Author's Note: Just a warning this chapter does have a couple instances of Dawn breastfeeding.
Chapter 9: Lie to Me
November 2, 1997 – Sunday
Playgrounds at night are lonely places. Children should not be left in them.
Bad things can happen.
Awash in eerie moonglow, the little merry-go-round turned slowly. The swings rocked, as if gently pushed by the night wind.
Eight-year-old James sat inside the jungle gym and looked out over the park for his family's minivan. At home, it was warm and cozy; his older sister was probably catching up on her Melrose Place reruns while something good cooked for dinner.
"Come on, Mom," he said, half-angry, half-anxious. "She's always late." She was always after him to be home by dark. But when she was supposed to pick him up, where was she?
"Are you lost?" asked a voice.
James turned, startled but not scared. It was a very pretty lady in a long white dress. Her skin was almost as white as her dress. She had a funny smile on her lips and she seemed to have trouble walking.
James wondered if she was hurt.
"No, my mom's supposed to pick me up, is all," he told her, climbing out of the jungle gym to face her.
"Do you want me to walk you home?" She talked funny, too. Like the bad guys on the cartoons.
"No, thank you," he said politely.
The lady walked closer to the jungle gym and started slowly around, running her long, white fingers along the bars. Now she was a little closer, and now James was just a little bit nervous.
He walked around the other way. Her eyes looked funny. Like she wasn't really seeing him.
"My mummy used to sing me to sleep at night. 'Run and catch, run and catch, the lamb is caught in the blackberry patch.' She had the sweetest voice." She closed her eyes and smiled.
Okay, now he was getting scared. Now he was starting to figure out that this lady was maybe kind of cuckoo, running around in what looked like her nightgown with no sweater and not minding the cold.
And now she was staring at him. "What will your mummy sing when they find your body?"
He didn't understand what she meant, but he understood that he should do something to protect himself. He began to inch away from her. "I'm not supposed to talk to people," he told her.
She looked at him like you do when you watch someone eat something you really want. "Well, I'm not a person, see," she began, coming toward him as he kept moving away, "so that's just—"
A dark figure stepped between James and the lady. James jerked back, looking up to see the face of a man. The man looked so angry he almost frightened James worse than the lady.
So, when he said, "Run home," James did. As fast as his legs could go.
And he never played in that park again.
Angel made sure the boy was safe. Then he took a moment before he turned to face the child's attacker.
As he did, her pale face lit up. He had known it would. And he hated himself for it.
"My Angel," she said in her breathy, singsong voice. The voice of madness.
"Hello, Drusilla." He felt no similar joy on seeing her.
Drusilla glided slowly toward him, a sad, starved wraith. She looked very ill. "Do you remember the song Mummy used to sing me? Pretty."
He could not meet her gaze. "I remember," Angel said, his tone flat and low as all the awful images ran through his mind.
"Yes. You do," she said pointedly, and he was certain her mind was filled with their joined past as well.
"Drusilla, leave here." He looked at her hard, wanting very badly for her to listen to him. "I'm offering you that chance. Take Spike and get out."
"Or you'll hurt me?" She was not afraid.
He looked down again. He hated seeing her like this. Hated seeing what she had become.
"No. No, you can't. Not anymore." A whisper of a smile crossed her face.
"If you don't leave," he said, "it'll go badly. For all of us."
"My dear boy's gone all away, hasn't he? To her." She was mournful.
"Who?" Angel asked, wary, alert.
It was a wet night. Rainwater glistened between the illuminated plastic skylights that bulged like loaves of bread on the rooftop where Dawn and Buffy patrolled.
"The girl. The Slayer," Drusilla said. "Your heart stinks of her." She put her hand on Angel's chest, caressing him. "Poor little thing. She has no idea what's in store."
Dawn and Buffy came to the edge of the roof and peered down over a playground.
They saw Angel was standing with a pretty girl with long, black hair.
"This can't go on, Drusilla," Angel said. "It's got to end."
"Oh, no, my pet." She leaned in close, as if taking in his essence. In Angel's ear, she whispered, "This is just the beginning." She drifted back into the night.
"What was that?" asked Buffy as she looked toward her sister.
"Drusilla," answered Dawn.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Dawn stepped through the front door. Something smelled good and her stomach grumbled as she realized how hungry she was. She dropped her purse on the table beside the door, then padded through the living room toward the kitchen.
As she entered the hallway and came into view of the kitchen she approached with caution and awe.
There was Faith, who had moved out of Buffy's house and into Dawn's when their relationship moved from friends to lovers. Faith's back was to Dawn, bent over the oven checking something inside. Dawn didn't move or make a sound as she watched Faith straighten up, close the oven, and stir something on the stovetop. She was certain Faith knew she was there, but Faith kept her attention on her task not yet acknowledging Dawn's presence. Faith then turned to the sink and washed her hands. Dawn could now see Faith's profile and half a trademark smirk on her lips.
Drying her hands on a dishtowel Faith casually slung it over her shoulder and turned to face Dawn. "Hey," she said.
Dawn just looked at Faith, taking in her hair, pulled back into a pony tail, oversized food stained t-shirt, faded, torn blue jeans and bare feet.
Faith noticed Dawn's assessment and looked down at herself. "Yeah, I'm a bit of a mess." She shrugged.
"You're beautiful," Dawn whispered as Faith just snorted in disbelief. "You are, it doesn't matter what your wearing or how dirty you get you will always be beautiful to me. So, are you making me dinner?"
"Yeah, Dawn, I am making you dinner," Faith deadpanned. She seemed to really look at Dawn after that. "Baby, you're a wreck," she then said, with a chuckle.
