Chapter 12

Do You Really Think You're Ready?

Buffy let out a short soft laugh, shaking her head in admonishment over her idiocy. Obviously this wasn't Angel's necklace. What had she even been thinking? It was just a coincidence, a really unlikely freaky one, but not too far out of the realm of the life she led everyday.

Besides even if she were to go so far as to believe that he even knew Angel, the revelation that the necklace belonged to his father expelled any such notion. He wasn't a vampire, so he couldn't have been sired by Angel. This only leaves a child by natural means, and everyone knew vampires couldn't have children. Dawn walked into the kitchen as Buffy was releasing the necklace.

"So, tryin to steal my man? Isn't it enough that all the guys I've ever had crushes on, have been in love with you?" Dawn was smiling, obviously amused by the picture painted before her, including the look of absolute discomfort on Connor's face.

"Oh God, you're both bleeding. Buffy! Have you been beating up my boyfriend?"

Dawn walked over to Connor and lightly touched his bare chest where the small cuts were no longer actually bleeding. Strange, Buffy thought they had looked much worse when he had first taken off his shirt. But that thought was quickly erased by the new one that took over her entire system. As she watched Dawn lean down and lightly kiss each of the cuts in an intimate manner, all she could think was that it appeared Dawn and Connor were having sex. She wasn't at all happy about this newfound discovery.

"Connor, why don't you go on out and get your stuff so you can find something to change into. I just need Dawn for a few minutes. Xander will show you where you are sleeping. A quick word then I promise I will have her back to you."

"Are you having sex with him?" In a hushed shout, Buffy spun on a surprised Dawn.

"Really Buffy, don't dance around the subject. Just put it out there."

"This is not a time for Xandering. I want to know what is going on between you two."

"Yes Mom, Connor and I are having sex. There are you happy? You know it really isn't any of your business."

"Of course it's my business. You were none too happy when you found out about me and…and…"

"The man who shall remain nameless?"

"You were pissed that I hadn't told you about us. So I do believe I have the right to know. God Dawn, you've only known him for a few months!"

"You should so not even start with me on sexual etiquette. I couldn't possibly ever surpass let alone match the extent of sexcapades in your past."

"This isn't about me, it's about you. Sex changes things in a relationship. Are you sure you're ready for this new responsibility?"

"I guess I'll just have to be. It's done Buffy, there's no going back."

"Dawn-"

"Buffy I love him."

"Are you sure? I mean how do you really know? You've never been in love before."

"How did you know the first time you were in love with, Ang….well that other guy who shall remain nameless? He was your first too, right?

"You're right…I just knew." Buffy paused looking into the eyes of a woman; her little sister, whom moments ago had just been a girl.

"You know, we should think about giving them nicknames don't you think? I mean, it's all getting way too 'The Artist Formally Know as Prince' like."

"Probably should," Buffy said in a short laugh.

"Wait, how about Sexyplatinumgoodness, and Tallbroodingdullness?"

"Funny. Just wait until I get to throw old boyfriend misinterps at you too."

"Buffy, there won't be any. This is it. I know it."

"Dawny honey, it always feels that way. But so much could happen. Sometimes life gets in the way, and love just isn't enough."

"But you still love Tallbroodingdullness, for reasons completely lost on me, but that's beside the point. Though life has pulled you two apart, I know in my heart that you will find a way to be together again. He's totally your Ross." Dawn walked over to give Buffy a big hug.

"Don't think this comforting thing is gonna get me to let you two sleep in the same bed while you're here. I just couldn't take it, and really, it would probably kill both Xander and Giles. So if you can't do it for me, do it for the man who sees you as a daughter, and for the guy who still sees you as that fourteen year old girl with her not so secret crush."

"I wasn't even going to tell you about us ya know. So I didn't expect we would be sleeping together while we were here. So don't worry about it."

"You were careful right?"

"Buffyyy, we were sisterly bonding, don't ruin it now. And of course. I'm not stupid."

Connor had caught most of their conversation on his way out to the car to get his and Dawn's stuff. He knew he shouldn't use his super hearing to eaves drop, but he was worried about Dawn, that she might get into trouble. So he cheated a little.

Through their conversation he came to a deeper understanding of why Dawn had been so afraid of emotional intimacy. It seemed to be something her sister had dealt with a lot in her past relationships. Dawn had told him this, but hearing the intensity of their conversation made it really hit home. He would be careful with her. He would die before ever hurting Dawn in the way she had watched in abject incapacity, as her sister was hurt in the past. Buffy's past would not be Dawn's present.

