Chapter Thirty Four

Author's Note: Hello all! Again, I must apologize for the lateness if this chapter but you all know how crazy life can get. I want to say thank you to those who have read and reviewed…it means a lot when I see reviews! Anyway, on with the story!

"I don't know about this Buffy," Dawn commented in the car.

"Dawn there is no turning back now. We're here all ready, let's just get this thing over with. We'll stay for an hour, that's it, all right?" Buffy promised.

"Fine. I don't know how you ever talked me into this." Dawn whined back.

Their drive was over. Buffy pulled into the driveway of the vaguely familiar house. She had been there only once before and even then she kept her distance from Hank Summer's home.

The two sisters got out of the car silently. Neither one of them wanted to be there but they felt they had to be.

"This is it little sister," Buffy she and Dawn walked towards the porch. When they reached the porch, Dawn rang the door bell anxiously. "I'm just a little nervous."

Buffy put her arm around her kid sister. "Don't be, I'm here."

Just then Hank answered the door. He beamed from ear to ear. "Good morning girls! I'm so glad you could make it! The kids have asked about you all morning! Please come in. Come in and make yourself feel at home."

Buffy entered the house first followed by Dawn, who was very close. Buffy looked around at the house. It seemed very homey. Family pictures hung along the mantle.

"You must be Buffy and Dawn! It is so good to finally meet you!" A woman said hugging both Buffy and Dawn. They assumed that the woman was Michele, their step-mother. She had to have been in her mid-thirties. She was pretty. There wasn't a golden blonde hair out of place on her head. "Your brother and sister are finishing up their breakfasts. Would you girls like anything to eat? Drink? I could fix you something."

"No thank you, I'm fine." Dawn said without much feeling.

"I'm also fine thank you." Buffy said politely.

While Buffy talked with Hank about the drive to Los Angeles, Dawn looked around. She had a plan. Her plan was not to be interested in anything. She wasn't interested in meeting her younger brother and sister. She didn't want to deal with it. After all, she had been the youngest or all of her life. Only in recent weeks had that changed and she didn't like that whole idea.

"Mom, who was at the door?' The blonde little boy asked emerging from the dining room. Buffy and Dawn assumed that he was Tommy.

"Tommy, come here," Hank said as he stood between Buffy and the boy. "Remember your sisters I told you about?"

"Yes."

"Well, I would like you to meet them. This is Buffy, she's in college and this is Dawn. She is in high school."

"Hi," Dawn said without feeling.

"Hi Tommy it is nice to meet you," Buffy said showing interest.

"Hi," Tommy said shyly. He and Buffy began conversing when a little girl emerged from the dining room. She was wearing pink tinted sunglasses, a pink boa with jeans and a Strawberry Shortcake shirt. Dawn just watched her for a minute.

"Hi," the child said looking at Dawn.

Dawn felt as if she was looking at the child version of herself. The resemblance between the two was remarkable. "Hi."

"Are you Buffy or Dawn?" The child asked lowering her sunglasses.

"I'm Dawn."

"Oh, ok. It's nice to meet you. My name is Madeleine."

Dawn just nodded. She didn't know what to say or how to take Madeleine. In actuality, she didn't want to deal with her. She just wanted to leave. She looked at her watch. She and Buffy had only been there for twenty-five minutes. Okay, not bad. Only a half hour to go and then we're on our way back to Sunnydale, Dawn thought to herself.

"I like your name more than Buffy's. Buffy sounds like a made-up name. Dawn is much prettier," the child began to explain as she took off her sunglasses and threw them on to the coffee table.

"Thank you. You know I liked Strawberry Shortcake when I was your age."

"Really?" Madeleine said sounding surprised. She then took off her boa and threw it on the arm of the couch and sat down. "Strawberry Shortcake has been around that long?"

"Yes but she dressed different when I was a kid. She didn't wear jeans then. She wore this cute red and white checkered dress."

"Oh. I like how she looks in jeans. She has nice hair."

