Disclaimer: These characters and stuff don't belong to me. It's all about Joss and ME. I'm just borrowing their characters… Because… Well… I'm bored.
Rating: Um… PG-13 for now. By the end it would probably be what I'd call PG-15, but I'll probably just have to upgrade it to R. But I'm not sure yet. Whatever… We shall see.
Spoilers: Anything before the Season 6 finale "Grave" is up for grabs
Author's Note: Set at the end of the summer after "Grave" Also, I didn't do too much with the inner monologue or narrator omniscient point of view. So, it's not [necessarily] bad writing; I just wanted to make it more like the show.
Rejuvenation
Chapter 1 - Give & Take
"Ow! That hurt, you creep!" Dawn shouted through gritted teeth when the vampire standing before her punched her in the jaw. He was pretty spry for a fledgling, and Dawn was beginning to wonder if she could really take him on. He threw another punch, but she blocked it while looking to the side. There was a rustling in the bushes and she knew what would emerge the second she showed a moment's weakness, so she pressed on.
The vamp rushed for her neck, but she ducked. He pivoted quickly around, but was stopped by Dawn's words. "Hey! Weren't you that upperclassman I had such a crush on last year?" Dawn asked, tilting her head.
The vampire paused and blushed. "Oh, maybe. Mike Ude?" he said, shaking off his game face.
"Oh, guess not." Dawn said passively, shoving her stake through his heart. Then, "Sucker," as he turned to dust. "That's what you get for messing with Dawn the vampire slayer."
"Dawn the 'what exactly was that?'" Buffy said as she walked out from behind the bush.
"Oh, um… Dawn the model sister and occasional patrolling pal of Buffy, the one and only active vampire slayer?"
"Yeah. That's what I thought you said." Buffy said as she reached her arm around her sister's shoulders. "Good job with that vamp. Though, it was a bit mean. The guy looked like a dweeb. Probably didn't get many dates, and you got his hopes up."
"Well, some of us don't have it easy like you. When one only possesses half of a slayer's strength she has to rely more on her womanly charms and cunning."
"I see."
"And besides," Dawn added, "If he turned out to be cute, I figured we could have caught a movie or something before I dusted him."
Buffy's eyes narrowed as she grumbled, "Is there any way I could scold you for saying that without your bringing up my past indiscretions?"
"Not a chance in hell," Dawn smirked, turning to face Buffy.
"I didn't think so," Buffy sighed in fake resentment. Then, on cue, "And watch your mouth." Dawn just giggled. "You're really trying to provoke me tonight, aren't you?"
"What else are little sisters for?" Dawn asked with another smile.
"Well, that's what I've been trying to figure out for years. But I'm sure we'll eventually find a way of putting you to good use, so don't you worry."
Dawn retaliated with her wittiest response.
"Dawn, stick that tongue back in your mouth." Buffy was laughing but was suddenly brought back into focus. There was a presence that made her feel uneasy. She could feel a vampire watching them. "Dawn. Heads up. There are some more vamps here."
Buffy and Dawn stood back-to-back awaiting another fight. They had to wait a few minutes before two female vampires rushed out at them.
"I guess my crush line won't work so well on these guys, huh?" Dawn commented.
"Oh, I don't know. You could try it." Buffy said, kicking the blonde vampire in the stomach. "You never know. Maybe they'd take to it. Either that, or it could freak them out and distract them. Either way." She said, kicking the blonde again, this time in the chin.
"I don't know. I'm thinking another tactic." Dawn said, punching a redheaded vamp in the face.
"Oh, and what's that?" Buffy asked, staking her vamp.
"This." Dawn said as she grabbed the neckline of the vampire's skintight dress and ripped it down the center.
"Hey!" the vampire shouted as she attempted to cover herself. Dawn quickly spun her around and stabbed her through the back.
"Ick. Probably not the most aesthetically pleasing way to kill a vamp." Dawn said, making a face.
"Oh. Well she deserved it. That dress was so last year. Even for Hollywood Boulevard. She should know. Sunnydale's a small town. Don't want to dress like a tramp, or you could get a bad reputation."
"Right." Dawn said, brushing the dust off her hands. "So, Magic Box time?"
"Yup. Willow's in desperate need of some cheering up. We should deliver if we don't want to end up being blind or engaged to anyone or anything." Buffy stated as she started walking in the direction of the shop.
"Yeah, or if we don't want the cutest boy in school seeing us sucking our thumbs and carrying around blankies." Dawn added, following Buffy.
"Huh?" Buffy let out, stopping. Dawn ran into her back and almost fell down.
