A/N: I am so sorry...it's been a really long time. Some real life stuff happened that required my full attention. But don't worry, I'll try my best to not let it happen again.

This chapter gets some plot stuff in motion...so please just bear with me...and remember, what fun would a fic be if there isn't at least a little drama? You've had 8 chapters of almost pure fluff so far...anyways, just read. And I swear, I'm really not evil. -angelic grin-

Many thanks to everyone who reviewed last chapter: Sanity Fair (good job catching the Wonderfalls reference in the chapter title), Katie, freezyboncoolipants, daybreak and destructo boy, spk, IllyriaJem, and Dawn. You guys are the best. And again, sorry for the long wait.

> > > > >

Chapter 9: Interesting Customers

Friday, August 21st, 2003

Six weeks later

"No, you're wrong," Dawn insisted.

Connor frowned. "No I'm not. You're wrong."

Dawn gave a heaving sigh. "For the last time Connor...I love you more."

"Oh will you two please cut it out?" Buffy begged from her spot in the kitchen.

Connor laughed. "Sorry Buffy. I'm leaving now." He leaned in and gave Dawn and lingering kiss. "Bye Dawn."

"Bye baby," she said, grasping his hand before he exited the apartment. When he was gone she sighed happily and headed to the couch, where she sat down and began flipping through an American magazine they had found at a local vendor. Buffy watched her intently, to the point where Dawn met eyes with her sister. "What are you staring at?"

"You. I think being in love agrees with you," Buffy said with a smile.

Dawn couldn't help but grin. "It really does. I mean, I just wonder what I did to get this lucky. I just never dreamed I would find someone like Connor, not this early in life at least."

"You are lucky. And it's good that you don't take that for granted," Buffy replied.

Dawn immediately felt bad upon hearing her sister's comment. She sat up straighter and put the magazine down. "I'm sorry Buffy. I'm a jerk, going on and on about how great love is when..." her voice trailed off as she realized there was no kind way to end the sentence.

"When I'm sitting here alone," Buffy concluded for her. "Dawn, it's okay. You know I want you to be happy. You don't need to feel guilty. Stop worrying about me. I'm the big sister, I'm supposed to worry about you."

Dawn slowly crossed the room to sit in the kitchen stool opposite her sister. "But I can't help it. It must be so hard for you to see me with Connor all the time, especially considering who he is."

Buffy gave her a look. "Dawn, you know I'm over that."

"Sure, maybe you got used to it. But I know it's always going to be hard, especially living with him, because he's a living, breathing reminder of Angel," Dawn said quietly.

Buffy sighed. "Dawnie, Angel and I are of the past. We both know it could never work."

"But I know you still love him. And he still loves you. And I know it must be so hard to get past something like that. But have you ever considered...you know, getting back out there?"

Buffy tilted her head. "Dawn, I tried that. Remember Parker? Riley? Even Spike? Remember how swell those relationships went?"

"But things are different now. Last I checked, there's no Hellmouth under Rome. And you're not the only slayer now! You don't have that stopping you from having a normal life."

"Dawnie, my life will never be normal."

"But it could be closer," Dawn insisted. "Giles and Willow and everyone are working with the new slayers. They have it under control. You do your part, and you deserve to have some time to yourself. There is nothing stopping you from going out."

"With guys? Easier said than done. Even though it's not a Hellmouth, there are many other kinds of monsters out there," Buffy said pessimistically.

Dawn groaned. "Buffy, you're not working with me here! Look, I agree that maybe the James thing was a bad idea."

"Don't even get me started on that. How old is he? Like sixteen?"

Dawn glared. "He's twenty. He's in college. But anyway, I see now that was a bad move. Too soon and sudden. So I won't try to fix you up anymore if you promise to just put the effort in yourself. But if you don't, I'll have to step in," she said with a shrug.

Buffy looked at her affectionately. "You're sweet. You really are. But I really don't need a guy in my life right now." She glanced at the clock. "I should be going to work. You okay here by yourself?"

"Just as okay as I've been here by myself for the past two and a half months," Dawn said dryly.

