They Call Him Monster

Author: PaulenaK ~ toukalah@hotmail.com

Crossover: WWE/BTVS

Rating: PG

Pairing: Dawn/Shane Helms

Summary: Sometimes there are things even family can’t accept.

Disclaimer: Everything WWE (at time of writing) belongs to Vince McMahon. Everything BTVS belongs to Joss Whedon.

Feedback: Is much appreciated.

Author's Note: References to BTVS episode 'All The Way'.

**

Part One

**

"So."

"Yeah."

"Gee... it's cold."

He smiles his eyes focusing on her lips.

"You okay? You want this back?" She says motioning to the jacket he had given her moments before.

"Nah... The cold doesn’t really bother me." His hand slips across the seat to rest behind her head.

"What are you? Superman?" She jokes trying to lighten the mood knowing any minute now he would kiss her.

"No... But I do have a few special powers..." He leans in.

"Hey," Her laugh sounds nervous to her own ears as she reaches out to turn on the radio trying to keep her hands from fidgeting. "Does this work?"

"First you have to turn on the ignition," He turns it on for her and the melancholy sounds of Evanescence come streaming through the speakers.

"Oh, I love this one,"

He runs his hand along her jaw brushing her hair back behind her ear. "Is this your first time, Dawn?"

"What? No... I've... done... absolutely nothing." She lowers her head embarrassed.

He lifts her chin up with one finger, their eyes lock and he kisses her, softly, sweetly... then trails down her neck. "Your different, I knew it the first time I saw you..."

"You did?"

"Yeah..."

Her eyes closed of there own choosing as if he had willed it leaning toward her again, her brows drew together at the touch of his lips on hers, firm yet soft and oh so intoxicating drawing her in like a moth to the flame.

She didn’t protest when he removed her top, the first touch of his lips on her heated flesh sending her off into another world and when she came back down to earth she felt his skin against hers, hard, throbbing... and cold.

'Is this heaven?' She thought her mind spiralling with the sensations he was causing in her, she didn’t know when he had removed her jeans only felt the sharp pain as he entered her.

"Dawn..." She heard him whisper and the feeling she got from hearing him whisper her name in the throes of passion heightened her own senses until all she knew was her, him and pleasure.

She felt his release and smiled to her self waiting for her own, all that pent up fluttering in her core needed a release... right? But it never came. In that one second she had opened her eyes, her big blues eyes were met with an over hanging forehead and the eerie glow of yellow eyes.

As if sensing her fear his game face disappeared and she was again staring up into the blues eyes of her date. "I won’t hurt you...”He whispered. “I could never hurt you... I love you..."

"You’re a... a... get off me!" Reaching up behind her she grabs onto the door handle and pushes it open while bringing her knee up between his legs, 'He may be a vamp but even vamps feel pain.'

"Dawn!" He tried to grab her and hold on to his crotch at the same time as she scrambled out from beneath him and out into the woods. He stood as he got out of the car all traces of the boy gone replaced by his demon side. "Fine, if this is how you want to play... I have to admit, I always love the chase."

She ran through the wood's seeing light passing through between the trees she knew she had to be nearing the road, but she also knew that he would soon catch her so she had two choices. She could make a run for the road and hopefully flag down a car and get not only herself killed but the occupants of the car as well... or she could find something to use as a stake and stand her ground. There was really no option.

She didn’t really have time to look as she found herself on the ground staring up into his game face. "Gotcha."

Dawn stares up at him no sign or fear on her features... she watches him as he sniffs the air and grins down at her baring his fangs.

"You’re not scared of me... I knew you were different." He bent his head to her neck and sniffed again, "We are going to be together forever..."

Dawns fingers stretched out feeling around for something to use as a weapon. "We are?"

"I love you Dawn, from the first moment Mr Kennedy made you stand up in class and introduce yourself."

"That's funny, that’s almost the moment I fell in love with you..." Staring up at him for a moment she smiled turning her head to the side to expose her neck to him.

She closed her eyes as the weight on top of her disappeared and the dust settled, leaving her lying there alone with a twig no bigger then a pencil in her hand.

Staring up at the night sky through the tree tops she allowed herself this time to cry and to accept that she had just killed the first boy she had ever loved.

**

Part Two

**

Dawn stood in the back yard of the Summers home practicing her I'm-home-from-my-sleep-over-did-you-miss-me speech... it sounded so good on the way here that she had practically skipped down the foot path. Now that the time had come to actually voice her speech her feet felt like they were encased in shoes spun from lead.

Reaching into the pocket of her duffle bag for her compact she flicks it open to scan her reflection, she looked like any other teenager who had slept at a friends house... guilty... and in her case guilt tinged with loss was not a good thing but when faced when a difficult circumstance she had made her choice. With that thought in mind she slung her bag back up onto her shoulder and ran up the steps and through the kitchen door.

"I'm home!" Dropping her bag by the back door she walked through to the lounge. "Buffy?"

"Down here Dawn," She heard her sister reply from under the stairs.

"What are you doing in the basement?" Dawn called poking her head through the open door.

"Oh... um... training... yeah... Spike came over so we thought we'd get in some extra training..." Her sister called back.

Dawn rolled her eyes, "Buffy talk for 'Spike and I are making like bunnies.'" She mumbled to herself. "Okay, I'm just gonna go up to my room." She called back down not waiting for a reply as she headed back into the kitchen to retrieve her bag.

Throwing her bag on her bed she headed straight for the bathroom silently thanking whoever was watching over her that she hadn’t had to face Buffy looking and 'pppp-uuuu' smelling like she did. She so needed a shower.

Stripping down to nothing she stepped under the spray of water letting the heat beat down on her skin, winching at the pain it caused down her back. Glancing over her shoulder she saw a long welt trailing down her back from shoulder to hip. 'Gosh, when had that happened?' She thought, it looked like someone had struck her with a riding crop or something... she would've had some explaining to do had it been an open wound, turning around under the spray she allowed the water clean her wound.

Hopping out of the shower she wrapped her long hair in a towel before coming to stand in front of the basin toothbrush in hand. 'Good, I look more like me,' She thought as she began to brush her teeth.

A mouthful of water later she was spitting out the excess toothpaste and drying the outside of her mouth on her towel. "Perfect." She smiled to herself as she sniffed the air. "I now look clean and smell clean."