"Yeah," Dawn said, as they resumed walking. "Willow said I was acting like a baby, so for a whole day at school I drank from a bottle and stuff. I got sent to the councilor's office. When I kept insisting that she change my diaper, she was about ready to schedule me for weekly sessions. The next day I had to tell people I did it on a dare, and even that didn't really save me. I'm just glad I'm at a new school now where not everyone knows about that. Why else did you think I didn't have any friends?" Dawn asked.
"I don't know. I just figured it was because you're a pain." Buffy smiled, resuming their walk.
"You are so annoying."
"Yeah. I know. Great isn't it?"
In their haste and preoccupation with their banter, the two sisters didn't notice the third vampire watching them from behind a tree.
"Oh my sweet, sweet girls," Spike said, shaking his head as he made his way towards the road.
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It wasn't very late by the time the girls reached the newly renovated Magic Box. Various people were still walking the sidewalks, window-shopping.
"Blah. I know it's only 8:30, but you'd think people in Sunnydale would get a clue and just… go home." Then, Dawn shouted out, "Go home people! Stores are closed! Warm beds! Think about it!"
"It'll never happen. The day people stop coming out at night will be the day that vampires suddenly become allergic to the moon instead of the sun." Buffy said, lightly pushing Dawn through the Magic Box doorway.
"Buffy! Dawn! Glad you could come join the party." Xander said when the sisters entered the shop. "We've got pizza. And Giles bought us champagne," he said excitedly from his chair.
"Yes. It's very rewarding having a grownup friend. Though, in case you've forgotten, Xander, we're all over 21. We can buy our own booze now." Anya said from her seat next to Xander's.
"I know but it's more fun pretending it's a big deal."
"Well I think Dawn and I are just going to have some Pepsi." Buffy said, reaching for the two-liter bottle.
"Speak for your self," Dawn said, reaching for the champagne bottle.
"Yeah, Buffy. Dawn is really many millennia old." Willow said. Then, with a mischievous glint in her eyes, "The only other person here remotely close in age to Dawn is Giles."
"I beg your pardon." Giles said, flailing his arms in Anya's direction, "But Anya is some 1100 years old."
"I know." Willow said with a content smile.
"Well I never. You. Get out of my home!" Giles pointed to the door.
"Aww…" Willow said, getting up from her chair and circling around the table to Giles' seat. "You know I'm just teasing." She draped her arms over his shoulders and gave him a hug. "I like older men. They're smart. And they buy us presents and champagne."
"Yes. Older men are sexy." Anya said before taking a bite of her pizza.
"Um. Ew." Dawn said, as she was about to sip the champagne she'd poured during the conversation.
"I don't think so," Buffy said, grabbing the glass out of Dawn's hand and immediately replacing it with a plastic cup filled with Pepsi. Dawn pouted.
"So, why the champagne. What are we celebrating?" Dawn asked, after swallowing some soda.
"My 'Willow's been home from England for a week' party." Willow said.
"Wasn't that two days ago?" Dawn asked, confused.
"No, that was the 'Willow's been home from England for five days' party." Xander said, smiling at Willow. She smiled back.
"What's the difference?" Dawn asked absently.
"Well, uh… This time, I got a balloon." Willow said, pointing to the shiny red balloon tied to her vacated chair at the head of the table. "So Buffy, are you going to go back out patrolling tonight?" she asked, leaving Giles' side and making her way back to her seat.
"Yeah, probably. I got weird vibes. By a quarter after eight we'd already run into three vampires-"
"And I killed two of them!" Dawn interrupted.
"Yes, Dawn killed two of them," Buffy said, trying to continue, "Also broke a heart and saw a peepshow in the process."
"Sounds like she's adopting your style of fighting vampires." Anya said pleasantly to Buffy, not noticing the five pairs of eyes looking at her incredulously.
Xander scoffed before saying, "Yeah, or yours," glaring at Anya.
"What?" Anya said angrily, snapping her head to look at Xander. "I can not believe you, Xander Harris." She said, getting up from her chair. "Come with me to the back room if you have some things you need to say… Things that you've said over and over again… For many months… About things that happened… Many months ago!"
"No. I'd rather not." Xander said quietly, shrinking into his seat.
"Well, obviously you can't deal with it, and obviously you aren't mature enough to hold your tongue and not make our friends uncomfortable, so I'll just leave. Goodbye everyone. Rupert, I'm sure you'll lock up. Willow, I'm happy you're home and making jokes about Giles." She half smiled and walked to the door. Then she added, "Make some about Xander too." Then, with the ringing of the little bell, she was gone.
