Author's Note: Sorry for the delay, I was working on chapter one of Bound By Fate, which turned into the never ending chapter. The events of this chapter take place during the episode Potential. Because I haven't seen the episode in a while, I am not going to attempt to work Connor into existing scenes, instead I am going to do a few extra D/C scenes that could have taken place offscreen, so to say. I also borrowed a few lines directly from the episode. Sorry this is short, I wrote it in less than an hour. R&R please!

Chapter 5: I Chose You

"Dawn!" Connor ran after her. His mind was racing with what had just happened. Dawn was a Potential Slayer. He didn't really know what to think. The only thing on his mind right now was comforting his distraught girlfriend whose whole future had just changed.

Her bedroom door slammed shut as he reached it. "Dawn, it's me. Please, let me in."

A moment later the door opened a crack. Connor pushed it open the rest of the way and walked inside. "Come here," he said, pulling her close. She relaxed into his arms.

"Connor, this is just so overwhelming," she said, sounding as if she had just run a marathon.

"I know. But whatever happens, I will be there with you every second," he said quietly.

She pulled away and sat down heavily on the bed. "I don't even know if I should be happy or not."

Connor sat down next to her. "That depends on how you look at it I guess."

Dawn looked down at the floor. "I think some part of me has always wondered. If I would be a Slayer. Especially when all the potentials started coming here. And today, when Willow said there was one in Sunnydale, I think a little part of me even hoped that it would be me. But now that it's happened, I'm not so sure."

"Why?" Connor whispered.

She looked at him, tears in her eyes. "Because I've seen what being the Slayer has done to Buffy. She has been through so much. She has sacrificed so much. And I don't want that to happen to me. Connor, all I want is to spend the rest of my life with you."

Connor wiped her eyes gently. "That's all I want, too. But you are ready for this. You have more training than the other girls had when they came here. And you have me. And I know that Buffy will support you one hundred percent."

"That's what I'm not sure about. Especially after what my mom said." She had told Connor the details of what had happened that night before she went to LA a while ago. She laughed slightly. "That seems like so long ago. It's like my life is divided into two parts. Before Connor, and With Connor."

He smiled. "I know how you feel."

Dawn hesitated. "Please don't take this personally, but I need to be alone a little right now. I just need to really think about stuff. You know?"

Connor nodded. "I understand. I'm going to go home and get some weapons, then probably patrol a little. I'll come back to check on you later." Dawn nodded. He kissed her softly. "I love you."

"I love you too."

Connor left and Dawn heard him speak quietly and briefly to the others before the sound of the door closing. Then sounds of the gang's conversation reached her ears.

"Dawn's freaking out. Her input...not worth that much right now," Willow said.

"She's a child. Of course she can't handle this," Anya replied. Dawn snorted. Typical Anya. She was more mature than most girls her age.

"Hey, something out there says she can handle this and a hell of a lot more. Something out there chose her," Xander said.

"I'm chosen," Dawn whispered softly. She felt like she was listening to someone else speaking.

"Sure, she can handle it. Is that why she's hiding out in her room right now?" Willow asked, sounding angry.

"She's just getting used to it. Let it happen. She doesn't have to rush," Xander said. Dawn felt a rush of gratitude towards him. He seemed to be the only one who understood.

Dawn turned and looked at the window. Without thinking anymore, she walked to it, opened it, and escaped into the night.

Later that night Connor entered the Summers home. He stopped in the foyer when he heard Xander speaking. "They'll never know how tough it is, Dawnie, to be the one who isn't chosen. To live so near to the spotlight and never step in it. But I know. I see more than anybody realizes because nobody's watching me. I saw you last night. I see you working here today. You're not special. You're extraordinary."

Connor frowned slightly. Something must have happened. But what?

They exchanged a few more words and then Xander came out into the foyer. "Connor. Hey."

"What happened?" Connor asked.

"Turns out Dawnie's not the potential after all. You should go talk to her. She needs to feel special right now." He turned and went out the door without another word.

Connor paused for a moment before entering the living room. A part of him was relieved beyond words. His Dawn wasn't going to be the Slayer. He wouldn't have to worry so much. But his heart was also breaking for Dawn because he knew that deep down, a part of her had wanted to follow in Buffy's footsteps. It must be so hard to see tons of random girls living in your home that were chosen for the sacred duty of the slayer, and yourself, the current slayer's sister, being on the outside looking in.

"Dawn," he said quietly. She turned around. Her face looked sad.

"I suppose Xander told you," she said.

"Yeah," he said. "Are you okay?"

Dawn sighed. "I honestly don't know. A part of me is relieved. But then I'm also a little disappointed," she said.

He hugged her tightly. "It's okay. I'm here."

"Connor, I need to ask you something, and I need to promise me you'll give me an honest answer."

"Anything," he said.

Dawn hesitated. "Would you have liked it if I became the Slayer? Because I know you have this whole destiny, prophecy thing going for you, and I'm just a normal girl."

"No! Don't say that. I was terrified when I found out you could be the next slayer. I couldn't stand losing you. Ever. And you are not normal. You are the most amazing, unique girl I have ever met."

She smiled slightly. "You really mean that?"

"Yes. Maybe you weren't chosen to be a slayer, but you were chosen by me."

Dawn's lower lip began to quiver. "Now you're going to make me cry!"

Connor laughed. He pulled her into his arms again, and for a moment she forgot everything that had happened that day. It was just her, there in the arms of the man she loved.