Chapter 34: You should have known better.

Title: Reunion time.

Author: Nikka

Author notes: Hi everyone, If you need to know about summary, rate and all the rest it's all in chapter 1 I'll just remind you that English is not my native tongue so you may find some spelling & grammar mistakes, you're more than welcome to let me know about them but remember you may find them while you read the story. Have fun.

Disclaimer: Angel & Buffy's characters are not my creation (wish they were) they belong to Joss Whedon and David Greenwalt. Other characters that are not familiar from the show do belong to me.

Author's remark: My chapters as of ch 12 will no longer be reproof by Sigma due to the fact that I have no internet and I'm asking someone else to post the remaining chapters for me. I want to take this opportunity and thank sigma for all the help. And I hope you will continue reading my story even without the excellent work sigma has done. Thank you again sigma for all your great work.

He heard a knock on the door. "Ho for bloody sake slayer, why do you even bother knocking. Come in already." He shouted at the door.

The door opened slightly. "It's not the slayer." It was a younger voice. Softer.

He looked up from the couch. "Dawn." He looked at the girl who peeped from the outside. What are you doing here?" He asked surprised.

"Aren't you glad to see me?" she hesitated pondering whether or not she made the right decision coming here.

"Of course I am." He got up. "Come in and do close the door. It's not my time yet."

Dawn smiled as she came inside and closed the door behind her. Spike came up to her and they hugged.

"So again, why are you here?" Spike asked.

I didn't feel like going home after school." She explained as she came inside and tossed her bag on the couch.

"So Buffy knows you're here, right?" He stared at Dawn waiting for an answer. Dawn looked down at her shows and said nothing. "Dawn?" His tone changed. "Buffy does know you're here?" He asked again a bit panicked.

"I'm sorry but if she knew, she wouldn't have let me come." Dawn explained.

'Good point'. Spike thought to himself. But he knew if Buffy finds out she's here, she'd blame him. And right now the last thing he wanted was to argue with Buffy. again. He had enough of that for one day.

"And I missed you." Dawn continued to explain.

"I've missed you too." His expression softened a little.

"And also, ever since the L.A. group came to town Buffy's been acting strange, and she's not the only one."

Spike looked at her puzzled. "What do you mean strange?"

"Well, first there's the late meeting at the magic box which I'm not invited to." She frowned. "And then there's the whole 'Cordy been unconscious thing'." Dawn started pacing back and forth. "And also, every time I enter a room everyone quiet's down." She raised her hand to single Spike she's not done yet and he shouldn't talk just now. He got the message. "And I know you'll probably say it's just my imagination. But the thing is." She set down on the couch, looking down at the ground. "It's not." She said without looking up.

"Oh niblet." He set next to her and stroke her hair. "Don't be like that."

"Like what?" She leaned her arms on her knees and turned her head to face him.

"Sad and gloomy, and frighteningly enough very similar to another Summers girl I know." He smiled hoping she'd smile also.

"It's not working, you know." She set up straight still looking at him.

"What's not?" He asked surprised.

"Your attempt to make me laugh and hope it will make everything go away." Spike looked at her astounded. Sometimes he forgot how smart she was. "It won't work. This feeling isn't going to go away. I know they're hiding something from me, and to be honest I had enough of them." She stood up. "I had enough of all of them treating me like I'm some stupid girl, who doesn't know anything about nothing." She crossed her arms and spike stared at her in awe. "Did they all forget that Buffy was my age when she started killing vampires as her past time hobby." Spike didn't answer that question it was obviously rhetorical. "And also, hello, the key." She said pointing at herself. "I'm not just any girl I'm pure energy goddamn it!" Spike smiled at her persistence. "I need to know, I have a right to know." She set back down next to him. "Tell me."

Spike took a moment to absorb it all. And then only one thought came to him, "bloody hell why not."

"What?" Dawn who has been staring at the wall for the past few minutes looked at him beveled. "Bloody what?"

"You're right niblet I think you should know, and I'm for once is not about to sit her and lie to you or pretend you're less than you really are." Spike smiled.

So did Dawn, she knew she could count on Spike to be honest with her. Not like other people she knows. "So what's up?"

"First you have to promise me that what ever I tell you stays between us." Dawn didn't like that part very much. "Now Dawn, as much as you value my opinion, others may not feel the same way."

"Others like Buffy you mean." Dawn started to get the picture.

"Exactly. And that other person may… well actually, will get very angry with me if she should happen to know that I told you what she obviously didn't feel like you should know. Understand?" He waited for Dawns approval.

"Got it." She nodded her head. "Now spill."