Walking back into her room she sat on the bed to empty out the contents of her bag. Pyjamas, brush, book, lipstick, and squirt gun filled with holy water, her eye caught something fluttering to the ground and she bent to pick it up, turning it over in her hand she saw it was the picture of Justin that she had cut out from the school year book. She had been carrying it around for months now hoping he would notice her... and finally he had. Then a thought entered her head 'Did he have to be all evil first before he noticed her? Sheesh, what was wrong with her? It seemed all the Summers females ever seemed to do was attract all the nasties!'

Getting her diary from the bedside table she opened it to the next blank page slipping the picture between the pages and securing it with a paperclip. 'No one need know about last night,' she thought smoothing out the picture so it wouldn’t crease once she had closed her diary. 'Only you and me."

**

Part Three

**

>>>6 weeks later

Dawn sat with her head in the toilet bowl, Buffy's comforting hand rubbing slowly in small circles over her back while Willow held her long hair back.

"Dawnie, this is the third time in a week you've gotten sick... I think it's time she saw a doctor." Willow spoke softly behind her but Dawn knew full well that the latter part of her statement was directed at her sister and not at her.

"I don’t need a doctor... I told you there's a tummy bug going around the school-"

"I'll make an appointment today." Buffy agreed as if Dawn hadn't spoken at all. "In the meantime you get to wag school today little sis."

Dawn brightened at that. "Can I go to the mall I saw this top..." Her voice trailed off when she saw Buffy's face radiating all kind's of no in her direction.

"Couch bunny Dawn here I come..." She muttered dabbing at her face with the wet cloth Willow handed to her.

"It'll be fun Dawnie... and I'll be here with you till Giles arrives."

"Giles? I so don’t need a babysitter... I'm fifteen!" She exclaimed as she was pulled from the bathroom and down the stairs.

"Exactly why Giles is coming over," Her sister replied flippantly, "Now sit." She ordered pointing to the couch.

"Feel like some breakfast, Dawnie? I could make you funny shapes?" Willow suggested. They could hear Buffy out in the hall on the phone to the doctor.

"Thanks Will's, but the thought of food right now makes me want to stick my head back over the toilet bowl."

"Oh... jiminy... maybe I should go get a bucket."

'Great,' She thought. 'I'm going to be left in the mercy of Giles librarian at large for the next four to eight hours.' She looked up as Buffy came back into the room carrying a glass of orange juice and some tablets setting them down on the coffee table before inching the table closer to Dawn.

"Okay, appointment is all set for this afternoon... Willow and I will be by later to take you so all you have to do is sit tight."

She stood back with her hands on her hips looking down at her and Dawn couldn’t help the smile that came to her face. "You looked so much like mom right then,"

Buffy smiled back at her. "Thanks."

"Giles is here," Willow said as she came in carrying a bucket and towel placing them beside Dawn as well.

"He's early..." Buffy said moving to pull back the curtain, sure enough Giles trusty little Toyota was parked beside the nature strip. "Aw well... we can both go to that meeting with the bank manager," she added looking at Willow.

"Cool, I'll get my bag. Hey Giles." She smiled brightly at the older man as she headed up the stairs.

"Oh... hello Willow... Buffy, Dawn."

"Giles." both girls said at the same time before bursting into giggles as they looked at each other.

"Am I missing something?" Giles asked pushing his glasses up further on his nose.

"Oh... no... Just the Summers family genes kicking in." Buffy smiled up at him as she passed stopping at the hall table to check the contents of her bag.

Dawn just shrugged sticking a magazine up in front of her face to hide her smile when he raised his eye brows her way.

"Okay, all ready." Willow said as she came down the stairs dressed in a pants suit, her hair falling down around her shoulders.

"Go Will's," Buffy said winking at her friend. "If my wit and vocal arguments don’t get me the loan... your outfit will."

"I aim to please." Willow grinned back waving to Dawn as she stood beside Buffy at the door.

"We'll be back in a couple hours," Buffy said to Giles reaching out to take the keys he held out to her.

"Oh... take your time," He couldn’t help the worried expression that came to his face as he watched the two young women walk down the driveway towards his car. "We'll just spend the morning talking about boy bands and who's wearing what now a days." He added shutting the door.

**

Part Four

**

Dawn was still lounging about on the couch a few hours later when the door burst open and an irate Buffy Summers stormed up the stairs.

"Don’t even ask." Willow said as she dropped her purse on the hall table before following Buffy up the stairs.

"Guess the meeting with the bank manager didn’t go well," Dawn said to a confused Giles who had just entered the room wearing an apron and drying his hands on a dish towel. "Nice look." She added going back to her magazine before he could subject her to one of his many berating stares.

"Is everything alright?" He asked Willow as she made her way back down the stairs.

"She didn’t get the loan."

Dawn peeked over the top of her magazine straining to hear what was being said in hushed tones between Willow and Giles, quickly pulling it back up as the two glanced her way.

"Well maybe now she'll consider the loan I offered her." Giles suggested turning to lean back against the door frame.

"You know she hates taking your money Giles, especially since you’re out of a job as well."

"Yeah... well... thanks for reminding me."

Willow responded with a smile, mock punching him on the shoulder both turning to the sound of footsteps coming down the stairs.

"I guess you heard." Buffy said smiling half heartedly at the man who had been her friend and watcher since she and her mother had moved to Sunnydale.

"If it's any consolation you’re not the first person to be turned away by a bank manager."

"No, but your ego sure takes a tumble,"

"Come on Buffy..." Giles said wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "You've faced demons and hell gods... don’t let an old bald headed man in a two dollar suit with lending issues get you down."

Buffy smiled leaning her head on his shoulder. "Actually he was young..."

"Oh..."

"And had a full head of hair..."

"I see."

"And his suit was quite-"

"I get the picture Buffy."

**

"They have been in there for ages... what could be taking this long?" Buffy exclaimed as she paced the doctor's waiting room.

"Buffy, it's only been twenty minutes." Willow replied leaning forward to rummage through a pile of out dated magazines sitting on top of a small table.

"I just got a bad feeling that’s all."

"What do you mean? A demony bad feeling?"

"I'm not sure... but I'm certain about one thing," She said sitting down in the seat next to Willow. "I'm not going to like it."

"Miss Summers, the doctor will see you now." The receptionist said motioning for Buffy to go through to the doctor's office.

Both girls got up and walked through to find the doctor sitting behind his desk, his glasses slipping down his nose as he leaned forward perusing an open file laid out on his desk.

"Dr Taylor?"

"Ah Buffy, have a seat." He waved towards the seats provided on the other side of his desk before standing to knock on the door of an examination room.