Buffy gave her a quick smile. "Bye Dawnie. Call if you need anything."

"Bye Buffy," she said as her sister walked out the door. When she was alone she trudged back over to the couch and sat down with a sigh.

Since her birthday, things had been pretty uneventful. Connor and Buffy had been working, and most of Dawn's time had gone towards working on her Italian to prepare for her senior year of high school, which would begin in a mere two weeks. The prospect of going to an Italian school was terrifying, but not nearly as terrifying as the idea of not knowing everyone. By senior year everyone was sure to be in their own little cliques, with no room for adjustment. But then she figured it couldn't be much worse than Sunnydale High. Except that at least there they had spoken English.

Even though her and Connor's master plan to fix up Buffy and James had completely backfired, it had worked out good in the respect that Gina and James were now practically attached at the hip. Buffy and everyone else who worked at the Perfetto Café agreed that Gina had never been happier. Dawn and Connor had even gone on a couple of double dates with the pair.

But as much as Buffy tried to convince her otherwise, Dawn knew her sister was lonely. All she did was go from home to work, to patrolling with Gina, to long phone calls with Giles, Willow, and Xander about their progress in the mission to train the new slayers. Dawn knew that Buffy missed the old Sunnydale gang dearly. And so did she. But at least she had Connor. Buffy didn't have anyone.

Angel called about once a week to check in. It was obvious that Buffy looked forward to his calls. Whenever the phone would ring when it was about time for him to be calling again her eyes would brighten. Yet when she hung up she looked sadder than ever.

Dawn's heavy thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door. She got up and quickly crossed the room. "I wonder what she forgot this time," she muttered, swinging open the door. "Oh, hi Gina! Um, Buffy just left."

The dark haired girl shook her head. "I'm not here to see Buffy. I want to talk to you."

Dawn blinked in surprise. Although they had hung out with their respective boyfriends together, she didn't quite consider Gina a friend. She was still convinced that the Italian girl was holding a grudge over Dawn's less-than-welcoming treatment at their first meeting. But they had both been making an effort. "Sure, come in." Gina entered the apartment, standing there awkwardly for a moment before being beckoned over to the couch by Dawn. "Here, sit. What did you want to talk about?"

Gina looked like she was carefully choosing her words before she spoke. "I need to know how to be good girlfriend," she rushed, blushing slightly.

Dawn couldn't help but smile. "Gina, I'm sure you're a great girlfriend. James adores you. Connor says you're all he talks about."

She smiled a little at that. "I know. I go on dates and we...kiss. But..." she seemed to be struggling with words. "I no know what to do next."

Dawn was slightly confused by her words. "Well I would just keep doing what you're doing..."

Gina shook her head. "No. Not like that. I mean...I think James want to make relationship bigger."

Dawn took a moment to process what seemed to be a rough translation to English. "Bigger...wait, you mean...take it to the next level?" she asked hesitantly.

Gina nodded, clearly relieved to have gotten her point across. "Yes. I think he not happy with just kissing."

Dawn took a deep breath, trying to figure out the best way to explain this. "Gina...you have only been together with James for six weeks. It's not a very long time."

"But it feels longer," Gina insisted. "I...I think I love him," she admitted with a blush.

Dawn smiled. "Really? Well I'm happy for you. But still...what you're talking about, it's a big step. Have you ever...been with anyone like that before?"

Gina shook her head sheepishly. "James is my first boyfriend."

"Well, that's okay. And it was pretty much the same situation with Connor and I. But what's most important is that you wait until you feel ready. Sex is a big step, and the last thing you want to do is regret it later," Dawn said responsibly.

"How long do you wait? With Connor?" Gina questioned.

"Six months," Dawn said. "We waited until it felt right. And I'm so glad we did."

Gina seemed very surprised to hear that. "Six months is long time...I thought that in America, girls...weren't like that."

The former Key laughed out loud. "American stereotypes still crack me up. That might be true for some girls, but not me at least." She hesitated. "But Gina, James hasn't...pressured you, has he? Tried to make you do anything you don't want to do?"

