A/N~ Hi everyone! I'm so sorry it took this long to get this chapter up, I really didn't think it would be this long. But I was almost finished with this chapter and then I accidentally lost all of it, so I started over, trying to remember everything I had in there before. Tell me what you think…

Chapter 11~ Hazards of the Heart

The wedding went perfectly. Xander and Anya's wedding went off without a hitch. No fights, brawls, or Hellmouthy-ness. Well, that is if you don't count Xander's um, interesting family members and Anya's demon pals. D'Hoffryn, Halfrek, Clem, etcetera.  Anyways, they left for their honeymoon in San Francisco after the wedding and wouldn't be back for two weeks. But, knowing them they'd be back in about 3.

 Dawn was leaving to go back to L.A. tomorrow morning with the gang, but tonight she was taking Connor to The Bronze to have a good time. Her friends were supposed to be there and she was anxious to see them and introduce them to Connor. Dawn hopped cheerily down the steps her curled brown hair bouncing behind her.

Willow and Tara were sitting on the couch studying for their summer courses at the University. Buffy and Angel were out patrolling. Cordelia had met up with some of her old friends and was out for the night with them. Fred and Gunn were on a date. Wesley was most likely researching something and Giles was at the Magic Shop. Connor was supposed to be meeting Dawn at the house in a few minutes.

"Dawnie you look nice!" Willow said looking up from her paper.

"Thanks Will", Dawn said looking down at her flared jeans and red spaghetti strap top with chunky black heels.

"Yeah, you do", Tara added on.

"Well, thank you", Dawn said gratefully and then plopped into a chair in the living room.  "So whatcha doing?" Dawn asked the two.

"Homework", Willow said throwing down her pencil in frustration. "And I'd rather be doing anything but this right now!"

"Surprising much? Will, you're like total study chick, Buffy's slay gal, I'm lil sis, Anya's miss talk's a lot and Tara's witch gal", Dawn said. "The characterizations have been set."

Willow laughed. "Well tonight I'm changing my characterization to Miss Going to the Bronze," Willow said.

Dawn looked down at her feet.

"Oh no, that's where you and Connor are going. We can go somewhere else…" Willow's voice trailed off.

"Oh, it's totally okay. I just don't want…"

"Buffy ducking in on your d-date", Tara said.

"Yeah", Dawn said.

The doorbell rang.

"That must be Connor", Dawn said, "See you guys later?"

"Mm hmm", Willow said, "Bye Dawn."

"Bye", Dawn said jetting to the door.

She opened it up. "Hi Connor. Ready to go? Let's." Dawn said quickly pulling Connor off the front porch.

"Uh, Dawn?"

"Yeah?" Dawn said turning to Connor but walking quickly still.

"What's the hurry?" Connor asked.

"I'm anxious to see my friends, silly!" Dawn said.

"Oh…your friends are going to be here?" Connor said.

"Of course! Don't worry they are going to love you."

Dawn and Connor arrived at The Bronze. They got their hands stamped saying that they were under 21 and went inside. Dawn spotted her friends immediately.

"Hey guys!" Dawn called.

"Dawn!" squealed Janice, running to hug her friend.

"When did you get back?"

"Uh, about a week ago", Dawn said.

"A week ago!" Kaira said, "You should've called us!"

"Oh, everyone this is my boyfriend Connor", Dawn said. "Connor this is Janice, Heather, Jade, Kaira, Kyle, Brett, Eric, and Greg."

"Hey", Connor said.

They all said their "heys" and "hellos".

Dawn and Connor sat down and they all began to talk.

"Dawn, I'm gonna go get something to drink", Connor said, "Anyone want anything."

"Coke please", Dawn said.

"Same here", said Janice.

"And me", added Kaira.

"Sprite", said Heather.

"Water", said Jade.

"Uh….okay", Connor said trying to remember what everyone had said.

"We'll help you", Eric said, "The girls probably have some catching up to do anyways."

The guys left to go get the drinks and the girls began to talk.

"He is hot Dawn!" Janice said.

"I know, and get this I live with him!" Dawn said.

"You live with him?" Heather said.

"In L.A.", Dawn began, "He's my sister Buffy's ex-boyfriend's son."

"Son?" asked Kaira, "How old is Buffy's ex then?"

"Uh….Connor's…uh…a-adopted", Dawn said trying to make something up.

A chorus of "ohs" came from the girls.

"Yeah", Dawn said.

"Ladies", Kyle said as the guys came back with a tray full of drinks, "Here are your beverages."

"Kyle,", Dawn said, "Quit it with the act it's so Cinderella!"

They all cracked up laughing. Kyle was the "Xander" of the group. Always wanting to make a joke and get a laugh out of everyone.

After about an hour they all left one by one. Soon leaving only Dawn and Connor.

