Dawn didn't say anything to Buffy about what had happened the night before, as she felt her sister too weary and too emotionally raw to handle anything rationally. She waited, knowing the next day would not be a good time for it either. Best to wait until things cooled down a little before delving into the emotional mess that was her sister's love life.
She had waited a few moments after Buffy headed up to their room before joining her sister there. Buffy was seemingly already asleep, whether that was true or not, Dawn did not bother finding out. Instead she too settled down for bed, intending on questioning her sister at a later date and then allowing herself the time to contemplate the events that had taken place between her and Connor.
She had never felt this way about any guy in her life. She had watched from the sidelines when Buffy and Angel did the on again off again bit while he was in Sunnydale and wondered if she would ever feel as strongly for a guy as her sister had for Angel. Now she knew that she did have the same capacity to feel that way and she was pretty sure she was feeling it for Connor. There was so much to him that intrigued her, so much she wanted to explore.
Like his father, he had an incredibly brave and beautiful heart. His life was about doing good, wherever and however he could manage. Holtz, the man who raised him may have taught him how to survive, but it was Angel's heart and Angel's goodness that shone through to Dawn, even if Connor himself couldn't see it.
Although there were similarities to Angel however, he certainly wasn't Angel the sequel by a long shot. Dawn could tell that Connor lacked the sense of security, the assuredness in the mission that his father possessed as well as the self worth his father carried with him along with the title of champion. Connor did not believe that he mattered to anyone and it tore her up inside because it was clearly untrue. She could tell just by watching that Angel longed to develop a relationship with his son, longed to show him and tell him how sorry he was for the life Connor had been forced to lead. He longed to put his arm around the boy and tell him he was proud of him. Dawn wished she could give that completeness to both Connor and Angel, but knew that was beyond her capabilities.
He was dark, but lacked the guilty brooding quality that was his father's trademark. Connor's darkness was rooted in anger that when combined with his solitary nature made him seem almost completely unapproachable. He was frightened and insecure but also completely endearing as such. His absolute wonder and amazement that Dawn should not only care for him, but want to kiss him as well made her want to take him in her arms and banish all his pain away.
Was this love? Was it simply an infatuation? Was she old enough to feel love? Was he? She couldn't answer any of these questions, much as she wished she could, so she opted instead to just close her eyes and try to sleep. Still, even as she did so all she could feel were Connor's hesitant lips on hers, his arms around her, and his dark, oh-so-emotionally charged eyes peering into hers, searching for any sign of betrayal on her part and lightening with relief and happiness when he found none.
I only want to make you feel happiness Connor. Dawn thought as she drifted off to sleep, her heart skipping a beat as she said the name, even in her mind. You do belong somewhere. I will make you see that I promise.