Chapter Two: Gone:

Spike stayed in the graveyard until the sun came up the next morning. Just a couple of hours ago, Buffy told him she was leaving, and she did. Now, he felt the grief come over him. Things would be different around here, more even when Dawn found out about it.

Meanwhile, at the Summers home...

Tara, Willow, and Dawn were up to start to day. Tara was downstairs fixing breakfast, Willow was upstairs finishing up her shower, and Dawn was in her room getting her things ready for school.

"Okay, homework. Check." Dawn said as she held a math book in her hand and put it in her book bag. "Creative writing journal. Check." Dawn continued as she put a journal into her book bag. After that, she looked around her room for more books. There were a few and put them in her book bag. When that was down, she said: "I think that's everything." Dawn threw her book bag over her shoulder and headed downstairs.

As Dawn came downstairs she could smell eggs, bacon, and sausage fill the air. "Something sure smells good." she said to Tara as she entered the kitchen. Before she sat down at the table, she threw her book bag on the floor.

"Someone is in a good mode today." replied Tara as she handed Dawn a plate of food.

"Thanks." Dawn said as she started to eat.

"How come you're in a good mode?" asked Tara.

"I just had a very good dream last night." Dawn answered with a smile.

"What type of dream?" asked Tara.

A smirk came across Dawn's face. "Well, I was this really cool witch. I was very powerful."

"Oh, really?"

"Yeah, and in the dream you and Willow taught me how to use magic."

Tara shook her head. She knew where this was going. For the past several months, Dawn had begged her and Willow to teach her how to use magic but because of Giles and Buffy, they had told her not to. "Very clever." Tara said to her. "But it's not going to work."

"Oh, come on!" Dawn whined. "Just a few spells."

"Nope, sorry kiddo." replied Tara. "If we did, Giles and Buffy would have our heads."

"Well, you're no fun." Dawn said.

Tara just laughed. "Maybe when you're older."

"Promise?" asked Dawn.

"Promise." Tara answered.

Dawn finished her breakfast and put the dishes in the sink. Then she asked: "Hey, where is Will and Buffy?"

"Will is still in the shower, and I think Buffy is still asleep. I think."

"Should I go wake her?" asked Dawn.

"Yeah, go for it."

Dawn rushed up the stairs. When she made it to the top, she almost ran into Willow. Willow was done with the shower and she was dressed for the day. "Hey what's up?"

"Nothing much." answered Dawn. "I'm just going to wake up Buffy. Tara has breakfast downstairs."

"Okay." Willow replied as she continued down the stairs.

Dawn made her way to Buffy's room. The door was closed. She knocked a few times. "Raise and shine sleeping beauty!" When their was no remark from Buffy, she let herself in. "Come on Buffy. It's time to wake up!"

Thats when Dawn realized, Buffy was gone. "Tara! Willow!"

Dawn rushed back downstairs. Tara and Willow turned to her as she entered the kitchen. They could see something was wrong.

"What is it?" asked Tara.

"Yeah, what's wrong?" Willow asked.

"Buffy is gone!" answered Dawn.

"Wait a minute... What?" Willow asked, not believing what she was hearing.

"Come see for yourself."

Dawn lead the way as the others followed her back upstairs. When they entered Buffy's room, it looked like it did the day before. The bed was even messy.

"I told you." Dawn said to them. "Well, where is she?"

"Um..." Willow was hesitant. "Dawn, why don't you go ahead and head to school? Don't worry. Buffy is probably at Spike's."

"But... I..." started Dawn.

"Come on, I'll drive you." Tara offered.

Tara walked Dawn out of the room. As she did, she heard Willow's voice in her head. 'I have a bad feeling about this. Should we call a meeting?'

'No, not yet.' answered Tara, through mind speak. 'Lets wait a few hours, then we should call a meeting.'

'Right.' Willow replied.

Willow watched as Dawn and Tara left. Then when they were gone, she did a spell that made it possible to see what happened in the room the night before. When the spell was cast, she saw Buffy getting some money out of jar, and then she jumped out of the window. The spell ended.

So, she is gone. Willow thought. This isn't good.

Willow made her way back downstairs. She went back to the kitchen and called her friends for a meeting. Tara would be mad at her for making this decision but she had no other choice. Buffy was gone and she didn't know where she was.

To Be Continued...