Author's Note: Wow, two chapters in one day, that's a record. So this is it, until the second installment of the trilogy. I promise it will start extremely soon, like this week. Thanks to everyone who supported this fic, it was very fun to write. You probably know by now that I love using songs in my fics, and this one is no exception. The song is Eighth World Wonder by Kimberley Locke. Enjoy! 3 Erin

Chapter 7: A New Beginning?

Thursday, Los Angeles

The next morning Dawn came downstairs with a smile on her face. She had succeeded in putting her conversation with Buffy out of her mind and focusing on spending the day with her boyfriend. She had even gone grocery shopping with Cordelia last night to get some food for the picnic. Everything was all packed, and now she was just waiting for Connor.

As she looked through the picnic basket to make sure she had everything, she heard the phone ring. Angel answered it in his office. She heard him say "Angel Investigations, we help the helpless," just as they did every time someone called. However Dawn had noticed that business wasn't exactly booming. Over the course of the whole week she'd only seen three walk-in clients.

"Dawn, it's Buffy," Angel said, handing her the phone. Dawn sighed, and paused a moment before speaking.

"Hey Buffy."

"Hey Dawnie. I only have a minute, we're at the airport right now about to board the flight. We get there at 8 pm your time, then we just need to pick up the car and come by to get you."

Dawn felt like her head was spinning. This was not happening. It was too soon! "Um, sure."

"So get your bags packed, okay? I have to go now, we're boarding. I'll see you tonight! I love you."

"Love you too," Dawn said. She felt like someone else had spoken the words. She hung up the phone and sank down to the floor.

"Dawn? Are you okay?" Angel asked cautiously.

Dawn didn't respond. And she didn't have to, because at that moment, Connor walked in the door of the hotel. "Hey baby! Ready to have some fun?" He stopped when he saw the look on her face. "What's wrong?"

"Buffy's coming back tonight," Dawn said flatly.

Connor stopped and stood still. He took a moment to absorb that information before speaking. "Come on. We planned a great day, and we are going to have one." He reached down and helped her up.

Dawn smiled slightly. "Okay. Let me get the stuff." She headed back to get the picnic basket.

Angel turned to Connor. "You can't pretend you didn't hear her. Buffy will be here tonight, and we will all have some serious explaining to do." Connor just nodded. Dawn returned, and he took the picnic basket from her. Then they left, not saying another word to Angel.

Once outside the doors, Dawn turned to Connor frantically. "What are we going to do? My sister will be here in less than 12 hours, and we still haven't decided what we're going to do!"

Connor placed a calming hand on her shoulder. "It's okay. We'll go to the park, have our picnic, and then we'll come back early and talk."

Dawn nodded. "Okay." Then he took her hand and they headed off.

"I am so full," Connor said, collapsing onto the blanket.

Dawn giggled. "This is obviously your first picnic. Because any veteran knows that the point of picnics is stuffing yourself beyond all recognition, then working it off," she said, rolling closer to him.

Connor smiled. "And how do you do that?" He kissed her softly. Before he knew what was happening she was pulling him to his feet.

"By enjoying the park! Come on, let's go on the swings," Dawn said, dragging him toward the fairly empty playground.

Connor laughed. "If you say so." He surprised her by picking her up and throwing her over his shoulder, then running towards the swings. She shrieked.

Woke up early this mornin'
Made my coffee like I always do
Then it hit me from nowhere
Everything I feel about me and you
The way you kiss me crazy
Baby you're so amazing

Connor sat Dawn down on the swing and pushed her. She laughed as he pushed her really high, causing a nearby kid to start yelling "Mommy, push me like that!"

After a few minutes on the swings, Dawn jumped down. "What's next?" Connor asked.

"Slide!" Dawn said, grinning.

Seven days and seven nights of thunder
The water's rising and I'm slipping under
I think I fell in love with the eighth world wonder

Dawn and Connor climbed to the top of the slide and went down together, landing in the grass at the bottom. They kissed again and rolled over onto the grass.

"You look beautiful today," Connor said softly.

She smiled. "You say that every day."

I guess that I'm just fallin'
Deeper into something I've never known
But the way I'm feelin'
Makes me realize it can't be wrong
Your love's like a summer rain
Washin' my doubts away

Dawn spotted a Frisbee lying nearby. "Ready?" she asked, as Connor darted a little ways away. Then she threw the Frisbee as hard as he could. She laughed as he leaped to catch it and failed miserably.

"You can fight against unspeakable demons but you can't catch a Frisbee," she teased.

He faked anger. "Let's see you catch it." He threw it easily, and Dawn caught it midair. Then she stuck her tongue out at her boyfriend and laughed.

"Okay, try me again," he said, preparing to catch it this time. She threw it again, and this time he caught it.

"Five stars," Dawn said, running over to him. He picked her up again and spun her around, kissing her.

Seven days and seven nights of thunder
The water's rising and I'm slipping under
I think I fell in love with the eighth world wonder

A little while later they returned to the picnic blanket. "That was fun," Connor said, slightly out of breath.

Dawn smiled. "Have you been enjoying this?"

Connor looked at her. "What?"

"Living a little," she said quietly.

He smiled and pulled her close. "It's been amazing. Just knowing you has been amazing."

She smiled at him. Then she glanced at her watch, and her smile faded. "Five o'clock. We should get back and..."

Connor kissed her cheek. "I know. Let's go." They stood up slowly and gathered their things. Then they strolled off in the direction of the Hyperion Hotel, arm in arm.

It's only been a week,but
It's coming over me, yeah
It's making me believe that
You're the one for me

Seven days and seven nights of thunder
The water's rising and I'm slipping under
I think I fell in love with the eighth world wonder

A little while later they were climbing the stairs inside the hotel. The whole staff of Angel Investigations was there, and they all gave the couple annoying, sympathetic looks as they came in, but Dawn and Connor ignored them.

When they reached Dawn's room, they went inside and closed the door. Dawn turned to face Connor. "We have to talk."

Three hours later they descended the stairs, hand in hand. Angel came over to meet them. "Where are your bags?" he asked Dawn.

"In my room," she replied simply. Then she and Connor sat down on the bottom step, looking very content.

"That doesn't look like a couple who's about to have a lot of distance between them, does it?" Gunn said quietly to Fred.

Fred just smiled. "I don't think they're going to let that happen. Kyrumption is destiny."

Meanwhile Angel paced in his office. He had been rehearsing in his head what he was going to say to Buffy about Connor all day. But he had a terrible feeling that once she was there in front of him it would all be forgotten.

Everyone straightened up when Buffy entered the hotel a few minutes later. Dawn looked at Connor quickly, and he squeezed her hand. Then they stood up. Buffy hurried over and hugged her sister. She quickly glanced at the boy beside her, briefly wondering who he was.

"Hey Buffy," Dawn said, trying to be confident. "How was the flight?"

"It was good," Buffy said. Her eyes met Angel's, and they both smiled. "Hi Angel. Hi everyone," she said, glancing around at the others. She turned back to Dawn. "Are your bags all packed? The others are waiting in the car. We had to rent a second one, since we picked up some newbies," she said with a smile.

Dawn took a deep breath. She glanced at Connor for reassurance before looking her sister in the eye. "Yes, they are. But I'm sorry Buffy. I'm not going anywhere without my boyfriend."

The End

To Be Continued in the second installment of Erin's trilogy- Dawn & Connor: Miracles Happen.