Chapter One: It's Magic
~*~*~*~*~
Much to Dawn's displeasure, the night went by quickly. The sun was over the horizon, and it was about time for her to get ready for school. The sound of someone knocking on her door shook her out of her thoughts.
"Dawnie, time to g-get up-," Tara called through the thick wooden door. "Willow's making funny-shape pancakes." The blonde witch continued, her voice becoming more confident as she spoke. Hearing no reply, she assumed Dawn would come downstairs soon. Tara quickly sauntered away to see if Willow needed help with breakfast.
Dawn sighed, knowing she had to arise from the warm purple comforter. Pushing back the covers, she swung her long pale legs over to edge of the bed. Dawn stood up, her body stretching towards the heavens, and she smiled when she heard the crackle of her bones.
Twenty minutes later, a freshly showered Dawn entered the kitchen of the Summers house. Immediately, the aroma of pancake batter filled her nostrils, making her stomach clench in hunger.
She turned her attention to the two witches who were currently locked in a loving embrace.
"Morning," Dawn called, helping herself to some orange juice.
Both eyes turned to her.
"Morning, Dawnie!" Willow replied, pushing a strand of red hair out of her face. Her face formed a look of satisfaction as she successfully levitated the batter into the frying pan. She was completely enthralled with the magic surrounding the air, that she didn't see Dawn frown.
Tara did.
"Why t-the frown, sweetie?" she asked, watching as Dawn carefully masked her emotions. Ever since Buffy's death months ago, Dawn never let anyone aware of her feelings. Now that Buffy was back, Tara hoped that she would bare Dawn's heart. Unfortunately, Buffy was still trying to get back into the swing of things herself.
"Wills, don't you think that you're using too much magic?" Dawn inquired drumming her fingers on the counter. She winced inwardly, when she saw the look on Willows face. Nevertheless, it had to be said. Willow needed control, and if she didn't acquire it soon, Dawn didn't want to think what would happen.
A defensive look settled over the pagan's face.
"Are you saying I'm a bad witch, Dawn?" Willow demanded her voice becoming an octave lower. The green eyes that were so soft not a minute ago were now flashing in anger
.
Tara visibly shivered.
"Well-." Willow persisted impatiently. "Are you?"
Dawn opened her mouth to speak but decided against it. A beeping noise startled them. It was Xander, coming to bring Dawn to school. She thanked every deity listening for saving her from the wrath of Willow.
"That's Xander. Got to go, we'll talk later." With that, she bolted out the door, grabbing a pancake and her bag on the way.
~*~*~*~*~
"Hey, Dawnster!" Xander greeted as Dawn entered the passenger side, slamming the door shut.
"Hey," she replied, tuning out his various questions. She was too busy thinking of what occurred before.
Dawn knew she was walking a thin line when questioning Willow. But someone had to do it. Everyone was too afraid to put down his or her foot when it came to abuse of magic. Willow's decent into black magic scared her more than any demon before, and Dawn knew that resurrection was wrong. She learned from her own mistake the first time when she tried to resurrect her mother. One thing for sure, magic always has consequences.
And yet thinking of Willow always led Dawn to reflecting on Buffy. She loved her sister more than life itself, but Buffy wasn't the same woman from months before. She found that out the hard way.
~*Flashback: A couple of months ago…*~
It was Wednesday, about four in the afternoon, and the sun was still pretty high in the sky. Sundown was about an hour away. Dawn was quickly striding across the cemetery to Spike's crypt. She hadn't spoken to the blonde vampire in a while, and she missed the chats they had before. Spike was the only person who wouldn't walk on eggshells around her when Buffy was deceased. As she drew nearer to the crypt, Dawn could hear voices from within. The brunette pressed her ear to the gray stone walls, straining to hear what was being said.
"What're you doing here, Slayer?" the male voice asked. She instantly recognized it was Spike. But what was Buffy doing there?
"Make me feel, Spike." The female voice barely a whisper demanded.
"Luv, I'm a vampire! Grr, arg." He responded in disbelief.
"I was in heaven, Spike. I don't feel anymore. Make me feel,"
A sound of an impact reached Dawn's ears, followed by a moan. Turning slightly, she quietly tiptoed to the door that was opened a crack. The Key gasped in shock at what she saw. It was a naked Buffy on top of a naked Spike on the dirty floor. Dawn's gasps were drowned out by the moans of both parties. Slamming the door shut, she ran as fast as she could. She needed to get away.
~*End Flashback*~
"Dawnie, Dawnster, Dawn!" Xander called.
She turned towards him and frowned when she saw the lines of worry etched on his face.
"Sorry, Xand, I was lost in thought," Dawn replied running her fingers down her book-bag.
"I've been trying to get a hold of you for the past five minutes. You must have been in Mars," the carpenter joked, easing the tension between the two. "All right hurry up! You're going to be late."
~*~*~*~*~
Late she was, Dawn came to find out when she hurried to her first period class.
"Miss Summers, I trust that there is a reason for your tardiness?" Her math teacher coolly asked.
Boy, was she in trouble.
