Author's Note: On Buffy's pairing I have decided to go OC. Dawn's Watcher (who will no longer be the canon Lydia for multiple reasons, for one it's easier to create a backstory on a character that is OC than one that is canon and had very little character development in her two appearance, with the second being her death) will be paired with Buffy. I am still trying to think about how to actually work that out.
Fanfictionfanatic2324 - First I do know of the story. Second As I said above I am going OC on Buffy's pairing. Given Amy's arc in canon I can't see Dawn steering Buffy to Amy. Oz has his share of problems, even if I paired Oz with Buffy I can see him still leaving to learn how to control the wolf. Cordelia, given her personality I can actually see her and Buffy clashing.
Chapter 1: Welcome to the Past
September 11, 1997 – Thursday
1625 Revello Drive, Sunnydale
Consciousness slowly returned to Dawn Summers; when she opened her eyes, she saw that she was standing in a living room. She could tell she was in a house, but where exactly was this house? Was it in Sunnydale? And what year was it?" Being that she was standing in a house and not in an abandoned building she knew her wish to D'Hoffryn had worked. As she looked around the room, she spotted by the door a purple backpack beside a purse.
Dawn stared at it, then stared at it some more. Then it registered "Right. Things I might need." She sat down on the floor next to the backpack and purse. She picked up the purse and rummaged through it. She withdrew a woman's clutch wallet, she would look at that in a moment, a set of keys with a key fob, and an old-style cellphone. First though she wanted to check her appearance, she pulled out a compact mirror and looked into it. She looked... younger. She could tell she was no longer twenty-two, but much younger, possibly around sixteen or seventeen. Depending on the year she surmised this might be so she could fit in at Sunnydale High.
She picked up the clutch wallet, a quick check revealed close to $200 in various denominations, while the other held various cards: a driver's license, three credit cards, a debit card, and a social security card.
She opened the backpack next, there was a leather-bound book, several file folders filled with various papers. The book was a diary of some sort. Dawn opened it and read the first page. There were two lists. The first was easy enough to understand. Angelus, Mayor Richard Wilkins, Adam, the Initiative, Glory, Warren, Andrew, Jonathon, and finally, the First Evil. These were the upcoming Big Bads, obviously. The second list read: Radica Games; Metal Management; Trans-World Entertainment; Reliability, Incorporated; Arterial Vascular Engineering; The Spire Corporation; Jackson Hewitt; and finally, MindSpring Enterprises.
Dawn recognized some of the names in the second list as businesses. Jackson Hewitt, she knew had done first her mother's taxes then later Buffy's when Buffy had worked for Doublemeat Palace and then eventually Sunnydale High. She suspected this was possible places to invest in if she should need money. There was also a list for Superbowl and World Series winners as well as items to patent. She closed the book and looked at the cover, it was just a reddish-brown leather. "This is my Gray's Sports Almanac!"
She put the book down and picked up the first folder. "Aha. My life as a time traveler." The first page held a birth certificate.
Apparently, she had been born in Los Angeles on October 11, 1980 to Mark Summers and Lyssa Thompson. "Celia's parents, Uncle Mark and Aunt Lyssa! And looking at the birthdate that makes me Celia's twin." she said shocked at the revelation. "Which makes me three months older than Buffy."
She set the birth certificate aside. The next page had some biographical details regarding Mark and Lyssa, some of which she had known already since they were originally her aunt and uncle. She had known that Mark had worked for Paine and Hope Law Firm as a senior associate, and that Lyssa had worked for one of the Hollywood movie studios as an executive. She also remembered that they had died in a plane crash, she couldn't remember the exact date though.
As she turned to the next page, she saw that she had been declared an emancipated minor due to Mark and Lyssa's deaths. The next document detailed her inheritance. "I have an inheritance," she said surprised. She remembered that in her original timeline that Uncle Mark and Aunt Lyssa having no other children after Celia's death had left their estate to various charities. With her inclusion into their family that meant she now had inherited their estate instead. According to the documents it said she was a millionaire after Mark and Lyssa's final expenses were paid. The documents also said her inheritance was in trust for her till she turned eighteen and that she could only touch the interest till then.
Mark had set it up that his employers would be executors of not only his and Lyssa's estate but also the trust fund. She found a few other documents, namely school enrollment, a list of phone numbers to call if she needed anything that included her lawyers, the judge who handled her emancipation, a child psychologist, a couple of teachers, and a doctor.
In the second folder she found a deed to a house at 1625 Revello Drive, Sunnydale, California. "That must be the house I'm in now," she said. Her name was on the deed along with the law firm. She assumed that was so they could manage the legalities of owning a home by a minor, such as property taxes and home owners' insurance. She found the title for a car, a Ford Mustang. She was surprised that a more expensive car hadn't been given to her instead, like a Mercedes.
Dawn put the paperwork back in the backpack. She decided to check out the rest of the house before getting in the car and trying to find out what year it was. Downstairs there was the living room, kitchen, dining room, study, a bathroom, and access to the garage. Upstairs were four bedrooms, another bathroom and access to the attic.
Suddenly, her cell phone interrupted her thoughts, jolting her with surprise. She quickly retrieved it and flipped it open, her heart racing with anticipation. "Hello?" she answered, her voice a mix of eagerness and uncertainty.
"Ms. Summers?" a voice echoed from the phone. "Dawn? Good morning. This is Anthony Paine. Did I wake you?"
"No, Mr. Paine, I've been awake for a little while," Dawn replied. "What can I do for you?"
"I wanted to let you know that I got a call from the movers. They'll be at your new house in Sunnydale in about three hours with your things. That should give you plenty of time to get some breakfast, check out of your hotel, and drive over to meet them."
"Wonderful. Thank you, Mr. Paine. That's great news." Her gratitude was sincere.
"No problem. Is there anything we can help you with this morning?" Mr. Paine's thoughtful offer warmed Dawn's heart.
"Not that I can think of. But if I think of anything, I'll call," Dawn admitted, appreciating the support she was receiving. "May I ask, has Aunt Joyce been informed of my moving to Sunnydale?"
"We thought you might like to do that yourself. So, we did not inform her of the move."
Dawn nodded. 'It would be better this way,' she thought, mustering the strength to confront the uncertainty ahead.
"If there is nothing else, Dawn, I'll talk to you later."
"No, that was all," Dawn said, her voice tinged with a mix of emotions. "You have a good day." She disconnected the call.
Three hours before the movers arrived. Since she had found no food in the kitchen yet that meant that she ought to go out and get something to eat. Possibly drive by her old house and see if she could see if Buffy was home or not. And definitely find out what the date was.
