Breathin' Life, Hope & Love
Summary: Buffy has been dead for six months being with her mom in heaven among others who lost their lives only to be taken away and being revived by her so-called friends *cough* Willow*cough* using dark magic; she's been back for 2 days now and hasn't been talking since then. All she's been feeling was numbness, her mind is blank, and a slow burning anger was slowly building up towards her friends. They immediately push off all the responsibilities towards her to deal with everything on her own again. Not realizing that her cousins and best friend Hermione Granger who's now married with not one but, five men, heavenly pregnant with Quints of her own who hasn't been informed that she was dead this entire time including her mom's Joyce death.
From what Dawn, her little sister along with Spike in low tones that Willow stole Buffy's letters from their mother's side including the letters from Brenda (her childhood best friend/god-daughter of their mom's/cousin from their mom's side, address book among other things that didn't belong to Willow or the Scooby Doo gang behind Buffy's back that originally belonged to Dawn since Buffy set a Will without Willow and the gang's knowledge until Hermione gave her the will to confirm everything. Everything belonged to Dawn in case something happened to her or their mother Joyce but, thanks to Hermione's help, without Willow's knowledge Dawn took everything back because it belonged to Dawn after Buffy died.
It was the only contact that Dawn has in their mother Joyce's side. She wasn't going to let Willow and the Scooby gang get away with it not when she has a say in this as she hide everything that she took back from Willow into Spike's place. Buffy felt so betrayed and hurt that she went to talk to Draco (her cousin in-law) who she surprised gets along with the husbands of Hermione, Harry Potter, Blaise Zabini, Theseus and Newt Scamander IV who are more than happy to tell the Scoobs what they did bringing Buffy back from the dead is against all nature especially when dark magic was involve and let's just saw it brought Hermione overprotective by teaching Willow a lesson that she'll never forget when it comes with messing around with black magic who had no problem telling off Willow for what she did was unforgivable without thinking about the consequences.
It took Willow and Tara by surprise that she can do magic without using her wand since she's not only a pureblood witch but, a royal princess which would mean Buffy and Dawn are also royal by blood through their mother Joyce's side of the family. When it became too much Buffy and Dawn pack a bag and left town with Spike. Her friends won't let her go that easily that they added Angel and Faith involved. Faith being Buffy's longtime friend to enemy to allies to being best friends again, the one person who she gained trust and respect towards Faith after they had a long talk in Las Vegas. It brought them to be best friends again which Spike is more than happy to be supportive along with Dawn. Her friends aren't going to let Buffy go that easily especially Angel who's now involved into the drama.
Prologue
Dawn Summers never felt so alone in her entire life. First, she lost her mom Joyce in the beginning of the year and now she lost her big sister Buffy, her best friend since the day she was born who has always protected her no matter what. Not only that Willow and the rest of the Scoobies abandoned and left her alone with no food, money or no electricity. Ever since she lost her big sister Buffy the only family, she had left she would always visit her grave crying missing her big sister Buffy and her mom wishing they would come back so they can start over.
Neither of Buffy's friends bothered to check on her put her on edge. If her big sister Buffy was still alive, she would've made sure that Dawn had enough to eat and sleep with a roof over her head. The bills would've been paid off and everything would've been fine but, unfortunately it wasn't the case for her. She felt sad, angry, and even disappointed in Buffy's friends. Not even Giles who didn't bother to check on her. She would've thought Giles would've taken Dawn with her but, it was too painful even for him.
It's been about a month since she lost her big sister Buffy while they lost their mom nearly a year ago and now she's by herself alone, she would cry silently missing her big sister and visit her grave every day change the flowers, talk to her all day and leave before nighttime knowing the demons, the vampires etc. would stroll around Sunnydale, knowing the Slayer won't come back. It was a celebration to all the demons but, to those who are close to Buffy was a different story.
Buffy told her to be happy, be fearless, move on and be brave. Something she couldn't do. She wished she was brave enough to do that but, she couldn't bring herself to do it since this was her home…at least she thought it was. It didn't help that she couldn't get a hold of Spike or Oz. Her only friends, make those best friends who cared about her besides her big sister and their mom. Her dad couldn't even bring himself to take her in. It really hurt.
