Lots of Spoilers about reset last year. And a few now about Dawn and her
future on the show. I have no idea id any of this will happen, but I
thought about it and made my version of the last few scenes on episode
7x22. Read at your own risk.
Title: Reset
Author: Kaylorin
Rated: G
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the story seen here.
Distribution: I like to share. Just let me know where it's headed by e-mail at kaylorin90@yahoo.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Reset
Dawn bolted up in her bed. She looked around the unfamiliar room, trying to remember how she got there. The sleep that had gathered in her eyes over night was wiped away with her fists as if she was a small child and not 16.
She yawned as the alarm continued the buzzing that had woken her from the dream. She reached over and hit the OFF button before she remembered. The dream. God it had been weird. And this room. It was hers now.
She shook her head, trying to clear the mussed memories from her head. Then she remembered the date, and fresh tears ran down her face. Today was the second anniversary of her sister's death, and the day everything in Dawn's life changed. She cried for the memories not made, and the laughter not shared, letting herself get as much out now. Before she left her room.
After awhile she pushed herself off the bed and walked around the room that had once been her sister's. She wiped the tears away, settling herself down. The double door closet held her cloths now, not Buffy's. The walls were pink; the blanket was covered in small pink and yellow flowers. Dawn's things, not her sister's. The reflection in the mirror was hers, not her sister's, and the calling was hers now, not her sister's.
Dawn picked out a pair of jeans and a red long sleeved T, along with underwear and headed out her bedroom door. She stood outside and waited when she heard the shower was already in use. A short time later, the water shut off and she knocked on the door.
"Be out shortly, Bit." She heard the familiar voice call to her.
"Okay, Spike."
It took her a minute to remember he wasn't souled. He was the same as he had been for the last few years. Chipped. Her dream had been vivid. From her sister's resurrection, to Willow's rampage. So much bad, then some good.
The door opened and Spike came out. "Hurry up. We're going to be late."
"Well you're the shower hog." She said as she walked into the bathroom and shut the door. She heard him walk down the stairs while she put a dabble of paste on her toothbrush. She took her time cleaning her teeth as she remembered the true past, and not the one from her dream world.
Spike moved in last year when Tara and Willow decided to transfer to London and join a coven Giles had suggested. Giles had offered to stay with her, but in the end it was Spike who had moved in. It was decided that it would be easier to make identification that made him a relative of the Summers's. Hank Summers never disputed the transfer of guardianship, not even questioning the long lost uncle. Then Spike had more responsibility than he could have imagined he would..
Dawn rinsed her mouth and flipped on the shower. She undressed, and stepped into the hot water. Letting it wash the sleep from her face and body.
She quickly dried and dressed and her mind turned to Giles. The man had been a father to Buffy, and in ways, to Dawn as well. He remained in Sunnydale, now acting unofficially as her Watcher.
The Council was unsure of how to handle Dawn's situation. The very blood that had been used to create the child had created a problem once the death of Buffy Summers happened. It had activated Dawn.
When the line was transferred to Kendra, it was assumed that the next time Buffy died, no one would be called. But when Dawn cradled her sister's limp body in her arms, then stood and carried her into the cemetery, Giles knew what had happened.
Dawn, unfortunately, was too hurt and to distraught to train, fight, or care. Willow, Spike, Tara, Xander and Anya covered for her for almost six months. In that time Dawn put her heart and soul into the things Buffy had wanted her to. She studied night and day, cleaned the house over and over until some of the Scoobies thought shed wear the varnish off the tables.
Then one day she walked into the kitchen, and a memory of her sister and mom talking brought up choking sobs. She collapsed on the floor and bawled for her mom, her sister, and for everyone who had known them.
Dawn was so busy remembering those days she didn't hear her name being called. "Dawn!"
She blinked at the mirror and saw herself. "Sorry Spike. Just thinking." She turned around and faced him. He hadn't changed. Of course not, he was a vampire. He still bleached his hair and wore black. He still liked to fight and argue. He was Spike. He had sworn to take care of Dawn, legal guardian or not, she knew he would always watch out for her.
"Well if you want something to eat, you'd better hurry up."
"I'm done." She put her make-up away, and followed him down the steps and through the downstairs to the kitchen. Xander was already there sitting at the bar with Anya. They were talking about the new house Xander was building for them. Or to be more specific, the contractor Xander worked for was building.
Dawn poured herself some cereal and listen to the couple go over details of their new home.
The two were still a strange pair. Anya often spoke out of turn, and said things not always appropriate, but her heart was good. Dawn understood why her childhood crush fell in love with the ex-demon. They'd be married in a few months.
