Author's Note: Hey, sorry this chapter is really short and kinda filler, just wanted to get another chapter out before I leave for vacation! After this there will be two more chapters, then the third story in the trilogy. This chapter takes place before Dirty Girls.
Chapter 6: The Idiot Box
"You're all set," Xander said, hooking up the final cable. "Should work now."
Dawn smacked Connor playfully on the arm. "I still can't believe you let your tv just sit there in the box for three months!"
Connor shrugged. "I've always survived without one before."
Xander shook his head. "Prepare to be corrupted, and spend hours in front of the idiot box like the rest of us. When we're not fighting for our lives that is."
"Thank you Xander. Now maybe I can get Connor somewhere in this century," Dawn teased.
"Well, you two crazy kids have fun," Xander said. "I'm headed back to Fort Summers, check in for an update."
Dawn nodded. "Tell Buffy I'll be home later." He nodded and waved to them before leaving.
Dawn sat down on the couch excitedly. "Let's watch some tv!" She pointed the remote and pressed the power button. The screen flickered to life. "What do you want to watch?"
Connor sat down next to her. "I told you, I don't need to watch tv at all. I would rather just spend time with you."
Dawn pouted. "Well you are spending time with me. And I want to watch tv," she said stubbornly.
Connor smiled slightly. "You're so cute when you pout." He leaned in and kissed her.
"Are you trying to distract me so I'll turn off the tv?" Dawn asked. "Because I am going to introduce you to modern culture whether you like it or not." She began flipping through the channels. "No, we are not watching sports. That's the one thing I don't want to introduce you to." She surfed past the local news, a few documentaries, and some commercials. "Nothing that great is really on at this hour. See, daytime you have soaps, good addicting fun. Then primetime you have your classic dramas, comedies, and reality, but in between not much."
"Well then I guess we'll have to find something else to pass the time," Connor said, pulling her in for another kiss. She obliged, but stopped when the commercial break ended on the current channel.
"Ooh, The Look for Less!" Dawn said happily. "See, here on the Style Network we find good, educational television."
Connor frowned as a hyper set of blonde twins raced a seemingly fashion challenged girl through a mall. "Educational?"
"Yes. It teaches the important values of bargain shopping. Like on this show, Elisabeth gives them between 100 and 200 dollars to recreate a designer outfit. And they have to do it in one hour, so it's time saving!"
"One hundred to two hundred dollars? That's a bargain?" Connor asked disbelievingly.
"Well, considering the prices people pay for real designer looks, it really is. Celebrities pay thousands of dollars for a designer outfit," Dawn explained.
"I don't get that. Even if I had lots of money I wouldn't go wasting it like that."
"Says the man who bought his girlfriend a diamond necklace for Christmas," Dawn said with a smile.
"But that wasn't a waste. The smile on your face made it worth every penny."
"You are so sweet. Have I mentioned how much I love you?"
"Not today."
"Well, I love you." She kissed him softly.
A moment later she drew her eyes back to the television. "Ooh, now we get to see how close Chip and Pepper came to the original look."
Connor rolled his eyes. "Hey, I saw that!" Dawn said angrily.
Connor laughed. "I'm sorry. But sitting around watching this thing doesn't really make sense when there is most likely an apocalypse approaching. And besides, I'd rather have your undivided attention."
Dawn reluctantly turned off the tv. "Okay." She snuggled into his arms. "Do you really think there's going to be an apocalypse?"
Connor sighed. "It looks like there might be. Eventually there's going to be a big showdown with the First. It's inevitable."
"That's what you get for living on the Hellmouth. But I wouldn't stress about it, we've faced lots of apocalypses before, and Buffy always manages to stop it."
"I know. But I just want to spend every minute up until the big fight with you. Things are going to get pretty crazy, and we won't have much time for us."
"But we'll make time!" Dawn said confidently. "You are the best thing in my life right now, and nothing is going to distract me from that."
"Not even the Style Network?" Connor teased.
"No," Dawn said with a laugh.
She relaxed back into his arms, deep in thought. She hadn't really thought about the prospect of the big fight. It made her afraid, because she knew that she and Connor would be right in the thick of it, and she didn't know what she would do if she lost him. Things were going so well right now. Well, we'll just have to make the best of the time we have right now, Dawn thought.
