Chapter 112: Real Me
"There is nothing but you…" Giles says as Buffy leans with both hands over a FOUR-BY-FOUR, resting on its end. "You are the center. And within you, there is the core of your being… Of what you are… Find it… Breathe into it… Focus inward… Let the world fall away… fall away… fall aw-"
Buffy's eyes snap open and all sound, all ambient noise drops out - all except her breathing. With a soft grunt, she flips herself up into a handstand, balancing atop the upended four-by-four.
Giles watches, simultaneously pleased and awed that she's actually pulling it off. "Good, good."
Buffy closes her eyes again, as she shifts her weight and lifts her left hand, balancing only on her right arm.
Dawn is piling up crystals on top of each other. She goes to place another crystal atop the tower, and the whole thing comes noisily crashing down.
Giles shoots an aghast look at Dawn.
Buffy's eyes snap open, distracted by the noise. With a sharp yelp, she loses her balance and collapses, along with the four-by-four, down to the padded floor.
Dawn rushes over to Buffy, "Can we go now?"
Buffy, seriously peeved, narrows her eyes…
In the kitchen Buffy opens up the refrigerator, taking out a carton of milk and putting it on the counter. Dawn is getting a box of cereal from a cabinet, and Piper is pouring herself some coffee.
Piper picks up the milk and pours some in her mug as Buffy takes out a bowl and puts it down. Dawn picks it up and moves off. Buffy sees her bowl gone, SIGHS, and retrieves another one as Dawn empties cereal into her bowl.
Buffy, bowl in hand, tries to take the cereal box from Dawn. Dawn resists for a moment, and Buffy has to tear it away from her, shooting Dawn a look.
Dawn takes the milk carton and pours the last of the milk on her cereal then moves to the kitchen table. Her bowl full, Buffy hands the cereal box to Piper who puts it back in the cabinet, then pushes the plunger on the toaster.
"So, Buffy, what are your plans today?" Piper asks.
Buffy picks up the milk carton and attempts to pour it. "Well, Giles and I-"
A lonely drop of milk lands on her cereal. She throws an irritated glance at Dawn, at the table, avoiding eye contact with her.
Buffy puts her bowl down and turns back to Piper. "Giles and I are making a little magic shop run this morning. Need to pick up some supplies for my new improved training sessions."
"Oh, that's great…" Piper says.
"Well, yeah, thanks, its kinda exci-" Buffy says.
"You can take Dawn shopping for her back-to-school supplies." Piper says.
"What?" Buffy asks.
Dawn looks pained.
"Piper! I thought you were taking me." Dawn says.
"I know, honey. But I've got a new band coming into the club to setup. I need to be there." Piper says as she heads out of the kitchen.
Buffy follows. "No, but, see, Piper…" Piper walks to the stairs, Buffy and Dawn on her heels. "We're just going to the magic shop. No school supplies there."
"Yeah, Piper - I'm not going to Hogwarts." Dawn says as she smiles at her own joke.
Piper shakes her head, "Buffy your Dawn's legal guardian now since Prue passed away. That means you really need to be taking more of a active role in what happens to her."
Buffy sighs and shakes her head, "Okay."
There's a knock on the front door. Piper moves to open it. There stands Riley. "Hey Riley."
"Morning, Piper. You look great." Riley says.
Piper smiles, "Thank you, Riley."
Buffy goes and greets Riley with a kiss as Piper goes upstairs.
"Suck up." Buffy says.
"What, it's a nice outfit. Besides, 'I'm here to violate your cousin slash sister' never goes over well with the rest of the family. Not sure why." Riley says as he kisses her again.
Dawn looks disdainful.
Riley breaks the kiss with Buffy and notices Dawn. "Hey, kid."
Dawn rolls her eyes and heads into the kitchen. "I'm not a kid…"
"This is a surprise of the nice kind." Buffy says.
"Now it's my turn to be surprised. Thought we had plans today." Riley says, caught off guard.
"Plans? We planned plans?" Buffy asks.
"Well, you said "come over tomorrow and we'll hang." Then I said "'kay." Not the invasion of Normandy, but still a plan." Riley says.