It was awhile before the couple shared the news of their engagement. Almost a year ago now. With Dawn's depression, and Buffy's death there hadn't been a happy moment to announce it. But once it was out there, no one could have been happier. Giles suggested a form of counseling before hand. Most marriages, in his opinion, prospered from such things. He was insistent because of Anya's past. It seemed like a good idea to the couple.
Instead of marrying quickly, the councilor had advised them to wait at least 9 months, so they had. Unlike Dawn's dream. She thought again about what a strange dream it had been.
She finished her breakfast and washed out her bowl.
"Well?" Xander asked.
Spike placed a thick silver bracelet on his wrist. The enchanted item was a present from Willow. A gift he'd received after his guardianship of Dawn was official. It allowed him to enter daylight. Although unlike a ring he remembered once having, it only lasted for 6 hours each time the wearer put it on, needing at least 24 hours to recharge between use. "Let's go."
All of them headed to Xander's car. It was a slow and quiet drive. When they arrived they pulled up to Giles familiar car, and walked though the grounds to the grave that sat next to Joyce Summers.
Dawn looked over the cemetery, remembering the location of the fresh graves for tonight's patrol. She soon saw Willow and Tara standing beside each other, holding hands. Giles stood beside Willow holding a bouquet of wild flowers.
Xander reached the small group first. Hugging the wiccans in turn then shaking Giles hand. Spike did the same. Dawn hugged them all one at a time. They stood in a line, a tradition they created last year. Willow and Tara had flown in just for this day.
Dawn started. "Hey, Buffy. Hi mom." She waved in a small gesture. "It's been another year. I know I've talked to you allot, but I'll just let you know what's been up. I took your room. I know, it's your room, and you hate it when I use your things, but I needed the closet space." She giggled. She'd told her sister's tombstone this last year just after she moved. "Spike has mom's room, oh and we painted the kitchen. I'll be a senior next year. I even get to take a college course in History. Guess being locked up in my room did something good hu'?" Dawn's tears made fresh tracks down her face. She felt a hand hold hers and looked up into Giles face. "I really miss her."
Giles smiled gently. "We all do."
"Well Slayer." They all heard Spike begin. "Keepin my promise. Trying to anyway. The Bit seems to feel I'm a might harsh to the boys she brings home. Quite frankly, her taste is almost as bad as yours." He said smiling lightly. He had finished trying to hide his tears after the day she leapt from the tower, and let himself cry as much as he needed.
Xander spoke next. "Well Buffy. Anya and I are getting hitched here soon." He tried to keep to the lighter tone that Buffy would have remembered. "We even have a house. Well most of a house."
"We have a foundation." Anya corrected then spoke to the gray marker of Buffy's grave. "It will be a house. But I think you need walls at the very least."
"We will have walls." Xander said to Anya. Then he spoke again to Buffy. "It will have walls. A two story, with a basement. I have the pool table all picked out." He smiled, then faltered and became serious. "I really wish you could see it Buff. Me, all grown up. Never thought it would happen."
"I knew you would grow up." Anya said to him sweetly.
Willow and Tara stepped forward and sprinkled some flakes of green crystal over the grass. Tara nodded to the red head, wanting her to be the one to talk.
Willow brushed off her hands. "Hey Buffy." She took a calming breath "This is hard. All of it. Tara and I are going to school in England. Giles suggested that we join a practicing coven, mostly for training, but because we're getting powerful. Some of the stuff we're learning is scary, some is fun, but mostly it's hard. Hard to be there without my friends. Tara makes it easier of course, but then we come home, and even that's hard. Sometimes I think I'll see you waiting with the rest of the gang when we arrive. Then I remember you're here." Willow sniffled, trying to fight the sobs. "We wanted to give you something, Tara and me. The crystals are supposed to help a soul find peace. I hope it helps."
Tara gripped Willow's hand tighter, trying to will some of her strength to her lover.
Giles, already wiping tears from his eyes, held his glasses as he spoke "I never know what to say. Do I?" He looked at his glasses, and placed them on his nose. "The truth is, some part of me believes you already know. That you see us." He placed the flowers on her grave and stood back up. "We all try to honor you. Dawn with her studies and duties, Xander and Anya by living their lives, Willow and Tara by becoming all they can with the talents they've gained, and yes, I must admit Spike does his part. But I suspect you already know this. For myself, I do what I can. Help Dawn, train her and tell her everything I can about the calling she inherited from you."
