Author's Note: Trigger Warning - At the beginning of this chapter there is talk of depression and suicide. I do apologize but I figured that Dawn would have had repressed trauma she never truly dealt with. After all she saw her sister die twice (and knew of a third time), seen her mother dead. Knew that all her friends were dead.
If you have a problem with the talk of depression and suicide then go ahead and skip down to the break that starts the episode… September 23, 1997 – Tuesday.
Chapter 6: School Hard
September 21, 1997 – Sunday
"Chloe!" called Dawn from the living room. "Phone! It's Giles!"
Chloe came down the stairs and took the landline phone from Dawn. "Thanks, Dawn," she said as she watched Dawn walk into the kitchen before lifting the receiver to her ear. "Good morning, Giles. Anything I should know about?"
"Yes," he replied. "You might try and see if Dawn has additional trauma on top of what we already know, mainly with August and the Master."
"I take it something happened?"
"The Master's bones were dug up for a revivication ritual. Ms. Chase, Ms. Rosenberg, Jenny and I were captured for the ritual as they needed the people physically close to him when he was staked. Buffy and Dawn led Xander and Angel to the factory where we were being held. During the ensuing battle, they dispatched the vampires and then proceeded to take turns grinding the Master's bones into a powder. At which point they both broke down in tears. If Dawn was still harboring that after twelve years."
"Who knows what else might be buried under the surface waiting to erupt, especially when she is expecting a baby now," said Chloe. "I'll talk to her."
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Chloe called Willow and had her ask Xander over for a while so she could talk to Dawn alone. "Hey, Dawn," she said as she sat down on the couch next to her Slayer. "I think we need to talk. Giles informed me on what happened last week. We know about August of course and we suspected about the Master. But I want to talk about now is when Buffy died for you."
Dawn closed her eyes and sighed. She had hoped she would never have to talk about it. But she knew Chloe was right. She was a Slayer which meant lives were on the line. Could she risk trying to keep the pain bottled up? "I know you and Giles said it was noble of me to come back. But I was right too, it was selfish. I came back primarily for my family. For my mommy, for my sister, for my girlfriend. Yes, I came back for our friends too. But it was primarily for my family. When Buffy died the second time it was so much worse because till Willow's spell there was no coming back. It was very hard for me to get up, get dressed and go about my day. Every day was a chore, every day I considered committing suicide."
"Suicide?" said Chloe shocked.
"So, I could be with Buffy and mom," said Dawn. "I knew the guys thought Buffy's soul was in a hell dimension. But I was sure that was not true since she gave her life for me. Why would God or the Powers that Be or whatever send her to a hell dimension when she did that? I was sure that Buffy was in heaven with mom. So, I thought about joining her. Every day it was different. Sometimes I would return to Glory's tower, climb to the top and as I looked down, I would think about jumping. Other times I would be holding a razor blade to my wrists. Others I thought about throwing myself in front of a moving car. The thing that kept me going, the thing that made me hesitate every time I thought about killing myself, was what Buffy said before she sacrificed herself for me."
"Do you remember what it was she said?"
Dawn slowly nodded as tears fell down her face. "Dawn, listen to me. Listen. I love you. I'll always love you. But this is the work I have to do. Tell Giles I... I figured it out. And I'm okay. Give my love to my friends. You have to take care of them now – you have to take care of each other. You have to be strong. Dawn. The hardest thing in this world is to live in it. Be brave. Live. For me." She buried her face in her hands as she rapidly devolved into the girl, she had been all those years ago, who had desperately needed solace.
Chloe pulled Dawn into her arms and felt the teenage Slayer sobbing uncontrollably. "It'll be all right," she whispered comfortingly.
September 23, 1997 – Tuesday
"A lot of educators tell students think of your principal as your "pal". I say think of me as your judge, jury and executioner. Tell me, who do you think is the most troublesome student in this school?" asked Snyder as he looked at Sheila Martini, who popped her gum, and Buffy. "Well, it is quite a match between you two." He opened both Sheila and Buffy's folders. "On the one hand, Buffy hasn't stabbed a horticulture teacher with a trowel, yet."