Dawn knew that wasn't true, other than seeing Drusilla and Angel it had been a slow night. But she decided to play along and whimpered pitifully.
"Awww, come here." Faith walked over and took Dawn in her arms.
Dawn just curled into her warmth and sighed.
Faith held her and gently rocked her for a moment. "Here's what I want you to do," she said quietly. "Go check on Elizabeth. Then go take a hot shower, get into your favorite PJ's, and when you come back in here, dinner should be ready. Okay?"
"Yeah," Dawn said muffled against Faith' shoulder.
"Then after dinner we can sit on the couch and you can fall asleep while we watch TV. Sound good?"
"Yeah," Dawn repeated. But she didn't move to leave.
Faith chuckled and pulled gently away. Kissing Dawn on the forehead she then turned her by the shoulders and guided her towards the hallway and the stairs. "Go," she said. "Dinner is almost ready."
Once Dawn seemed to be propelling herself Faith let go and watched her stumble up the stairs. At the top of the stairs Dawn made her way down the hall as she heard Elizabeth's cries.
"Dawn?" said Chloe as she poked her head out of her bedroom.
"Go on back to bed, Chloe," said Dawn. "I got her."
Chloe nodded as she closed her door.
"Here I am," Dawn whispered after she's entered Elizabeth's bedroom. "Aren't we being noisy tonight?" She removed her top and unfastened one of the cups of her nursing bra. She then picked her daughter up gently and held Elizabeth to her bare breast, within seconds Elizabeth was suckling on Dawn's nipple.
When Elizabeth was done, Dawn burped her and then checked Elizabeth's diaper before putting her back in the crib.
Dawn then headed to her room, grabbed her pajamas and then headed into the shower. Ten minutes later Dawn sat on the end of the bed, towel drying her hair.
She was tempted to just lay back and fall asleep but she knew Faith was waiting for her.
Dinner must be out of the oven because the smell was making her stomach rumble and urging her to get moving. She headed back towards the kitchen and saw that Faith had changed her stained shirt and had actually set the table. She was filling a pair of glasses with soda as Dawn approached.
The only time the dining table was ever set was when Chloe, Dawn, Faith and Xander all sat down to dinner together. Otherwise they tended to eat in the kitchen at the counter or in front of the TV.
As Faith set the bottle on the table Dawn wrapped her arms around her from behind and laid her cheek against her back.
"Thank you," Dawn said.
"For dinner? Sure. It was my turn, I think."
"It's not that and you know it," said Dawn. While yes, she, Chloe, Faith and Xander took turns cooking; there was no actual who did what when. "This has nothing to do with it being your turn and you know it. Are you trying to butter me up for something? Because right now I'm so in love with you I don't think I could say no to anything."
Faith turned around and put her hand on Dawn's hips. "Really?" she asked hopefully. "How about that bike I've been–"
"No," answered Dawn. She had only ridden one motorcycle in her life and that had been enough. Plus, she would rather Faith have a regular car than a motorcycle as she did not want to see the love of her life die in a motorcycle accident.
Faith just narrowed her eyes for a sec and then chuckled. "Yeah, we'll see. Let's eat, I'm starving. Sit down and I'll go load your plate."
Dawn sat with one leg curled under her, took her soda glass and sipped while watching Faith. Plates filled, she returned to the table and placed one in front of Dawn, smiling down at her. Dawn, however, didn't even notice. Her eyes were glued to her dinner. Two thick slabs of roast beef and a pile of mashed potatoes took up most the plate, with garlic steamed broccoli taking up the rest.
"Faith, this is so good," Dawn managed to stop eating long enough to get that out.
That elicited a small smile from Faith but she just shrugged and said, "Not as good as your mom's, though, I bet."
Dawn stopped eating and slowly put her fork down.
"Oh," said Faith realizing what she had said. "Sorry, Dawn." She knew that while Joyce was alive and that Dawn did indeed go over on occasion and have dinner there. She also knew that it was a slightly painful subject seeing how Dawn for the most part had not had much in the way of her mother's cooking for eight years. "I put my foot in my mouth."
"It's okay," Dawn said as she reached across the table and squeeze Faith's hand.
They finished eating without any further conversation. It was a comfortable silence, though.
Faith gathered the plates when they were done. "Do you want seconds? There's dessert, so maybe you should save room."
"Shut up!" Dawn jumped up excited. "What's for dessert? What is it?"
"Simmer down, spaz," Faith laughed. "It's just ice cream...and pie."
"Pie!" Dawn squealed.
The rest of the evening went pretty much according to plan. Pie was eaten, television was watched, and Dawn fell asleep in Faith's arms. The moment she knew she was watching this stupid show by herself; Faith stopped the program and clicked the TV off. As carefully as she could, she secured Dawn in her arms and stood to carry her to their room.
Faith quickly got ready for bed and slid carefully in next to Dawn. She watched Dawn sleep and smiled. She had been right when she had told Dawn she had been a different person growing up with the abuse her parents had given her. But as she watched Dawn sleep, she knew that her life was changing for the better and that was all thanks to Dawn.
November 3, 1997 – Monday
Another morning at Sunnydale High, Chloe was accompanying Buffy down the stairs.
"It's a secret," Chloe was saying.
Buffy pressed, "What kind of secret?"
"The kind that's secret. You know, where I don't actually tell you what it is." Chloe grinned at Buffy.
"How will I know what to wear if I don't know where we're going?" asked Buffy.
They reached the bottom of the stairs and turned right.
