Chapter 8

Um…Explanations Please

"Hey Dawnie," Willow gave her a small smile.

Breathe, Breathe Dawn told herself.

"Why is everyone calling her Dawn?" Connor demanded. Dawn figured that was a question she could answer, "Because that was my name, along time ago."

Connor didn't say anything else; he figured being silent for a few minutes might help fill in some of the gaping holes.

"What the fuck are you doing here?" Dawn commanded harshly.

"Dawnie…" Willow said tearfully.

"Don't call me that. My name is Silver now." Dawn said coldly.

"We should really sit down," Angel said quietly, but Dawn was too shaken to process anything, she need to leave. Now.

"I can't," she mumbled and ran past them, tears stinging her eyes. Right now she really needed to get drunk good and proper.

Everyone stood there in silence as Dawn ran out.

"I should find her," Willow said.

"No," Connor responded, "Give her a little bit."

"What are you doing here Red and Peaches?" Spike questioned, "Bit said last time she'd seen any of you was three years ago."

"I should say the same for you Spike," Angel replied. Spike shrugged, not really wanting to share his news, "I came to visit the Bit, reckoned I owed her one."

Angel glared at him; there was something he wasn't saying.

"Dad, mind telling me what's going on, Silver was going to tell me about her past when you knocked." He said bitterly.

"You don't know?" Angel asked, surprised.

"To me she's Silver, my best friend." he replied honestly, "Neither of us really talk about are past."

Angel sighed, "You remember I told you about the Slayer, Buffy," Connor nodded and Angel continued, "Dawn was her sister." Connor gaped at him, "You're kidding." Angel shook his head no.

"Whoa," Connor breathed.

Everyone became silent once again.

"So what are you doing here?" Connor asked, focused on Angel and Willow.

"I did a locator spell," Willow answered slowly, "To find the new Slayer." There was a pause and then Spike yelped, "Wait a bleeding moment, are you saying Dawn became the new Slayer?"

Willow could only nod.

"It makes sense," Angel added quietly, "They have the same blood."

Spike snapped his jaw shut, remembering what Dawn had told him earlier, about how it was their blood that let Buffy stop the portal.

"Silver's the Slayer?" Connor said shocked, "No wonder she fights so well."

"Wait," Spike remembered the magic trick she'd preformed, "Nibblet told me she cracked."

"She did. Crack I mean, but I don't think that's where her speed and strength came from," Willow explained.

"The Power," Spike realized. Willow nodded.

"Cracking?" Connor asked, once again confused.

Bugger, he'd forgotten the boy was in the room. Peaches's boy, now that he looked, he could see the broodiness and poofiness in him. Figures.

Willow had a deer-in-headlights look and Angel couldn't look at Connor in the eyes.

"What does that mean?" Connor asked, dead calm.

"I don't think it's our place to tell you," Willow answered honestly. Connor clenched his jaw, "Fine. I'm going to go out, get some air." And with that Connor stormed out.

Spike broke the silence once again, "Something's coming ain't it? That's why you needed to find the Slayer."

Willow nodded, "The biggest."

"Right then," Spike (who had changed back into his clothes) said briskly and grabbed his duster, "Better find the Bit, lord knows you have catching up to do." He walked out.

"Spike," Willow called out as he went down the stairs.

"Yeah Red?" he paused and faced her.

"Thanks," she said locking eyes with him and he nodded in response and seconds later went outside in search of Dawn.

"You notice he was hiding something?" Angel asked Willow once Spike was out of earshot.

"Hell yes," Willow sighed. Spike hiding something really didn't bode well at all.

"So what do we do?" Willow asked.

"Wait," was Angel's one word answer and Willow had to agree, there wasn't much else to do.