find a place of your own."


After taking a couple minutes to think it over Lex agreed to staying with Buffy for a while, and they packed up her belongings and headed back to the Summer house. By this time Willow and Dawn were back with the pizza and movies, and Xander and Anya had also stopped by to join in on the fun. Buffy's car pulls into the drive way.


Buffy: * unpacking boxes * " Here, I'll get that."


Lex: " Oh it's okay this box is pretty heavy."


Buffy lifts the box easily, and carries it to the porch.


Lex: * impressed * " Wow, you're a strong little thing aren't you."


Buffy: * proud * " Yea, I work out... a lot."


Lex: " Looks like you have a full house. Always this many people here? "


Buffy: " Oh them? " * grins * " That's just the regulars."


Lex: " Have I met them all? "


Buffy: " Yep."


Lex: * relieved * " Good."


Buffy and Lex open the door to the house. Xander and Willow assist the girls with carrying in the boxes. Anya comments on Lex having so many things. Dawn gets a look of excitement on her face. After everything is brought in from the car, Xander Willow and Anya head to kitchen for pizza. Lex Dawn and Buffy are left standing in the living room.


Dawn: " I can help you put your stuff away. We can eat our pizza upstairs."


Lex: " Okay, sounds like a plan."


Dawn and lex each grab a box and head upstairs. Buffy walks into the kitchen to join the rest of the gang.


Xander: " So, Buff, this Lex girl, she staying with ya a while? "


Buffy: * walking over and taking a slice of pizza * " Maybe. I told her she could stay until she found her own place. The motel she was staying in, if you could call a motel, wasn't a Hilton."


Anya: " It's strange that you'll invite someone you barely know into your house to live."


Xander: * cuts in * " I think what Anya means to say is it's very nice of you to help Lex out and give her a place to stay."


Anya: " Xander that's not what I meant."


Xander: " Hush, Anya." * smiles at Buffy *


Buffy: " No. She's right. It is strange. I cant help it though it just seems like I'm supposed to help her. I wish Giles was here he'd know if there was any magic involved in this."


Willow: " You think it's magic? "


Buffy: * confused * " I don't know... No... Well, maybe. But she gets along so well with Dawn. And I have to admit I like her."


Xander: " True, she's a very likable person."


Anya: " She's not too far on the bright side though."


Everyone casts an awkward glance at Anya. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black.

The scoobies continue their discussion about Lex. Upstairs Dawn and Lex are unpacking boxes and setting things up in the guest room.


Dawn: " How long do you think you'll stay? "


Lex: " Well, not too long. I don't want to be a burden to your sister. It's so nice that she's letting me stay here. I guess the big guy upstairs decided to help me out."


Dawn: " Are you a religious person? "


Lex: " Kind of. I believe in God. My parents were big time church goers. They went almost every Sunday. When I was younger they would make me go with them. When I got older I started spending my Sunday's at home laying in bed. But the bible still has an effect on me."


Dawn: " So do you believe in demons and stuff like that."


Lex: " Yea, I mean, I believe they are out there, maybe not in physical shape or form, but they are there."


Dawn: " What about vampires? "


Lex: * amused at this question * " Vampires? "


Dawn: " Yeah, you know blood sucky thingys."


Lex: " Well... I guess there are people who like to drink blood, I don't know if they would sizzle or not if exposed to the sun though." * laughs at her little joke *


Dawn: * serious tone of voice * " They do."


Lex gets an awkward look on her face, but she doesn't reply to Dawn's remark. They grab another box and continuing unpacking.


-*-