Chapter Ten – Exit, Stage Left

It had killed her having to sit through an entire Monday of lessons but she had to keep up the pretence of normality. Willow hadn't said anything to Buffy as she was still talking to Dawn when she picked her up from school and dropped her off at The Magic Box; Buffy had to go somewhere for the school. The new principal had invited her along with him to some convention or something so Dawn was being left with everyone else. She dumped her bag on the chair and wandered around the circular table, looking at all the charms and talismans decorating the shelves, secretly saying goodbye to the shop itself. It almost felt like saying goodbye to Giles again but Dawn was determined that nothing be left unsaid, she had to break loose completely.

"This is a bit of an honour," smiled Xander kindly. "Buffy usually leaves you with Spike, how come we get Dawn time?"

"No reason, I just wanted to see you guys," said Dawn, wandering over to the counter where Xander and Anya were standing. "I'm so glad that you two sorted things out, you really are meant to be together,"

"Thank you, Dawn. That was a very pleasant thing for you to say," smiled Anya, patting Dawn on the head.

"I don't think I'm going to stay for long, I've got some homework at the house to be getting on with and I really don't need sitters anymore,"

"I know, but you know what Buff's like. She just wants to know you're in safe hands," said Xander. "Besides, we've missed you being around these past few weeks. I keep losing at Monopoly,"

"Oh I see," laughed Dawn, "It's not about missing me, it's about you needing to beat someone at Monopoly,"

"Among other things," he grinned. Dawn sat down on the stools at the counter and absent-mindedly played with the bracelets that were lying there, entwining them around her fingers before letting them drop.

"Look you guys, before I go I just wanted you to know that there is a reason I haven't been around much and it isn't you. I've just been going through some stuff but it's all over now, I just want you both to know that I love you,"

"We love you too, Dawn. What's brought all this on?" asked Xander, coming out from behind the counter and sitting next to Dawn on the stools.

"Nothing, it's just in case I don't see you as much anymore. You're busy with work and I'm busy with school and stuff so I just wanted it to be said, just so you knew," she mumbled. This was harder than she thought it was going to be, one mention of the fact that she was leaving Sunnydale and Buffy's cell-phone would be ringing but she needed them to know how important they were to her.

"We have been busy making money but we always try and make time to see you, Dawn," said Anya. "Don't we?"

"Yeah, of course you do. It's just something I wanted to say, I'm gonna go anyway. This is coming out all wrong so…" sighed Dawn, standing up and throwing her bag over her shoulder. She walked over to the counter and gave Anya a brief hug, Xander looked confused when she hugged him too, holding him close so he couldn't see the tears that had sprung to her eyes. "I'll see you round,"

Dawn hurried out of The Magic Box without looking back, she didn't want them to see her cry and she didn't want to see them. She knew that if she spent any longer with them and she'd change her mind, leaving her extended family to jump in a car with Spike was the craziest idea she had ever had but it was one that she had to follow through. She had arranged to meet Willow at the park for milkshakes, they often walked through there to remember Tara and enjoy the quiet. Willow was sitting at one of the tables that were sitting outside the milkshake bar; Dawn joined her and gratefully accepted her "strawberry spectacular".

"How was school?" asked Willow, drinking her own shake through two straws.

"Boring, I really can't get anything mathematic stuck in my head. It's like in one ear, out the other!" sighed Dawn, drinking deep from her huge plastic cup.

"Any more skeletons in the cupboard you wanna air out?" smiled Willow, Dawn smiled with her.

"No, the big one's out now. I'm just glad you were so cool about it, and thank you so much for not telling Buffy anything. I couldn't bear to see her upset over something I did,"

"No problem," said Willow, looking around the park. "What's the plan for the rest of the Buffy-free afternoon?"

"I want to get back to the house; I've got a bit of homework to get done. What are you up to?" asked Dawn, hoping that she was going to have the house to herself to finish her half-completed packing and pen a letter to Buffy explaining everything.