"I never stabbed anyone with a trowel!" said Sheila as she stabbed the file in front of Snyder with her finger, he involuntarily edged back. "It was pruning shears. It should say pruning shears."
"On the other hand, Sheila's never burned down a school building," said Snyder looking at Buffy.
Buffy and Dawn had talked about this situation in case it ever came up in conversation. They had come up with a half truth based on the fire marshal's inspection of Hemery High's burned down gymnasium. "That was never proved… the fire marshal said it was faulty wiring. And if you are insinuating it was anything else. I have been told to have you talk to my lawyers."
"Lawyers?" asked Snyder.
"Paine and Hope," said Buffy. "In Los Angeles. They're the executors of my cousin's inheritance. And graciously, when Dawn asked them to represent us, agreed to add us as their clients."
Dawn had asked her lawyers to add Buffy, Joyce and Marie as their clients and to take their retainer fee out of her money. They had reluctantly agreed.
Snyder glared at Buffy before looking down at the files in front of him. "And the two of you seem to be tied in the class-cutting and fight-starting events. You're really neck and neck here. It's very exciting."
"What does the winner get?" asked Sheila.
Snyder grinned evilly. "Expelled," he said. "This Thursday is parent teacher night. Your parents–" he looked at Buffy. "—assuming you actually have any will meet your teachers–" he looked at Sheila. "–assuming you have any left. I have decided to put you two in charge of this event. You have three days to prepare the refreshments, make the bLyssars, and transform the school lounge into a habitable place for adults. This will incur my goodwill, and may even affect what I tell your parents when I meet them. Are we clear?"
"We're clear," said Buffy before looking at Sheila. "Don't you feel clear?" She looked back at Snyder. "We're very clear."
"Good. Because you mess up this time, and your parents will be coming to clean out your lockers," said Snyder.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
"Dawn."
Dawn looked at Giles and Chloe, who had taken Giles up on his offer for a recommendation for a job at Sunnydale High, she now worked as his assistant librarian. "Yes?" she said as she stopped hitting and kicking the punching bag.
"We just received word from Diana Dormer that she and Faith will be here by the end of the month," said Giles.
Dawn smiled as she rubbed her pregnant belly.
Chloe noticed the smile on Dawn's face. It was a pleasant sight to see given what had happened just the other day. "You have to remember, Dawn, that this Faith does not know you."
"I know, Chloe, I know I will have to build up the relationship from scratch, assuming this time around she is even interested in returning my feelings," said Dawn. "Now that said we have an incident coming up on parent teacher's night. I would say stake the vampire behind it, but he does prove useful in the future after the military implants a chip that keeps him from biting humans. He slowly switches sides after that. He even protected me during the summer after Buffy's second death. I say we should let this one play out. Buffy handles him, with some help from mom and he eventually runs off and by the end of the school year he ran off. While Buffy is fighting him, I will deal with the others that came with him."
"Then we have a plan of action," said Giles.
"Agreed," said Chloe. "Do I have to remind you to be careful. You are due after all in the coming days are you not?"
"Yeah the doctor said a week maybe two," said Dawn. "And I intend to."
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Buffy walked with Sheila as Xander and Willow approached them. "It really shouldn't be that hard. We'll work on banners tomorrow at lunch and we can figure out refreshments then."
"Yeah, sure, whatever," said Sheila as she spotted an older, slovenly, tattooed guy. "Hey, Meatpie! Wait up!" She raced off.
"Heard Snyder's got you guys making party favors," said Xander as they watched Sheila go.
"Yeah, his two worst students," said Buffy. "I used to think that was how mom saw me, before she knew the truth."
"You know that's not true though, right?" asked Willow.
"Yes, I know that's not true," said Buffy. "I know mom is proud of both me and Dawn. You know I wonder what Sheila's excuse for everything that she does is? I know mine, I'm a Slayer."
"Homework. She won't do it," Xander said. "And most of the teachers respect that now. You'll probably want to keep her away from sharp implements while you're working."
"Besides Dawn, do you think any of the other Slayers ever had to go to high school?" wondered Buffy.
"Hey, it's no biggie," said Xander. "You'll put on a nice little affair. The parents'll love it. As long as nothing really bad comes along between now and then, you'll be fine."