Dawn laughed at the child's statements. She sat at the far end of the couch.

"Wait, I want to show you something. Stay right here, don't move. I'll be right back," the diva in training said picking up her boa and sunglasses as she began to dart towards the upstairs.

Meanwhile, Tommy and Buffy where chatting in the kitchen. Buffy really liked him. He reminded her a lot of herself. He was asking truthful questions about everything.

"So you get annoyed with Dawn sometimes?" Tommy asked.

"Oh definitely. I think younger sisters like to annoy us older siblings. Dawn isn't always annoying. She is a good sister and a good friend but sometimes we both can get on each other's nerves."

"So it's normal?" Tommy asked.

Buffy chuckled. "Yes it is perfectly normal."

"Buffy do you like sports?"

She shook her head. "No, I'm afraid I don't."

"Tommy was amazed. "You don't like sports at all? Not even football?"

Buffy chuckled. "No, I don't even like football. I like music and art a lot, but not sports."

"I love sports. I play soccer in the fall and baseball in the spring. You could come to one of my games some time, just to see if you change your mind." Tommy offered.

Buffy smiled. "Maybe I will see if you can change my mind. Maybe I'll come and watch you play."

"I've heard my mom and dad talk about you and Dawn."

"You have?" Buffy said a little shocked.

"Yes and I don't understand everything that they say but I want to know something."

Buffy nodded. "What would you like to know?' She asked afraid of not knowing how to answer his question.

"Are you guys only visiting once?"

"What?'

"I mean, we have aunts and uncles that we only see on holidays or family stuff. Are you and Dawn going to be like that?"

Buffy was silent. She didn't know what to say. She thought for a minute before she carefully answered his question. "I would like to be around for more than just holidays. I hope that we could start a relationship, you know, be like brother and sisters. I want to get to know you and Madeleine."

Tommy was silent for a second. For being such a young child he did understand a lot. "Can I ask you something else?"

"Sure, anything you want to."

Tommy hesitated for a minute. "Did you know that Dad is dying?"

Buffy once again grew afraid. She had no idea in which direction the conversation would lead. "Yes, I did know that."

"Well, will you be around after he, well, dies?"

"I told you, I want to get to know you and your sister. Yes I will be around. I will always be there for you and Madeleine now that I know about you and have met you two. I hope I am a good big sister to you two."

Tommy smiled. "I like you Buffy. And I'm glad you want to be around me," he said jumping off of the bar stool by the breakfast nook. He walked over to Buffy and hugged her. "I just hope I don't annoy you like Dawn does."

Buffy laughed and picked him up. "I think you and me will have a different kind of relationship than me and Dawn. After all, you're my little brother." Buffy said returning his hug. As she squeezed him, tears formed in her eyes.

In the living room Dawn was sitting on the couch for several minutes waiting for Madeleine to come back. Hank and Michele were sitting outside on the porch. Dawn could see them outside from the window. After a few more minutes, Madeleine came downstairs with a bag.

"What do you have there?" Dawn asked trying not to show too much interest in the child.

"I have all of my drawing stuff in here."

"You do?"

"Yep." Madeleine answered as she reached into the bag and grabbing her crayons and paper.

"What are you going to do with it?"

"I'm going to draw you Dawn."

"You're going to draw me?"

"Yes. My mommy calls it a portrait."

Dawn smiled. She didn't want to but she couldn't help but smile at the child. She was so innocent. It was hard to not want to like her.

"I drawed my mom a few days ago."

Dawn smiled at the child and her use of the English language. Her father would have corrected her mistake by saying she drew the picture, not drawed. Then Dawn was a little confused. She was trying not to allow Hank and his family in to her life. After all she did have one father, Rupert Giles, but she was starting to think that Hank was also her father. She was very confused. "Oh yeah. How did that picture come out?"
"No, portrait, not picture. Mommy said it came out good. My mommy is very pretty. Is your mommy pretty?"

"Yes, I think my mommy is very pretty. She's also very nice."

