Author's Note: Here it is, the final chapter! I love this fanfic and this series, it's a nice break from my angsty Bound By Fate, as much as I love that story! Oh and just a quick note, in this story Buffy never sent Dawn away with Xander. I just don't think that would have happened if Connor was there. Thanks to kitty and Hellmouth2 for their comments on chapter 8! You know that I rarely end a fanfic without a song, and this one is We Will Follow the Sun by Hoku. Fluffy, but so is this series! Enjoy! -goes to learn Italian so she can start 3rd installment-
Chapter 9: Following the Sun
Connor lied there in silence, watching his girlfriend turned lover sleep. She looked so beautiful and peaceful. Her hair fanned out around her on the pillow, and the trace of a smile was visible on her lips. Her bare shoulders stuck out from under the covers. Connor glanced out the window. The sun was coming up soon, they should probably get ready for today's battle. He felt terrible waking her, so he eased his guilt by doing it with a gentle kiss.
She began to stir, and her eyes fluttered open. She saw him and slow grin spread across her lips as she remembered last night. "Mmm. Good morning."
"Good morning beautiful," he whispered, kissing her again. She settled into his arms.
"We should probably get up," he said reluctantly.
Dawn smiled. "It's okay. They won't have the apocalypse without us. And I just want to bask a little." She paused. "I feel...different. In a good way. Older, and like I'm seeing everything for the first time."
He smiled. "I feel different too. We feel different. It seems like...we're so much closer."
Dawn laughed softly. "Well that's kind of inevitable."
He laughed too. "I suppose."
"I'm ready for this now. The fight today. I feel like nothing is stopping us," Dawn said.
"We can do anything as long as we're together," Connor said confidently. "And if anyone can pull this off it's your sister."
"I know." The sun had risen and the sky was gleaming through the window. "I should go shower now."
"Do you need any help with those hard-to-reach areas?" Connor asked mischievously.
Dawn smiled seductively. "If I did, we would never get out of the shower." She reached out and grabbed Connor's shirt that had been discarded last night and pulled it on. She climbed out of bed after a quick kiss. She disappeared around the corner. Connor lied there on the bed, thinking about how amazing last night was. He had never imagined that anything could feel that good.
Dawn suddenly peeked her head back around the corner. "You know, we could conserve water by showering together. And we are in the middle of an apocalypse, so every last drop counts." She grinned and giggled as Connor leapt from the bed and raced her to the bathroom.
About an hour later Dawn and Connor entered 1630 Revello Drive as everyone moved around, gathering weapons and preparing for the battle. Buffy was waiting just inside the door. Dawn smiled awkwardly. "Hi Buffy."
"Hello Dawn," Buffy said cooly. "Right now I have much better things to do than lecture you, but don't think you're getting off without one."
Dawn's heart sank. "Figures."
"It's time to move out," Buffy called.
"Xander, Dawn, and Connor, you can take the atrium," Buffy said, once they were inside the school and everyone was scattering to their various positions.
"We can handle it, if you need Xander someplace else," Connor said, speaking up for the first time. Honestly, he didn't want to have to worry about protecting Xander. He was going to be busy enough protecting Dawn and fighting.
"I want him with you," Buffy said firmly.
Connor groaned inwardly but headed off. Dawn lagged behind. He heard her exchange a few words with her sister, ending with "anything you say is going to sound like goodbye." Connor felt sad for Dawn. He knew that it would kill her if anything happened to Buffy. But in the few short months that he had gotten to know the slayer, he had developed a sense of trust and respect for her, and he knew that she wouldn't lead them in here if she wasn't confident that they were going to win. He just worried that everyone might not make it out alive, and he knew that Dawn cared about all of these people. He had even come to care about some of them. He snapped out of his thoughts when he heard Buffy call his name. He turned around, and she looked him right in the eyes. She didn't need to speak, he knew what her point was. He nodded.
"Don't worry. I'll take care of her."
Buffy nodded and smiled. Dawn joined her Connor, and he clasped her hand before they headed off to the atrium.
Dawn, Connor, and Xander stood nervously in the atrium, weapons in hand. Connor looked Dawn in the eye. "Just relax. We're going to win. Remember, we can get through anything together."
Dawn smiled back at him, suddenly looking more confident. "I know."
When the ubervamps joined them, the three of them became to wrapped up in the fighting to worry. Connor caught a few glimpses of Dawn, proud of how far her fighting skills had come since those first days of training at the hotel. She was clever too, at one point letting the light in to defeat several ubervamps. And when they were fighting together, they were almost unstoppable. It was almost as if they had one mind. Connor would toss Dawn a sword right when she needed it, or they would switch places to even out the field.
