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Chapter 8

When Dawn woke the next morning it took her a few seconds to remember where she was. Dad, remarried, Angel, Hyperion, Connor. With that thought the smile returned to her face, that was till she looked around and spotted an alarm clock on the bedside table that read 7.15am.

"Holy crap, I'm gonna be late" she jumped out of bed, grabbed her bag and rushed into the bathroom.


Dawn descended the stairs still brushing her slightly wet hair with a huge sigh of relief realizing she still had twenty minutes to meet her father for breakfast. She entered the kitchen intent on getting at least one cup of coffee before she had to go when she saw Cordelia sitting at the table flipping through the newspaper. "Morning Cordy"

"Good morning Dawnie" Folding the paper she wasn't really reading anyway, Cordelia got up, poured a cup of coffee and handed it to Dawn before refilling her own cup. "Milk and sugars on the table"

"Thanks" Dawn gave herself a decent amount of both before talk a long sip and sighing happily.

"You nearly ready to go?"

Dawn took another sip. "Yep, ready when you are"

"Alright, I'll just go grab the keys and we'll leave" Finishing the last of her coffee, Cordelia put her cup in the sink before leaving the room.

Dawn followed suit, placing her own cup in the sink she finished brushing her hair, putting the brush in her bag she entered the lobby at the same Cordelia exited the office.

Cordelia held up the keys triumphantly, a grin forming on her face. "I snagged the keys to the Angel-mobile, quick lets get out of here" They both giggled and ran out to the car.

Once they were seated, Cordelia put the top down and started the car. When they were on the road Dawn turned to look at Cordelia. "Thanks for this Cordy, for taking me to meet dad I mean."

"It's no problem Dawn, When Angel got home last night he told me about the breakfast thing this morning and I said I'd drive you." She quickly sent her a smile so Dawn knew she meant it. "Oh, before I forget, grab the cell phone out of the glove box, it's Angel's but take it with you, that way you can call if you need me to come and get you."

Dawn took the phone and put it in her bag. "I think dad will drive me back to the hotel but I'll take it just in case."

Cordelia pulled the car up in front of the diner. "This is it right?"

Dawn glanced out the window and nodded "Yup" She took her seat belt off and got out of the car. "Thanks again Cordy"

"No prob Dawnie, and remember call if you need me to come get you"

"I will" Dawn said before stepping away and watching as Cordelia drove off. Turning around she stared at the outside of the building, it didn't look any different from when she used to come here with her father every Saturday when she still lived in L.A, taking a deep breath she entered the diner. Looking around she spotted her father sitting in one of the booth's near the back with a cup of coffee in front of him, reading the paper.

It wasn't until she sat down that he noticed her. "Good morning Dawn" He said smiling at her.

Dawn gave him a smile of her own. "Morning dad"

He looked up and nodded to the waitress behind the counter. "I've already ordered the usual, was just waiting for you to get here."

"Why, do you have somewhere else you'd rather be." It came out a little harsher than she intended.

"No, Well I do have to go to the office for a little while but not until about 10:30, I just thought you might want to go to the bank for your birthday money so you could do some shopping while you were here in L.A, that, and to prove to you that I never forgot your birthday." He said slightly hurt.

"Oh, sorry" Dawn said feeling a little guilty at her outburst.

Hank sighed "It's ok, I guess I deserved that."

"No, I'm sorry dad, it's just things are all..., I'm sorry ok?"

He gave her another smile. "Your forgiven."

Breakfast passed rather smoothly after that, they talked about everyday things, how school was going, her friends, books they'd read, movies they'd seen. Dawn was grateful when he didn't mention anything about Cyndi or their upcoming wedding and before she knew it, it was 9 o'clock and they had arrived at the bank.

"Mr Summers?"

Both Hank and Dawn rose when the name was called and entered into the small office of the Financial Advisor.

"What can I help you with today Mr Summers'?" Her name tag read Evette.

"I'd like to check up on the account I set up for my daughters and also arrange for some sort of debit card for Dawn."

"Alright, if I could just get the account details and some identification please?"

Hank nodded and took out the card he was given all those years ago, and also his drivers license from his wallet. He placed them on the desk in front of him.

Evette took both cards and started tapping on the keyboard in front of her. Apparently satisfied she handed both cards back to Hank and looked over at them. The first account, in the name of Dawn Marie Summers has a current balance of 19,033.98.

Dawn sat straight up, "I'm sorry did you say 19,000.