The only reason she hasn't been home is because no one was paying the bills and since she doesn't have a job yet—it was hard for her to find one due to no showers not working, the phone line isn't working pretty much everything wasn't working. She's been abandoned, homeless and looked like she's been through a lot since she lost her big sister; Spike wouldn't blame her for feeling this way after all she lost two people that she loved the most within the year and it was hard for her to accept that. That was until she remembered the address book, she was looking for it when she was abandoned, left behind in the house and couldn't find it anywhere. She only brought her clothes, stuff that she needed.
That was until she remembered that Willow took Buffy's things which wasn't hers to begin with. Dawn remembered how upset she was since that's Buffy's things—she should be the one to keep her sister's things even if she's not here with her anymore but, it's still hers.
Dawn got angry no not just angry but, pissed how dare Willow take Buffy's things without her permission. She didn't know what brought Willow to do that; just because they're best friends that doesn't give Willow the right to take Buffy's things. They belong to hers?!
'That little bitch?!' Dawn angrily thought.
If only she could be back in time where her mom and Buffy was alive. They were both happy they all were their mom Joyce wanted to take the girls to England apparently, she has family there and wanted to meet them including the other countries; she remembered it was in Greece, Spain, Brazil, Italy, Japan, France and London. There's a few more but, hasn't a chance to investigate it yet and stole the address back that Willow stole before the big battle, and nothing wasn't going to stop her from that.
Dawn sat down on her blanket putting new flowers in Buffy's and their mom's grave.
"Hey Buffy…hi mommy," Dawn murmured.
[no answer]…
"I miss you guys…so much…" Dawn began to say trying not to cry so much "I've been …trying so hard not to cry but, it's hard…to be strong …and move on…I can't move on…it's so hard…I can't even get a hold of …Willow…Xander…Anya…or Tara…I can't get a hold of anyone…it's been almost a month…not even Spike or Ozzy…I don't even know where he is…I miss him and Ozzy I wish he didn't have to leave but, I don't know his number…I know you hate him Buffy but, I don't hate him he's always been a big brother along with Ozzy to me …and I really miss Spike and Ozzy so much but, not as much as I miss you guys…" she sniffed trying not to break down but, unfortunately it wasn't the case and didn't even notice someone was heading to Buffy's grave "I wish you didn't leave me here…" she murmured.
'I miss you Buffy…I miss you so much…' Dawn thought to herself sadly 'You promise you wouldn't leave me alone…'
Dawn didn't even notice that someone was heading towards her; not realizing it's going to change everything about magic.
The stranger cleared her throat causing Dawn to startle out of her thoughts and fell. The stranger however blinks her eyes not expecting that reaction but kept quiet, however it made Dawn to slowly look up blinking her eyes dumbly at the young lady.
"I'm— I'm so sorry I didn't mean to scare or startle like you like that it's just…well I was just… I was hoping you can help me…" the stranger spoke up in a British accent.
Dawn wiped her tears "That's okay I didn't even notice anyone coming to the cemetery at this hour since it's been a long month for me…although it feels longer now that I think about it…and yes I can help you…what is it then I can help you with?" she explained wiping her tears.
"Well, it's more like a who?"
"A who?"
"Yes…I'm actually looking for someone and she told me she lives here and I'm not exactly familiar with this place since it's my first time coming this part of America at least in California anyway the only time I ever been to America was New York or Washington but, never in California…so…"
"Oh? You're not from here?"
"No not exactly…umm…I live across the country?"
"England?"
The stranger blinks her eyes dumbly "Y-y-yes, I am. Is it that obvious?"
"Kind of especially the accent …I have a friend…well more like a father figure who's from England. I haven't seen him in almost 2 months...well soon to be 2 months…since …"
"Since what?"
"Well, it's kind of complicated…" Dawn began to say standing up slowly which the stranger noticed her wardrobe "Who are you looking for exactly since I know everyone here except a few…but, yes I do know everyone here in Sunnydale," she explained.
"Well…I was wondering if you can show me where I can find a Buffy Summers?"
Dawn blinked her eyes owlish "Buffy …Summers…"
"Yes…it's really important…"
"As in …Elizabeth Athena Esperanza Anne Summers which she prefers Buffy? That Buffy Summers?"
