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Common Ground	By : QueenC Category: AtS/BtVS Crossovers > Het - Male/Female > Connor/Dawn Views: 3633 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Buffy the Vampire Slayer (BtVS) or Angel, the Series (AtS); nor any of the characters from them. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 1
- 2
Title: Common Ground
Author: QueenC
Email: Fallengoddess2002@yahoo.com
Disclaimer: Do I look like Joss Whedon to you?
Summary: Connor heads to Sunnydale after getting his revenge on Angel. Mentions Angel/Cordelia and Buffy/Spike.
Rating: R, eventually
Spoilers: Anything and everything is fair game
Author's Notes: Ok, I fudged the timeline a little bit to suit this story. Basically, I'm saying that the finales of BtVS and AtS took place late in the summer, not at the beginning of it. Also, as in all of my fics, Angel is Spike's sire simply because I refuse to believe anything else. Words in *'s are emphasized, and words in 's are thoughts.

Part 1

LA

Connor stood on the beach, the warm night air whipping through his brown hair. He blinked back the tears that were forming in his eyes, swiping furiously at the few stray drops that trickled down his cheeks. Although his vision was slightly blurred, he could still make out the ocean that loomed before him; the waters deceptively calm considering the agony that they were witnesses to miles below the surface.

An evil smiled spread across the young man's face as he thought of the vampire trapped in the coffin that was currently sitting on the ocean floor. He knew that the monster must be going through torture. Not only was he doomed to spend eternity underwater alone with his thoughts, but, the final thing he saw before succumbing to his tomb was the sight of his own flesh and blood executing the revenge.

Connor felt his stomach churn as he was forced to acknowledge that sickening fact. He was the bastard child of two vampires; creatures that brought death and destruction to everyone they met. However, he considered himself fortunate. Instead of being doomed to learn from demons and possibly become one himself, a wonderful, righteous man had raised him; a man that was now dead.

"It is over, father. You have been avenged. Angelus will never harm anyone again," the warrior child whispered, saying farewell to Holtz for the last time. Then, taking a deep breath, he turned his back to the salty water, his gaze locking on the only person he could now trust.

Justine smiled at the boy, maternal instincts that she never knew she'd possessed coming to the surface. As he walked to her, she closed her eyes, her heart crying out for the man that had died by her own hand.

Once she felt Connor's presence directly in front of her, she opened her eyes, trying to keep the fear and uncertainty from consuming her. He was staring at her, his head tilted to the side, a thoughtful _expression on his face. Finally, he spoke.

"You are unsure how to proceed." It was a statement, not a question, and Justine merely nodded in agreement. The boy smiled slightly, looking past her to the vehicle that she had driven there in.

"That will take us anywhere we choose to go?" he asked, once more peering into her face. She nodded again, still not trusting her voice enough to attempt to speak. It was taking everything she had not to tell him how Holtz had really died. The guilt that she was feeling was almost overwhelming. Not because a vampire had been blamed for it, but because of the pain that Connor was going through, would go through for the rest of his life.

"Very well. There is a town, not far from here. Sunnydale. Have you heard of it?" the young man wondered.

Justine nodded, finally swallowing the emotions she was feeling. She could sort through them later. Right now, they needed a plan. "Yes. It is built on a Hellmouth. The Slayer lives there, as well. Why, what are you thinking?" she responded warily.

Connor shrugged his shoulders. "I can sense the power from there. It calls to me. There is much evil and limited good. We will go there and continue to battle the darkness."

The woman raised an eyebrow, staring at him. "Steven, you need to go to school, meet people your own age, have a normal life," she stated calmly. Seeing the anger that consumed him at her statement, she added, "Daniel wouldn't want you to fight anymore. He wanted you to live a very long time and that isn't possible if you continue to fight."

The boy glared at her. "My father would *not* want me to just give up! He fought vampires for his entire existence, and I will do the same," he growled, daring her to disagree. Couldn't she see that he was created to be in battle, that he would be lost without it?

Justine nodded, not wanting to argue. She knew that he was very likely to run off if she pushed him too far and the thought of losing him, of being alone again, was unacceptable. "Alright. Sunnydale it is. But, you *are* going to school," she finally amended. "No son of mine is going to be uneducated."

Connor smiled, a warm feeling washing over him at her reference as his mother. Out loud, he said, "Alright, 'mom'. Let's go."

She nodded, smiling herself. Turning, she headed to the car, her 'son' beside her, and their new life only hours away.

******

Sunnydale

"Dawn, you're going to be late!"

