Author's note: On behalf of everyone at the Simply Buffy Guild a great big thanks to all those who have reviewed and for reading this fic. We appreciated it greatly. Okay, last chapter written by me, Kitty aka. Sanityfair on fanfiction net or kittybeenbad for most other places.

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Dawn stared listlessly at the door of the bedroom she was in, expecting it to burst open at any moment. She was tired and it took every ounce of strength in her to just sit up, but she felt compelled to watch. And to wait. Her shoulders shook with the sobs she tried hard to keep from jetting out. Her sister would come, she knew deep down inside that at any moment that door would be open. Trumpets blaring. Guns a blazin'.

But, what if she didn't come? What if Buffy was too late and her baby was... Oh God...her baby. Those monsters! They took him! Her baby...she had pushed and pushed and then her little boy. Her baby boy...they took him! Oh God... She shook her head to push the thoughts out of head before taking to staring at the door once more. Buffy would come and then everything would be okay, that's all that mattered.

MEANWHILE

The Master stared down at the human child, each of it's features delicate, so very fragile. But, there was power here. From such a frail pathetic thing such power emitted. It was a conundrum he did not want to think about. What he wanted to think about now was what he would be doing with that power.

"S-sir?"

He snarled at the sound that broke into the other wise quiet room and turned to whoever had spoken. It was just a vampire minion. He made a mental note to get better minions when he had all he needed to rule this world. Perhaps he could enslave the human race as a whole. Or was that too cliche? In any case for now it was all that he had and so he would have to make due.

"What is it?" The Master snapped as he held the human child closer to him. The young human stirred slightly but The Master didn't care nor did the baby do much else. Curiously it seemed calm even in the grips of such a monstrous demon.

"The girl...Dawn. What do we do with her?" The vampire asked bowing low as its eyes melted into the ground for fear of making eye contact with the 'oh so powerful Master'.

"Hmmm," The Master mused, running a long finger against the side of his chin as he hoisted the baby up slightly. "Bring her to me. It would only be fair that she watch the ritual. And then when it is over... we shall kill her."

MEANWHILE

Buffy will come. I know she will. Dawn's mind raced in overdrive as she continued to stared at the door; each second more agonizing then the rest. She had to be strong. It's what Buffy would do, what Connor would have wanted. And if nothing else...she had to be strong for her baby's sake.

"Dawn..."

Her eyes widened at the voice. She knew that voice. It was...

"Connor?" She asked turning around with great effort as she searched for the visual to the sound.

"Dawn." Connor said stepping out from the shadows.

She drew back in fear remembering all too well what had happened the last time she fell into one of these tricks. But, something was different. Maybe it was her over imagination or she was dreaming this or because she was so tired from childbirth. But, this seemed so real.

"It's not you," She said finally.

He smiled, his eyes sparkling slightly as he looked over at her. He took a tentative step forward and then spoke once more. "They told me you wouldn't believe it was me."

"They?" Dawn asked leaning away from him as he stepped toward her.

"The Powers," he said with a small head nod. "They're giving me this one chance."

"One chance?" she asked shaking her head in confusion. She looked over at Connor. This had to be real, it just had to be. When she looked into his eyes she could see him. Her love. The father of her... no... their child. "One chance to do what?"

"To say goodbye," he said taking the last remaining steps to get near her bed.

"G-Goodbye?" Dawn asked quietly, the tears beginning to swell in her eyes.

He nodded, taking her hands in his as he leaned forward and kissed her softly on the lips. Cold! He was so very cold. It made her recoil at first, but then she looked in his eyes again. She knew it was him, it was her Connor. Connor! The baby...

"The baby," she said in near panic, "Connor, we have to get the baby. T-They took him a-and...oh God.."

"Shhh," he hushed wrapping her into a tight hug, "Dawn, you'll get him back. I promise you. I'll always be beside you, always. And you're both going to be happy and have the best life, the life I couldn't give you. I love you Dawn. I love you."

Dawn blinked a few times. Connor was gone! She jerked her head around to see where the love of her life had gone to. He was really gone. For the second time her life he was taken from her. She put her head in her hands, but there were no tears to come. She was too drained to do anything but stare into the palms of her hands. She suddenly heard a loud click and looked up sharply as the door was opened. As soon as she saw who it was she screamed.

MEANWHILE

"Buffy wait," Angel yelled as the blonde slayer broke free of the seatbelt and then bolted toward the building. He watched her retreating back as he ran after her, "At least wait for us!"

Faith, Willow, and Wesley all ran up behind Angel and they were all flanked by Illyria who walked calmly towards her party.

"It's locked," Buffy yelled in frustration as she waved toward the door. She studied the side panel and realized that a code would be needed. A code that they obviously didn't have.

"Pffft, when have we cared about locked doors B'?"

Buffy waved toward the code panel.

"Oh..."

"We have to find another way in," Angel said.

