Cordelia hadn't been happy about the entire situation and who could blame her. But she also couldn't turn her back on a child in need, so she agreed, pending Dawn's acceptance of the decision, to let her stay with them.

"I'll talk to the landlord, see if there's a two bedroom available." She told Xander. "Dawn doesn't deserve to have to sleep on the couch, she lost everything, she should be allowed to keep her dignity. Even it said dignity will be slightly dinged by having to share a room with a one year old."

"This time I wasn't even gone a week, but when I was deployed before, I was able to talk to you and Jesse everyday. This time, there just wasn't any time and I've barely slept since I got on the transport. Just too much that needed doing."

"Angel's dust, Buffy's not a Slayer anymore and Willow's sacrificed herself to make up for trying to end the world. Sunnydale became even more insane after we left and I didn't think that was possible."

"And Sunnydale isn't even the craziest part."

"No, there being copies of us is. Maybe Dawn will be willing to tell us something's about what she knows about their lives. At least talking about the people she knew will help her deal with everything that's happened. And the Fluke happened on purpose?"

"I knew it didn't make sense, but I thought it was something with me, a subconscious fear or something. To find out Willow's power was demon based because of that damned soul curse and this thing using Angel and the other you was responsible. Well, if it wasn't already dead I'd step aside and watch as you tore it to spreads. As much as it hurt me when you lashed out at me over it, you were hurt far worse. And you were totally innocent, Willow and I were the ones involved, manipulated in some way or not."

"Still, it's good to know you weren't a complete idiot." He could hear the smile in her voice. "Jesse and I'll be waiting for you two, see you soon,"

"You too." Xander disconnected the secure line and smiled himself, his home was waiting for him. But first, he needed to talk to Dawn.

He found her in the infirmary of the National Guard Base visiting Buffy. She was holding her sister's hand while she slept. When she saw him she got up and followed him into the hall.

"Has anyone talked to you about what happens next?" He asked.

"Buffy's going to be going to some kind of facility where they'll help her learn sign language and braille. They don't think she'll ever regain her sight and it'll be months before the doctors have any idea on how much hearing she can recover. Beyond that I don't know."

"Faith can't take care of you herself yet. General Higgins is arranging for a psych eval and then treatment for her as well."

"Yeah, I thought she was this crazy bitch that tried to kill Buffy and killed innocent people. Then I found out she was crazy because Giles abandoned her and she was traumatized by a bunch of stuff and Buffy tried to kill her first, just so she could feed her to Angel and Buffy was the reason Faith was in that coma in the first place. Makes me wonder which of them actually is crazy, especially after everything else that's happened. And in a way they're both my sisters. I hate Magic."

"I'm not fond of it myself." Xander admitted. "Dawn, your own situation is even more complicated than we thought."

"How could it possibly be more complicated then it already is?"

"Hank Summers has no memory of either you or Buffy ever existing. And since the last time he contacted Buffy was on her eighteenth birthday to cancel their tradition, that suggests something may have happened as far back as Senior year to him. Aaron's on his way to Spain to do a magical evaluation and try to find out what it is."

"Okay." Dawn dark eyes were wet with unshed tears. "My mother is dead, one of my sisters is recovering from being crazy and the other is recovering from fixing the biggest screw up of her life. Willow's dead, Tara's dead. Spike wasn't the good guy I thought he was. Plus he's dust. The Xander I know has ceased to exist and my father doesn't know I exist. What do I have left?"

"Me and my Cordelia, we've agreed to let you stay with us until Faith is cleared to take over your care. Cordelia is talking to our landlord, we need to move into a two bedroom before long anyway since Jesse needs his own space. If you're willing to share a room with a one year old who mostly can sleep through the night, then you have a home with us as long as you want or need it."

"Why?"

"The Echo, as he's being called, loved you and considered you family. If he could see you that way, so can I. And there's very little either of us wouldn't do for family. If you agree to come home with me, then you'll know that you still have family. Including an adorable nearly one old nephew. Cordelia insists the fact that he has my ears makes him extra adorable."

Dawn couldn't help it, she barked a laugh and let the tears come. Maybe she wasn't alone after all. The Echo had always known just what to say to make her feel better, it seemed the original had the same ability.