Dawn Summers moaned, pulling her comforter tighter around her body, trying to drown out the muffled voice calling her from downstairs.

"Just a few more minutes," she mumbled, her eyes closing before she'd even finished her sentence. Moments later, her bedroom door flew open and her sister stomped in, yanking the covers off her.

"I mean it, Dawn. Get up. Xander's going to be here in twenty minutes to get you, and you are *not* going to be tardy for your first day of school!" Buffy exclaimed, glaring down at her.

Sighing, the teenager opened her eyes, slowly sitting up. "Ok! I'm up!" she cried, getting out of bed. As she headed to the bathroom, she muttered under her breath, "Jeez, it's not like it takes me an hour to get dressed, unlike *some* people."

Buffy rolled her eyes, following her younger sister out of the room. "I heard that! Now, hurry up. Your breakfast is getting cold."

Dawn turned to glance at her as she entered the bathroom. "Buffy, I eat cereal. It's supposed to be cold!" she exclaimed. Seeing the woman shake her head, she felt dread fill her.

"Not today. Today I made pancakes," the Slayer said brightly, heading back down the stairs, a light bounce in her step thanks to the coffee that she'd drank an hour earlier.

Dawn shivered, clutching her change of clothes tighter. "She made breakfast? What, am I being punished for something?" she whispered.

"I *heard* that, young lady. One more comment like that, and you will be!" Buffy hollered from downstairs. Rolling her eyes, Dawn slammed the bathroom door, muttering to herself about the unfairness of Slayer hearing. Ten minutes later, she entered the kitchen, grimacing at the mess that greeted her. Pots and pans filled the sink and stove and the counters were covered with something that Dawn could only hope was pancake batter.

Suddenly, a plate of steaming hot, buttery pancakes appeared in front of her. Dawn took the plate, glancing at Buffy, who was standing beside her, beaming. The girl glanced down at the food, then back at her sister, suspicion filling her. "Ok, who are you and what have you done with my cooking challenged sister?" she questioned, grabbing a fork and moving into the dining room.

Buffy rolled her eyes, following closely. "Ha, ha, very funny." She sat across from her, watching anxiously as Dawn took a small bite. Suddenly, the former Key smiled, practically inhaling half of the food.

"Wow! This is great, Buffy! I mean, really great! This tastes just like," suddenly she froze, the fork halfway to her mouth, her blue eyes narrowing. "You picked this up at that diner across town, didn't you?" she said.

The blonde woman shook her head. "I did not! I found the recipe in some cookbook." Seeing Dawn's disbelief, she grinned. "Sorry, Dawnie, but those are grade A certified Summers homemade hotcakes. Not bad, huh?"

"Not bad! Buffy, these are great! If you could cook everything like this, I'd never eat fast food again!" Laughing, she finished the plate, standing up as a knock sounded on the door. "I'm gonna go get my stuff. Tell Xander I'll be right there."

The Slayer nodded, heading to the foyer. She opened the front door, smiling broadly at the man that stood on the doorstep. "Hey Xander! Come on in. Dawn's just getting her stuff." She stepped aside, allowing him entry.

Xander walked in, grinning. "Morning Buffy." He inhaled deeply, his stomach growling at the wonderful smell that accosted him. "Mmm. Pancakes?" he asked, giving her a hopeful look. She nodded, holding up a plate.

"Here you go. I made sure to make some for you. I'd hurry up and eat them before Dawn gets down here, though. That girl can eat more than anyone I've ever seen, and that includes you!" Buffy teased, handing him the food. Xander looked at the plate, then back at the woman standing before him, a smile on his face.

"Well, I'm going to have to reclaim my title as glutton king," he said, practically inhaling the pancakes, mumbling in between bites. "This stuff is great. Where did you say you got it from?"

Buffy rolled her eyes, crossing her arms over her chest. "I didn't get them, Xander. I cooked them." Seeing his disbelieving look, she threw her hands up in exasperation. "Why is it you guys assume that I can't cook? It's not like driving!" she exclaimed, practically pouting.

Xander handed her the empty plate, grinning. "I dunno, Buff. Maybe it has something to do with the lemonade you made without sugar, or the Thanksgiving dinner you fixed that brought new meaning to the phrase 'giving thanks'." His reply was cut short by Dawn bounding down the stairs, her backpack slung over her shoulder.

"Hey Xander! Ready to go?" Seeing his quick nod, she turned to Buffy, hugging her tightly. "Bye Buffy. I'll see you after school. Thanks again for breakfast!" Then, still smiling, she turned and headed out into the sunshine.

