Title: You Will Never Die
Author: mispel
E-mail:
Rating: PG
Summary: Dawn didn't turn out to be a normal girl. Starts around season 5 and 6.
Disclaimer: I own no one and nothing
Feedback: Any comments would be welcome
All Affairs in Order
Willow had a big lecture coming up and she overslept. Dawn had to come and wake her. Willow's eyes didn't want to open even as Dawn pulled apart the curtains and the late morning sunlight blinded her.
Once her eyes adjusted a little, Willow could see Dawn looking around her room. Willow wondered for a second if she had left out anything she shouldn't have. But Dawn seemed to be looking for something that wasn't there.
"Why don't you and Tara share a room? Isn't she good enough for you?" Dawn let a little bitterness creep into her voice as she asked.
"This is really nice - good morning is way overrated. Anyway, she's too young for me. I have my eye on Ms. Devon, former head of the psychology department. 71 and she still parasails," Willow said with a wink.
"Then why did you make Tara in love with you?" Dawn asked. She was standing in front of the window, backed by the light, so that Willow could hardly see her.
"I didn't. That was just part of who she was. It came with the package. I didn't tamper with their personalities. I just transferred them," Willow said feeling a little defensive. She shifted in bed but didn't get up.
When Dawn moved away from the window, Willow could see her better, except for the spots. Dawn didn't really like to talk about what went into making Tara and the others. It was obvious as she turned to fiddle with something on Willow's dresser.
"That was impressive. Why not go for a patent? You could make billions." Dawn was being sarcastic. Though it was probably true.
"We have enough money," Willow said too seriously, like they were talking about the bank balance.
Dawn turned and frowned at that. Willow wished Dawn wasn't still standing there. Then Willow wouldn't have to hide how much trouble she had getting out of bed, and she could take the pills she had remembered to put in the drawer the night before.
"I have to get ready to go, Dawn. When I come back," Willow promised her vaguely.
Need to Know
Willow had turned down the lights in the lab so they wouldn't hurt her eyes so much. Now her eyes were straining to see the tiny connections. She noticed the shadow as the other looked over her shoulder.
"If you can't sit still, I'll have to turn you off," Willow warned her.
"I wouldn't be so fidgety if you let me help," she said but she sat down.
"You're too fast for me. You know what I want before I do. I need to do this on my own. I have to make sure everything is right," Willow explained her vice trailing off as she struggled to keep her hand steady.
"When do you tell her and the others?"
"Don't be in such a hurry," Willow said in a sharp voice. It was an accusation.
"I'm not." She sounded hurt and defensive. But she could sound so callous when she got excited. Just like she was supposed to.
"Soon. You can't always tell people right away. They might try to interfere, or even stop you," Willow lectured.
"I know."
"Sometimes you have to do things and then..."
"I know."
"Right, you know everything," Willow told her.
"I don't know what you had for breakfast. I don't know if you took your medicine. I don't know what's going to happen - if I'll be good enough, if she'll hate me."
Willow turned to look at her. Insecure. Just like she was supposed to be.
"She'll only hate you a little," Willow told her and went back to work.
Next Best Thing
Willow was spending her time in the lab again. This time Dawn didn't get her hopes up. And she didn't let Willow keep her out. She barged in one afternoon. Willow jumped, but Dawn wasn't looking at her. There was another Willow in the room.
"It's the young you," Dawn observed.
Willow nodded. Then she smiled shakily.
"Well, sure. To go with the young everyone else," Willow said through her forced smile.
Life's Work
By the end of the year Dawn had free access to the lab. The young Willow showed her around. There were pieces all over the place. Spare parts in special containers. Also other pieces. A familiar hand that didn't belong to any of them.
"I tried to make your Mom, but..." Willow didn't finish, she smiled sadly. She had been so nice to Dawn. So Willow. It was weird to be comforted at Willow's death by her replica.
Dawn turned to leave. She didn't want to be there. She didn't want to look at those pieces.
To be continued