Disclaimer: BtVS belongs to Joss Whedon, Fox Television, etc. Highlander belongs to Panzer/Davis and a bunch of others. Prue belongs to Aaron Spelling and Co. , Ginny belongs to J.K.Rowling and Co.
Word count: 704 (8 of 100)
Note: This is set in the universe of my ficlet Gone, and occurs during TtH 100 Prompt #39 (Funeral). (Background on the Prue reference can be found in my fic 'The Not So Charmed Witch'. Sort of.)

AN: Feedback always welcome.

Chapter Title: Regrets

She clutched her glass tightly as she stared across the room at the two women. The thing that looked so much like her sister and the other, sharing a closeness that spoke of something more than friendship as the crowd flowed around them. The sounds of their voices occasionally reached her, though even with her enhanced hearing she wasn't able to understand what they were saying.

Buffy couldn't take her eyes off of them and she was sure they'd noticed her watching them. But she couldn't stop. Even if it wasn't really Dawn, she couldn't resist. Her sister had been so fragile and needy that fall when she'd died; so tired of the danger of the life they'd been leading and not fully recovered from what had happened to her that summer; that Buffy had guiltily welcomed her absence. Not knowing that she would never see her again. Never have a chance to hold her, to hug her again.

She'd thought she'd gotten over the guilt, except for once a year when she visited the memorial they'd put up near the field her plane had crashed into. But seeing something looking like her... walking around, speaking with her voice... was bringing the guilt back.

So she watched, trying to determine from a distance if it was really Dawn or not. She didn't think this ersatz Dawn was evil, or if she was she hid it very well. But she looked like Dawn would have looked twenty years ago, as if she hadn't aged at all. And she was dressed as if she'd been taking fashion tips from Faith.

Buffy took a sip from her glass, noticing as she did so that is was time for a refill. She motioned over to one of the hovering waitresses for another drink. She'd promised Prue that she would take it easy but she wasn't here, having had to fly to San Francisco as soon as the funeral was over for some family emergency and wasn't there to keep an eye on her.

Buffy could really use her company right now. This was the first time they'd been separated since she'd found Faith. Without her balancing presence Buffy had the urge to do something that could turn out catastrophically bad. She was tired of watching the blonde woman whispering things into her sister's ear, causing her to laugh. If this was Dawn, why wasn't she looking as upset as she felt herself. After all, Dawn had idolized Faith at one point.

She could feel, in turn, someone watching her. She didn't have to turn her head to know that it was either Ginny or that slayer her daughter was paired up with, the one that reminded her so much of Kennedy. They probably expected her to do something about this Dawn look-alike. She ignored her possible watcher. This event was in honor of Faith and not the place for a confrontation.

She wasn't really feeling much of anything, alcohol or not. Looking down at another empty glass, Buffy decided she'd had enough. Now was the perfect time to find out what was going on with the Dawn look-alike. Before the pain and guilt returned, while she was in control, more or less, of her emotions.

She headed towards the two woman, weaving between the dancers. Stopping in front of them, she stared intently at the Dawn-creature's face for a minute, trying to determine if she were evil. Both women gave off a very faint magical tingle but nothing very tangible.

"You and your friend." She nodded at the older looking blonde. "My office. Now." She walked stiffly out of the room, not giving them any time to object, knowing that they would follow.