"Oh, right, uh…" Buffy says.
"We're not hanging, are we?" Riley asks.
Buffy shakes her head, "I'm about to go meet Giles at the Magic Shop."
Riley nods. "Slayer training."
"Slayer shopping, actually." Buffy says. "But it's just as important." Buffy says.
"I've no doubt. Okay, we'll hook up later." Riley says.
"You're not mad?" Buffy asks.
"No, no. I'm plotting your death, but in a happy way." Riley says.
"Oh good…" Buffy says, slightly worried.
"Buffy, I know what this means to you. I think it's great you've got this new mission." Riley says as he kisses her on the cheek and moves to leave. "See you tonight. See you, kid!"
"I'm not a kid!" Dawn calls out from the kitchen.
Buffy watches him go and feels somehow guilty.
Dawn walks over to Buffy, "Talking about the Magic Shop. When are you going to start my training?"
Buffy shakes her head, "When you're older."
"But I'm only two years younger than when you got your powers." Dawn says.
"Dawn let's not have this discussion again. I will train you when I feel you're ready." Buffy says as the doorbell rang and she went and answered it. "Giles! I thought we were meeting up at the Magic Shop?"
"We were but I thought I would come pick you up." Giles says.
Later in Giles brand new red convertible…
"I sympathize with you, Buffy…" Giles says. "I truly do. But I'm certain Riley understands better than anyone the importance of training. You can't allow personal concerns to distract you from your-Dawn."
Dawn is leaning forward over the front seat between Giles and Buffy - pushing the preset buttons on the car stereo.
"Will you please stop fiddling with the radio and sit down?" Giles says.
Dawn plops back into her seat, with a heavy sigh.
"Lotta books on this shopping list you gave me. Any of them come on tape? You know, read by George Clooney or somebody cute like that?" Buffy says.
"We're entering a whole new realm here, Buffy. One for which even I, myself, am not entirely prepared. Are you ready for this commitment?" Giles says.
"I was kidding. This Betty's ready. Color me committed." Buffy says.
Giles shifts the automatic transmission into neutral. "Blast!"
"Put it in "neutral" again, huh." Buffy says.
"Not accustomed to automatic transmissions. I loathe this… Just sitting here, not contributing. No. No, this just isn't working out." Giles says.
"Giles, are you breaking up with your car?" Buffy asks.
"Well, the damn thing did seduce me. All red and sporty." Giles says.
"Little two-door tramp." Buffy says.
Giles sighs wearily, "I don't know… I've been so at loose ends. Searching for something to make me feel…" He shakes it off.
"Shallow?" Buffy asks.
"Perhaps, as I am going to act as your watcher again, a modicum of respect might be appropriate…" Giles says.
"Do I hafta?" Buffy asks.
"I'm actually serious, Buffy. There's going to be far less time for the sort of flighty, frivolous-" Giles says.
Dawn points towards the sidewalk, "Hey, there's Willow and Tara!"
"Oo, they haven't seen my new car." Giles says as he honks the horn, proudly. He pulls up next to Willow and Tara.
"Wow. Sharp wheels, Giles." Willow says.
Tara nods, "The rest of the car's nice, too."
"Thank you. Handles like a dream." Giles says.
Buffy rolls her eyes, "Where you two headed?"
"Magic shop. Had some charms on back order." Willow says.
"Will?" Buffy says.
"I'm just experimenting a little Buffy. Trying to find what actually works and what doesn't."
Dawn comes over. "Willow, hi!"
"Hey, Miss Dawnie. How's my favorite chess partner? Still leading with your knight?" Willow says.
Dawn nods shyly. She watches as Willow crosses to Buffy and Giles.
"Hey, Dawn." Tara says.
Dawn smiles warmly as they turn and walk towards the Magic Shop.
"Giles and I figured out a schedule around school. A block of time every day to just focus on my new Slayer training." Buffy says.
"That's a work ethic! Buffy, you're developing a work ethic!" Willow says.
"Do they make an ointment for that?" Buffy asks.