"Well my mommy is nice too. You are very pretty Dawn." Madeleine told her while drawing.

"Thank you Madeline you are also very pretty."

"No Dawn, I mean your beautiful, like Cinderella."

Dawn laughed. "Thank you very much." Dawn watched the child draw. She was pretty good at drawing.

"Do you like drawing?" Madeleine asked.

"I like painting more."

"I have never painted before."

"You have never used paint before?" Dawn asked a little shocked.

"Nope, just crayons and markers. Mommy said painting is too messy"

Dawn took a deep breath. "Well, the next time I visit I will have to bring you some paints. We can paint together. You will love it!"

"You're going to come and visit again?" Madeleine asked with big eyes.

"Well, maybe."

"I would love for you to come back! We could play all day together!"

Dawn smiled. "Yes, we could."

"Do you girls have to go back tonight?" Michele asked after a late lunch. She ate with Buffy, Dawn and her children. Hank was tired and weak so he laid down to rest and fell a sleep.

"Yes, we do. We have plans tonight," Buffy answered. Dawn was going to spend the night in Buffy's dorm. They were going to eat pizza and watch movies all night and have a sister night together.

"But we would like to come back to visit," Dawn said smiling at Madeleine.

"We would love to have you visit again. We have spare rooms if you'd like to spend the night." Michele offered.

"We'll have to think about that." Buffy said looking at Dawn.

Michele started clearing the table. Buffy and Dawn offered to help but she refused their help. After she was done clearing the table, she said, "Let me get your father up. He told me to wake him up before you left."

Michele came back a few minutes later with Hank at her side. They watched as Buffy and Dawn said good bye to their siblings.

"Don't forget this," Madeleine told Dawn as she handed her the picture. Madeleine also managed to draw herself in the picture. It wasn't a great piece of art work, after all a child drew it but Dawn smiled. "I love this picture of us so much! I'll have to frame it when I get home." Dawn said as she hugged the young child.

"Don't forget the paint the next time you come."

"I promise Madeleine I won't."

Buffy and Tommy were finishing their conversation as Dawn and Madeleine finished theirs.

"Let me know about your soccer game. I'd love to come and see you play."

Tommy hugged Buffy. "Thank you so much!"

Buffy hugged Tommy back.

Michele hugged Dawn and Buffy. To Buffy she said," It was so good to meet you both. You are both always welcomed in my home. Buffy you don't know how happy you've made your father. He was in his glory today because of you." Michele said as she cried quietly.

Buffy embraced her step-mother's hug. She wanted to let her know that she and Dawn made the trip for the kids, not for her father but she decided to let that pass.

Buffy then hugged Hank. He had tears in his eyes. They exchanged small talk. He made Buffy promise that she would come back soon.

When Dawn hugged Hank there were no words exchanged. Hank grabbed onto his youngest daughter and wept a little more.

Dawn, meanwhile, was finally able to sort out her feelings. Her mind was made up. Rupert Giles was still the only man she considered her father but she learned to accept Hank. She didn't like him, she accepted him. She did however find room in her heart of love her new brother and sister.

Buffy and Dawn jumped into the car and waved good-bye and began their trip back to Sunnydale.

Buffy and Dawn didn't exchange comments about that morning. They had just experienced it together. They didn't want to talk about it just then.

"You know that when I was in high school, Angel drove me here."

"To LA?"

"Yes. He drove me here to see Stacy's grave. I found Hank's address and we sat across the street in Angel's car and watched him."

"What?" Dawn asked a little surprised.

"Yes. Tommy was really little then, at least I assume it was Tommy."

Dawn shifted the subject a little. "I remember Stacy. She was nice."

Buffy smiled. Some part of her had thought about Stacy frequently. "She was nice. I wonder what she would be like if she hadn't been killed."

"I remember a lot about that accident."

"You do, you were so young." Buffy answered as she turned down a street.