Connor looked down at his chest and saw that the cuts were almost completely closed now. He needed to get a shirt on and quick. Explaining his ability to heal so quickly would make the heated conversation in the kitchen, look like an evening moonlight stroll without demons. He guessed it really was a good thing he and Dawn wouldn't be together tonight after all.

Connor and Dawn left the next morning, both happy with how the visit had gone overall.

"I really wish you coulda met Willow."

"Yeah, but she was at that sandwich convention," Connor looked over at her, unable to contain the sardonic smile the statement invoked.

"Yeah, that was a pretty lame excuse. They just didn't want to say anything that might give you the wrong idea 'bout Willow before you actually got to meet her."

"So...where was she, really?"

"Ummm, AA meeting. It's something we don't really like to talk about, 'cause she really is a great person, she just had a problem a little while back. But she's fine now. Really."

"Dawn, don't worry. We all have our demons. Nobody's perfect. Well, maybe except you."

"OK, that was beyond cheesey, but still somehow sweet coming from you." Dawn leaned over and pressed a light kiss to the corner of his mouth.

Connor turned his head to take her mouth with his, nearly running them off the road as he got lost in the moment. He hoped kissing her always made him lose track of the world around him. Just looking at her beautiful lips, swollen and red from his kiss, assured him that it would always feel this way.

Connor cleared his throat and turned his attention back to the road, fighting off the desire to pull over and take her on the side of the road. He needed a distraction.

"So, you're absolutely sure they liked me?"

"Yes for the like the millionth time."

"Even after Buffy figured out we were sleeping together?" There it was, talking about sex again. What was wrong with him? Dawn looked at Connor in surprise and he quickly realized his blunder.

"How did you know about that? You were supposed to be out at the car getting our stuff."

"So I'm a slow walker. Don't worry, I only caught a bit of the beginning. I wasn't trying to pry. I just wanted to make sure you weren't in any kind of trouble."

"No worries. She knows I'm a grown up, not to mention making better choices than she ever did. So, all's good."

They fell into uncomfortable silence again, and Connor began to wonder if she were feeling the same stirring of passions as he was.

"Hey, before I forget, what was with all those weapons your sister and Kennedy were carrying?" Connor had been wondering about this since it happened and couldn't come up with a reasonable explanation, that didn't involve things he certainly didn't want to talk to her about.

"Oh, Kennedy…um, well, you know, we don't really like to talk about it, for Willow's sake. But Kennedy's into some weird stuff, kinda what drove Willow to the drinking." Dawn let out a short nervous laugh. "But I can see how very strange it must seem. We're a crazy family. Think you can continue to date me?"

"Yeah…It's just that…well, is there anything you want to talk about? Anything you might want to tell me? The stack of weapons and the stake you keep in your purse…it just seems maybe there's something…ya know, that you're not telling me." Connor knew he was being vague, unless she knew what he was referring to, then what he was asking her would be obvious.

Dawn turned to look at him, uneasiness apparent in her eyes. "I was just thinking the same thing about the other night. You know, when we were attacked on campus? Is there anything you'd like to tell me about that?"

Connor turned to look back at the road, as Dawn turned away to look out her side window.

They rode the rest of the way in uncomfortable silence. It was getting harder everyday justifying not telling her. Although, he now knew for sure, she had a few secrets of her own she didn't feel like sharing.

Willow came bursting through the door, out of breath, and yelling for Dawn.

"You just missed them," Buffy called from the kitchen.

Willow walked into the kitchen finding Buffy sitting at the bar. "Damn, I really wanted to meet Connor! Stupid witch's convention! Which by the way; was a lot like that Wicca group I joined in college. Not a single witch there. However, plenty of lesbians…hey, don't give me that look. I was a good girl. All I did was window shop, no purchasing."

"Aside from the shopping, did you ever consider that perhaps going to a witch's convention is, I don't know, nerdy, something no real witch would be caught dead at?" Buffy was having trouble not laughing as she finally got the question out.

Willow sat dejectedly at the kitchen bar, and turned to look out the window.

