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Joss is God.
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Buffy chewed on a thumbnail nervously. As hard as she tried, she couldn't concentrate
on anything but her tiff with Spike. He'd left while she was calming Dawn down,
and no one had seen him since. Her training session with Giles had been abysmal,
and even pool time with the gang had worn thin quickly. Her nerves were so on
edge that she'd actually forsaken the pool for the hot tub, wanting to be alone.
But Dawn had followed, giving Buffy pointed looks and sly grins, having already
forgiven both her sister and the vampire in a moment of teenage clarity.
Everyone but Willow and Dawn was walking on eggshells around her, thinking she was upset about Riley, of all things. Her sister and her best friend knew about the spat with Spike, but for the most part, kept their mouths shut. Unable to stand the platitudes any longer, she pleaded hunger and scrambled for the suite. The tension from the fight wasn't thing only thing bringing out bitchy Buffy, and she wasn't about to tell anyone that if she didn't get laid soon so was going to go on a killing spree. It doesn't help that the stupid vampire I sort of care for is traipsing about in the goddamn sunlight! she thought. What kind of moron vampire goes out during the daytime? When he should be sleeping in his room and I could come in and jump his undead bones?
Her rant didn't make her feel better and she let out a wail of frustration. Stomping her foot, she looked around the room. She couldn't break anything or Giles would have to pay for it. The bed caught her eye, and she grinned for the first time since the fight. Within second she was on the bed, jumping up and down, giggles flying out of her mouth. Pushing down hard, she did a small flip and landed on her butt, only to get up and try again.
Dawn walked in as she was attempting a back flip, and almost screamed in shock. "Buffy? What are you doing?"
"Relieving some tension," the Slayer answered, steadying herself for another try at the back flip.
Dawn giggled. "All work and no sex with Spike makes the Slayer a bitch?" she asked innocently.
"Dawn Summers! If mom was here, she'd wash you mouth out with soap for a week!" Buffy admonished, trying desperately to look stern as she jumped on the bed.
"Yeah, and when was the last time Mom jumped on a bed? Hmm?" Buffy's lack of an answer made her smile turn into a smirk. "Exactly. You're my sister, not my mother, and I can say things like that to you. We're supposed to share giggly girl things, not stakes and magick spells. C'mon, Buff. Sit down and we'll talk; it'll make you feel better," Dawn coaxed.
Buffy gave her a look that said 'You're insane' and went on jumping.
"Buffy, I saw him without his shirt this morning. No one can kiss a man that fine and not want to talk about it."
Suddenly, the jumping stopped and Buffy was sitting on the bed cross-legged, grinning like an idiot. "He is pretty hot, isn't he?"
Dawn flopped on the bed, dangling her feet over the edge. "Hell, yes. I mean, definitely hotter then Xander or Angel. Spike is, like, 200 degrees on the hot thermometer," she said, fanning herself theatrically.
Buffy giggled. "The hot thermometer? Guess that's cleaner that what we used to call it."
"Which was what? Something you never wrote in your diaries I read?" Dawn asked indignantly.
"Oh, god, yes. I never wrote anything important in the ones you could find. The ones that talked about stuff that above a PG-13, always went in the secret spot. Still do, in fact."
"So what was it? Don't leave me hanging," Dawn whined.
An evil smile crept over the Slayer's face. "We used to call it the 'Scale of Do-ability'. You know, what it would take for us to 'do' them?" she laughed. A wistful look floated through her eyes. "Angel was a no brainer. I think he was on a rung called 'I'd pay him to let me'."
"Yeah, but come on, Buff. Spike is way hotter than Brood Boy."
"Oh, yeah. And he's a better kisser, too," she said, not thinking before she replied.
"Really?" Dawn asked excitedly. "I'll bet. Angel's too involved in himself, and Spike only sees you."
Buffy shook her head. "I should not be talking about this with
you. How do I know you're not going to tell him? Or worse tell Xander?"
Dawn rolled her eyes. "Because we're sisters. Summers' girls. And we keep
our word." Her eyes flashed a little green as she said this and Buffy frowned.
"And one of us is a Summers girl with some funky ass powers taking over her body," she muttered, brushing a hair off Dawn's face.
"Like that's never happened to a Summers girl before," Dawn snorted, raising an eyebrow at her sister.
Buffy sighed. "Okay, score one for Dawnie. I'll spill about Spike, and you spill about the powers. Sound fair?"
"Well…I suppose. But you first!"
"He's different than Angel or Parker or Riley. Spike has this…god, this sounds corny…gentle savagery. Like scary in a way, but comforting. He gets all pissy and vampy, but then he's sweet as a kitten. It's weird. He makes me feel…like I'm not as breakable as people think. Like I can be myself, really be me, and he'll still be there. I've never felt that before," Buffy trailed off, her eyes drifting to the window.
Danw smiled. Her sister loved Spike; she just didn't know it yet. Right now, she was calling it lust, but it was love. Somehow, she just knew that, without a doubt. "Well, that's wonderful, Buffy. But it's not exactly what I had in mind. I mean, not a word about his cute butt? It's criminal!"
Buffy fell back on to the bed laughing. "Oh, God, Dawn. He'd die if he knew you'd check out his ass. You saw how jumpy he got when I said you'd had a crush on him. He freaked! But you're right…he does have one squeezable tush. And those abs…."
"Buffy, you're drooling. Not very Slayer-like, I must say. Unless you figure out how to harness your slobber for the power of good, which is unlikely at best," Dawn said, fighting back a fit of giggles.
