Chapter 10 - Letters From Ghosts
June 9th, 2001 – 2000 Hours
PAST - 7 DAYS AFTER BUFFY'S DEATH
Sunnydale, California – 1630 Revello Drive
Dawn stared at the leather satchel that was hidden in her closet, exactly the same place it had been yesterday when she'd hid it there. She couldn't believe she was about to chicken out, again. She'd lost count of the number of times she'd reached for the bag, unfastening the latch on the top only to close it seconds later.
This is ridiculous.
She'd read her sister's diaries hundreds of times; it was practically a time honored younger sibling tradition at this point. The weekly sneakage as soon as her sister left to patrol. Somehow, it just seemed different this time, her own pride at the wiley invasion of her sister's privacy shattered by Giles revelations. That her sister had known, had always known. Always filled those blank pages with a watered down, carefully prescribed amount of truth.
Gathering her courage she gripped the satchel once more, pulling it from its place and locking the door. She gave the knob a firm jiggle, testing it to for her own peace of mind. It would be hours before her wicca live-in nannies would arrive back home, but she wasn't taking any chances. She sat down on her bed, crossing pajama covered legs with the grace of a slayer as she steadily worked up her nerves for what was to come. Her nimble fingers made quick work of the clasp, still practiced from her earlier attempts.
With trembling fingers she pulled the cover back to reveal the set of leather bound journals within. The instant her hand made contact, she gasped, a tingle rushed through her body, a sense of ownership overruling the nervous guilt she felt. Her eyes perused the leather bound journal as she pulled out the first of many, the weight and quality evident in its binding. Her mind quickly connected the dots as she recognized their similarity to Giles' own diaries, realizing that Giles had bought them for her. But the neat loopy handwriting of her sister clearly marked these as her own as it gave the dates covered.
Her nerves began to settle as each journal touched magically pledged itself to its rightful owner. It seemed wrong, given that Faith was technically the current slayer, but now that she'd laid hands on them she couldn't bare the thought of parting with this piece of her sister. Gently opening the cover of the first journal, her heart was racing in anticipation as she braced for what may come.
The Slayer Diaries
These Diaries are intend for the chosen and only the chosen.
Continuing to read these pages if you are not of the chosen will result in Death. You've been warned.
A vague disclaimer is nobody's friend.
Dawn smiled as she recognized her sister's serious yet playful tone. Happy she'd let part of what made her so uniquely Buffy be committed to paper. That she wasn't trying to appear to be anything other than herself. She looked back down and continued reading, smiling when she realized there was no pain as warned, that she was worthy.
To my successors,
May these diaries help you to understand the struggles of those who came before you. May they preserve your memory for all that follow once you have gone. Though we may fight alone, we are The Slayer, and we are Legion.
I am Buffy Anne Summers, The Vampire Slayer, and I was here.
Dawn swallowed as she read her sister's name neatly written for all to see.
No.
Not for all, for the chosen, for her, she realized. She took took a deep breath, realizing that if what Giles had told her was accurate she was about to get a cold, hard dose of the truth. Mentally chastising herself for being nervous again she forced her eyes back down to neat girly writing.
I don't know what to even write about today. Words can't begin to explain it. I woke up this morning feeling better than I've ever felt in my life. More energy, more vibrant, stronger, faster, unstoppable, just … more. Anyway, gotta catch the Bus.
Dawn's forehead wrinkled, she'd seen this exact entry before. Whether blessing or curse, her keyness, or simply a magically created mind, she forgot nothing. And she knew she remembered because she'd long ago in hindsight pieced together that this was when Buffy was called. Obviously copied from her 'Dawn-Approved' Diaries.
Okay, first day of school with my new … whatever. Door knobs, big problem … big, big, huge problem! I've twisted three right off the door already. The second time I was in the bathroom and got trapped inside. I may have panicked a bit, just a bit. So … maybe, just maybe, the door to the girls bathroom is the proud owner of that new splintery look, certain to be the next trend in transparent carpentry, hypothetically.
I've become a freak, an abomination, a … what am I? I tried to keep control of myself during practice but after I bruised Carley's ankle from gripping it exactly the same way I always do, I told the coach I wasn't feeling well and sat out the rest of practice. Definitely lost some cool points for that one. I don't know if I'll be able to get this under control enough to even practice again without hurting people. I feel like I've lost something, a small part of who I am.
'Lost something, a small part of who I am,' she repeated in her mind. Is that what Buffy felt? Like she was losing parts of herself?
Vampires … Are real.