Dawn thought about Buffy and knew she needed to make sure Buffy was home before revealing herself to her sister. Then came the thought about herself. Was her younger self already here and if so, did she have the Key?
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Dawn drove by Buffy's house and saw that the car she recognized as her mom's was in the driveway which meant she had arrived after they had moved to Sunnydale, but before Joyce had passed away from an aneurism when her mom's estate sold the car and the gallery to pay for Joyce's final expenses.
Thinking about the Gallery, Dawn knew one thing she could invest in, potentially turning Joyce's gallery into a national if not international contender. Which would ensure that Buffy and her younger self would have money in case she could not change Joyce's fate, which was going to be her first task after the reveal.
As Dawn drove, she spotted Willow and Xander walking down the sidewalk. "No Buffy, but from the looks of Willow and Xander I would say they're definitely still in high school. Which narrows down the when considerably. Could be during one of the summers when Buffy was not in town."
Dawn drove on past and down the street to a convenience store. There she got a soda and newspaper. The date on the newspaper read: September 12, 1997. "Buffy, dad, and possibly me if I am already here, will be coming home from L.A. in a couple days," she realized. Which meant she had a few days to get settled. "I have no idea how I am going to approach Buffy now. She wasn't in the best of places during that summer. Of course, I wasn't in the best of places either. I should never have followed her to the Master's cave that night."
Dawn carefully kept her attention on the newspaper as Xander and Willow passed where she was parked. She didn't look up at them, she wanted to wait if she could to reveal herself to them as well. "Better to do it all at once." She knew that might not be possible though.
Dawn glanced at her watch. It was almost time to meet the movers. She started the car and drove back to her new home.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
It took the movers the rest of the afternoon to get the house set up. She directed them and soon every corner of the house was filled with either furniture or boxes. She had the movers line the boxes along unused wall space out of the way of foot traffic, the furniture she had them place to her exact specifications. In the end the living room itself looked like a mirror of the living room in Buffy's house. The same was the case with the master bedroom upstairs.
When the movers left Dawn decided instead of unpacking that she would go grocery shopping instead. Amazed at having spent nearly five hundred dollars in groceries, Dawn brought her purchases home and spent the next half hour putting them away. She unpacked a box of dishes and a box of silverware, so that she would have at least something to eat off of till she finished unpacking the rest. Dawn did the same in the living room and laughed when she found a small model DeLorean. She also found pictures of herself with Mark and Lyssa as well as with Celia. She smiled at the picture of Celia. She had only been two years old when Celia had died in the original timeline but she had heard much about her from both Buffy and Joyce over the years.
Dawn then went upstairs and unpacked her toiletries, bath supplies and the clothes that had not been in her suitcase as well as make the bed. When she looked at the alarm clock, she had set on the dresser she found it was getting late. She decided to go to the Bronze and maybe do a quick patrol of one of the cemeteries before going to bed.
She dug through her recently unpacked clothes, she considered a dress but remembered that Buffy had always preferred jeans to a skirt or dress as both hampered the ability to fight. So, she picked out a red silk blouse that hugged her curves and a pair of leather jeans. When she looked at herself in the mirror her mouth went to her face as she realized why she had chosen the outfit. It reminded her of Faith.
Dawn wondered what she would do about Faith. If she headed off Buffy and warned her of what happened on her seventeenth birthday that meant Kendra very likely would not die and if Kendra did not die that meant Faith would not be called. Which worried her because she was afraid Kakistos might still come after Faith. And she wanted Faith alive for she wanted to finally show Faith what she had held inside herself for years, her love. So, she would have to find a way of getting Faith to Sunnydale, not only to protect Faith from Kakistos but potentially start a relationship that till now she had only dreamed of.
The Bronze
Dawn parked her car and queued up in line for the club. Soon, she was inside. She took a quick look around. She saw Cordelia and the so-called Cordettes in one corner. At the bar she saw Willow and Xander, talking and laughing between themselves, nursing their sodas and occasionally munching on pretzels.
Dawn moved to the bar and stood next to Xander. "Could I have a Diet Coke, please?" she asked as she watched the bartender pour the drink.
She watched Xander and Willow take notice of her out of the corner of her eye knowing once they looked over, they would recognize her.
"Dawnie?" Willow's voice was filled with astonishment, and Dawn nodded, feeling a lump in her throat. "You can't be Dawn. Dawn's eleven-years-old."
The complexity of her situation weighed on her, but she mustered the courage to confess, "I am, Dawn," she admitted before thinking to herself, 'At least I know now that I do exist at this point in this timeline. The next question is ascertaining whether my younger self has the Key.' "And how I am older is a complicated explanation," she added.
"You're a Terminator," Xander blurted out, his voice laced with a mix of disbelief and humor. The weight of his words hung in the air, and Dawn felt the collective gaze of the onlookers, their doubtful expressions like a wave crashing upon her.
Determined not to let the tension consume them, Dawn mustered a smile, using humor as a shield. "A little louder," she teased, trying to lighten the mood, "I don't think the people on the balcony heard you." Though her attempt at humor, she couldn't shake the gravity of the situation. The truth she was about to reveal was no laughing matter.
She leaned in, meeting Willow and Xander's gaze, feeling the intensity of her friends' wide-eyed realization. The weight of the revelation hung heavy on her heart as she responded, "No, I am not a Terminator, but you aren't far off base, though." The words felt surreal as they escaped her lips, like stepping into a world of science fiction.
Willow's eyes bore into Dawn's, seeking answers. "How far?" she questioned, her voice tinged with both hope and apprehension.
"How far in the future am I from?" Dawn asked in return, her heart pounding in her chest. As Willow nodded, she couldn't help but feel the gravity of the knowledge she carried, knowing the impact it would have on their lives. "A little under twelve years," she revealed, her voice quivering with the weight of time-travel and the unknown future she represented.
Xander's skepticism was understandable, given the bizarre nature of the situation. "If you are actually Dawn from the future, and not a machine or something else out to kill us, tell us something only we would know. So, we know it's really you."
As Dawn nodded, a mix of emotions swirled inside her like a tempestuous storm. There was one memory, a secret shared only among a select few – herself, Xander, Buffy, and Angel. The memory of her first encounter with a vampire.
June 2, 1997 – Monday
The Master's Cave
As the Master's vice-like grip held Buffy's arms, she felt trapped and utterly defenseless. His words seeped into her mind like venom, the intimate whisper sending shivers down her spine. "You tried. It was noble of you. You heard the prophecy that I was going to break free and you came to stop me. But prophecies are tricky creatures. They didn't tell you everything."
