I was editing this story, and I enjoyed it so much. I decided that I needed to write more, so here's another chapter told from Dawn's First-Person perspective. It picks up, though, a bit early in season 5, written at first through her diary that we are introduced to in the beginning of season 5. I tried my best to give it an eighth grader's voice, so grammar is not always right. No need to review and point it out.
Chapter 4: Dawn's Voice
******November******
Dear Diary,
My mom is sick. It started out with these headaches, and she dropped a plate. Then she yelled at me. Mom never yells. I am so scared. Buffy is too even though she pretends not to be. It's good that she has Riley. With everything that's going on, we forgot it was Thanksgiving. Buffy made turkey sandwiches, though. Mom made us watch the parade and football even though we didn't know which team to root for. Mom said it didn't matter 'cause it was tradition. Her surgery is tomorrow. They're going to drill into her brain and cut out the tumor. Buffy says she will be fine. Tara made her a good luck charm, and Willow says she found a healing spell to help with her recovery. I'm sure things will be fine. They have to be.
Love,
Dawn
*****December*****
Dear Diary,
This is the suckiest Christmas since Mom and Dad broke up. Mom is okay, so I'm happy about that. But she doesn't feel good still, so we didn't even get around to putting up a tree. Then Riley left town, breaking up with Buffy. She's pretty upset over it even though she acts like it's no big deal. Spike says he was letting vamps suck on him, but that is so gross. I don't believe Spike. He's probably lying cause he he's got a thing for Buffy. Who would ever let a vampire suck on them? So gross!
Love,
Dawn
*****January****
Dear Diary,
This may be a New Year, but it's starting up as crappy as last year. This Glory girl keeps kicking Buffy's butt, and then Anya and Willow somehow brought this troll to the Magic Box 'cause they were fighting over Xander or about Xander. They wouldn't tell me. Anya just says it was Willow's fault, but Willow said it was her fault. Poor Xander has a broken arm! At least I was the first one to sign it.
Love,
Dawn
*****February 6th*****
Dear Diary,
Buffy's birthday followed the tradition of sucking majorly. Giles' boss from England came and tried to make them all take a bunch of tests to see if Buffy was worthy of info on the Big Bad Skank, but Buffy told them they could go suck it. She was the slayer keeping the world safe, so they better tell her. I so wish I could've been there! The good news is that Giles got rehired and back paid. I still don't get why Buffy doesn't get paid. Giles said it's just tradition, but Anya says it's cause greedy white men like to keep the little woman in her place.
The very worst news in my sucky, suckfest of a sucky life is that this Glory woman, who is after the key and even came to the house looking for it, is a hell god! Who knew that hell had gods?
To make things even worser, I found out that I'm not real. I was made by magic and some stupid monks. I don't even really know what a monk is. How messed up is that? I tried to cut myself to see if I would bleed. My blood looked like normal blood, but it can't be. This freaky skank Glory wants to use it to open some portal. I'm so scared. Buffy says our blood is the same because the monks made me out of her. It's Summers' blood. Does that make her my real mother, and Mom my grandmother? That's so insane. I live in this bizzaro world! What else is going to happen?
Love,
Dawn
*****Feb 27th*****
Dear Diary,
My mom is dead.
Love,
Dawn
*****May*****
Dear Diary,
Sorry I haven't written in a while, but some things are just too awful to write about. Mom is gone, and she's not coming back. Buffy is scared for me. I see it in her face, and that scares me more than anything. She is never scared. If she's worried she can't protect me or beat Glory, I think I'm going to die.
I don't want to die. I am so scared every day. Glory did her mind suck thing on Tara, and she's probably gonna do that to me or worse. I don't know how I'm this key. Spike showed me how to pick locks, but I don't see how I'm a key to anything.
I'm just a girl. I miss Mom.
I hope I don't die.
Love,
Dawn
*****June*****
Dear Diary,
I guess you can tell that I didn't die. Glory did kidnap me, but this angel literally fell from the sky and saved me. She's so amazing! Like Buffy, she's a hero from her world. That's right, SHE IS FROM ANOTHER WORLD! I still can't believe it. Glory is dead because he was inside Ben, and Ben is dead. I don't have to worry about being a human sacrifice anymore. Best of all Natasha, who we call Nat, is gonna stay in Sunnydale with us. She's been staying at Giles, but now Buffy says she should stay with us. We're pretending she's mom's half-sister, who is Russian that way she can use her real name. Or the name she's had for the past twenty years.