"People gotta respect a solid work ethic." Willow says. "Look at you. Motivated Buffy, eager to soak up learning… You and I are going to have so much fun this semester."
"Yeah… that reminds me. With the whole training schedule, I kinda had to drop a class…" Buffy says.
Willow nods, "That's understandable. Your slayer studies are way more important."
"So I won't be taking Drama with you." Buffy says.
"What?! You have to. You promised!" Willow says, stung.
Dawn looks at Willow a little jealous as Buffy was training Willow but still refuses to train her in her.
"I know, Will, but Giles was saying-" Buffy says.
"The hell with Giles!" Willow says.
"I can hear you, Willow." Giles says.
"Drama's just Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. You can blow off training Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, can't you?" Willow asks.
"What happened to "people gotta respect a work ethic?" Buffy asks.
"Other people. Not me. There's a whole best friend loophole." Willow says as they arrive at the store.
"Shop's kinda dark. Maybe it's closed." Tara says.
"That's odd." Buffy says.
Giles opens the door and they enter.
"Think "odd" just got upped to "bad."" Buffy says.
The shop has been ransacked. Books and other items have been pulled from the shelves. A glass case has been smashed. They move inside among the debris, looking around.
"Hello? Is anyone here?" Giles asks.
"Mr. Bogarty!" Tara and Buffy says.
Giles looks at Tara and Buffy, quizically.
"The owner," Buffy says. "Piper and I come in here a lot for supplies."
Tara nods, "I'm in here a lot also."
Willow wanders near the counter. "Maybe this happened really late in the night when no one was-whoa!" She suddenly trips and falls to the floor. Tara moves to her.
"Will?" Buffy says.
"I'm fine. Just tripped over…" Willow says. "Mr. Bogarty." She scrambles away as Tara helps her up.
Buffy and Giles move in to take a look. Mr. Bogarty's face and neck are covered in pairs of puncture wounds.
"What is it? Is-Is he okay?" Dawn asks.
Buffy turns to her. "It's nothing you need to see, Dawn. Go wait outside."
"I don't wanna wait outside. What happened to-" Dawn says.
"Dawn!" Buffy says as she takes her by the arm and physically escorts her out.
"Ow, that hurts…" Dawn says as she and Buffy exit the shop. "You're hurting me. I'm telling."
Buffy releases her, "I don't have time for this. Just do like I say and wait here." She re-enters the shop.
Dawn paces, steamed. She tries to peek in the window. "I'm Charmed too." She sighs, turns away from the window, and gasps sharply when she finds herself confronted with… a man dressed in a stained and torn business suit and tie; his face and hands are filthy, his hair matted, his eyes… the haunted look of one who's seriously deranged.
"Hey! What are you doing?" Man says.
Terrified, Dawn stumbles back, but he moves in on her. "Wha-?"
"What are you doing HERE? Can't loiter. No loitering… That's why I'm a cat… Quiet... cat's in the cupboard, but they find you anyway… and it hurts… Please make it stop…" Man says as he pulls at his hair, whimpering, then slaps himself. "Shut up! SHUT UP! They'll hear you!"
"BUF-uhh!" Dawn shouts as her scream catches in her throat as she backs into a truck parked in a loading area, next to the store. Cornered.
The man puts his face right up to Dawn's, holding a finger to her lips. "Shhhhh! I know you… curds and whey… I know what you are…" Dawn is seriously wigged as the man steps towards her. "You don't belong here."
Moments later Dawn sits next to the wall of the building, she's unnerved and shaking. The strange man is gone.
"Dawn?" Tara calls as she comes out of the Magic Shop. She walks over to Dawn. "Dawn… Are you okay?"
Dawn looks up at her. "Is- Is that guy dead in there?"
"Yeah." Tara says as she sits down next to Dawn. Dawn is quiet, taking it in. "They're gonna be a little while longer, doing the detective thing. Best non-Scoobies like you and me stay out of their way."
"I'm Charmed though. I should be helping Buffy…" Dawn says.
"I know sweetie." Tara says. "Hey do you wanna thumb-wrestle?"
