Disclaimer: Buffy the Vampire Slayer and all that jazz belongs to Joss Whedon. Summerland etc. belongs to Lori Loughlin and Stephen Toilken.

Chapter Four

"What am I doing here?" Buffy asked as she looked up at Riley. "I think I could be asking you the same question," she said as she, Riley, and Riley's wife began walking towards the baggage claim. It was great to see a familiar face. It was not the best familiar face she would like to see in Los Angeles, but it was still nice nonetheless.

"We're starting up a new mission," Sam Finn answered at her husband's silence. "Ever since Wolfram and Hart collapsed, there's been an increase in the vampire activity around here. A few people at Headquarters recommended that we take a look into it."

"And here we are," Riley finished. "But what are you doing here?" he asked as he looked down at his first real girlfriend. He would not admit it to Sam, but he still cared deeply for Buffy. He needed to make sure that she was emotionally and physically fine.

Buffy sighed as she walked into the baggage claim. "Dawn ran away," she said simply as she looked at the various bags passing by. None of them were hers, for she had left Rome in such a hurry.

"So you're at the airport looking for her?" Riley asked in mild confusion.

Buffy shook her head. "Flight just landed. Willow said she was in a town not far from here." She sighed heavily. "Have you heard anything about Sunnydale in the past few months?"

"There was some battle going on last I heard," Riley answered honestly. "Something against the First and all Potential Slayers were being sent there."

Buffy chuckled slightly as Sam and Riley reached for their bags. She gave a motion that they could leave, so they did. They were walking towards the doors before Buffy spoke again. "Are you serious?" she asked as she looked at Riley. "That's the last you heard."

Riley nodded. "We don't get much contact outside our base," he admitted. "Unless it involves something we need to do somewhere, like the Wolfram and Hart thing."

"Sunnydale blew up," Buffy stated bluntly. "All those Potentials are Slayers. Dawn and I moved to Rome."

Riley's eyes widened at the statement. He did not know what to say. It was all kind of a shock to him.

"Wow," Sam said for her husband. "That certainly is…wow. How?" she asked curiously.

"About the Slayers, Willow did a spell," Buffy answered. "And Spike had this amulet causing the town to explode. All the vampires were destroyed, but so was the town."

Sam and Riley nodded understandingly. The concept was a bit mind-boggling, but it did make sense. "Well, we're not due to start plan-making until later," Riley began. "We could take you to where you need to be," he offered.

"Really?" Sam and Buffy asked at the same time.

Riley nodded. "Yes, really," he stated. He ignored the glaring looks Sam was giving him and returned his focus to Buffy. "So where are you headed?" he asked.

"Playa Linda," Buffy said honestly. "It's on the coast. It's where Dawn is."

Dawn smiled as she remained sitting on her mattress. Nikki had fallen asleep about an hour ago, but Dawn could not get herself to do the same. She was too excited about all that was happening now, but also too worried about whether or not Buffy found out she was gone. She probably had by that point, Dawn figured. Hopefully her sister was not that dense.

Dawn groaned in her boredom. She carefully tiptoed out of the room and down the stairs. She remained silent as to not wake anyone. To her amusement and slight confusion, someone downstairs was all ready awake. At least Dawn figured someone was because the light was one. Dawn finished making her way downstairs.

"Hello?" she called out softly.

"Hey there," Bradin called to her from the kitchen. He had a blender in front of him with some ice cream, chocolate syrup, and milk inside of it. He carefully placed the lid on it before turning it on. "Want a milkshake?" he asked.

"So I guess you can't sleep either," Dawn said as she walked over towards the kitchen. She pulled up a stool next to the counter as Bradin grabbed two cups from the refrigerator.

"Not really," Bradin answered honestly.

"That makes two of us," Dawn said as she took one of the cups. Bradin stopped the blender and poured about half its contents into Dawn's cup. He then poured the other half into his cup. Dawn smiled at him before taking a sip. "This is good," she said.

"Thanks," Bradin said. "Nikki used to make them every year as the end of summer approached. I don't really know why, but she did it."

"She's a nice girl," Dawn said before taking another sip.

Bradin nodded. "Yea, she's not bad," he agreed. He smiled as he walked over to Dawn. "Wanna take these out on the beach?"

"You serious?" Dawn asked.

Bradin nodded. "Only if you want," he said.

"I'd love to," Dawn said happily as she hopped down from the stool. She then followed Bradin over to the door. "Just the two of us."