Buffy and Willow looked at Xander, appalled. "Are you nuts?" Buffy said. "What'd you say that for? Now something bad is going to happen!"
"What do you mean? Nothing is going to happen!" said Xander.
"Actually, your wrong there," said Dawn as she approached. "We're going to need to be prepared for parent teacher night. That said I already told Giles and Chloe what's coming. And they agreed to my plan of action. You will fight the main vampire while I take out his minions. That said though, don't dust him. He was valuable in the future after the military implanted a chip in his head so he couldn't bite anyone."
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
That night Dawn was getting ready for bed as she brushed tangles out of her hair in front of her vanity. "Ow," she said as she pulled at stubborn tangle.
"What's wrong?" Chloe asked as she appeared in the door. "You aren't going into labor, are you?"
"No," said Dawn. "Just this new cream rinse and it's neither creamy nor rinsey."
Chloe laughed. "I know the feeling," she said. "You can borrow mine if you want."
"Thanks, Chloe," said Dawn. "I may take you up on that."
"I also got the mail for you," said Chloe as she stepped into the room and set it on Dawn's vanity. "There is something there from the school."
"Probably a reminder about parent teacher night," said Dawn. "Of course, I have no official parents that will be attending since their dead. Which reminds me originally Buffy never told mom about it. Of course, the first time around mom didn't know for several more months about Buffy being the Slayer. And Buffy was afraid of what her teachers might say. I know that Snyder has it out for Buffy and me since I told him I was her cousin. She even said that when he called her into his office at the end of school that he mentioned to her about burning down the gym at Hemery."
"You got the lawyers handling your inheritance to take Joyce, Buffy and Marie on as their clients, didn't you?"
"I did as of yesterday," Dawn said.
September 24, 1997 – Wednesday
Dawn sat off to the side as she watched Buffy, Xander and Willow working on the banners.
"Sheila's a no show?" Willow asked as Buffy nodded. "She goes to this really rank bar, the Fish Tank, sometimes they have raids and… other things that could make you tardy."
"Hey, Dawn, can you help me cram some French tonight?" asked Buffy. "I don't want Mr. DeJean telling mom I'm an imbecile!" she said the final word with a French accent.
"Bien sûr, Buffy," said Dawn.
"I can't believe you know a few other languages," said Buffy as she smiled over at her sister.
"I thought we were going to the Bronze tonight," said Willow.
"We're going to the Bronze. I can study and party and do parent teacher night," said Buffy.
"How did mom take the news about parent teacher night?" Dawn wondered.
"Well she's proud of us both for protecting people," said Buffy. "She's disappointed though about my grades. I promised her that I would try harder."
"There's nothing in the Chronicles about an extraneous lunar cycle," Giles said as he, Chloe and Jenny approached the group.
"The Order never accurately calculated the Mesopotamian calendar!" answered Jenny.
"Does this have to do with tomorrow?" Dawn asked.
"Unsure," said Giles.
"I've been researching on the net," said Jenny. "According to my calendar, this Saturday is the Night of Saint Vigeous."
"It could be a coincidence," admitted Chloe. "Or the vampire attack on Thursday could just be two days early. So you don't remember anything about a separate attack, Dawn?"
"If there was one, Buffy didn't tell me," said Dawn.
"Then we should prepare just in case," said Giles as he looked at Chloe who nodded in agreement.
"Agreed," said Dawn. "I will stop by in the morning to see what needs to be done. Buffy needs to finish this so she doesn't get kicked out of school."
We'll help," added Willow.
"Yeah!" agreed Xander. "I can whittle stakes!"
"And I can research stuff," said Willow.
Xander looked toward Willow and smiled. "While I'm whittling, I plan to whistle a jaunty tune."
"Buffy," said Dawn low enough that only her sister heard. "Snyder's approaching."
Buffy grabbed Xander and Willow's paint brushes.
As Chloe, Xander, Willow, Giles and Jenny hurried away Snyder came up behind Buffy. He thankfully hadn't seen the others leave. "You wouldn't be helping Buffy in Sheila's place, would you?" he asked looking at Dawn.