Chloe chuckled. "Buffy, you're going to have to trust me."
"All right." Buffy surrendered. "I put myself in your hands."
Chloe gave Buffy a teasing smile. "That sounds like fun. Seven-thirty, tomorrow night?"
"Unless Giles has something pressing, yes," said Buffy.
They came upon Giles and Jenny coming from the other direction.
"Hey," said Buffy as Jenny headed off toward her own classroom.
Giles fell in step with Chloe and Buffy and they began to walk together toward the library. "Did you and Dawn hunt last night?" he asked.
"Yeah we did a couple of quick sweeps downtown."
"Any encounters?" asked Chloe.
"One, and not really an encounter per say," Buffy admitted to her girlfriend. "Dawn and I saw Angel talking to a vamp. She said it was someone named Drusilla. She didn't really have details as whoever this Drusilla was, doesn't hang around."
"We will look into it," said Chloe.
"In the meantime," Giles said. "Chloe and I've been researching Spike."
"Dawn said that he's beneficial in the future," said Buffy.
"That doesn't mean we don't look into him," said Chloe. "You have to remember with every change that we make based on Dawn's information, such as the one where you got your Halloween costume at Party Town instead of the other place, the further her original timeline and this one varies. It's possible given enough time that we may never face the First Evil. Whatever set it free could simply not come to pass.
"So, you're basically saying just because he helped me in Dawn's original timeline, doesn't necessarily mean he will do it this time," said Buffy.
"Right," Giles said. "We are not saying go out and dispatch him. We may still need him around just in case. We are just collecting information if the worst comes to pass. Now why don't you take the night off. Faith and Dawn can go out tonight."
"Oh, that'd be nice," Buffy said sincerely as she glanced at Chloe. She looked back at Giles. "Tomorrow would be better. Chloe has something planned for tomorrow night."
Giles glanced at Chloe and Buffy. It had only been a few weeks since the blind date but even he had seen the growing feelings between the two. He wasn't sure how he felt about a Watcher dating a Slayer. But he had agreed that things needed to change and a Slayer needed a reason to live to keep fighting. For Buffy that reason may not only be for her family but Chloe as well. "Very well. Chloe and I will let you; Faith and Dawn discuss who is going tonight."
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
In history, they were discussing the French Revolution.
"Well, it seems like Louis XVI was just sort of a weak king," someone said.
The teacher responded, "Well, that's fair enough. Any other impressions?"
Dawn unfolded Faith's note and read, 'Do you know who she was?'
In the row ahead of them, Buffy sat next to Willow. And in the row ahead of them Xander sat next to Cordelia.
"I just don't see why everyone is always picking on Marie Antoinette," Cordelia said. "I can so relate to her. She worked really hard to look that good. And people just don't appreciate that kind of effort."
Dawn glanced at Faith and wrote, 'Didn't I tell you this last night?'
Cordelia was still busily defending the French monarchy, based on its fashion sense. "And I know, the peasants were all depressed."
'No,' wrote Faith, 'you fell asleep in front of the TV remember?'
Xander offered, "I think you mean, 'oppressed.'"
Dawn wrote, 'Her name is Drusilla and she's a vampire, that's about the only thing I know about her. She was long gone by the time I knew much of anything about Buffy's life.'
"Whatever." Clearly Cordelia didn't want to be interrupted or corrected. "They were cranky. So, they're like, 'Let's lose some heads.' That's fair? And Marie Antoinette cared about them. She was going to let them have cake!"
The teacher said politely, "Yes, well, that's a very interesting perspective."
The bell rang. Everyone rose and gathered their books. Dawn and Faith weren't very far behind Buffy and Willow as they walked into the hall.
"I don't know," Buffy said. "I don't think so. They seemed pretty friendly."
Xander caught up with them, ready for gossip. "Who's friendly?"
"I think their talking about a vampire Buffy and I saw last night," said Dawn, "by the name of Drusilla."
They walked into the lounge.
"So, are we going to the Bronze tonight?" asked Faith.
"Actually, we need to talk about that," said Buffy. "I have a date with Chloe tomorrow night. So, we need to determine who is taking my place and who I will be with tonight."
"I'll go," said Faith as she looked at Dawn. "Since you went out last night."
Dawn smiled as she leaned over and kissed Faith.
"Ah look at little Dawnie Summers with the smooches, still pretending to be grown up?"
Dawn recognized her name but not the voice. Which meant it was someone from her past of being Celia's twin. She glanced at Buffy who was smiling. Apparently, Buffy recognized whoever it was.
"Ford?" Buffy said as she threw her arms around the tall, dark-haired boy. "Ford!"
Ford hugged first Buffy and then Dawn. "Hey, Summers, how you two been?"
Dawn glanced at Buffy as if to ask, did we go to the same school at one time in this timeline? Buffy shrugged; she had no clue.
"What are you doing here?" Buffy asked as she turned back toward Ford.
"Matriculating," he answered.
Buffy looked at Dawn confused at the word.
"It means he enrolled here," said Dawn.
"Dad got transferred."
"This is great," Buffy said.
"So, you remember us?" asked Dawn.
"Remember you? Duh, Dawn, you and I went to the same school for five years before your parents moved into the Hills. And Buffy and I were in school together for seven years."
"You were my giant fifth-grade crush," admitted Buffy.
"So. You three know each other?" Xander cut in.
"Oh!" Buffy said as she and Dawn looked at their friends. Holding Ford's hand, Buffy led him to the chairs where they sat down and said, "This is Ford. Uh, Billy Fordham. This is Faith, Xander and Willow." She pointed at them in turn.
