| Title: Coming Home Part 1/? Author: Donna [email protected] Pairing: D/S Rating: G Summary: Set seven years into the future after season five...Dawn comes home Disclaimer: Joss and co. own all Feedback: Yes please Dedication: To Ewie...I'm not gonna tell you why <G> And a special dedication to Milkie...Happy Birthday!!!!!!! *HUG* You are the best Siamese triplet I ever had!!!!! And thank you so much for the input!!! It meant a lot!! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The little red sports car slowed as it approached the 'Welcome to Sunnydale' sign. The driver sighed in a mix of anticipation and trepidation as pain flickered in her blue eyes. 'Oh well, for better or for worse, Dawn Summers is coming home.' As Dawn drove through town, she noticed the minute changes that time had wrought and she unconsciously slowed as she turned onto her old street. So many memories bombarded her, real and planted; though she had long ceased dividing them in her mind. They where hers, so they where real enough. She had taken Buffys words to heart; she had truly come alive in that moment. She was human, no matter how she had come to be. She was alive, Buffys little sister. She pulled to a stop in front of the house, her eyes filling with tears. She'd been away too long...So much had changed for her since that year of hell, the year that Buffy had died. Dawn opened the car door and lithely swung out to the pavement. Staring at the house, she audibly swallowed wondering who would answer the door. What she would say when they asked...lifting her chin, she straightened her shoulders and marched up the walkway before she lost her nerve. She wasn't a little girl anymore. She was an adult. Dawn steeled herself and knocked on the door. She had to do this; it was....Her thought broke off as the door was opened by a little blond girl with eyes the most amazing shade of green that widened when she saw who was there. In a heartbeat, the little blonde flew out the door screaming. "Auntie Dawnie!" And flung herself at the laughing woman. "Joy!" Dawn caught the child and swung her around in a circle hugging her tight. "Joy?" A woman's voice called worriedly. "Why are you yelling? Did you open the door without finding out.." The woman's eyes widened and her mouth dropped open as she saw who was holding her daughter. "Dawn!" Buffy screamed opening up her arms. Dawns eyes lit up and she sighed with relief. It would be okay if this was her sister's first reaction to seeing her. The sisters laughed and cried, hugging each other around a laughing Joy. Buffy smoothed the hair away from Dawns lovely face. "Dawnie, you were gone so long. Why? UCLA isn't that far away." Dawn shrugged her eyes downcast, not really wanting to explain to Buffy the real reason for her absence. "I'm sorry Buffy. I guess I just got caught up in the whole co-ed thing, parties and studying." Buffy sighed, knowing Dawn was being evasive, but she was a big girl now with a right to her own life, no matter how hard that was to accept. "Well." Buffy sighed, pulling her sister into the house. "We'll talk later. Are you hungry? Thirsty?" "Did you bring me a present?" Joy piped in. Dawn laughed and tweaked her nieces nose. "Yup! I did!" "Joy!" Buffy rolled her eyes in exasperation, her expression so like their Mothers, that Dawn caught her breath. "What?" Buffy looked ay Dawn quizzically. Dawn shook her head. "Nothing. I'm just glad to be home." She set her niece down, looking around. "The house looks great Buffy." Dawn said appreciating the latest changes Buffy had made. For so long after Joyce had died they hadn't been able to change a thing. But, finally, little by little, changes had been made. The house had eventually underwent a complete transformation, especially after Joy was born. Joy Summer named after her Grandmother. Joy was five now. Buffy had retired from active slaying when she had found out that she was pregnant. The girls turned when the front door opened. "Daddy!" Joy squealed in delight, running to the front door. Rupert Giles laughed and bending down scooped up his daughter and tossed her onto his shoulder. His eyes lit upon Dawn, surprised happiness making his green eyes bright. "Dawn!" He smiled as he approached the sisters, arms open. Dawn smiled and stepped into them, resting her head against Giles other shoulder, squeezing tight. After Joyce had died, Giles had become her rock, her father, especially after Hank had signed over custody to him after Buffy had died. Surprisingly that hadn't hurt nearly as much as she had expected it to. Her heart must have recognized Giles as her father long before her head had. They had bonded in a way that nothing could break apart after Buffys death. Giles returned the hug, then pulled away to search her eyes. "Are you home for awhile?" "Um." Dawn hesitated, eyes flying to Buffy. "I...I'm here to stay. I transferred to Sunnydale." The words where barely out of her mouth before her arms where filled with Buffy. "Yay!" Buffy cried tears trickling down her face. "I'm so glad." Relief filled Dawns eyes at her sister's exuberance. "I thought you'd be upset." "Upset? I would be upset that my sister's home to stay? Silly girl. You'll stay with us? At least for the summer?" "That's my middle name!" Joy cried. Giles laughed at his daughter. "Yup, Joy Summer Giles, that's you." He pressed a finger into the little