This is too much to process, too scary, too horrible.
An older man, Merric, approached me after school. I laughed at first, there was just so much tweed. No one can have that bad of fashion sense, but yet here he was, firmly committed to ruling the world through wool fabric.
My laughing stopped the instant he asked a simple question.
Have you been having dreams?
Even now I can feel the cold sweats from the nightmare I know I'll have again tonight. Every night it's the same. Powerless as I watch, helpless, each time dying in some new and horrifying way. Teeth ripping open my neck, a sword cleaving through my chest, drowning in blood as my own shattered ribs shred the tissue of my lungs. Even the peaceful 'snap' as my spine severs makes me want to scream and cry the instant I wake.
Have you been dreaming you're someone else?
The bastard knew. He knew about everything.
The Slayer
What the hell is a slayer?
Well, apparently I am a slayer … Slayer, The.
I knew I shouldn't have trusted him, but he knew things. Knew what's happened to me. You know what they say about strangers? Turns out they really weren't lying. The bastard led me into a graveyard, showed me, made me … I can't write any more about this. Mom and Dad are fighting and part of my new gift CURSE! is that I can hear every word perfectly on the other side of the freaking house. Apparently Merric isn't the only one who's a bastard.
"Holy Crap!" Dawn nearly shouted in a mixture of disgust and shock.
"Whatcha got there niblet?"
Dawn jumped at the voice coming from her window "God! Don't do that!"
Spike broke out laughing.
"Not funny."
"What you reading there?"
Dawn quickly closed the book protectively, "Nothing." Seeing at how that answer simply seemed to intrigue the vampire she decided the elaborate with some truth "Apparently Buffy kept journals, diaries or whatever about her life as the slayer. Giles had them, told me to read them before I decided what I wanted to do."
"Probably a good plan," Spike replied as he sauntered into the room, gracefully sliding over to the edge of her bed like a big cat. "Any good?"
"Dunno, just got started reading them. I'll definitely say her introduction to being the slayer and vampires was a bit more abrupt than mine. You weren't lying about her first meeting with a vampire."
"Not surprised, she got the slayer gig out of the blue; you had big sis to ease you into it, shield you from it. Though I always wondered about the story about her first vamp. Seemed a bit cold, even for a watcher." Spike reached down, grabbing the nearest journal flipping it open.
"No, don't!" Dawn shouted.
Spike threw his head back letting out a shout of pain, quickly slamming the book closed. "What the bloody hell was that?"
Dawn carefully took the book from his hands. "Umm, yeah, apparently Buffy and Giles put some uber strong ward on the journals to keep them from being read by anyone but a slayer."
Spike rubbed his temples trying to ease the pain. "Huh, guess that's what the warning was about. She really didn't want the council of Wankers getting a hold of these, did she."
"Not really, no. Seems like she went through a lot of trouble to make sure they didn't ever read them. Even Giles says he's never tried, though as one of the casters of the spell he may be able to."
"No, if Buffy felt that strongly then Rupes never read them. She probably asked him not to. Then made sure the watchers she couldn't trust wouldn't either."
"Yeah, I guess." Dawn shrugged "It just feels really heavy, you know. Giles already dropped some bombs on me when he stopped by, and hinted cryptically at a few more. I'm not sure I really even want to know. I mean, she never expected me to be the one reading these, but when I touch them, they feel like they're mine."
"Then they are." Spike slipped over towards Dawn, wrapping an arm around her small form. His nose flooding with her addictive scent with each unnecessary breath. Dawn's old scent was similar, but different enough to tell apart with ease. Like the difference between sugar and artificial sweeteners, similar, but just not the same. Taking another deep breath, he tried to ignore what his nose was screaming at him. That Dawn's new scent, was the same as Buffy's, vanilla, sunshine, honey. "You smell like your sister." He pointed out, knowing this time it wasn't just the clothes. That Dawn matched Buffy's scent, exactly.
Dawn shrugged "I ran out of shampoo, used some of hers. Figured vampires would be able to smell more than the shampoo. Of course I started crying again in the shower after that." Dawn sighed.
Spike inhaled deeply again through his nose. "That's not it."
"Must be a slayer thing. Does it hurt? Thinking about Buffy?"
Spike wordlessly nodded.
"Sorry to remind you of her, I'm probably a few lines of reading away from a good cry myself. Can't imagine anyone else is much better, 'cept maybe the witches, and Xan, and Anya, too busy having sex to care," Dawn muttered bitterly.