"You're the one that frees me," he taunted, his chilling smile a stark contrast to the darkness that surrounded them. "If you hadn't come, I couldn't go. Think about that." Her heart sank as the weight of her unwitting involvement in his sinister plan bore down on her. The realization that her actions had unknowingly played into his hands twisted her emotions into a tumultuous mix of guilt and fear.
As the Master's fangs pierced her neck, agony coursed through Buffy's body, mingling with an incomprehensible sense of power that seemed to flow from her very essence. The pain was excruciating, and her strength waned with each stolen drop of blood. Yet, through the haze of pain, she heard the Master's exclamation, "God, the power!"
Buffy's strength faded as she sagged in the Master's grasp, her vision growing dim as her life force drained away. With cruel detachment, he left her on her knees, like a discarded puppet, before collapsing into the pool of water nearby.
The Master's callous remark, "By the way… I like your dress," added a touch of mockery to the grim scene. Her emotions were a whirlwind – fear, anger, and sorrow intertwined as she struggled to grasp the gravity of her predicament.
As the Master departed from the cave, Dawn emerged from her hiding spot, her heart pounding in her chest like a frantic drum. The scene she had witnessed was nothing short of horrifying, and the emotional turmoil within her threatened to consume her. But she couldn't let fear paralyze her; she had to act.
Rushing to Buffy's lifeless form in the pool, Dawn's trembling hands reached out to pull her sister from the water. "Buffy?" she called out, her voice quivering with anguish. But there was no response. Buffy remained motionless, her chest still, and the absence of her breath sent a surge of terror through Dawn's soul.
The weight of the moment crushed down on her young shoulders like an immeasurable burden. Fear clutched at her heart, and the possibility of losing her sister, her protector, left her feeling utterly vulnerable and lost.
"Buffy, please," Dawn pleaded, her voice breaking with desperation as she cradled her sister's head in her lap, her hands trembling as they cupped Buffy's pale cheeks. The tears streaming down Dawn's face mirrored the torrent of emotions swirling inside her – grief, fear, and a desperate hope for a miracle.
In the distance, the sound of approaching footsteps drew her attention, and she looked up to see Xander and Angel rushing to her side. Their shocked expressions mirrored her own as they took in the sight of Buffy's little sister in such distress.
"Dawn!" Xander's voice carried a mix of surprise and concern as he knelt beside them, his hands gentle yet firm as he tried to assess the situation.
"She's not breathing, Xander. Help her, please," Dawn pleaded, her voice barely above a whisper, her eyes filled with the pain of uncertainty. In this dark moment, she sought solace in the familiar faces of her sister's friends, praying that their combined strength could breathe life back into her sister's still form.
September 11, 1997 – Thursday
The Bronze
Dawn's voice trembled with raw emotion as she recalled the heart-wrenching memory. Her gaze locked with Xander's, the weight of their shared past pulling them closer together in this moment of vulnerability.
"That's easy," she began, her voice wavering, "a couple of months ago from your point of view, almost twelve years ago from mine." Her eyes welled up with tears as she delved deeper into the memory, recounting the haunting scene that had forever etched itself into her heart. "You and Angel found me in the Master's cave," she continued, the memories playing before her eyes like a haunting film. "I was cradling Buffy's head in my lap, begging her to wake up."
Her words hung in the air, heavy with sorrow and longing. The pain of that moment was still fresh, and the weight of helplessness she had felt as a young girl, watching her sister on the brink of death, resonated deeply within her.
"I told you," her voice quivered, "I said, 'She's not breathing, Xander. Help her, please'."
Willow's eyes glistened with a mix of surprise and concern as she turned to Xander, seeking the reassurance she desperately needed. She needed to know if what Dawn had just disclosed was true, if Dawn had followed Buffy into the Master's cave that dreadful night.
Xander's voice trembled slightly as he confirmed Dawn's account, a hint of emotion betraying his calm facade. "She's right," he said, his gaze softening as he recalled the heart-wrenching memory. "Dawn followed Buffy the night she went to fight the Master. I found Dawn just as she said, cradling Buffy's head, begging her to wake up."
The weight of that night still lingered in the depths of his eyes, the pain of seeing Buffy unconscious and the young Dawn desperately pleading for help etched into his soul. The intimacy of that moment, shared only among a select few, felt sacred, yet now, the revelation demanded they unlock its secrets.
"When Buffy went to fight the Master, she had me take Dawn home and remain with her till Mrs. S. came home," he added, his voice tinged with a mix of nostalgia and sadness. He looked at Dawn. "Something major must have happened for you to travel back in time."
Dawn's lips trembled with vulnerability as she admitted, "Something did," her voice soft and laden with a mixture of trepidation and determination. She took a sip, gathering her composure, as the truth weighed heavily upon her young shoulders. "Let's wait till Buffy and my past self-get back from L.A. For the full explanation. I intended to reveal myself to Buffy then and give everyone an explanation including you two and Giles."
Xander's eyes held a mix of astonishment and curiosity as he asked the question that lingered in the air like a delicate wisp. "How old are you now?" he inquired, his voice filled with wonder and a tinge of disbelief.
Dawn's response came with a touch of vulnerability, her voice carrying the weight of a life that had been both lengthened and altered. "Unofficially twenty-three," she answered, "officially sixteen. I'll be seventeen in October." The complexities of time-travel and its effects were evident in her words, a poignant reminder of the extraordinary journey she had undertaken.
Her eyes softened as she gazed at her old friends, Willow and Xander, her voice laced with hope and a yearning for connection. "When I was sent back, things were changed, and I was de-aged to my current age to fit in with you guys," she explained.
Willow's eyes sparkled with warmth as she realized the implications of Dawn's words. "That means you'll be going to school with us," she observed, her voice carrying a sense of excitement at the prospect of their shared future.
Dawn's smile was both wistful and eager. "Yes," she affirmed, "and just so you know, I do hope we have some classes together." She saw Xander and Willow look at her quizzically. "It's been awhile since I've seen you both and I want to get to know you again."
As the conversation continued, a sudden interruption came from behind, cutting through the moment of bonding. "Are these losers bothering you?"
The voice was cold and condescending, and Dawn turned to face Cordelia, the source of the interruption. "I'm sorry, did you say something?" she asked, her tone polite but tinged with a hint of defiance. "I'm afraid I wasn't paying attention."
Cordelia's smirk sent a jolt of irritation through Willow and Xander, their emotions raw and vulnerable in this tense encounter. "I asked if these losers were bothering you."