The Watcher looked on either side of him to tear filled faces. Then to the gravestone Dawn had insisted on. Her name and the dates were not out of the ordinary, but the inscription was. "She Saved The World. Allot"
Title: Reset
Author: Kaylorin
Rated: G
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the story seen here.
Distribution: I like to share. Just let me know where it's headed by e-mail at kaylorin90@yahoo.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Reset
Dawn bolted up in her bed. She looked around the unfamiliar room, trying to remember how she got there. The sleep that had gathered in her eyes over night was wiped away with her fists as if she was a small child and not 16.
She yawned as the alarm continued the buzzing that had woken her from the dream. She reached over and hit the OFF button before she remembered. The dream. God it had been weird. And this room. It was hers now.
She shook her head, trying to clear the mussed memories from her head. Then she remembered the date, and fresh tears ran down her face. Today was the second anniversary of her sister's death, and the day everything in Dawn's life changed. She cried for the memories not made, and the laughter not shared, letting herself get as much out now. Before she left her room.
After awhile she pushed herself off the bed and walked around the room that had once been her sister's. She wiped the tears away, settling herself down. The double door closet held her cloths now, not Buffy's. The walls were pink; the blanket was covered in small pink and yellow flowers. Dawn's things, not her sister's. The reflection in the mirror was hers, not her sister's, and the calling was hers now, not her sister's.
Dawn picked out a pair of jeans and a red long sleeved T, along with underwear and headed out her bedroom door. She stood outside and waited when she heard the shower was already in use. A short time later, the water shut off and she knocked on the door.
"Be out shortly, Bit." She heard the familiar voice call to her.
"Okay, Spike."
It took her a minute to remember he wasn't souled. He was the same as he had been for the last few years. Chipped. Her dream had been vivid. From her sister's resurrection, to Willow's rampage. So much bad, then some good.
The door opened and Spike came out. "Hurry up. We're going to be late."
"Well you're the shower hog." She said as she walked into the bathroom and shut the door. She heard him walk down the stairs while she put a dabble of paste on her toothbrush. She took her time cleaning her teeth as she remembered the true past, and not the one from her dream world.
Spike moved in last year when Tara and Willow decided to transfer to London and join a coven Giles had suggested. Giles had offered to stay with her, but in the end it was Spike who had moved in. It was decided that it would be easier to make identification that made him a relative of the Summers's. Hank Summers never disputed the transfer of guardianship, not even questioning the long lost uncle. Then Spike had more responsibility than he could have imagined he would..
Dawn rinsed her mouth and flipped on the shower. She undressed, and stepped into the hot water. Letting it wash the sleep from her face and body.
She quickly dried and dressed and her mind turned to Giles. The man had been a father to Buffy, and in ways, to Dawn as well. He remained in Sunnydale, now acting unofficially as her Watcher.
The Council was unsure of how to handle Dawn's situation. The very blood that had been used to create the child had created a problem once the death of Buffy Summers happened. It had activated Dawn.
When the line was transferred to Kendra, it was assumed that the next time Buffy died, no one would be called. But when Dawn cradled her sister's limp body in her arms, then stood and carried her into the cemetery, Giles knew what had happened.
Dawn, unfortunately, was too hurt and to distraught to train, fight, or care. Willow, Spike, Tara, Xander and Anya covered for her for almost six months. In that time Dawn put her heart and soul into the things Buffy had wanted her to. She studied night and day, cleaned the house over and over until some of the Scoobies thought shed wear the varnish off the tables.
Then one day she walked into the kitchen, and a memory of her sister and mom talking brought up choking sobs. She collapsed on the floor and bawled for her mom, her sister, and for everyone who had known them.
Dawn was so busy remembering those days she didn't hear her name being called. "Dawn!"
She blinked at the mirror and saw herself. "Sorry Spike. Just thinking." She turned around and faced him. He hadn't changed. Of course not, he was a vampire. He still bleached his hair and wore black. He still liked to fight and argue. He was Spike. He had sworn to take care of Dawn, legal guardian or not, she knew he would always watch out for her.
"Well if you want something to eat, you'd better hurry up."
"I'm done." She put her make-up away, and followed him down the steps and through the downstairs to the kitchen. Xander was already there sitting at the bar with Anya. They were talking about the new house Xander was building for them. Or to be more specific, the contractor Xander worked for was building.
Dawn poured herself some cereal and listen to the couple go over details of their new home.
The two were still a strange pair. Anya often spoke out of turn, and said things not always appropriate, but her heart was good. Dawn understood why her childhood crush fell in love with the ex-demon. They'd be married in a few months.
