A/N: Okay, again so sorry for the long delay. But the good news is that school is out, just three exams to go and then I will have much more time to write. I was originally intending to start some drama in this chapter, but then this idea came to me, and I just had to go with it. I think you guys will like this chapter. Please continue to review and let me know what you think!

Dedication: To everyone who has been religiously reviewing this fic, it means so much to me!

> > > > >

Chapter 8: Make Me a Match

The sunlight streamed through the window and caressed Dawn's face lightly as she stirred from a peaceful sleep. Her eyes fluttered open and she immediately looked at the spot next to her. She grinned when she saw Connor smiling down at her.

"How long have you been awake?" she said sleepily.

"Just long enough to watch you sleep," he said simply. "You look so beautiful."

Dawn reached her hands up and patted her head. "You're sweet, but I know I have bed head. And probably morning breath."

He leaned in to kiss her. "You're perfect."

Her stomach rumbled slightly as they kissed. Connor laughed. "Don't worry, I ordered some room service."

Dawn collapsed back onto the bed. "I wish we could just stay here forever."

"Well, we can until noon. That's checkout. I would stay we could stay forever, but I doubt I could talk myself into another night here for the normal room fee, and forever...I definitely don't make that much."

"I know. This has just been so perfect. One of the best nights of my life."

"One of them?" Connor asked. "What are the others?"

She smiled as she thought. "Well, there's the first night we made love. That will always be very special to me. Then there is Christmas Eve, when you first told me you loved me and we fell asleep in your living room...remember, I was so worried Buffy would think we did something!" He laughed. "And then the night that we first kissed...in the garden at Angel's hotel. And this one isn't a night, but of course the day at the hotel when I saw you for the first time."

"You took my breath away," he said, stroking her hair.

"Well, it seems like you have a starring role in the top moments of my life. Do you feel special now?" she teased.

"I feel special whenever I'm with you," he said quietly.

She smiled at him. "You are so sweet. I thought guys weren't supposed to be this sweet."

"Well there's an exception to every rule." He leaned in and kissed her just as a knock sounded at the door. "That would be our food." He hopped up out of the bed and ran to the door. Dawn lied back on the pillow, grinning to herself.

"I have got to be the luckiest girl on the planet," she whispered.

"What?" Connor asked as he reentered the bedroom, pushing a cart full of food.

Dawn gaped. "Oh my God Connor, how much food did you order?"

"Well, I wasn't sure what you wanted...and I didn't want to wake you...so I got some options," he said, pushing the cart next to the bed. "There's eggs, omelettes, pancakes, french toast..."

"Yummy!" Dawn said. She sat up, pulling the sheets tighter around herself. She reached out and started shoveling some food onto a plate. "So, do you have to work today?"

"I don't know, I didn't tell them for sure. I might go in later though," Connor said as he started on a pancake. "It's not bad work, and I like to have the money."

"I'm very proud of you. You've been working so hard," Dawn said sincerely.

"I just want to make the best life possible for you," he replied. "I mean, Dawn, you're going into your last year of high school. You'll be an adult...we could get our own apartment, there's so much we could do."

She nodded. "I know...but I am really nervous about going to school here. I mean, senior year...if it's anything like the US, cliques and such are already established, what if there's nowhere for me to fit in?"

He reached out and cupped her chin. "Just be yourself. And if they have any brains, they'll love you."

She laughed. "I hope so...but then there's the whole language barrier thing."

"Oh, you are already picking it up so fast. And you still have another month or so before school starts."

"I know, but ordering a pizza is one thing, writing essays in a second language is something different entirely," she said with a sigh.

"Dawn...you don't need to worry about it. I have no doubt in my mind that you'll do great. Remember, together, we can get through anything." He squeezed her hand.

She thought for a moment. "I guess we have been through a lot...an apocalypse or two, moving across the world, my sister..."

He laughed. "Oh, Buffy's not that bad. I mean, I got you here."

"Yes, I give her a lot of credit...I mean, she's had a hard life. She has so much responsibility...and not nearly enough happiness. She needs some love," Dawn said honestly.

Connor sat back. "You know James from work that I told you about? Well, he is interested in your sister."

Dawn laughed. "Seriously?"

"Yeah, I think he might be a little desperate. Besides, he listens to me rave about you, and figures that your sister must be pretty great too."

"Well you know what? You should invite him over. You never know," Dawn said hopefully.

"But wouldn't Buffy get mad?" Connor said warily.

"Well you don't have to tell her our real motives, just say that you wanted to invite your friend over for dinner. I'm sure she would be totally cool with it," Dawn insisted.

"Well maybe I will," he said with a shrug. "I guess it can't hurt anything. I just hope James doesn't have any real expectations..."