Gina shook her head very quickly. "Oh, no. James has been so good to me. He wouldn't. I just wanted talk to you because you know how to be a girlfriend."

Dawn smiled humbly. "Well I think you seem to be doing just fine yourself."

"So what do I do?" she asked bluntly.

"Well, I would just see how things go. You need to wait until you feel one hundred percent ready, and there's nothing wrong with talking to James about this. Connor and I discussed it. And it made me feel so much better when I knew that he wanted to wait too," Dawn admitted.

Gina considered that. "I take your advice. Thank you Dawn."

Dawn smiled. "No problem. And if you ever want to talk again, I'm here."

Gina stood up. "I know. I have to go to café now. But Dawn, promise you keep secret."

She made a motion of zipping her lips and throwing away the key. "I promise."

Gina nodded, satisfied as Dawn walked her to the door. They said their goodbyes and then she was gone. When Dawn was alone once again, she sighed. "Just call me Love Doctor Dawn." She really thought it was sweet that Gina was in love with James and so concerned about doing everything right. But she had never really thought of herself and Connor as such a model couple before...but she supposed that they did pretty much have the ideal relationship, or at least as close as you could get.

> > > > >

"So how are things with Gina?" Connor asked James, as they kicked around the garage waiting for their assignments.

He grinned. "Awesome. She's just such an amazing girl...she's unlike anyone I've ever met before."

"She is special. And I this means a lot to her. From what I've heard she's never really had anyone she could count on before," Connor said. "I'm happy for you guys."

Before James could respond, Steve walked over to tell them their assignments. "Hey boys. You've got an assignment out in the new development off of Rosa Strada. Family just moved here from the States, moving into a big honking new house. From what I hear they're loaded, it'll probably be a few day job to get them settled in, they're having their stuff delivered in waves and want help getting everything in the house. It's a little bit of a different job, but I'm sure they'll tip well and appreciate that you speak English."

Connor nodded. "Sounds good." The two of them headed for one of the trucks. "It'll be nice to see some people speaking English." Almost all of their clients usually spoke Italian, limiting the amount of interaction they could have with them.

"And they're rich, probably pay us a fortune to move around their crystal chandeliers and whatnot," James joked as they took off for the outskirts of the city.

> > > > >

James put his foot on the brakes and maneuvered slowly once the new housing development. The very modern houses appeared very expensive, definitely in the very upper class price range. Situated around a cul-de-sac, the neighborhood looked pretty quiet, almost like something out of the Stepford Wives. Only Italian. But it was very clear when they reached their destination. "Woah," Connor said.

"Understatement of the year," James muttered as he pulled to a stop. The house they had been assigned to had several large airmail trucks parked in front, with delivery men carrying boxes and furniture and placing it onto the lawn. A second later, a tall, striking woman in stilettos and a designer suit came flying out of the house, her long blonde hair streaming behind her.

"What are you doing? Not on the lawn! We just had this treated!" she shrieked. "Have you no common sense?" The six or so delivery men just stared at her, baffled.

Connor stepped forward, addressing the delivery men. "Do you guys speak English?" They all either stared blankly or shook their heads no, confirming his suspicion. "Okay...James?"

His friend stepped forward and quickly spoke a few sentences in Italian. It worked like magic, and the men immediately began moving the boxes off of the spotless lawn and onto the sidewalk.

The woman quickly approached Connor and James, appearing very relieved. "Thank you so much young men. It's a nightmare, no one here speaks English!" They both tried to suppress a laugh as she extended her perfectly manicured hand towards them, a large diamond ring gleaming in the sun. "Temira Tyman. I assume you're the movers we requested? We specifically asked for English speaking men."

"Yeah, that's us. I'm Connor, and this is James," he said as they both shook her hand.

"And where are the rest of you?" Temira asked, peering behind the truck as if expecting a line of English speaking movers to appear, ready to do her bidding.

"Um, we're all we have, ma'am. But we're very good, just tell us what you need," James said professionally.

