Disclaimer: Any character in the story that you don't recognize from the show I made up, other than that all characters are owned by Joss Whedon,

Summary: Set about six years after chosen, but slightly au ending. Dawn and everyone else believe that Spike, Buffy, Anya, and a few of the new Slayers died in the final battle, However, six years later they meet an old friend………..

A/N: Sorry it's taken so long, lifes been a little hectic.

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Giles walked into the porch of his beacon hill home after a full day at his job at the local high schools library.

he was usually the first one home, but he knew there was someone else in the house today.

"Dawn?"

The poor young woman had not been well recently. She'd got a stomach flu or some bug and had been home from work for the last couple of weeks.

"Dawn, are you home?"

"Coming, just a sec"

He could hear her moving around upstairs, then thundering down the two flights of stairs.

He waited for her to reach the bottom, envelop him in a tight hug and then stand before him, as usual.

"How are you feeling today Dawn? Any better?"

"Well, I'm still throwing up, and I'm kinda tired, so – about the same really." She replied gloomily

"Yes, you are still very pale, - I think that maybe you should go and see a doctor."

"Oh stop worrying Giles, I'll be fine. Really" she looked a little downcast and Giles wondered to himself why, but shook the thought from his head.

There was about half an hour before the rest of the household would make an appearance, so she would have to put up with his efforts to cheer her up instead of her husband's, which were likely to work better but still, one had to make do he supposed.

"Do you want a hot drink Dawn?"

"um – Please – a hot chocolate - thanks"

"Ok, go sit in the den and I'll make them and bring them through to you, okay?"

He wandered through to the kitchen to fix dawn's hot chocolate and a cup of tea for himself.

When the drinks were made he placed the steaming cups on a tray, popped a few mini-marshmallows onto the hot chocolate and carried it through to the den.

He offered the tray to Dawn, who picked up her cup, smiled into it and said,

"Thanks Giles, Just like Mom used to make" her smile disappeared, though only briefly.

She took a sip of the hot liquid, allowing it to soothe and calm her so the smile reappeared brightly.

"It's getting to that time of year again." She stated by way of explanation.

"I know" Giles told her softly.

"You'll be going away for a few days soon then?" she asked him

"H- How did you know?" He stuttered

"You do every year – You go to Sunnydale's Crater. Did you think I wouldn't realize?"

"N-No – I mean, I didn't want to upset you"

"I might come with you"

"Oh"

"yeah, I think its time to go back, see it again, them again. Closure."

"Ok." They lapsed into silence for a few minutes.

"It's been so boring being home alone these last few weeks," Dawn started on a different subject. "I can't wait to get back to work, - anything to get away from daytime TV." She laughed and Giles joined in.

"But seriously – I'm sick of being sick. I don't even know how I caught this stupid bug."

"Probably from a client at work."

"Yeah, Probably, Anyway, how was your day Giles?"

"Oh, the usual, You know, waiting for student's to need my help, checking books in and out, same as always."

"Bet you miss having the Scoobie's in the library huh?"

"well yes, I do at times, when it gets quiet."

"All the noise, hormonal teen's and apocalypse's?"

"Lord no, Well, it can get a bit boring sometimes, but that never bothered me before I met…" he trailed off

"Buffy"

"Uh, well, Yes."

They sat in companionable silence for a while. Both thinking of the same person. A Car pulling up outside disturbed them from their reverie. Dawn's face lit up and Giles smiled to himself as she jumped up and practically bounced to the front door to meet her husband.

He was amazed that the two were so happy together, had found each other through so much shared grief, although, he remembered being so shocked at first, when he and Willow found them sharing a bed together.

Flashback

Giles and Willow knocked on Xander's door, both sharing a worried glance when he didn't answer immediately – he was usually up at this time. They walked in without a second thought.

"Xander – have you seen…." Willow trailed off in shock as both she and Giles came to a standstill on seeing Xander and Dawn curled around each other, both just waking up

"I-I'm S-sorry I d-didn't know both Willow and Giles stuttered.

"What? – OH! No its nothing, - Dawn and I just…." Xander tried explaining

end flashback

Giles shook his head to clear the memory.

The front door opened.

"Honey, I'm home,"The man standing in the doorway joked for the billionth time as he gathered his wifes small waist into his arms

"Hi Dawnie, how you feelin? Any better?"

"I am now you're home" she beamed at him.

"You always make me feel great Xand"

"Hello Xander"

"Hey G-Man"

After saying hello Giles wandered upstairs to give the pair some time alone.

"Are you sure you're feeling better Honey? You still look awfully pale and drawn, you still throwing up?"

"A little" she confessed "But I am feeling better now – or I was" She told him taking a step back, if possible she had gone even paler suddenly, she noticed for the first time how tired she actually was. She stumbled a little and felt her legs giving way, just before she lost consciousness.

Xander caught his petite wife in his muscular arms before she hit the floor. He brought her legs up and carried her against his chest. He took her upstairs to the first floor and called out to Giles who appeared at the top of the stairs almost instantly.

"What's wrong? Good lord what happened?"

"Nothing, - she said she was feeling better, then just collapsed."

Xander carried her through to Faith and Robin's old room and laid her on the bed.

"Dawn? Dawn, wake up" Giles tried to rouse her through shaking her.

"Dawnie, Dawn Honey come on wake up, Dawn, please" There was a slight note of panic to Xander's voice. She started to stir

"Mmhwhah?" she mumbled, forcing her eyes open the tiniest amount.

"Dawn?" both men asked in unison.

"Yuh-huh?" she muttered her eyes opening a bit more and looking around "How did I get up here?"

"I carried you honey, you fainted – how are you feeling now?"

"Like someone ran over my head with a bulldozer, - I'm really tired, my head's killing and I feel nauseous."

"Honey, I think you should go to the doctors now, it's been a while and you aren't getting better."

"Xand I'm fine, really, it's just a bug."

"And the passing out proves just how fine you are. But seriously, you aren't getting any better and it could be more serious than just a bug, just go and get checked over."

"Yes Dawn, as I said earlier, it would be wise to visit the doctor."

"Guys stop worrying."

"Please Dawn, for me?"

"Oh all right I'll go, I'll book an appointment later."

"Thank you, I'll come with you"

"No – no, they only have Daytime appointments and you have to work, I'll be fine alone."

"But what if you pass out again, someone has to go with you."

"Ok Ok fine, one of my friends can come with me."

"Thank you. Do you wanna come downstairs with us?"

"No, thanks Honey, but I think I'll just go have an hour or twos rest, then I'll call the doctor."

"Ok Dawn, You want me to carry you up to bed?"

"Please Xan, I don't think I could walk that far."

"I'll go downstairs then" Giles informed Xander, shooting him a look that went completely unnoticed as the younger man looked down lovingly at his wife. Giles left the room quietly.

Xander picked Dawn up against his chest and carried her up to their bedroom.

He placed her gently on the bed and pulled a blanket over her. He looked at her lying there with her eyes closed and presumed she was already asleep.

He placed a kiss on her forehead and turned to leave the room. As he got to the door, before he left the room he heard her say three small words.

"Love you Xan." He smiled and left the room.