"I was so scared and mom and dad were so scared. I wasn't allowed to see you in the hospital because I was so young and you were in such serious condition. I remember Angel going to visit you all the time. Mom and dad were worried that he wasn't getting enough rest because he was at the hospital all the time."

"Yeah, several people have told me that."

"Buffy, he sat with me too a lot. I was so afraid that you were going to die. He-he stayed with me and made me laugh and he gave me his word that you weren't going to die. When everyone went to Stacy's service's, while you were in the hospital, he stayed with me and took care of me."

Buffy was surprised. "I didn't know that."

"Yes, he did. Mom and dad kept on saying how thankful they were to have him."

Something new to add to the angel saga Buffy thought to herself. Buffy changed the subject by turning down an unfamiliar road.

"Buffy, where are we going? You didn't turn done here when he came here."

"I want to show you something." Buffy said pulling in front of a house. "Do you know what this is?"

"A house?"

"Don't be such a smart ass. Do you know who used to live here?"

"I have no idea."

"We did."

"What?"

"Yes. When mom and Hank were married we lived here. That room over there was the living room and that room up there to the left was our room. And the back yard,"

"We had a swimming pool?" Dawn asked.

"No, that wasn't there then. We used to have a swing set. I remember you and Hank being outside for hours and hours swinging."

Dawn shook her head. "I don't remember any of it."

"I think you were like two when we moved out of here. After dad left mom, mom couldn't afford the payments on her own so we had to move."

Dawn nodded her head. After a few more memories, Buffy headed back to Sunnydale.

"Tara is out with some friends, I don't know what time she'll be in but if you don't want to floor you can sleep on Anaya's bed. She is home and won't be back until-well, I don't know when. Let me check the messages and then we can begin the movie fest, all right?" Buffy asked as they entered her suite.

Dawn nodded as she put her backpack on Anaya's bed. Dawn thought that Buffy had the coolest friends ever.

You have two new messages. 'Hey Buff, it's Will, please call me back when you can. It's just, I feel so bad, we broke up Buffy. We broke up and it hurts so bad. Call me, please?" the machine played Willow's message. Buffy looked at her clocked. It was after midnight in Boston. She figured she'd call Willow the first thing in the morning. "Second message: 'Buffy, its Xander; call me when you get a chance. Bye."

Before Buffy had a chance to say anything, Tara walked through the door. "Hello? Buffy? Dawn? Are you guys here?"

"Hey Tara, I'm in the hall. How was your night out?"

"Horrible. I don't know why I even bothered going out. Jamie set me up on a blind date and, get this, it was a man. Why? I don't understand people!"

Buffy smiled. Tara then listened to her self complain and then also smiled. "I'm sorry it's been such a long night."

"No need for any apologizes."

"You had a big day. How did that go?" Tara asked.

"All right but Dawn and I are kind of done talking about it for the day. Could I fill you in later?'

"Sure, no problem. Where is Dawn?"

"In Anaya's room. I knew Anya wouldn't care about having her sleep in there."

"You're right, she wouldn't care. Do you and Dawn want some ice cream? We can go get some?"

"That is a great idea," Dawn said as she entered the room. She and Tara exchanged hugs and small talk.

"Sure, let me grab my wallet and-" Buffy was interrupted by a knock on the door. "Hello?"

Buffy opened the door and saw Xander standing outside. "Hey, can we talk?"

"Sure, why don't-" Buffy was interrupted by Tara.

"Why don't I take Dawn and we can come back with your ice cream. Sound good?"

"Sure. Xander, would you like anything?"

"No thanks."

Tara and dawn nodded and left the room.

Buffy was a little alarmed. Xander didn't seem like he was acting like himself. "Let's go sit in the living room."

Xander followed Buffy to the small room with a couch and a TV. He quickly asks, "How were things today? In LA?"

"They went all right. Xander, I don't think you are here to talk about Hank. What's going one? Are you all right?"

Xander nodded. He didn't find words to answer. He followed his heart, not his head and kissed Buffy.