Chapter 19

August 19th…

Hmm…what do I want to do today?

She could invite people over to her snazzy new apartment. It was small, but not cramped, and she had saved all these years to be able to get it. Oh, Sebastian covered half the rent, prices being so inflated nowadays, but it was hers, and Dawn had spent a month decorating it to perfection. Her décor was a little eclectic, slightly ethnic, but it worked, and most importantly – it was uniquely Dawn, the grown-up version. Looking around her living room still inspired giggles of glee that she was living alone for the first time. No sharing a bathroom. No one eating her food. No one complaining about the music she listened to. It was perfect.

Dawn cycled through the numbers on her cell phone until she found the one she wanted. "Hey, baby. Guess what today is?"

"Your birthday. Have you had a good morning?"

"Yep. Mom said they don't have specific plans, wanting to talk with me first, so this birthday thing is up for grabs."

"What would you like to do?"

"I'm not sure. Part of me wants to call my friends and hit a club, and the other half wants to be with family, like always. This adult decision-making thing is hard!"

"I can hear your pout over the phone," he teased. "I just finished my run, so let me take a shower, and then I'll come over, okay?"

"Okay. I might be in the 'dark room', so just knock a little loud."

"Alright. See you in around 40. Bye!"

Dawn ended the call, then put her phone back on the charger. "Oh, crap! I'm not dressed, yet!" She flew into the bathroom and pulled out her hair dryer and make-up.

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"Mom? Giles? Anyone home?"

"In here, Buffy!" her mother's voice called from the kitchen.

"Hey. What's the plan for Dawnie's birthday?"

"We're waiting for her to figure that out. How was your trip, honey?"

"Very fun, and very romantic. Sebastian whisked me off for a weekend in Rome. I have lots of new shoes!"

"What a surprise?" Giles muttered, from behind his newspaper. Buffy stuck her tongue out at him, before turning back to her mother.

"Goodness, I haven't been to Rome since before you girls were born. Rupert, it's been a while since we went away, don't you think?"

"Yes, dear," he replied automatically.

"I'll start looking up arrangements, then. We don't want to waste what little summer there is left."

"Of course, dear."

Buffy and Joyce giggled. Giles had just been roped in.

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Knock, knock…

"It's open!" Dawn called, before disappearing back into her bedroom. Michael was right on time.

"Hey, beautiful, where are you hiding?"

"Back here! Don't turn on the light!" Dawn had turned her closet into a darkroom when she first moved in. Her clothes were stored in a chest of drawers and an armoire, instead.

"What pictures are you working on?"

"The roll I shot for Thomas' birthday party. I took a couple of their new house, too."

"You mentioned it was nice."

"Yeah. You can still see the ocean, so they're happy, and they have enough bedrooms for all three kids, now."

"Do they know what they're having now?" Michael leaned against the doorway to the closet to wait.

"Nope. Anya says since they have one boy and one girl, already, that this one should be a surprise. I think Xander's hoping for another boy so they can outnumber the girls. Lacey's a little over a year old now. She's so cute, and such a girly-girl."

"That's cool. Have you figured out what you want to do today?"

Dawn slipped out of the closet, her photos pinned up to dry now. "I was thinking this would be a good start," she said, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him.

"Wow…good morning to you, too," he said when they parted, slightly breathless. "And I haven't even given you your present, yet."

"Ooo, is it a good one?" she asked eagerly.

Michael chuckled. "I hope so. We could do dinner and dancing tonight, anywhere you want."

"Anywhere?" She had that calculating look in her eye that made him nervous."

"Sure, Dawnie. It is your birthday."

"Then, I want to go to Rosa's."

"The salsa club? I don't know how to do that, Dawn. You've always gone with your girlfriends."

"I'll teach you! Anyways, they have an awesome kitchen, too, with all kinds of Latin stuff. Please?"

"Not the pout…" he whined. "Okay…we'll go. Do I need to wear anything special?" he asked warily.

"Nope, just casual stuff, and comfortable shoes. Hee! This will be so much fun! Should we ask the others to join us?"

"If you want to. It's your special day, baby. I'll just be glad to be with you, either way."

"You are the sweetest guy…are you sure you're not an evil mastermind in disguise?"

"You are so weird, but I love you, anyway. Decide whom you want to come by this afternoon, so we can make reservations. Want to come help me unpack at the dorm?"

"Sure, why not? You desperately need my organizing skills," Dawn replied.

"Hey!"

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"Spike, would you hurry up and get dressed? My sister's going to be here any minute to watch the girls tonight, and we gotta go."

"Why'd she have to pick a place in bloody L.A., anyway? Plenty of good eateries elsewhere."

Kara walked out of the bathroom, ready to go. "Maybe because she lives there now? How long can you hate a city just because Angel lives there? It's Dawn's birthday. Would you please get ready to go? All you have to do to make her happy is show up."

"Yeah, yeah…bossy bint…" he muttered. Spike tossed his book on the nightstand and headed for the shower. "Happy!"

"Yes!" The doorbell rang, so Kara hurried downstairs to answer the door. The twins reached it at the same time she did.

"Aunt Steffie!"

"Hey, thanks for coming over last minute. It took Dawn until this afternoon to decide what she wanted to do today," Kara apologized.

"Not a problem. I didn't have any plans, anyway. It's been a slow week at the hospital."