Instead of shrinking back, Dawn asserted herself. "Not at all," she replied, her voice steady. "They're actually friends of my cousin, Buffy Summers." Her words were laced with a touch of defiance, daring Cordelia to undermine her worth. "Since Buffy hasn't come back from spending the summer with Uncle Hank, they have been showing me around town," she added. "Thank you for your concern though. Buh-bye!"
As Cordelia left in a huff, Dawn held her head high, giving Cordelia her back in a display of defiance. She wouldn't let anyone belittle her or her friends.
After Cordelia had departed, Willow's curious voice cut through the tension. "What's with being Buffy's cousin?" she asked, seeking to understand the intricacies of Dawn's return.
"Officially, it's true," Dawn admitted, her voice tinged with a mix of complexity and honesty. "When I came back, I was inserted into our cousin's family." As she pondered her situation, a thought surfaced that left her wondering about her own existence. "You know that just got me thinking," she shared, her voice tinged with curiosity, "you know Dawn as Dawn, but there is also me. I wonder how it was explained that both Dad and Uncle Mark… err I should reverse that Uncle Hank and Dad since Uncle Mark is officially my father now. Anyways how it was explained they both named their daughters Dawn," she mused, her curiosity leading her down a rabbit hole of unanswered questions.
Willow, understanding the weight of Dawn's questions, nodded thoughtfully. "That is an interesting question," she agreed. "Maybe Mrs. Summers would have an explanation?"
As Dawn's voice quivered with uncertainty, her emotions danced like a delicate flame, torn between hope and caution. "Depends," she replied, her tone soft yet laden with underlying anxiety, "if fake memories were planted in her mind or not."
Dawn glanced at Xander and Willow and smiled. She debated asking Willow to dance but two things stopped her. At this point in time Willow considered herself straight, and Dawn had no intention of doing something that would derail Willow from falling for Tara. Besides the person she really wanted to dance with was Faith who of course wasn't here yet.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
"Hey," Dawn murmured, her voice tinged with a touch of weariness, as she delved into her purse, searching for her car keys. "Need a ride home?"
Xander's eyes widened in genuine surprise as they stumbled upon Dawn's car. "Wow," he exclaimed, admiration lacing his words. "You have a Mustang?"
A small smile touched Dawn's lips, a mixture of pride and nostalgia in her expression. "Yep," she confirmed. "So that ride?"
Willow and Xander exchanged glances. "Sure," they chimed in unison.
Still fumbling for her keys, Dawn sighed softly, a tinge of vulnerability creeping into her tone. "You guys are going to have to give me directions, okay?" Her voice held a hint of uncertainty. "It's been awhile since I've been to either of your houses."
Xander's brow furrowed with concern, sensing there was more to Dawn's return than she had let on. "I've been meaning to ask about that," he broached delicately. "I know something bad happens, or you wouldn't have come back. But did something happen to Willow and me?"
In that moment, the weight of her memories seemed to overcome Dawn, and she took a deep breath before speaking candidly. "You died, Xander," she admitted, her voice quivering with emotion. Then she turned to Willow, a mix of sorrow and relief in her eyes. "Willow, you were still alive when I came back. Buffy was dead, and Faith…"
Xander's puzzled expression betrayed his lack of knowledge about the person mentioned. "Faith?" he asked, his curiosity.
"Faith," Dawn began, her voice softening with reverence, "was a Slayer. There were two Slayers between me and Buffy. Faith was my predecessor." Her eyes shimmered with a mix of admiration and sorrow as she spoke of Faith.
The weight of the revelation struck Willow like a bolt of lightning, her eyes widening in astonishment. "You're a Slayer," she uttered, a mixture of awe and concern evident in her voice.
Dawn nodded solemnly; her emotions laid bare. "I am," she replied, her voice carrying the weight of the responsibilities she had borne. "Anyways, Faith died protecting me, and then I was called. I was the Last Slayer."
A sense of danger crept into the air, the tension palpable as a group of vampires emerged, mocking and taunting. "What do we have here, boys. Someone ordered take-out."
Dawn's hand, once searching for her car keys, now shifted to the comforting grip of a stake hidden in the depths of her purse. Determination etched on her face, she pulled out the stake and passed her purse to Xander, her concern for her friends evident.
"Get in the car," she urged them urgently, her voice tinged with fear and urgency. "I know you can help, but I would hate to explain to Buffy when I finally reveal myself to her that I got you two killed."
Xander nodded, his expression showing a mix of determination and understanding, as he took the purse and fumbled for the car keys. Meanwhile, Dawn turned to face the vampires, her body tense and ready for action.
"Now don't be like that," sneered a female vampire, a cruel smirk playing on her lips. "The party's only getting started!"
As the adrenaline surged through her veins, Dawn quickly glanced at Xander and Willow, their worried expressions confirming their understanding of the imminent danger. With a sense of urgency, she called out, "There is another stake in the glove compartment, just in case," her voice quivering slightly as she tried to mask her fear.
Xander's eyes locked onto Dawn's, a mix of concern and determination mirrored in his gaze. He nodded firmly, fully aware of the gravity of the situation, and reached for the glove box. Opening it, he retrieved the extra stake, his hand steady despite the tension in the air.
The vampire's taunting laughter echoed around them as they closed in on Dawn. The chilling voice of the female vampire pierced through the darkness, urging her companions to attack. "Get her, boys," she hissed with cruel delight.
With a deep breath, Dawn steadied herself, her heart pounding in her chest as the three male vampires lunged at her. She stood her ground, a whirlwind of emotions coursing through her—fear, bravery, and determination all tangled together. Her muscles tensed, and her senses heightened as she calculated the movements of her opponents, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
The first vampire lunged at her trying to grab Dawn by the waist. She easily dodged out of his reach. As the demon passed by, she slammed her stake down through his back and he dusted. The second vampire walked up to her in a steady pace. He fired a right straight towards her. Dawn easily blocked it and was ready for next one. The vampire wasted no time in firing a left uppercut. Dawn grabbed the arm and twisted it hard. The vampire screamed in pain as he knelt down. She drove the stake through his back as well dusting him.
The third vampire came at Dawn and she spun in a roundhouse kick aiming for his ribs. The vampire grunted in pain as she rammed the stake right through his heart and he dusted. Dawn turned to face the female vampire who swung at Dawn's head. Dawn ducked and brought up her fist right into the female's chin knocking her backward. Taking advantage of the the female vampire's disorientation she drove the stake home and dispatched her as well.
