Chapter 16
Xander walked into the house and found Buffy, Spike, and Willow sitting on the couch all with sad expressions on their faces. "Hey, how is she doing?" He asked and Buffy looked up at him.
"She hasn't left her room in a few days. She's hardly eating and she won't really talk to anyone. It's like how it was when mom died. I'm really worried about her." Buffy said and Spike put his arm around her in comfort.
"I think someone should try and talk to her. Dawny needs to open up; it's not healthy to keep everything inside." Willow explained and Buffy nodded as she stood up.
"I'll do it." She said as she went upstairs leaving everyone to stare after her. Buffy got to Dawn's room and knocked on her door. She let herself in when she didn't hear anything. She found Dawn lying on her bed and facing away from her. Buffy sighed as she walked over to her and sat down by her. She took a deep breath before she spoke. "I'm so sorry, Dawn." She said and Dawn turned to look at her after a few seconds.
"Why would you be sorry?" Buffy looked at her sister and could tell that she has been crying.
"It's my fault that she's dead. She died saving my life, it should have been me." Buffy said quietly and Dawn shook her head as she sat up.
"No, she made the right choice. She died so you could live, so your child could live. It was the bravest thing I've ever seen. She would want us all to be happy. I'm sorry I've been shutting everyone out. I just hate having everyone I love die. I don't think I can take anymore." Dawn stated as tears continued to fall down her face. Buffy had tears forming in her eyes also as she hugged her sister.
"She's in a better place now. We have to believe that, Dawny. Mom will look out for her." She felt Dawn nod and she kissed the top of her head as she pulled away. "You should get some rest." Buffy said as Dawn nodded again and lay back down. Buffy took one more look at her sister before she left her room. She rested her head on the door and touched her stomach as tears fell down her face. "I'll never leave you, baby. I promise you, I'll never leave." She whispered as she then headed back downstairs to the others. Dawn was still lying in bed when she realized she couldn't fall asleep. She got up and went to her CD collection. She found the CD she was looking for and walked over to her stereo. She put the CD in and found the song that she wanted. Dawn pushed play and lay back in her bed as the song started. She then let a small smile grace her lips.
"This one's for you, Alyssa." She whispered as she listened to the song and finally drifted off to a peaceful sleep.
You don't run with the crowd
You go your own way
You don't play after dark
You light up my day
Got your own kind of style
That sets you apart
Baby, that's why you captured my heart
I know sometimes you feel like you don't fit in
And this world doesn't know what you have within
When I look at you
I see something rare
A rose that can grow anywhere
And there's no one I know that can compare
What makes you different
Makes you beautiful
What's there inside you
Shines through to me
In your eyes I see
All the love I'll ever need
You're all I need, oh girl
What makes you different
Makes you beautiful to me
You got something so real
You touched me so deep
See material things
Don't matter to me
So come as you are
You've got nothing to prove
You won me with all that you do
And I wanna take this chance to say to you
What makes you different
Makes you beautiful
What's there inside you
Shines through to me
In your eyes I see
All the love I'll ever need
You're all I need, oh girl
What makes you different
Makes you beautiful
You don't know how you touched my life
Oh, in so many ways I just can't describe
You taught me what love is supposed to be
You saw the little things that make you beautiful to me
What makes you different
Makes you beautiful
What's there inside you
Shines through to me
In your eyes I see
All the love I'll ever need
You're all I need, oh girl
What makes you different
Makes you beautiful to me
Everything you do is beautiful
Love you give shines right through me
Everything you do is beautiful
Oh, you're beautiful to me
The song is "What Makes You Different (Makes You Beautiful)" by the Backstreet Boys for all those out there that feel like you don't belong. You're all beautiful! Yes, I am corny and damn proud of it!