"Buffy? Willow?" No answer. "Giles?"

A bit deflated at finding the room empty, the girl was about to shuffle back out when she spied the stacks of boxes resting on the large reading table in the center of the room. Intrigued, she gingerly lifted a flap on the nearest one, wrinkling her nose at the odd odor emanating from its contents.

"Ew! Just s'more smelly ole books. Like they need any more of those around here." The seventh grader had just reached inside to pull out a thick leather-bound tome with curious symbols on the cover, when a quiet noise from the office behind the high desk, caught her attention, and she went to investigate.

"Giles? Oh!"

Sitting at Giles' desk was a younger-looking, dark haired man Dawn had never seen before. He was dressed in a nice, dark blue suit and tie, and wore glasses. Apparently startled by her sudden appearance in the doorway, the man leapt clumsily to his feet, smoothing out the wrinkles in his clothes, as he composed himself and spoke.

"Er...hello. I'm afraid Mr. Giles is out at the moment. M-May I ...help you?"

"Hey, you sound just like Giles! You his brother or something?" The stranger's face wrinkled up with obvious displeasure, and, if possible, he stood even more stiffly.

"Brother? Most certainly not." He reached up to adjust his glasses, and looked down at the smaller girl. "I'm a colleague of his. My name is Wesley Wyndham-Pryce, and..."

"New Watcher?" Dawn interrupted, casually. His mouth fell open, then returned to frowning.

"Why does that question not surprise me anymore?"

"Are you evil?"

"...or that one?" He muttered, under his breath. "I wish everyone would stop asking me that." Wesley's pompous demeanor fell away, as he slumped down into the wooden, desk chair behind him.

"Oh, sorry. The last one was evil." Dawn moved to the other side of the desk, and idly twisted one of her long braids, as she regarded the new Watcher thoughtfully. Aware of her scrutiny, Wesley raised his eyes from the file folder he had picked up, and looked the girl up and down.

She was long-limbed and thin - probably tall for her age - and, while he was no judge of young girl's ages, he guessed she was not yet old enough to be in high school. She wore white shorts, a bright red t-shirt with a cartoon animal on it, and a friendly smile. In fact, it was the first smile he'd seen directed at himself since he'd arrived in this God-forsaken country the week before. Leaning forward, with his hands clasped in front of him on the desk, Wesley attempted an uneasy smile of his own.

"Yes, I was sent here by the Council Of Watchers, to replace Mr. Giles, and I take it you are a friend of Buffy's? Although, you seem a bit young..." A giggle erupted from the girl, which she did her best to stifle, before extending her hand in greeting.

"I'm Dawn. Dawn Summers. I'm Buffy's sister."

Eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Really? I-I didn't realize..." Wesley pulled another file from his briefcase, and leafed through it. "Ah, of course, here it is: (reading) 'Siblings - One Sister, age 11."

"I'm twelve," Dawn corrected quickly.

"I see. My apologies, Ms. Summers. I'll make a note of that." He jotted down something on the paper in front of him. Dawn giggled again, and Wesley found himself relaxing and grinning back at her.

"So, where's Buffy and the others? Are they coming back soon?"

His smile fading, Wesley's gaze fell to his hands. "I-I'm not sure where they went."

"But you're Buffy's Watcher! Isn't she supposed to tell you where she's going?" Dawn pulled a second chair over next to Wesley's and plopped down unceremoniously into it.

"I don't think Buffy is exactly pleased that I'm here," he confessed. "She and Faith seem to take great pleasure in ignoring me."

"Oh, Faith," Dawn shuddered. "She kinda creeps me out, but I wouldn't worry about Buffy. She was the same way with Giles, when he first came here." She waved a dismissive hand in the air.

"Really?" Wesley was intrigued.

"Sure. He was all 'I'm your Watcher, so you have to do what I say. It's your destiny...blah, blah, blah.' Don't do that, and you'll be okay," Dawn reassured, brightly. The Watcher could feel his cheeks getting warm, and quickly changed the subject.

"You seem to be a very observant young lady." Dawn beamed at him, and bounced a little in her seat.

"Sure. They think I'm just a kid, but I see everything. I knew what Buffy was doing *way* before Mom did. My favorite book is 'Harriet the Spy', y'know."

"Er...yes?" The non sequitur confused him briefly, but Dawn didn't notice.

"Yeah, I write *everything* down. It's important to keep track of all the facts, y'know, cause you never know when you're going to need them."

"That sounds sensible. You have the makings of a good Watcher." Wesley was actually enjoying the company of the rather exuberant girl, and even found himself encouraging her.

"Really?! Do you think I could be a Watcher someday? That would be so cool! How did you get to be one? Did you have to go to school for it?" A bit overwhelmed, Wesley tried to decide which question to answer first.

"Well, I was trained as a Watcher, as my father was before me. I suppose you could say it's a family business. Watcher's are generally British..." Seeing the pout of disappointment forming on the girl's face, he added, "...but you never know. They might make an exception...under special circumstances." He winked conspiratorially at Dawn, who blushed.

"Was it hard?"

"The Watcher's Academy?" And he thought Buffy's train of thought was hard to follow.

"No, coming here...leaving England. Is it alot different here?"

Wesley sighed heavily, and removed his glasses, wiping them with his clean, white handkerchief. "In some ways, yes."

"I know it was hard for me, having to move here from Los Angeles, just because Buffy....y'know." He nodded, assuming she was referring to the Slayer's problems at her last school. "I had to leave all my friends behind, and I was lonely at first. Are you lonely?"

"Well....uh..." The Englishman was rather taken aback by the personal nature of the rapid-fire questioning. Nonplused, Dawn continued chattering away, carrying on the friendly banter without him.

"I'm sure you are. And, I'll bet its hard, coming to replace Giles and all. I mean, I know what it's like....being second ...always being compared to the *popular* one." Dawn scowled slightly, at the thought.

Suddenly, Wesley *was* feeling rather lonely. He blinked at Dawn, in wonder. "Are you sure you're only twelve?" Dawn patted his hand lightly.

"I'm very advanced for my age."

"I see."

"Hey, if you want, I can be your friend. I think you're nice. That way you won't be all alone." A comforting warmth rose up in Wesley's chest and began to spread throughout his entire body, and in a moment of impulse, he leaned down, planting a chaste kiss on the kind girl's forehead.

"Thank you. I'd be honored to have you for my friend."

"Cool!" Without warning, Dawn jumped up out of her seat. "I gotta get home now. Mom's gonna be home soon and be wondering where I am."

"Er...do you need a ride home?" Wesley moved to get up.

"Nope. As long as its daylight out, I'm okay. Thanks anyway." She started to go, but on second thought, ran back and planted a quick kiss on Wesley's cheek. Giggling again, at the startled look on the man's face, she turned and ran out the door, braids bouncing behind her.

"Bye!" she yelled, as she disappeared.

"Bye." Wesley answered softly, in return. He sat back and smiled. Maybe things were finally beginning to look up.