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PART 23
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Buffy and Angel slowly walked back into the asylum three hours later. What they found touched both their hearts even more. There sat Dawn and Elizabeth laughing about their child hood, and remembering their mother. Both wore brave faces, but Buffy knew inside that their hearts were breaking. She knew that each came to the conclusion that this might really be the last time they saw each other again until they were both in heaven.
"Hi," Dawn said when she noticed Angel and Buffy walk into the room.
"Hi, Dawnie," Buffy said softly. "How are you two?" she asked kindly as she walked up to the two.
"Better," answered Elizabeth as she squeezed her little sister's hand gently. "We have gotten everything straighten out," she added feeling sad and happy at the same time.
"I'm really glad," said Buffy truthfully as Angel walked up to her side and took her hand into his.
"It's time for her to go isn't it?" asked Dawn as she realized that while Elizabeth and her had talked night had fallen.
"Yeah," Angel told the young dark hair girl. When he looked at her the idea of him ever not liking her hit him hard, how could he at one time not of liked her. She was an innocent girl who got her life taken from her. Plus she had proven to be a sweet girl, that couldn't and wouldn't hurt anyone.
"Could you give us a few more moments?" Elizabeth asked the two young adults.
"Sure, Great-Grandmother," replied Angel with a smile. "We'll just be out in the car," he told her before turning around to go back outside.
Buffy gave a smile to the Key women before following her love back outside.
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"Dawnie, I want you to listen to me okay," Elizabeth said once they were alone again.
"Okay," Dawn said as she felt her dried up tears starting to build up again. Her sister was leaving her again, and she couldn't do anything about it.
"I love you," Elizabeth began. "I have always loved you, and always will. Having you as my little sister way the greatest thing I could have wished for and I have never regretted it. Ever since Mother had you I have been so proud to call you my little sister. Every time one of my friends would complain about their siblings I just smile at them and tell them I had the best sister. I had a little sister who could handle herself and was filled with such love for others that it touched everyone's heart she came into contact with," said Elizabeth truthfully as tears once again grace her cheeks. "I am going to miss you so much, but I know that you'll be okay, and that you'll never truly be gone because you'll be in my heart," she confessed.
Dawn wiped her tears as she spoke in a broke voice," You're the best big sister I could have wished for. I never wanted to be like anyone more then I wanted to grow-up and be like you. When Mama died I thought I would be alone, but I wasn't because you were there. I may have a good heart, but if I do it's because of what you taught, what you inspired in me. Sure we did the whole 'big and little sister share of fighting' every now and then, but when it came down to it I knew I could count on you. I knew that no matter what I did, I would at least have my big sister, who still care and loved me," she finished as her voice cracked completely and her tears started to flow like waves.
"Sunshine," Elizabeth said hug her little sister to her. "Be happy okay?" she asked. "When you finally get to were you're suppose to be, and in my opinion that's heaven, tell Mother I said hello and I love her and Liam. Hopefully when it is my time I will see you and them in heaven," she told her little sister as she rocked her gently.
"I'll tell them," Dawn promised. "If I ever get there I promise," she said slowly pulling away from her grandmother.
Buffy wiped her tear streaking face when she and Angel entered the asylum once again after Elizabeth had called out to them. They had heard the whole conversation and Buffy was crying the whole time and Angel felt tears build up in his eyes and let them flow.
"Are you okay?" Dawn asked Buffy concerned when she noticed Buffy's tear streak face.
"I'm fine," said Buffy in a assuring voice.
"Angelus, lets go before I can't," Elizabeth said to her great-grandson sadly. "Before I insisted on staying her with, Sunshine," she said adding a sad smile to her face.
"Okay," Angel said in a whispery voice as he took a hold of one his great-grandmother's arms to help her stand up.
"Bye, Sunshine," Elizabeth said to her little sister who was now standing next to Buffy. "Don't forget what I have said tonight, and never forget how important you are too me," she sadly said.
"I won't," promised Dawn before giving her big sister one last hug.
Buffy watched from her postion by the wooden chairs, and smiled. 'At least they got tonight,' she thought to herself. 'They got at least one night to be sisters once again.'
"Buffy, are you coming?" asked Angel snapping Buffy out of her thoughts.
Angel and Elizabeth were now standing by the door of the asylum waiting for the petite blonde to follow.
"Oh, yeah I…," stuttered Buffy as she realized that she had been spacing again. She turned to follow her boyfriend and Elizabeth when Dawn's voice stopped them.
"Buffy, Will you stay with me for a little while," she asked the girl who had brought her big sister to her after all this time.
"Sure," Buffy said giving a look to Angel. When he nodded back in understanding she gave him a grateful smile before giving Elizabeth a hug good-bye and Angel a sweet little honey filled kissed before they left.
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"Thank you," Dawn said a few minutes later as Buffy and she sat on the spiral staircase.
"Your welcome," replied Buffy kindly. "Did seeing Elizabeth help?" she asked the young girl as she clasped her hand together and prayed once again in her heart that it did help Dawn.
"It helped me see the truth," answered Dawn softly. "It helped me to see what my heart knew all along," she confessed.
"What was that?" asked Buffy listening to Dawn talk.
"That my sister didn't leave me. That she still loved me, and was proud of me," explained Dawn. "In my heart I knew that, but in my mind it was like I didn't, you know?" she asked looking sideways at Buffy.
"I think I do," commented Buffy. "So what now?" she asked.
"I guess I wait and see what happens," answered Dawn in an unsure voice. "I guess I wait and see if I can go where I'm supposed to go," she said.
"I hope you do," confessed Buffy sadly. She wanted Dawn to go to where she belonged, but she if truth be told she wanted Dawn to stay. It was nice having someone to talk to and be a big sister to.
"I'm going to miss you though," Dawn confessed looking at Buffy.
"Oh, Dawnie, I'm going to miss you too," replied Buffy. "It has been wonderful getting to know you, and having a little sister for awhile," she confessed.
"You know what I wish?" asked Dawn as she got up and walked over to the window.
"No, what?" asked Buffy as she wiped away some tears that had fallen down her face just seconds ago.
"I wished I could stay here," replied Dawn as she looked up at the sky filled with mountains upon mountains of stars. "I wished that I could be Elizabeth and your sister, and that we would always be happy," she said sadly.
"I know me too," Buffy said in a low tone voice. She got up from the spiral stairs and walked up to were Dawn stood. "I wished I could be your big sister too," she complimented.
At those final words Dawn felt herself getting lighter," Buffy," she said when she noticed white light surrounding her feet.
"Looks like it worked," Buffy said noticing the light surround Dawn as well. "You're moving on."
"Buffy," Dawn said as she lunched herself into Buffy's arms for one final hug. "I'll miss you, promise you won't forget me?" she begged looking up at Buffy as she felt herself becoming more and lighter.
"Never," Buffy said hugging Dawn to her. "I will never forget you, Dawnie. I'll miss you. I love you, my Potential Little Sister," she confessed truthfully.
"I love you too, My Potential Big Sister," Dawn said giving Buffy a smile before the white light engulfed her completely and she vanished.
"Dawnie," Buffy said softly as she felt her body rock with tears at the lost of a little sister, who had become dear to her.