It was Xander's turn to make supper and he was making spaghetti, a favorite of all of theirs. The noodles were bubbling away on the stovetop and he was making garlic bread, some with cheese, some without. He shuddered to think what weird thing Dawn would put on hers, the girl had the oddest taste in food. She and Cordelia were currently occupying the kitchen table while Dawn worked on homework and Cordelia worked on memorizing lines for her role on the soap she'd been a part of for nearly a year. It was steady, reliable work, but it wasn't very exciting, even if the story lines kept evolving. Plus the regular paycheck was a big help to their budget. Jesse was running around on sturdy, nearly two year old legs and chatting to himself. All was right in Xander Harris-Chase's world.

"Alright my favorite ladies, supper will be ready soon. You might want to think about finding a good stopping spot. Jesse, time to wash your hands." He called to his son.

'K, Daddy." The little chatterbox ran to his father. Jesse didn't walk anywhere, he ran. Xander lifted him up and sat him on the counter by the sink and turned on the water, checking the temperature. Good, not hot, not cold and put a drop of liquid soap on Jesse's hands and watched him make scrubbing motions under the faucet. It was a work in progress, like toilet training and brushing his teeth. He helped him finish and dried his hands before securing him in the high chair between his seat and Cordelia's and putting a big bib on him. It really wouldn't help, he'd still need a bath after supper, but Xander still had to try. Cordelia got up and put her script on the counter and picked up the toys Jesse had been playing with, while Dawn gathered her books and set them beside Cordelia's script. She moved to the cupboard and pulled out three regular plates and Jesse's colorful cartoon plate, followed by glasses and silverware. It was a familiar and content little family scene, the horrors of Sunnydale having faded for all three of them and all three of them were grateful that Jesse had never known them.

"I'll toss a salad." Cordelia decided and began pulling lettuce and vegetables, many from the community garden, out of the fridge and began chopping them. Dawn followed her to the fridge and pulled out various dressings and then grated cheese from the pantry. It wasn't long before they were able to sit down and enjoy the meal. Xander and Cordelia ignored the fact that Dawn added tartar sauce to her spaghetti. None of them had any idea why her taste buds worked the way they did, but they'd learned to live with it. Mostly without gagging. Anymore, anyway.

"Mrs. Sheldon says she's old and her bones hurt." Dawn said softly as they ate and Jesse half ate, half played with his spaghetti. "She misses her Harold."

"They got together when they were teenagers." Xander remembered the old grandmother telling them that when they'd first moved into the neighborhood. "Like Cor and me and they had decades together. It must feel like she's missing an arm or something. That long together and you're part of each other. That's what Cor and I intend to have."

Cordelia nodded. "She showed me pictures of him. He was very handsome when he was our age and she was beautiful."

"She still is." Xander responded. "She glows with life and she's always smiling. She lets people pour out their problems and offers advice. I don't think there's anyone in the neighborhood who's ever had a problem with her. She'll be mourned and missed by more than her blood family."

"I never knew my grandparents and Aunt Arlene, mom's sister, doesn't even know I exist." Dawn said ruefully. "Anymore than Dad does, because the monks probably didn't know they existed and didn't plant memories in them. And Xander hasn't spoken to his parents in years and yours are dead, Cordelia. Besides your father, who's been great at not treating me differently than Jesse. We had to adopt a Grandma and we ended up with a really good one."

The other two laughed and agreed.

"I have something serious I need to talk to both of you about." Dawn plunged ahead with something that had been on her mind for awhile.

"Something bad? Is someone hassling you?" Xander asked, concerned.

"No, something good actually. The Principal wants to talk to you. He says my teachers say I'm not very challenged in my classes. He wants me to consider skipping eleventh grade and going straight to my Senior year. I admit it's tempting."

"It's both great and worrisome." Xander said thoughtfully. "On the one hand, I'm proud, big brained Dawn, on the other, you've already had a lot to adjust to and are still working on making friends at school. Skipping a grade means the friendships will be difficult to maintain since you won't see them in any classes and need to work on new ones."

"It also means you'd start college sooner." Cordelia pointed out. "Xander, Faith and I are all saving to help with your college costs, another year would help with that, but there are other options we can use, so don't let that keep you from doing this, if it's what you want. I just want you to be aware that college would be happening sooner if you do skip a grade."

Dawn nodded. "I'm thinking I want to, do it, I mean. I like school and learning new things. That isn't just something the monks put in my head, I've figured that out for myself. I'm not sure what I want to do with my life yet, but I do know I like learning things."

"Then we'll talk to the Principal." Xander agreed, after sharing a look with Cordelia and got a nod from her. "If this is what you want to do, then we'll help you do it. Now, who's turn is it to give Jesse a bath?" The three turned to looked at the little boy who smiled a toothy, innocent smile though his spaghetti covered face. And hair.

"Not it!"