girl's tummy, causing her to giggle. Dawn laughed at their antics. "You sure? I wouldn't want..." Giles interrupted her. "Dawn, this is your home. Of course you'll stay here." "C'mon Dawnie." Buffy grabbed her sister's hand. "You can have your old room. Give Giles your keys, he'll bring up your bags." Dawn laughed at Buffy and fishing her keys out of her pocket, tossed them to Giles who caught them deftly. "The trunk is tricky." "I know." Giles said dryly, for Dawn's little convertible used to be his little 'Two Door Tramp'. When Dawn had entered college, they had sent her with the convertible. He hadn't been driving it, finding it too impractical with the baby and all her paraphernalia; they had bought instead a nice sedan, Buffy being not ready for a mini van. Buffy led the way upstairs, Joy jumping up the stairs behind them. Their chatter faded to the background as memories began playing in Dawns mind. Scenes of her own childhood, jumping up the stairs after Buffy, much like Joy was doing now. Their Mothers death, then Buffys. Then the miracle of Buffys rebirth. Some how, some way, some monks that had belonged to the same order that had created Dawn, brought Buffy back to them. None of them had understood how, nor frankly cared why, just that they had Buffy back. It seemed that they had taken from Dawn, what they had taken from Buffy, to rebirth Buffy. So, Buffy was Buffy, only she wasn't, but then again she was. Dawn had to grin at her thoughts. All Buffys memories had been replanted, so it was like she had never left them. But, she was a little different, she no longer hid her love, she shared how she felt for them all. Especially for Giles. No one knew if her emotional freedom was a result of the rebirth, or from the whole experience she had gone through. She had told Giles how she felt, that she loved him, not as a daughter or a student, but as a woman. Giles had been in turns stunned and ecstatic; he had loved her for so long, but was always afraid she'd never return his love. He had quickly asked her to marry him to Buffys astonishment, she had never thought that he had loved her any way but maybe as a daughter or a friend. Amazed and delighted that he hadn't, she had just as quickly accepted. Dawn passed by their wedding picture and smiled at the happiness radiating from the photo. All the Scooby's had been there, the ceremony had been simple, small, just them. Although the gang from L.A. had flown out. Angel and Giles had made a tentative peace, some scars from the past run too deep to heal completely. Nine months later, Dawns hand stroked her nieces shiny hair smiling, their very own bundle of joy. Life was finally good for the Watcher and Slayer. "Dawn?" Buffys voice cut through Dawns reverie and by the tone, it wasn't the first time she had called her name. "Hmm? Oh sorry Buffy, I was just lost in memories." Buffy smiled and enveloped her sis in a big hug. "Happy ones?" "The best." Dawn wrapped her arms around her much shorter sister. By the time Dawn had stopped growing, she had sprouted to a willowy 5'10" which caused endless jokes, the favorite being Buffy pouting and saying, 'that's where all my height went too!' Buffy opened the bedroom door and hesitantly said she had changed it. She bit her lip waiting for Dawns reaction. Dawn entered her old room and gasped in pleasure. The room was beautiful. Buffy had transformed her childish room into a cool oasis. The main color was a cool mint green with warm touches of peach and rose. The bed was a lovely four poster with an arched metal canopy draped with a delicate gauzy material. A side chair upholstered in a warm peach nestled in between the bed and dresser, and a chaise done in a delicate multi colored flower material was under the window. "Oh Buffy!" Dawn exclaimed. "It's lovely!" She whirled around, giving her sister another hug. Buffy sighed in relief. "I would've asked, but I wanted to surprise you." "Oh you did! Thank you!" Giles walked in, loaded with Dawns bags, smiling. He had heard the sisters all the way down stairs. "So, you like the room then?" He gently teased. Dawn laughed. "No! I love it!" She went to relieve Giles of his burden, which he relinquished gratefully. The sisters didn't know the meaning of traveling light. "Well, love." Giles said. "We'll leave you to get settled." Knowing if he didn't get Buffy out of there, Dawn would never get unpacked. They'd sit and talk until morning. Buffy laughed and headed for the door. "I can take a hint Watcher mine." Giles reached out and tapped her on the butt as she passed him. Joy giggled. "Daddy hit Mommy! On the butt!" She found this to be hilarious and convulsed into peals of laughter. Giles shook his head at her and swung Joy over his shoulder. Dawn grinned and turned to her bags. "Hey Dawnie?" Buffy called from the doorway. "Ya wanna go Bronzing tonight? Make it a welcome home thing? I can call the gang, get a baby-sitter?" Dawn considered for a minute. "Sure! It sounds like fun! It'll be a great way to catch up with everyone. But I can't believe that place is still open after all these years." Buffy grinned and left the room, husband and child in tow, leaving Dawn to finally unpack and get ready for the evening ahead. Buffy and Giles tucked Joy into bed, dispensing last minute kisses and assurances that they would be back home soon. Dawn leaned against the door jam; eyes