"In my condition," said Dawn waving at her pregnant belly. "I'm just watching while I wait for classes to start."
Snyder glared at Dawn before looking at Buffy. "She ditched. Mmm-mmmm, I feel an expulsion coming on."
"She's been helping for hours," admitted Buffy as she looked at the principal. "She's just out getting more paint…" She then spotted Sheila stumbling in through the doors. She rushed to the other girl. "No more teal in the art room? I know you wanted it to be perfect, but let's just keep going with the green." She plopped Xander's brush in Sheila's hand.
"Just make sure everything is perfect on Thursday," said Snyder as he walked off.
"Thanks for covering. Guy's a serious rodent," said Sheila.
"That I can agree with," said Dawn.
"Did you really burn down school property one time?" Sheila asked Buffy.
Dawn shook her head as Buffy looked at her.
"It was just as I told Principal Snyder, the Fire Marshall did blame it on faulty wiring," said Buffy. "So. We're gonna Bronze it tonight, if you wanted to come."
"I can't go there. You threaten one bartender with a broken bottle and they like ban you for life," said Sheila with a snort.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
That evening at the Bronze Dawn sat with Chloe, Buffy and Willow. Dawn had invited her Watcher since she felt the young woman needed to loosen up a little. After all Chloe wasn't much older than they were.
"La vache devrait me toucher à partir de jeudi," said Buffy as Dawn shook her head. "Is that wrong? Should I use the plural?"
"Your way off base, Buffy," said Dawn. "You just said that the cow should touch me from Thursday."
"Well, maybe that's what I was feeling," said Buffy with a shrug.
"At least the pronunciation," said Dawn, "wasn't bad. La soirée parents/professeurs est le jeudi." She smiled at her sister.
"Show off," said Buffy.
"You're just not focused," said Willow. "It's Angel missage."
"A little possibly," admitted Buffy. Angel was still in town but since the reveal of the clause in Angel's curse, Buffy and Angel had agreed not to see each other unless Angel learned information that needed to be passed along.
"I wish you could be with Angel," admitted Dawn. "Out of all your boyfriends he was the one I liked the most, well except when he went evil. Everyone else was a problem. The first one, one-night stand, second one leaves you not long before mom dies, he thought you were pining for Angel. The last one attempts to rape you."
"So, you're saying I have bad taste in men, Dawn?"
"No," said Dawn. "But I am steering you away from them."
"Men in general or those guys in particular?" asked Buffy.
"Them in particular," said Dawn. "Though I may steer you from men in general, I don't know." She looked at Chloe. "Hmm, Buffy, look at Chloe. What do you think about her? Is she attractive?"
"What!?" said Chloe looking flustered.
Buffy looked at Chloe and had to admit that Chloe was attractive. "She is," she said. "Are you trying to tell me I might be interested in women?"
"Possibly, I don't know, not for sure," said Dawn as Xander approached them from the dance floor.
"Guys!" said Xander. "I'm all alone out there! Somebody has to dance with me."
"Well I'm not in the condition to be dancing at the moment," admitted Dawn. "Plus, I'm tutoring Buffy, remember?"
"Willow, Chloe?" said Xander.
"Thank you, but no," said Chloe.
"Will?" said Xander.
"Sure," said Willow as she followed Xander onto the dance floor.
"Where's a phone. I need to call the police. There's some big guy out back trying to bite someone."
Buffy and Dawn look at each other as they and Chloe stood and quickly make their way outside and into the alley behind the Bronze. They found a vampire held a woman by her neck as he closed in for the kill. Buffy locked her hands together and slammed down on his wrist, breaking his hold.
"Slayer," he said.
"Slayers," said Dawn, "plural."
Buffy and Dawn spun in a roundhouse and kicked him sending him flying backwards as Chloe hurriedly rushes the woman inside.
"I don't need to wait for Saint Vigeous. You're mine!" said the vampire as he fired a punch at them. They ducked out of the way. Dawn pulled out her stake from her waistband at the small of her back. "Spike, give me a hand."
Dawn smiled as she drove the stake home and the vampire exploded to ash.
Spike applauded slowly as he stepped out of the darkness. "Nice work."