No one from her world is here. It's kind of odd 'cause Xander said according to the multiverse theory that you can have dozens or hundreds versions of yourself existing all at the same time in other realms. Anyway, she's in her thirties, but she won't tell me her exact age. She is sexy and can fight as good as Buffy. She knocked Buffy on her skinny butt several times her first week in town, and she says that everyone needs to be trained to fight even me. Every day after school, I do my homework at the Magic Box, and she teaches me Russian for an hour. Giles usually joins us 'cause that's a language he doesn't know. It's so cool. Then we work on our form, and she shows me some moves.
After she moved into the house, she makes me get up an hour before school to go running with her. It sucks major, but it's kind of cool cause I don't have to share her with Buffy. Buffy doesn't need to work out to be in shape. Nat and I both think that is so not fair!
The best thing is now that school is out, Giles is taking us to England! I am so excited! I got my passport picture taken today. We are leaving as soon as it's ready.
I can't wait!
Love,
Dawn
*****August*****
Dear Diary,
I haven't written in a while cause there was just so much to DO in England! I have started a scrapbook of pictures that describe the trip. My dad was still in Spain, and he called to arrange dinner with us. It was great to see him. He said he was sorry that he'd been so wrapped up in work and was sad about Mom. Buffy gave him the stink eye during dinner, but she didn't hit him or anything. I was just glad to see him. I don't like feeling like an orphan. I overheard Giles and Buffy talking about Nat and my dad. Buffy thinks she used her Black Widow mojo to make Dad reach out. I don't know what that exactly means since Buffy said it to Giles. I guess Nat persuaded him to do the right thing since she is super smart. She's like Willow and Buffy in one person. She knows computers and speaks like every language in Europe and Russia. She also speaks Farsi and Arabic. Giles totally has a crush on her. It's super cute.
Spike says that a woman like Nat would never go for a nerd like Giles, but I don't know about that. Sometimes, she smiles at him in a way she doesn't smile to the rest of us.
Oh, I met Giles' mom. She said we could call her Grammie. I couldn't believe she was even tinier than Buffy, but she has a big personality. We could totally recognize the Giles brain in her. She took us shopping and let us pick out a new outfit. Then she took us to the palace where the queen lives. It's named after a buck of some kind. I don't remember, but it's way cool. It's bigger than some of the mansions in Bel Air, and there's these guards that never move in front. I'm not sure they could get in a fighting position if an attack happened after being in one position so long, but Grammie said they could.
I had the best summer of my life, but now I gotta go back to school on the hellmouth. Well, they haven't finished rebuilding the new high school, so I guess I'm just hellmouth adjacent since we're still in the old building from the 60's a few miles from the one Buffy and Xander blew up.
At least Nat will go with me to open house. I get to introduce her to everyone as my aunt. Buffy's going back to school, but she is only going on Tuesdays and Thursdays that way she can live at home. Nat taught her how to drive without flunking her test. It's a miracle Giles says. I still can't believe that Giles didn't make her take back the Ferrari she bought. It's the coolest car I have ever seen, so I'm glad. She promised to drive me to school the first day in it!
Love,
Dawn
****November*****
Dear Diary,
This Thanksgiving Buffy and I drove to Los Angeles and had dinner with Dad. It was nice. Of course, it wasn't a homecooked meal, but it was a fancy restaurant. I had to wear a dress, but I didn't mind because they had so many delicious dessert choices. Then Dad took us Black Friday shopping.
We had a really good time. We drove back home Sunday. It was the most time we had spent with Dad since the first summer we moved away.
I miss Mom.
Love,
Dawn
*****New Years*****
Dear Diary,
I totally saw Giles kissing Nat when the ball dropped! I wanted to scream I was so excited. I think they are totally doing it. That's so gross to think about, but at the same time, Nat won't leave us if she's in love with Giles.
Willow is going to help her get into touch with her friends in the other world.
I'm afraid she would want to stay there, though, if Willow is able to help her get there.
Nat says she wouldn't leave us because we're her family now, but I'm still scared.