Xander watched Dawn practically float out the door, turning his questioning gaze to the still insulted Slayer before him. "Wow, she's sure happy, huh?" he asked, nodding his head in the direction of the opened door. They could both hear the slight humming coming from the teenager on the front porch.

Buffy nodded, shrugging. "It must be a teenager thing. We were never that happy, were we?" she asked, frowning slightly as she briefly thought back to their years in high school. "I mean, we had our moments, but we were never just happy for no reason." Her eyes widened as she stared at the man before her. "Oh! Maybe she's possessed! We haven't had a good possession in a while."

Xander laughed, shaking his head. "I don't think so, Buffster. Dawn's just being a typical sixteen-year-old girl with raging hormones. She probably has a crush, or something. You and Willow were the same way when we were that age. Let's not forget the whole Angel swooning time period." He gave her a slight hug, turning towards the door. Calling over his shoulder, he added, "By the way, we had moments like that. Granted they usually followed the aversion of apocalypses, but we did have them. See you later!" He exited, shutting the door behind him.

Buffy moved to the living room, watching her sister and best friend get into the car. A few moments later, they pulled away, both of them smiling, Dawn speaking excitedly about something. Once they were out of sight, the Slayer headed into the kitchen, intending to clean up the mess that her breakfast adventure had caused. Standing at the sink, Xander's comment suddenly registered and she froze, her eyes going wide.

"Raging hormones? Crush?" She shook her head, unwilling to believe it. "No. No way. Dawn *can't* have a crush! She would have said something." She smiled, convincing herself of the less frightening scenario. "She's probably just possessed."

******

Sunnydale High School was bustling with students as Xander pulled up to the curb. It was hard to believe that, just a few months ago, the building had still been a dilapidated wreck, courtesy of the class of 1999. It was even harder to believe that the place where the residents of Sunnydale sent their offspring was directly on top of the mouth of Hell.

Xander looked at the building for a moment, memories of the years he'd spent there washing over him. Finally, he glanced at the brunette sitting beside him, smiling. "I know that this is probably pretty frightening for you, what with going to a school were the mortality rate is higher than the graduation percentage. But, I don't want you to worry about that. I just want you to go inside, have some fun, and try not to think about all of the Hell beasts that are moving around below you. So, go on, and commence with the learning!" he exclaimed.

Dawn rolled her eyes, opening the car door. "See you later, Xander. Thanks again for the ride." Not looking back, she got out of the car, shutting it behind her. Then, she took a deep breath, squaring her shoulders. This was it. Once she walked through those doors, she would officially be attending high school, on the Hellmouth. She would be picking up the torch that her sister had left behind years before.

"Not a literal torch, because, burning down the school, or blowing it up, or anything like that, would be very bad," she mumbled to herself. Shaking her head at her own idiotic musings, she plastered a smile on her face. Keeping her head held high, she began the long trek up the stairs that led to the entrance of the school. As she reached the top, she turned to wave at someone she knew, and promptly smacked into a chest; a very muscular chest. Taking a step back, she felt the top of the stairs at her heels, a sinking sensation washing over her.

Waving her arms around comically, she tried in vain to get her balance. Finally, she shut her eyes tightly, preparing herself for the inevitable humiliation that was certain to greet her, provided she didn't break her neck on the way down. Suddenly, an arm snaked out, wrapping itself firmly around her waist and setting her back on her feet.

"Are you alright? I didn't hurt you, did I?" a voice asked quietly, it's soft tone laced with concern. Slowly, Dawn opened her eyes, and felt her breath escape her. Standing before her was the cutest guy she had ever seen. He was tall, but not too tall, with light brown hair and the prettiest brown eyes.

"Miss, are you alright?" he asked again, frowning slightly as she just stared at him, her mouth hanging open. Finally, she nodded, smiling.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Um, thanks. For the whole not letting my fall thing," she whispered. He nodded, confusion evident on his face.

"You are welcome." That being said, he turned to head inside. Dawn's eyes widened as she realized that, in mere moments, he would be lost in the sea of students and faculty.

"Wait!" she cried. When he turned back around, she blushed, looking away. Finally, she looked back at him through her lashes. "I'm Dawn. Dawn Summers." She stuck out her hand, mentally groaning at how dumb she must look.

The boy stared at her for a minute, finally shaking her hand. "Steven Holtz."

"So, um, where are you heading?" she asked out loud, reluctantly letting go of his hand. Neither had noticed the bell that had rung moments earlier, signaling the beginning of the first class. They both were too busy looking in one another's eyes.

