Hey y'all! I thought that it might be cool to flash forward over the fight scene...so don't be upset! I think I'm going to have it so we find out what happens in a memory sequence or something. Keep reading and reviewing!

Disclaimer: I don't own the Buffy characters, I just like to pretend I do ;- P

THE NEXT DAY
Dawn sat up groggily and smacked her alarm clock. I hate that thing. She threw back the covers, swung her feet around and stood up. She yawned as she walked over to her closet, and looked at her outfits in disgust. She took out a black t-shirt, and went over to her desk to get the scissors. She began to cut away at the fabric, then, looking satisfied, she held it up to herself and smiled. Much better. She went over to her dresser, picked out a lacy red bra, and put it on. She slipped the massacred shirt over her head, and looked in the mirror. She had cut the sleeves off and the bottom of the shirt so that it came up to about half way between her belly button and bra. She smiled. Now that's more like it.

"Bye!" Buffy heard her little sister call as the door slammed. Kids, She thought.

Willow was standing in the Summers kitchen, making pancakes after a rather...late night...with Tara... she sighed. She was thinking about the previous night's escapades when the phone rang. Buffy was out so she picked it up.

"Hello?"

"Hello, Miss Summers?"

"No, this is her friend, Willow."

"Is Miss Summers available?"

"No, I'm afraid she's out" She didn't add that she was most likely out with a certain bleach blonde vampire, doing something similar to what she had done with Taralast night.

"Do you have a number I could reach her at? This is the principal from Dawn's school"

Uh-oh. Dawn's in trouble again. It must be Tuesday. "No, I'm sorry, I don't. Is anything the matter with Dawn?"

"I'm afraid so. She never showed up for school today."

Willow blanched. "Sh-she never showed up?"

"Yes. So if you could inform Miss Summers as soon as possible..."

"Um, of course. Thank you. Good bye" She could see why the principal was not concerned; to him this was just another teen ditching school. But Willow knew what lurked out there. While vampires didn't go out during the day, there were plenty of demons that did. Plus, a certain hell god who wants to sacrifice her... Just then, Tara came down, put her arms around Willow's waist from behind, and began kissing her neck. Willow just stood there like stone.

"Will, sweetie, what's wrong?"

Willow turned to face Tara, her face set.

"Dawn's missing."

Dawn stood in an alley, by the Espresso Pump, with a beer in her hand. She took a sip of the beer, and passed it to the guy standing next to her.

"I'm bored."

Dawn grinned.

"Wanna go see something cool?"

"Whatcha got in mind?"

"Trust me, dude, you're gonna want to see this."

"Whatever, D, lead the way."

She led them to a sewer cover.

"C'mon, D, that's not cool, it's just gross" She grinned.

"Well, if you're too chicken shit..."

"I'm no fuckin' chicken!"

They descended into the sewer.

"Hello? I'm home!" Buffy put the keys on the front table. "Hello? Dawn? Will? Tara?" Hmm. Guess they went out. She headed to the kitchen, and saw a note. As she got closer, she could tell it was Willow's handwriting.

Buffy-
Dawn's missing. Tara and I are searching. We've already called Xander. She never showed up for school. We'll find her, Buff. Don't
worry.
-Willow

Buffy felt the blood drain from her face.