Buffy watched as an obviously shaken and upset Dawn came through hesitating a bit before taking a seat next to her sister and Willow.

"What... what's wrong?" Buffy asked clearly getting agitated now.

Dr Taylor looked from one sister to the other before settling on the shaking form of the younger sister. "Do you want me to?"

"No... No... Thank you." She said sending a small smile his way before turning in her seat to face Buffy and Willow.

"What is it Dawnie?" Willow asked reaching out to grab the younger girl’s hand.

"Dawn please..."

Dawn looked up tears filling her eyes. "I'm pregnant."

**

Part Five

**

Dawn sat on her bed, they had arrived home in utter silence she having retreated to her room while all hell broke loose down stairs. Buffy was livid that fact wasn’t too hard to distinguish by the disappointed look on her face, while Willow just sat in silence quietly taking it all in and on the few occasions when she had caught Dawn's gaze her eyes had shone not only with knowledge and perception but also with understanding.

The yelling had moved upstairs now and it wasn’t long before there was a knock at her bedroom door. Steeling herself for the inevitable she reached out and pulled the door open.

"Giles?" She moved out of the way to allow him entry but he instead chose to hover just inside the doorway.

"Ah... Buffy needed to release some tension..." He said as if knowing she had expected her sister to be knocking on her door and not him. "She's gone out on patrol early... Willow's gone with her to make sure she's okay."

"Oh." There was an awkward silence before she continued. "She thinks I'm a slut, doesn’t she."

Giles stepped into the room then crouching down in front of her as she sat on the bed. "No, Dawn... of course she doesn’t."

"She does... she couldn’t even look at me when we drove back from the hospital."

Giles had no response to that... if anything she was right, Buffy having said as much before storming out the door with Willow at her heels.

"Dawn-"

"I heard you all arguing, you know. I know she hates me," The tears began to fall then and Giles put a comforting arm around her shoulders.

"Does the father know?"

"The father is dead." Her reply was barely audible amongst her sobs. "I dusted him."

"He was a-"

"Vampire? So yes." She lowered her eyes from his.

Giles stood to pace the room wiping his glasses on the end of his shirt as he always did when in thinking mode. "Dawn, vampires are dead therefore they cannot reproduce."

Her eyes snapped up confusion evident in her stare. "Then how-"

"The key." They looked up to see Willow standing in the doorway. "Buffy's fine... Spike's with her..." She added as she came fully into the room sitting down on the bed next to Dawn. "Dawnie, what Giles says is true, vampires can’t reproduce... but what he failed to remember is that you’re not human."

Dawn's shoulders slumped at Willow's words knowing all too well that they were true. She wasn’t human. She wasn’t of this world so 'The vampire not being able to reproduce with a human rule' didn't apply to her.

"We need to know what's inside of her?" Willow said looking up at Giles.

"I'm not getting rid of it."

"Dawnie we don’t know what it is-"

"I don’t care! I am not getting rid of it." She snapped her hand moving up to place a comforting palm against her belly. Dawn's expression broke Willow's heart as the younger girl lifted her eyes to hers. "I can’t."

"Just rest for now Dawnie..." She whispered pushing Dawn back gently so that she was now lying down on top of the bed, pulling the covers up over her. "All I'm saying is that you have an ultra-sound so we can see what it is that's inside of you."

"I agree Dawn... Willow and I will talk with Buffy when she returns and arrange everything... you just rest."

Dawn thankfully closed her eyes her stress filled day finally taking its toll as she fell into a restless slumber.

**

Part Six

**

Dawn woke to the sound of birds chirping and the sun streaming down on her through the open window, the smile on her face widening as she felt the tiny squirming from inside her belly. She couldn’t believe it had been eight months already... she knew she should hate her predicament with all of Sunnydale shunning her, her 'Then' friends barely registering her existence and worse still Buffy.

Her sister was barely civil to her most of the time choosing to just ignore her completely. She had tried, Willow had tried... even Spike had tried to get things back to the way they were but Buffy's mind was made up. Not even the results of the ultra-sound had softened Buffy's heart towards her. Not that she could blame her... her baby would just be another dependent being added to the already heavy weight of the world that lay upon the slayers shoulders. She and her baby were an outcast in her own home. Well at least she could be thankful that Buffy hadn’t kicked her out on the streets.

Willow was a godsend... already falling into the role of Aunt Willow as she pottered around the house doting on her and her unborn child whenever she was home, which wasn’t very often now that Angel was in need of her services as well.

But when Willow was home... everything seemed so much better.

"It's not your fault, baby," She whispered soothingly absently rubbing a hand up and down over her swollen stomach, "Mama's going to take care of you."

Pushing the covers back she slowly stood to her feet pausing momentarily to make sure she had her balance before walking tentatively towards the bathroom.

She turned on the shower letting the water run while she began unbutton the front of her nightie when she felt a warmth ness trickling down her legs, frowning she turned to the mirror and lifted the hem of her nightie - Blood.

**

The next time she woke up she was in a stark white room covered in a stark white sheet, her hand instinctively going to her stomach but someone stopped her hand from connecting instead pulling it out to the side and holding it within theirs.

"Buffy?" She whispered trying to lift her heavy eyelids.

"Shhh Dawn... just relax..."

That wasn’t Buffy's voice... "Giles?"

"It'll all be over soon, Dawn... Willow is on her way back now..."

"Where's Buffy?"

Dawn's eyes fluttered open but she never heard his response as she lapsed once more into unconsciousness.

**

Part Seven

**

"She's coming around Mr Giles."

"Okay people move back... Dawn? Dawn can you hear me?"

"Dawnie? Sweetie?"

Her eyes opened but the faces she was met with didn’t register in her brain. "Where... where am I?"

"Dawnie? How do you feel?"

'That voice' "Willow..."

"Yes baby it’s me,"

"It hurts..."

She felt a hand brushing the top of her head and knew that hand belonged to Willow.

"I know it does, sweetie..."

Her hand once again trailed down to her stomach but this time no one tried to pull her hand away, her fingers feeling but not meeting the mound she had come to expect over the last 8 months. Her brows creasing she looked to Willow to see the witch averting her gaze.

"Where's my baby? He's not-"

"He's fine dawn." Came a stern voice from behind Willow.

"Buffy?" Dawn smiled reaching for her sister hearing Willow swear under her breath as Buffy ignored her sisters out stretched arms.