"Well, I'm just waiting for Spike to get dressed, so let's have a seat. There's money on the counter for you to order takeout, like always, and the girls had a late lunch, so they probably won't be hungry for a while. Oh, Ana's little friend came down with chicken pox a couple days ago, so we've been watching for her to get itchy. Just in case. My cell will be on, as usual. Umm…"

"I know, Kara. Geeze, you're as bad as Mom."

"Take that back! Diana was way over-protective."

"I know. I just like seeing you twitch at the comparison."

"Evil brat."

"You look very nice, though. Pretty good for a 34 year-old."

"Watch it…How many mothers of twins do you know who could wear this dress, hmm?"

"Not a one comes to mind, luv. Ready to head out?" Spike replied.

(Oooo, yum…) Kara thought to her mate. He mentally smirked and preened in response.

"Bye, guys. Have fun!" Stephanie said.

"Oh, we will," Spike replied, winking at his sister-in-law before ushering Kara out the door.

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"Dawnie…wow!" Buffy said, after hugging her sister hello. Dawn's dark brown hair fell in waves over her shoulders, and she was wearing a backless top that was held on by a few ties, a wrap-around skirt that exposed one thigh, and stilettos. Her kohl-rimmed eyes completed the sultry look. "Has Mom seen you, yet, 'cause I think you should put a jacket on first, or something?"

"Relax, Buffy. I'm 21, not 16. Mom knows I'm not a kid anymore."

"If you say so…"

"How's my favorite sister-in-law? Happy birthday, Dawn," Sebastian said.

"I'm your only sister-in-law, dummy. I'm glad you guys could pause your jet-setting long enough to be here," she teased.

"We'd never miss your birthday, Dawn. I take it by the big table that everyone's coming?" Buffy said.

"Well, they're invited. Tara and Giles had to close up the shop, and Xander and Anya were trying to find a babysitter. It might just be one of them here."

"Right. Well, it's nice of Michael to stand out front and direct us where to go. This place is kinda hidden. Do you come here a lot?"

"Yep. Thursday night thing with the girls. The other half of the building is the dance hall, and we've been learning to salsa all summer. Hey, there's Kara and Spike." Dawn stood up and waved so they could see the table.

"Hey, happy birthday, sweetie. You look beautiful," Kara said, as they hugged.

"Forget somethin' tonight, Niblet?" Spike blurted out, which got him an elbow in the ribs from his wife. "Happy birthday, luv."

"Thanks. I hope the others arrive soon. I'm starving. Excuse me, guys." Dawn headed out front to use her cellphone.

(What is she doing, showing that much skin?) Spike mentally hissed.

(Being 21, just like the rest of us did. I don't see the problem – she's got all the essentials covered, honey.)

(Yeah, until that boy of hers gets her alone.)

(Spike…)

(What? She's my Niblet, and I don't want her to get hurt.)

(You can't stop her from growing up. Please, try to have a good time tonight. I'm sure Sebastian is feeling the same way you are, so you two can bitch all you want about it later.)

"I still don't like it," her mate grumbled out loud.

"What don't you like?" Buffy asked.

"Never mind."

"He's just struggling with the over-protective-big-brother thing again," Kara supplied.

"Ah, well, I imagine Mom will beat you to it. Have a drink and try to live in denial," Buffy answered.

"Good evening, merry revelers. Was that Dawn out front?" Xander asked, joining the table.

"Yep."

"Yowsers…"

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"Hey, could you stop watching Dawn like a hawk for two seconds and dance with me?" Kara said testily.

Spike had the wisdom to look chagrined. "Sorry, luv. Old habits die hard, etc…"

"Thank you. I wore this just for you, ya know."

"And I appreciate it. I love you in red," he replied.

"Wanna guess what's underneath it?" she purred. His hand slid over her hip, and she watched his eyes flicker gold for a second at the discovery of no lines. The dress was cut low enough that she couldn't wear a conventional bra, either.

"Naughty kitten…absolutely nothing?"

"Not. A. Thing."

"Good thing we didn't bring the bike, then."

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"…Happy birthday to you…!" Dawn blew out the candles on the cake Michael had arranged for without her knowledge. The group cheered, and Joyce took pictures.

"Thanks for the gifts everybody! This has been an awesome party." Dawn lifted her glass in salute, before sitting down to enjoy her cake. She'd been sipping a strawberry daiquiri throughout the evening.

"I should be taking off, Dawnster. Got a wife at home with two toddlers."

"Bye, Xander. Thank you!"

"We're going to take off, too, honey, before we're too tired to drive."

"Okay, Mommy. Thanks for everything. Thanks, Giles." Tara said her goodbyes, too, since she had ridden with them.

Kara and Spike stayed a little longer, then left the restaurant. Dawn and Michael were talking quietly amongst themselves, Buffy signaled to Sebastian that it was time to go. Her sister was old enough to end her birthday with couple time.

"We're going to head out, Dawnie. Thanks for picking this restaurant. It was fun."

"Yeah, I think everybody had a good time. I'll call you tomorrow, and you can tell me about your Rome trip."

"It's a date. And no driving tonight. You've had alcohol."

"Yeah, yeah, I know. He drove, anyway. Thanks for my shoes!"

They hugged, and then, it was just the young pair.

"Wanna go back on the dance floor?"

"If you'd like. It's still your day for another two and a half hours."

"It is, isn't it? Okay, we'll dance for a bit, and then you can take me back to the apartment."

"As you wish."

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Chapter 19 was originally really long, but it was really two parts, so it seemed better to split it. Thanks for the reviews, still.