"Mr. Walters, room 116," he answered, unable to look away. She was simply beautiful. With her long brown hair, big blue eyes, and porcelain skinned sprinkled with freckles, he honestly believed that she was simply perfect. He watched as a smile light up her face.

"Really? That's where I'm going!" she exclaimed. "That's so cool!" Suddenly she blushed, a light pink tinting her cheeks.

Steven grinned, unable to explain the happiness he felt at the knowledge that they were in the same class. "Would you care to walk with me? I'm new here and not entirely certain where I'm heading," he partially lied. He had memorized the map of the school the night before, just in case. However, he wasn't about to tell her that.

Dawn nodded. "Sure! Um, this way--I think," she laughed, heading into the building and down the hallway. As they walked, the two teenagers continued to glance at one another, each thinking their own thoughts.

Part 2

LA

Silence surrounded him. As Angel continued his feeble struggles to loosen the bonds around him, he realized exactly what the saying "Silence is deafening" meant. It seeped into your mind, enveloping you like a cloak, wearing away at your defenses. Growling softly, the vampire renewed his fight against the melded metal, determination giving him an extra burst of energy.

However, he knew that it was useless. Nothing short of a miracle was going to get him out of this watery tomb. Closing his eyes, he tried to ignore the pain that he was feeling. It would be different if it were physical. Then, he would most likely embrace it, using it to take his mind off the problems at hand. No, this was an ache of the emotional variety. His heart felt as if it were breaking in his chest at the betrayal of his son.

But, Angel knew that wasn't entirely true. That bitch, Justine, was with the boy. He felt pure rage fill him at the thought of that *thing* being anywhere near his son, filling his head with more lies.

Angel shook his head, trying to ignore the voice of his demon, who had seized the opportunity of being heard. Dark laughter filled Angel's mind.

Angel gritted his teeth to keep from screaming. He shot back harshly in his mind. To his surprise and relief, the demon quieted. < I have *enough* problems right now without having to deal with your 'I told you so's.' In case you haven't noticed, we're stuck here, together, for what looks like could be a *very* long time. Add to that the fact that no one knows what happened to us, and we're pretty much screwed. So, either help find a way out of this mess, or shut the hell up! >

That being said, or, rather thought, the vampire once again closed his eyes, trying to relax his body. Then, he heard the fairly soft reply from his alter ego.

Had the situation permitted him the small luxury of opening his mouth, Angel would have laughed. However, would mean taking in large amounts of salty, fish infested water, and that was *not* an option. So, he settled for merely shaking his head and replying mentally.

He listened as his demon rattled the cage it was trapped within, anger washing over him.

Angel knew that it was a bad idea. If they somehow did make it out of the cage and back to the surface, he wasn't positive that he would be strong enough to take back control of the body they both inhabited. Of course, at this point, he wasn't sure that he even cared anymore. If Angelus was released, he could take care of the Justine problem, along with anything else that may come up. With that thought in mind, and serious despair finally sinking in, Angel decided to make a deal with the devil.

Angel closed his eyes, praying to the Powers That Be that he wasn't making an enormous mistake. Then, he unlocked the chains that were binding his demon.

Slowly, a smirk filled the vampires face. It was good to be back.

******

Sunnydale

Dawn stared at the food on her tray, her skin taking on a slightly green tinge. "Why is it that everything schools serve look like they could get up and walk away by themselves?" she mumbled, following after her friend. They maneuvered through the throngs of students milling about in the cafeteria, finally making their way to a table. She smiled at the five other students already sitting there, glad that she had the luck of sharing lunch with at least a few of the people that she had known from the year before.

Janice laughed, sitting across from her. "That, Dawn, is the number one reason why I always bring my lunch!" As if proving her point, the girl produced a brown paper bag from her backpack, opened it, and began removing various delicious looking items.

Dawn gazed down at her 'food', a yellow looking substance that was supposed to be spaghetti, then looked back up in time to see Janice bite into a chocolate cupcake. The girl felt her mouth begin to water at the sight of the sweet and groaned softly. "I am so going to tell Buffy that I'm taking my lunch from now on," she muttered, pushing her tray away from her. She was hungry, but not hungry enough to eat whatever *that* was.

Trying to ignore the rumbling in her stomach, she glanced around the lunchroom, her eyes widening as she saw the one person she had been hoping to see.

"There's the guy I told you about, Janice!" she hissed, nodding with her head towards the young man she had met earlier. Janice turned her head, her jaw dropping.

"Wow, you weren't kidding when you said that he was a hottie, Dawn. I wonder if he has a girlfriend."