Angel and Riley loved Buffy, but they left her. Mom loved us, but she left. I know it wasn't her choice, but still I can't help but be scared. What if Nat decides to leave us?
Love,
Dawn
*****A Month Later*****
I tried to get Willow to use my Key blood to help Nat get to her home dimension, but Willow said she didn't need it. Nor did she think my blood could do anything. Giles says that the Keyness in my blood dissipated since the time with Glory last year, but I don't think he's right. Sometimes, I feel something inside me.
The biggest news besides Willow's new project with Nat is Spike. He came home, but he has a soul now. He was really messed up. I guess he was staying in the basement of the new school. Or rather the basement of the old school. They kept it and cleared out the rubble on top. We'll be going to school there in the fall. Ironically, my high school years will mirror Buffy's exactly. Her sophomore year she moved to a school directly over the hellmouth entrance, and now I will start my sophomore year doing the same thing. I wish, though, I had my own Scooby gang.
Now that Aunt Nat is Chief of Police, I go to the police station after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I do my homework until she gets off at six. She does one late night shift on Saturday or Sundays, so she can keep an eye on things that go bump in the night.
Although I miss my mother every day, I am really grateful to have Nat here. She feels like a real member of our family.
****Summer****
I am going to spend a month in Los Angeles with my dad, but I am so happy that Nat got to see her best friend. She didn't get to visit with him long, but the peace she has now is tangible. Her joy even caused her to kiss Giles in front of us.
Only Buffy was surprised by the couple. Sometimes, the blonde runs deep in my slayer sister.
****Los Angeles****
I didn't waste any time and went to see Angel and Wes even though Giles would be pissed that I went to the law firm of evil. I just knew that Angel's contacts could help me. I can't believe that Angel hired Harmony as his secretary. That's so nuts!
"Buffy's little sister," Harmony said, looking fearful. "Is the slayer with you? I'm do for a lunch break now."
She stood as if ready to flee.
"No, Harmony, Buffy's not with me," I said with a smirk. "I'm spending a month with my dad in L.A., and I wanted to say hi to everyone. Is Angel in his office?"
"He is," Harmony replied.
"Can you ask Wes to come to his office? I want to see him, too," I said.
Harmony nodded as I went into Angel's office.
"Dawn? Is Buffy okay?" Angel asked, standing as he saw me come into his office.
"Yes," I said. Angel moved around his desk to give her a hug.
"You're getting so tall," Angel said, smiling down at her.
"I know. It totally pisses Buffy off," I said with a grin.
Angel laughed, and Wesley came into the office. "Dawn, is everything all right in Sunnydale?" he asked.
"Yes. Everything is great. Buffy's in school again, and Giles is dating Nat, who is now Chief of Police," I shared.
"Who is Nat?" Wesley asked, looking at Angel, who shrugged.
"Cordelia kept up with all the Sunnydale gossip," he said.
I could tell he still missed her, so I began to tell them all about how Natasha dropped into our lives.
A half an hour later, I finally caught them up to speed.
"Wow!" Angel remarked. "I can't believe Buffy didn't tell me all that."
"What did she tell you?" I asked.
"She said that the Glory hellgod was dead, and you were safe," he said. I could tell that it made him sad that Buffy and he weren't close anymore. It kind of made me sad, too.
"I really think I can use my blood to open portals, and I was hoping Wesley could help," I explained.
"Well, Fred is our resident expert on portals, but I will be glad to do what I can," he said. "Let's go talk to her."
"Stop," Angel ordered. "Buffy would kick my ass if I let you be in any danger."
"Don't worry. If I open any portals, I will make sure that you go through them first," I said, giving him a cheeky grin.
"Gunn. He can do that since he won't burst into flame," Angel said.
"Who's that?" I asked.
"Come on," Wesley said. "I'll introduce you to him and Fred. You're going to love her."
"Keep me posted before things get dangerous," Angel said to Wesley.
"Of course," Wesley replied as he took me to meet Fred.
He was right. I loved her.
She was brilliant, and by the end of the summer, I could open portals wherever I wanted.
I couldn't wait to let Nat know she could visit her friends again. She loved us, so I didn't think she would leave us.
At least I hoped not.
*****The End*****
For now. Let me know your thoughts! Thanks for reading!