"Okay." Dawn says as they commence, still a little somber.
Inside Buffy and Giles are crouched by the body.
"Judging by the bite fest I'd say this was more than one vampire." Buffy says.
"I'd make it four, at least." Giles says as they both stand.
"Looks like someone's put together a new fang club." Buffy says.
Willow enters from the back carrying an open binder. "I've cross-checked the inventory and some things were definitely taken. Mostly books, including one called A Treatise on the Mythology and Methodology of Vampire Slayers."
Buffy pulls her shopping list out of a pocket and scans it. "Shoot. Was that the only copy?"
Giles takes the binder from Willow and peruses its pages. "This could be very serious, Buffy. Whoever's leading this pack of vampires appears to be interested in learning more about you. Perhaps searching for weaknesses or - Good lord…"
"What? What is it?!" Buffy asks, anxious.
"I had no idea the profit margin for a shop like this could be so high." Giles says.
Buffy and Willow share a look.
"I mean, look at this… Low overhead, Out-of-State orders, International… No wonder there's never any trouble attracting new owners. This place is a virtual-" Giles says.
"Deathtrap?" Buffy asks.
Giles looks up, "Hmm?" Well, yes. Yes, there is that. Still, the location, in terms of pedestrian traffic…"
"And the regular patronage of the Charmed Ones," Buffy says.
"Well yes of course." Giles says.
"So what's the next step?" Willow asks.
"Buffy I think you should begin an immediate search for their lair." Giles says.
Buffy nods, "I'll get Riley to join me."
"Aren't you forgetting something, Buffy?" Willow asks.
Buffy looks at her, drawing a blank.
"Impressive square footage…" Giles says.
"You're on Dawn duty." Willow says.
Buffy sighs, "And Piper won't let me out easy, either. She practically reminded me earlier that Dawn's my responsibility as her legal guardian."
Giles scrutinizes the broken glass case. It's full of crystal balls, porcelain and crystal figurines, etc. "And I'll bet the deathrate keeps the rent down - oh. Something's been taken from this case." He points to a vacant pedestal. "See here?"
"What did they take?" Buffy asks.
"Perhaps an item of great value. Or power. Possibly even-" Giles says.
"A unicorn." Willow says as she looks at the inventory list. "A ten-inch ceramic unicorn, imported from Thailand."
"Is that valuable?" Buffy asks.
"List price… $12.95." Willow says.
Giles leans down, examining the glass case. "Which begs the question: what sort of unholy creature fancies cheap tasteless statuary?"
At Payson's P5, Buffy is talking to Piper. Dawn stands a few feet behind her.
Piper shakes her head, "I asked one thing of you Buffy to be an adult. You're Dawn's legal guardian. Now you want to unload her so you and Riley can go out."
"To patrol. I'm working, or did you forget I'm not only a Charmed One but also a Slayer." Buffy says.
Piper shakes her head, "Well, I have to be here tonight, Phoebe has a deadline, and Paige has a date. Who's going to watch Dawn?"
"I don't need anyone to watch me!" Dawn says.
Buffy sighs, "So you're saying if I can get a babysitter, I can go patrol now."
"Babysitter?! I'm fourteen! I'm old enough to be a babysitter." Dawn says.
"And who are you going to get on such short notice?" Piper asks.
Buffy thinks for a moment, and then comes to an answer.
"I can take care of my-" Dawn says.
"Xander." Buffy says.
"Xander?" Piper asks.
Dawn comes over to them flushed, then blasé. "O-kay."
Later back at the Manor the front door opens revealing Xander, holding a pizza box. "Dawn Patrol! Check this out: They put cheese on round bread. It's gonna be big."
Dawn beams as Xander enters.
Anya enters, carrying board games. Puts on a smile. "Hello there, little girl. We are gonna have fun fun fun. Look. We've got, uh… Monopoly… Clue… ooh, The Game of Life, that sounds really good…"
Dawn's not impressed.