Dawn shot her friend a dark look, then smiling, waving at the boy. "Steven, over here!" she called, her grin widening as he looked at her and nodded. Quickly, he strode across the room, coming up to the table.

"Hey Dawn," he said softly, waiting for her to give him permission to sit beside her. He paid no attention to the other girl, who was trying her best to look sexy. Of course, considering the fact that she had chocolate all over her teeth, it was no easy task.

"Go ahead and sit down, tell me about your day. Do you like your teachers? Did you find everything else ok?" Dawn babbled, making room for him at the table.

The Miracle Child nodded, his hand brushing against her arm as he sat beside her. "It's been alright so far. How about yours?" he politely replied, his eyes never leaving her beautiful face. He tried in vain to ignore the tingling sensation that spread up his arm at the slight contact with her.

Dawn felt her stomach do flip-flops when he touched her, and had to fight to listen to what he was saying. As she opened her mouth to reply, Janice cut her off, extending her hand across the table.

"Hi, I'm Janice, Dawn's best friend," she exclaimed, her voice syrupy sweet.

Connor glanced down at her hand, and then turned his head ever so slightly to peer into her painted on face. "That's nice," he said, "But I was talking to Dawn." That being said, he once more turned his gaze back to the former Key. "Would you care to go outside, Dawn? Perhaps then we could speak without being interrupted."

Stifling a giggle, the girl nodded. Immediately, the boy jumped to his feet, holding her chair for her as she stood. Dawn gave a small wave to a very shocked Janice, then turned and headed for the courtyard. Once they were outside, the sun beaming down on them, she glanced sideways at Connor, her eyes sparkling.

"That was *so* cool!" she gushed, sitting underneath a tree. He sat beside her, a puzzled look on his face.

"Cool?" he repeated, confused. < I must sound like an idiot to her. I have to remember to ask Justine about this slang that I keep hearing. >

Dawn nodded, her smile growing larger by the second. "Yeah! What you said to Janice in there was great. I mean, she probably won't speak to me for the rest of the day because I left with you, but it was still awesome."

He shrugged, looking away. "I didn't mean to cause you any problems. I just wanted to talk to you, not her. I'll leave you alone," he said, standing.

Dawn grabbed his arm, stopping him. "Wait! No! I don't want you to leave!" she exclaimed.

Connor looked down at her, his heart skipping a beat at the vision she made. Small traces of sunlight filtered through the trees, bringing out a slightly red tone to her hair and making her freckles more pronounced. "But, you said that she would cease to be your friend," he replied, even more confused.

She rolled her eyes. "Like I care whether or not she's my friend. The last time I went out with her, I nearly got killed." Shaking her head to clear her mind of the memories of that ill-fated Halloween, she looked up at him. "If she's mad at me, it's ok. It was *so* worth it to see the look on her face. Now, sit. I want to talk."

Smiling, he sat back down, finally noticing that she still had her hand on his arm. He stared at it in amazement, his eyes widening. Normally, he hated anyone touching him. His sensitive skin would go all haywire at the extra sensations. However, with her, it felt good, almost natural.

Dawn blushed as she followed his gaze. "Um, sorry," she whispered, pulling her hand away.

Quickly, he reached out and grabbed it, holding it securely within his own hand. Raising his head to look at her, he stated, "Don't apologize. I like it."

Dawn grinned, a pink tinge coloring her cheeks. If she had been standing, she just knew that her knees would be weak. Especially once he began slowly running his thumb over the top of her hand. "So do I," she mumbled, unable to look away from his gaze. All she wanted to do was kiss him, see if his lips were really as soft as they looked.

Connor raised an eyebrow, noticing the increase in her pulse. He idly wondered if her heart was beating as fast as his was. Finally, before he did something stupid, he asked, "So, what did you wish to talk about?"

Part 3

Sunnydale

Buffy laid in the bathtub, letting the hot water ease her aching muscles. She rested her head on the back of the tub, closing her eyes and inhaling the sweet scent of the raspberry bubble bath that she had opted to use in place of her normal vanilla one. She had never realized just how stressful being an adult was. Everyday things, like making sure her sister got to school and the bills were all paid took unimaginable amounts of energy. Add to that the fact that she had to keep the world safe from demons on a nightly basis, and she would be surprised if she didn't have gray hair by the time she was thirty.

Shaking her head to clear away the morbid thoughts that constantly plagued her, the blonde Slayer focused on the positive things in her life. According to Giles, Willow was doing much better. Following her journey into darkness a few months earlier, the red head had gone to England to learn how to deal with the guilt and control the magic still within her. She wasn't sure when she was going to be coming back.