"Hello, Spike," said Dawn as he looked at her. He was surprised that she knew his name. "We'll see you tomorrow night."
Spike looked at Dawn as he slid back into the shadows and was gone.
"Buffy, Dawn," said Chloe as she came back outside.
"Met, Spike," said Dawn. She looked at Buffy. "He is the one you will be fighting. The one you can't kill."
Buffy nodded.
Later back at Dawn's house Chloe knocked on Dawn's bedroom door.
"Come in."
Chloe opened the door and stepped into the bedroom. "I understand you wanting to include me. I do appreciate since I never got the chance growing up. My mother was adamant that anything like friends and a social life would distract me from my following in her footsteps. But what was that about asking Buffy if she thought I was attractive?"
"Mainly judging to see if she was interested in girls," admitted Dawn. "Maybe try and steer her that way if she was. Why are you?"
"I'm not sure that is …" said Chloe and then she sighed. "Yes."
September 25, 1997 – Thursday
In the library a couple hours before Parent/Teacher night, Cordelia and Xander sharpened stakes, while Jenny and Willow sighted arrows, tightening screws on the crossbow and other weapons. Dawn was helping Buffy finish the hor d'oeuvres for Parent/Teacher night, Buffy was chopping carrots while Dawn was making the lemonade.
"Do you think Sheila will show?" Willow asked looking at Dawn. She briefly glanced at Cordelia who after being informed about Dawn had joined the group.
"If she does it will be after everyone hightails out of the student lounge," said Dawn. "Mom and I were in one of the classrooms with other parents and Snyder while Buffy fought the vamps so if she showed up it during that time or while mom and I were touring Buffy's classes."
At that moment Giles walked toward them. Book in hand. "For three nights the unholy ones scourge themselves into a fury, culminating in a savage attack on the Night of Saint Vigeous."
"Anyone still remember when Saturday night meant date night?" asked Xander.
"You sure don't," said Cordelia.
"The parents start arriving in an hour," Buffy said as she glanced at the clock. "Okay, banners are in place, the lounge is comfy, what am I forgetting…?"
"I believe you have it all," said Dawn who had just finished with the lemonade.
Cordelia dropped a stake, exhausted. "My fingers are cramping; how long have I been doing this?"
"Three minutes," Xander told her.
"So, can I go now?" she asked. "They're not going to need that many stakes, I mean if this Spike guy's as mean as you all said, it should be over pretty fast." She noticed Dawn glaring at her. "We're still rooting for you both tonight."
An hour later Dawn sat on one of the extra chairs that were lined up rubbing her belly.
"Bothering you," asked Buffy as she sat next to her sister.
"She's kicking," said Dawn. "You know kind of makes me appreciate mom even more. She had to go through this with us." Just then she saw Joyce come through the doors. "Hi, Aunt Joyce! Hi, Marie!"
Buffy followed Dawn's gaze to their mother and Marie.
"Hi, honey," Joyce said hugging first Buffy and then Dawn. "Buffy, did you do all this?"
"I did most of it," said Buffy. "Dawn helped with the lemonade."
"I know legally speaking you aren't mine, Dawn," Joyce said as she looked at Dawn. "But I spoke to your lawyers and they agreed that while you are emancipated, I could fill in as a parental figure when came to the school. So, they had me added to your file here at school."
"Okay," said Dawn as she stood up and hugged Joyce. Over Joyce's shoulder she spotted Snyder approaching them. "Snyder's coming."
Joyce spun around to look at Snyder. "Hello. I'm Joyce Summers, Buffy's mother and Dawn's aunt."
"Principal Snyder. I'm afraid we need to talk. My office is down here," said Snyder.
"Is this about the supposed fights," wondered Joyce. "Because I see no problem in either my daughter or my niece protecting themselves from bullies. Or is this because of the absences? I do believe I submitted paperwork for both of them on that front. Or is this about the grades? I know Buffy has been struggling and she, Dawn and I have talked about it. In fact, my niece being a straight A student has graciously been tutoring her cousin. So, we should be seeing a rise in Buffy's grades soon."
Seeing all of his potential talking points getting shot down before he even managed to say one word caused Snyder to storm off leaving the four of them alone.