"Well," Dawn said, "We better get going before Buffy and Angel start to really freak out."

"Yeah, let's go", Connor said. The two walked out of The Bronze hand in hand.

"So, what'd you think, you like it?" Dawn asked with a little hop in her step.

"It was uh, interesting", Connor said, "Not really the thing I'm into, but okay…"

"What do you mean?" Dawn said, "Connor Angel we have got to get you a life besides vampires, demons, and things of all evil!"

Connor ignored Dawn's statement. "And your friends…"

"What about my friends Connor?" Dawn said stopping dead in her tracks.

"They're uh, extreme", Connor said.

"Extreme?" Dawn said sarcastically.

"Yeah, I mean they're just kids, not knowing anything about what's in store for them", Connor said.

"Newsflash Connor! You're only 17!" Dawn said.

"Yes but…"

"And what does that make me? A little kid too?" Dawn said.

"Dawn I didn't mean…"

"Save it Connor. If you don't like my life or the people in it, then just stay the hell out of it!" Dawn said stomping away.

"Where are you going?" Connor called after her.

"I'm going to Spike's", Dawn said not turning back.

"Spike? Who's Spike?" Connor called. But she didn't answer.

                        **************************

"He just doesn't get it Spike", Dawn said slouching in a red chair in Spike's crypt.

"He's a bloody fool if you ask me", Spike said sitting down the couch with a mug of blood. "Want some Nibblet?"

"Ew!" Dawn said throwing a pillow at Spike.

"Just kidding Lil Bit", Spike said.

"Good, cause if Buffy every found out you offered me blood, she'd stake you like there was no tomorrow."

"Now, back to your problem…" Spike said.

"No, let's just stay away from the topic of Connor, please", Dawn said sighing.

"Whatever you want. And that reminds me", Spike said getting up. He rummaged through some drawers and finally pulled out a small box. He closed the dusty drawer and brought the box over to Dawn, "Happy birthday", he said holding out the box.

"Spike my birthday's not for two weeks", Dawn said.

"I know, but I figured that's you'd probably be in L.A., so I wanted to give it to you now", Spike said, "Go on", he said holding out the box, "Take it."

Dawn took the box and opened up the brown lid. "Oh my God Spike", Dawn said taking the contents out of the box.

"Pretty isn't it?" Spike asked.

"Pretty? It's gorgeous!" Dawn exclaimed. She took the necklace out of the box. It had a gold chain and hanging from the gold chain was a heart. The heart was outlined with diamonds. "Thank you so much!" Dawn said clasping the necklace around her neck. She leaped to the couch gave Spike a huge hug.

"Well, I'm glad you like it", Spike said after Dawn had let go.

"Like it? I love it!" Dawn said. "This is like the best birthday present ever!"

"Nibblet, it's getting late, Buffy will stake me good and proper is I don't get you home by your curfew."

"I can walk home by myself Spike", Dawn said putting on her jacket.

"It's alright, I'll walk with you", Spike said getting up.

"You wanna sneak a peak at Buffy don't you?" Dawn said with a smirk.

"Now Nibblet, I have no interest in seeing Buffy or any other…"

"Your such a crappy liar!" Dawn said.

"Yes, I want to see Buffy", Spike said quickly.

"Thought so", Dawn said as the two walked out of the door together. They walked until they got to the Summers' house and Dawn opened the door. "Hey Buffy! I'm back!" Dawn said walking into the door followed by Spike. Buffy, Willow, Xander, Anya, Angel, Cordelia, Fred and Gunn were all sitting in the living room talking and drinking some late night coffee.

"Dawn, where's Connor?" Cordelia asked.

"Why should I care?" Dawn said sarcastically.

Cordelia got the hint and everyone started with another topic.

"Have a good time tonight Dawn….and where did you get that necklace?" Buffy said wide-eyed.

"Oh, Spike gave it to me for my birthday, isn't it gorgeous!" Dawn said touching the necklace delicately.

Spike? Angel thought. Why would he care about Dawn or in fact…why is he even here? Angel looked over and saw Buffy, Spike and Dawn talking and laughing. Spike and Dawn looked like brother and sister as they were sitting there talking. He loves her like a sister, Angel thought. And Buffy…he doesn't love her…does he? I mean no he couldn't, not really, I mean no, not in this lifetime. On the other hand…

"Angel?" Cordelia said, "Angel!"

"Huh, what?  Oh sorry spaced out", Angel said jolting up.

"Yeah obviously", Cordelia said. "What were you thinking about?"

"Oh nothing…"

TBC

A/N~ Connor thinking Dawn's just a child…sound familiar?? Next chapter…Will Dawn and Connor work things out, or is this it for them? Hope the next chapter doesn't take as long to get up as this one! Sorry about the delay again, to all my readers who have been reading this fic since day one. Please forgive me!!! :) And also review, review, review!!!!!