shining at the obvious love the three shared. It was beautiful to see and made her long for..Her mind shied away from that thought. "Ready?" Buffy asked, gorgeous in a little green dress. Giles and Dawn said they where and they all started down the stairs. "Dawn, you look wonderful." Buffy said, Giles agreeing. Dawn blushed, tugging at the hem of her shirt. "You don't think this is too...?" She had been sure of the brightly hued silk halter and sarong style skirt. "Oh, yeah." Buffy grinned. "It's just enough too..The boys will be lining up." Giles cocked a brow at his wife, not ready for Dawn and college boys in the same room and said so. Buffy and Dawn laughed at him. "Giles. I've been dating college boys for two years now. I'm a college girl." "Yes, but I haven't seen it. Now I will and.." He sighed almost pouting. "When did you grow up?" Dawn laughed gently hugging Giles. "A long time ago." Giles sighed. "Well stop it. I don't like it." At that Buffy and Dawn cracked up and tugged him downstairs before they woke up Joy. "Willow, Tara, xander and Anya are meeting us at the Bronze. Xander and Anya will be a little late; they had a hard time finding a sitter for Eric." "Oh!" Dawn interrupted Buffy. "Eric must be so big now." Buffy laughed. "He's definitely gonna be as tall as his daddy." The three of them finally made it out of the house after Buffy gave last minute instructions to the teen-ager whom was baby-sitting. Giles pulled Buffy along muttering. "Sue knows what to do Buffy; she's watched Joy since Joy was a baby!" Giles winked at Sue, who grinned back, long used to Buffys mommy anxiety. The three of them piled into the car laughing all the way to the bronze catching up with Dawns latest college exploits. They entered the Bronze still giggling and chuckling at Dawns recounting of the football teams attempts to kidnap the rival team's mascot. "Buffy! Giles! Dawn! Over here!" The three of them turned at the sound of Willows hail. They hurried over to what used to be 'their' table. Giles parting ways to head to the bar for a round. "Dawn!" Willow exclaimed. "Look at you!" She grasped Dawns hands in her own. "You've changed so much!" Willow pulled her in for a big hug. "Honey it's only been six months." Tara chided gently, smiling at a thoroughly hugged Dawn. "Yeah, well. She's changed. Grown more." Willow defended herself with a smile. "Dawn." Tara held out her arms for a hug. "Tara." Dawn smiled hugging her back. "You're looking good." At eight months pregnant, Tara should have looked exhausted, especially carrying twins, but she didn't, she glowed. "How are you feeling?" Tars chuckled, hands caressing her swollen belly. "Thanks, I'm feeling good, the babies however." She grinned. "Well, they're getting impatient." Willow frowned in concern and laid her hand over Tara's. "Baby, are you okay? Do you wanna go home and lie down?" Tara placed a tender kiss on Willows forehead. "No sweetie, I'm fine for a bit. The babies are just a little active tonight. Probably because Auntie Dawn is home." Tara and Willow had gotten 'joined' in a Wiccan ceremony, not long after Buffys return to them. They then decided that they had wanted to experience childbirth, instead of adoption, so after careful planning, waiting until after college and they were settled in their careers, they had gone to a sperm bank. They had thought of asking Giles or Xander, but decided that, that would be too unfair to everyone concerned and too confusing for the resulting children. "Just remember that it's your turn next time!" Everyone laughed. Tara and Willow had decided on who would bear the first child on a coin toss. Willow had lost. "Hey G-man! What�s the?" Xander called out, arm around a laughing Anya. Giles turned his eyes heaven ward, as he approached the table drinks in hand. "For pities sake Xander, how many times do I have to tell you not to call me that?" It was a long-standing joke between the two men, a hold over from the days of yore. "Dawnster!" Xander grabbed Dawn for a bear hug. "Long time no see!" He pulled back and took a look at her. He whistled deep and long. "WOW!" Xander looked sideways at Giles. "You're gonna be beating them off with a stick tonight." Dawn blushed at the compliment, chuckling to cover her slight embarrassment over the praise. "Xander, leave the poor girl alone! You're embarrassing her." Anya admonished, leaning around Xander to kiss Dawn on the cheek. "Although he is right, you've grown into a beauty." Dawn hugged Anya. The gang got comfortable around the table and soon they were laughing and talking animatedly catching up with Dawn and each other. Although many years had passed since Buffy was the active Slayer and they were 'The Scooby's' the bond that was forged in the heat of battle could never be broken between them. After awhile, Dawn excused herself to use the washroom. "Bring back another round?" Xander asked, fishing in his pocket for money. Dawn laughed. "Sure, everyone want the same?" At everyone's nods and yeses she accepted the money Xander had pressed into her hand only after protesting it was her turn and being told adamantly that no way it was her homecoming party. Dawn exited the washroom to stop dead in her tracks. The reason for her abrupt departure and absence standing not five feet from her. "Spike." His name was barely a breath of sound escaping from her parted lips. |