"Way to go, mom," said Buffy, Dawn and Marie simultaneously.
"Well I couldn't let that rodent of a man run you two in to the ground, now could I?" said Joyce. "After all you two are fighting to save the world and, Dawn, you are trying to fix things so your future never comes to pass. Now, Buffy, Dawn, I will leave Marie with the two of you till I am done with both of your teachers."
"Okay," they said as they watched Joyce walk off.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Buffy looked at the clock that read: 8:45 pm. "So, when are they supposed to arrive?" she asked as Marie sat in her lap.
"Not too much longer," said Dawn. "It was originally just after mom finished talking to your teachers and Snyder. She was mad and ordered you to get in the car. Snyder was shutting off the lights as the last of the parents were leaving. I will get Marie and mom to the library. Then I will start taking care of the vamps in the hallway."
At that moment Joyce returned. "Well I know what we need to work on the most when it comes to your grades, Buffy," said Joyce. "Starting apparently with French."
Snyder walked over to the light switch by the picture window and flicked off the light. At that moment Spike and six other vampires crash through the window.
"How did you know I couldn't wait till Saturday?" asked Spike as he looked toward Dawn. He made a beeline for the Slayers as teachers, students and parents ran.
"Come on, mom," said Dawn as she hurried Joyce and Marie down the hall.
"Your leaving Buffy by herself?" asked Joyce.
"Part of the plan," said Dawn. "Spike is useful to us in the future. His cronies not so much. So, Buffy will hold him off while I dust the others. Then when I join her, which will make him run off like he did the first time." She hurried Joyce and Marie into the library. She turned and moved a filing cabinet in front of the door. "Stakes!"
Suddenly lights went out throughout the school and the emergency lights kick on.
"Ooh, forgot about that," said Dawn.
In the lounge Spike sent the rest of the vampires off wanting to tackle Buffy alone.
Chloe grabbed several stakes and handed them to Dawn, she then picked up an axe in a holster. The holster had been Dawn's idea. It not only held the axe but also had pockets for the stakes. "Be careful," she said.
"I intend to, Chloe," said Dawn as she smiled at her Watcher and patted the other woman's hand in comfort. She then slung on the holster and slotted the stakes into the pockets. "Move the cabinet back in place the moment I am out the door."
Chloe nodded as she looked towards Giles who joined her. Dawn moved the cabinet and moved out into the hall to find a vampire standing in front of the classroom across the hall, fire ax in hand about to chop the door down. She staked him before he knew she was there. She moved down the hall toward the corner and looked around it to see another vampire at the other door.
Dawn stepped back from the corner and saw Sheila approaching from the outside door down the hall. "Sheila! Where've you-?"
"Sorry I'm late. There's some pretty weird guys outside…" Sheila explained.
Dawn looked at Sheila for a long moment, something wasn't right with Sheila but she couldn't tell what. "Stay behind me," she said. She snuck around the corner as Sheila picked up the fire ax and followed.
Dawn raised her stake to hurl, taking careful aim.
"Dawn!"
Dawn glanced to the side and saw that Chloe was looking out a small window that looked into the library from the hall. She saw Chloe was motioning behind her. Dawn spun and saw Sheila with a vampiric visage about to cut her down with the fire ax. She pivoted the ax head into Sheila's jaw knocking the vampire to the floor.
Behind Dawn rushed the other vampire. Without looking she tossed the stake behind her and with unwavering aim sent it straight into his heart. Dawn turned back to face Sheila who growled and backed away before running outside. Dawn ran to the door across from the library entrance and yanked it open. "Into the library." She ushered Snyder, the teachers and the parents into the other room.
Dawn then turned and ran down the hall.
In the lounge Buffy and Spike were squaring off. "The last Slayer I killed, she begged for her life. I don't see you as the begging kind," he said.
"You shouldn't have come here," said Buffy.
"Yeah, I messed up your doilies and stuff. Tell you what. As a personal favor from me to you. I'll make it quick. It won't hurt a bit."
"Wrong," said Dawn as she ran into the lounge, her axe unholstered. She swung it homerun style into Spike knocking him away from Buffy.
Spike knew facing two Slayers that it was time to run and fight another day. "Women," he said bitterly. He leapt out the window.