She made a clucking noise with her tongue. "Humph. Well you have your work cut out for you boys. We have an entirely empty house that needs to be filled. You'd best get started. Start with the furniture. My husband and daughter are inside. They should be able to tell you where to put things." She turned on her heel and strutted away to hover over the delivery men.

James raised an eyebrow. "Interesting lady."

"Why am I thinking that we're going to earn every cent of a tip we get," Connor muttered as they started to pick up a leather couch. James laughed.

They moved it with ease inside the gaping doors of the black and white painted house. They entered a large foyer, vacant except for a few scattered boxes. A tall, Italian looking man looked up from an open box. "Hello, you must be our movers. Richard Tyman. You can just put that in the living room, back there." He gestured over his shoulder into a huge, open room with many windows. They nodded in acknowledgment and carried the couch into the room, placing it against the wall near the windows. They turned and headed back outside, where Mrs. Tyman was still bossing around the very confused looking delivery men, apparently still oblivious to the fact that they could not understand a word she was saying. They picked up a bed, and slowly carried it into the house, having to turn it sideways to get it through the door. They paused in the foyer.

"This probably belongs upstairs," Connor said.

"That's right boys," sounded a voice from the top of the stairs.

They both looked up to see a stunning tall brunette perched at the top of the staircase with one hand on her hip. She wore jeans with a brown midriff-baring halter top, and gold heels. Her long hair fell past her shoulders in perfectly coifed waves. She had a confident smile on her face, almost a smirk even. "You can bring that right on up."

Connor fell forward slightly and a loud thud sounded as James promptly dropped his end of the bed. It was clear that he was mesmerized by this new presence. Connor rolled his eyes. "James? Let's get this upstairs."

"Oh, right," he said quickly, picking the bed back up. They began to move it up the stairs. When they reached the top the brunette was standing there waiting, pointing to an open door.

"In here please," she said sweetly. They obliged, carrying it in and placing it in a clear spot amid a room that had some half unpacked boxes scattered about. "Perfect! I'm guessing you're the movers my parents hired..." She gave them both an appraising, once-over glance, and appeared satisfied. "You boys certainly don't look Italian."

Connor spoke, realizing that James was probably still somewhat incoherent. "No, we're Americans."

"Well you came to the right place! So are we. Just moved here from Miami..." she gave a dramatic sigh.

"And you are?" James croaked suddenly.

Again she flashed that huge, innocent smile. "Kerri Tyman." She paused. "If you wouldn't mind...I need some help in here. I want to put some of these boxes up in the closet, and I can't quite reach."

"Well there's a lot of stuff downstairs waiting to be brought in too," Connor said reluctantly.

"Then you can stay here and help me, and your friend can go help the rents," she said easily.

James could barely hide his disappointment. "Okay...Connor, don't take too long."

"I won't," Connor retorted as James scurried from the room.

Kerri sat on the bed, crossing her legs delicately. "I don't think I caught your name."

"Connor," he said with a flash of a smile. "So what did you need help with?"

"Well Connor, I'm impressed. Your friend there was practically drooling over me. So immature. But you, very cool and collected," she said mysteriously.

He frowned. Was this girl seriously priding him on not fawning over her beauty? "I have a girlfriend," he said without thinking.

To his surprise Kerri tilted her head back and laughed airily. "Gosh, you think I would really put the moves on a guy I just meant? I was just commenting. But that's sweet. You seem very committed. Must be a lucky girl."

"She is," he said impatiently. "What did you need moved?"

She stood up and slowly walked towards him. "You're a feisty one, aren't you? Never quite met a guy like you before."

He instantly took a step back. "Look, I don't know what you're after, but I'm not interested."

She raised an eyebrow. "Who says I'm 'after' anything? Maybe I'm just lonely. I mean after all I did just leave my entire life, all my friends, my own country to move across an ocean...and I'm just pleasantly surprised that the first cute guy I meet happens to speak English."

He considered that. Was it possible she really was just lonely? He looked at her: he eyes appeared very innocent as she stared at him. Her gaze was piercing, and he had the odd sensation that she could see right into him.

