3

When the alarm clock sounded, Buffy just rolled over. She could sleep for another three or four hours, but Dawn couldn't. Not if she wanted to live in the care of her own home and do good in school. "Damn, why does Dawn have to go to school? I just wanna stay here." Buffy got up and went over to Dawn's Room, "Hey, Dawn, wake up. You have to go to school."

Buffy opened the door. Dawn was sound asleep. Buffy just figured that they, Spike, Willow, Tara and Herself, kept her up. She walked over to Dawn and shook her a little bit. "Dawn, c'mon you have to wake up to get ready for school. Please wake up. OK fine have it that way you're not making your argument of going to that party any easier. In fact maybe you should go at all." Dawn sat straight up, "I'm awake, I'm awake." Buffy got up and off her bed, "Good. Now get ready."

Buffy left the room and went back to hers to get changed. About fifteen minutes later she re-immerged from the room bumping into Dawn who was dressed and had apparently taken a shower. "What do you want," Buffy stared down at her sister. "Could you make me some breakfast? I am a little lazy today." Dawn looked so tired to Buffy that she decided to make the meal for her sister. "What do you want?" Dawn brightened and said "I want eggs please."

Buffy went down the stairs and into the hallway to find Willow on the phone. Buffy now curious as to who would call this early in the morning and to speak to Willow since Tara, she figured, was still asleep in the room at the end of the hall upstairs. The only reason why Buffy didn't wait for Willow to finish her conversation was because Dawn was poking her in the back.

Buffy, followed by Dawn, went into the kitchen. Dawn sat down, but Buffy went over to the fridge and got out eggs, milk and butter. She placed these items on the cutting board and went onto the cabinets to get a frying pan. She turned on the stove, put the pan onto the stove, got a knife and a fork out of the draw and put butter into the pan, letting the butter slowly melt. Next Buffy took four eggs out of the egg carton and cracked them into a bowl that she had gotten from the strainer. She added the milk so that the eggs were three-fourths of the way covered and then started to fork them. Buffy poured the mixture into the pan and it started to cook. She grabbed a spatula and started to swish the liquid around the pan so that it would be evenly cooked. She took the eggs once they were finished and handed them to Dawn.

Buffy heard a knock at the door, -OH SHIT! - "Dawn c'mon Xander is here!" Dawn scoffed what was left of her eggs and ran up the stairs to get her backpack. She came back down and ran to open the door that still wasn't open. Xander was standing behind it, a smile on his. "Good Mornin' Gorgeous." He came in and hugged Dawn, then he moved into the kitchen to see Buffy cleaning up what he assumed breakfast. "Hey, Buff," Xander said with a smile on his face, "what's up?" Buffy looked at him, "Um, well nothing, but you, you have to drive Dawn so hurry her butt down here." Dawn came into the kitchen, "I'm ready." She grabbed Xander by the hand and off they went.

Willow entered down the stairs about five minutes later. "Don't tell me Dawn left already." Buffy looked at her and said, "Yea. She left like five minutes ago." Willow shook her head; she really wanted to say goodbye to her since it would be the last time for awhile. "Hey, Buffy, I have to go to Los Angeles. They sort of need me there." Buffy glared. She knew the only group that could need her there were Angel and his colleagues, but instead of not letting her go and show that she was holding a grudge against them she said, "Uh…sure. When do you leave?" Willow said, "Well today and I won't be back for like three weeks depending on how short or long this whole thing runs." Buffy looked disapprovingly, "You go, I think Tara, Xander, Dawn, Spike and I could handle things… maybe we could even include Anya." Willow looked relieved, "thanks. Um… I guess I have to leave now."

Willow left the room. She had to go say goodbye to her sweetie. She ran up the stairs two at a time not wanting to waste a second. She needed to say goodbye to Tara before she left otherwise she couldn't live with herself. She walked into the room to find Tara still sleeping. She hated the fact that she had to wake up her angel, but she wanted to say goodbye.

"Hey, Tara, wake up."

Tara rolled over, "What is it, honey?"

Willow looked into her eyes, "Well… I have to go to LA for like three weeks."

Tara fully woke up, "What!?"

Willow expecting Tara to act like this said, "I know, I know, but I have to go. Angel and his friends need my help."

"Well, no it's not that it's just that you have to be gone for three weeks?"

Willow looked guilty. She didn't want to be that far away from the people she loved for so long. "I know, but it might not even take that long. I could be home in like ten days. It all depends on the situation, and I swear as soon as it is all over I will come back. I just wanted you to know that I left so that you wouldn't worry. I love you and I want to be with you."

Tara was now feeling herself get red in the face. She was feeling guilty also. "I…I'm sorry. You're right. You have to go. I'll miss you oh so much. You have to promise to keep me informed."

Willow hugged and kissed Tara goodbye. She had done all the packing before she went downstairs to tell Buffy that she had to go. Willow left Tara lying in bed and went downstairs carrying her suitcase. She went over to the phone and picked it up and dialed Marv's Taxi Service. Now all she had to do was wait until the taxi showed up and she would be gone.