TITLE: BUFFY'S TURN: 12\?
AUTHOR: RICK
E-MAIL: amulet@my-dejanews.com
SUMMARY: BIG BROTHER HAS A SHINING MOMENT AND BIG SISTER FINDS ANOTHER REASON TO LOVE OUR HERO.
CHAPTER:12-EVEN DAWN KNOWS HE LOVES HER.
Things on the Hellmouth are always heavy and dark. The element of the new dark-opps business doesn't help either. Emotions are often raw and crisis are many. Relationship woes tend to stir the mix to boiling point.
Dawn watches all of this happen. She tries to stay in the back ground and stay out of Buffy's way. But she is different too. She knows she doesn't belong. She spends much time alone and sullen. Buffy tries to pay as absolutely much attention to her as she is able to manage with her slayer duties. She worries about her little sister, knowing that sooner or later whatever part she plays in all of this will raise its ugly head. And that Dawn will be a victim. So far The scooby gang has not found anything else concerning her destiny. Giles has been on it as heavy as he can. Hopefully they will solve this puzzle before this particular evil plot produces any tragedy.
Dawn's predicament really weighs on Buffy. It gets her down like nothing else can. Its almost as if the slayer sees her as an innocent projection of herself, caught in the throes of something she knows little about, chosen without her knowledge or consent. After a particularly painful discussion with her adopted little sister Buffy leaves for patrol. Her emotions get the best of her. She stops on a near-by bench to cry.
Xander cannot stand the thought of Buffy patrolling alone. Despite whatever is going on between them, she should just not do it alone. Tonight he decides to accompany her himself rather than just follow her as his Nina alter self. As he is approaching the cemetery he spots her on the bench. As he gets closer he hears her tears. He sits down beside her.
"Buffy, what's the matter?"
The slayer tries to cover up. "Nothing, Xander, nothing."
She gets angry with herself that he of all people caught her crying. She get up to leave but Xander gently grabs her arm.
"Buffy, what's the matter?"
"Xander, I'm having a rough day, okay. I don't want to hear any crap."
"Buffy, honey, I didn't come to fight with you."
"Isn't that all we know how to do, Xander?"
"Buffy, because of our unbearable lives we've been doing a lot of that lately but despite every thing we're friends."
Buffy has to laugh at this. The boy is completely dense. He hasn't any idea how she feels about him.
"Is that what we are, Xander...friends?"
"Buffy, come on. Sit back down and tell me what's going on."
At this point she will take what she can get with him. She allows him to lead her back to the bench. He holds her hand as she sits. His touch is really comforting. As she looks into his warm brown eyes she hopes her facial expression doesn't embarrass her. She can actually feel herself swooning. They have not had a tender moment in a long time.
Buffy makes a major decision. She decides to tell Xander about Dawn. After convincing him his entire memory thing is an illusion he finally believes her.
"Buffy, you mean you've had to carry this around with you in addition to all your other slayer stuff?"
Buffy just nods.
"And, Dawn has to live with this too? God, she's so young to have so much on her."
Xander just stares at the slayer. On some level he understands that Buffy sees herself in Dawn. He begins to outline her facial features with his fingers.
"Just like you, Buffy...when you first found out..."
He trails off. Buffy is amazed. Xander actually understands. The slayer's breath shortens as he brings his face closer to hers.
He lightly brushes her lips with his, but then the moment is broken by a loud roar from across the street. As our friends look up a very large vampire is pursuing a young man. Xander just sighs.
"Do we have the world's worst lives or what?"
Buffy has to laugh. "Tell me about it."
She looks at the vamp. She motions to Xander. "You or me?"
"Me...Buff, what could I do against that big bad..."
Buffy interrupts him. "Xander, cut the crap. You or me?"
Xander gets up. He pulls a funny looking knife from his boot.
"Let me show off the new and improved no stress dusting technique."
He holds up the knife in front of her. "Metal coated, wooden center."
Xander concentrates for a moment then in one swift moment heaves the knife in the direction of the offending beast. It catches him chest high. It stops abruptly in its tracks before obediently bursting to ashes. Xander is very proud of his accomplishment. Buffy is quite speechless. She starts to walk in the direction of home. Xander catches up to her. Neither says a word as they walk. If Xander only knew how vulnerable she was in front of him right now. But, as usual, he has no idea.
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Later, Xander gets an idea. He knows that Dawn has a huge crush on him. He decides to do his part to cheer her up. He calls Joyce. He has a conversation with her. The next morning he stops over the summers house. Joyce didn't mention their conversation to Buffy so she is quite surprised when Xander asks for Dawn and not her. Dawn is a little nervous as she goes to see him.
"Hi, Dawn...hey, listen...ah, I know I'm like older than you and every thing. And I'm not trying to make a move on you, honest. I was...I was just wandering if we...you and I could like just get some Pizza or something together on Friday. I promise to be an absolute gentleman."
The teenager can't believe it. She can barely contain herself.
"You mean like in a date? You and me on a date?"
"Well, I mean...you know...just Pizza and..."
"Yes, Xander. I will be happy to go with you."
"Okay, see you then."