Xander was finally learning how to deal with the loss of Anya. The once-more vengeance demon had left Sunnydale immediately after the whole Willow fiasco. At first, Xander had been deep into a depression, refusing to do much of anything. Finally, after nearly two months of wallowing in pity, he had snapped out of it. He was almost back to the loyal, lovingly goofy young man he had once been. The irony of the situation was who had helped him in reclaiming his life. Spike.

Buffy shifted in the tub, trying to find a more comfortable position. For some reason, whenever her thoughts drifted to the bleached blonde vampire, she was unable to sit still, her entire body feeling as if it were burning from the inside out. However, since his sudden return into her life almost two months ago, Buffy had found herself re-thinking that entire equation. He had come back from his trip completely different. Gone were the cocky banter and the uncomfortable innuendoes. Well, almost gone. Still moments when he would do or say something would remind her of the old Spike. But, for the most part, it was obvious that having a soul had made the former 'Big Bad' much more like the 'Big Poof' than he would care to admit.

It still amazed her. Angel and Angelus were like two separate entities. They had shared nothing in common. Where one had loved her with everything that he was, the other had hated her with equal fervor. One had wanted to protect the innocent, the other to destroy it. However, Spike wasn't like that. True, he was less crass and crude. But, he was still *Spike*, which seemed odd to her. Shouldn't having a soul have changed him as dramatically as it had Angel? Shouldn't he be wallowing in self-pity, brooding in the dark over a past he could never change? The way he was acting just didn't seen normal.

"Yeah, like *anything* Spike has done has *ever* been normal. He fell in love with a Slayer, for crying out loud! He worked with the good guys, helped to save the world and protected and cared for Dawn even when he didn't have to. And, he did it all without a soul," she muttered, slowly standing and getting out of the tub. As the water drained away, Buffy went about the task of getting herself dried off, her mind still transfixed on the new and improved Spike. She pointedly ignored that little voice in the back of her mind that whispered about her true feelings for him.

Ten minutes later, she exited her bedroom. On the outside, she appeared calm and collected, dressed in a new outfit and ready for the night of patrolling ahead of her. However, on the inside, she was battling with herself. She knew that Spike loved her. Hell, he had gone halfway across the world to get a soul just to prove his feelings. She knew that he would never hurt her. She had even forgiven him for that horrible attempted assault at the beginning of the summer. And, if she were completely honest with herself, she knew that she was slowly but surely falling in love with him as well. But, she would be damned if she would ever admit it.

Suddenly, a knock sounded on her door, shaking her from her thoughts. Frowning slightly, she walked downstairs, opening the door. She was nearly knocked down by a smoking blanket as it dashed past her into the safety of her home. Shutting the door, Buffy followed it, shaking her head as the blanket fell to the ground, Spike emerging from under it.

Slowly, he turned to face her, an uncertain look on his face. "Um, hey. I-uh-I was," he tapered off when he saw her unreadable _expression, looking away.

"Spike, what are you doing here?" she asked quietly, her voice even. He hadn't come to see her like this, alone and in the middle of the day, since he'd returned. Part of her was thrilled that he was there, her stomach fluttering as she peered into his bright blue eyes. However, the other part of her was nervous, wondering *why* he was there. Seeing the crushed look that covered his face, she quickly added, "Is everything ok?"

Spike nodded slowly. "Yeah, everything's fine. I just wanted to drop by, see how the Bit's first day of school went," he replied. He seemed almost embarrassed now, looking anywhere but at her.

Buffy felt her heart melt at his words. A brilliant smile filled her face and she took a step towards him, wanting nothing more than to wrap her arms around him. He raised his head, his eyes widening. Unconsciously, he took a step back, not understanding her intent.

"Sorry, Buffy. I should go," he said softly, picking back up his blanket. The woman shook her head, frowning slightly.

"What? Spike, why are you leaving?" she asked, confusion evident on her face.

He faced her, sighing deeply. "It's ok, luv. I understand. I shouldn't have come here like this." He flinched as she took another step towards him, expecting her to hit him, or possibly deliver the stake to his heart that should have happened years before.

Buffy blinked, watching in shock as he walked back to the door. As soon as he put his hand on the doorknob, she couldn't take it. "Spike, wait! Please!" she called. He slowly turned to look at her, his eyes widening in disbelief. She smiled at him, her entire face lighting up. "I'm glad that you came. I'm not used to it being so quiet. Silence makes me think, and a thinking Buffy is *not* a good Buffy."

