TITLE

TITLE: Finding Me (2/?)
AUTHOR: Rebecca Parker
EMAIL: LaVelleBelle@aol.com
RATING: PG
FEEDBACK: Yes please! I can't stress the PLEASE enough!
SPOILERS: This is set after Season 5, but there are no spoilers except for the *speculation* that Glory will lose and Dawn will still be around.
DISTRIBUTION: At my site (http://www.ourowndestiny.com), FINNatics and The Hellmouth Chronicles. All others, please ask first.
DEDICATION: To Moe, my sole feedbacker for the first part. Thank you so much!
NOTE: The title is a song by Vertical Horizon.


"Dawn, we are *not* listening to the new Britney OR the new Christina," Buffy said, sighing as she lay her arm on the edge of the window which had been rolled down hours ago due to the lack of air conditioning in Xander's car.

Dawn crossed her arms, sitting back against her seat as she rolled her eyes. "OK, then let's just listen to another hour of whiny women," she said sarcastically.

"Sarah McLachlan is not whiny," Xander said, looking at Dawn in the rearview mirror. "She's tender and good for the loving," he said, smirking. A quick look from Buffy made the smirk disappear. "I mean, good for the loving...group of friends I have gathered in my car."

"Nice save," Buffy said, laughing softly. She reached into the glove compartment and pulled out the book of CD's. "How about a compromise? No Sarah or Britney, but instead," she said, removing a CD, "a little Matchbox 20."

"Fine with me," Dawn said, shifting uncomfortably in her seat. She grabbed her magazine and started flipping through the pages as the sounds of "Bent" filled the car. She smiled, remembering the night before and how they had all danced at the Bronze to this very song. She had never really realized how bad of a dancer Xander was before.

"Looks like the Dawnster approves of the music choice," Xander said, looking at her again. "She's all smiles. Or maybe she's just had too much candy."

Dawn rolled her eyes at Xander and flipped the page, reading the latest gossip about Tara Reid and Carson Daly. An hour later and she was on the last article, mulling over fashion do's and don'ts and dreading the last few turns Xander was making. They were almost there.

"Buffy..."

"I'm sorry Dawnie," Buffy said, turning around in her seat. "But yes, you have to."

Dawn frowned, shutting the magazine and folding her arms. "Fine," she said, her voice angry. "But I'm going to make him sweat."

"I wouldn't expect any less," Buffy said, smiling as Xander pulled up in front of her father's house.

He turned off the engine and the three of them sat there in silence for another five minutes; none of them wanting to get out of the car and face the man who none of them had any respect for.

Finally, Buffy opened her car door and slipped out, pulling the seat forward so Dawn could follow. "Come on," she said, sighing. "It won't be so bad."

"So you say," she said, getting out after her sister and grabbing her bookbag. She slipped the straps over her shoulder and watched as Xander got out and grabbed her suitcase. "You'll call me every day?"

"Every day, Dawn?" Buffy said, smirking. "Really, even *my* life isn't so interesting as to have something new to say every day." She reached out to touch her sister's shoulder and pulled her into a firm hug. "We'll rotate. I'll take Monday, Xander Tuesday, Willow Wednesday and so on and so on. OK?"

Dawn nodded. "Sounds good to me. Maybe even Spike can call?" she asked, looking up at her sister shyly.

Buffy quirked an eyebrow at Dawn. "Spike? Dawn, didn't we just make a sisterly pact to not have things for chipped vampires last night?"

"Yeah, but," Dawn said, shrugging. "He makes me laugh."

"Don't I make you laugh, Dawnster?" Xander asked, punching her lightly on the shoulder. "Don't tell me I've been laid off from my court jester position at Dawn Dawn & Dawn Company." He smiled nervously at her and Buffy had to stifle a laugh. Only Xander could be upset that their 14-year-old sister was getting over her crush on him.

"Oh," Dawn said, smiling shyly. "Sure you do," she said, walking over to him and leaning her head against his arm. "You're still my number one funny guy."

"Good," Xander said, putting his arm around Dawn's shoulders. "We're gonna miss you in Sunny D, Dawnster. Place just won't be the same without you."

Dawn blushed, looking down at her shoes. "Well, I'll miss you too."

Buffy smiled. "Wow. This is a touching moment. A little creepy, but touching nonetheless," she said, laughing as she watched Xander automatically remove his arm from Dawn and Dawn automatically shoot her an evil look.

"Right," Xander said, grinning at Buffy. "So, we're off to see the Wizard?"

"The Wonderful Wizard of Deadbeat Dads," Buffy finished sarcastically. She took a deep breath and then nodded. "Yeah." She reached out for Dawn's hand and looked at her sister. "We can do it."

Dawn nodded sullenly, and together, the three of them walked towards the house.

+++++++

An hour later, Buffy and Xander were mulling over the menus at a nearby diner- Buffy torn between a cheeseburger or soup, Xander torn between a burrito or grilled cheese. They had sat in relative silence for several minutes, neither knowing what to say, or worse, what to do.

The last few months had been all about Dawn and protecting her, and now, the danger was past and no one knew what came next. Returning to Sunnydale was the obvious option, but Buffy was hoping to at least spend a few days in Los Angeles before she and Xander returned.

She just needed some time away. Sunnydale reminded her of everything she had lost in the last year- her mother, Riley, and now she would return and face a summer without the only family she had left- Dawn.