"Dawn, are you okay?" Willow's voice was filled with genuine concern, her eyes locked onto her friend's face, trying to decipher the complex mix of emotions as Dawn settled behind the steering wheel.
A weary yet exhilarated smile crossed Dawn's lips, the aftermath of the intense encounter with the vampires evident in her expression. "Yeah," she replied, her voice carrying a hint of exhaustion intertwined with a newfound sense of empowerment. "It's been a long time since I dusted a vamp. Gave me a real workout. Now I understand about H&H."
"H&H?" Xander's curiosity was piqued, but he could sense that there was more to it than a simple acronym.
Dawn blushed, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment, as she revealed her vulnerability to her closest friends. "Hungry and horny," she admitted honestly, the raw honesty catching both Willow and Xander by surprise. "And the one person I would love to relieve the second H with is not here, and in the original timeline, she didn't arrive for another year. I'm going to drive over to Giles," she continued, her voice steady as she outlined her plan. "I'm going to need you guys for the introduction. Giles may recognize me, but he will want proof that I'm from the future, and I already gave you guys proof."
Xander nodded firmly, his protective instincts kicking in. "Right," he affirmed; his voice unwavering. Willow's expression mirrored his determination as she added her support with a resolute nod. In that moment, they knew they would stand by Dawn's side, helping her navigate this challenging journey of revelation and acceptance.
Giles' Apartment
As Dawn stood before the apartment door, her heart raced with a mix of anticipation and trepidation. The warm glow of the lights inside brought a flicker of hope to her eyes, and she couldn't help but smile. She raised her hand and knocked, the sound echoing through her like a heartbeat, filling the silence of the night. Pausing, she took a deep breath, gathering her courage, and then knocked again, her emotions tightly wound.
The door creaked open, revealing a tired and familiar face – Rupert Giles, the stalwart Watcher who had been an integral part of their lives. "Willow? Xander?" he mumbled, trying to make sense of the unexpected visitors. He opened the door a bit wider, his curiosity getting the better of him. "Who is this?"
"Giles! It's great to see you," Dawn exclaimed, her voice laced with genuine warmth, tinged with a mixture of relief and nostalgia at the sight of the man who had been a father figure to her.
As Giles stood there, studying Dawn's face, his emotions ran like a tumultuous sea. His heart wavered between disbelief and a glimmer of hope at the face he recognized albeit distorted by age.
Willow, sensing the weight of Giles' uncertainty, stepped in with a gentle inquiry. "You know Buffy's little sister?" she asked. "Meet her all grown up."
A conflicted expression crossed Giles' face. "You will forgive me if I don't believe that to be true," he responded, his voice tinged with hesitation and vulnerability as he looked intently at Dawn. His doubts were understandable, for the circumstances seemed too extraordinary to be real.
Temporarily retreating into his apartment, Giles reemerged with a crossbow, a symbol of his preparedness to face the unknown. The gravity of the situation was evident as Dawn acknowledged the necessity of such precautions.
"Wise precaution," Dawn acknowledged, her voice carrying a hint of sadness and understanding. "There are so many things I could be. Shapeshifter, evil robot that looks like Buffy's sister, witch who has cast a glamour spell." Her words conveyed both her vulnerability and her strength, as she faced the possibility of being seen as an imposter or a threat.
Giles nodded as he stepped back from the door and let the three teens in. One test down, Dawn was not a vampire or she wouldn't have been able to enter without a verbal invite. He picked up a cross and tossed it toward Dawn who caught it and smiled. Test two complete, she was not a demon who might have been repulsed by the cross. "Ihr Goetter, ruft Euch an! Verbergt Euch nicht hinter falschen Gesichtern!" he said. Third test down, Dawn wasn't a shapeshifter nor was she a witch who had cast a glamour spell.
As the tension slowly eased, Giles lowered his crossbow, his heart heavy with conflicting emotions. "That out of the way," he said, his voice tinged with a mix of relief and uncertainty, as he turned his attention to Xander and Willow. "I assume you tested her knowledge to make sure it was really Dawn?"
"We did," Xander affirmed, the weight of the responsibility he had taken on evident in his voice. "There is something I haven't mentioned to anyone since the day Buffy dusted the Master. Our Dawn followed Buffy into the Master's cave. Angel and I found her there. This Dawn knew all about that."
Giles' stern expression softened, but there was a glimmer of reproach in his eyes as he looked at Xander. "You didn't tell me that Dawn had followed Buffy," he chided, his concern for her safety evident in his words.
"Sorry," Xander apologized, his own emotions raw as he realized the implications of their secrecy. "But she knew that. And the only people besides myself who knew are Angel, Buffy, and Dawn."
Dawn's voice trembled with a mixture of regret and determination as she spoke, her intentions laid bare. "I intended to wait to reveal myself till Buffy and Mini Me came back from L.A. so I could do it all at once," she admitted. "But things changed. First, I bumped into Xander and Willow, then as we left the Bronze, we bumped into four vampires that I dusted."
Giles listened to Dawn's revelations with a mix of astonishment and concern, his emotions churning as he tried to grasp the gravity of her words. "You dusted four vampires," he reiterated, his voice tinged with disbelief. "Last I knew, Dawn Summers was not a potential."
Dawn nodded solemnly, her heart heavy with the weight of her newfound destiny. "As far as we knew, I wasn't," she admitted, a touch of vulnerability in her voice. "I was called as a Slayer around a little over six years from now."
Giles couldn't help but feel a swell of emotions at the thought of Dawn facing such a challenging fate, and his curiosity got the better of him. "If you are from the future," he inquired, trying to make sense of it all, "why are you here?"
Tears glistened in Dawn's eyes as she met Giles' gaze, the gravity of her mission becoming clearer with each passing moment. "To change the world I came from," she replied, her voice trembling with determination. "You see, in the world I came from, the First Evil was taking over. Buffy died sometime after the battle, I guess third time was the charm. Another Slayer, Faith, died protecting me. You and Xander, along with a lot of potentials, died during the battle with the First." She swallowed hard, trying to contain her emotions. "By the time I came back, out of everyone, only Willow and I were left alive."
The pain of losing so many dear friends and the weight of her responsibility as the Last Slayer weighed heavily on her shoulders. Dawn held back certain details for now, wanting to shield Giles from the full extent of the tragedy she had witnessed. "Willow helped me prepare to come back," she continued, her voice a mix of sorrow and resolve. "I came back to stop the First from taking over. The future I came from, I was the last Slayer."
She didn't mention August or the fact that Willow was a powerful witch who had harnessed ancient magics to force a potential to be called as a Slayer. She figured she would need to talk to Willow alone first before she revealed that.