"Faith's my girlfriend," added Dawn.
"Well I'll be," said Ford. "I never expected you to be gay, Summers."
"Ford, Dawn and I went to the same school together, in L.A." Buffy said. She didn't mention any particular school since she like Dawn didn't have memories of Dawn before Dawn's arrival even though apparently others did. "And now you're here? For real?"
"Dad got the transfer, and boom. He just dragged me out of Hemery and put me down here."
"This is great!" Buffy said as she glanced at Dawn and sighed. This was one difference between her and her sister. Dawn when she was in the fifth grade already knew about vampires. She had a more normal childhood than her sister. She glanced back at Ford. "Well, I mean, it's hard—sudden move, all your friends, delicate time, very emotional—but let's talk about us: this is great!"
Faith said, "So, B, you two were an item in the fifth grade?"
"Not even," Buffy told her sister's girlfriend. She looked at Ford slyly. "Ford wouldn't give me the time of day."
"Well, I was a manly sixth grader," Ford explained. "I couldn't be bothered with someone that young."
Buffy said brightly, "It was terrible. I moped over you for months. Sitting in my room listening to that Divinyl's song, 'I Touch Myself.'" She glanced at Dawn and she saw Dawn's eyes widen in realization. "Of course, I had no idea what it was about."
Ford scratched his cheek.
"Hey," Dawn said to Ford, "are you busy tonight? Xander, Willow and I are going to the Bronze. It's the local club and you have to come."
"What about your girlfriend and Buffy?" he asked.
"I'm on baby duty tonight," said Buffy.
"Baby?"
"I have an almost two-month-old daughter," said Dawn. "When I'm in school Aunt Joyce watches her. Then Buffy and I take turns spending times with our friends while the other takes care of Elizabeth at night."
"Sadly, I have work tonight," said Faith, she then winked at Dawn. "Saving up to buy a motorcycle."
Dawn sighed at the mention of the motorcycle.
Ford nodded. "Well I'd love to," he said. "But if you guys already had plans . . . would I be imposing?"
"Only in the literal sense," Xander assured him.
"Okay then." Ford sounded very pleased. "I gotta find the admissions office, get my papers in order."
Buffy said, "Well, Dawn and I can take you there." To Willow and Xander, she said, "See you guys in French."
"Good meeting you," Ford said.
Willow and Xander returned the compliment as they watched Dawn, Buffy and Faith walk away with Ford.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
As the music rocked and the usual suspects danced the night away, the eight-ball dropped into the pocket of the pool table.
"Ford, you made it," Dawn said, joining Willow, Xander and Ford.
Ford smiled at Dawn. "It wasn't hard to find."
Willow said, "Dawn, Ford was just telling us about the ninth-grade beauty contest." She smiled. "And the, uh, swimsuit competition."
Dawn glanced at Willow as if to ask what beauty contest? Willow shrugged. She looked at Ford and decided to pretend it was an embarrassing story and hope she got it right. "Oh, God, Ford. Stop that. The more people you tell about it, the more people I have to kill."
Ford hit the nearest ball with his cue. "You can't touch me, Summers. I know all your darkest secrets."
Xander drawled as he glanced at Dawn, he was sure Ford didn't know all of Dawn's secrets. After all the person Ford thought he knew didn't actually exist as Dawn was from the future, "Care to make a small wager on that?"
"I'm gonna go grab a drink. Ford, try not to talk," Dawn said as she walked to the bar. As she arrived, the man in front of her turned to go, drink in hand. It was Angel. "Still in town."
"I was thinking of heading to L.A. in the next few weeks," said Angel. "Set up a residence there, I will give you and Buffy a number where I can be reached when I'm settled. You know just in case."
"Last night Buffy and I were out patrolling," said Dawn. "We saw you, was that Drusilla?"
"It was," Angel admitted. "Be careful around her. I turned her, drove her mad before I did."
"We will, promise," said Dawn. She returned to her friends at the pool table, aware that Angel was trailing behind her.
Ford asked, "Didn't want that soda after all?"
"Not thirsty," Dawn said.
"Hey, Angel," Willow greeted him.
"Hi," Ford said.
"Ford this is Angel, Angel this is Ford. Ford, Buffy and I went to school together in L.A., Angel."
Angel and Ford shook. Ford's eyes widened. "Whoa. Cold hands."
Xander drawled, "You're not wrong."
"So, you're here visiting Buffy and Dawn?" asked Angel.
"No. I'm actually here to stay," Ford replied. "Just moved down."
Willow gestured to the pool table and asked, "Angel, do you want to play?"
"I should be getting on home," said Dawn. "Let, Buffy, off baby duty."
"Why don't I walk you to your car," offered Ford. "Assuming you have one that is."
"I do," said Dawn. She looked at Willow and Xander. "See you tomorrow." She and Ford peeled off.
"Was that Buffy's boyfriend?" Ford asked innocently.
"No," Dawn said. "She's currently dating a girl named Chloe."
"So, what else do you do for fun around here?" he asked.
As he was speaking, Dawn heard the sounds of a scuffle around the corner. Time to think fast. "Um, uh, my purse!" she cried. "I left my purse at the Bronze. Could you get it for me? Thanks!"
"Uh, okay," Ford said.
"Good. Run. Thanks."
Taking off at a trot, he left to do Dawn asked. As soon as his back was turned Dawn raced around the corner.
Intrigued by Dawn's behavior, Ford stopped walking toward the Bronze and turned around. He started moving slowly toward the alley. A girl raced past him, sobbing with terror. Ford glanced at her, then
inched closer to the corner, more intrigued than ever.
