For once, Dawn found herself attempting to listen to the conversation around her, actually caring what they had to say; but all she could hear was a gruff British accent commanding her…Don't lock the window. The words repeated themselves in her head, an unceasing mantra dripping with sexual promise. The words floated round and round her, each time never failing to set her stomach aflutter. For several brief minutes she was sure Buffy knew what she was thinking, but of course, it wasn't possible. Everyone knew Spike had been deinvited. What they didn't know was that he'd been reinvited that night on the porch…
"So, where were ya today, Dawnster?" Dawn was jerked out of her nervous anticipation at the sound of her name. "You seem awfully chipper this evening…buying my present, no doubt," Xander said cheerfully as they sat at the table, stuffed with food and finishing the last of their eggnog.
"Well," Dawn grinned, finding the memories of that afternoon drifting back to her. "it's Christmas." Xander would so not react well to Spike; the simpler the explanation, the better…
"True, true, 'tis the season…" He seemed happy enough with her answer.
"The season for supporting the economy by buying meaningless gifts, which will undoubtedly be left to rot in the dumpster, right?" Anya pressed.
"Uh…right," Dawn agreed.
"It's good for some people," Anya conceded. "But I don't waste my money on gifts no one will like. Which is why I only give practical gifts, like lots and lots of sex…which Xander will be receiving when we get home."
Xander sputtered. "Uh, honey…remember the list? Of things not to talk about in public?"
"Well, I don't see why not…it's practical gift giving advice…"
"I don't think Dawn's going to be giving anyone 'lots and lots of sex' for Christmas…"
Dawn made a hasty exit before the telltale flush of her cheeks could give her away, leaving them to yet another squabble. Lots and lots of sex for Christmas…Now she had two equally appealing Spike thoughts persistently tumbling around in her head.
She walked into the living room to find Buffy, Willow, and Tara sprawled out watching Christmas specials, mindlessly flipping from one to the next. No more Spike-thoughts! she told herself, pushing them to a far corner of her mind where they immediately sprang back up again. Even in his absence, he was persistent. Dawn bit back a grin at the notion.
"Hey, Dawn…" Tara gave her a soft smile.
"We're watchin' Rudolph and all sorts of good stuff," Willow told her happily. "Wanna hang?"
"Sure." She plopped down on the floor next to Willow and sighed, thinking of window locks and sex.
"Whatsa matter?" the Wicca questioned, not even waiting for the reply as she blabbered on in true Willow fashion. "Hey, where were you today? I didn't see you."
"Oh, just…out." She spared a quick glance at Buffy who raised an eyebrow at no one in particular, then continued to watch TV.
"That's nice. So…how's the magic coming?"
A pause as all the eyes in the room focused on Dawn.
"Huh?" She was sure she had heard incorrectly. There's no way she could… Buffy wouldn't…
"Dawn, I know. Tara knows. It's not like we can't sense your power," Willow stated with the air of one discussing the weather. "So, how good are ya?"
"…uh…ok, I guess." Dawn was still baffled over the fact that her secret was, well, not so secret.
"Let's see something," Buffy chimed in for the first time.
"Oh! I can unwrap my presents! That'd be something, right?" A childish glee had spread over Dawn's face, her anxiety forgotten.
Tara laughed.
Buffy sighed.
Willow grinned. "Xander! Anya! Presents!"
Anya appeared almost immediately in the doorway and skipped into the room, clapping her hands in a manner more reminiscent of a small child rather than a thousand year old demon. "Oh, me first! Are my gifts pricey and extravagant?"
Xander gave her a look.
"Not that they need to be," she amended, and added unconvincingly, "It's the thought that counts."
"Dawn's going first," Tara said. "She's gonna show us something."
"Oh, fine," Anya muttered. "Let Dawn go first." She rolled her eyes.
Dawn placed her hands in her lap and took several calming breaths, closing her eyes.
Dawn heard a small thump that sounded an awful lot like Anya had elbowed Xander. She should know, as they all heard the sound quite frequently. "She's not going!" the ex-demon stage-whispered impatiently. "Is it my turn yet?"