Giles listened intently to Dawn's heartfelt explanation, the emotions within him swirling like a tempest. Doubt and uncertainty lingered, but the sincerity in Dawn's voice touched a chord deep within him. He yearned to believe her, yet the weight of responsibility for the safety of those he cared for made him cautious. "Can you provide me proof that what you are saying is true," he said.
"As far as the proving by telling you something only you would know. Not much," Dawn confessed, a hint of sadness tingeing her words. She recalled the limited time they had spent together. "There were only a few times we were even together by this point in time, usually when Mom knew she was going to be late and wanted me to wait with Buffy till Mom arrived to take me home."
She hesitated, the gravity of her next revelation weighing heavily on her heart. "I have something that might help you to believe, but it's not something you would know," she admitted. "It's something Buffy said to me in the future."
Dawn's voice trembled as she recounted the heartfelt words Buffy had spoken to her on Glory's tower. "Dawn listen to me. Listen. I love you. I'll always love you. But this is the work I have to do. Tell Giles I figured it out. And I'm okay. Give my love to my friends. You have to take care of them now - you have to take care of each other. You have to be strong. Dawn. The hardest thing in this world is to live in it. Be brave. Live. For me."
Giles listened to the speech Buffy had given Dawn on Glory's tower and nodded. While it did not prove she was who she said she was or that she was indeed a Slayer. It did provide enough doubts given what he knew of his Slayer. "So, Buffy said that to you," he said.
"Yes. Just a little under four years from now." Dawn's voice quivered with a mix of sorrow and admiration as she recounted the heart-wrenching event from her future. "There was a big bad that was using my blood to open a portal to a hell dimension," she revealed, her heart heavy with the memory. "Buffy sacrificed herself for me, so I wouldn't have to. For it had…"
"...to have the blood," Giles finished her sentence with a deep understanding etched on his face. He had encountered dark rituals before that required the use of blood, especially when it came to portals. "Now could you give me a demonstration of some kind that you are indeed a Slayer?"
Dawn looked around; she spotted a chest doubling as a side table. "This looks heavy. May I?" she asked as she moved over to the chest.
Giles nodded, the gears in his mind turning as he watched Dawn clear the top of the chest and reveal his collection of weapons. He observed intently as she lifted the chest above her head with apparent ease. A mix of awe and pride filled him as he witnessed her strength and skill in action.
Dawn gently placed the trunk back on the floor, her face expressing a mix of determination and vulnerability. Giles recognized that she was willing to do whatever it took to prove herself, even in the face of lingering doubts.
"I have to make some calls," Giles announced, his voice tinged with a mix of emotions. "If everything is true, I still have some doubts. You will need a Watcher, and since I am Buffy's, I can't be yours." His words carried a hint of regret, knowing that he couldn't fulfill that role for her.
His concern for her safety led him to plan carefully, ensuring that her true identity and purpose remained guarded. "I will tell them as little as I can, that way if you are truly from the future, then you won't have to worry about someone kidnapping you and trying to extract future information."
Giles' wisdom shone through as he advised Dawn on her future Watcher, emphasizing the importance of trust and discretion. "That said I would suggest whoever is assigned to you that you tell when you can trust them not to reveal the truth."
"Okay," said Dawn.
"I assume you have some form of ID?" Giles inquired; the gravity of the situation evident in his voice. "I need the information to try and sell the lie."
With a faint smile, Dawn fumbled for her wallet inside her purse, her hands trembling ever so slightly. She tossed it to Giles. "That should have everything you need," she murmured.
Giles headed up the short flight of stairs to the apartment's upper level, leaving Dawn, Willow and Xander alone.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Giles wanted to believe Dawn was who she said she was. The best way of doing that would be to test Dawn. If she was a Slayer then the rest was likely true as well. That meant getting a team here to assess Dawn. He picked up the telephone receiver and dialed the overseas number. Then it started ringing, on the fourth ring someone answered.
"British Library, Periodicals Section. How may I direct your call?"
"This is Rupert Giles. ID 06241972. I need to speak to whomever is on duty right now, please." He could hear typing through the phone line. He knew that his identification was being pulled up on a computer.
"Please hold. I am transferring you to Doctor Whittaker." (A/N)
There was silence for a few seconds before a woman's voice came on the phone.
"This is Whittaker. Giles? What brings you to call at such an ungodly hour? Given that your Slayer hasn't even returned from Los Angeles..."
"That's partially why I am calling, Jodie. I have something of a situation brewing and needed some information." He paused, as he tried to think of a plausible lie incase Dawn was telling the truth. "A young lady just barged into my apartment. She claimed she was a Slayer and knew I was a Watcher. She claimed she had just dispatched three vampires."
"Is her name Kendra Young?"
"No," said Giles. "Why?"
"Kendra Young is the new slayer called by your Slayer's momentary death at the hands of the master vampire, known as the Master. If this young woman is not her then we need to ascertain if your Slayer died again. For last reports from Sam Zabuto said his Slayer was alive in Jamaica."
"Agreed," said Giles as he searched for pen and paper. "I assume the team in Los Angeles is still monitoring her?"
"They are. I will get you their contact information. While my assistant is getting that information I have to ask what proof do you have of her claim?"
"She lifted my weapons chest one handed with ease," said Giles. "And I have already performed multiple tests to ascertain whether she was a witch who had cast a glamour spell upon herself or a shapeshifter, that test was negative. I also tried to ascertain if it was possible, she was a demon or vampire and both of those tests were negative as well."
"Really?"
"She gave me her identification. It is possible it's a forgery though. For the name on the identification is that of Dawn Marie Summers. Which is the name of my Slayer's sister. Hence my initial tests for shapeshifter or witch hiding behind a glamour spell."
Giles heard keys tapping in the background, he assumed Whittaker was pulling up information on her computer.
"This is a coincidence. Our background checks on your Slayer show that there are two Dawn Marie Summers. One is your Slayer's sister and the other is her cousin. So, I would hazard to guess the identification may not be a forgery. Won't know for sure without more in-depth background checks on this Dawn Summers. Give me her identification number and social security number if you have it available and I will start the background check."
Giles gave the information Whittaker asked for. "While I still have my doubts, I think she might be telling the truth. After all we both know that it is possible for even sisters to be called one after another. A cousin being called after the other wouldn't be much different."
"True. And it wouldn't be the first time a potential was missed during the sweeps. Regardless if your Slayer is alive or not, I am going to immediately authorize a team to leave immediately for Sunnydale, they should arrive tomorrow, your time... ah, Jeremy has brought me the contact information."