"When your well enough we'll talk." She moved away from the wall she had been leaning against and walked towards the door stopping in the threshold to look back at the form of her sister lying on the bed before her gaze swept the room coming to rest on those of her watcher. "We need to talk." she said as she left the room. Giles followed shortly after.

"She still hates me."

"No... Dawnie... she's your sister, she could never hate you."

"No, but she could never love me either... not now."

**

Dawn was climbing the walls, it had been over an hour now and they still hadn’t brought her baby to her. 'What’s wrong? Something had to be wrong...' She had been in too much pain to even attempt to get up off the bed but now that the pain had lessoned somewhat she slowly eased the covers off her body.

'She still couldn’t get up... what was...' Craning her neck she frowned seeing a bind tied around her torso just below her breasts that held her to the bed. 'Why was she being restrained?' She felt around for the buckle but whatever held her to the bed had obviously been secured underneath the bed. She was indeed stuck.

"Willow!" She cried at the top of her lungs. "Buffy!"

She heard hurried footsteps before Buffy burst through the door already getting into battle stance. "What is it? Dawn-" Her words died on her lips as she saw Dawn trying to squirm out of her restraint.

"Buffy help me." She saw Giles come to a stop behind Buffy. "Giles help me please..." she couldn’t believe they just stood there.

"This is for your own good Dawn."

"What? You did this?"

"Where's Willow?" Buffy kept her gaze on Dawn but the question she directed to Giles.

"I've taken care of Willow..." He replied moving towards Dawn, he held up a syringe applying a little pressure to the needle and watched as a flow of liquid came through the tip.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" He asked looking back to Buffy for confirmation.

"Do it."

"Where's my baby... why are you doing this!" She screamed frantic now, hitting out at him with her arms. 'How could they do this?' She felt someone grab her arms and hold them steady as the Giles wiped at her arm with an alcohol swab.

Dawn looked up and met the eyes of her sister. This was probably the first time in her whole pregnancy that Buffy had touched her. And for the first time in her life, Dawn was disgusted by her sister's touch.

**

Part Eight

**

"Ouchie..." Willow groaned lifting a hand to her head rubbing at a decidedly large sore spot just behind her right ear. "Oh golly..." she mumbled grabbing onto the table for support as she righted herself.

'Something must be loose in the lab.' she thought flicking her gaze around the room before her hand went to her mouth in shock as her eyes focused on the baby capsule lying on the floor, the baby blankets and stuffed teddy bear she had put in strewn around the room.

"The baby..." She shrieked flying towards the door her hand already reaching for the handle but as her skin touched that of the door handle her body was thrown back and she landed flat on her back on the other side of the room. "Goddess what’s happening?"

She righted herself into a sitting position winching as she felt the effects of the force field's energy winding its way down her back disappearing out through her feet, sighing as she felt its release on her already hurt form.

Not yet ready to attempt to disarm the force field yet she closed her eyes instead concentrating on bringing the images of what happened in that room to her minds eye.

Like a fly on the wall she saw herself leaning over the new born, the brand new teddy bear she had purchased in her fingers as she playfully made it dance for his amusement, even if he didn’t know what was going on she could put this down as 'practise time' for when he really came to appreciate have a bad ass Wiccan for an aunt.

She saw Giles enter the room and saw herself turn to smile happily at the watcher as he made his way over to look down at the baby inside the capsule, he had an aloof expression on his face that she hadn’t noticed when he had walked in, probably because she was too caught up in the miracle that was wrapped so snugly in his capsule.

Her eyebrows creased as he moved to stand beside the table to look through some files now seeing that that was all a ruse... while her attention was again focused on the new born she saw Giles come to stand behind her his expression conflicted as if he were fighting an inner battle. Her mouth dropped open as she saw herself slouch to the floor, Giles coming up behind her prone form to look down on her... the weapon he had used to strike her still in his hand.

Her mind's eye flickered to another room where she could hear screams; familiar screams... the screams of a mother and her child.

'No they couldn’t be...' her mind screamed, but as she watched Buffy hold Dawn down while Giles injected something into Dawn's arm she knew the goddess had sent her this message for a reason.

**

The room was cold and dark and all she could hear was the restless breathing of the girl lost in slumber upon the bed, her body wracked in endless spasms as she fought to control the drug that was continually rushing through her blood stream.

She moved closer to the girl seeing the tears that trailed down the girls cheeks, her pain evident on her person even in her dream state and she cursed the ones who had put her there... even if she couldn’t hate them.

Reaching out she gently stroked the side of the sleeping girls face catching the wetness of her tears on her finger, she brought the wetness to the tiny bundle she held in her arms smiling as she felt the suckling noises on her fingers.

"That's your mommy... yeah it is..."

Placing her small burden in the arms of its sleeping mother she pulled forth an orb, allowing her mind to levitate it while her eyes darkened in her craft.

"From this form hence you came... with this form you shall remain..." A rosy hue encircled them as the room began to spin. She could here someone screaming and through the rosy hue a smile came to her face as she saw the ones she had called family try and fail to breech the barrier she had extracted around them.

The eyes of the slayer met hers and she saw them widen in disbelief. Her own eyes telling of the struggle she had fought to come to this decision, reaching out where her words could not.

With one hand on the sleeping girl and the other on the tiny bundle in her arms Willow's eyes closed, "Take us from the torment and pain... with these lips I call your name... Hecate, Hecate, Hecate!"

Wind blew forth from nowhere sending Buffy and Giles back pinning them immobile against the walls, all they could do was watch as Willow, Dawn and Dawn's baby were sucked into the orb, the orb's spinning coming to a halt as soon as they had passed through dropping to smash into tiny pieces, with it smashing any chance of a pursuit.

**

Part Nine

**

Five Years Later...

"As I lay me down to sleep I pray the lord my soul to keep and if I die before I wake I pray the lord my soul to take."

Two pairs of eyes shot open to smile at each other.

"Very good, you've been practicing." Dawn reached over the bed to ruffle the unruly dark hair of her son. "Now sleep before Aunt Willow gets cross at us both."

"Will you be leaving again soon?"

"Yes baby, first thing in the morning... mommy has to go to work so Aunt Willow and I can keep you safe."

"Safe from the bad people?"

"Yes... safe from the bad people forever and ever."

"I promise to keep you and Aunt Willow safe too, forever and ever. I love you," He whispered as she leaned down to give and receive the traditional goodnight raspberry.

"I love you more." She replied tucking his blanket in around his chin. "Sleep sweet, mommy."

"Sleep sweet, Dusk."