"But I just don't know, Dawn. I don't know if I trust him. I trusted Angel, and look where it has me now," she replied sadly.
"I think trust is earned on an individual basis, Buffy. You let certain people into your circle as a Slayer, and it was a gamble every time. Faith and Angel both betrayed that trust in one way or another, but most people didn't. It isn't fair not to at least give Spike the chance to prove himself."
"Yeah, I guess so…"
Both their heads snapped up as the door opened. Xander poked his head in and looked at them. "Lunch, anyone?"
Dawn grinned. "Come on, Buff. You need your strength. It's grub time."
Buffy sighed. The last thing she wanted was to deal with everyone else in a
quiet setting after last night. For Dawn's sake, she nodded, rolling to her
feet. "Let's get our eat on, Dawnie."
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The gang was gathered around the table, busily munching on the grilled cheese
sandwiches and tomato soup that Tara had whipped up. Looking around, Buffy frowned.
"Where'd that stove come from?"
Willow whistled innocently. "I have no idea. But if I did, it would be because I can still smell the burnt hotplate waffle."
Xander pouted. "That was a mighty tasty waffle, I'll have you know. Tasty meaning ashy and charred, so not the traditional definition, but still..."
Buffy rolled her eyes and flopped into her chair. Dawn handed her two grilled cheeses, knowing Buffy hated tomato soup. It reminded her too much of blood. The Slayer took a bite of the sandwich, trying to force down something so her friends wouldn't worry about her. Her thoughts drifted to Spike and she wondered if he had eaten today. Maybe that's why he went out…to buy more blood for the siege, she thought.
"Buffy? Hey Buffy? Yoohoo Slayer?"
Xander's voice brought her back to reality, and she turned to him, trying to figure out what he'd asked her. "Huh?"
"I said, where is the bleached moron? Shouldn't he be here, annoying us tirelessly?"
"I-um…I haven't seen him since this morning."
"You mean since you two had a lover's spat?" Anya asked nonchalantly before taking a huge bite of her sandwich.
Giles spit his tea out. "Oh, sorry, I…yes. I'll clean this up," he said, moving to get some towels.
Buffy's eyes widened and her face flushed in embarrassment. "What? No! We're not-we didn't…Where did you hear that?" she demanded.
Anya raised an eyebrow skeptically. "Willow said she heard you two and Dawn arguing this morning. I just asummed…"
"Don't assume. Never assume!" Buffy growled, giving Willow a dirty look.
Giles cleared his throat and gave Buffy a chastising look. "Buffy, I can only say your decisions are your own; however, their consequences can be far reaching." His eyes lit on each of her friends' faces before meeting hers again.
She lowered her eyes to her plate, hestitating before pushing her plate away. "I'm not hungry," she mumbled, trudging to her room and slamming the door. The distinct sound of a lock clicking was audible in the silent room.
Dawn turned to the group, her eyes turning eerie green again. "That wasn't fair. Isn't it enough that she bears the weight of the world's fate on her shoulders? Don't you think she deserves any shot at happiness she can get?"
Giles opened his mouth to reply but found himself speechless. His Slayer's sister was floating off her chair, electrical energy holding her and everything within a few inches of her off the ground. Her hair was whipping about and the greenish tint to her eyes was darkening.
Gulping back his fear and shock, Xander asked, "Dawnster? You did notice that you're… well…floating, right?"
She sighed. "Yeah. Kinda hard not to."
"You're in control of natural forces, Dawn. Do you know how advanced that is? When did you learn to do this?" Willow asked curiously.
"I didn't learn! It just happens. I was telling Buffy about it this morning. Some weird things have been going on since Glory. It was just too hard to discuss because Buffy was…gone." A tear slipped out of her eyes and seemed to sizzle on her skin. The color of her eyes turned to brilliant blue and the air around her became soft and soothing. The charge disappeared and the objects settled on the table, though Dawn remained suspended.
"Dawn, your emotions control you powers. Calm down," Tara said gently.
Dawn closed her eyes and focused on calming herself. When she regained control, her feet floated down to the ground, and her eyes became normal. She opened her eyes and looked at the Scoobies sheepishly. "Guess I have some thing to explain, huh?"
"You better believe it, missy," Xander said, pressing his hand against his chest. "That was scary!"
Dawn cocked her head to the side, not paying attention to him. The hackles
on her neck prickled up and she listened intently. She could hear someone approaching
the room. It was a vampire. Her instinct lead her to pick up the pencil on the
table, and her mind helped float it in front of her. She waited until the last
second and when the door crashed open, she sent it flying through the air.
The pencil flew straight into a huge box, imbedding itself halfway through the
cardboard. Spike's white blond head peeked around the side of the box, gaping
at the pencil. "bloody hell, bit, you coulda dusted me! Give a bloke some
warning next time you set booby traps!"
Dawn shrieked. "Oh, my God, Spike! I didn't… I heard…I sensed a vamp and…instinct, you know?"
He sighed. "I do, pet. Same one your sister has almost ended my life with plenty of times. Want to help me with this load?" He shook the bags he had dangling off his arms pointedly.
"Yeah, sure. Thanks for understanding," she said earnestly, grabbing the big shopping bags off his arms and heading for her room.
"No problem, Bit." He looked at the surprised Scoobies at the table. "Didn't she tell you about Buffy's part of me speech? Seems pretty standard to me. She's got Slayer skills developing; add that to her natural magick, and I think we've got ourselves one helluva weapon." With that, he adjusted the box in his arms, and headed for Dawn's room, grinning to himself. Let them chew on that for awhile, he thought gleefully.
On to Next Part