Giles wrote down the information then disconnected the call and dialed again. When a man answered he once again gave the appropriate passwords and identified himself.
"Ah. You're Buffy Summers' Watcher. She is still visiting her father. Since Sunnydale High is starting school next week, she will be heading back we believe tomorrow or the next day. What can I do for you?"
"Just checking the status of my Slayer," Giles inquired, his voice carrying a mix of concern and hope, aware of the gravity of the situation.
"Currently, she is asleep," came the voice from the other end of the phone, the tone laced with professional detachment. "We've had her father's home bugged with cameras and microphones ever since she and her sister arrived, just in case we had to separate the girl from her father. My last check-in with my man on the scene was about twenty minutes ago."
Giles listened intently, the emotions within him roiling like a storm. The idea of surveillance on Buffy weighed heavily on his conscience, yet he knew the necessity of such measures to protect her. "Anything interesting to note?" he inquired, his heart pounding with anticipation.
"Well, my man currently in the van reported earlier that the little girl started sobbing uncontrollably," the voice relayed, a hint of concern seeping through the professional facade. "Apparently, there was a discussion between your Slayer and the girl. Apparently, from what I understand, the girl saw your Slayer briefly die."
The revelation hit Giles like a punch to the gut. He felt a surge of empathy for Dawn, knowing the pain she must have endured witnessing such a traumatic event.
"Thank you," Giles said, his voice heavy with emotion, as he disconnected the call. He sighed he had all the available proof he needed to confirm that the Dawn downstairs was very likely the same one currently in Los Angeles, but older. He dialed Doctor Whittaker back. "It's Rupert," he said. "My Slayer is still alive."
When Giles returned downstairs, his expression revealed a mixture of relief and apprehension. The weight of the moment hung heavily on his shoulders, knowing the significance of the revelation he was about to share with Dawn.
"I spoke to the Council," he began, his voice tinged with emotion as he looked into Dawn's eyes. "I have everything I need to confirm you're not lying. And Buffy is indeed alive and currently in bed sleeping."
Dawn's heart skipped a beat, her eyes brimming with tears of relief and gratitude. The validation she sought had finally come, and the weight of uncertainty began to lift from her soul. "What truly cinched it?" she asked, her voice trembling with anticipation and hope.
Giles offered a small, understanding smile, the connection between them strengthening with every passing moment. "What you said Buffy told you in the future, for one," he replied. "I could actually picture Buffy saying that if she was truly protecting you."
He continued, a mixture of guilt and determination crossing his features. "But what really cinched it, as you said, was a contact in L.A. monitoring Buffy." He noticed Dawn's glare and understood her frustration. "Standard procedure in case things go south in the field when the Watcher is not with the Slayer. In this case, it was a precaution given that your father did have Buffy committed briefly before the divorce."
Dawn's face softened, recognizing the depth of Giles' care for her sister's well-being. "And you wanted to make sure he didn't do it again," she surmised, her voice softening with understanding.
Giles nodded, his gaze never leaving Dawn's, their unspoken bond carrying a wealth of emotions.
"Okay. So, you were saying about what convinced you," Dawn prompted, her heart swelling with gratitude for the support and trust Giles had placed in her.
"You did," Giles acknowledged, his voice tinged with a mix of solemnity and relief. "Or rather, the other you did. The surveillance team admitted overhearing the other Dawn sobbing. And overheard Buffy talking to her. They admitted there had been a conversation between the two of them about what happened in the Master's cave. I now have the needed proof that tells me you are telling the truth and that you are indeed from the future."
As the weight of Giles' confirmation settled on them, the room fell into a contemplative silence. Willow's eyes glistened with unshed tears, and her voice trembled with emotion as she ventured to speak the truth, they all dreaded to confront. "So, if all that is true," she began, her voice catching, "then that means in the future that you and Xander die, doesn't it? And that I help Dawn to come back to change everything?"
Giles nodded, his heart aching with the knowledge of the sacrifices that lay ahead for them all. "I believe that is a reasonable assumption," he admitted with a heavy sigh. The reality of the future they were glimpsing was difficult to bear, but he knew that they had to face it together. "To sell the lie, I had to pretend you just burst into my apartment, Dawn, and blurted out that you were a Slayer and knew about Watchers and dispatching vampires," he explained, his voice tinged with regret. He knew that they had to tread carefully to ensure Dawn's safety and the success of her mission. "So, the Council is sending a team to evaluate you and to make sure you are, in fact, a Slayer. I believe you, but it is within the realm of reason your strength is by product of something else too."
"I know," Dawn replied, her voice tinged with a mix of sadness and determination. "I had the same thought after I was called. There were circumstances that proved it to me, though. Circumstances I intend to tell when I give everyone, including Buffy, Mom, and Mini Me." The weight of her revelations weighed heavily on her heart, knowing that the truth would change everything.
"And before you tell me I can't tell Mom," she continued, her voice quivering with vulnerability, "Buffy does reveal she is a Slayer almost a year from now, and Mom's reaction was not good. She told Buffy to get out and never come back. Of course, Mom never meant it, but it hurt Buffy a lot."
Giles sighed, his heart aching for the pain Buffy endured in Dawn's timeline. He nodded in understanding, recognizing the delicate nature of their situation. Dawn would have to reveal herself to her family anyways since she was officially Buffy's cousin. "Does that explanation come with how you are Buffy's cousin?" he inquired gently, aware that there were more truths to unravel in this complex web of timelines. "The Council does background checks on all Slayers, and Buffy's pulled you up."
"It does," Dawn confirmed, her eyes meeting Giles' with a mix of anxiety and trust. "Since you said they do background checks, I assume they are doing one on me?"
"They are," Giles affirmed, his voice steady with reassurance. "For now, go home, get some sleep, all of you. The team the Council is sending will be here tomorrow morning – later today, I should say, since it's now past midnight."
September 12, 1997 – Friday
Streets of Sunnydale
Dawn gently pulled the car to a stop in front of Willow's house. She reluctantly switched off the engine, her heart feeling heavy with emotions as she glanced at the house where her friend lived.
"I'll wait here," Dawn softly whispered, her voice tinged with a mix of wistfulness and concern. She watched intently as Xander stepped out of the car and accompanied Willow to her front door. They exchanged a few words before he returned to the car, fastening his seat belt with a thoughtful expression on his face.
As they drove off, the words Xander wanted to ask lingered on his lips, his curiosity getting the better of him. He finally mustered the courage to broach the topic delicately, wanting to understand what lay beneath the surface.
