Warnings and disclaimer in chapter 1. Enjoy.

The chatter died as they pulled up to the gate and they got their first glance at the property. "Oh my," her grandmother stared open-mouthed when Dawn got out and typed in the code to open the gate. Dawn didn't bother getting back into the car as it passed. Instead she just closed the gate and started walking down the driveway, leaving her grandmother driving slowly behind her as the occupants stared at the property and houses dumbfoundedly.

"You live here?" her grandfather asked when they finally stopped in front of the largest, most majestic house they had ever seen. Her family was slowly getting out of the car, staring around in awe as they continued to look around them. Dawn smiled at their reactions.

"With mom and Buffy," Dawn said as they slowly moved up the entryway.

"It's so big," her grandmother said. Dawn shrugged.

"We have a lot of guests," she told them. "Between The Gallery and The Magic Box it seems there's always more people here than just us."

"The Magic Box?" Hank asked.

"The shop next door to The Gallery," she explained as she dug in her backpack for the keys. "That's Giles's shop. He and mom have sort of formed a partnership."

"Are they a couple?" Hank asked warily.

"They're friends," she answered. "Really good friends. That's his house over there." She pointed to the house on the right. "We're all friends here."

"All?" her grandmother asked. Dawn rolled her eyes.

"Everyone who was lurking in the background at The Gallery," she told them as she unlocked the door. "They own the other houses here. They'll be here for dinner."

"What?" her grandmother asked. Dawn shrugged as she stepped in, placing her backpack down as she led them inside. They followed, automatically looking around. "Who's that?" she asked, when sounds were heard coming from the kitchen.

"It's just Andrew," she said, heading that way. "He helps out around here. He likes to cook." She led them to the kitchen, freezing when she saw who was at the stove.

"If you're looking for that delightful young man, he needed to run to the store. I admit he is marvelous in the kitchen, but his tea making skills could use some work. However I was certain that Ripper would have a secret stash somewhere around here."

"Ethan," she hissed, grabbing her cell phone and dialing the familiar number. "What are you doing out of your cage?"

"You could say I was evicted," he told her calmly, turning back when he heard the teapot start to whine. He quickly moved the kettle from the burner before turning back to her. "Tea?" he offered as he poured himself a cup.

"What do you mean you were evicted?" she demanded as someone answered. "Ethan's free," she said into the phone. She didn't even bother ending the call. Instead she just glared at the Englishman.

"Suit yourself," he said as he finished making his tea. She glared, but then heard a growl coming from the basement. She glanced at the door.

"What was that?" her grandfather asked. Dawn glanced back at them. Her family gathered around the island, looking around the kitchen curiously.

"Umm," Dawn thought hard, looking back at them. "That's our dog. We put him down there during the day. He's not quite trained yet." That explanation mollified them and they began discussing the house amongst themselves. "I'm just gonna go check on him."

"You might need this," Ethan said, smirking, as he slid a stake across the island. "To play fetch," he added, seeing the confused look in their eyes.

"Right," she said, picking up the stake and putting it casually in her pocket. She looked uncertainly between the warlock and her family until a louder growl could be heard along with some banging on the bars.

"I won't be going anywhere," Ethan reassured her as he picked up his tea and started sipping. "Don't want good tea to go to waste."

"Giles is on his way," she warned before she moved to the door. She descended the stairs carefully, glancing around the doorway before entering. Spike was inside the cell, covered in blood and gore. He looked up when he heard her and she couldn't help the gasp that came out of her mouth. He was in full game face.

"Niblet?" he asked uncertainly.

"Spike?" she asked, heading toward the cage. "What happened?"

"Don't!" he shouted as he started moving. Not toward her, but away. He cowered in the corner like an animal. "I don't want to hurt you."

"What happened?" she asked, slowly moving forward. She slowly reached in her pocket and pulled out the stake.

"I can smell you," he said, looking at her like a hunter looks at his prey. His demon was totally in control. "Want to eat you," he said, moving stealthily from the corner. "Want to drink you more than I've ever wanted anything."

"Spike," she asked uncertainly. He moved a bit closer, the blood gleaming from his face and body.

"Oh my God!" Both Dawn and Spike turned at the unexpected voice. Dawn moved closer to the doorway, while the interruption broke Spike out of the trance he was in.