Xander shrunk further into his chair when he met the four accusing glances. "Well she started it."
"So, I killed two vampires tonight!" Dawn said, trying to draw the attention to herself.
"Indeed. Very good Dawn." Giles looked at the expressions on the three young adults' faces and took a hint. "Well, yes. Buffy's obviously done a superb job of teaching how to defend yourself-"
"Tell that to my jaw," Dawn interrupted, rubbing her reddened jaw.
"Well, as you don't possess a slayer's full healing capabilities, it seems only more natural that we should start training in long range tactics as soon as possible."
"As soon as possible as in now? But the party…" Dawn started, on the verge of whining.
"I'll show you how to use the crossbow." Giles started.
"Cool. I'm there." Dawn said, jumping up from her seat.
Willow waited until Dawn and Giles were safely behind the closed door of the training room before standing up, walking around the table, and smacking Xander in the back of the head. "Stupid!"
"Ow!" he squealed, nursing the back of his skull.
"Are you trying to ruin everything? You guys were finally getting along." Willow shouted.
"What? She started it. She made that crack about Buffy. Isn't that right Buff?"
Buffy sat there for a moment. She had yet to comment on either Anya or Xander's comments. She thought for a moment before replying. "Anya showed about as much tact as usual. Though I appreciate your trying to stand up for me, if that was what you were doing, it was really my place to speak up if I was offended. And really, for the most part, I wasn't. The way I phrased it, I had it coming. And it really was kind of funny."
"Heh. Yeah. I was giggling on the inside," Willow agreed.
"Xander, you shouldn't jeopardize your relationship with Anya to protect me. Not that I'm totally convinced that's what went on. If you were just being spiteful…" Buffy paused to notice Xander's expression; a guilt ridden-scowl hybrid. She sighed, then continued. "Xander, I can't judge you or your feelings. A big part of me can understand where you're coming from. But if you want to get back together with Anya, you're going to have get over some stuff or talk to her or at least keep your emotions and comments in check." She took another breath. "Ok. No more preachy Buffy."
"Who said I wanted to get back together with her?" Xander asked in a childish tone.
"Well you- never have, have you?" Willow said, suddenly sheepish. "Well, have you? I've been out of the loop for a while."
"No, I never have. Thinking about loving her… It's just painful. Sometimes I think I should just move on; we should just be friends."
"You'll never be friends." Buffy whispered under her breath. No one seemed to hear.
"Well then Xander… I guess you know better than anyone how you should handle things." Willow said. Her voice sounded sad.
"Yeah. I have all the answers. Call me answer man," he said in a deadpan, yet bitter voice.
An awkward silence settled over the room for a few seconds, until Buffy couldn't take it anymore. "Well guys, I guess I should go do the patrol thing soon. Need to get Dawn home, it being a school night and all." The others voiced their agreement weakly. "Doesn't sound convincing to either of you guys either, huh? Oh well. I tried." She said, walking over to the door. "Haven't heard any yelps of pain from Giles. Guess Dawn hasn't shot him in the leg yet." She turned to her friends, noticing thankfully that their moods had lightened a little. "Better stop her now, while she's ahead."
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Dawn waved her good-byes to everyone turned to Xander, "Now you behave. I'll have my eye on you." Xander smiled as Dawn turned exited the shop.
"Yeah, so Willow, I guess we should go too," Xander said subdued. "They want us at work by six tomorrow to get some work done before the storm. So I'll be getting up in the wee hours of the morning. Lemme get my keys. Bye Buffy," He said, as he started heading for the counter.
"Xander wait. I get a proper goodbye," Buffy said, grabbing Xander in a hug before. "Don't worry Xander. I understand you. We still love you." Buffy whispered into her ear. Xander smiled and squeezed her a little tighter before letting her go and walking to the counter to retrieve his car keys.
Buffy then waved to Willow and Giles and was half way out the door when Willow grabbed her sleeve. "Oh, Buffy, I had something I wanted to ask you."
"Sure. What is it?"
"Angel hasn't come to town, has he?" Willow asked quietly, as to not let Xander overhear.
"Not to my knowledge. Why?" Buffy asked, suspiciously.
"Oh. No reason. I guess I'm just getting my vibes all crossed with the magic treatments and meditations and stuff. No worries. I'll see you later."
"Ok Will, if you say so." Buffy said. She exited the shop and caught up to Dawn who'd already wandered a few yards away. She paused and waved to Xander and Willow as they drove off. Then she turned her attention back to her sister. "Hey Dawny. Sorry to cut your practice short, but I just had to-"
"Get the hell out of there?" Dawn finished.