**

Dawn and Willow were seated across from each other at the kitchen table, Willow having just finished strengthening the spell that cloaked Dawn whenever she was away from them, masking her appearance to anyone who would recognise her as Dawn Summer's, sister of the slayer.

"He's growing so fast,"

"As is his curiosity." Willow replied as Dawn joined her at the kitchen table.

She looked up at the witch for a minute concern in her eyes. "Has something happened? He's not having bad people dreams again is he?"

"No Dawn, nothing like that... he's a little five year old boy who is starting to notice that his mother is away more often than at home." Dawn feels the warmth of her touch as she reaches out across the table. "He misses you,"

"I miss him too... more than ever, but I have to do this you know that. I have to keep him, you, *us* safe... if being on the move all the time with the WWE is helping to achieve that then I'm going to do it."

"I know you will, Dawnie... I'm just sorry I'm not able to do more..."

"Hey," She replied getting up out of her chair to walk around the table at once wrapping her arms around the shoulders of the witch who was more a sister than a friend. "I owe you so much not only did you save my life but you saved the life of my child and for that I will always, always be in your debt." She gently laid her arm on Willow's legs knowing the witch wouldn’t be able to feel her touch. "You gave of yourself and suffered the consequences... You and Dusk are my family Willow, as long as I breathe I will never let anyone or anything harm either you."

She wiped the tears that fell heedlessly down Willows cheeks, "Come on... let’s get you to bed..." Grabbing on to the handles of Willow's wheel chair Dawn pushed her through the doorway towards her bedroom.

**

The next morning Dawn woke early to prepare for her trip back into the city, having already packed a bag the night before she carefully crept into her son's room.

"I love you, Dusk..." She whispered kissing the top of his forehead brushing the hair back from his face before she crept back out silently closing the door behind her.

She walked through to the kitchen to find Willow already there with a checklist calling items out as she ticked them off her list.

"Money?"

"Check."

"Rose quartz?"

"Check."

"Charm?"

Dawn pulled the chain with the little crescent moon that she always wore around her neck out from under her jumper to swing it back a forth in front of Willows eyes before the witch gave her a nod.

Willow had a charm exactly the same only the opposite side of the moon, Dusk having the centre. Willow had enchanted them so that the tiny ruby in each of the charms would glow if either one of them were in danger.

"Mobile?"

"Check."

"Helmet?"

"Ummm...."

"Dawn! You are not leaving this house without a helmet for that thing you choose to ride why you can’t have a normal car like normal people I will never know."

"Yes mom," She chuckled in reply ignoring Willows stern look. "My helmet is already outside... with the bike."

"Okay... I guess that’s it then..."

"Yep," Dawn said bending to give her friend a hug before slinging her bag up and over her shoulder. "I'll be back Friday, stay safe Wills."

Willow watched from the window of the remote house Dawn had rented on the outskirts of Charlotte for there stay here as Dawn mounted her motorbike and rode off towards the city.

"Stay safe Dawnie..."

**

Part Ten

**

"Hey!"

"Well leave the radio alone!" Lita snapped holding her hand up again to smack at his arm as he again reached forth to change the music. "Number one rule of a road trip, Shane... the driver has no say in what music is played."

"Well that’s a dumb rule." He pouted leaning back in his chair once more focusing on the road trying not to wince as the sound of 'Argh... Westlife...' blared through the speakers. "Li, you need some knew tunes."

"Well at least I change the variety in music... if it were up to 'Mr I'm a rock star' back there... We'd be listening to FOZZY twenty-four seven." She said hitching a thumb over her shoulder towards the sleeping man in the back seat. "Anyway we're here now so you don’t have to listen to it any longer."

"Halleluiah..." Shane sighed slowing their rental van down to a crawl so they could find a parking place. "Place is packed tonight... you'd think we'd get special parking or something seeing as were the talent."

"We did get special parking..." Lita said pointing to the sign that read 'wrestlers parking only.'

"Well that’s just great." Shane groaned steering the van back to the entrance gate to do another loop of the parking area.

"There’s one." Matt said pointing towards the elevators. "And its close too... wont have far to lug bags after our matches."

"On it," Shane replied speeding up a bit his hand on the indicator lever when... "Shit!" He slammed on the brake as a black cloud zoomed past his line of sight and into the parking space he intended to park in. "What the hell..." He rolled down his window. "What the hell are you doing? That was our parking space!"

They all watched as the leather clad figure turned off the ignition and got off the motorbike to walk towards the elevator.

Shane stuck his head out of the driver’s window. "Hey!"

"Save yah breath, bro." Matt chuckled from behind as the elevator doors closed. "'He's' gone."

"Yeah, well when I find out who that was the next thing 'he's' going to see is the eye of the hurricane." He mumbled to caught up in having lost that parking space to notice Lita's muffled laughter beside him or the others snickering in the back.

**

"Dawn!"

"Hey Steph," She replied once her helmet was removed.

"I have some good news and I have some bad news... which do you want first?"

Dawn frowned as she stowed her helmet and bag away in a locker, locking it before slipping the tiny key onto the chain she always wore around her neck. "Good news I guess..."

"We have a new wrestler joining the ranks of the WWE tonight." Stephanie said actually bouncing on the balls of her feet as she said it. Dawn had to smile at her friend’s enthusiasm for the business.

"Let me guess, I have to give this new wrestler the guided tour?"

"Worse..." Stephanie cringed knowing her friend wasn’t going to like this. "You are going to be his side kick."

"Side kick?"

"The writers think you've been a loner long enough and want to try you out with a partner..."

"Stephanie, you’re the head writer."

"So, okay, I admit it was my idea... so sue me... it was just a thought I put before the writing team and well... daddy kinda liked it," She admitted.

"And what Vince wants... Vince gets..."

"Basically," Stephanie nodded her head in agreement. "But look on the bright side... he's late to his first appearance so already that'll earn one strike against him... well it would if..."

"If?"

"If he weren’t riding in the same car as Matt."

"Oh great!" Dawn rolled her eyes leaning forward to lace up her boots knowing that Matt Hardy was the apple of Vince McMahon's eye... next to his own son of course... but basically Matt got away with everything. 'The perks of being a heel.' She thought tying her lace up with a vengeance. "Thanks for darkening my bright side, why didn’t your boyfriend come with you like usual?"

"Cause I'm mad at him right now that’s why."

Dawn rolled her eyes at how school yardish her friend could be. "Just please tell me we don’t have to wear matching ring attire."