The waitress came and took their orders, and faced with the prospect of having their menus taken away and nothing left to stare at blankly, Xander and Buffy looked at each other and smiled awkwardly. "So," Buffy said, picking up her straw and fiddling with it. "Would you mind if we stayed for the weekend? I mean, I know I only vaguely mentioned it once, but I just thought it would be nice- you know, to get away for a little while."

"Yeah," Xander said, nodding. "It's been kind of a mad, mad, mad, mad, mad world back in Sunnydale lately."

"Mad," Buffy echoed. "I just don't know if I can handle going back there right now. Everything that's happened in the last year- Mom being sick, Riley leaving, Mom dying, Glory nearly killing us all- this is the first chance I've really had to stop and think about it and I'm kinda feeling-"

"Freaked?"

Buffy nodded. "To say the least. It's just one big bad memory after another. Oh- here's the park where I didn't run fast enough to catch Riley. Oh, and here's the ruins of the building where Glory first royally kicked my ass. Not to mention that every time I patrol I relive the funeral. I don't exactly want to be staking vampires on top of my mom's grave." She sighed, holding her forehead and looking down at the table. "I just need some time away right now."

"I'm with ya Buffy," Xander said, nodding. "We can get a hotel room and just hang out for the weekend."

"Maybe see old friends," Buffy said, taking a sip of her soda and looking away from Xander.

"Old friends as in..." Xander said, leading Buffy to the answer he was sure was coming.

"You know, Cordelia, Wesley..."

"Angel?" Xander finished, nodding. "Come on Buffy, you don't have to be ashamed. It's been a while since I've seen Dead Boy anyway. I've been working on some really good sarcastic remarks that I really think will hit the mark."

Buffy laughed. "You're not going to freak? I mean, Angel and I even just being in the same room has always been something of a touchy subject with you."

"Buffy," Xander said, reaching his hand out to hers and holding it. "I trust you completely."

"Thank you," Buffy said, her cheeks feeling a little flushed. No matter how close she and Xander had been, she never felt like he did trust her when it came to Angel- not that she blamed him. Her mistakes, as always, caused everyone heartache.

"No thanks necessary," Xander said as the waitress placed their meals in front of them. "In fact, instead of thanks, I'll take," he said, reaching over and grabbing food from her plate, "french fries."

"Seems like a fair compromise," Buffy said, laughing as she began to eat. After a few bites, she placed her burger down and looked at Xander again. "So the last time I talked to Angel, he told me they had their offices at this hotel- the Hyperion. I thought that we could stop by there tonight. Maybe they have a room or two?"

"Free hotel accommodations?" Xander said, grinning. "My wallet says 'Yes Please!'"

"Well, I mean, we'll have to ask first. Angel may just make you grovel," Buffy said, giggling.

"Uh, well, in that case my wallet may say 'YES' but my dignity says 'Hell no!'," Xander said, picking up his grilled cheese sandwich and taking a bite out of it. "But since my wallet is right here with me and I lost my dignity sometime back in high school, I guess I'm up for some groveling."

"I doubt he'll actually make you..."

+++++

"Say please Xander," Angel said, grinning as he stood in the doorway of the hotel, looking down at the young man in front of him. "It's only polite since you're asking to stay here."

Xander rolled his eyes and shot Buffy a look.

Buffy patted his arm reassuringly while trying not to burst out laughing.

"Please," Xander said, gritting his teeth.

"Angel, let the poor guy in," Cordelia said, smiling as she moved past Angel. "Xander Harris," she said, looking him up and down. "You really need to cut your hair," she said finally.

"Why? I see you cut yours for me," he said, walking into the lobby and looking her over. "A new look for you, Cor. Nice. I approve."

"Oh, I was so frightened you wouldn't," Cordelia said sarcastically, tipping her head to the smile and giving him that familiar grin of hers. "Good to see you again."

Xander nodded, stepping close and hugging his ex. "Been way too long."

"Way," she agreed. "When Harmony the vampire makes her way out here before you, we know we have problems."

"Sorry about that," Xander said, nodding as he stepped back and looked at Buffy, who was watching them with an amused expression on her face. "Lot going on back home."

Buffy nodded. "Cordelia, you look great. I love the hair."

"Thanks," she said, running her fingers through it.

The four of them stood there in an uncomfortable silence for a few minutes before Angel spoke. "So, not that we're not happy to have you here, but what's going on? Is everything OK?"

Buffy nodded. "Yep. Xander and I are just taking a vacation from reality for a weekend. I had to drop Dawn off at Dad's and I thought maybe we could crash here."

"Sure," Angel said, nodding. "We have one or two rooms that aren't entirely composed of dust." He stopped. "I think."

Cordelia nodded. "Well, we didn't until I did some spring cleaning a few months ago. But now we have two rooms up and running. That is, if you don't mind an orange carpet and green walls."

Xander laughed. "So um..about these rooms of dust?"

Buffy grinned, smacking Xander's arm. "That sounds great. We're not imposing?"

"Nope," Cordelia said, moving over to the couch and flopping down on it. "We were just going to go out for the night, try to sniff out a new case. You're welcome to come. Just leave your eardrums at the door," she said, grinning.

"Our eardrums? Huh?" Buffy asked, looking around. "Where are we going?"

Angel caught Cordelia's glance and smiled. He turned to Buffy and laughed. "How do you feel about karaoke?"

To Be Continued...