When the building started to shake, Connor didn't even stop to think of a reason, he just knew that he had to get Dawn out of there. "Come on!" he took her hand and they ran towards the exit, Xander close behind. Connor heard him screaming out for Anya, and he sighed, realizing that the former demon probably hadn't made it through the battle. Connor reached out and gently grabbed his arm. "Come on. We need to get out of here." Xander reluctantly followed. Connor also noticed Dawn glancing nervously about, no doubt looking for Buffy. He prayed that she was okay.
They boarded the bus and took seats at the back, Dawn staring out the back window towards the school, her expression more desperate by the second. Unsure what to do, Connor just held her hand. A moment later Faith joined them, and they started driving down the street. Come on Buffy, he thought silently.
A few long moments later, he smiled when he saw Dawn's sister leaping across the roof of the shopping mall where he had spent endless hours with his girlfriend that day. Dawn smiled too, looking incredibly relieved. When Buffy joined them on the bus, Dawn hugged her tightly.
Giles asked Buffy what had done that, and she replied "Spike." Connor raised an eyebrow, surprised. He hadn't really gotten to know the blonde vampire very well during his time in Sunnydale, but anyone who died to save the world deserved credit.
After a few minutes they stopped. Everyone slowly climbed off the bus. Hand in hand with Dawn, Connor stared out at the crater. He stayed back as she walked over to Buffy and a few of the others. He supposed that they had won. It was all gone now. Dawn's house, his own apartment where he and Dawn had made wonderful memories last night. He supposed that now they would have to start over. But where?
Dawn rejoined him, a smile on her face. "I still can't believe we destroyed the mall. That goes against everything I've ever believed in."
Connor smiled. "I'm not going to lose any sleep over it."
Dawn smacked him playfully. "Number one rule for boyfriends: never diss the mall."
Connor smirked. "Well I suppose I'll have to go to one, considering all our stuff is gone."
Dawn pulled him in close. "But we have each other. And that's all we need. And besides, it's an excuse to get a whole new wardrobe!" He laughed, and they kissed softly. "And I have this!" She reached under her shirt and pulled out the necklace Connor had given her for Christmas.
Connor smiled. "I didn't know you were wearing that."
"I never take it off."
"Good thing you were, that wasn't cheap." Dawn giggled, and they kissed again, more slowly and passionately.
They broke away after a long minute. "How's Buffy? I know she and Spike were..." his voice trailed off.
Dawn shrugged. "She seems okay. But I'm sure it's affecting her. She may not have loved him the way she loves Angel, but she still cared about him a lot." Connor nodded, understanding.
Buffy hesitantly approached them. "We're gonna head out now."
"To where?" Dawn asked bluntly. Connor stared at Buffy. There was something different about her. She looked almost...peaceful.
"I don't know. We have a lot of work to do, finding the new slayers, but first we need a place that we can all crash," Buffy said.
"What about the hotel? In LA?" Connor suggested.
Buffy nodded. "That works. And there's room for everyone." Her heart skipped a beat as she realized she was going to see Angel again, and her mind wandered back to that kiss mere days ago.
"LA it is then," Dawn said cheerily. The Hyperion Hotel held so many happy memories for her and Connor, and she was glad to be going back. Everyone else was boarding the bus, and she and Connor started to follow suit.
"Dawn, we need to talk. Now," Buffy said, raising an eyebrow.
Dawn sighed. She knew this was coming. "Okay." She went to the back of the bus and sat down. Connor gave her a quick kiss and sat down across the aisle, close enough to defend Dawn if needed, yet far enough to not be intruding.
After speaking to Giles, who was driving the bus, Buffy joined her sister at the back of the bus. She sat down beside her and sighed. "Where do we start?"
Dawn fidgeted. "Look, Buffy, you can skip the lecture. I know the choice I made was serious, but I don't regret it at all."
Buffy raised an eyebrow. "How many times did you practice that?"
"Several," Dawn admitted.
"Dawn, it just scares me how much you're growing up," Buffy said seriously. "Dating Connor is one thing. But having a...sexual relationship when you're only sixteen-"
"I'll be seventeen in a month. That's only a month younger than you were," Dawn reminded her.
"And we all know how well that worked out for me," Buffy said firmly. Dawn shut up.
"Dawnie, listen to me. I like Connor. I really do. And I know he loves you. But you can't expect to just pull something like what you did and have me just forget about it!"