"Yes, it's really, really important, do you know where I can find her?"
"May I ask why you're looking for Buffy"
"….I'm her cousin from her mom's side of the family"
"Huh…Cousin…Family?"
"Yes…we uhumm we recently reconnected for almost nearly 2 years now…I'm from her mom's side auntie Joyce, I haven't seen her since we were children and we been writing and talking to one another on the phone almost every day until recently…it stopped…she told me that she lives with auntie Joyce and her sister Dawn in Sunnydale after her parents' messy divorce. We made plans to meet up this summer I was going to show them around England at least that was the plan and then it's kind of…stopped…for a while…and I got worried…so …is there any way you can show me where Buffy lives that would brilliant and very helpful," Hermione explained.
"Almost 2 years?"
"Yes almost 2 years?"
Dawn tried to process the information holding her breath "You been talking to Buffy for almost 2 years then you must be—" she nearly choked with tears "She-she mentioned we have cousins but, I never really—I always wondered…why none of our cousins, uncles and aunts or my sister's childhood best friends who are our cousins never came to the funeral so I'm a little confuse," she explained.
The stranger blinks her eyes owlish "I beg your pardon a funeral? With whom?"
"Umm… my mom and …and…" Dawn was having a hard time breathing processing the information; if that's true then Willow and the gang hasn't invited them and felt angry and pissed off suddenly but, remained calm "Well…I can defiantly help you looking for my mom and my sister…since you're looking at her," she explained.
The stranger blinked her eyes owlish "I beg your pardon?"
Dawn's eyes pointed at the grave "My older sister…umm…pass away…about a month…and my mom…she been …gone for almost a year…and I'm too shell shocked that you didn't come to the funeral I'm pretty sure I told Willow and Xander to send the invitations to our relatives but, you guys never came…and I'm a little confuse and a bit hurt that she would do that,"
The stranger stared at her as her face expression fell and looked paler than usual. "Y-you're kidding…and who would do what?"
"Willow…she must've used magic…erasing my memories I remember bits of it…she stole Buffy's stuff…I was looking thru it…and I was doing a list of people to come to the funeral but, she said she would take care of it…I never thought she would—she would—" Dawn hands turned into a fist to remain calm trying to control her breathing "And I'm not kidding it's not the first time she used magic without our consent I am so angry that I can …break something right now," she explained.
[no answer]…
Dawn held her breath "I'm sorry…I didn't mean to get angry it's just…a lot to process ya know…"
"I understand I wouldn't blame you for being upset," the stranger began to say pausing for a moment "You said…she was your sister…Buffy I mean? Then that means that you're—" she was cut off by Dawn.
"Dawn. I'm Buffy's little sister. And no I'm not kidding…how-how do you and my big sister keep in contact I remember she had an address book but, that was before Willow stole from Buffy the first day she was gone. I was too upset over losing Buffy that I didn't realize Willow stole stuff from Buffy it belongs to me …not Willow. I know that for sure she has no right to keep her things. Their mine at least I have some stuff to remember my sister from anyway," Dawn murmured.
"You're sister…you're Dawnie…Buffy's baby sister?"
"My sister is the only person who can call me that…besides our mom…and yes I am," Dawn murmured.
"Oh I'm sorry I just. I always called you that as a baby...but, if you want me to call you—"
"No, it's okay. I just…it reminds me of Buffy when she calls me that," Dawn teared up.
"Oh my…" The stranger nearly collapses causing Dawn to startle by the reaction
"You're …Dawn Summers? As in Dawn Michelle Esmeralda Summers, Buffy's little sister," she explained.
"Ye-yes…I'm sorry but, who are you? And how do you know my full name….not a lot of people know that…except my mom and Buffy so how do you know that?"
"I'm sorry I feel so horrible I never got to introduce myself I'm …Hermione…your older cousin from England?"
Dawn had a blank look on her face since she wasn't aware that her relatives knew about her sister's passing away since the address that she send the invitation came back saying the residence doesn't live there and was returned leaving her devastated.