"Can I ask something, Dawn?" Xander spoke softly, his voice compassionate. "You're gay, aren't you? I couldn't help but notice the way you looked at Willow in the Bronze."
Dawn's cheeks flushed with a mixture of surprise and vulnerability, yet she appreciated Xander's sincerity. Her voice trembled slightly as she confided in him, revealing a piece of her heart she rarely shared with others. "Yes," she replied, her eyes reflecting both past and present emotions. "Once upon a time, I had a crush on Willow, but she was already involved with someone else. Then, later on, I fell in love with another girl, the one who made the ultimate sacrifice for me."
Xander's heart went out to Dawn, feeling a deep sense of empathy for the struggles she had faced in matters of the heart. He reached out, gently placing a comforting hand on her arm, his touch a tender gesture of understanding and support.
"I'm sorry," he murmured, his voice conveying genuine sympathy. "It must be incredibly tough, knowing that she doesn't love you back—at least not yet—while your feelings for her run so deep."
Dawn nodded, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "It is," she whispered, her voice filled with a mixture of pain and acceptance.
With a gentle sincerity in his eyes, Xander leaned in closer to Dawn, his voice warm and reassuring, "If you ever want to talk about it, I'm all ears."
Dawn nodded, touched by his genuine offer of support. "I know you are," she replied, her voice tinged with a mix of vulnerability and gratitude. Taking a deep breath, she opened up to him, her words carrying a weight of hidden emotions that had been silently carried for so long.
"I am going to tell you something that you told me," she began, her voice quivering with raw honesty. "'They'll never know how tough it is, Dawnie. To be the one who isn't chosen; to live so near the spotlight and never step in it. But I know. I see more than anybody realizes, because nobody's watching me. I saw you last night, I see you working here today... You're not special. You're extraordinary.'"
Xander listened intently, a mix of compassion and understanding etched across his features. He knew the burden of feeling overlooked and underappreciated all too well. His heart swelled with empathy for Dawn, acknowledging the strength she possessed despite her struggles.
"At the time, we thought I wasn't a Potential. That I was like you, without powers," Dawn continued, her emotions pouring out like a long-held secret finally set free. "You know what my response was to that?" Xander's curiosity prompted him to listen even more intently, waiting for her revelation. She paused for a moment, gathering her thoughts, before continuing, "Maybe that was your power. Seeing. Knowing."
A soft, genuine smile appeared on Xander's face, touched by her profound perception. "Maybe it is. Maybe I should get a cape," he quipped, trying to bring a hint of levity to the moment.
Dawn laughed, the sound like a brief melody that eased the emotional tension in the car. "Cape is good," she playfully replied.
As they pulled up to the curb in front of Xander's house, Dawn paused for a moment before asking with a slight hesitation, "This is your house, right?"
Xander's gaze lingered on his house, and a mixture of sorrow and frustration washed over him. "Unfortunately," he muttered under his breath, the weight of his words laden with past memories and unresolved emotions.
Dawn's heart ached for her friend as she sensed the heaviness in his voice. "I know," she said softly, her own memories of meeting his parents flooding back. "I met your parents once. So, I know what they're like."
The offer of support and a listening ear that Xander had extended to her now found its way back to him. "So that offer for someone to talk to, goes both ways," Dawn assured him, her voice carrying a sense of unwavering loyalty and care.
"Thanks," Xander replied, his gratitude evident in his eyes as he watched Dawn begin to undo her seatbelt, preparing to leave the car. "You don't have to, Dawn," he insisted, not wanting to burden her with his own troubles.
But Dawn shook her head gently, her determination unwavering. "You're my friend, why wouldn't I?" she replied, her voice firm yet tender. "Things are going to change; I can promise you that. And I think one of the first things I might start with is your parents."
They stepped out of the car, the tension in the air almost palpable as they made their way up the sidewalk. But before they could reach the safety of the front door, it swung open abruptly, revealing Tony Harris standing in the doorway. His face twisted with anger and disdain as he unleashed a barrage of hurtful words directed at Xander.
"Get inside, boy! You were supposed to have been home an hour ago," Tony barked, his voice laced with bitterness. "Tell your little slut to go home. She isn't peddling it in my house."
Dawn's heart clenched at the harshness of the words, her protective instincts surging forth as she frowned in disapproval. She refused to back down, wanting to stand up for her friend in the face of such cruelty.
In an effort to alleviate the tension, Dawn tried to guide Xander away from the confrontation. "Which room is yours?" she asked, her voice soft but determined. Xander looked at her, confused by her question, and she clarified, "You will see, which room is yours?"
Following her lead, Xander pointed out his room, and Dawn smiled as she took action. She waved at Tony Harris, but her smile held a touch of defiance. Then, with a wave of her hand, she opened a portal. "Your room is through there," she said, the magic imbuing her words with an air of mystery and wonder.
Xander stood there, his gaze shifting between the portal and Dawn, curiosity etched across his face. "How?" he asked, trying to make sense of the magical display before him.
"Magic," Dawn replied simply, her tone tinged with both confidence and a hint of secrecy. "I'll tell you more about it after I reveal myself to Buffy. When we get together for that big group explanation."
Xander nodded, trusting Dawn's promise, and turned his attention back to the portal. With a deep breath, he stepped through it, the surreal experience leaving him momentarily speechless. Dawn gently closed the portal behind him, feeling a mix of emotions as she watched her friend disappear through the portal into his room.
Dawn summoned her inner strength and walked up to Tony Harris with determination. "You need to get sober," she asserted firmly, her voice carrying a blend of compassion and authority. "Or I will report you and your wife to the police for child abuse. Understood?"
Tony Harris, who had been staring at the spot where the portal had vanished, slowly turned his attention to Dawn. Her unwavering resolve seemed to give him pause, and he nodded slowly, his face reflecting a mix of emotions, perhaps realizing the gravity of his actions. In that moment, Dawn stood her ground, a beacon of strength for her friend and a force to be reckoned with, unwilling to let the hurtful behavior go unchecked.
Author's Note: Jodie Whittaker was the latest Doctor on Doctor Who. It's just a little bit of a nudge and wink.
Also when Giles and Dawn were talking about portals and rituals requiring blood. I had debated adding a nudge and wink there as well. It was said in Bargaining that Giles knew how to activate Acathla, which was why he was kidnapped. So I thought about mentioning Acathla there. I also thought about adding a reference to my Dawn of the Caribbean story, Dawn of the Pack as the From Hell contained a portal that was opened by Dawn's blood. In the end I decided not to reference either.