"I thought I'd go to the library, they've got some new editions in for my course that I want to look at before they all disappear," smiled Willow.

"Ever the bookworm, Will," laughed Dawn, standing up and grabbing her bag. She walked around the table and gave Willow a quick hug. "Thanks for the shake and everything else, Will. I don't know where I'd be if I couldn't talk to you. I love you,"

"I love you too, Dawnie," smiled Willow. Dawn smiled a little sadly before walking quickly off in the direction of Revello Drive. Just one more goodbye and she was gone, Sunnydale was a thing of the past. It was just going to be her, Spike and the open road. Spike had money, she didn't particularly want to know where he'd got it from but he had it nonetheless and things were going to be so different from now on.

Dawn sat on the sofa in the living room with her packed holdall next to her, a rucksack lying in the hallway with the basic essentials – purse, cell-phone, hairbrush and a variety of CDs along with her portable CD player. She was sure that her music tastes would change once Spike fully introduced her to the wonder of punk but her Britney album would have to stay for now. In her lap was a sheet of paper resting on a hardback book and a pen was in her hand, she had to say goodbye to Buffy and although she was sure this was the easier way to do it, she still had no idea what she was supposed to write. Eventually, she started writing and the words came flowing:

Dear Buffy, I know things have been difficult around here lately and I know that it's been my fault. I've kept things from you when I really should have confided in you and known you would understand me, that you would have forgiven me. This isn't meant as an apology, it's supposed to be goodbye but I haven't got a clue what to say. I'm in love with Spike and he loves me too, we've been together all weekend and we've decided that the only way to be together is to get away from here. I can't live my life explaining everything to you and Xander and everyone else. I love you so much but I can't stay here, I can't hurt you by being with Spike. Willow told me that you can't help who you fall in love with; I know Spike isn't the most obvious choice but there are things about him that just fit with me. We lock together or something. Anyway, this is it. Spike and I are leaving tonight, I'm taking my cell-phone if you want me but I won't listen to you shout and scream at me. Just let me live my own life and make my own mistakes. You've been here before, now it's my turn. I love you and I'll see you again soon. Love Dawn.

She folded up the letter and placed it on the coffee table before standing up and wiping her face with the back of her sleeve, the wetness of her tears seeping through the fabric. She grabbed her rucksack and threw it over her shoulder, picked up her holdall and headed out of the front door leaving her keys behind.

Spike picked her up when she entered the crypt and swung her around in his arms, she squealed with pleasure. Everything felt so illicit, nobody knew where she was or where she was going, it was all so secretive. She laughed when Spike showed her what he had packed, nothing but his stereo, his CDs, a bottle of whisky and a bottle of black nail varnish. He was more amused by her huge holdall and rucksack, he was obviously used to just leaving. This was the first time she had ever up and left home without a word so she had no clue what to take.

"Can we go yet? Is it time?" asked Dawn excitedly, Spike wrapped her up in his arms and kissed her tenderly. She stopped jumping about hyperactively and was overwhelmed by the power behind his kiss; he finally broke away and pushed his fingers brutally over her lips as if wiping the kiss away.

"C'mon then, Nibblet, let's go," he smiled. The sun hadn't gone down yet but it was dark enough for Spike to venture out without the blanket. Dawn threw her bags in the back seat of the car and slammed the door shut. She breathed in the Sunnydale air and grinned widely before climbing into the passenger seat. Spike was sitting in the driver's seat but he hadn't started the engine yet. "You sure about this, luv? There's no coming back, you know that, right?"

"I know but I just feel so pent up here. I want to get out of here, I just wanna be with you and be free," she said, Spike leaned across and kissed her so roughly that her lips felt bruised.

"Well, let's see if we can break you out of your cage, pet," he grinned before starting the engine and putting his foot on the accelerator, they drove through Sunnydale finally leaving it behind. Dawn opened the window and let her hair down, letting it blow in the wind, she felt free already. Sunnydale had been her cage and now, she had been released; she was unbound, untamed and wild. She was free.

THE END