Xander and Joyce share a smile as the boy leaves and Dawn runs joyfully to her room. Buffy just stares at her mother.
"What was all that about? Obviously you were in on it."
Joyce replies non-chalantly. "Oh, Dawn and Xander are going on a date."
"What?"
"Yea, it's okay, I know about it."
Buffy follows her mother into the kitchen. "What do you mean they're going out on a date?"
"Surely you know your sister has a huge crush on him?"
"Yea, but...a date?"
"It will really life her spirits, Buffy."
"It's not a good idea, mom. Xander is a .."
Dawn comes in and interrupts her sister.
"Xander is what?"
"Whatever he is you're not going on a date with him."
"You're just jealous."
"Yea, sure I am!"
"You are. D'ont tell me you're not in love with him because I see the way you look at him."
Dawn runs back upstairs to start to prepare for Xander, even though the date is a few days away.
Buffy looks in her mother's direction for help but finds her looking at her with eye brows raised. Joyce has also noticed Buffy's demeanor whenever the subject of Xander comes up.
"Buffy, you're not jealous, are you? You don't have...?"
She doesn't have to finish. Joyce can read it all over her face. She tries to comfort the slayer.
"I mean its not a real date. I mean it is but, you know what I mean?"
Buffy has to walk away. She is embarrassed that her jealousy shows so plainly. She understands what Xander is doing. And it is just another reason for her to love him but, still. He never took her on a date. But then she thinks of last night's almost kiss. Phew, she has to catch her breath again. Maybe one of these days they'll get to finish one of those moments. But for now she has to live with the very humbling idea that the man she loves is going to go out on a date with a very lucky Dawn.
Xander is perfect. Dawn is in her glory. The older man she has a crush on is wine-ing and dining her in Pizza Pie luxury. They have a wonderful time. As they approach the Summer's house on the way back the teenager gets very pensive. She looks at Xander. He questions her.
"What's the matter, Dawn? We had a good time, right?"
Dawn sighs. "Xander...we had a wonderful time."
"Well ,then why the long face?"
"Because I found out tonight what all the women in Sunnydale already know."
"What are you talking about, Dawn?"
"Xander... Willow and Tara know it. Inez knows it. Darla the vampire knows it Even Cordelia knows it."
Xander can't believe this. Dawn is talking like an adult.
"And what is it that everybody knows, Dawn?"
"That you're hopelessly in love with Buffy and there is nothing you can do about it! And no other woman stands a chance of winning your heart."
With that she proceeds to give him a kiss on his cheek.
"I had a wonderful time, Xander...good night."
All Xander can do is sigh as he watches her disappear through the front door.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR: RICK
E-MAIL: amulet@my-dejanews.com
SUMMARY: BIG BROTHER HAS A SHINING MOMENT AND BIG SISTER FINDS ANOTHER REASON TO LOVE OUR HERO.
CHAPTER:12-EVEN DAWN KNOWS HE LOVES HER.
Things on the Hellmouth are always heavy and dark. The element of the new dark-opps business doesn't help either. Emotions are often raw and crisis are many. Relationship woes tend to stir the mix to boiling point.
Dawn watches all of this happen. She tries to stay in the back ground and stay out of Buffy's way. But she is different too. She knows she doesn't belong. She spends much time alone and sullen. Buffy tries to pay as absolutely much attention to her as she is able to manage with her slayer duties. She worries about her little sister, knowing that sooner or later whatever part she plays in all of this will raise its ugly head. And that Dawn will be a victim. So far The scooby gang has not found anything else concerning her destiny. Giles has been on it as heavy as he can. Hopefully they will solve this puzzle before this particular evil plot produces any tragedy.
Dawn's predicament really weighs on Buffy. It gets her down like nothing else can. Its almost as if the slayer sees her as an innocent projection of herself, caught in the throes of something she knows little about, chosen without her knowledge or consent. After a particularly painful discussion with her adopted little sister Buffy leaves for patrol. Her emotions get the best of her. She stops on a near-by bench to cry.
Xander cannot stand the thought of Buffy patrolling alone. Despite whatever is going on between them, she should just not do it alone. Tonight he decides to accompany her himself rather than just follow her as his Nina alter self. As he is approaching the cemetery he spots her on the bench. As he gets closer he hears her tears. He sits down beside her.
"Buffy, what's the matter?"
The slayer tries to cover up. "Nothing, Xander, nothing."
She gets angry with herself that he of all people caught her crying. She get up to leave but Xander gently grabs her arm.
"Buffy, what's the matter?"
"Xander, I'm having a rough day, okay. I don't want to hear any crap."
"Buffy, honey, I didn't come to fight with you."
"Isn't that all we know how to do, Xander?"
"Buffy, because of our unbearable lives we've been doing a lot of that lately but despite every thing we're friends."
Buffy has to laugh at this. The boy is completely dense. He hasn't any idea how she feels about him.
"Is that what we are, Xander...friends?"
"Buffy, come on. Sit back down and tell me what's going on."
At this point she will take what she can get with him. She allows him to lead her back to the bench. He holds her hand as she sits. His touch is really comforting. As she looks into his warm brown eyes she hopes her facial expression doesn't embarrass her. She can actually feel herself swooning. They have not had a tender moment in a long time.