Later in a graveyard Buffy and Riley are moving among the tombstones, searching. Buffy puts a hand out and stops Riley short. She tenses, seeing something in the distance. A beat. Then Buffy relaxes, embarrassed. "Trash can. From a distance it looked kinda…"
"Tense." Riley says.
"Not really - more, round and… squat and-" Buffy says.
"Uh uh. Back to what I was saying before we were rudely attacked by nothing. You seem really tense." Riley says.
Buffy nods, "Well, yeah. We have a new vampire gang in town."
"I mean, domestically tense. You're on Dawn's case a lot." Riley says.
Buffy sighs, "I guess. It's just - I know it's always been this way… She's the baby. But, for some reason, it's really been getting to me lately. She's always around."
"Well, yeah. You're like her idol, Buffy." Riley says.
"Idol? I don't think so. Unless she likes to spill stuff on her idol's new leather pants and-" Buffy says.
"You know what I mean. You have super powers, and college, a studly yet sensitive boyfriend-" Riley says. "Is she even Charmed?"
"-and two pesky life-or-death jobs I can't quit or even take a break from." Buffy says. "Yeah she's Charmed. She can shimmer all over creation if she wanted to."
Riley nods, "She doesn't get the sacrifices. She's a kid, which happens to be super powered."
"Which is what bugs! She gets to be a kid, and she acts like it's the biggest burden in the world. When, sometimes, all I want to do is curl up and not worry about the fate of the world. I'd like to be the one who's all protected, who's waited on-"
Later that evening back at the Manor, Buffy is laughing hysterically. "Har-Harmony has mi-minions?"
Riley smiles.
Piper walks into the kitchen, "Oh your back. What's up?"
"Yeah, that was pretty much my reaction." Xander says before looking to Piper. "We were talking about Harmony. She was this girl we knew in high school. She's now a vamp."
"I'm sorry… I just…" Buffy says, laughing again. "Harmony has minions!"
"And Ruffles have ridges. Buffy, there's actually a more serious side to all this…" Xander says.
Buffy eyes are tearing, "I hope so. I'm having trouble breathing." She pulls herself together. "Like what?"
"Well…" Xander says. "She did come here to kill you."
Buffy loses it, off on a new laughing jag.
"Buffy, c'mon. They've killed once that we know of. She could be a threat to you." Riley says, grinning.
"Especially now that she can enter your house anytime she wants." Anya says.
"What?" Buffy and Piper says as they look at Anya.
Xander jumps in to get the heat off Anya. "Uh, yeah, actually, she… Harmony… kinda happened to sorta get an invite."
"You can't invite her in. Only someone who lives here can-" Buffy says as realization comes to her and Piper. "Where is she?!"
"In her room. I think she's still pretty freaked out." Anya says.
"DAWN!" Piper and Buffy says as they head for the stairs.
Xander heads them off, blocking the way. "Buff, Piper, it was an accident. She didn't mean it."
"Oh, well, that makes it all right then, doesn't it?" Buffy asks.
"No, but believe me… Nobody feels worse than her right now." Xander says.
"Dawn knows the rules, Xander." Piper says. "She's lived in this house for four years." She looks to Buffy. "Though I have to wonder some if this isn't belated grieving on Dawn's part."
"What?" Buffy asks.
"She never grieved for Prue. She was there for you, me and Phoebe." Piper says.
Buffy sighs, "Maybe." She heads upstairs as Piper, Riley and Xander follow. Buffy grabs a jacket out of her closet. They notice Dawn is not there.
Buffy grabs weapons and throws them on the bed, "Where's Dawn I thought you said she was in here?"
Xander shrugs, "I thought she was also."
In the attic Dawn is looking through her and Buffy's Book of Shadows. She can hear the conversation downstairs.
Riley eyes a slew of weapons on the bed. "Lot of weapons for somebody you weren't sweating twenty minutes ago."
"That was before I found out my sister gave Harmony a backstage pass to kill us in our sleep." Buffy says.
"Buff, I left word with Willow. I didn't know when you, Piper, Phoebe or Paige were going to be home. She's coming to do a return engagement of the uninvitation spell – probably still has the stuff from last week - and, bang-boom, you're back in the Fortress of Solitude. All better." Xander says.
