Disclaimer : Not in the mood.

Questions and Murmers..

It had been two weeks since Moria. Two weeks since Gandalf died. Two weeks since Dawn was lost to them. Two painfully long weeks. Songs of mourning still could be heard during the day, though at night, all was quiet. The winter was cold, and bitter. Even in Lothlorien, the cold winds blew and hearts were chilled. Dances were being prepared for to lighten up the spirits. Doubtful they would help much. They gave minds time to think of other things though. Other activities for the mind to focus on. That was what Lothlorien needed.

The Fellowship lay in their beds, sleeping. That was how Dawn found them. None in Lothlorien knew of her arrival, not even Galadriel. And that was how she liked it. Slowly walking into the clearing where the Fellowship slept, she looked for Buffy's bed. Finally, she found it.

"Buffy?" She whispered, not daring to speak louder in fear of waking all besides the Slayer and the elf. She nudged her sister as she spoke again. "Buffy?"

Buffy's eyes opened, not sure if she was actually awakening, or if this was a dream. Upon seeing Dawn, she decided it was a dream. "No. I don't wanna dream. It'll make me depressed. Go away." Smiling slightly, Dawn pinched her sister. "OW!"

That got the attention of the Fellowship. All were now awake, and most were drawing weapons. Dawn had eyes only for Buffy. "Do your dreams always hurt?"

Understanding dawned on Buffy as a smile lit up her face. "Only when you're gone Dawnie, only when you're gone." Buffy embraced Dawn as tears fell down their cheeks. Dawn was alive.

Minutes later found Dawn being interrogated by the whole of the Fellowship. After the first onslaught of questions, Buffy noticed something the others did not. Dawn wasn't going to tell. Buffy was sitting right beside Dawn, so she decided on the best approach. "You're late. What took ya so long?"

Dawn smiled and leaned on Buffy's shoulder, something she hadn't done in so long of a time. "I was figuring out. stuff. And there's only one major question left."

"What's that Dawnie?"

The whole Fellowship stilled as Dawn answered. "Am I. real? And don't give me bullshit. Was I ever truly. real. to you and the Scoobies? Or was I just some. idea. that you loved and believed in."

The Fellowship, save Buffy, wore confused looks at the question. It was Sam that spoke up. "Of course your real, Lady Dawn. Your as real as anything else here!"

The hobbits were agreeing with him, but the humans, elf, and dwarf sensed something hidden. Yes. The dwarf actually sensed something. It was Buffy that spoke once more.

"No."

This stilled all of the Fellowship. The Hobbits' smiles were gone, their laughter faded, the eyes of all were confused and baffled.

"You were an idea we all embraced and loved. You were real to us because you felt real. But your memories, your personality, you whininess. none of it was truly real." The last part had been whispered, but Dawn had heard it. And Dawn had accepted it.

That was when it happened. Everyone was quiet as Dawn bowed her head. Seconds later when she lifted it, hearts stopped. Escaping out of her eye, was a tear of blood. Ducking her head again, and then looking up, she asked, "Hold me?"

Needless to say, the Fellowship left the two alone. The lightheartedness of Dawn's return, lost into the midnight. Only to be replaced by an eerie silence much like the one before. Dawn lay cuddled into Buffy's arms as they watched the night. They stayed like this until they saw the dawn creeping up over the treetops. Dawn looked from Buffy to Buffy's bed, a question in her eyes. Buffy nodded whilst Dawn sighed in relief. "Buffy?" The words whispered were almost silent, though somehow Buffy's hearing allowed her to hear them.

"Yah, Dawnie?"

"I don't ever wanna leave you again. I don't ever wanna go back." Dawn was staring at Buffy as if begging her to never make her. Buffy, though, was confused.

"Back where, Dawnie?"

Dawn slipped under the covers of Buffy's bed. Right before going to sleep, she murmured, "To Hell."

~~~~~~~~

Please review?? I wanna know how awful it is.and I think this constitutes as a half-cliffhanger. Pairings?? Bah! I've totally freaked them up. Sorry 'bout the promises. maybe some other day. If ya haven't noticed. Dawn REALLY changed over the two years after Season 7. I mean. she REALLY changed. And it was mostly do t' dem 'dreams' she has had. Please tell me in you're review what ya think she's capable of. I don't know if I've dropped enough hints. Lol.