Buffy makes a major decision. She decides to tell Xander about Dawn. After convincing him his entire memory thing is an illusion he finally believes her.
"Buffy, you mean you've had to carry this around with you in addition to all your other slayer stuff?"
Buffy just nods.
"And, Dawn has to live with this too? God, she's so young to have so much on her."
Xander just stares at the slayer. On some level he understands that Buffy sees herself in Dawn. He begins to outline her facial features with his fingers.
"Just like you, Buffy...when you first found out..."
He trails off. Buffy is amazed. Xander actually understands. The slayer's breath shortens as he brings his face closer to hers.
He lightly brushes her lips with his, but then the moment is broken by a loud roar from across the street. As our friends look up a very large vampire is pursuing a young man. Xander just sighs.
"Do we have the world's worst lives or what?"
Buffy has to laugh. "Tell me about it."
She looks at the vamp. She motions to Xander. "You or me?"
"Me...Buff, what could I do against that big bad..."
Buffy interrupts him. "Xander, cut the crap. You or me?"
Xander gets up. He pulls a funny looking knife from his boot.
"Let me show off the new and improved no stress dusting technique."
He holds up the knife in front of her. "Metal coated, wooden center."
Xander concentrates for a moment then in one swift moment heaves the knife in the direction of the offending beast. It catches him chest high. It stops abruptly in its tracks before obediently bursting to ashes. Xander is very proud of his accomplishment. Buffy is quite speechless. She starts to walk in the direction of home. Xander catches up to her. Neither says a word as they walk. If Xander only knew how vulnerable she was in front of him right now. But, as usual, he has no idea.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Later, Xander gets an idea. He knows that Dawn has a huge crush on him. He decides to do his part to cheer her up. He calls Joyce. He has a conversation with her. The next morning he stops over the summers house. Joyce didn't mention their conversation to Buffy so she is quite surprised when Xander asks for Dawn and not her. Dawn is a little nervous as she goes to see him.
"Hi, Dawn...hey, listen...ah, I know I'm like older than you and every thing. And I'm not trying to make a move on you, honest. I was...I was just wandering if we...you and I could like just get some Pizza or something together on Friday. I promise to be an absolute gentleman."
The teenager can't believe it. She can barely contain herself.
"You mean like in a date? You and me on a date?"
"Well, I mean...you know...just Pizza and..."
"Yes, Xander. I will be happy to go with you."
"Okay, see you then."
Xander and Joyce share a smile as the boy leaves and Dawn runs joyfully to her room. Buffy just stares at her mother.
"What was all that about? Obviously you were in on it."
Joyce replies non-chalantly. "Oh, Dawn and Xander are going on a date."
"What?"
"Yea, it's okay, I know about it."
Buffy follows her mother into the kitchen. "What do you mean they're going out on a date?"
"Surely you know your sister has a huge crush on him?"
"Yea, but...a date?"
"It will really life her spirits, Buffy."
"It's not a good idea, mom. Xander is a .."
Dawn comes in and interrupts her sister.
"Xander is what?"
"Whatever he is you're not going on a date with him."
"You're just jealous."
"Yea, sure I am!"
"You are. D'ont tell me you're not in love with him because I see the way you look at him."
Dawn runs back upstairs to start to prepare for Xander, even though the date is a few days away.
Buffy looks in her mother's direction for help but finds her looking at her with eye brows raised. Joyce has also noticed Buffy's demeanor whenever the subject of Xander comes up.
"Buffy, you're not jealous, are you? You don't have...?"
She doesn't have to finish. Joyce can read it all over her face. She tries to comfort the slayer.
"I mean its not a real date. I mean it is but, you know what I mean?"
Buffy has to walk away. She is embarrassed that her jealousy shows so plainly. She understands what Xander is doing. And it is just another reason for her to love him but, still. He never took her on a date. But then she thinks of last night's almost kiss. Phew, she has to catch her breath again. Maybe one of these days they'll get to finish one of those moments. But for now she has to live with the very humbling idea that the man she loves is going to go out on a date with a very lucky Dawn.
Xander is perfect. Dawn is in her glory. The older man she has a crush on is wine-ing and dining her in Pizza Pie luxury. They have a wonderful time. As they approach the Summer's house on the way back the teenager gets very pensive. She looks at Xander. He questions her.
"What's the matter, Dawn? We had a good time, right?"
Dawn sighs. "Xander...we had a wonderful time."
"Well ,then why the long face?"
"Because I found out tonight what all the women in Sunnydale already know."
"What are you talking about, Dawn?"
"Xander... Willow and Tara know it. Inez knows it. Darla the vampire knows it Even Cordelia knows it."
Xander can't believe this. Dawn is talking like an adult.
"And what is it that everybody knows, Dawn?"
"That you're hopelessly in love with Buffy and there is nothing you can do about it! And no other woman stands a chance of winning your heart."
With that she proceeds to give him a kiss on his cheek.
"I had a wonderful time, Xander...good night."
All Xander can do is sigh as he watches her disappear through the front door.
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