September 28, 1997 – Sunday – Sunnydale Medical
With Joyce on her right and Chloe on her left, both holding her hands, Dawn screamed at the top of her lungs. After yet another contraction, she turned to her mom. "Mommy, please make it stop," she begged with tears cascading down her cheeks.
Chloe looked at the doctors and nurses. She had known that during the pains of childbirth that Dawn might say something that the medical staff might find weird or unusual. So, she had paid them off to keep quiet about anything said while Dawn was in labor.
"I wish I could baby, but you said that you wanted to have a natural child birth," said Joyce.
"It'll be alright, Dawn," Chloe said, "You're one of the strongest women in the world. A few contractions shouldn't be a problem."
Letting go of her mom's hand, she grabbed Chloe by the collar, saying, "You're lucky I love you like you're my sister." Pushing Chloe away, she quickly grabbed both of their hands, screaming again.
"It's ok, Dawn, I see the head, one more big push," Doctor Karen Channing said.
Practically squeezing the blood out of their hands, Dawn pushed and pushed.
"It's a girl."
Once her daughter was covered in a blanket, the nurse handed Elizabeth to Dawn, tears immediately flooding her blue eyes. Looking at her daughter, she said, "You look just like me, my pum'kin belly."
Joyce smiled as she kissed Dawn on the forehead. "You decided to give her the nickname I gave you."
"I don't know how Marie will feel about that, after all she already had to share that nickname with me," said Dawn. "But I thought it would be fitting to continue the tradition."
Ten minutes later, after moving Dawn and her daughter from the delivery room to a patient room, there was a knock on the door. "Come in." Seeing the door open, she smiled when Buffy, Xander, Willow, and Giles came in followed by Joyce, Hank and Marie.
"Uncle Hank," Dawn said shocked to see her father there, "you came." She hugged Hank.
"Of course, Dawn," said Hank. "And I am not your uncle, not today. Your mother, Buffy, Mr. Giles and Ms. Payne filled me in on who you are. Tomorrow is another story as we do have to keep up the pretense that you are my brother's daughter. But today I am here as your father, Dawn. And I wanted to meet my grandbaby."
"Well, here she is. I just fed her, so she's probably about ready for a nap."
"You fed her already?" asked Joyce shocked as normally babies aren't hungry that soon after delivery.
"Yes. After a twenty-four-hour labor, she was hungry and exhausted. The fact that she fed on the first try was amazing."
"So how are you doing, Dawn?" Xander said, smiling at Dawn.
"I'm ok, considering I just had a baby," answered Dawn. "Now that everyone is here. I have a few people I want to be godparents. Buffy, Willow, will you both share the honor of being Elizabeth's godmother?"
"I would be happy to," said Buffy as she smiled at her sister and hugged her.
"Absolutely, Dawn," said Willow as she hugged Dawn once Buffy had stepped back.
"Xander, I would like it if you would be the godfather," said Dawn.
"I'd be honored to," he said, kissing Dawn on the forehead.
"Great." Yawning, Dawn was about to say something when a nurse came in.
"Hello, Dawn, it's time to take your baby to the nursery."
"Really? So soon?" said Dawn.
"Tell you what. After visiting hours are over, I'll come back here to take you to the nursery. I know what it's like to want to be the one to say goodnight to your baby. I also have a form here for you to fill out, that is if you're up to it."
"What is it?" Dawn wondered.
"The hospital needs the name for their records."
"Elizabeth Celia Summers," answered Dawn as Hank looked at her and nodded his approval at the name.
"How about the father's name?"
"No father," said Dawn.
"Are you sure?" wondered the nurse.
"Yeah I'm sure. To tell the truth I am unsure on who the father actually is," answered Dawn as she kissed her daughter one more time.
The nurse nodded, then she took Elizabeth to the nursery.
Author's Notes: "Try to understand the blackness, lethargy, hopelessness, and loneliness they're going through. Be there for them when they come through the other side. It's hard to be a friend to someone who's depressed, but it is one of the kindest, noblest, and best things you will ever do." ― Stephen Fry
If you need to reach out to someone you can call the National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273-8255