A/N: This chapter is a little short, but I decided to post it anyway. I've made Buffy a little meaner then I originally intended, but I'm going to try to rectify that in a later chapter.

Special thanks for reviewing: miissBuffy, Xeelia, AND ba2006...

Thanks so much for reviewing!! Please let me know what you think of this chapter! :)

Chapter 2

Dinner was a fun experience for Dawn. Everyone sat at the table like a family and ate together. Even Angel sat there with a mug full of blood. They made sure to include her on all of the jokes. Dawn chalked it up to jet lag, but she found herself getting sadder every minute that passed because of how close they all were. She'd used to have this with Xander, Spike, and Giles. Now, they just chucked her out of the circle. When they finished eating, they went ahead and cleared the table. They wouldn't let her help them since it was her first day and they were celebrating. When they started to trickle back into the dining room, no one said anything. Angel waited for everyone to sit back down before he started speaking.

"Alright, I won't keep you long, I just want to discuss how this is going to go. Most of you have never met Buffy, but Dawn here is her sister. There was a bit of sisterly dispute, so we get the benefit of her knowledge. Dawn is pretty much an expert at research, translations, and demonology. Giles gave rave reviews. She's been trained by Buffy, Faith, and the senior slayers, so she can fight. Under no circumstances is anyone to exclude her from any case information. From this moment on, Dawn is part of the team." Everyone was giving her big smiles, trying to make her feel welcome and Dawn blushed profusely at Angel's speech. Wesley looked up and addressed her.

"Dawn, we are in desperate need for a case manager. Just someone to take each one of them and prioritize them by importance. Fred usually answers the phone and sets up the appointments. We'd also pay you, of course. If you want someone to train with you, Connor would be a very good choice if he's willing…Angel too for that matter." Dawn glanced over at Connor, who grinned and nodded at her. She started to say something, when a green demon burst through the door.

"Well, good evening all! Angel cakes, the new club is absolutely booming!" Angel glared at the new comer for a minute before addressing Dawn's alarmed face.

"Dawn, this is Lorne, I was telling you about him." Dawn's face immediately cleared and she grinned at him.

"Oh okay, Faith told me about you. She was a big fan." Lorne chuckled and turned to face her. His smile vanished when he looked at her and he gasped.

"Holy crickets on toast!" Angel sighed and shook his head. Clearly, they were all used to his weird way of talking.

"Yes Lorne, she's the key…It's been noted." Lorne shook his head and continued to stare at her.

"It's not that at all, there is a buzz of destiny around her. Honey, do you think you could sing for me later?" Dawn giggled, instantly liking him, and nodded.

"Um, sure, no problem." Lorne smiled really big back at her and sat down next to Gunn.

"Sorry about the staring, it just caught me off guard." Angel sat forward then, clearly annoyed.

"Anyway, Dawn, if you want to get a car, just let me know and we can arrange it. Basic rules, never do a case alone, never patrol alone, and keep a cell phone on you at all times so we can keep in touch." Dawn showed that the she understood, she actually really liked all of the rules. Wesley cleared his throat and gave her a pained expression. At this, Angel groaned and looked away while Wes spoke.

"There was one stipulation that your sister wouldn't bend on." Dawn waited, hoping it wasn't something stupid. Wesley looked over at Angel, who took over talking, still looking pained.

"You have to enroll at UCLA and take classes. She doesn't want you to commit yourself to this life, so you have to take at least two classes a semester." Dawn pursed her lips together, extremely pissed off. Everyone at the table looked very uncomfortable at what was just said. Her facial expression probably wasn't helping matters either. Did these people not realize that she was twenty years old? When she didn't say anything, Wesley and Angel shared a pointed look. Angel cleared his throat and looked around the table.

"Well, that's it really. Dawn, just let us know if and when you're ready to jump in." Dawn nodded and thanked everyone. She excused herself to the lobby so she could call. Buffy answered almost immediately.

"Dawn? You were supposed to call as soon as you landed!" Dawn glared around the empty room. Clearly distance didn't improve Buffy's mood.

"Look, I'm gonna stay here for a while because I don't want to hurt their feelings, but Buffy…you can't keep trying to control me. I'll do whatever I want with my life. I'm not sure if I want to go to UCLA. Buffy, you didn't choose this life, it chose you. Can't you see that it chose me too? I shouldn't even be alive, yet here I am! Of course this is the life I'm going to choose, it only makes sense. Because, believe it or not, the good side needs all of the help it can get right now." She heard silence on the other end and she almost hung up when she heard her sister's cold voice.

"Dawn, if you don't want to follow some simple rules over there, then Faith and I will come and collect you." Dawn groaned and plopped down on one of the couches, unaware that everyone was in the room now and watching her.

"Fine, I'll go back right now and I won't be here when you get here." Buffy swore and Dawn knew that she'd hit a nerve.

"Dawn, I'd be able to find you. You can't have it both ways. Either you stay there with Angel and do as your told, or you come back here and things go back to the way they were." Dawn's voice cracked as she spoke next, tears flowing freely now.

"Why can't you just love me, Buffy? I'm twenty years old and I'll do what I want from now on. I know enough magic to cover up my tracks if you insist on coming here. Buffy, I'm your sister and that's it. You're not mom and you're done trying to control me. I fought against the first evil with you….why did you shut me out?" Buffy sighed loudly, not wanting to discuss this.

"Dawn…we'll discuss this tomorrow, I'm very busy at the moment." Dawn scoffed knowing that Buffy was just blowing her off.

"That's fine, but in the mean time, I'll pack my stuff and be on my way." This got Buffy's attention…not in a good way.

"You know what, Dawn? Do whatever the hell you want, I'm done with you. You want to kill yourself? Try razor blades or pills instead of vampire hunting, it'll be less painful for all involved!" with that said, she slammed the phone down, leaving Dawn in shock. Fred walked silently over to where she sat and put her arm around her shoulders. Dawn didn't even acknowledge her presence…she was too in shock.

"She told me to use razor blades…I can't believe it!" Connor jerked his head up and glared.

"She said for you to do what?!" Angel walked out of the room with a growl. Fred continued to try and comfort Dawn while Gunn looked just as shocked as Dawn. Wesley sighed and rubbed a hand down his face.

"She's very stressed right now, Dawn, I'm sure she didn't mean it." Dawn was pretty much hysterical and started to laugh.

"Oh, she meant it alright! She's always hated me since day one of my stupid existence. She only tried to save me from Glory because she wanted to keep the portals from opening. She only died in my place because she wanted to die…she said so. As far as she cares, I shouldn't exist so I need to rectify it." Dawn jumped up and bolted out of the room towards her suite. She got as far as the second floor when someone grabbed her arm and pulled her into a gentle hug. Connor wrapped his arms around her and ran a soothing hand down her back. Dawn clinged to him as her sobs racked through her body. He spoke against her hair, not letting go of her.

"That was a stupid thing for your sister to say. You shouldn't see your existence as stupid, Dawn, it's a miracle. You've only been on the planet for five years…that's amazing." Dawn chuckled in between sniffles, trying to get control of herself.

"No, you being born of two vamps is a miracle." He laughed with her at that.

"You and I are both special…and don't you forget it. Also, if it makes you feel any better, my dad is totally yelling at your sister right now."