"But if you're so eager to get to work, you can put those boxes over there up in the closet," she said, not breaking the gaze.

Eager to step away, he picked up two of the said boxes and hoisted them onto the top shelf of the walk-in closet. "So, when did you move to Italy, Connor?" Kerri asked, sitting on her bed once more.

"Almost three months ago," he said, reaching for another box.

"Why Rome?" she asked innocently, now filing her nails.

"Moved here with my girlfriend and her sister...just needed a change. Our lives in California kind of...went downhill," he said dryly, picturing the huge crater formerly known as Sunnydale in his head.

"You live with your girlfriend? Wow. How old is she?"

He paused to look at Kerri. "Seventeen. She'll be going into her senior year here in a couple weeks."

"Oh my gosh! Me too! The public school right in the city?" He nodded. "I'll probably see her around then," Kerri said enthusiastically. "What about you? Are you a student?"

"No, I just work for the moving company," he said nonchalantly. "What about you? Why did you move to Rome?"

She sighed loudly. "Well you'll never hear this version from my parents. But my dad was cheating. My mom made him pack up and move here to get him away from the other woman. But I don't think that was the smartest move ever, considering he's Italian and he'll probably only find the Italian women more appealing."

Connor stared at her in embarrassed shock. He had just met this girl five minutes ago, why was she being so painfully honest about something so personal that must have been very painful? "Wow...that must have been hard for you."

She shrugged. "I'm independent. Doesn't bother me much." But he noticed a flicker of something in her eyes...was it sadness?

He walked closer to her. "But it must be...something like that can't not affect you."

She looked down. "Hey, maybe downplaying is my way of dealing."

Again, he was shocked yet impressed by her brutal frankness. "Well I don't exactly have the best family situation either. My mom died in childbirth, and my dad...well I grew up thinking someone else was my dad. When I found out the truth I was messed up pretty bad. Things with my real dad still aren't that great, but we're working on it. More or less."

"Is he back in the States?" she asked softly.

Connor sat down next to her and nodded. "Los Angeles. But I've got a good thing going here, with Dawn, and Buffy. That's her sister."

She nodded. "You're lucky." She hesitated. "I have a confession to make."

He looked at her in surprise. "What?"

"I didn't really need those boxes moved," she said coyly. "I just thought you looked interesting...and I suppose I'm lonely."

"That's understandable. You're going through a rough time in your life," he said quietly. "But still, most girls just don't pour their hearts out to the moving guy."

The airy laugh emitted once more. "Well I guess that shows how pathetic I am."

"No, I think it's impressive. I've never been that good at talking about my feelings," he said honestly.

"It's hard to do. Especially when you're not used to doing it," Kerri said quietly. Connor could have sworn she moved a little bit closer to him on the bed. All sorts of thoughts whirled through his mind, and he briefly wondered if he should get up. "You should get back to work now," she said, almost down to a whisper.

He took that as his cue to get up, not unaware of how close she had gotten to him. "Do you need anything else moved?"

She shook her head. "No. Like I said, I was just lonely. And you looked interesting."

"Interesting...not sure if I should take that as a compliment," he half joked.

She grinned. "It's meant as one."

He started to move towards the door. "Well...I'll see you around Kerri."

"Ciao!" she said sweetly. He exited the room. Once she heard his feet descending the stairs she flopped back onto the bed, a devious, pleased smile spreading across her face.

Connor found James moving furniture into the living room. Richard Tyman was nowhere in sight. "Hey man, so what were you doing up there all that time?" James said, managing to sound interested, concerned, and jealous all at the same time.

"Just talking. She's an interesting girl. Definitely not shy," Connor said earnestly. "But I feel bad for her. I think she's lonely, sounds like she's been through a lot."

James raised an eyebrow. "From the looks she was giving you, it seemed like she wanted much more than a sympathetic ear."

"C'mon, just because she's...pretty and seemed a little...forward doesn't mean that's what she wants," Connor said, shaking his head.

