Title: Like You Author: Phoenixflame Rating: PG-13 Summary: Buffy. Angel. Fluff and normalcy for Buffy. To a point. Disclaimer: I don't own Buffy or Angel. Notes: And now, for my tradition of starting a fic from the end of the season finale. :) Song chosen because the general feel of it just /fits/. Wierd continuity on the Angel side of things. Also, the next part of The Other Side should be done sometime tonight. Just wanted to get this out first. You've got a great car Yeah whats wrong with it today I used to have one too Maybe I'll come and have a look -Dandy Warhols 'Bohemian Like You' It was a bright and sunny day in Sunnydale, California. At the Summers house, a rented U-haul was parked out front, and the occupants had been shifting boxes from the house to the trailer. "So, tell me why Buffy's doing this again?" Anya asked, hands on hips as the observed the cluttered living room. "She wants to be closer to the college. Also, we can't afford keeping the house." Dawn shrugged. "Too many bad memories, I guess. And every evil thing in town seems to have our address." "Oh. Well, that makes sense, I suppose." Anya replied. She looked at the couch, and her eyes narrowed. "I am NOT carrying that." she muttered, and made a lifting gesture. The couch floated about a foot off of the ground. "No levitating the couch, Anya." Buffy called, poking her head out of the kitchen. "The neighbors think we're wierd enough already." "Fine!" Anya called. Buffy's head vanished from the doorway. The couch dropped back to the floor with a loud thud. "And keep the noise down in there! I'm on the phone with Xander!" Anya made a face. "Figures." She plopped down on the couch and crossed her ankles. "Fine. I'll do things the nice, normal, non-magic way." She pouted. "Yes, please do. I believe we've all had enough magic the last few weeks." Giles came in the front door, still moving rather stiffly. "And we've only the living room to go, so let's not succumb to temptation now, shall we?" "Giles!" Dawn squeaked in happiness, and bounded over to hug the Watcher. Giles winced. "Dawn, while I do appreciate that you're happy to see me, please quit squeezing my ribs. They're still quite bruised." Dawn quickly let go. "Ooops. Sorry." "Apology accepted." the Watcher replied, looking relieved. "Come on, sit down." Anya said, making room on the couch. "You really shouldn't be out of the hospital just because you can walk, you know. It's bad for your health. Of course, it's not as bad as a crazy sorceress playing ping-pong with you, the ceiling, and the ground, but it's still not a good idea." "Thank you, Anya, but I've had worse." "No, you haven't, and Anya's right." Buffy said firmly, coming out of the kitchen with Giles' cellphone in her hand. She gave it back to him. "You should be at your hotel room, resting." "Nonsense. I'll be quite alright." Giles said, and started to rise to his feet. He hissed in pain, and Anya quickly slid over and helped him up. "On the other hand, perhaps rest is a good idea after all." he commented, leaning heavily on Anya. "You don't say." Buffy said drily. "I just got off the phone with Xander. They've reached the pueblo's. Willow's evidently having some sort of wierd ritual thingy with the shaman or something tonight. Xander said something about tobacco, cleansing, and nude dancing." "Ewww." said Dawn, making a face. "Sounds interesting." Anya said cheerfully. "So. Shall we finish shifting these boxes now?" "All work and no play makes Dawn a dull girl... all work and no play makes Dawn a dull girl..." the brunette grumbled as she bent to grab a box. Buffy just smiled and moved to help her sister. ************************************************* "So... I was thinking a moped?" "What?" Dawn looked up from her homework from where she lay on her stomach on her bed. "You /didn't/ just say what I thought you said." She blinked, then stared. "Wow. Way to go with the feminine. Is it safe to wander around in a skirt?" Buffy plucked at the green cotton sundress she was wearing, and gave her sister a sheepish grin. "I'm feeling more human today anyway, so I figured I'd dig some old things out of the depths of my wardrobe. Speaking of which, where's the tanktop with the roses around the neckline?" Dawn's eyes widened. "Err... which one?" "Relax. I don't mind." Buffy grinned. "I'm feeling generous today." "Anyway. Moped?" Dawn's eyes glittered with excitement as she kicked her bare feet in the air. "I could get behind that." "Moped." Buffy replied, the smile still on her face. "I can't afford a decent car, but I'm going to need some sort of way to get back and forth." "Awesome. When are we getting it?" "Next week." The Slayer was practically bouncing with excitement. "And guess what. I'm not working burgers anymore!" "Cool!" Dawn put her homework aside and pushed herself up to sit with her legs folded Indian style. "What's your new job?" "Well, that's the thing." Buffy's smile was gleeful. "I don't have to do anything more than Slay. Giles wrangled the really old and rich families of the Council to give me a monthly salary, so we'll be living comfortably. At least until they decide to renege on the deal, at which point I go over to England and kick their butts." "Go Buffy!" Dawn squealed. "Don't do that. Please." Buffy said. "You sound like a stuck pig." "Do not!" "Do too. So there." Buffy stuck her tongue out at Dawn. "Anyway, I'm going to go try to fathom the cookbook. Spaghetti." "Uh, how about we just call for pizza?" Dawn asked, eyes widening.