Spike buried his face in the crook of her neck taking in an audible breath of Buffy's scent. Pretending for a moment that she wasn't gone. "Don't mean they're not hurt'n niblet."
Dawn felt a wave of panic as warning bells started to ring from somewhere in her head.
Spike, Vampire, Fangs, Neck.
The shift in her aroma was unmistakable as he picked up the slightest taint of fear. " 'M sorry niblet, 'nt meant to give you a fright, just remembering. I'll go, you got your reading to do."
Dawn caught his hand as he began leaning away, "No, stay. I'm not sure I want to be alone when I read these anyway. Well, at least, not without … you know what, I don't know. You just stay there and keep sniffing, though it is kinda weird, and I'll just keep reading and we'll wallow together. Just don't, you know, eat me."
Spike let out a half hearted chuckle "No biting, deal, can't anyway remember."
Dawn let herself lay back onto her bed, resting comfortably on the tower of pillows. Spike settled in close beside, his face shoved back into the crook of her neck as she felt the occasional rush of cool breath on her skin. Her single bed was small enough that they were forced to snuggle together just to fit on the small mattress. In no time, fear was the farthest thing from her mind.
Oh boy, Spike in my bed.
Dawn hardened her resolve, ignoring the location of her young heart's crush, forcing herself to start reading again.
Spike was lost in the scent of delicious slayer as he laid comfortably nestled against his own personal heater. Letting Dawn's warmth saturate him, he closed his eyes and let himself pretend his love hadn't been lost to this world. He knew all the scoobies saw Dawn as partly responsible, she was the Key; they all knew none of this would have happened if she'd never existed.
He knew better, knew the words he'd promised only an hour before he broke them. Buffy died for his failures, because he was too slow to get the best of a demon he knew he could outmatched. Because he was distracted, because he was cocky. And it killed her.
He forced himself to remain stoic as Dawn's scent took a new tang, one all too familiar.
Slayer in heat.
This was some kind of torture from the powers, that Buffy's younger, sister reading away obliviously, could smell just like her. Matching in every way the girl who'd ensnared two master vampires so thoroughly.
Is today the Day I die? That is the first thing I ask myself every morning when I wake up.
Not if I have anything to say about it.
I've been training with Merrick, my very own official watcher.
He's explained a lot about the slayer, the watchers, and of course … vampires. I've had to quit cheerleading, which sucks. Just not enough time in the day for training, and cheerleading, and slayage. Not to mention that every time I touch someone, I have to constantly remind myself not to break them. Sooner or later I'll slip, I'll hurt one of my friends, I can't let that happen.
Stupid mortals.
Merrick warns me there's an especially powerful vampire coming to town and I need to be ready. I don't know how, but I know. It's him. Before Merrick even said his name I knew it was Lothos. His face seared into my mind from watching her death a hundred times over as if it were my own each night I sleep. Merrick says it's meant to prepare me. Funny how he always leaves off the rest of the sentence. Prepare me - for my own death.
Great, as if there wasn't enough to worry about already. Parents are fighting again, surprise surprise, it's about me again, and that's the third time this week. I hate hearing them, I hate hearing what he says when he thinks I can't hear. I'm going to get Dawn and get out of the house. I know she can't make out the words, but I can still hear her trying not to cry in her room. Annoying little sister that she is, none of this is her fault and I still love her.
Spike flinched as he smelled the salty tang of tears. "What's the matter Bit?"
Dawn sniffled and wiped away a tear. "She really loved me didn't she?"
Spike leaned up so he could see Dawn face. "Course, she did. Behind all the walls she put up over the years, I think she loved everyone. Maybe even the tiniest part of her even loved me. You need any more proof, just look at … she died for you. And I don't think she'd 'av had it any other way."
"I know, I know she loved me. But it's right here." Dawn sniffled towards the journal. "I … I don't think I can read any more tonight." Dawn brushed away tears as fresh ones took their place.
"Want to go kill something? Always helps me."
"Doesn't that kind of violate the 'wait for me to decide if I want to be a slayer' thing?"
"Not at all. You need to decide if you're going to be a slayer, take up big sis' torch and what not. I'll still train you either way. You're a slayer, nasties 'll always be drawn to you. 'Sides, no rule says you can't fight the forces of darkness for fun. How else am I supposed to get my Jollies."
"I get a stake this time?"
"Absolutely not. They don't teach babies to walk with a crutch do they."
It was hard to argue with his logic, though it seemed like a lot more work than just using a stake. Dawn shrugged in defeat then paused near her dresser. "You mind?"