Spike told her everything he knew. From the big Vision Cordelia had that knocked her out for awhile, and up until Buffy's little tale this morning about the Dorkanious. Of course he left the other things out.

"Wow." That was her first reaction. "Really?" she asked Spike shocked and he nodded his head. "So she may never wake up?"

"No one knows for sure but that's a possibility." Spike explained.

"Wow." Dawn shook her head in disbelieve. "And to think all of this happened right another my nose. No wonder mom had no idea Buffy was the slayer for so long. The girl sure knows how to keep a secret." She smiled.

"Niblet." She looked up at him. "As much as I like you been here you better…"

"Go home before sis send a search party." Dawn completed the sentence.

"You know me and her to well." Spike smiled and got up.

"Yeah I should be getting home." She got up and picked up her bag. She reached out and hugged him. He hugged her back. "Thank you." She whispered to him.

"No worries." He whispered back.

Suddenly, the door opened. "You are in so much trouble."

"They both let go of each other and Dawn turned to see her sister standing in the door way looking pretty angry.

"Buffy." Dawn said softly. "I can explain." She walked up to her sister.

"Explain. You can explain. Well I guess that makes it all better, doesn't it?" Buffy was really angry.

"Maybe?" Dawn smiled a half smile hoping to calm down her angry sister. It didn't work.

"I've been worried sick about you." Buffy came close to her as Dawn backed away. "I've looked everywhere for you. Never thought you'd be here of all places."

"Is it so hard to think of someone who actually likes my company." Spike came to Dawn and to his own rescue.

"You stay out of it. I'll deal with you later." She pointed at spike angrily. He quitted down.

"Get you bag and wait for me outside." She ordered Dawn. "I'll be right out." She added as Dawn walked out with her head down staring at the ground. Avoiding eye contact with her sister.

After Dawn was out of hear reach Buffy walked up to Spike. "I can tell you how irresponsible you are. I can even try to explain to you how serious things are at the moment, and how I really can't effort to lose time right now. And last, I can attempt to make you understand how worried I was." She paused a moment. "But I won't, because it won't make a difference." Spike was surprised by her little statement. "You'll find some way to excuse it all. You'll blame Dawn for coming here uninvited, ignoring the fact that you are the adult and she's the child. You'll say it's not your responsibility to watch over her, and you'll be right. So I guess I have nothing to tell you, Spike." She backed away and walked to the door. "But the thing is." She turned her head to look at him. "You should have known better." She opened the door and walked out.

All the way home Dawn had to listen to Buffy lectures her about responsibility, and maturity. The worse part was when Buffy said the famous and so annoying phrase: "If you want to be treated like a grownup you have to act like one." Even Buffy hated that phrase but she knew she had to say it, it was a given.

Finally as they reached the house Dawn felt relived. 'Finally the lecture will be over and I can go up to my room close the door and do some homework.' As weird as it sounded Dawn was actually looking forward to doing her homework.

Buffy opened the door and walked in followed by Dawn. "Finally." Dawn whispered to herself. As she turned from the coat hanger she saw 5 angry and worried faces looking back at her. "Oh god." Was all she could say?

"Where was she?" Xander asked Buffy ignoring the fact that Dawn was standing just in front of him.

"Spike." Buffy answered.

There they were, the stares of disappointment and shock. Spike had that effect on the Scoobies.

"Spike? What were you thinking?" Now the question was referred to Dawn herself.

"I…" She tried to answer but the flood of question poured in.

"Did you know how worried we were?

"You know how dangerous it is out there after dark. Why would you do this?"

"You should have called, let us know where you were. You know better.

"Tara I..." Again Dawn tried to explain herself but they didn't give her the opportunity.

"This the most irresponsible thing you've done so far. I'm very disappointed in you." This time it was Giles who looked angry and as he pointed out, disappointed.

"Okay!" She yelled out, which miraculously enough made them all, shut up. "I know I acted badly. I know after leaving in Sunnydale for so long I should know better, and I should be careful. But should I remind you all, that I went to Spike before sunset, and Spike is more than capable of protecting me…"

"That's not the issue here." Giles insisted.

"I know okay, I know. What do you want me to say? I already got the full version from Buffy on our way home.

"Okay guys I think she had enough for one day." Buffy stepped in. "Dawn go upstairs to your room and stay there." Buffy ordered and Dawn turned for the stairs.

"Are you hungry?' Buffy asked before Dawn went upstairs.

"Not really." Dawn said.

"Well, I'll fix you a sandwich anyway." Buffy knew she must have been starving. "I'll bring it up to you." Dawn knew it was time for her to head upstairs. As she walked up the stairs she heard her sister yell out to her: "And we'll discuss your punishment later."