"Err…you don't remember me, do you?" Hermione began to say causing Dawn shook her head 'no' causing the stranger who happens to be Hermione, her older cousin to sigh "I had a bad feeling this would happen I been talking to your sister for nearly 2 years, and she told me all about you Dawnie. She told me how she would always protect you from danger even though you insisted that you can help but, she can't help herself but, be protective I'm a bit hurt that I never got the invitation," she explained.
Dawn whip-splashed looked at her shell shock "Wait what? You never got the invitation," she began to say grabbing the letters that she got from the mail a few days ago "I'm pretty sure I send them to you guys but, the letters said that you don't live there anymore?" she explained.
Hermione blinked her eyes owlish "Oh…may I see them you must've got our old address?" she asked.
"Oh…" Dawn felt a bit dumb she didn't even think about that "Here you go," she murmured.
Hermione furrowed her eyebrows at this then gave a slight nod "Yes, I was right that's my old address…I actually sold my house a few years ago…my parents passed away due to a car accident and …my siblings they don't live in England well not true my older sisters Ariel and Aqua who are twins they live with their husbands with their family in Scottland along with me and my husbands with our children then there's my older brothers who also live in England. Half of my siblings don't live in England at least my cousins anyway who are adopted into our family; there's a lot of us and I recognize auntie Joyce writing anywhere. This must've been from auntie Joyce address book, right?"
"Yeah, that was mom's…Buffy said it's really important that I keep this with me…I wanted something of mom's and Buffy close to me but, Willow stole it and I managed to get it back…I don't even know how she stole that from me…I'm pretty sure I locked my door she must've used her magic…" Dawn explained bitterly.
"Oh really?" Hermione asked.
Dawn nodded at this "Yeah…Willow been using a lot of magic lately…I don't think she was born as a witch…I think she just read it from a book somewhere so she can feel special," she gave a sneer which Hermione noticed; as she has a feeling that her baby cousin isn't a big fan of this 'Willow'person or the rest of the Scooby gang which the feeling is mutual on her part as well "So you're the one that Buffy been talking to the one that she would go to her room and would ask me to come so we can talk more right?" she explained.
"Yes, that would be me," Hermione explained.
"You sound so different on the phone I hardly recognize you," Dawn murmured.
"I'm sorry Dawnie I didn't mean to not keep in touch but, that's not an excuse for not keeping in touch with you Dawnie I had to deal with a lot of complications back home in England…" Hermione began to say pausing for a moment causing Dawn to slowly n od at this "Come to think of it I was a bit surprised and hurt that I wasn't even invited to auntie Joyce or Buffy's funeral especially Buffy since I haven't heard from her within 2 months only to find out that she's gone…I just assumed that she's busy I mean we're both busy obviously but, we always made time for each other to talk about everything but, now it makes a lot of sense…
she promised to tell me about it when we meet up in England …but, unfortunately we never got a chance to do that …we promised to stay in touch and talk on the phone a lot," she explained.
"The phone?"
"Yes, Buffy has about 4 cell phones as a backup,"
Dawn blinks her eyes not knowing this information "She does?"
"Yes, we have a mirror to keep in touch it's like a cell phone except …magical if you catch my drift?"
"M-m-magical," Dawn squeals at this "How?"
"Well…it's more like a communication between us, she was planning to give you one as well for your birthday so we can keep in touch,"
Dawn felt so touched and felt herself teared up "Sh-she did?"
"Yes, she did I actually have it with me would you like to see what it looks like?"
"Yes please,"
Hermione gave a smile knowing her baby cousin "Here you go Dawnie," she began to say giving her a two-way mirror it's like a compact mirror with a Phoenix logo on the front "The last 3 ways to communicate with me is thru owl mail," she explained.
Dawn was in awe looking at the mirror "Wow…it's so pretty…" she began to say then blinked her eyes staring at her cousin "Huh? Owl mail there's no owls in California as far as I know…." she murmured.
"Of course there is. You can just get an owl anywhere only if you know how to get one or in this case purchase one but, since Buffy didn't get an owl, she got a Phoenix bird it was a present from her first love Miguel she's so sweet it's like a magical way to communicate like how you get a postman to receive your letters, packages and such,"
"Yeah?"
"Well, it's like that except with owls,"
Dawn blinks her eyes owlish giving her a first smile "That's so cool…what else do you do to communicate?"