"Dad?" she started uncertainly. He took a step inside, but couldn't keep his eyes off the cage. "Spike?"

"Don't want to hurt you Niblet," he said, cowering in the corner again. "I'm not strong enough."

"What is that?" Hank asked, standing protectively in front of his daughter. "Is that a vampire?"

"What?" she asked, her whole world falling apart around her, but he wasn't paying attention as he muttered to himself.

"She was right. All this time she was right and I ignored her." He took a step closer and Spike charged him, straining to get him through the bars. Dawn moved instinctively as she heard footsteps on the stairs. Her aunt burst through the doorway as Dawn reached the only weapons cabinet Joyce allowed in the house.

"What in the world?" Dawn heard behind her as she typed in the code to unlock the door. "Hank?" She ignored her aunt as she pulled the gun from the rack and expertly loaded it.

"Move," she ordered once she turned around. Their gazes moved from Spike to her. She could see the surprise in their eyes, but it was quickly replaced with self-preservation as they dove back toward the door. She fired two rounds inside the cell as she heard even more steps on the stairs. She turned to the door, the rifle still in her hands, and tried to come up with an explanation for her family. She was relieved when it wasn't her grandparents coming down the stairs, but Giles, Willow, and Xander.

"What is going on here?" her aunt asked once she and Hank regained their footing. Hank turned to her.

"Everything Buffy told me was true," he said shakily. "And I abandoned them." Nancy looked shocked as she took in the scene. Dawn was casually putting the rifle back in the cabinet, making sure it was unloaded and secure before shutting and locking the case once more. Giles and Xander headed toward Spike, while Willow stood next to the Summers uncertainly.

"What's wrong with Spike?" Dawn asked when she made her way back to the cage.

"I'm not sure," Giles said, taking in the blood soaked form. "Did he say anything to you?"

"Only that he didn't want to hurt me," she said. "Then it was like something went off in his brain and he couldn't stop himself." She looked to Giles. "It was like the demon was in complete control." Giles frowned and picked up the stake Dawn had dropped. "You can't," she protested, immediately putting herself between the Watcher and the vampire. He smiled at her.

"I'm not," he told her, handing her the stake, "at least not yet." She took the stake and carefully put it in his pocket. "But perhaps we should take this opportunity to clean him up a bit?" Xander nodded and walked to the far wall where the key was hanging.

"Maybe we should think about some added security," he said, passing the key to Giles.

"Chains at the least," Giles said before remembering their guests. "Dawn. Can you escort your father and aunt back upstairs? And keep an eye on our other guests. Perhaps Willow can help you." Willow nodded, but Dawn refused to move.

"You're not gonna hurt him are you?" she asked, looking at the bleached blonde vampire. "He didn't want to hurt me."

"I won't. I promise," he said. She smiled at him before turning and facing her relatives.

"Let's go back upstairs."

"What just happened?" her aunt Nancy asked as she followed her niece up the stairs.

"Our dog was just a little upset," Dawn said, looking pointedly at her grandparents. Her dad and aunt took the hint.

"Right," Hank said, just as Andrew burst into the kitchen holding various shopping bags.

"Dinner should be ready in about an hour," he said, not noticing the extra people.

"Will there be enough for extra?" Willow asked. Andrew looked up at her question, paling slightly at the extra people he didn't know.

"These are my grandparents," Dawn told him, "and my father and aunt. They will be staying with us for a few days."

"Nice to meet you," Andrew said politely, but his face was streaked with fear and his eyes never left Dawn's. She nodded reassuringly.

"Will there be enough or do we need to go back to the store?" Willow asked again. Andrew shifted his gaze to her.

"Yes," he said as he thought about what he was making and what he had bought. "What about?" his eyes flickered to Ethan.

"Oh I'll be staying too," he said before turning to Dawn's grandparents. "Shall we go wait in the living room? Andrew here is a master in the kitchen, but he does get flustered if too many people watch."

"Of course," Irene said as she and her husband followed him through the hallway. They frowned at the few baby toys scattered throughout the living room, but sat down on the couch and had a delightful conversation with the Englishman. Willow followed silently, watching as they talked but not really participating. As soon as they were gone Nancy turned to Dawn.

"What is going on here?" she demanded. Dawn stayed silent, trying to think of what to tell her, but Hank beat her too it.