"Great." Dawn said to herself as she reached the second floor. She really wasn't in the mode to see anyone else but now that she knew what was going on with Cordelia she had to see how she was doing. She walked towards the bedroom and stood outside the door peeping in.

Lorne was in the room sitting on a chair next to her bed while rocking the bassinet.

Cordelia lay on the bed. She seemed peaceful almost asleep. At that point Dawn decided she saw enough and headed back to her room closing the door behind her, hoping she'd be left alone. At least till morning.

Buffy looked around the living room. She could see from the hall Tara and Willow sitting in front of the computer with books lying around. Anya was sitting between Giles and Wesley who kept asking her questions; she really needed a brake from those two. Xander who finished work by now was sitting on the couch reading of the books, obviously looking for something. She looked again trying to see who's missing. 'Angel's demon friend must be upstairs with Cordelia and the baby.' She said to herself. 'That leaves Angel, Fred and her boyfriend… Gunn'. "Is Angel back already?" She asked.

"Not yet." Wesley answered her question.

"And Fred and Gunn?" She asked again.

"Out checking a few leads." This time it was Xander.

"Oh." For some reason ever since her little encounter with Spike all she wanted, except a hot long bath, was to see Angel. She couldn't stop thinking of him. His touch. His lips. His embrace. She hopped if she'd think long and hard about Angel she'll forget about Spike and how wonderful it felt laying in his arms, smelling his scent on her, feeling his fingers all over her body. She shook her head trying to block off the images. She knew she shouldn't have, she knew this will never work between them. Right now she needed her one true love, her first love to remind her how love should really be. She didn't even care Angel was in love with Cordelia. She didn't even care she gave them her blessing. Right now she wanted the Spike in her removed and she knew only Angel could help in that department. "Did he say when he's coming back?"

"Not really, but he shouldn't be long." Wesley said.

"Good." She said and walked to the kitchen to make Dawn that sandwich.

"I hate asking it every time but, where are we?" Cordy looked at Doyle waiting for an answer.

"Look around, does any of it feel familiar."

"I don't know, some of it." She hesitated.

"Don't be shy, say whatever comes to mind." Doyle urged her to speak up.

"It looks like Sunnydale, but it's different." Cordelia looked around confused. There were burning cars in the middle of the street, all the stores looked like they've been plundered. There where no people in sight.

"Different how?" Doyle asked.

"Look at this place! it looks like a war zone." Cordelia yelled at him.

"In a way it is." Doyle nodded.

"Is this the past? Did something happened to Sunnydale while I was away?"

"Well yes and no." Doyle said. "Yes, a lot has happened in Sunnydale since you left. And No, it's not the past." He explained.

"Is this the future? Is this what will happen to Sunnydale if the Dorkanious finds his book?" Cordy looked at Doyle terrified of the thought she might be right.

"It's just the beginning. And it's not just Sunnydale, it's the whole world." Doyle clarified.

"Oh god." Cordelia shook her head.

"What? What is it?" Doyle asked concerned.

"This is my vision, isn't it? This is what I saw." She took a big breath. "The woman I saw screaming that was…" She looked up and saw a woman running down the street frightened as hell. She tried to take a glimpse at her but couldn't. It was dark and the woman just turned and ran into an ally. "Come on." She said to Doyle and ran after the woman. Doyle followed.

The ally was dark and she barely saw anything. She heard someone breathing heavily. She looked around and behind a trash can she saw her.

"Oh god please let them find me, please." The woman sobbed.

"Doyle it's too dark in here, where are all the lights?"

"Gone." He replied.

"Please let them find me. Please find me." The woman kept saying quietly.

"That voice it almost sounds like…" Cordelia turned to look at Doyle. "Like me." She gasped and took a step back. "This is I." She said holding her chest. "Oh god I can't breath." She was breathing heavily just like the woman… meaning herself.

"Come down. Relax." Doyle walked over to her and held her.

"What happened to me? I would never run like this from anyone. I would never hide like this sobbing. Where's Angel? Where's Gunn?" She asked in panic.

"Cordelia you need to calm down. Remember this is the future. You can still change things.

"Answer me!" She yelled at him and pushed him away. "Where's my family? Why am I all alone?"

TBC

Hi ppl,

Thank you for your support in this fic. I love reading your reviews, and knowing people actually like this story.

I got a suggestion from one of the readers a to split the story into two fics, consideration his length. I mean we are in ch 34 and there's no end in sight, unless you tell me you had enough.

So what do you think? Of course I'll put referrals in both stories, to the first part and the sequel. Let me know what you think and as usual looking forward to your reviews.

Thanks Nikka.