"Well, you know how I said Buffy has 4 ways to communicate with me?"
"Yeah?"
"Well, there's the fire-floo from the fireplace? You do have a fireplace, don't you?"
"I think so but, I haven't used it since …."
"It's okay Dawnie I'll show you how and then there's the cell phone. Mostly I would recommend all of them but, mainly the cell phone thru text. It's safer that way at least when Buffy was alive,"
Dawn gave a small smile knowing her sister "Buffy has her own Phoenix and 4 communicators to keep in contact with you I wish I was told that before that's so cool…but I never seen her use it though?"
"That's because she didn't want Willow or the rest of the Scoobies to find out she had to use the mirror and let Sapphire hunt at night and would communicate with me at night before she goes patrolling yes, I know all about that. She told me a lot of things," Hermione sighed tiredly as she sat down next to Dawn which she gave her some room to sit "How long has this been going on? The magic I mean?" she explained.
"From what Buffy told me since high school, Willow found some old books that learned about magic and when her parents found out, she was kicked out and left. I don't know the whole story but, Willow is currently at school living in her own but, I haven't heard from her since Buffy's funeral….so I don't know," Dawn murmured feeling a bit bitter and anger towards the red headed witch.
"I don't blame you Dawnie and I'm so sorry," Hermione murmured.
"For what?" Dawn asked.
"For not coming here sooner I am so sorry Dawnie. If I knew she'd—I would've—I would've done everything in my power to protect her so for that I am sorry," Hermione murmured.
"….."
Dawn felt herself calm touching the gravestone of her mom Joyce and big sister Buffy "That's—that's okay…I didn't even know I had relatives I always thought that mom and dad were the only child with no relatives. I guess there's a lot of things that mom should've told us about…she never really talked about her life in England...not really. She always been stern about that and always made sure that we were extra loved I think that's why Buffy felt so hurt and upset when she found out about how we have magic in our family…at least in mom's side…so it never really crossed my mind…but, I don't blame you…I guess I didn't realize but, if you guys talked from the past 2 years then that means this was …before mom died…there was some …complications I admit I didn't really get the details when it comes with Buffy and her two friends but, they always seem to judge her when it comes with Spike," she explained.
"Oh, about what?"
Dawn sighed tiredly "I mean …Buffy didn't really tell me but, she used to date Angel,"
Hermione blinked her eyes owlish "Angel…?"
"Yes,"
"Was he the vampire that she fell in love within high school?"
Dawn gawked at the girl "Yo-you know about the vampires, werewolves, witches, wizards, trolls, demons etc." she squeaked at this in shock causing Hermione to nod at this "H-how?"
"Let's me put it this way…I'm like Tara and Willow except…I don't use dark magic to get what I want," Hermione explained.
"You're—you're—" Dawn tried to process the information causing Hermione to nod at this "Ho-how?"
"Well magic apparently runs through our veins including your mum Dawnie just like you confirmed. I know your mom should've told you and Buffy the truth but, the truth was she couldn't tell anyone?"
"Mom?"
"Mhmm?"
"My mom was a witch?"
"She was…"
"What do you mean she was?"
"After she married your father…she had to …sacrifice a few things including her magic"
"You can do that?"
"Well naturally no…your mum didn't want to sacrifice her magic mind you …but she did hide her magic from both you and Buffy…ever since you two were born. Your mum barley told Buffy when she was sick. Buffy didn't want to believe it until she called me. She wanted to understand how your mom could hide something so big when she made it such a big deal when she was chosen as a
vampire slayer, yes, I know about that too your sister and I talk," Hermione explained.
"Whoa…"
"Yes…whoa is right,"
"And how did you explain it to Buffy?"
~*~End of Prologue~*~
Whooo! It took me a few days turned into weeks to come up with this prologue beginning but, I think it went well because there's a backstory between Angel and Buffy which I will write it in future chapters just not right now though. There's going to be a lot of background stories between how Buffy learned she's pregnant and kept her pregnancy hidden thanks to her cousin Hermione Granger, husband of Draco Malfoy, Harry Potter, Blaise Zabini, Theseus & Newt Scamander IV's help. And let's not forget Oz Osborne "Willow's first love" before they went on their separate ways.