"That I can tell you," She smiled brightly, but Dawn saw the thoughtful expression creep into her friend’s eyes. "At least until you two are paired off... but you needn't worry your pretty little head about that because green is so your colour."

**

Part Eleven

**

"Hey Girl,"

Dawn looked up from where she was seated on a bench in the diva's locker room to see Lita standing before her. "Hey, Li... nice match out there tonight."

"Thanks... you didn't look so bad yourself girlfriend." Lita said plopping down on the bench next to Dawn. "So what’s the haps? You doing anything special later to celebrate yet another win against the..." She made quotation marks in the air with her fingers, "...virginal Molly Holly?"

"Nah, I'm pretty beat." Dawn replied removing the towel from around her head before reaching into her bag for her hair brush.

"I'm pretty beat too but I'm still going out... besides you have to come, a friend of ours from back home is here so it's sorta a welcome to the WWE gig... everyone who is anyone is going to be there." Lita finished with a pout as she looked across at her friend with her puppy dog expression.

"Your friend the super hero?"

Lita looked crestfallen that she hadn't been the first one to tell Dawn. "You mean you already know? I thought it was suppose to be kept under wraps... although Steph did say something about having to tell his side- OMG! You’re his side kick aren’t you?" Lita broke into a fit of giggles, "Oh this is going to be interesting... especially since you stole his parking spot."

Dawn looked innocent. "Oh... that was him?"

"That was *us*... He was so enraged it was most comical." She laughed some more, "But don’t worry, he thinks your a guy." She looked down at Dawn's motorcycle helmet sitting under the bench. "…Well at least until he sees you with that."

Dawn got a thoughtful look on her face that caused Lita to drop her smile immediately. "What's going on in that head of yours Dawn... you know I don’t even know your last name..."

"Maybe him seeing me with *that* is a good thing..." She said mimicking Lita's actions by pointing to the helmet. "As for my last name it doesn’t really matter because I only answer to Dawn anyway."

"How can you see that as a good thing?" She asked reaching under the bench to bring the black helmet out holding it up in front of her. "Oh... and nice reply to the latter," She added as an after thought.

"Well... he won’t want to work with someone he doesn’t like..." She mused getting up from the bench. "And thanks."

"He might surprise you... he's full of surprises that one." Lita replied getting up to follow Dawn out of the Diva's locker room, the helmet still in her hands. "And you’re welcome."

Out in the hall they were met by Jeff and Jericho, Lita immediately going to her boyfriend’s side allowing him to slip his arm around her waist.

"Nice steal..." Jeff quipped grinning like a cat who just ate the canary before leaning down to nuzzle Lita's neck.

"Thanks." Dawn said with a shrug as she rifled through her bag for her mobile phone.

"Did my girl talk you into coming with us tonight?"

Dawn didn’t even have time to open her mouth as Lita replied for her. "Of course I did... and of course she is." She grinned when Dawn glared at her.

"I think I left my phone in the locker room, I'll see you guys outside."

"You want one of us to come back with you?" Jericho asked knowing that was the one question Dawn hated having tried it on her more than once when she had first entered the WWE. His ego had taken a big blow when she had told him outright that she preferred her men with a little less chin muscle. They were friends now of course but that question still got her ire up... which he relished as retribution whenever he could.

"I'm sure I can handle this one myself, Chris... but thanks for reminding me your chin is still too big." Her laughter floated back to them as she walked off down the hallway.

"She gets you every time bro," Jeff said shaking his head at his friend.

"Maybe I let her get me." Jericho replied stalking off towards the exit, cringing as their laughter reached his ears as well.

Matt and Shane were still putting their bags into the back of the van as the trio of friends rocked up, one with a frown the others wiping the tears of laughter from their eyes.

"We miss something?" Matt asked looking at his brother.

"No." Jericho said chucking his bag in the back before climbing in the back of the van.

Lita chuckled as she mouthed the words "Chin issues" and then laughed as they both mouthed "Oh" back in reply.

"What you got there, Li?" Shane asked pointing to what she held in her hands. 'Damn' she thought looking down at the helmet she still held in her hands.

"Ah..." She watched as he looked from the helmet to the bike still parked a few spaces up.

"Is that..."

Laughter from behind them brought all their heads around to see Dawn exiting the arena with Stephanie in tow, Matt's face brightening instantly at the sight of his girlfriend.

"Hey babe," He said leaning down to kiss her lips. "…Missed you,"

She smiled up at him returning his kiss. "I missed you too."

"Well I guess Matt's out of the dog house," Jeff mused moving to take Stephanie's bag from her. "You slumming it tonight Steph?" He smiled nodding towards the rental van she was going to be riding back to the hotel in, instead of the usual limo.

She seemed to consider what he said before looking up at Matt. "The things I do for you."

"Dawn this is Shane, did you find your phone?" Lita asked not stopping for a breath, her eyes roving from the helmet to Shane then back to Dawn.

Dawn chuckled taking in the way the new guy’s eyes were honed in on her helmet. "Yeah, I did."

"Hi," Shane said holding out his hand.

Dawn accepted his hand thinking he probably wont be this nice to her once he finds out she was the one who cut him off earlier. "Hey."

"You’re coming tonight right Dawn?" Stephanie asked before turning to get into the back of the van poking her tongue out at Jericho as he lazed on the back seat.

"For a little while..." Dawn replied watching for Shane's reaction as she reached out to take her helmet from Lita. The look that came to his face not disappointing her in the least and she had to battle with herself not to grin right there and then.

"You... that... YOU!"

She grinned now noticing that nearly everyone but Shane was grinning. "Yep... me... that... ME!"

**

Part Twelve

**

Shane stood at the bar and glared.

He glared at his friends, he glared at the man standing next to him, he glared at the waitress, he even glared at people who passed by.

He was not a happy camper!

**

"He's not a happy camper," Lita said as she watched him glare at Dawn, again.

"I did apologize..." Dawn offered.

"Yeah and then you went on to steal his car park outside the club too," Jeff laughed. "A park he waited fifteen minutes for."

"Not winning points there, Dawnie." Stephanie giggled her expression turning to one of seriousness as she saw Matt and Shane heading back to their table. "Shhh he's coming."

"Okay, beer for the boys, cocktails for the girls and OJ for Dawn... and look you get a little umbrella too." Matt said winking in Dawn's direction before placing the drink in front of her.

"My life is complete." She mumbled smiling innocently up at him.

Lita took this opportunity to lean over to Stephanie. "You thinking what I'm thinking?"

