AN: Hey. Sorry I haven't uploaded a chapter in a few days, got a new computer which I love in every way other than it not having word. So I've had to wait 'til I could get my hands on the laptop to have a go.

Also, I know I said this fic would be chronological in the description but I realised there were two fics I wanted to write between the second and third parts of 'Getting Better'. So chronologically this and the next fic 'She's Leaving Home' happen before the third part, but after the first two.

Disclaimer: I don't own Buffy or any of the characters.

Fixing A Hole

"Screwdriver" Willow prompted, holding a hand up behind her head. Dawn pressed the tool in to her hand before hugging her legs back to her chest and watching the vacant grin on the Buffy-bots face warily. Willow had been coming over every day and working on it. Nobody liked the idea of a fake Buffy trotting around, but nobody could really think of a better one. Tara had, begrudgingly, suggested calling Faith in. The suggestion had been met with glares from nearly everyone in the group. Tara had shrunk back into Willow and that alone had made everyone feel suitably guilty.

But, as much as the idea seemed rational in a way, no one wanted Faith anywhere near them, especially after her last appearance.

"Cross-y screwdriver" Willow prompted again, holding her hand out expectantly.

"That was the cross-y one" Dawn replied with a glare. She could probably take a step back and admit she hadn't been the most sociable Scooby if she really wanted to. But she didn't. She felt that she was perfectly justified in her belligerence, which, given the year she'd had, she probably was.

"The other cross-y one" Willow said patiently. Dawn sighed and rummaged through the toolbox sat next to her on the couch. As she went she took time to glare at the Buffy-bot. Ever vacant. Missing.

"This one?" she said exasperatedly, holding up a different 'cross-y' screwdriver.

"Yep" Willow said with a grin, taking it. She went back to work on the Buffy-bot and Dawn went back to silence.

She didn't want the Buffy-bot fixed. She didn't want Spike's dolled up sex toy (The others thought she didn't 'get' it but she did) running around with her sisters face. Talking like her sister. Acting like her sister. It was the most insulting thing she'd ever heard. When Willow had suggested it she had wanted to slap her. She'd refrained, but barely.

Buffy had left a hole. A hole in their lives. A hole in Sunnydale. But she didn't want it filled.

Tara entered the silent living room of the Summer's residence. She'd been in the kitchen making sandwiches.

"Lunch's up Dawnie" she said, smiling at her. Dawn grinned back, though it didn't quite touch her eyes.

"Salami and peanut butter?" she asked hopefully.

"Yep" she said. Dawn rushed past her.

"Thank you Tara" she said.

"No problem" Tara called after her. She turned her attention to Willow and, sneaking up behind the concentrating redhead, slipped her arms under Willow's, hugging her. "That's your lunch too baby" Tara said in to her ear. Willow leaned against her, placing the screwdriver aside.

"Thanks" she said, kissing her one the cheek as she got up.

"Actually, Will, there was something I've been meaning to talk to you about" Tara said.

"Yeah?" Willow said, sitting back down, this time nestling easily in to Tara's lap.

"It's about Dawnie" she said, When Willow simply nodded, so she continued. "I was thinking, we're all taking turns sleeping over here to look after her, but it isn't really stable. Every day she has someone different here."

"So you think someone should move in with her?" Willow asked. "Why didn't you just say this at the next Scooby meeting?"

"Because I was thinking we should" Tara replied. "And before I talk to the others about it I'd like to talk to you, and Dawnie"

"You think we should? I mean, it's a big responsibility" Willow said, sounding a little worried. "I mean, we'd be taking on a whole other life. And not just a little kitty who we keep hidden in our dorm room. We're talking whole other person. Dawnie. It'll be tough and scary and what if we screw her up? You're a Scooby. You've seen how screwed up we all are. I mean, how did WE get chosen to protect the world anyway?" Tara smiled at the back of Willow's head.

"We'll still have Giles, Xander and Anya to help us." Tara reassured "It's not like they're going anywhere. And it'll only be if Dawn wants us. She might decide she'd rather go in to an orphanage than listen to nine hours of babble a day."

"I'm not that bad" Willow said, mock offended. "And anyway, what would the other fifteen hours be?"

Tara replied by mimicking the sound of bedsprings, causing Willow to gasp and giggle.

"I swear you weren't nearly this dirty a year ago. I shouldn't let you near the others. They've corrupted you" Willow said.

"My corruption had nothing to do with you, obviously" Tara said.

"Of course not, I'm a sweet and innocent flower" Willow replied.

"Sure. Wanna go talk to Dawnie now?"

"I'm kinda comfortable here for the minute" Willow replied, smiling indulgently and leaning further into Tara's chest, now able to look up in to the eyes of her lover.

"You're terrible" Tara replied.

"Then why don't you leave me. I'm sure there's someone else out there looking for a buxom blonde with the cutest half smile I've ever seen" Willow said, grinning.

"Because I love you, you dope" Tara replied, smiling.

"Good, because we're moving in with Dawn"

Willow and Tara entered the dining room looking very ruffled. Tara's blouse wasn't buttoned properly and Willow's hair was going in five different directions it usually wouldn't stay in. Dawn ignored the signs of a rather obvious making out session and smiled at the pair.

"Dawnie" Tara said slowly, sitting across from her and smiling nervously. Behind her Willow held her shoulders and smiled, equally nervously at the teen. "We were thinking… It isn't good for you, to have people cycling in and out of the house looking after you. And instead that me and Willow should just… Move in"

"Really?" Dawn said, sounding, emotionless. Then a smile that danced across her face sprung up and she sounded excited. "Really?"

"Well, if the other Scooby's agree" Willow added. It was too late however, as Dawn had leapt up and was hugging the pair.

"Thank you!"

Willow glared at the hole in the Buffy-bot. There were no pieces that fitted there. They'd gathered everything they could of the defunct bot, and basically everything else had been fitted back together with a little ingenuity on her part. But there was one, little hole that there seemed to be no piece for. She'd have to find something else to patch it with, but it would be hard to make it not noticeable.

Then again, she mused, just because you couldn't find the original thing to fit the whole, the patch job could still be just as good.

Review please?