Dawn tuned her out. Mine… she thought simply, not even needing an incantation for this.
Suddenly all her presents moved, appearing to scramble over each other in an effort to get to her. They slid across the floor and stopped in a neat pile at her feet. Dawn opened her eyes, a self-satisfied smile in place, and looked around to see the other's reactions. Anywhere else, an exorcist might have been summoned, but on the hellmouth, there was only mild surprise.
Xander began to laugh. "Did- did everyone just see that?" The laughter faded.
"Dawnie's a witch," Willow said proudly; as if it were her own accomplishment she were showcasing.
The group was silent as they took this in.
"Well!" Anya smiled brightly, turning to Dawn. "You should be proud. I mean, now that you're not completely useless and all…"
"Ahn!" Xander said reprovingly, turning his attention to the newest Wicca of the group, "Dawn…when?"
"Oh, for a couple months now." Dawn grinned happily, using his shocked silence and everyone else's distraction to tear into her gifts.
She received sweaters from all the females, save Anya, who got her a book on 'How to Sell Yourself for Money'. The annoyed woman quickly had to reassure everyone that, no, it was not a book on prostitution but the 'morals of an economically superior state of being'.
Once this had been resolved, Dawn resumed her gift opening and was ecstatic to see that Xander had given her a small jewelry box that he had made himself, intricate carvings winding their way around the lid. Pretty… She beamed around at all of them. "Oh, you guys! This is great…I think Tara should go next…"
* * *
Once all the gifts had been opened and all the nog had been drunk, everyone decided the celebrations were coming to a close and began to head out, or up as the case was, seeing as how Xander and Anya were the only ones who didn't reside in the Summers household. Tara and Willow said a quick goodnight to Dawn and Buffy, climbed the stairs, and quite suddenly, the sisters were left alone.
"Well, I'm beat." Dawn yawned pointedly and turned out of the living room.
"How was it?" Buffy's voice sounded awkward as it came floating softly from behind her.
Dawn turned to see that she was sitting on the sofa, looking darkly at the floor as if it had personally wronged her somehow. "Huh?"
"Him. Does he still 'care about you'?" Buffy sounded disbelieving as she uttered those last words.
"Yes he does." Suddenly Dawn was angry. "Buffy, why are you so against us? He makes me happy. Without him…life would suck. Who knows? Maybe I'd be some weird klepto or something. Why does it bother you?"
"Dawn, you weren't around when… You've never seen him- bad. I mean, you came around when he was all…chippy and harmless. I don't know what the monks…what you remember of him. He was- is evil. When I fought him…Dawn, I was afraid. Vamps don't scare me. But he did. He was strong…and confident, like he knew he could kill me if he wanted to, and, god, Dawn, it scared me. The only reason I'm letting you- visit him, is 'cause Willow's sure the chip's still working." Buffy sounded distraught as she tried to explain herself to Dawn.
"Buffy, it's not the chip. I know he cares about me. And yeah, ya know, maybe he is evil, but something you don't know: he's loyal. Buffy, he'd never hurt me. And I- I love him. Please, understand!" Tears welled in her eyes as she uttered her feelings to another being for the first time, and she begged, "Remember Angel? Buffy please…I know you remember what it's like…he's- he's everything."
Buffy's head was down, absorbing Dawn's words. After what seemed like an eternity of tense silence, she looked up. "Dawn, I'll try. I'm not sure I can ever trust him…and this thing with you- but if it's what you really want, if you…. love him, ok. I'll, I'll accept it…him."
Dawn hugged her gratefully, telling herself everything would be ok. They could all be happy. She gave a tiny nod of her head as if to reaffirm this. "I'm…going to bed now, k?"
Buffy nodded; it seemed she, too, was glad they had worked this out. Then, "When are you gonna tell…everyone?"
Dawn sighed. "Soon."
Another shake of Buffy's head and Dawn disappeared up the stairs.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Hey everyone, I know this took FOREVER to get up, and I'm sorry. My life's been really busy and I've hardly had any time to get on the computer. I'm working on it though. Well, I hope you enjoyed, and, as always, REVIEW!!