He opened his mouth, words escaping him. She was *glad* he was there? Feeling like he was moving in slow motion, he walked up to her, stopping when their bodies were only inches apart. Before she could object, he gently grabbed her shoulders, peering down into her beautiful face. "Any Buffy is a good Buffy," he whispered hoarsely, inwardly wincing at how incredibly lame that sounded. But, he quickly decided it was worth it when her smile widened even more and she wrapped her arms around him, hugging him tightly.

"I missed you, Spike," she said, her voice muffled against his chest. "I'm so sorry for everything. I-I was just so afraid."

He ran his fingers through her hair, shushing her. "It's ok, pet." Tenderly, he placed his hand under her chin, lifting her head to look at him. He smiled at her, pouring all of the love he felt for her into his gaze.

Buffy licked her lips, all reasons for *why* they shouldn't be together escaping her. All she could think about was how right this felt, how safe she was in his arms. Slowly, she raised herself up on her toes, moved her lips towards him, and closed her eyes as she waited for a kiss that she knew was going to steal her breath away.

"What in the *hell* is going on here?" A voice called out, causing the duo jump apart. Blushing, Buffy turned her head, her gaze landing on the source of the interruption.

Xander stood in the doorway, his hands clenched into fists, his face a mask of barely controlled anger and disappointment. He looked from Buffy to Spike and back, his mind trying to process what he had just seen.

"Xander, w-what are you doing here?" Buffy finally demanded, finding her voice. She was surprised to find that she felt no guilt or remorse over what had almost transpired. All she knew was she was highly pissed off at being disturbed. Crossing her arms over her chest, she raised an eyebrow, glaring at her friend. "And, it had better be pretty damn important, too. As you can see, I was busy."

The young man shook his head, deciding to question *that* statement later. It wasn't that he hated Spike, not really. He knew if it hadn't been for the bleached blonde, he would probably be dead right now. And, he was even willing to admit that the vampire truly seemed to care for both Buffy and Dawn. It was just the *ickyness* of the situation. Shaking his head to clear his mind, he focused on the reason for his impromptu visit.

"It's Dawn. I went to pick her up after school like I said I would. She wasn't there."

******

Dawn laughed softly as a she watched a group of children chasing one another through the park. One little boy in particular seemed to focus his attention on a small blonde haired girl, going out of his way to catch her as often as possible. Of course, from the look on the girl's face, she didn't seem to object.

"I miss that," the youngest Summers suddenly announced, casting a sideways glance at her companion. Seeing his slight frown, she turned to face him, elaborating. "I miss just being a kid. Back when the only thing there was to worry about was if the coyote was going to catch the roadrunner or if Santa was going to bring you what you wanted for Christmas. You know what I mean?" she asked.

Connor had absolutely no idea what she was talking about. Being raised in a hell dimension tended to limit your knowledge of pop-culture references. However, he couldn't very well tell her that. So, he merely nodded, smiling. "Yes. Growing up can be difficult," he agreed.

Dawn giggled, turning back to watch the children playing. Suddenly, she felt arms go around her, closing her eyes in pleasure as Connor positioned himself so she was sitting between his legs. Instinctively, she leaned back, resting her head on his shoulder, a purely feminine smile on her face.

"This is *so* nice," she murmured, resting her hands on his thighs. "I haven't been able to relax like this in, well, forever."

"You haven't?" he asked, his breath tickling her ear. "Why not? I assumed this is what normal teenagers do."

"Yeah, well, normal girl I'm *not*." As soon as the words had left her mouth, her eyes flew open and she inwardly grimaced.

Connor frowned when she stiffened, wondering what he'd done to upset her. "Dawn, are you alright? I didn't upset you, did I?" he questioned.

Dawn relaxed, shaking her head. "Nope. I'm just peachy," she replied, leaning against him once more. She noticed that it was starting to get dark and knew that she needed to get going, before Steven got a first hand view of the creatures that roamed Sunnydale at night.

"Peachy?" he repeated, frowning once more. < I *really* must learn this language better. >

The young girl smiled, twisting to look at him. "You really don't know much slang, do you? What, are you from Europe or something?" She watched as his face darkened and immediately began to explain. "No, it's cool! I mean, I like the way you talk. It's unique. I was just wondering, that's all."

He looked at her doubtfully, finally deciding to take a chance and believe her. Slowly he nodded, tightening his hold on her. "I'm not from here," he admitted, telling himself that it was not a *complete* lie. He had just left out the fact that he was from an entirely different dimension.