"Like I haven't seen girl bits before. Yeah, yeah, have your damn privacy," Spike grumbled as he climbed out the window.
"So, another fledgling?"
"No clue what we'll find. But I tell you to run, you run, no questions, no hesitation. Lot of things out here know what the slayer smells like, and since you smell just like sis, any number of them are likely to come running looking to get a piece. Not ready to see you in an all out fight just yet, and you're not bloody ready to be in one, not ready to dance."
Dawn watched as Spike seemed to drift somewhere else. She had little doubt of who he was thinking about as he talked about dancing. Watching her sister fight, she'd made it look so easy. Like she was water flowing through the enemy. "Fine, you say run, I'll run."
Spike adjusted his jacket letting black leather flap in the breeze.
"Spike, why do you always wear that thing?"
" 'Nother time pet. Smell a nasty coming this way."
"Spike sized nasty, or Dawn sized nasty?"
Spike smiled slid into a feral grin "Dawn sized, though big enough that I'll give you a hint. Watch the tail." Instructions given he was gone in a flash of leather.
"Spike?"
… … …
"Spike, you're still here right? Spike?"
… … …
Dawn felt a tinge of nervousness as her protector deserted her. "Umm … Spike?"
"Slayer."
The voice was far from the confident British smoke she was hoping for. The words cold and menacing as Dawn turned to find the creature to whom it belonged. It wasn't a vampire, of that much she was certain. Some form of demon with its greenish scaly skin and horns just big enough to look painful.
Where's the tail?
"Umm … Hi." She flashed a nervous smile.
The creature let out a amused laugh, "We gonna chit chat now, Slayer?"
Dawn tried not to fidget. "Umm … well … do you want to?"
The creature let out another short snort of laughter. Maybe this was why Buffy always teased them.
This part is just awkward.
The creature thankfully broke the stalemate, charging towards her to throw the first punch, which she nimbly dodged. He - she was assuming it was a he - looked strong but was slow enough that dodging its attacks was challenging but still within her skill range. She was enjoying the back and forth as she landed some of her own stikes, finally able to let off steam and give in to the rage that had been building, focusing it into the opponent that a vicious part of her was eager to kill, to slay.
She hadn't really learned any kicks yet so she put everything she had into her next punch, intent on flooring the demon with his jaw knocked somewhere into Texas. At the worst moment it suddenly spun, a long thick tail revealing itself from nowhere and headed right, unavoidably, towards her.
Dawn let out an 'Umfff' as the meaty tail slammed into her chest. The wind knocked from her lungs as her opponent got the upper hand in her daze. Strongs arms quickly pinned her to the ground, followed shortly by an even stronger tail
Dawn panicked and squirmed unable to get out from underneath the smelly weight crushing into her. Her mind was racing trying to find an out, any out, trying desperately to find a weapon she could use. It was hard to breathe and getting harder as the creature pushed down, slowly crushing the life out of her. Panic rose before starting to ease into acceptance as the edges of her vision started to dim from the constriction on her breathing.
'Snap'
Dawn felt the body above her go limp, taking in a large gasp of air before settling into a rapid pant attempting to catch her breath. The demon rolling off beside her into a crumpled pile.
"I warned you about the tail," Spike muttered as he lit up a cigarette
"I … yeah …" Dawn's voice was small as she continue to lay on the ground, rolling away from the smelly pile beside her.
"Got too wrapped up in the punching to pay attention to anything else, right?"
Dawn felt him staring at her but couldn't bring herself to meet his eyes. Twice now she would have died if not for Spike. "Y … yes."
Spike reached down, grabbing her hand and pulling her up. "So let that be a lesson for you, eh?"
Dawn brushed off some of the dust and dirt from her tussle on the ground, her face bright red with a mix of embarrassment and hot blood flowing from the fight. "I lost again."
Spike reached an arm around pulling her close. "Figured you would. Not in the game, too wrapped up in other things." He tapped the side of his head.
Dawn looked up at him, unable to come up with anything to say as they both unconsciously walked in the same direction.
"You did good though, or at least, you did what I was after."
"Nearly get crushed by a giant stinky demon and his stinky demon tail?"
Spike let out a short chuckle. "No, you didn't cry out for help or mercy. Cause 99 times out of 100 ain't nobody gunna be around. Instead you were looking for an out, looking for a weapon. That, was the lesson. Something big sis knew damn well. Depending on friends is all well and dandy, helped keep her alive more 'n a few times, but she had to know how to fight when she was alone, too. Had to be prepared for them to not be there."