Sounds of fighting broke the stillness of the night. A trash can lid sailed through the air like a Frisbee.
Ford turned the corner.
It was not a very good vampire. Stupid, slow, and easy to hit. However, it wasn't all that easy to tire.
Finally, Dawn threw it against the wall and staked it. There was that moment where it shrieked and held its shape in dust, then exploded. She whirled around and headed back to the Bronze and saw Ford staring at her. "Oh, you're back," she said awkwardly.
"What's going on?" he asked.
Thinking on her, she blurted, "There was a cat." She knew the moment she said it he wouldn't believe it. But given that had been what she came up she had to go with it. "A cat, here, and then there was, another cat. And they fought, the cats, and then they left."
Ford said simply, "Oh. I thought you were just slaying a vampire."
Dawn's eyes bulged. "What? "
Ford smiled at her. "I know about Buffy, Dawn. You don't have to lie. I've been trying to figure out the right time to tell Buffy. I know she's, well I guess both of you are, a Slayer. Do you even have a baby, is Buffy actually…"
"I do have a two-month-old," admitted Dawn. "And no Buffy wasn't watching her, at least not tonight. Aunt Joyce would have been the one since Buffy would be out on patrol."
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Chloe sat next to Dawn on the couch. She said, "Just like that? He told you?"
Dawn sighed and nodded. "Just like that. Said he found out right before Buffy was expelled from Hemery. Long after I transferred to Beverly Hills High. That said though he put two and two together and figured out for himself that I too am a Slayer. But he doesn't know how I was called because he hadn't seen me in a couple years."
"This could be a problem," said Chloe. "Do you remember anything at all about this?"
"I think he may have stopped by for dinner," said Dawn. "I do remember he died around now. Mom took Buffy and I to the funeral. I don't remember the circumstances though; I don't think Buffy ever told me. I do remember she was sad for a time after this though."
"Dawn!" called Xander from upstairs. "Elizabeth is crying."
"Be right up," said Dawn as she stood and headed for the stairs. Moments later Elizabeth was suckling at her breast as she sat in the rocking chair.
She spotted Angel standing outside the open French door. "Evening, Angel," she said.
"Dawn, I wanted to talk," he said. "But you look like your busy." He turned to face the other way slightly embarrassed to see Dawn half undressed, feeding her baby.
"You can come in, Angel," said Dawn.
Angel stepped over the threshold his eyes never leaving the floor. "What do you know of this Billy Fordham?" he asked.
"Not much sadly," said Dawn. "I knew he was a friend of Buffy's. Well with the alternations to the timeline to insert me in he remembers being my friend also. But before today I never met him. I understand why your asking. You still love Buffy and will for the rest of your life. You just want to make sure he isn't a threat."
"Dawn?" said Chloe as she poked her head into the room, she saw Angel. "Good evening, Angel."
"Your Watcher?" Angel asked looking at Dawn.
"Officially, yes," said Dawn. "She's also dating Buffy."
"I never knew that…" said Angel surprised at that piece of information.
"Neither did Buffy," admitted Dawn. "I kind of figured with her track record that a woman might be the right call for her. It's why I set Chloe and Buffy up on a blind date. You see out of all of Buffy's boyfriends in my original timeline, you were the best. She was dumped by a couple, raped by one and another was only interested in a one-night stand.
Angel nodded as he looked at Chloe. "If you make her happy, then I am happy for the both of you."
"Thanks," Chloe said.
Dawn stood up, burped, checked Elizabeth's diaper before putting her baby in the crib.
"Dawn," Angel said. "I think motherhood suits you."
"Thanks, Angel," said Dawn as she redid her nursing bra and then put back on her top. "So, let's see if we can find out anything about Ford." She led Chloe and Angel out of the room, downstairs and to the study. She flipped on the computer.
Dawn was thankful that Willow had taught her how to hack into other computers. She pulled up the registration for Sunnydale High and frowned. "According to the school records and he's not registered. The day I arrived I was registered immediately because the wish had to create for me a background which included school records. And transferring between schools they have to get your records from the other school before you start classes."
"That makes no sense," said Chloe. "He did tell you and Buffy he was, right?"
"He did," said Dawn. "The exact word he used was matriculating."
"By the definition of the word he should have been registered," Chloe said. She looked toward Angel. "We'll look into this."
"If you need me before I leave town," said Angel. "Or even after. Dawn knows how to get ahold of me."
"I'll portal to you immediately," said Dawn.
November 4, 1997 – Tuesday
Giles walked up. He looked at Ford, then at Dawn, Faith and Buffy, and said, "Dawn, Faith. With the fact Chloe and Buffy as well as Ms. Calendar and I are going. . . somewhere . . . tonight. Ms. Calender's given me the number of her beeper thingy in case you need me and can't reach Chloe for"—again he glanced at Ford—"study help. Suddenly."
Buffy lowered her voice and leaned toward Giles. "Dawn told us that he knows, Giles."
Giles was clearly taken aback. "What?"
"Apparently he found out before Buffy burned down the gym," said Dawn.
"I know," Ford put in.
"On top of that he saw me dust a vampire last night," Dawn continued. "He put two and two together."
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Giles and Jenny sat across from each other in a small-time restaurant.
"Ah, here they come," said Jenny as she spotted Chloe and Buffy walking through the front doors.
"Buffy and Chloe?" Giles said as he looked at Jenny. "That's who we were waiting on?"
Buffy glanced at Chloe as they walked up to Giles and Jenny. "This is what you had in mind? A double date?"
