Author's Notes: Hey everyone. After careful thought (and reading Spikelicious' review) I have decided to continue. There are likely to be 4 or 5 chapters in total for this fic. Please note, everyone, that I have seen none of the second season of Angel, excluding the finale. If I get anything wrong I apologise.
Many thanks to everyone who reviewed. You don't know how much I appreciate it.
Dedicated to Pippa, Hex, and all the people who reviewed and said nice things.
Dawn sighed as she followed Angel into the Hyperion. It had been a long, tiring journey to L.A. She had managed to slip out of The Magic Box undetected. Yes, neither the Slayer or a vampire had noticed her leaving. Convenient, huh?
She had travelled by hitch-hiking, but luckily hadn't encountered any psychos.
"Dawn? Why are you here?" Angel asked softly. This question threw Dawn for a second.
"Why am I here? Uh.....lemme check." Dawn referred to the notes for her role. She scrunched up her face upon reading. Holding the script at arm's length she said,
"It says here I'm supposed to be confused, and not really know the reason I'm here. Oh yeah, and it mentions a bunch of stuff about us bonding and me eventually finding inner peace. Kinda like the whole of the Buddhist religion." she laughed.
(A/N: To anyone who may be offended by that comment, I apologise sincerely. I am but an ignorant child!)
Angel stared at the 15 year old.
"Not meaning to sound sceptical - ok, sue me, so I am – but why do you need to do all that here? This isn't a freaking hotel." Angel glanced around. "Ok, so maybe it is, but I meant that metaphorically! Fic writers seem to think that this is some haven whenever any of the Scooby gang feel ignored or confused. Just, 'Pop on by to Uncle Angels for your group therapy issues!' But noooo, it's a whole different story when I come to Sunnydale..."
Dawn waited.
"Are you done?"
"Yeah." Angel said sheepishly. They both stood in silence for several moments. Angel looked at Dawn.
"What do you want again?"
* * *
Buffy wandered down the streets of Sunnydale. In the few months she'd been dead, there didn't seem to have been any substantial changes in society.
"I bet these clothes are waaaay out of fashion..." she muttered. She appeared to have accepted that she was alive again rather easily. . No periods of self-reflection. No questions. In fact, the only concern she now had was that she would have to restock her wardrobe.
She reached The Magic Box, where, again, the whole gang were assembled.
Well, let's face it, it ain't like they had anything better to do.
She opened the door, and entered to find everyone minus Spike lounging around looking dejected. Nobody had noticed her presence. She cleared her throat. Everyone looked towards the door.
"Hey guys." Buffy said, not unsure of herself in the least. "What's up?"
"Who are you?" asked Giles. Buffy rolled her eyes.
"It's me, guys."
No response.
"You know – the Slayer?"
Nothing. Anya yawned.
She made her tone slow and simple.
"Your friend?"
There was still no recognition in them.
"Do I know you?" asked Giles.
"Oh for Christs sakes, I'm BUFFY!!"
Giles still looked confused.
"I'm afraid I don't know anyone by the name of Buffy." This was when the fear began to hit Buffy.
"Did you guys.....forget me?" she sounded like a child.
Everyone in the shop (minus Buffy) looked at each other for a moment, before they all burst out laughing.
"Gotcha!" Xander yelled.
"Nah, we're just messin' with ya!" Giles cried, laughing. "We were pretending we'd forgotten you!" He collapsed in a fit of laughter.
Buffy hesitantly joined in the laughter.
"Uh...yeah. Ha ha! Good one! You guys sure got me!"
Just then Spike walked in from a back room.
"Alright Slayer. Wait a minute. Aren't you dead?"
"I was. I'm alive again now, Spike."
"Yeah! You mean you didn't even know that?" Xander yelled at Spike. "That is soooo five minutes ago!"
Spike tried to make sense of the chaotic screaming.
"So...you're alive again?"
Buffy nodded. Spike looked at his watch.
"About bloody time. You were due at least a month ago."
* * *
Meanwhile, in L.A, Dawn and Angel were sitting watching T.V. Angel looked over at Dawn, and offered her some of his drink. Dawn took one look at the red liquid and hastily declined.
"Oh well. Suit yourself." Angel shrugged. He quickly drained the rest of the cup.
"So...whaddya wanna do, my little Dawnie-kins?" he asked with a grin. Dawn regarded him calmly.
"Oh! I know! We can go patrolling! Yeah, I can go get my spine ripped out by a bloodthirsty vampire! Oh please, please please pleeeeeeease Angel?" Dawn pulled on Angel's sleeve.
"Absolutely not! It's too dangerous!" Dawn frowned. Then ran from the room crying and screaming, "I hate you, Angel!!"
Angel stared after her for a few moments.
"She is sooo out of here."
Chapter 5 coming soon, but telling me what you think would most likely speed up the process :-)