"Well hey, you never know. I never thought for a second that when Buffy shipped me off to LA for a week while she fought demons in Europe that I would end up finding the love of my life," Dawn said.

He smiled at her. "So I guess that sometimes you find love when you're not looking for it. But what about Angel?"

Dawn sighed. "I know my Buffy still loves him. I think she always will. But practically...she can't spend her whole life waiting for someone that she can't be with. I think some part of her realizes that. Maybe we just need to, you know, nudge her along." She suddenly collapsed back onto the pillow. "Oh my God, if I eat any more I'm going to burst."

Connor laughed. "It's alright. Maybe we can take some of it home." He moved the cart over to the corner of the room before sitting back down on the bed. "So, we still have a couple hours. What do you want to do?"

Dawn turned to face him, thinking. A grin slowly spread across her face. "We didn't really spend much time in that tub last night..."

Connor started to grin too. "Yeah, it would be a shame if we didn't get our money's worth." They just stared at each other for a second.

"Race you?" She bounced out of bed, dashing to the bathroom, with him running after her, both giggling the entire way.

> > > > >

An hour later, the two lovebirds slowly cleaned up the room, straightening the mussed bed and cleaning up their breakfast. Dawn zipped herself back into her blue dress. "I spent all that time yesterday picking out something to wear and I only had it on for a total of about an hour," she said with a laugh.

"Well, it is a very nice dress, but I prefer you without clothes," Connor joked.

Dawn tossed a pillow at him. "Just don't let Buffy hear you say that."

"Hey, I just made the bed," he said, putting the pillow back. "And sorry for being honest."

She fluffed her hair, which was still damp from their 'bath'. "So is our plan still on for tonight?"

"You mean our little matchmaking venture that could very easily blow up in our faces?" Connor said.

"Oh come on, it is going to be fine. Buffy never has to know the real reason you're inviting James." Dawn started to put her things back in her purse, glancing around the room for anything that may have been forgotten.

"And they probably won't even hit it off. I'll make sure James knows not to be too obvious," Connor said, pulling his shirt on over his head.

"Good," Dawn said, fastening her new bracelet around her wrist and holding it up to admire it in the light. "You know, for someone that supposedly hates shopping so much you're good at getting me presents."

Connor laughed. "Well I heard that you can't go wrong with jewelry."

She shook her head. "It's more than that. You put thought into this, with the picture of us and everything. Hey, maybe if the whole moving thing doesn't work out, you can get a job as a personal shopper." She shrieked as he threw the pillow at her.

"Just watch what you say," he joked. "Hey, it's noon, we should get going. Got everything?"

She nodded, looking around wistfully. "We made some good memories here."

He put his arm around her waist. "That we did." He slowly led her to the door and out into the hallway of the hotel.

> > > > >

Buffy glanced up from the tv when she heard the key slide in the lock. Her sister and Connor entered the apartment hand in hand, both looking very happy. "It looks like someone had a good birthday," she said wryly, switching off the tv and leaning back.

"It was wonderful," Dawn said happily.

"Please spare me the details," Buffy begged.

"Oh, don't worry. We wouldn't want to traumatize you or anything," Dawn said lightly. She glanced at Connor. "But we did want to talk to you about something. Could we maybe consider getting one of those whirlpool tubs for here? Because they're really good for-"

"Stop! Please," Buffy said, putting her hands over her ears. Dawn and Connor laughed.

"Okay, we're sorry. We promise you won't have to hear any more about it," Connor said honestly.

"Thank you." Buffy glanced at the clock. "I have to go to work...but I'll be home before dinner." She started to grab her coat, and Dawn gave Connor a pointed look.

"Oh, um, Buffy, would it be okay if I invited my buddy James over for dinner tonight?" Connor asked hesitantly.

Buffy looked surprised. "Um, sure, I guess. Just make sure you tell him to come at like 7, Dawn can straighten up but I won't be home until then. And I guess I can pick up some food on the way."

Connor nodded. "Okay, cool."

Buffy nodded. "It'll be nice to have a guest. Dawn, make sure you make everything look nice. Anyway, I should get going, bye."

"Bye," Dawn and Connor called after her. When the door closed, they looked at each other, smiling. "Step one of Operation: Matchmaker is complete."

Connor laughed. "I still think this is a real longshot. I mean, James isn't exactly Buffy's type..."

"Hey, like I said, sometimes you find love when you least expect it," Dawn reminded him. "All we have to do is get them together, and see what happens. My sister needs this."

"I agree. And you're right. What's the worst that could happen?" Connor said optimistically.

> > > > >

Two hours later

Rome Movers and Co

Connor walked into the garage and immediately made a beeline for James. "Hey man," he said.

