Just Pretend



"So you were just going to leave him there?" Buffy asked the disapproval evident in her voice.

Xander looked at her helplessly. "Well Anya's allergic and its not like our apartment is puppy heaven!"

Buffy smiled. "I'll take him!" She said happily petting the small beagles head.

Earlier that day Xander had been supervising a dig and one of his co- workers came across a small puppy. Xander, being the softy that he is, decided to take him to the pound. Of course the pound was closed so he took him to the magic box. His biggest mistake was letting the slayer see him.

Buffy picked the small pup up in her arms and walked over to the counter where Anya stood glaring at the animal. "Isn't he the cutest?" Buffy asked in pointing the dogs face toward Anya.

The ex-demon began to sneeze, and her eyes watered. "No!" she said annoyed. "Get it out of here."

The puppy made a small whimpering noise and Buffy glared at Anya. "Ah, its ok little puppy. Let's get you home before Dawn does." She said walking out of the magic box.

Anya blew her nose on a Kleenex as Xander approached her. "She really, really needs a boy friend." He said shaking his head.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Dawn pushed the door to the Summer's home open and walked in. She pulled her backpack off and dropped it on the chair.

"Buffy I'm home-" She stopped mid sentence. "Oh my god!" She cried running toward the small bundle on the stairs.

Buffy emerged from the kitchen smiling. "You like?" She asked.

Dawn giggled as the pup licked her face. "Totally! Is he ours?" she asked standing up, dog in hand.

Buffy shrugged and leaned against the doorframe. "If you want, I figured we needed at least one normal thing in our life so why not a puppy?" she smiled as Dawn scratched behind the dogs ears.

"What's his name?" She asked.

"Whatever you want", Buffy replied.

Dawn lifted the puppy up so he was eye level. "I think I'll call you…" A small evil smile appeared on Dawns face. "Randy."

Buffy's face lit up with laughter at the name. "Where'd that come from?" She asked.

Dawn shrugged. "The twisted mind that is me." She smiled. "Do we have any food?"

Buffy gestured to the bowl beside the stove. "I picked some stuff up." She said.

Dawn set Randy down and he ran straight for the bowl. He ate the dog food happily his tail wagging in the air.

"Oh by the way." Dawn started. "You know you're the coolest, prettiest, nicest sister alive right?" she asked a tiny hopeful look in her eyes.

Buffy raised her eyebrows. "Yes I do. What do you want?"

Dawn smiled. "Well there's this…thing…at the bronze and a bunch of friends are going plus this guy asked me to go with them, strictly as friends! And- "

"A date?" Buffy asked.

Dawn shook her head. "No it's just a bunch of co-ed friends going to a club."

Buffy smiled. "Of course you can go."

Dawn's eyes lit up. "As long as you know everyone of your friends have to have a pulse!" Buffy clarified.

Dawn rolled her eyes, but her annoyance was replaced with gratitude as she hugged Buffy. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" she said.

Buffy hugged her back. "Besides," She started. "You need to go out at least once before Monday." She said.

Dawn pulled back. "Why?" she asked confusion clouding her face.

"Because after Monday you're grounded tell your eighteen." Buffy said walking away from a shocked Dawn.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"So Dawnie's out on a date?," Willow asked standing in front of the couch Buffy lay on.

Buffy nodded. "Yup, I aloud her one night of freedom before punishment central." She popped a piece of popcorn in her mouth.

"Very mature of you." Willow smiled.

Buffy just now taking in Willows out fit stated. "And Apparently Dawns not the only social life inhibitor. Looking good Wills." She sat up and looked over Willows outfit.

She wore a pair of sparkling dark blue jeans and a deep purple tank top,

Willow smiled. "Tara invited me out. We're going to try it slow. Start over with the dating before jumping in feet first." She explained.

Buffy's smile shrunk slightly. "So you're not going to be home all night?" she asked.

Willow shook her head. "No I'll be back around eleven, or-or not if things go ok. But if you had plans-"

"No." Buffy shook her head. "It's cool. Me and Randy will have plenty to talk about."

Willows brow furrowed. "R-randy?" she asked.

"Oh I didn't tell you?" She asked. "I got a puppy!"

Randy choose that moment to jump on the couch surprising Willow. He crawled up on Buffy's lap and snuggled down.

Willow smiled, "Oh cute", She said. Then… "Randy?"

Buffy shrugged. "Dawn named him. I think its some twisted evil way of getting back at Spike for something. I really didn't want to know." She explained.

Willow nodded. "Oh well he's cute."

There was a knock at the door and Willow turned instantly. She looked back at Buffy. "Wish me luck?" she said.

Buffy smiled. "You don't need any luck when you love each other." She stopped and frowned. "Ok pretend that came out less mushy and superficial." Randy barked happily.

Willow nodded and walked to the door.

Buffy sat silently and could make out the sounds of Tara and Willow awkwardly making small talk before the door shut and the house was quiet.

Buffy looked back at the beagle. "Guess it's just you and me, pup."

Randy barked again.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

It was about two hours after sun set when Spike began to feel restless.

He made his way to the Summer's home intent on either patrol with Buffy, fighting, shagging or shagging, fighting, patrol alone. The first half sounded more fun to him.

As soon as Spike saw the house he could feel something was off. He shook off the feeling and stepped up the stairs. He was about to open the door when the sound of a small conversation caught his attention.

Spike made his way to the window to the living room and listened intently.

"I mean it's not like I'm a total ho." He heard Buffy's voice say.

"I'm not the kind of girl who just uses people. Which brings me to my next point of his not being people! He's not even a white hat! He's gray, a deep dark gray." She continued.

When no respond came Spike figured she was ether talking to herself or her friends were too speechless to reply.

"I refuse to let him get to me though. I don't love him. Never will. He's evil."

Spike sighed inwardly at her over-used comment.

Buffy's small sigh was heard and he perked up again. "Is it really so obvious I'm fooling myself?"

Spike was greeted with a small bark in Buffy's response, and all of a sudden fighting wasn't what he needed anymore.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

End of Part One by ~*~Destiney~*~