Soon enough, Dawn was nearing her eighteenth birthday and the whole crew planned a big bash just for her. Buffy got Faith to take over patrolling so that they could have a party together. Everyone was there. Buffy, Willow, Xander, Giles, Andrew, Kennedy and one of Dawns friends from school, Drea.
They all hung out together and ate lots of the world's most fattening foods. Soon, they all sat in front of Dawn to give her the presents that they bought for her. Dawn was ecstatic and quickly got started on them.
Buffy had given her a new halter top and a gold ring. Willow gave her a new leather jacket. Giles gave her a book on the 'Thousand and One Species of Demons'. Xander gave her some money, because he hated shopping for the Summer's women. However, her favorite gift was from Andrew. He gave her a golden locket, in the shape of a heart. It as empty, but that didn't matter to her. She stood and gave him a big hug that made him blush in front of the rest of the group.
The night wore on with dancing and cake but it soon got late. Everyone was overcome by lack of sleep, so they called it a night. After most people had agreed to end the night, Buffy decided that she was going to do one last sweep before she went to bed. Kennedy and Willow went upstairs and Xander went to his bedroom, where Giles soon followed.
"I'll just go…to my mini house." Andrew said, sipping at a Capri Sun. He went out through the back door to his guest house.
"Don't go to bed too late." Buffy said as she grabbed a stake from her chest in the living room.
"Buffy! It's only midnight on a Saturday!" Dawn said, waving her hands emphatically in the air. "And I'm eighteen!" She added. Buffy just laughed.
"Fine, stay awake as long as you like! I'll lock up when I get home." She said as she left the house. Leaving Dawn alone in the kitchen.
Dawn walked upstairs and looked at all over her new gifts once again as she went into her bedroom. She ogled at the locket that Andrew had given her. She put it on and looked at herself in the mirror. She loved that way it shimmers. She looked out her bedroom window t towards Andrew's guest house. She saw the lights on.
She walked downstairs and out the back door. She was barefoot and the grass felt cool between her toes. There was a stone pathway that led to the door of the guest house. A tree covered most of the house by its leaves, but there was an opening around the door. She knocked lightly on it. Seconds later, Andrew answered the door. He was surprised to find Dawn on the other side. He was already dressed in his pajamas for the night and looked like her was ready to go to bed any minute.
"Hi Dawn." Andrew said with a smile. "What's up?" He asked a second later.
"Nothing, can I come in?" Dawn asked.
"Of course." Andrew said, moving out of the way so that she could step in. She walked into the main room, which had a small couch and TV in the corner.
"You know, this is the first time I've been in here." Dawn said, Andrew smiled at her and stood right next to her.
"It's kinda boring. Oh, but I did get that Star Wars poster framed to put on the wall!" Andrew said, pointing at his new poster. Dawn smiled.
"That's…cool." Dawn said. Andrew stood awkwardly, feeling a bit stupid for bringing it up.
"Do you want something to drink?" Andrew asked.
"Sure. Uhmm…Tea?" Dawn asked. Andrew nodded.
"Earl Grey or English Breakfast?" Andrew asked.
"English Breakfast." She said. Andrew nodded again and then walked out of the room to go to the kitchen. Dawn sat down on the small couch. She looked at the videos he had around his TV. He looked through them, and noticed one that was labeled "Buffy, Slayer of the Vampyrs." The one Andrew made before the fight with the First. She put it into the VCR player. Everyone's face shown on the screen. They were all in the old kitchen. Dawn saw her own face. She seemed brighter, like she had something there that wasn't there anymore. Her innocence. Now she looked, aged. Worn.
Andrew walked back into the room with two cups of tea in his hands. He smiled slightly when he saw what she was watching. He came up on her side and gave her her cup. She took a cautious sip as Andrew sat down next to her. They watched the video together.
When Spike's image came on the screen, they both got a little tense. Andrew noticed that dawn wasn't looking at the screen anymore. Andrew paused the video and looked over at Dawn.
"Dawn, are you alright?" Andrew asked. She leaned her head against his chest in distress. She started to cry, against her better judgment. Andrew sat, unsure of how to comfort her. He just let her cry until she was done.
"I just miss him." Dawn said. Andrew wrapped his arms around her. He began to run his fingers through her hair. Dawn yawned and Andrew leaned back on the couch, so Dawn could lie down on his chest. She fell asleep quickly. It was hard for her to get sleep these days. As the night wore on, Andrew fell asleep as well. They slept in a peaceful silence until the sun rose.