"Connor! Hey, didn't think I'd see you today. So, how was last night?" he said knowingly.

Connor grinned. "It was great. Dawn loved everything. And we had fun."

"I'm sure you did. Hey, if you're here you should go let the boss know, we can get you in on a job."

"Yeah, but I wanted to ask you something." He paused. "I know you, er, expressed interest in meeting Dawn's sister, Buffy."

James raised an eyebrow. "Why? You're setting us up on a blind date?"

"Not exactly. But I did get the okay to invite you over to the apartment for dinner tonight," Connor continued.

"Awesome! So, did you tell her about me?" James asked excitedly.

"Um, James, Dawn and I discussed this, and we think that the best way to, uh, approach the situation is if Buffy doesn't know that you're interested in her before she meets you. Dawn and I are living proof that sometimes you find someone when you least expect it..."

"Gotcha. So I'll be discreet," he said with a shrug. "But thanks so much man, if she's anything like your girl I'm sure she's a winner."

> > > > >

The same time

Perfetto Café

"So busy today," Gina said simply as she and Buffy rushed to wash dishes before the next wave of customers.

"It is," Buffy said. "It'll be nice to go home and relax! But at least we're making lots of tips."

"How was Dawn's birthday?" Gina asked slowly.

"It was nice. Connor got a hotel room for them, and they got to spend some time together. She seemed really happy when they got home today."

"That's good. You're a good sister, you let Dawn do that."

Buffy laughed slightly. "Yeah, it took some persuading on Connor's part. But I figure that it won't help anything by saying no. But when they got home today, they seemed a little...weird. Almost like they have a secret or something."

"Secret?" Gina asked, confused.

"Something that you're keeping from someone else, not telling them," Buffy explained. She had a sudden thought. "Gina, how would you like to come over to my apartment for dinner tonight?"

Gina's eyes widened. "Oh, you no have to invite me..."

"Oh, but Connor's inviting a friend from work, so we're already having company. The more the merrier! Besides, you can tell Dawn happy birthday in person. It would be nice," Buffy insisted.

Gina considered that. "Okay. I come."

Buffy smiled. "Good. I'm sure we'll have a very nice evening."

> > > > >

Dawn lit two candles on the folding table that she had moved out into the middle of the living room. She stepped back and surveyed her work. "Perfect," she said happily. She smoothed her outfit, black pants and a blue top that was one of Connor's favorites. She adjusted the four chairs around the table, looking up when the door opened. Connor walked through the door, accompanied by James, who held a box from a bakery in his hand.

"Hey baby," Connor said, walking over and giving her a quick kiss. "You look great, the place looks great."

"Hi James," Dawn said, holding out her hand. "I'm Dawn."

"I've heard a lot about you," James said appreciatively, shaking her hand delicately. He glanced around. "Where's your sister?"

"Oh, Buffy will be home any minute. She's just getting off of work. Connor, did you..."

"Yes. James knows the plan, and he knows to be discreet," Connor said with a wink.

James looked nervous as he sat down, placing the dessert box he had brought as a courtesy on the table. "I just hope she likes me."

"Me too. Buffy, you see, she hasn't had that much luck in the love department. I think this might be just what she needs. But she can be...fickle," Dawn said, choosing her words carefully.

"It's okay. Wouldn't be my first rejection," the slightly awkward looking blonde said sadly.

"Just be yourself. You'll be fine," Dawn encouraged.

James looked at Connor. "Wow, you're lucky. She's even more special in person." Dawn and Connor both laughed. She straightened when she heard a key in the lock. "I think she's here!" She started to head towards the door but stopped when it opened. Dawn glanced over her shoulder in excitement, wanting to see James's first reaction upon seeing her sister. She was thrilled to notice that he seemed mesmerized and almost frozen to the spot. Looking to Connor to see if he had noticed, she frowned slightly when she saw Connor's confused expression. She followed James line of sight...past her sister who was carrying several take out bags and to a tall, dark haired beauty standing in the doorway.

"Gina?" Dawn blurted out, unintentionally sounding slightly rude.

The Italian girl instantly blushed. "I know this bad idea..."

"No, Gina, please stay, they're just surprised to see you, that's all," Buffy rushed, sitting the bags down on the table. James stands up in confusion, looking at the blonde.

"Wait...you're Buffy?" James asked.

Buffy smiled at him. "Yeah. And you must be James."

Dawn closed her eyes for a second, as she saw an image of their beautifully concocted plan going right down the toletta.

Connor glanced at Dawn only briefly before going to the door and motioning for Gina to enter the apartment. "Hey Gina. Why don't you come in and sit down?" Meanwhile, James had finished making small talk with Buffy, and was staring at Gina, who quite obviously was much more interesting to him. "Gina, this is my friend James."