"Sorry, I know you were hoping to find other witches that had been in similar circumstances as you were, with the loss of control of power thing, and start a support group and all, but sweetie, its not like AA. Practicing witchcraft doesn't come with a warning label; though it really should. Besides, I always thought the internet was your best shot. Bet there are plenty of strung-out witches just waiting for you to find them."

"Yeah, you're probably right, and thanks for the attempt at a pep talk, considering you look like your dog just died."

"What, no I don't, everything's fine-"

"OK Buffy spill. Something is making you all wonky. What is it? "

"Dawn is having sex."

"And?"

"That's all you have to say? This is a big deal that I don't think she's ready for. She's too young. She should be locked in a room somewhere, not gallivanting off with some guy she barely knows."

"Um Buffy, how old exactly were you when you had sex? Wait, let me rephrase. How old were you when you had sex with a vampire that then lost his soul and tried to kill all of your loved ones and have the world sucked into hell?

"OK, first of all, you are the last person who should be talking about ending the world, secondly, it was different, it was Angel."

"How old?"

"Umm….Seventeen."

"Just turned seventeen, actually. Listen, she waited longer than any of us. We were all still in high school, so she should at least get points for that. Besides, how do you know that Connor isn't her Angel?

"You're right, I know it. I can't possible know what she is feeling."

"I think you do know, more than you'd like to admit. Dawnie being in love, having it, means the possibility of losing it. And you want to save her the pain you felt at losing yours."

"How did you get to be so perceptive?"

"I actually paid attention in Walsh's class; that is until we found out she was evil and tried to kill you. But prior to that, she was a pretty good teacher."

"Hey, maybe you can do some sort of spell that checks him out, makes sure he's not some kind of dancing demon who wants to kidnap her into some hell dimension and make her his queen. Or a Hell God who doesn't know she no longer works and attempts to use her to pick open another Hell dimension. Or perhaps she wished for him and it just hasn't all gone to crap yet, or-"

"Buffy…"

"Yeah, ok, that last one was a little over the top-"

"They all were a lot over the top."

"It's just that last night I was thinkin he couldn't possibly be a demon, he's so obviously in love with Dawn. Then later, as I was trying to fall asleep I started thinking about sexyplatinumgoodness, and how he looked at me that same way, even before he got a soul."

"OK, now I know you've lost it - wait, platonygoddness what?"

"Oh, Dawn made up knick names for Spike and Angel cause she thinks it hurts me too much to hear or say their names."

"Well, I can see that. The light does tend to magically disappear at the mention of either of them. So what did she name Angel?"

Buffy stood there silently looking at the floor.

"Well"

"Ummm, nope. Just can't seem to remember."

"A name for Angel, and you can't remember?"

Buffy looked back up defiantly. "I mean she didn't at all capture his essence in the name which I am totally discounting. I will eventually come up with another name. Although all this naming stuff is getting pretty ineffective since I still end up thinking about them no matter what their names are!"

"Don't even try to squirm out of this. You know, I can just call Dawn when she gets back to Stanford. So, you might as well tell me since I will eventually find out."

"Fine. She called him Tallbroodingdullness. You happy?"

Willow was trying desperately not to laugh. "You're right Buffy, - didn't capture him at all - never would have known who she was talking about - really, a dreadful-"

"Oh stop, you are so bad with the over compensate. Besides, I did have a little, emphasis on little, laugh over it last night once I was alone."

Willow began to laugh in waves of hysteria. "Good, because there was no way I was gonna be able to hold that back much longer! Tallbroodingdullness!" Willow starting laughing all over again.

"I'm sorry," Willow finally started to calm down. "Back to the spell for Connor. When it's you telling me to use magic on everyday non demony related problems, I know you're crazy. You just need to chill."

"But it could be a demon related problem…we just don't know yet. So technically-"

"Bufffy"

"Yeah, OK. God, between you and Giles…Um, I'm going to talk to Xand for awhile. See ya in a bit."

Willow just shook her head as Buffy left the room in effort to find the only person who would indulge her maddening thoughts under any circumstances. Xander was such a great guy for putting up with a bunch of crazy women. Perhaps he deserved a medal? Or better yet a plaque with pretty sparklies all over it.

The man picked up the new envelope that had appeared on his desk. Again, inside he found pictures. There were more pictures of the couple, although this time under much more intimate conditions. The additional pictures showed the boy fighting a demon while the girl lay sprawled on the ground. The note attached to the pictures said:

FIX IT

The accompanying documents told him how they wanted it handled.