"19,033.98, yes"

Dawn looked over at her father and even he seemed a little surprised. She saw him shrug and look up to Evette again. "And Buffy's?"

She tapped a few more buttons on the keyboard. "19,233.98"

Hank thought for a moment before turning to face Dawn. "That's because I've already put two hundred dollars in for her birthday this year, I'll be giving you yours today."

He glanced over at the Financial Advisor again. "Not that I mind, but I've only put two hundred dollers in each account every month." He turned to look back at Dawn. "When you're mother and I divorced she told me she wanted the child support payments to be split in half between you and Buffy. That's exactly what I did, I just thought she would know I was putting extra in on your birthday's." He paused for a moment. "I guess I should've told her."

Evette started tapping the keyboard again "It seems that because the accounts haven't been touched apart from the monthly deposits in six years, they both gained six percent interest every year.

Dawn had barely heard anything since the Financial Advisor had told her there was 19,000 dollars in her and Buffy's account, no more money problems, and no more doublemeant for Buffy. Dawn grinned. She tuned back into the conversation and they were talking about a debit card with a limit. She interrupted. "Dad the money from my previous birthday's is mine right?"

Hank nodded.

"Well cant we just keep that money in my account and the rest in Buffy's?" she asked.

Hank stated to protest. "Dawn this money is to provide for you in your future."

Dawn stopped him. "But we need for it to provide us now, Buffy didn't get to finish college because mom died and she dropped out to look after me. She's working at the Doublemeat Palace just to stay afloat with all the bills that keep piling in, and she also has other commitments that she has to keep. You saw her dad, she's exhausted all the time. This would give her the chance to relax and actually be able to find a better job, Please." She pleaded.

Hank had to admit, in the ten minutes that he'd actually spoken to Buffy she did look run down, but he had no idea about where she was working, she never said a word to him about needing money, then again, why would she, he shows up on her doorstep after two and a half years and no word from him, he wouldn't be very chatty either.

"Alright Dawn" He turned to the Evette. "Can you transfer all but one thousand in Buffy's account."

Evette nodded and with a few strokes of the keyboard gave them a wide smile. "Done"

"I would also like a debit card for each of the girl's sent to their home address in Sunnydale and well as a cheque book for Buffy."

Evette looked over the personal details "The address we were given when the account was opened, was 1630 Revello Drive, Sunnydale, California is that still correct?"

Dawn nodded.

"It also says here that Buffy would now be 21."

Dawn and Hank both nodded again.

"That was the age restriction on the account, before she needed you or Joyce Summers to sign for her, are you willing to sign a release form and allow me to change that?"

"Yes, I would also like to change that on Dawn's account, as my ex-wife has passed away, I want Buffy to be able to do anything Dawn needs with her own account."

"Ok, I'll be back in a minute with the forms you need to sign." She walked out of the office and Hank turned to face Dawn.

"Are money problems really that bad?" He asked seriously.

Dawn shifted uncomfortably. "No, I mean, Buffy provides everything I need but she just has to work so many long hours it's really taking it's toll on her, this money will give her the chance to find another job that isn't so time demanding and that will pay better, she never had that breathing space before, she tried to hide it from me but mom's medical bills cost more than her life insurance covered, so she's been trying to pay those off as well as the mortgage and all the other monthly bills we get, it's just too much." Dawn sighed.

Hank squeezed her shoulder gently. "I'm sure things will get better, and this will help ok?"

Dawn nodded but before she could say anything the Financial Advisor entered the room again and handed her father a handful of forms. She sat there quietly as he signed them all and they stood to leave. She looked back at Evette "Can I get a statement thingy, of Buffy's account so I can give it to her?"

Evette nodded. "Sure, the debit cards and the cheque book should also arrive sometime next week" Grabbing the printout from the printer she handed it to Dawn.

Dawn looked down and grinned at the balance 37,267.96.

After a quick stop at one of the tellers in the bank Dawn was surprised to see it was already 10.10am.

Handing her the two hundred dollars he'd just taken from Dawn's account and another two hundred from his wallet he glanced down at his watch and noticed the time. "I'm sorry Dawn, I have to get to work soon, c'mon, I'll drive you back, you just have to tell me the address"

After giving him the address to the hotel, they pulled up out the front and Dawn leaned over and gave her father a kiss on the cheek before jumping straight out of the car and watching him drive away with a smile on her face. Not only had he given them an immense amount of money, he also hadn't lied when he said he remembered their birthday each year. Letting out a happy sigh she turned around and headed into the hotel.

End Chapter 8