"Ciao bella," James said in almost a whisper, holding out his hand. Dawn rolled her eyes from behind his back.

Gina blushed profusely as she accepted his hand, and turned an even brighter shade of red when he placed a kiss on it. "I-I'm Gina."

"And you're Italian," James said, sounding fascinated. Dawn sat down rigidly in a chair at the table and began removing the take out containers from the bags Buffy had brought.

"Yes," Gina said.

Connor sat down next to Dawn and whispered in her ear. "Looks like our little plan may have backfired."

Dawn nodded glumly. "Looks like Operation: Matchmaker is a failure."

"Not necessarily...just not with the right two people," Connor said.

"What?" Buffy asked, looking at them. "Did you guys say something?"

"No," Dawn said, trying to hide her disappointment. "Let's just eat." She watched as James pulled back a chair for Gina, and the two exchanged a smile. They are kind of cute I guess, she thought. Then she looked over at Buffy, who was quietly spooning pasta from a plastic container onto their plates. She sighed as she began to eat.

> > > > >

"Well thank you very much for having me. This has been a wonderful evening," James said sincerely.

Dawn sat quietly in her chair. Dinner had mainly consisted of James flirting profusely with Gina, whom to her great surprise, was actually flirting back...or attempting to, with her somewhat limited English skills.

Buffy smiled at him as she carried the plates to the kitchen. "I'm glad you enjoyed it. Gina, do you want me to walk you home?"

"No, it's okay. James can," Gina said, smiling at him.

James placed a hand on her lower back. "Yes, I would love to. So, thank you very much Buffy, Dawn. I'll see you tomorrow Connor."

"See you," Connor said, wrapping his arms around Dawn.

"Bye," Dawn called out weakly. The two of them exited the apartment, giggling together.

"Well they certainly seemed to hit it off," Buffy said once the three of them were alone. "I've never seen Gina that...relaxed before. I hope you guys don't mind that I invited her, I know I should have asked, but she would have just gone home by herself and I figured no one would mind."

"No, it's perfectly fine," Dawn said quietly. She stood up. "I think I'm going to go to bed now. It's been a long day."

Buffy looked at her quizzically. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, fine," Dawn said with a little smile. She headed towards her bedroom that she shared with Connor.

Once the door closed he headed over to the kitchen to help Buffy clean up from dinner. "Connor, is Dawn okay? She seemed kind of quiet during dinner."

He sighed. "Yeah..." He thought for a moment. "Well, you weren't supposed to know about this. But Dawn's been worried about you lately. She thinks you need someone in your life. You know. And I mentioned to her that James wanted to meet you because he hears me talk about how great Dawn is all the time, and she thought that maybe we could introduce you. But then Gina came..."

"I see," Buffy said quietly, suddenly understanding. "That's really sweet though. But I'm fine, really, and I've tried the whole relationship thing, never works out..."

"But things are different now. You're not the only slayer. This isn't Sunnydale," Connor reminded her. "So, just please, for Dawn, try and be more open. We get that the James thing didn't work out, it was a longshot anyway. But we just want you to be happy."

"Really?" Buffy said softly.

"Yes. Your sister cares a lot about you. And whatever Dawn wants, I want," Connor said honestly.

Buffy looked at him. "You are your father's son." There was a brief silence between them. "Anyway, why don't you go be with Dawn...but not like that, I'm right here, and these walls aren't that thick..."

Connor laughed. "I know. I'll talk to her. Good night."

"Good night," Buffy said. As he disappeared into the bedroom she leaned back against the counter, now alone in the dark apartment, considering what had just been said.

> > > > >

Dawn sat up in the bed when Connor entered the room. "I heard that. You were really sweet."

"I hope you don't mind that I told her, I just didn't want her to think that you were acting weird because you're pregnant or something," Connor said with a smirk.

Dawn smacked him lightly on the shoulder. "And it's fine. Maybe now she can go find herself a man and we won't have to do it for her." Connor laughed.

She relaxed back onto the pillow. "I just feel so bad...I mean it must be bad enough for her to see us so happy right in front of her face every day. And now Gina will be all glowy at work, and that will just make Buffy feel worse."

He rubbed her back. "I don't think she feels bad. I think she's almost gotten used to being alone."

"No one should have to do that," she said quietly.

He lied down next to her, wrapping his arms around her waist and kissing the top of her head. "I agree." They stayed like that in silence until they both fell asleep.

> > > > >

TBC!

I will try to have the next chapter up sooner without a big delay. I hope to get some more plot-like stuff rolling in chapter 9...you'll see. PLEASE REVIEW!