"Everything Buffy told me was true." He spoke in a soft, almost astounded voice, before turning to his sister. She huffed.

"Vampires can't be real," she said. "They just can't."

"I'm afraid they are," Giles said as he and Xander joined them from the basement.

"But Buffy was sick," Nancy said. "She had an episode."

"That's what I thought too," Hank whispered. "But I was wrong."

"Buffy has been fighting the forces of darkness since she was fifteen," Giles said. "Everything she tried to tell you was the truth."

"Buffy," Hank said as if in a dream before shaking his head and turning to Dawn. "I need to see her. Make sure she's okay. Where is she?"

"She's with mom," Dawn repeated. "They'll be back soon."

"Hank," Nancy said, putting a calming hand on his arm. "Why don't we go wait with mom and dad? It will be time for dinner soon then we can all get some sleep."

"Right," he said, shaking his head again. He started hugging himself and mumbling to himself as he left the kitchen. Nancy looked worried when he headed for the basement.

"Will he be okay down there?" she asked, ready to go drag him back out if necessary. Giles nodded.

"Spike is in chains and in the cage," he told her, "and I have the keys to both in my pocket." She nodded, sinking down onto a chair.

"Sorry about that," Nancy said as she watched the basement door longingly. "He hasn't been quite himself since he got back."

"Got back from where?" Dawn asked. Nancy looked at her.

"From prison." Dawn gasped and the others looked down in shock. "You didn't know?" she asked. Dawn shook her head.

"We haven't seen or heard from him in years," she said.

"That explains why you never wrote him or visited him while he was in prison," Nancy said. "I wondered." She poured herself a cup of coffee, staring at it while she gathered her thoughts. She absently watched as Andrew made dinner. "He didn't even tell us he was in prison," she said after a minute. "We didn't know until a doctor contacted us."

"A doctor," Dawn asked. "Was he hurt?"

"Not exactly," Nancy took a sip before facing her niece. "The doctor was a psychiatrist. Hank had a nervous breakdown in prison and was transferred to a state psychiatric hospital. The doctor was trying to find out anything that would help him. That's how we found out my brother was in jail." Giles frowned and Xander shuddered. They didn't even like the guy but they still felt sorry for him. "It's not as bad as it sounds," she continued. "He was able to get help, even finish out his prison sentence there. He's more or less the better now."

"What was he in prison for?" Dawn asked quietly.

"Tax fraud and embezzlement," she said. "He plead guilty. Twelve months in a minimum security facility." She looked at Dawn curiously. "He was transferred to the hospital about five months in. Once we found out we were able to visit him. He kept asking about Buffy, but at the same time he didn't want Buffy to know where he was or what happened."

"Did he ask about me?" Dawn looked hopeful.

"I'm sorry Dawn." Dawn nodded resignedly.

"He was released last month. He stayed with mom and dad, but they're getting older and can't really take care of him anymore. Not that they really want to now that he's gone crazy." Dawn nodded knowingly.

"Grandma and grandpa are a bit judgmental," Dawn explained. "If you're on their good side you can do no wrong, but if you're not they really don't want anything to do with you." She didn't sound bitter, but they could all hear the disappointment in her voice.

"My brother was always the shining star of the family," Nancy said in the same disappointed tone Dawn used. "Now he's not. My parents, well, they're having a harder time adjusting to this new reality than Hank is." She was quiet for a minute, watching Andrew move around the kitchen. "He's going to come stay with me down south, but he insisted we visit with Joyce, Buffy, and you before we head down."

"And I can see he's really excited about that," Dawn mumbled. Her aunt gave her a sympathetic smile.

"He's changed Dawn," she said sadly. "I don't know what happened to him but he's changed."

"It might be too late," Dawn said just as Andrew approached the group.

"Dinner is almost ready."

"I'll go get your father," Giles said uncomfortably.

"I'll set the table," Xander offered. Dawn smiled weakly and led her aunt to the living room, where Ethan was doing a charming job of keeping her grandparents entertained. Dawn and Nancy joined them and it took a second for Dawn to realize Ethan never took his eyes of Willow for more than a second.

"I'll go help Xander," Willow said once the door opened and Tara came in. She rushed passed, only stopping long enough for Tara to give her shoulder a quick squeeze. Tara turned to Dawn.