"This isn't everything," said Chloe as she and Buffy sat at the table with Giles and Jenny. "Jenny and I have something else planned after dinner. Isn't that right, Jenny?"
"Exactly," agreed Jenny.
"So, a double date, huh?" Buffy said.
"Well it didn't start out that way," admitted Chloe. "Then I heard what Jenny planned for Giles tonight and thought that might be fun so I talked Jenny into the whole double date thing."
"So, what does everyone want to order," Giles asked a moment later when the waiter arrived to take their orders.
"Salad, I guess", Jenny shrugged as she looked at her menu.
"I'll take the burger," Buffy said.
"I'll have the same," said Chloe.
"I never got the appeal of those," Giles said.
"What, it's like a computer to you?" Jenny asked.
"Precisely", Giles nodded, and Jenny smirked.
"I keep saying you need to step into the twentieth century, Giles," said Buffy.
"Burger, salad, fries, two glasses of wine and two glasses of coke," Jenny said to the waiter as he noted it all.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Across town Dawn and Faith walked reluctantly with Ford. The girls originally had intended to patrol but when Ford decided to follow along that changed the plans.
"And on your right, once again, the beautiful campus," said Dawn. "I think you've now seen pretty much everything there is to see in Sunnydale."
Ford said slowly, "Well, it's really—"
"Feel free to say, 'dull,'" said Faith who glanced at Dawn and muttered low enough that only Dawn could here, "I'm bored, okay, why couldn't we have some action tonight?"
"Okay." Ford nodded. "Dull's good."
Dawn had to agree with Faith. Playing tour guide was pretty boring. She was looking forward to when she and Faith got back home. Maybe then they could at least make up for the boredom by having a little couple time.
Ford added, "Or maybe not so dull. Is that vampires?"
Dawn and Faith saw them: three vampires, sneaking toward the administration building.
Dawn nodded. "By the looks of it." She pulled some supplies out of her pocket: a cross for Ford and a stake for Faith and herself. To her surprise, he pulled a beginner-class stake of his own from his pocket.
"Stick close to us," Dawn told Ford.
Together they snuck toward the building, up the stairs, and toward a darkened corner. Dawn scanned left, Faith scanned right. There were no vampires to be seen.
"Maybe they were just passing through," Ford suggested.
Dawn turned around to answer Ford. "I don't think so."
Then a blond female vampire raced up behind Dawn. Faith punched the vamp in the forehead with her knee, then threw her into a forward roll and down the stairs.
A second vampire flung himself at Dawn and took her up and over the balcony railing. They landed on the grass and Dawn began to whale on him: a kick to the face, a few good hard punches, and a plain, vanilla staking.
A third vampire attacked Ford as he held up the cross. He pinned this one to the wall. He held the stake against the vampire's chest and said in a rush, "You've got one chance to live. Tell me what I want to know, and I'll let you go."
Dawn found Faith at the bottom of the stairs just as Faith dusted her vampire. "Where's Ford?" asked Dawn as she helped Faith up.
"Still upstairs I think," said Faith as they huffed it up the stairs and found Ford, all alone.
Dawn said, "Where's the other one?"
Ford was breathing hard, winded. "I killed her." He coughed. Coughed harder. "I killed her and she just turned to dust. It was amazing."
Dawn looked at Ford skeptically.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Willow, and Angel strode through the industrial section of town. With the fact that Dawn and Faith were playing tour guide and Buffy and Chloe were on a date. Dawn had asked Willow to find any information she could on Ford and then gave the girl Angel's number so Willow would have backup so she could check it out.
"The only thing I could track down was this address. The Sunset Club. I don't know exactly what Dawn is wanting me to find," Willow said.
"Given that he has no records at the school," said Angel.
They reached a particularly rundown building with a setting sun painted on a sign above the door. Angel knocked on the wide metal door. A little window slid open. Angel said, "We're friends of Ford's."
The head bobbed. The window slid shut.
The door opened.
It was some kind of underground Goth club, as spare as the Bronze, but weird and cold with blue neon lighting. Also, candles. Lots of them, in candlesticks and in candelabra. Probably a fire code violation right there. Everybody was wearing black corsets and lacy, ruffly things, and had dyed their hair ultra-black. They wore makeup that made them look as if they were all dying of tuberculosis. A fetching look. If you were Dr. Kevorkian.
As they stood on the balcony, Willow said anxiously, "Boy, we blend right in."
"Let's look around," Angel said. "You check out downstairs."
Willow started down the stairs as Angel made his way around the balcony. She took the last step off the metal stairs, to be greeted by a dude standing in front of a coffin.
"I think I see a theme," Willow admitted to herself. "Vampires."
A Wonderbra vampirette hottie stood before Willow with a fetching smile of welcome on her ruby-red lips. She said, "You are a newbie. I can tell."
"Oh, no," Willow said brightly. "I come here all the time."
Vampirella looked tolerant. "Don't be ashamed. It's cool that you're open to it. We welcome anyone who's interested in the Lonely Ones."
"The Lonely Ones?" Willow repeated.
"Vampires," Angel said behind Willow.
"They who walk the night are creatures above us. Exalted," the girl explained.
"You're a fool." Angel's voice was so harsh that even Willow was thrown by it.
The girl said, hurt, "You don't have to be so confrontational about it. Other viewpoints than yours may be valid, you know." She drifted off, no doubt in search of those who walked the night with a more enlightened point of view.
"Nice meeting you . . ." Willow called after her. She looked at Angel. "Now nobody's gonna talk to us."