"So you're not mad at me?"
"No, you're my niblet. But next time you get that desperate, remember, Slayers have teeth too."
Dawn punched him lightly in the shoulder. "And a world of eeewwww. You expect me to bite whatever the hell that thing was?"
Spike shrugged. "If it means living another day? Hell yeah, I expect you to do whatever you have to. Seen big sis use some down right dirty moves in her days, even by my standards. No such thing as cheatn' in a fight to the death."
4 DAYS LATER
Sunnydale, California
"Mrs. Julian just kept staring at you." Janice broke the long silence as they walked the sidewalk.
"Great, just what I need. It's bad enough I'm stuck back in school. Now some teacher has it in for me," Dawn huffed.
"No, it wasn't like that. She looked … sad."
"Color me relieved, she just thinks I'm pathetic then."
Janice shrugged, unsure of what to say.
"You think I can get better grades if I make myself break out in tears in class?"
"You actually have to try?"
"It was one time, Janice."
Janice held up her hands in mock surrender, mentally losing count of the number of times in the last two days Dawn had randomly broken into tears. "My lips are sealed." She pretend zipped them closed, locking them and throwing the imaginary key over her shoulder.
"It was the drawing," Dawn admitted.
"Are drawings bad?"
"It's the same assignment we were working on when … when I got the news about my mom."
"Oh."
"Yeah … "
"You know what you need? Tonight, you, me, we Bronze it. Think you can give your sister the slip?" Janice paled as soon as she processed the words that slipped through her mouth. Watching as her friend's measured smile instantly fell from her face. "I'm so sorry Dawn, I forgot!" She took a step towards her closest friend, arms ready to beg forgiveness with hugs. No sooner than her arms landed, the lanky brunette slipped her embrace.
"Dawn?"
"I'll see you tomorrow," Dawn managed through choked sobs as she set into a jog. Each step taking her towards a house that was no longer a home. The instant she cleared her friend's view she let her legs free, moving into a sprint. She poured the restless energy that had been building all day into each step. Her weighted backpack bouncing along behind her the only thing keeping her stride within human limits as it disrupted her balance with every jolt.
She'd never been athletic like her sister, never had interest in trying to even compete with her sister. Instead, choosing to pave her own way with different likes and hobbies. Even sprinting along, slayer lungs managed a snort at the irony of that thought. Mystical Keys didn't get a choice, just fake memories of inadequacy and her sister's legacy rammed down her throat.
She shook her head, attempting to physically throw the thoughts from her mind. Pushing her concentration to the sound of her heartbeat finally picking up in her ears, the sound of rushing wind and bouncing books. She'd never been athletic, but now running felt like the most natural thing in the world. Each step just as effortless as the last. She felt free.
Dawn bounded over the few steps to the front porch of her house. Nimble steps quickly bringing her motion to a halt, perfectly balanced and stationary just as her hand touched the knob. She hesitated, checking her face ensuring no tears were visible. Satisfied that the slight glisten of sweat forming would hide the evidence she quietly slipped inside, unsurprised to find Giles nose deep in a pile of papers on the kitchen table as slayer-light steps brought her closer.
It was the second day of Giles' great foray into world of Summers paperwork. One pile for hospital bills, another birth certificates, electric bills, house payments, the piles were endless. She didn't envy him, she didn't envy anyone who had to deal with such things.
"Hey Giles!" She tried for happy, managing at best a lack of concern or worry in her voice.
She bit back a genuine laugh as she watched him jump at her voice. Giles' obsession with anything written so complete that little else in the world registered. It wasn't much, but at least in that moment she felt just a little bit better. A instant where her mind was free of the clutches of depression she knew would soon return.
"As I once warned your sister - if you insist on using your new talents to test my … awareness, I shall mount a bell on you."
And there it went.
Dawn let out a sigh, her moment of amusement destroyed by the very Buffy-like warning ran through a Giles filter. Meeting his eyes, which were clearly blinking back threatening tears, she had little doubt where the bell mounting threat had originated.
She let him keep his dignity, slipping into the living room to drop off her backpack while her inherited watcher-father collected himself. She slipped back into the room after a count of twenty.
"I found something you may wish to see." Giles thrust an envelope towards her.
Dawn forced a smile. "What's the what?"
"Best if you read it yourself."
That sounds ominous.
"That sounds ominous," Dawn repeated out loud, hesitating for a moment before taking a seat.
The envelope was old and yellowed, no doubt the reason the man had been drawn to it. 'Buffy' written in Joyce swirly handwriting on an otherwise barren enclosure.