"I didn't say you would! But you could at least support me!" Dawn said, her voice growing a little louder. A few people glanced back.
"Dawn, lower your voice. And yes, I support your relationship with Connor. But it scares me that you're having sex because you still have your whole future ahead of you. You still have another year of high school left! I can't let you ruin your future."
"I'm not going to get pregnant. We were careful," Dawn said impatiently.
"It's not one hundred percent," Buffy said.
"Buffy, what is the point of this? Are you going to forbid me to see Connor?" Dawn said fearfully. Not like that would stop me, she told herself.
Buffy shook her head. "I would never do that. I want you to be happy. But I just want to put things in perspective for you. And I think you and Connor should consider slowing things down a little."
"Buffy, that's a little hard to do now. Now that we know what it feels-" she stopped herself.
"I know. And I understand that this is probably too late." Buffy sighed. "Okay, you want me to be completely honest?" Dawn nodded. "Well, I am actually only saying all of this because I would be the worst sister ever if I didn't."
Dawn cracked a smile. "So...you agree with me."
"God help me, yes. I understand why you did what you did. And I know that even though you are only sixteen-"
"Almost seventeen," Dawn interrupted.
Buffy smiled wryly. "Almost seventeen, you are much more mature than that. So you just have to tell me one thing."
"What?" Dawn asked, suddenly feeling a little teary.
"Is it genetic?" Buffy asked sheepishly.
"You mean the amazingness?" Dawn asked, grinning.
Buffy laughed. "I was going to use a more mature adjective, but that works."
"Definitely. It was totally wonderful," Dawn said, still grinning happily. There was a brief silence. "I never felt like this before," Dawn said.
"How?" Buffy asked, smiling as well.
"Like you're not just my sister, but my friend, too," Dawn said truthfully.
Buffy pulled her sister close and hugged her tightly. "I want that for us. I want you to be able to talk to me about these things. But you just have to promise me one thing."
"What?" Dawn asked dubiously.
"That when we settle down somewhere, you will finish high school, and go on to make a good life for yourself. And Connor," she added. "Hey, maybe you can even get some of the perfect high school moments that I missed out on."
Dawn smiled. "It will be awesome to go to the prom with Connor."
Buffy laughed. "I would say you could borrow my dress, but it's somewhere in the pit-formerly-know-as-Sunnydale."
"Oh, we have some major shopping to do," Dawn said excitedly.
Buffy laughed. "Oh yeah." She paused. "Well, I suppose I'll give you and Connor some alone time then."
"Thank you. For everything," Dawn said sincerely. They hugged again.
Buffy got up and went over to where Connor was sitting alone. She looked down at him. "I don't think I have to tell you what will happen if you hurt her."
Connor smiled. "Don't worry. I won't."
Buffy nodded and smiled back. Then she went up to the front of the bus to check on everyone's injuries.
Connor slid into the seat next to Dawn. "I heard a little bit of that. Sounds like you've got one awesome sister."
Dawn smiled. "I really do."
Baby hear me
When I tell you that I love you
You give me reasons
To be always thinking of you
Day or night, night or day
It doesn't matter
You give me hope
You got me dreaming of forever
We will follow the sun together
Will this love of ours last forever
Who knows
But until that day comes
We will follow the sun
Dawn snuggled into Connor's arms, and he stroked her hair. "You were awesome today," Connor said.
Dawn smiled. "I learned from the best."
Connor kissed the top of her head. "This is another new beginning for us, you know."
"I know. And I can't wait to spend every minute of the rest of my life with you," Dawn said. They kissed softly as the bus drove off into the sunset.
Baby hear me
When I tell you that I need you
And I'm not saying this
Only just to please you
You and me together baby
That's where it's at
It's the way that I feel
It's as simple as that
We will follow the sun together
Will this love of ours last forever
Who knows
But until that day comes
We will follow the sun
Faith is just a sunrise away
I love you more my baby
With every new day
He loves me -- he loves me yeah
The End...until installment 3!
A/N: Here is a quick preview of my third installment in the Dawn & Connor: Miracles Happen series!
-tentative title: Living the Dream
Things to expect:
-An appearance early on of the Angel Investigations crew
-Dawn, Connor, and Buffy living together in Italy
-A friend for Dawn! (Original character)
-Connor gets a job! Tell me in a review what you think he should do!
This will debut in 1-4 weeks, depending on how into Bound By Fate I get. Hint hint, the number of reviews I get for this chapter could make it sooner rather than later! :-D
