Chapter 12: Domesticity

Author's Note: I think I need to explain Chapter 11, which is Dawn and Xander's first night together. I did have a little bit of reasoning for putting Chapter 11 there instead of earlier. I wanted to show more of a building relationship between the two before I plunged them into what amounted to a one night stand. I was also hoping people would be interested enough in the story by then that the idea wouldn't squick them too much. And sometimes I just think I'm being innovative and creative when I'm just being weird. Oh, well.

July 29, 2003

"XANDER!!"

Xander looked up, startled and halted in his tracks, literally.

"What is that gunk all over your boots?"

"Dirt?" He said it more as a question than an answer.

"It doesn't look like any dirt I've ever seen."

"Yeah, I know. We're finding out the hard way how difficult it is to work in it. This stuff clings tighter than a baby Bezoar."

"Well, you're getting it all over the floor." Dawn admonished.

"I was headed to the bathroom to try and get it off."

"Why didn't you use the sink in the laundry room?"

"Your...a..." Xander made a small motion with his hand as he searched for a word, "...frilly things are in there."

"Oh. I'll...I'll try not to leave them in your way again." A subdued Dawn turned toward the laundry room.

"Dawn." Xander followed and caught up to her just as she reached the laundry room door. He stepped in front of her, and with a hand under her chin, brought her eyes up to meet his. "Share, remember?"

Dawn nodded.

"Now tell me what I said to upset you."

"It's just...my frillies have never been a problem before."

"That's because before I wasn't imagining how you looked in them."

"Oh," said Dawn as she blushed and ducked her head, before looking back at Xander.

"See how much faster things get solved when we talk about them." Xander leaned forward to kiss Dawn on the forehead before stepping back. "Now, I'll let you get back to your frillies while I get back to the clinging clay that ate LA," he said, as he lifted his boots to inspect the mess.

"Wait." Dawn turned back to the laundry room and grabbed a laundry tub from a shelf. "This will at least save the rest of the house."

"Thanks," said Xander. "I'll get the rest of it cleaned up after I rescue the boots. I just hope the stuff doesn't eat the mop."

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July 31, 2003

"Hey, Xander. Guess who's on tv again?"

"Couldn't guess."

"It's the psycho psychic, giving her predictions on the next disasters to befall the world."

"Oh, please," exclaimed Xander. "I can't believe anyone falls for her line of crap. Sometimes I think people will believe anything."

"Yeah. They don't believe in demons and vampires, but they believe she felt the," Dawn air quoted, "'sinkhole' forming and broadcast a psychic warning to everyone in Sunnydale."

"What irritates me is the huge following she has now. Like there haven't been a million other disasters she failed to predict." Xander shook his head. "She's probably taking her followers for every dime they own. People will believe almost anything but the truth."

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August 3, 2003

"What are you cooking?" asked Xander, wrinkling his nose in distaste.

"Broccoli."

"Why?"

"It's good for you."

"Nothing that smells that bad can be good for you."

"It's high in anti-oxidants which makes it very good for pregnant women. I'm also planning to drown it with cheese to boost the calcium."

"So you're still assuming pregnancy until proven otherwise."

"Yeah. I guess it's silly, isn't it?"

"Well, I personally think anything that would make a person choose to eat broccoli falls in the silly column, but..." he continued, "I think it's great that you're willing to eat yucky stuff and give up yummy stuff for your maybe baby. I mean, to me, soda without caffeine. What's the point? There are people who won't even give up dangerous stuff for their children. You're going to be a hell of a mom, Dawn, whenever it happens."

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August 6, 2003

"Orange juice must be good for some baby part." Xander said as he settled in at the kitchen table.

"Why do you say that?"

"Because I don't know another reason someone would be drinking that much orange juice."

"Hey." Dawn protested. "Orange juice has been a good thing for a long time. It has vitamin C and...and everything."

"And...?" asked Xander.

"And what?" Dawn asked as she avoided his eye.

"And how does it benefit momma-to-be?"

"Well, I guess it does have folic acid." Dawn conceded before she quickly changed the subject.