Buffy shakes her head, "No, not all better, Xander. It's not like she hasn't grown up in this house, knowing the rules… Especially the biggie, Numero One-o: Do NOT invite bloodsucking dead people into our home."
Piper sighs, "That's harsh, Buffy. She made a mistake…"
"I mean, please, I'd never have Harmony over here when she was alive." Buffy says
"Okay, granted, it was Dawn's bad, but she's just a kid-" Xander says.
"Will everyone stop saying that? I was a kid when I met my first vampire and, somehow, I remembered the rules." Buffy says.
Piper shakes her head, "Maybe it's time you trained her."
Buffy looks at Piper, "Not you too. I'll train her when I feel she's ready. But she's not ready when she's doing stuff like this."
Piper shakes her head and leaves the room heading up to the attic. She walks in just as Dawn shimmers out.
Buffy pauses, then speaks more evenly - her true concern for Dawn showing through. "She's got to be more careful. I can't be there to watch over her twenty-four hours a day. I just can't."
Piper runs back downstairs and into Buffy's room. "Buffy!"
"What?" Buffy asks.
"Dawn shimmered out. I'll check the rest of the Manor but I don't think she's here." Piper says.
"Oh no," Buffy says. "Best way to get to me would be to use my little sister as bait. They'll be watching for her."
In Spike's crypt, Spike is fiddling with the antenna on a 19-inch TV set he's got set up. Several extension cords are strung together and run out from the crypt's small window. "Bollix! Gonna have to pinch me one a those satellite dishes." Buffy flames in. "Well, well… speaking of dishes. To what do I owe this unpleasant-"
Buffy punches him in the nose, then grabs him by the lapels.
"Oww! Bloody hell!" Spike says.
"I don't have time to banter with you, Spike. Where's Harmony's lair?" Buffy says.
"Haven't seen her in months. How should I-?" Spike says as Buffy punches him in the nose again. "Owww!"
"Where is she?" Buffy asks.
"At least lay off the nose." Spike says as Buffy pulls back her fist again. "Okay, okay… Used to have a cave in the north woods. About forty meters past the overpass construction site."
Buffy lets go of him, he relaxes. Then she pops him one in the nose again.
"Owww! I'm telling you the truth!" Spike says.
"I know." Buffy says as she flames out.
In Harmony's lair, Harmony is pacing, anxious. "They don't respect me. They pretend they do, but deep down they think I'm nothing. I mean, I'm the one who put this group together. Me! But they treat me like I don't even matter… You have any idea what that feels like?"
"A little," Dawn says.
"They have no idea how much pressure I'm under. I have to make all the hard decisions. And it's hard!" Harmony says as Dawn cowers as Mort and the others enter. "Excuse me. I didn't hear anybody knock."
"We've been talking it over, and we decided we don't like this plan." Mort says.
Brad clears his throat.
"Except for Brad. He abstained." Peaches says.
"Oh, really. You have a plan you like better?" Harmony asks.
"We're going to feed on the girl. And kill you. Maybe not in that order." Mort says.
Harmony reacts. Then tries to maintain a commanding presence. "I don't think I like your attitude, Mort. Kill him for me." None of the vamps make a move. "All right. You're all on my list." They advance on her. She backs up. "This isn't fair. Okay, so things haven't been perfect. I just need a little more time to grow into my leadership role."
"Time's up." Mort says as he grabs Harmony by the throat as the other vamps move in on Dawn.
"If you touch me, my sister is so gonna kill you." Dawn says.
Cyrus smiles, takes his finger and pokes her on the shoulder. He and the other vamps laugh at his little joke and keep laughing right up to the moment there's a whistling sound and a stake protrudes from Cyrus' chest. He has time to look at it before he dusts.
The others spin around to see Buffy, standing at the entrance. "Can't say she didn't warn him."
Dawn smiles with relief.
Brad and Peaches grab weapons - a mace and battle axe, respectively.
Mort releases Harmony, who gives him a look.