"When I saw it noted for Buffy I took a look. It was already opened, by your parents I presume."
Dawn nodded dumbly, her attention fully on the letter as she pulled from its protective home, quickly unfolding the heavy stationary. A woman's cursive showing showing which this time was clearly not her mother's.
Elizabeth Anne,
How does a mother beg forgiveness from the child she will never meet? I could give you the sob story, one older than time. The story of a foolish young woman who ended up pregnant by her own ignorance and delusions of love. I could pretend that I had no other options but to give you away.
I won't leave you with that burden Elizabeth. The truth, is that I had a choice, and I chose to live the life I wanted at your expense, just as your father has chosen the same. Hate, Elizabeth, is a very simple emotion, and you have every right to hate me. Forgiveness? I won't beg to be forgiven, because I don't deserve to be.
Don't look to the past for answers, for yours lay only in a future of your own making. Life is hard Elizabeth, you, must be harder.
You have my love, and my respect for the woman you will become.
-Buffy
Grand Cayman National Bank - Account No. 1562221-991
I may not be able to give you the life you deserve, but I can at least make sure you have something when it's needed.
"Giles, what is this?"
He gave a humorless chuckle. "Likely the reason the council never knew Buffy was a potential." He thrust another piece of paper towards Dawn's shaky hand.
RECORD OF ADOPTION
Elizabeth Anne (Loraine) - Buffy Anne Summers
On this 3rd Day of April, 1981 the applicants Joyce Summers and Hank Summers are hereby granted …
"Buffy's adopted," Dawn said numly as she clutched the official looking document.
"Yes, that appears to be the case."
"Buffy's adopted?"
"Yes"
"Buffy's … adopted."
"For the third time, yes, Buffy was adopted."
… … …
… … …
"And you didn't know?" Dawn's mind slowly began to cut through her confusion.
Giles nodded, "No. But as I said, it explains why we were unaware of Buffy until she was called. Potentials are almost always descendants of other potentials. The Watchers Council tracks their blood lines very carefully. It's primarily how they're located."
"So they didn't know either?"
"They surely knew once she was called and they looked into her background, but they never told me. It all appears to have been done legitimately."
"I need to sit down."
… … … "You are sitting down."
"Right."
Giles struggled to force a smile. "Will you be training with Spike tonight?"
"Don't change the subject Giles." Dawn's mind was clearing, recovering from the initial shock. "Who were they?"
"I've no idea." Giles sighed, handing a birth certificate to Dawn. "There's no information for the mother or father, hospital, anything. Just a date of birth. Your sister was a foundling, Dawn. Whomever gave her up didn't want anyone to know, not even her."
"Loraine?"
"Likely made up. In the proceedings of the adoption it was changed to Summers, along with her first name to Buffy."
"Oh."
… … …
"Was she so terrible?" Dawn asked in a soft voice.
"Pardon?"
"My sister had four parents. Three of them didn't want her." Dawn struggled to keep the heartbreak from her voice. She was the Key, made from Buffy. The letter doubly painful as words rejecting her sister equally applied to her.
"We don't know what circumstances led Buffy's birth parents to give her up." Giles let his glasses clatter unceremoniously onto the table.
"They didn't hide it Giles. They just didn't want her. It's right there in the letter." She wasn't sure if she was talking about Buffy or herself as a tear managed to slip free.
Giles sighed, "People do stupid things Dawn." They were the only words he could find to distract his mouth from cursing the pillocks who'd abandoned the girl he'd learned to cherish. Dawn already knew her genetics were tied to her sisters, that Buffy's true parents would also hold a piece of her own history.
He watched as Dawn ducked her head in a vain attempt to hide the forming tears. He nearly told her right there, for what little good it would do. Oh, the monks had hidden her well, physically at least, but the more he studied her origins the more he was certain. All the clues were there, from the bossy attitude right down to the way she wiggled her nose. Some amazingly cruel twist of fate that Buffy would be given the one thing she wanted above all others, and not even realize what she had.
Life couldn't be created by magic, no matter how powerful. Restored, perhaps, but not created. The monks had needed something to start with, something with the potential for life. Something that tied The Key to the Slayer with a near unbreakable bond. He cursed himself every day knowing what had happened. How they'd managed to secure one of the precious seeds that gave women alone the power to create life. To have children, to have a daughter.
A/N: A big round of thanks to LadyWinterlight for being patient enough to BETA this chapter for me.
Who knew it was so easy to miss that many comas ...