"I've seen enough. And I've seen this type before," Angel admitted. "They're children, making up bedtime stories about friendly vampires to comfort themselves in the dark."
Willow pondered, "Is that so bad? I mean, the dark can get pretty dark. Sometimes you need a story."
Apparently, Angel wasn't feeling like giving points for good intentions. "These people don't know anything about vampires. What they are, how they live, how they dress..."
Just then, a guy with a ponytail sauntered by in the same reddish-brown satin shirt, black pants, and black jacket as Angel's.
"I can see why Dawn wanted me to help looking into Ford," admitted Willow. "This just screams there is more going on. Something's up with him."
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
It was getting pretty late by the time when Chloe, Buffy, Giles, and Jenny swept into the library fresh from the monster truck rally they had been attending. They found Dawn and Faith already waiting for them.
Dawn said, "Sorry to beep you guys in the middle of your dates, but this did seem a bit weird."
"No, you did the right thing," Giles assured her. "Absolutely."
Jenny cocked her head at him and drawled, "You hated it that much?"
"No!" he said quickly. "But vampires on campus . . . it can have implications, very grave—"
"You two can talk about that later," said Chloe. "I have to agree here that Giles is right. With the Hellmouth right below this very room things could be up. They were likely here with a purpose."
"Yes. And we must ascertain what that purpose is," Giles agreed, settling down to business as he led the way to the study table.
"Where's Ford?" Buffy asked her sister.
"I sent him home," Dawn replied.
"Good," Giles said. "The less he's mixed up in this, the safer he'll be."
Faith picked something up off the table. "Who's this?"
Dawn looked over Faith's shoulder at the faded photo. The hair was different, and so was the dress, but the face that peered from it was unmistakable: it was the girl Angel had met in the playground. "Drusilla."
"I looked her up, Dawn, are you absolutely sure that she is alive?" Giles asked. "She was supposedly killed by an angry mob in Prague."
"One hundred percent," said Dawn. "Buffy and I saw her. And in the original timeline I heard about her from Spike. Last I had heard from him was she was in South America someplace, of course that was after they separated."
Just then a vampire bounded out of Giles' office with a thick old book in her hands. She pushed Chloe into Buffy. They both tumbled to the floor. Then she leaped first on the table and then to the balcony, disappearing into the stacks.
Dawn followed into the stacks but the vampire was gone. She returned as Chloe and Buffy stood up.
"You guys okay?" Faith asked.
"A book!" Giles cried with indignation. "It took one of my books."
Jenny said wryly. "Well, at least someone in this school is reading."
"Ford lied," said Dawn as she looked at Faith who nodded having recognized the vampire also. She looked toward the others. "That was the vampire Ford said he dusted. I knew something was up with him. Buffy, he's not even enrolled. He lied to us. Something is going on here. I had Willow do some hacking, it's late so I can't call her to find out what she found out. So tomorrow…"
"We will meet back here," said Giles.
November 5, 1997 – Wednesday
Willow sat the table in the middle of the library explaining what she and Angel found out. "I found an address. Angel and I checked it out. He's part of some society that reveres vampires. Practically worships them."
"This is disturbing," said Giles.
"Agreed," said Chloe.
"I can't believe you went behind my back, Dawn," said Buffy with a sigh.
"Technically I went behind my own back," said Dawn. "Remember, he remembers me also. I was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. But there were things that slowly began to make me doubt. That he knew you were the Slayer before you burned down Hemery gym, for one."
Buffy let out a sigh as Chloe wrapped her arms around her. "I understand, Dawn. You were just looking out for me… for us."
"Now we need to find out exactly why he is here," said Giles. "And if it is related to the book that was stolen."
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Dawn and Buffy walked down the hall to see if Mr. I Am Not Enrolled would show up. He didn't disappoint.
"Buffy!" Ford cried. "Dawn!"
"Ford," Buffy and Dawn returned.
"I had a great time last night, Dawn," he told them. Then he chuckled and said, "Well, an interesting one."
Out of the corner of her eye she saw Buffy looking at her. "I gave Ford the nickel tour of town before the vampires attacked," she said.
"Hey do you two want to go out tonight?"
"We're not busy," said Buffy.
"I sort of had an idea. It's a secret. I kind of want to surprise you both."
"We like surprises," said Dawn.
"Can you meet me here?" he asked handing them a paper with an address.
"Yeah we can be there," said Buffy.
He was pleased. "At nine?"
"At nine," agreed Dawn and Buffy.
He bent between them and whispered, "It's going to be fun."
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Dawn and Buffy stopped on the stairs to look down on Ford, they were a few hours early.
"We're sorry, Ford," Buffy said airily, moving down again. "We just couldn't wait until tonight. We're both kind of rash and impulsive. It's a flaw."
Ford shrugged. "We all have flaws."
"We're still fuzzy on exactly what yours is." Dawn said as she and Buffy reached the floor and faced Ford. "I think it has to do with being a lying scumbag."
"Everybody lies."
"What do you want, Ford? What's this all about?" Buffy asked.
"I really don't think you two would understand."
"Oh, I think I do," said Dawn shaking her head as she looked around. "You want to be one of them."
"What?" Buffy said as she looked at her sister.
"Take a look around and remember what Willow said," said Dawn as she looked toward Buffy.
Buffy did that and saw that her sister was right. Ford wanted to be a vampire. "Vampires are kind of picky about who they change," she said as she looked back toward Ford.
"He had it all planned out," said Dawn. "Before you found out I was a Slayer you were going to offer them Buffy in trade. Tonight."
"Yes," he said.
"You had to know we would figure it out, Ford," said Dawn.