Stephanie leaned in as well. "If you’re thinking maybe a little Dawn/Shane interaction off screen as well as on screen... then hell yeah."

"What are you two whispering about?"

Both divas looked across at Dawn who now had her arms folded across her chest and her eyebrows raised.

"I... was just commenting on Matt's butt..." Stephanie said turning back to Lita. "...and Lita was just commenting back..."

"I was not!" Lita declared red faced as the others started to laugh. "I mean... I may have hinted that it was... big..." A cheeky grin came to her face and she turned to Matt. "Stand up again please."

Now it was Matt's turn to blush and he promptly shook his head as Jeff and Chris started in with the wolf whistles.

"Awww... come on baby... for me?" Stephanie smiled sweetly leaning closer to him to nibble on his ear.

He was a gonna as soon as Stephanie had called him baby, she knew it, he knew it, they knew it... he stood to his feet and turned around allowing them all a good view of his backside. He was so whipped!

"Hmmm... definitely not lacking there, Steph." Dawn said giving her friend a thumbs up.

"Yes, it is rather... touchable isn't it..." She mused distractedly shaking her head to clear her thoughts before turning to Lita. "…And what about Jeff?"

"What about Jeff?" Jeff replied immediately losing his smile as the girls all focused on him.

"Stand up honey," Lita said giving him her little 'I'll make it up to you later' smile. The girls bursting into laughter as he not only got up and turned around but he also stuck his butt out for their inspection.

"Well... that certainly isn’t something you see everyday," Dawn laughed turning her head away from Jeff's butt her eyes going inadvertently towards the man seated at the end of the table her smile dimming some what when she found his eyes trained on her, then disappeared all together when she couldn't tear her gaze away from his. His deep brown eyes seemed to be drawing her in, inviting her to come swim in there depths, she felt like he could see inside her, see all her secrets. In the back of her mind she heard someone calling her name... in a far, far away place...

"Dawn! Dawnnnnnn!"

"Ah... yeah... what..." She shook her head. "…What?"

"I said your necklace..." Stephanie continued while Dawn wondered when the conversation had turned from Jeff's butt to her necklace. "...It's pretty. I've never seen a ruby sparkle like that before."

"Sparkle?"

Lita looked at Stephanie and both their brows creased when the distant look on Dawn's face turned to horror as she held the crescent shaped pendant in her hand, the glow from the ruby darkening as Dawn focused on it, their mouths falling open when in the next instant all they saw was Dawn's back as she ran for the exit.

"Dawn!" Lita jumped up from the table and ran after her not realising that everyone else had done the same until she was outside watching as Dawn's bike sped off disappearing amongst the traffic, Shane’s voice yelling at her to get in the van breaking her free of her thoughts as she saw they were all piled in there waiting to chase after her.

"She looked so scared..." She said allowing Jeff to pull her inside the van, Shane not waiting for the door to close before he drove off.

"I know... question is, of what?" Jeff replied wrapping his arms around Lita as she leaned into him.

Shane stared out at the traffic navigating his way through till Matt spied Dawn's motorbike ahead of them. "There she is... speed up man!"

Shane noticed her increase in speed as she exited the highway, "She's gonna out run us in this crappy rental... why couldn't you guys rent a Mercedes or something..."

They all watched as Dawn's tail lights disappeared in front of them.

"Stop!" Stephanie ordered jumping out of the van and walking around to the driver’s side once Shane had pulled over. "Out!"

"What?"

She opened the driver’s door. "I said out."

He looked at Matt but he only shrugged, "You better listen to her man, she gets all protective like when one of her friends maybe in danger."

Instead of getting out Shane moved over to ride shotgun then quickly wished he had of listened as Stephanie jumped in turned on the ignition and floored it, the car's wheels spinning as she pulled out of the curb.

**

Part Thirteen

**

"I can’t see anything other then what’s directly in front of me, the fog is so thick outside!"

"Slow down," Shane said to Stephanie before turning behind him. "It's gonna get a little cold in here."

"Why?"

"Huh?"

"What the hell?" Jericho shrieked as the automatic windows went done. "We'll freeze!"

"Then we all freeze together!" Shane snapped back. "This fog is too thick we can’t see anything up here. Now shut the hell up and listen!"

Everybody in the van shut up after his little rant and it wasn't long before they understood why as the sounds of Dawns motorbike drifted in on the wind.

Lita's brow creased. "It sounds like she’s behind us."

"Shhh!" Shane shot her a warning look.

"Gee... sorrrrrrry."

"She's not behind us," He continued to listen to the sound. "The motor sounds stalled... like she's just left it running..." He sniffed the air. "…Can anybody else smell something burning?"

Jeff shot up in his chair as he saw orange lights flickering through the trees. "There!"

"I see it." Stephanie said putting the van back into drive.

Lita's face was ashen. "Oh god... that’s not fog... it's smoke."

"She would've turned off, look for a side road."

"So ahead of you," Stephanie mumbled the occupants of the van all tumbling to the right as she turned sharp onto a gravel road.

"Okay now that all of us sitting in the back are choking in dust, smoke and who knows what else, can we have the windows up now please."

"Chris, is there no one you think more of then yourself?" Stephanie said shaking her head at him in the rear view mirror.

"That coming from a person not covered in dirt..." Chris replied glaring back at her.

"Oh god…" Stephanie whispered coming to a stop alongside Dawns bike her eyes the size of saucers as she looked up at the small cabin surrounded in flames, Matt and Shane already out of the van and running towards the burning cabin.

"Dawn!" Shane called, Matt having to pull him back as the roof of the cabin caved in. "Dawn!"

"You don’t think she's in there do you?" Chris asked as he and Jeff came up behind them.

"We have to believe she wouldn't do something that stupid like- Chris!"

"Something stupid like- Chris?" Matt turned towards his brother. "Oh shit!" He cried when he saw Chris only metre's from the burning house.

"There's someone there!" He called back to them.

"A girl?" Jeff replied jogging up behind him as he crouched down beside the small figure lying prone in the dirt. "Is she alive?"

"Yeah, I'll take her back to the van- woah!" He faltered as two arms came up hitting at him where ever they could touch. "Hey settle down! I'm trying to help you here!"

"You’re scaring her!" Matt said running up to them.

"She's scaring me!" Chris replied still trying to ward off her blows.

"Leave her alone!"

The next thing he knew he was flying through the air landing with a thud a few feet away.

"What the..." Matt cried as he also found himself on the ground next to Chris.

"Dawn!" Lita yelled running up to them. "Dawn it's us!"

