Dawn's POV
It's been about five years now since I have seen Buffy. We were in Rome together living with Andrew at the time. Buffy was dating the Immortal, Andrew was being anything but himself, and I was stuck at school. Days and weeks seemed to go by so quickly, and Buffy never took notice of me. I'd get sick and Buffy was nowhere to be seen. Instead, it was Andrew putting me to bed, and getting me stuff when I needed it. It was him, who cancelled his dates just to stay home and keep an eye on me. Buffy just never seemed to care. I mean yeah, she is the longest living Slayer, and she deserves a little break, but what happens to me while she is off living her life? Well, I guess that's why I am here now. See five years ago, that Immortal guy wanted Buffy to go see the world with him. Of course Buffy said yes, but she didn't want me to tag along.
So she called up Giles, he was too busy with the new council. Next she called Willow; she was still on vacation. LA gang was to busy with an apocalypse. She even called FAITH, but she was busy training slayers with ex-principle Woods. Then she finally decided to call Xander, and he said yes. I don't understand why she didn't call him first. From what I could hear, from my ease dropping hee hee, he didn't even hesitate like the others. He just told Buffy that he would take me. He even asked if Andrew would be coming. Of course that's the point when Buffy even remembered about Andrew. She told him that she would be shipping him out with me, but she didn't know if he would be staying. So that night, when we sat down to eat a meal that Andrew prepared, like always, she dropped the bombshell on him. Andrew didn't even look up from his plate; he just nodded his head in agreement, that he would go with me.
So two days later we were packed up, and Buffy was sending us away. She didn't even come to the airport with us. She said she had too much packing to do, so she just gave me a hug and told me to be good. Then she told Andrew to leave the car at the airport; she'd pick it up later. She just shut the door right then and there, and I felt as if my whole world came crashing down. Andrew put his arm around me as we walked away from the place we had called home. I cried on his shoulder as we walked towards the car. When we finally reached the car, he dropped his bags and wrapped his arms around me as I cried. He told me that everything would be ok, that even if Xander would leave us, I would still have him. He promised to never leave my side that night. Now five years later, I watch as they lower him into the ground.
I can see out of the corner of my eye, most of the old gang is here. Willow, Giles, Kennedy, and Spike. There were even people there from the LA gang. Angel and his werewolf girlfriend standing along side with Illyria and Gunn. Then I see her walking down towards us, along side The Immortal. Anger is all I can feel right now. Andrew's dead, and I don't know how much longer Xander has, but how dare she come here looking so Damn smug. Like everything in the world is good, and she won't be bothered by anything else. Xander puts his hand on my shoulder, knowing what I am feeling. He gives me a sad tear filled smile, as he wraps his arms around me. After the funeral, people are giving each other hugs and shit like that. They didn't even know Andrew. How can they stand there and act like they do? It makes me sick! I see Buffy coming over to me and I just want to slap her.
" Hey Dawnie, come here and give me a hug." Buffy smiles at me, as she holds her arms out to me like I am a little kid. I just look at Xander with pleading eyes and he understands.
" Why are you here Buffy?" Xander asks.
" I got news of the geek's death-"
" Shut the hell up Buffy! You don't know one Damn thing about Andrew. So don't you dare come here and call him names at his funeral!" I yell at her.
" Dawn Summers, don't you dare take that tone with me missy, or so help me-"
" Or you'll what Buffy? Spank me? I am 22 years old. I am an adult, not your kid sister anymore. You abandoned me five years ago Buffy, and apart from a postcard here and there, I haven't heard from you since then. So don't you dare tell me not to raise my voice, when I have a damn good reason to do it."
" Dawn, I did not abandon you. You could have came with me." Buffy said.
" Buffy, you never even asked me. You called up anyone you could think of, so you wouldn't have me with you. Then you even kicked Andrew out, saying he had to go too." Xander has his hand on my shoulder, trying to give me a little comfort.
" He didn't have to Dawn."
" Of course he didn't have to, but he cared enough about me to do that. He cared enough about me to give up the life he was creating for himself, and help me."
" Dawn, I doubt it was for that-"
" Buffy you don't know anything about it." Xander interrupted. " Andrew has been Dawn's life line for the past five years. When she got sick, he was there. When a guy upset her, he was there. When Dawn just needed a friend he was there. But where were you? Off with the Immortal somewhere. Did you know Dawn's in college? She's in the top of her class."
" Really Dawnie? You're in school and doing well?" Willow asked from where she was standing.
" You make it sound like I am some kind of dumb kid who can't do anything. I found a great tutor and I am grateful to have him."
" Let me guess, it was Andrew." Buffy crudely remarked.
" No, her tutor is Oz. He's a great teacher." Xander said, as he smiled at me.
" Oz, a teacher? When did this happen?" Willow asked frantically.
" He has been a teacher for a while now. He helped tutor Dawn so she could get her high school diploma, and he has helped her with her college studies too."
" Wow a lot has gone on in the past five years, right under our noses." Willow said solemnly.
" You don't know the half of it." I said while watching everyone. It's true that they don't know anything about what has gone on with us in the past five years. They don't know anything about what has lead up to this moment in time, but they soon will.
tbc...
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