"Perhaps there's a side door," Wesley suggested.

"Or a back door," Willow said.

"Out of my way incompetent weaklings," Illyria said as she finally joined them. Rolling their eyes a bit the group moved to the side as Illyria walked up and unceremoniously ripped the door from it's metal hinges and through it to the side.

"Well, that's one way of doing it," Angel said as they ran inside.

MEANWHILE

"Giles go faster," Anya yelled.

"I'm trying if you would just..."

"Hey, this is the turn only lane," Xander observed.

"I think you missed the exit," Tara said.

"Come on, I know this hunk of junk can do at least 90," Gunn added.

"Bloody hell, if you all would allow me to concentrate," Giles said, trying to maneuver himself into the right lane.

"Oh my God. Look out for that.."

MEANWHILE

"Ah Dawn. How nice of you to join us," The Master said as he held the now struggling baby over the altar.

"My baby!" Dawn yelled, "Give me back my baby you son of a bi..."

"Manners!" The Master yelled cutting her off, "You should thank your lucky stars that I'm allowing you to witness the inevitable destruction of your pathetic race. Now, can you think of two little words to say to that." Grinning widely the Master mouthed 'Thank you' to help her out.

Dawn just narrowed her eyes and said, "How about Fu..."

"No," Buffy said stepping out from the shadows as Angel, Faith, Wesley, Willow and Illryia followed suit. "I can think of two words you're thinking of right now," she said to the Master.

"Kill them!" The Master yelled to his vampire minion.

"Bingo," Buffy said, ducking as the nearest vampire threw a punch her way.

Dawn scrambled to get to her baby as The Master tried to run to the door just as Illyria walked up and blocked it. The Master grinned, thinking that the strange blue creature would be no match for him until Illyria backhanded a vampire trying to grab her into and then through a wall. The Master gulped and turned around, but found an very angry Dawn and Angel staring him down as they inched closer.

Buffy, Faith, Willow, and Wesley all kept the vampire populous down. Wesley and Willow worked more as a team, using magicks and each other as leverage to take out the vampires while Buffy and Faith went solo with their task. Soon there was nothing but bone and ash littering the floor as Buffy took a deep breath and walked over to her sister, making sure she was okay.

"Is that all you got?" Faith asked as she crossed her arms and the whole group cornered the master.

"Might as well give up," Willow said, "Because the way I see it..."

"You're screwed," Angel added.

"Don't come any closer," The Master said holding the baby up. "I'll kill the child!"

"You'll do no such thing," A voice said from behind them.

The Group turned around to see a much larger demon walking toward him. There was no time to gasp or act surprised as the group readied for what looked like a major battle.

"Who are you?" Buffy asked taking her slayer stance.

"I am Nephi 'Ah 'ka 'la, ruler of a dimension not unlike your own," The demon said.

"Okay, I'll buy it. So what the hell do you want?" Angel asked.

"What's mine," the demon said, turning its attention to the Master, "I sent- banished you here to destroy this world. You spent so much time worrying about power that you did not heed the rules."

"The rules?" Buffy asked in confusion.

"The rules of war," Illyria said looking over at Nephi 'Ah' 'ka 'la, "You were defeated once, were you not."

"Ah Illyria, it's nice to see you too," The demon said with a slight scowl, "Yes, in rule you are forthright, you head into battle knowing you will loose or you will win. Striving for the latter. You do not play petty games of hiding and attacking when your opponent is unaware. Zinihila, you have failed me. You have shamed our race and there will be much punishment for you back in our world. Now give the baby back and come here."

"B-But," The Master said ducking his head and clutching the baby tighter.

"NOW!" The demon bellowed.

Reluctantly The Master handed over the baby to Dawn who instantly began to calm her child and sob into its tiny head. The two masters then disappeared into a brilliant white flash of light leaving everyone standing there looking at each other

"Does anyone else feel drunk?" Faith asked, still a little perplexed over what just happened.

"I just feel tired," Willow said.

"Agreed," Wesley said.

"I'm just glad this is over with," Buffy said wrapping and arm around her sister and looking down at her nephew. "He's beautiful. What are you naming him?"

"Connor Liam Summers," Dawn said as she clothed the baby in her jacket.

"That's a wonderful name," Angel said quickly swiping his eyes a few times.

Suddenly there was a loud crash and everyone turned around expecting the worst. What they got however, was Giles, Gunn, Xander, Tara and Anya racing into the room carrying weapons and looking around for the villians.

"We're here!" Xander announced.

"You're too late," Dawn said with a chuckle. "We've already won."

"I told you we were moving to slow!" Anya said, punching Giles in the arm.

"Owww!"

"Come on," Buffy said, guiding her sister, "Let's go home."

They all crowded around Dawn and led her protectively as they made their way outside, putting their problems and the woes over those they lost into the 'until the world needs saving again' category.

THE END