"And you didn't like the plan." Harmony says.
Buffy powers up a fireball and throws a glance to her sister. "Close your eyes, Dawn."
Dawn complies.
Harmony steps forward, "So, Slayer… At last we meet."
"We've met, Harmony, you half-wit." Buffy says.
Dawn can't help but peek as Brad and Peaches charge Buffy.
"I'm the half-wit? Uh, excuse me, but you're the one who's fallen into my…" Harmony says.
Buffy throws a fireball at Brad and he dusts as Peaches swings the axe at Buffy, who flames out and in behind him. She whips out a stake and stakes him, he dusts.
Dawn flinches, pinching her eyes shut again.
"…uh, trap." Harmony says.
"Harmony, when you tried being head cheerleader, you were bad. When you tried to chair the Homecoming committee, you were really bad. But when you try to be bad… You suck." Buffy says as she takes a step towards Harmony.
Dawn peeks again, her eyes suddenly widening. "Buffy, watch out!"
Mort slams her in the back with a heavy hammer, sending her into a wall, dazing her.
"Oo, good shot, Mort. I think you've… got her on the, uh-" Harmony says.
Mort glares at her. She suddenly turns and runs away. He tries to hit Buffy with the hammer again, but she spins out of its way, leaving her stakes behind.
"You're outta stakes, Slayer." Mort says.
Buffy smiles, "I don't need a stake." She powers up a fireball and tosses it at Mort, dusting him.
Dawn looks shaken - and not sure what Buffy is gonna do.
Buffy looks at Dawn and sighs, "Dawn when they caught you why didn't you shimmer?"
"I tried." Dawn says. "Really I did, I tried to shimmer back to the Manor."
Buffy nods, "It's okay. I understand the feeling. We control our powers with our emotions. For your powers to work you were in the wrong emotional state."
"Am I in trouble?" Dawn asks.
Buffy grabs Dawn's hand, "You're grounded. And when I saw grounded I mean grounded. No TV, no telephone, no powers. Dawn this is why I want to wait till I feel you're ready to be trained."
Dawn nods, "Okay. Buffy, I'm sorry."
Buffy smiles, "I know you are. And you what I'm sorry too. From now on I'm going to watch out for you, okay?"
Dawn smiles, "Okay."
"Besides I need to get in a little practice being a parent, right?" Buffy says as she flames out with Dawn. She flames herself and Dawn into her and Dawn's room at the Manor.
Piper is sitting on the bed waiting for them. "Is everything okay?"
Buffy nods, "Everyone of Harmony's gang except Harmony herself is dust. Dawn and I had a talk and I think everything will be okay from now on. Right, Dawn?"
Dawn nods, "Right, Buffy."
The next day Dawn sits in a corner of the Magic Shop, writing in her journal. Buffy and Giles are looking about the place. Much of the inventory is gone or in boxes - the place has a transitory look.
"Giles, are you sure about this?" Buffy asks.
Giles nods, "Why wouldn't I be?"
"Well, apart from the fact that magic shop owners in San Francisco have the life expectancy of a Spinal-Tap drummer, have you ever run a store before?" Buffy asks.
"I was a librarian for years. This is exactly the same, except that people pay for the things they never return. This will give me focus, help me increase my resources - and keep you lot from tramping about my flat at all hours. There may even be space for you to train in the back." Giles says.
"Boy, you've really thought this through." Buffy says. "How bored were you last year?"
"I watched 'Passions' with Spike. Let us never speak of it." Giles says.
"Well, let's look at the back." Buffy says as she steps in back with Giles. She peaks around the doorway at Dawn. "Don't break anything." Dawn glares. Buffy goes, then pops back. "Don't touch anything. What you're doing there is fine. Not moving. Do that." She goes at last, Dawn breaking her glare to begin scribling again.
Dawn writes down in her diary, 'Things have changed with Buffy. She treats me better. But I think she's gone more from sisterly overprotecting to motherly overprotecting. Sometimes I wonder if that's a response to the fact that she is going to be a mother. On a side note it's still hard to believe I'm going to be an aunt.'