Dawn grinned. "Thought so. So, tell me a little about yourself. What are your parents like? Where were you raised at?" she asked, turning completely to face him. She stuck her legs around him, resting her arms on his upper thighs.

Connor's eyes darkened at the thought of his parents; his *real* parents. He forced the dark thoughts away, focusing on the man that he considered his father. "I was raised far away from here. In a town called Quortoth. My father raised me alone," he looked down, blinking back tears. When he spoke again, Dawn had to strain to hear him. "He died a few weeks ago."

The former Key gasped, tears filling her own eyes. "I'm *so* sorry. I-I lost my mom last year. It was awful," she said softly, her heart going out to him.

The Miracle Child raised his head, looking at her. Seeing that she was telling the truth, he nodded. "Yes, it's extremely difficult," he agreed. Taking a deep breath, he continued with his story. "Afterwards, my mother and I decided to move here, to attempt to begin again."

She smiled, squeezing his leg. "Well, I'm glad. Not about your dad, of course. That you moved here."

He grinned, moving his hands from her waist to her back, making smoothing circles through her shirt. "I'm glad too," he admitted, locking eyes with her. Slowly, he leaned forward, lowering his head to hers.

Dawn licked her lips in anticipation; her eyes drifting closed as she felt his mouth reach hers.

As their lips touched for the first time, the desire they felt quickly consumed them. Suddenly, their kiss went from one of gentle innocence to fiery passion. Dawn parted her lips at the same time he did, their tongues meeting and battling for dominance. She moaned softly, wrapping her arms around him, trying to hold him as close as she could.

Connor moved his hand to the back of her neck, his fingers tangling in her long hair. He had the sensation that they were being watched, his senses warning him that whoever was out there could very easily be evil. Yet, he couldn't seem to bring himself to care. As long as she was by his side, he felt as if he could face anything.

Slowly, Dawn forced herself to pull away, gasping for breath. With wide blue eyes, she peered up at him, a light pink tinge filling her cheeks. "That was, um, wow!" she whispered once she'd regained her ability to speak.

He nodded, running his fingers down the side of her face, a sensual smile on his lips. "I agree," he said. Then, he tore his gaze away from her, looking at the quickly setting sun. "We should get going. My mother will worry."

Dawn groaned, burying her face in his chest. "Oh, God. My sister is going to *kill* me!" she cried. Finally, she pulled away, both of them getting to their feet. She smiled at him, her eyes shining. "I guess I'll see you tomorrow."

Connor swallowed, fear filling him. < I must go with her, make certain that no harm comes to her. > Grabbing her hand, he quietly asked, "May I walk you home?"

She nodded shyly, squeezing his hand. "I'd love that," she admitted. They both exchanged a small smile and, fingers entwined, turned and headed for Revello Drive. The closer they got, the more each of them began to regret what was about to come. Finally, Dawn glanced at him, worrying her lower lip with her teeth.

"I don't want to go home. Home doesn't have you there," she whispered, holding her breath as she waited for his response. He nodded, breathing a sigh of relief.

"I feel the same way, Dawn. Tomorrow seems like a long time from now." He paused, asking the last part in a rush. "Perhaps I could call you tonight?"

The young woman smiled, nodding her head vigorously. "I'd like that!" Quickly she pulled a piece of paper from her purse, letting go of his hand only to write her phone number down. She handed it to him, her heart swelling as he took it, placing it in his pocket.

Finally, Dawn sighed, stopping at her driveway. "Well, this is me. I, um, had better get inside before my sister comes out here. She's *such* a spaz sometimes."

He frowned, reluctantly letting go of her hand. "I will call you later. Good night." He quickly kissed her, then took a step back, watching as she turned and headed into her home, glancing back at him and smiling before walking completely inside. Once she was far enough away from him, Connor's senses quickly focused once more on his surroundings.

The hairs on the back of his neck stood up and he looked around, his hand resting on the stake in his pocket. He knew it was a vampire. However, he wasn't sure *where* exactly the demon was at. Shaking his head of the ridiculousness of that concept, he began the trek back to his own home, deciding to pass through the cemetery on the way. As he walked, he thought about the afternoon he'd spent in the company of the most wonderful creature to ever grace his presence. He touched his lips, remembering how soft her skin was. Groaning softly, Connor opted to skip the slaying for the evening. He could practically see the disappointed look that Holtz would give him, allowing some mere girl to come between himself and the destruction of evil. However, the young man shrugged, not really caring. For Dawn, he'd happily give up fighting. For Dawn, he'd give up anything.

******
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