"I believe 'pretty' is quite the understatement," James said with a smirk.

"You know, there's this girl I think you might know. Her name's Gina? Italian, dark hair, about yay high..." Connor waved his hand in the air near his chin.

James smacked him on the shoulder. "Hey, you know I'm crazy about her. But that doesn't mean I don't have eyes. I'm still a guy after all. And so were you last I heard."

"You know I'm one hundred percent committed to Dawn," Connor said firmly.

"Yeah, but you spent an awful long time up there with Miss Kerri Tyman. You had to be at least interested."

"In what she had to say, yes. I know what it's like to need someone to talk to when you feel really alone in the world," he said defensively, flashing back to his first days after returning from Quortoth.

"Whatever you say man. Hey, miss tall, blonde, and commanding said we're free to go. Just have to be back tomorrow by nine o'clock sharp," James said, starting for the door.

They exited the house and were immediately approached by Temira Tyman. She pressed a crisply folded twenty into each of their hands. "Thank you boys. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Your welcome," Connor said, feeling a pang of sympathy for her when he remembered what Kerri had told him about their reasons for relocating. "We met your daughter. She seems very nice," Connor said suddenly.

Mrs. Tyman seemed to stiffen slightly. "Oh, met Kerri, did you. Well you'll have to excuse her. She's been through a lot, with the move and all."

Connor frowned a little. "No, we actually had a nice conversation."

She nodded very quickly. "Well isn't that nice. I should be going. Ciao boys." And as soon as she had come she had swept off back into the house.

James cocked his head. "That was strange."

"Tell me about it," Connor said, deep in thought. "Well, we'd better go. We've been here long enough." They hopped into their truck and slowly drove away.

Upstairs in the house, Temira walked swiftly into her daughter's bedroom, where Kerri was sprawled on the bed reading a fashion magazine. "I heard you met our movers. I hope you behaved yourself. They were very efficient. Wouldn't want to have to find other help."

Kerri stared at her mother in mock hurt. "Mother! Now what danger would they be in from little old me?"

The older woman placed her hands on her hips. "I suppose you didn't tell them the real reason we moved to Italy?"

She smiled coyly. "So what if I did?"

> > > > >

Dawn jumped up from the couch the second Connor got home, running to his arms to give him a kiss. "I missed you!" she said, wrapping her arms around him.

He closed his eyes, inhaling her scent. "I missed you too." They pulled apart slightly. "So what did you do today?"

She shrugged. "Not much. Gina stopped by earlier. She wanted to talk. Girlfriend stuff."

He nodded. "I see. How did that go?"

"Good, I think. I'm pretty sure I gave good advice. And how about you? Meet any interesting customers?" she asked, holding his hands.

"Yeah, American family that just moved into a new development...rich. The daughter's your age. She's going to school next month too. We had a nice chat."

Dawn gave him a mock suspicious look. "Nice chat? Should I be jealous?"

"Of course not. You know I love you. But Kerri, I felt bad for her. Sounds like she's been through a lot."

"Haven't we all," Dawn said sadly. She leaned in to kiss him. "Well I'll say hello to her if I see her in school. Sounds like she could use some friends."

"She could," Connor agreed. He leaned in to kiss her. "I'm going to miss you when you go back to school."

She groaned. "I'll miss you too! It's going to suck."

"But hey, it's your last year. And I'm sure it will be a good experience for you. We'll just have to make up for the lost time at night," he said with a smirk.

She laughed. "Wonder how hard it would be to convince Buffy to start working nights?"

He wrapped his arms around her. "Well we'll find time to be alone. We've been managing just fine so far." He thought a minute. "Now that I think about it...we're alone right now."

"I suppose we are," she said calmly. "What do you suggest?"

"This," he said, scooping her up in his arms as she shrieked with delight. He carried her off to the bedroom so they could enjoy the alone time.

> > > > >

TBC!

Okay...I can't say I didn't warn you. :-) Please review, I'm really wondering what you guys are going to think of this latest chapter. And I promise to update soon this time! For real!