"Everything OK?" she asked quietly. Dawn nodded and she turned her attention to the others in the room for the first time. Ethan quieted temporarily, but he quickly started chatting again. He wore his most charming smile and it was clear the elder Summers were infatuated with him. Tara looked back at Dawn. "Anya has them over at her place. She wasn't sure if she should bring them over or not." Dawn sighed, looking over at her extended family.

"I guess they have a right to know," she said, before adding, "it might scare them away faster." Tara nodded and left, only to return a few minutes later with Anya and the twins. Talk in the living room stopped completely as Ethan turned his full gaze on the twins.

"Children," he muttered, as if the concept was foreign to him. Giles led Hank into the room at that moment and quickly headed over to Ethan, putting a hand on his shoulder in warning.

"So," Dawn said after a few uncomfortable minutes, "you already met Billy and this is Alex." She pulled the girl from Anya's arms, hugging her intently like a shield. Her grandmother frowned at the children.

"Are they yours?" she asked coldly, looking from Anya to Tara. Both girls shook their heads mutely. Hank took one step forward, stretching his hand out to touch them but stopped short, just like before.

"They are," Dawn started hesitantly, "my brother and sister."

"Joyce was pregnant again?" Steven asked.

"Not exactly," Dawn threw a pleading look Giles, who jumped in.

"Joyce adopted them," he said calmly, his hand never leaving Ethan's shoulder. "Their mother was a close friend of ours. She died in childbirth."

"And she had no one else to take her children?" Irene asked haughtily. "She would burden my former daughter in law with this task?"

"They're not a burden," Dawn almost yelled at her. "We love them and we love having them here." Irene was getting ready to say something else when Andrew entered.

"Dinner is ready," he announced, oblivious to the growing tension in the room. He headed toward the dining room.

"Is he the father?" Irene asked as they followed him. Dawn shuddered at the suggestion.

"God I hope not," Giles said as he brought up the rear. Andrew immediately took the kids and placed them in their high chairs. Everyone took their usual spots, leaving the head of the table empty. Irene shrugged before heading there, the rest of the family following her. Ethan happily picked up the conversation where it left off, and somehow they made it through the most awkward family dinner they ever had. When they were done Dawn showed them to their rooms. The family went to bed early, claiming tiredness from their long day of travel. Meanwhile, the Scoobies gathered in the living room.

"She has children," Ethan spoke in amazement. Giles growled, but didn't refute.

"We can wipe his memory," Willow suggested. "Make him forget the entire thing."

"That wouldn't work," Ethan told her, his smile fading somewhat when he looked at her. "I can feel their power. But I can see why you would suggest something so radical."

"What?" Willow asked, but Ethan ignored her.

"What would you suggest?" Giles asked. Ethan smiled at him.

"I love children. The amount of chaos they bring is to die for. Who else can cause so much mischief and get away completely free."

"Besides you," Giles remarked sarcastically as Dawn rejoined them.

"So what's happening to Spike?" she asked, her hands on her hips.

"Spike?" Anya asked, but Giles sighed.

"I'm not sure," he admitted. Ethan scoffed but stayed silent. Giles rubbed his eyes tiredly. "He's safe right now, and more importantly secure."

"He wasn't gonna hurt me," Dawn insisted.

"That's why you felt the need to shoot him?" Xander asked sarcastically. Dawn sighed, but turned her eyes back to Giles.

"Whatever is happening to him isn't his choice. He didn't want to hurt me. Something's messing with his head."

"I agree," Giles admitted, looking over at Ethan carefully. "It's been a long day. I suggest we all get some sleep."

"You're not gonna stake him right?" Dawn asked. She needed to make sure Spike was okay.

"He'd want us to stake him," Tara said quietly, "if that was the only way to keep you safe. You know that." Dawn sighed.

"Just promise that you'll try to help him before you get stake happy."

"We will," Xander promised. Around him everyone nodded their heads. "It's late. Let's get some sleep." He looked to Dawn. "Do you want us to stay?" She shook her head but looked toward Giles.

"I will be staying," he said, eyeing Ethan again. "I don't trust Ethan here by himself."

"You wound me Ripper," Ethan said, smiling mischievously. "I suppose it will take more than entertaining the in laws to convince you I've left my evil ways behind." He took a deep, dramatic breath. "Very well. I see I have no choice. I shall let you chain me up." Giles smirked.

"I've got a better idea."