�You know what she's up to don't you Dawnie?�
Willow's hushed conversation with the youngest Summers had not gone unnoticed by the blonde beauty and, as much as she loved surprises, she was more than a little curious about what was going on.
�All I know is my part of the plan, but if I told you, a bit of your surprise wouldn't be a surprise any more. You'll find out soon enough.� The younger girl chuckled as the wiccan began mock sulking.
�What's so funny?�
�Oh it's just, I thought what with you turning twenty-five, you'd be, uh, a teeny bit less like a kid? You're being almost as bad as your nephew at the minute, and your nephew, is Joshua Harris.�
Dawn emphasised the young boys name as if he was world famous for sulking. Which, in all fairness, he could well have been.
�That's not a nice thing to say, about Josh or me. I really don't think you should upset a powerful witch on her birthday.�
Although Tara's genuine threats could strike fear in most people (and a few demons too if they went near Willow); her mock-threats provoked more laughter than dread. So, of course, Dawn burst into a fit of laughter and Tara could do nothing but watch forlornly. Thankfully the episode was interrupted by a knock on the door which instantly pulled Dawn out of her giggle-fest.
�Oh, you should answer it. It'll be your dr�, erm, your surprise, I mean.�
By this point Tara was as excited as most young children are on Christmas morning. She rushed to the door and almost pulled it off its hinges in her haste to find out what her surprise was. Unfortunately, only a disgruntled Buffy stood in the doorway.
�I snapped my key, there was a demony thing that needed me to kill it on my way home. Who'd have thought you could use a door key as a weapon?�
The slayer asked nobody in particular, mainly because no one was really listening.
�Aren't you even a little bit happy to see me home, safe, after my encounter with evil?� She added when she noticed the disappointed looks of the two women in the hallway.
�Sorry Buffy, we thought you were the deliveryman with Tara's next presents. We're both very glad that you're home and that you, once again, stand victorious in your fight against all things bad.�
The sarcasm in her little sisters voice was not lost on Buffy, but, even she had to admit that stories of defeating demons and vampires were getting a little bit boring nowadays, as they would if you heard them at least once daily for almost nine years.
�Present-S as in, plural? There's more than one present? What are they? Are they all from Willow? Why isn't she here to give me them?� Rather than noticing the sarcasm, Tara had picked up on Dawns use of an 's' on the end of the word present and her excitement level had risen to an almost unbearable amount.
�Okay, lets see. Yes. Yes. Wait and see. Yes they are. She's busy organising yet more surprises for you. And, before you ask, I don't know what exactly it is she's doing or where she is.�
After living with three over-protective sisters (even if two of them weren't proper sisters) for the past four years, Dawn had mastered the art of answering a barrage of questions all at once and to anticipate what other questions might follow.
Thankfully, before Tara could think of any more questions, there was another knock at the door.
