"Yeah, so it's been just a totally weird day," Dawn continued.

"I'm just glad your sister is doing better," Jeff told her. "I know how worried you were. Whatever's brought her back to the land of the living is definitely of the good."

Dawn giggled, recognizing Jeff's use of one of her phrases.

"I agree," she smiled, her mind working overtime. "Hey, um... I have an idea. Why don't you come over Buffy's house. You can finally meet the real Buffy Summers instead of the weirded out hermit you've been exposed to on a few occasions. And you can meet Sp... William. William. Her... friend."

"So, you're saying I'd get to see you tonight after all?" Jeff asked brightly.

"Yeah," Dawn replied. "And if you're really good, maybe I'll even let you drive me home."

"Okay... just give me ten minutes and I'll be at Buffy's," Jeff smiled, happy to be able to see his girl after all.

Dawn popped her head out through French door to see Spike and Buffy in deep conversation on the chaise lounge.

"Hey, I'm going to go wait for Jeff on the front porch," she told them. "I asked him to come by for a bit and then he can drive me home... I hope it's okay."

"It's fine," Buffy smiled dreamily. "Let us know when he gets here. I'll make sure Spike doesn't scare him away."

"Oh, and I, uh... told him Spike's name was William," she nervously informed them. "I didn't want to freak him out and have him think that you're in some kind of weird gang or something," she said apologetically to Spike.

"It's okay, Bit," he assured her. "I can be William... for you."

"Cool beans!" Dawn grinned. "Okay... I'll let you get back to your alone time now."

She closed the door and went back into the house to freshen up before Jeff arrived.

"You've met this prat?" Spike asked Buffy.

"I have."

"And he's on the level?" Spike continued, trying to find a reason to dislike the boy before he even met him.

"Very much so," she told him. "He's smart and he's respectful. He has a little sister, Megan. I think Dawn said that she's three. One of those change-of-life babies. His parents have been married for 20 years. They were high school sweethearts. All that story-book crap that little girls dream of."

"Is that what you dreamt of, Kitten?" he asked, cautiously.

"Hmmm..." The Slayer was thoughtful. "Not so much. No. I was usually slaying the dragon in my fairy tales. Or taming the Big, Bad Wolf and making him a house pet. Mother Goose and Grimm had nothing on my twisted tales."

"You just saying that to spare my delicate feelings, Slayer?" he asked, skeptically.

"Nope," she smiled. "I've always been... different."

He kissed her hair and held her tightly to him. He was glad she was different. He wouldn't have wanted her any other way.

"I love you, Buffy."

"I love you, too, Spike."

They lay quietly in each other's arms for a moment before Buffy's brow furrowed.

"So, uh... what I said earlier..."

Spike looked up at the stars. She was asking for the impossible, didn't she know that?

"When we were talking about the Shanshu and the Poof? Right... the Cheerleader's coma," he said, knowing damn well that wasn't at all what she was talking about.

"Um... no," she sighed. "What's with the avoidy?"

"Buffy, sweetheart..." He took in a deep, unneccessary breath. "You know I would love nothing more than making a baby with you... but vampire here. My little swimmers drowned a long time ago."

"But Angel and Darla... it's possible," she insisted.

"Perhaps it is," he conceded. "But how do we know that it won't cause another apocalypse?"

"How do we know that it won't?" she challenged. "We could try making a baby. If it's meant to be, then the Powers will make it happen for us."

"The trying part isn't a problem," he chuckled. "We can try as many times as you like. Two, three... ten times a day. I'm game."

She swatted his chest playfully.

"I just don't want you to get your hopes up, Kitten. I don't want you to be disappointed when it doesn't happen," he told her.

She snuggled back into his chest. She knew he was right. But something told her that she wouldn't be disappointed. She felt it inside of her. There was some sort of spark. Some sort of promise niggled at the back of her mind.

"We could always adopt," she hinted.

"You sound like you want us to..." He looked down at her shining eyes. "Do you want to...?"

His eyes narrowed on hers as his head cocked to the side questioningly.

"Do you want to get married?" he said, his voice surprised, yet full of hope.

"I thought you'd never ask," she grinned.

Dawn was sitting on the porch when Jeff pulled into the driveway. She had made the decision. Tonight, she would take her chances. She would tell him about her past. She figured she could always back pedal if he seemed too freaked out. Chances are, he wouldn't believe her anyhow. Her life read like an HP Lovecraft novel. It was surreal beyond belief.

"Wow!" Jeff breathed, catching her around the waist in a tight hug. "You look incredible!"

She pulled back and pressed her lips against his. His mouth opened up to hers and their kiss deepened.

"What brought that on?" he asked appreciatively.

Dawn thought back to the kiss she witnessed between Buffy and Spike.

"Nothing really," she lied. "I just missed you."

That was true. Jeff was like nobody she had ever known. He was normal. She loved that. His family was loving and supportive. They had taken in Dawn as one of their own. He was always telling her how smart she was. He encouraged her to apply to UCLA with him even though she was sure she'd be rejected. He'd tutored her to get her up to speed on the subjects she was lacking in due to her calling on the Hellmouth. And he never asked questions about her past or made her feel stupid when she didn't know something that seemed obvious to most girls her age.

"So, do I get to see Happy Buffy?" he asked lightly, holding the screen door open for her.

"Yeah," she grinned. "Be prepared to be shocked! You think I look incredible? She's practically glowing! And it's all because of William."

She grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the back patio.

"Hey guys," she called to the entwined pair.

Their blonde heads popped up and Buffy was the first to rise from the chaise.

"Hey, Jeff," she smiled at the boy.

"Wow, Buffy... it's really good to see you doing... uh, better?" He wasn't sure what to say about Buffy's complete recovery. He'd only known her as depressed, frumpy Buffy. This girl was a golden goddess. Now he could see the resemblance between Dawn and her sister.

Buffy reached down for Spike's hand and helped him to his feet.

"Jeff, this is, uh... William," Dawn started as Spike looked up. He froze in shock when his eyes locked on Jeff's. "And William, this is..."

"Connor?" Spike asked incredulously. He'd only seen pictures of the boy, but those brown eyes that stared back at him were those of his grandsire. It was undeniable.

"Spike?" Jeff questioned, equally shocked.