It was awhile before the couple shared the news of their engagement. Almost a year ago now. With Dawn's depression, and Buffy's death there hadn't been a happy moment to announce it. But once it was out there, no one could have been happier. Giles suggested a form of counseling before hand. Most marriages, in his opinion, prospered from such things. He was insistent because of Anya's past. It seemed like a good idea to the couple.
Instead of marrying quickly, the councilor had advised them to wait at least 9 months, so they had. Unlike Dawn's dream. She thought again about what a strange dream it had been.
She finished her breakfast and washed out her bowl.
"Well?" Xander asked.
Spike placed a thick silver bracelet on his wrist. The enchanted item was a present from Willow. A gift he'd received after his guardianship of Dawn was official. It allowed him to enter daylight. Although unlike a ring he remembered once having, it only lasted for 6 hours each time the wearer put it on, needing at least 24 hours to recharge between use. "Let's go."
All of them headed to Xander's car. It was a slow and quiet drive. When they arrived they pulled up to Giles familiar car, and walked though the grounds to the grave that sat next to Joyce Summers.
Dawn looked over the cemetery, remembering the location of the fresh graves for tonight's patrol. She soon saw Willow and Tara standing beside each other, holding hands. Giles stood beside Willow holding a bouquet of wild flowers.
Xander reached the small group first. Hugging the wiccans in turn then shaking Giles hand. Spike did the same. Dawn hugged them all one at a time. They stood in a line, a tradition they created last year. Willow and Tara had flown in just for this day.
Dawn started. "Hey, Buffy. Hi mom." She waved in a small gesture. "It's been another year. I know I've talked to you allot, but I'll just let you know what's been up. I took your room. I know, it's your room, and you hate it when I use your things, but I needed the closet space." She giggled. She'd told her sister's tombstone this last year just after she moved. "Spike has mom's room, oh and we painted the kitchen. I'll be a senior next year. I even get to take a college course in History. Guess being locked up in my room did something good hu'?" Dawn's tears made fresh tracks down her face. She felt a hand hold hers and looked up into Giles face. "I really miss her."
Giles smiled gently. "We all do."
"Well Slayer." They all heard Spike begin. "Keepin my promise. Trying to anyway. The Bit seems to feel I'm a might harsh to the boys she brings home. Quite frankly, her taste is almost as bad as yours." He said smiling lightly. He had finished trying to hide his tears after the day she leapt from the tower, and let himself cry as much as he needed.
Xander spoke next. "Well Buffy. Anya and I are getting hitched here soon." He tried to keep to the lighter tone that Buffy would have remembered. "We even have a house. Well most of a house."
"We have a foundation." Anya corrected then spoke to the gray marker of Buffy's grave. "It will be a house. But I think you need walls at the very least."
"We will have walls." Xander said to Anya. Then he spoke again to Buffy. "It will have walls. A two story, with a basement. I have the pool table all picked out." He smiled, then faltered and became serious. "I really wish you could see it Buff. Me, all grown up. Never thought it would happen."
"I knew you would grow up." Anya said to him sweetly.
Willow and Tara stepped forward and sprinkled some flakes of green crystal over the grass. Tara nodded to the red head, wanting her to be the one to talk.
Willow brushed off her hands. "Hey Buffy." She took a calming breath "This is hard. All of it. Tara and I are going to school in England. Giles suggested that we join a practicing coven, mostly for training, but because we're getting powerful. Some of the stuff we're learning is scary, some is fun, but mostly it's hard. Hard to be there without my friends. Tara makes it easier of course, but then we come home, and even that's hard. Sometimes I think I'll see you waiting with the rest of the gang when we arrive. Then I remember you're here." Willow sniffled, trying to fight the sobs. "We wanted to give you something, Tara and me. The crystals are supposed to help a soul find peace. I hope it helps."
Tara gripped Willow's hand tighter, trying to will some of her strength to her lover.
Giles, already wiping tears from his eyes, held his glasses as he spoke "I never know what to say. Do I?" He looked at his glasses, and placed them on his nose. "The truth is, some part of me believes you already know. That you see us." He placed the flowers on her grave and stood back up. "We all try to honor you. Dawn with her studies and duties, Xander and Anya by living their lives, Willow and Tara by becoming all they can with the talents they've gained, and yes, I must admit Spike does his part. But I suspect you already know this. For myself, I do what I can. Help Dawn, train her and tell her everything I can about the calling she inherited from you."
The Watcher looked on either side of him to tear filled faces. Then to the gravestone Dawn had insisted on. Her name and the dates were not out of the ordinary, but the inscription was. "She Saved The World. Allot"