Ford smiled. "Actually, I was counting on it." He started laughing, then coughing, then wheezing as he grinned at the sisters.
"What's supposed to happen tonight?" Buffy asked.
"This is so cool! This is just like it played in my head. The part where you two ask me what's supposed to happen—it's already happening."
The big door slammed shut.
"Rigged it up special," Ford told them, indicating the door. "Once it's closed, it can only be opened from the outside. As soon as the sun sets, they'll be coming."
Buffy appealed to him. "Ford, if these people are still around when they get here—"
The guy in the blue cape said, "We'll be changed, all of us."
"We're going to ascend to a new level of consciousness," the blond bimbo, Chantarelle, explained. "Become like them, like the Lonely Ones."
"This is the end, Dawn, Buffy." Ford's face was set, determined, his smile a mask. "No one gets out of here alive."
"That's where you are wrong," said Buffy as she looked at her sister. "Dawn."
Dawn nodded in understanding. "Where to?"
"How about Los Angeles, out of our hair," answered Buffy.
Ford looked at the Slayers as portals started snapping into existence beneath all the people in the room save Dawn, Buffy and Ford. One by one everyone disappeared into the portals unable to stop falling till they rolled out the other side onto a street somewhere in L.A.
"One last chance, Ford," said Dawn.
A little alarm went off. Ford dug into his pocket and pulled out a pager. He smiled triumphantly. "Six twenty-seven," he announced. "Sunset."
"Why, Ford?" said Buffy. "Just tell us why. You know we can get out any time. You saw what Dawn did to your friends, she can do the same for us."
"I was to become immortal." He wasn't even ashamed to say it.
Buffy flared. "I've got a newsflash for you, brain-trust. That's not how it works. You die. And a demon sets up shop in your old house. And it walks and talks and remembers your life, but it's not you."
He looked away for a moment, then back at them. "It's better than nothing," Ford said.
"Your life isn't nothing," said Dawn confused.
"I'm dying," he said as Buffy and Dawn looked at each other shocked at the revelation. ""I look good, don't I? Let me tell you something. I've got maybe six months left and by then what they bury won't even look like me. It'll be bald and shriveled and it'll smell bad. I'm not going out that way."
Dawn watched as Buffy turned away.
"We're sorry," admitted Dawn. "We had no idea. But becoming a vampire won't solve anything."
"Okay, well, you try vomiting for twenty-four hours straight because the pain in your head is so intense and then we'll discuss the concept of right and wrong. I don't have a choice."
"You do," said Dawn. "I know exactly what your facing. Not too many people know this. I'm actually from the future. I'm Buffy's kid sister. Our mom dies a few years from now. She had a tumor like you. She had surgery but, in the end, she died from an aneurysm. So, I know from going through that what exactly is in store for you. But sadly, being turned is not the way. You should use your remaining time to put things right."
"I can't," he admitted, he was determined to carry on.
A car engine hummed. Tires squealed. They were here.
Buffy moved to Dawn as Dawn opened a portal beneath them and they fell into it.
November 7, 1997 – Friday
In the graveyard, Chloe stood by as Buffy placed roses on the fresh grave of Billy Fordham. Moonlight wafted wanly through the trees and she was burying someone who had once been a friend.
Buffy looked at Chloe. "I don't know what I'm supposed to say."
"You don't have to say anything, baby," she replied kindly.
"It'd be simpler if I could just hate him. I think he wanted me to. I think it made it easier for him to be the villain of the piece. Really, he was just scared."
"From what Dawn said I think he was," said Chloe. "It's a scary thing knowing your going to die."
"Nothing's ever simple anymore. Even with Dawn and her future knowledge it's never simple. It's just, like the more I know, the more confused I get."
"I know the feeling," said Chloe. "Sadly, that's growing up for you."
"Well, does it ever get easy?" she asked.
Suddenly Ford burst from his grave, not Ford at all, but a snarling vampire covered with graveyard dirt.
Mindlessly, he lunged at them. With one swift strike, Buffy drove a stake into his chest and he exploded into dust. Immortality denied.
"I could lie to you," said Chloe. "But we both have seen what holding this in does. Look at Dawn, she held in everything for years and it nearly broke her."
"I know," said Buffy as Chloe wrapped an arm around girlfriend as they started out of the graveyard.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Faith woke to sunlight streaming gently through the thin curtains. She could hear the birds singing a beautiful song off in the distance. She felt the warm lips of her girlfriend pressed against her.
As Faith's eyes fluttered open, Dawn's warmth pulled back enough to let Faith up from the bed, she said, "Mmmm, morning, Dawnie."
"Morning, Faith," Dawn whispered back. She lovingly pulled Faith into a sitting position on the bed, snuggled up to her girlfriend "I got something for you, Faith." She dragged Faith out of bed and downstairs to the entrance to the garage.
"I hope you like it," Dawn said as she held the door leading into the garage open for Faith while using the other to sweep in front of something as if to say, "this is it."
Within seconds, the bewilderment and shock passed through Faith's eyes and the excitement that took over had her falling over herself trying to get a look at the beautiful creature before her; a black Ducati motorcycle.
When Faith had finally finished examining her new baby after what felt like hours, she slowly began to walk towards Dawn. When she reached Dawn, she wrapped her arms around her girlfriend and kissed the other girl passionately. "It's beautiful, Dawn. Thank you."
"You will have to help me get over my fears of you or I being on a motorcycle and dying from a motorcycle accident," said Dawn. "But I love you so much that…" She left the sentence unfinished as Faith planted another kiss on her lips.