"Yeah. Something like that." She walked silently in thought for a while, but then continued. "I thought things had been getting better over the summer. Xander had started acting more like his old self again."
"Not so stressed and wiggy?" Dawn asked.
"Yeah. He and Anya were getting along. And he was more… quippy Xander again. Not so much 'jump on everyone's case about the Spike and demon thing' Xander." Buffy sighed.
"Well, maybe he was just defending you."
"Yeah, maybe."
"Well, it's good to see Willow joking and good moody." Dawn said, trying to lighten the conversation.
"Yeah. She's still in pain. I know it. But she's dealing with it well. Better than any of us were dealing with our pain a year ago."
"Yeah. Giles said something about the meditations being very calming. She's gotten to do lots of soul searching. Finding inner peace and moderation to deal with the magic temptations or something like that." Dawn said.
"Yeah. I guess so. And I guess living with Xander helps. They've really been there for each other lately."
The sisters quieted after that. Thinking to themselves as they walked home.
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"Ah ha! Secret admirer strikes again!" Dawn said excitedly, bounding onto the front porch. She tossed Buffy a small box before hastily tearing into the wrapping on a larger package marked "Dawn."
Buffy held on to the small gift and didn't open it. Instead she watched as Dawn opened hers. "I don't know what else you could possibly need. You've already gotten your own mini weapons trunk, cookies, and a very stylish, yet practical crucifix."
"Hmm. How about this teddy bear wearing a neat little necklace?" Dawn asked excitedly showing Buffy her bounty.
"Let me look at that." Buffy said, fingering the pendant around the stuffed polar bear's neck. "Looks like a protection amulet of some kind. God. You're getting so spoiled with this stuff."
"Yeah. Not that I mind, though," Dawn said with a grin before opening the front door.
Buffy didn't follow. Instead she sat down on the steps and opened her present. It was a comb, an antique looking one with inlaid jewels. Buffy smiled and absently fingered her hair that now nearly reached to the bottom of her shoulder blades. She then looked out into the night. "Whoever you are, you're spoiling me too."
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Buffy walked up the stairs softly and entered her room. She shut the door behind her and laid her new comb on her dresser. Then she squatted by her bed and pulled a crate out from underneath it.
She examined the contents, which were definitely more romantic in nature than Dawn's gifts. She picked out the antique locket. It was a small white gold heart with intricate designs engraved on it. She opened the catch to look inside, but it was empty. "Yeah. I guess you'd still be empty, wouldn't you?" She put it back into the crate and pulled out a mahogany box. It was simple but pretty. She got up and retrieved the comb, and then placed it inside. Finally, she pulled out a stake. It was normal enough, but it had a shiny finish, and her name was carved in it.
She was still holding it when Dawn barged into her room and plopped down on her bed. "I want to see your latest treasure. No fair hiding it away before I get to see it." Then she noted what Buffy was holding. "Yeah. That was kinda weird. I got a pretty handmade chest… and you got a stake."
"I don't know," Buffy said, clutching the stake protectively. "I think it's kind of poetic. And I'm the slayer. A stake is the most practical and useful thing I could own. Very thoughtful, I think."
"Yeah. Uh huh. Sure. I think Xander just ran out of ideas, so you're excusing him." Dawn said absently, grabbing at the comb inside the mahogany box. "But this was a good idea… Pretty."
"Xander?" Buffy asked.
"Uh. Yeah. Duh. Come on Buffy. The stake? My trunk? Your box? All very Xander and carpenter-esque."
"You think Xander is my secret admirer?!" Buffy asked incredulously.
"Well why not? He's not with Anya anymore and he's always been practically in love with you. And just look at tonight. He defended you. And don't think I didn't see the hug! He was definitely trying to cop a feel," Dawn said, fingering the comb.
"Wow. He did say that maybe he thought he should move on. But to me? Like this? I can't see it. It's XANDER. We're like… related."
"Fine. Think what you want, and I'll think what I want." Dawn said, placing the comb back in the box. "But hey," She said, walking towards the door, "Don't break his heart or anything. I don't want the prezzies to stop right away. I'm still hoping he'll spring for a car." Then she left the room and closed the door behind her.
Buffy put the rest of her gifts back in the crate and shoved it under the bed. "Xander? That's… strange…" she looked thoughtful for a second, then she frowned.
Buffy stood up and walked towards her closet. "Must find more patrol friendly outfit… Xander. Huh. Weird." She opened its door and rummaged around until Spike's leather duster caught her eye. She looked at and tugged gently at the end of one of the sleeves before grabbing a pair of jeans to change into.