A/N Some reviewers have asked that some of Dawn's mishaps include other versions of Sunnydale. I explored a couple potential other configurations in my Immortal Choices series on my original account. As I've noted before an au is a reality in which other choices played out and those choices could occur at any point in history resulting in radically different realities and every single fanfiction story could be considered an alternate reality. Most of Dawn's mishaps will involve other franchises, but yes, there will be a couple of different Sunnydale's and the Scoobies of this story dealing with the differences. Most of the rest of this story will involve Dawn's missteps, mostly because I think it will be a lot of fun and variety, but the Scoobies will still have a few things to deal with back home, because bear in mind, eliminating a Big Bad means a power vacuum and someone's going to be tempted to step into it.

Now, back to the story.

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Their Junior year ended not long after the Mayor was defeated by turning him into a hot air balloon and Xander began his internship at Chase Holdings, nervously arriving for his first day of work a few days after classes ended for the year dressed in the outfit Cordelia had picked for him from his closet. Not that he was ever going to tell anyone that his girlfriend picked out his clothes, but honestly, he'd rather let her do that then think about fashion. Unhh, just the thought was enough to make him shudder.

"Last summer was quiet." Xander observed once his first week was over. "One vampire showed up a day or so before school started up again and no demons. This summer vampires are gone and we still aren't seeing much in the way of demons."

"Which is a good thing because most of the Scoobies are scattered for the summer." Cordelia reminded him. "Harmony's on vacation with her parents and she and Johnathan are planning to trade phone calls. Buffy and Dawn are spending the summer with their Dad in L.A. and Dawn's forbidden from making portals while they're there because their Dad doesn't know anything about Magic and the supernatural. Amy's spending time with her Dad, they still have years of catch up to do when her crazy Mom kept them apart and you and I are both interning with Dad."

"It's nice working with you, even if we're in different departments." Xander grinned at his girlfriend. "We can at least have lunch together. Although you haven't told me why you decided to do an internship yourself." He dug into his burger as Cordelia munched on her own, both of them burned a lot calories with their superpowers and that, naturally enough, led to healthy appetites.

"Because my original plans for my future involved leaving Sunnydale and not ever coming back. Now I'm not so sure I want that future. Obviously I don't yet know if we have a future together, we've only been dating officially since last fall and that's far longer then I've ever gone out with anyone, but we're only seventeen, we're not at the planning on forever with one person stage yet. But we are at the stage where we need to start considering our future career plans. You've made it clear what your plans are."

"Fundraising for various charities, running a foundation, making it possible for Willow and Oz to study the Stark, Wakandan and Inhuman technologies and the werewolf virus and the Mohra blood. And getting better at Magic along the way."

"And I don't intend to put down my sword anytime soon and I mean that literally, as well as figuratively. Being a Scooby might not be a full time thing, but it is a necessary thing and it is something that's satisfying to do."

"When it's a choice." Xander nodded. "I think if Buffy had been given a choice, she might have said yes. It's the fact that no one bothered to ask her, just forced it on her that's caused the most problems for her."

"Which is understandable and I agree, it's a lousy thing to have done to all those girls." Cordelia agreed. "But the existence of the Scoobies means she doesn't have to do it alone, no matter what the Watchers Council says. Not that they might be around much longer "

"Because of Giles' theory that without vampires around at all, Potentials might not activate anymore? And because there are so few demons in general compared to the vampire numbers."

"Exactly. As evidenced by the fact that while we know some demons live in Sunnydale, which means Johnathan has a steady supply of demons he can suck a little energy out of to keep from starving, aside from Mr. Teeth, none of them have caused any issues."

"I just hope you didn't just jinx us." Xander muttered. "Because I really am convinced Murphy's real and he gets a big kick out of causing problems for us."

Cordelia smiled and it wasn't pleasant smile. "He should know better than to piss off the Bitch Queen of Sunnydale High. I earned that reputation."

"And not everyone appreciates a good bickerfest with you." Xander grinned back.

"Yeah, well, they're morons. Come on, Doofus, we don't want to be late back to work, sets a bad precedent."

"Right behind you." He assured her, tossing another grin her way. "The view's great." Cordelia just snorted, let him look, it wasn't like she didn't enjoy watching him. Equal opportunity and all.

The summer passed all too quickly, as it always does and soon it was fall and the Scoobies were together again, waiting for their next adventure.

They didn't have long to wait.