Shane saw the rage emanating behind Dawn's eyes, like that of a lioness protecting her cubs. "Lita stop," His voice was forceful as he brought a halt to Lita's steps. He watched as the rage turned to fondness as Dawn knelt down beside the girl. Saw the same look tinted with fear mirrored in the eyes of the girl she looked down on as she seemed to take comfort in Dawn's presence.

He took a step forward. "Dawn?"

"Stay back." She said placing Willow's head in her lap as she brushed her hair away from her face.

"Dusk..."

"He's fine Will's... it's you I'm worried about..."

"They came... my spell was counteracted..."

"Shhh... later, for now rest," They all watched as Dawn leaned down to kiss the top of her friend’s forehead.

"Dawn... she needs to get to a hospital."

"No, she just needs to rest. Where's your car?" She said turning to the people who stood shuffling there feet in front of the cabin, the flames finally dying down as rain started to fall.

"I'll bring it up..." Stephanie said running back to the van.

"What's wrong with her?" Chris asked as he took in the less scared form of the girl in Dawn's arms.

"She's just exhausted. Can someone help me get her in the van?"

"On it..." Chris replied then stopped mid-stride. "She's not going to attack me again is she?"

"No," She assured him before focusing back to the girl in her arms. "I won’t be long Willow... I need to go get Dusk from his hiding place. These are friends of mine... you can trust them."

Chris watched as the girl slowly nodded her head before her eyes turned to his. He wasn't prepared for the deep green of her gaze as it swept over him or the feeling he got knowing her eyes were on him. He looked down at himself taking in his clothes which were now covered in dirt and blackened with soot and ash. 'He hated to think what he must smell like.'

"Now would be a good time, Chris."

"Oh... sorry..." He moved forward and gently took the girl in his arms noticing that as her arms wrapped around his neck... her lower body hadn't moved once.

"Dawn." Shane said stepping toward her as she turned to walk away from them.

"I'll be back..." She replied over her shoulder, "…Keep the motor running."

"This is all so weird..." Jeff said coming to stand beside his friend with Lita in tow.

"I agree... But questions can wait till later. Right now I just want out of this place with Dawn in the van with us."

**

'Dusk?' Her mind called as she crept through wood freeing her mind of everything as she allowed Dusk's presence to fill her mind. 'Where are you baby?'

'Mommy?'

'Yes sweetie... I'm here...'

It wasn't long before he led her to his hiding place, her eyes clouding with concern as she saw the blood that trailed down from his ear.

"Oh baby..." She held out her arms as he ran to her.

"I tried to stop the bad people from hurting aunt Willow mommy, but they wouldn't stop... and it was getting hotter and hotter and I couldn't get her to wake up-"

"Its okay sweetie, Aunt Willow is safe... mommy got here in time." She closed her eyes as thoughts of what would have happened had she been too late and she expelled a deep breath.

"Mommy, you’re squishing me."

Dawn smiled to herself, the words of her son diminishing her former thoughts filling her head again with thoughts of her son and she loosened her hold.

"Let's get back before Aunt Willow starts worrying about us."

**

"She's coming," Shane said tapping on the said of the van as he saw two figures emerge from the trees. The first one was unmistakably Dawn but the other looked like that of a small child.

As they came closer Dawn shrugged out of jacket before lifting the child up in her arms, the child's head falling absently to her shoulder as she draped her jacket over her sons head as if protecting its sight from the still glowing embers of what use to be the cabin.

"Let me help," Shane offered reaching out to take the child."

"I got him." She replied curtly not stopping as she stepped up into the van.

Stephanie drove off her thoughts going to the people in the back as she caught sight of them in the rear view mirror. Chris's eyes were glued to the girl recovering on the back seat an apprehensive look in his eyes while Shane's gaze hadn't left Dawn who still held the child protectively in her arms.

Dawn caught Stephanie's gaze in the mirror and instinctively her hand reached up to pull her jacket up more securely around the child, almost as if she was shielding the child from their gaze.

"So... who are they?"

All eyes turned in the direction the voice had come from cutting through the icky silence that had developed since leaving the smouldering cabin, Stephanie shook her head at the ever tactful man that was her friend, Chris Jericho.

"What?" He said in all innocence.

**

Part Fourteen

**

Dawn chose to ignore his question as she leaned her head back against the headrest, the thoughts of what could have happened tonight filling her mind. This was the first time anything major had happened, wether by natural means or mystical means she wouldn't know until Willow's recuperation period was over.

Her hand went to Willows brow and she tenderly smoothed her red hair back away from the witches face. She looked almost catatonic in her slumber... to anyone who didn't know them they would assume her dead but Dawn knew Willow's subconscious had just retreated allowing her magic to rejuvenate her body to what it was before. Dawn silently sent up a prayer to the goddess asking that maybe this time Willow would awaken with the use of her legs.

"Dawn?"

She heard her name but right now she didn't want to face them... didn't want to hear the questions she knew they would ask...

"Dawn..."

She sighed inwardly lifting her gaze to the others. "They are my family."

"Is there someone we should call? I mean a log cabin just burnt to the ground..."

"No... There’s no one to call. It will be taken care of soon enough."

"What about the police?" Stephanie suggested, "Insurance company?"

"No police... just please trust me on this."

"Okay..." Stephanie replied on a sigh, Matt reached out to squeeze her girlfriends hand tenderly, she was such a sweetheart... a far cry from the character she played on screen.

"Dawn?"

'There was that voice again' her mind told her, only it was deeper this time. She opened her eyes once more to see Shane's gaze boring into hers, in his eyes she saw him willing her to trust him, trust them with whatever it was she was hiding from, running from. She turned her head away from him to stare out the window breaking the spell his eyes were weaving on her, the same spell someone else had weaved on her five years ago. 'No' her mind screamed, 'Not again.'

"You can trust us Dawn,"

She continued to stare out the window.

"You can trust me." His brows drew together his eyes drawn down where he swore he saw a pair of yellow eyes staring at him from underneath Dawn's jacket. He lifted his hand to rub at his eyes 'I must be more tired then I thought.'

Dusk wiggled beneath her jacket and she tenderly kissed the top of his furrowed forehead when he had settled back into sleep but not before she heard the whispered words that sleepily passed through his lips.

"Trust mommy... trust."

She found her eyes inadvertently going back to meet Shane's while Dusk's words still echoed in her mind.

"You know what he said goes triple for all of us, right?" Lita said motioning to all of them inside the van.

"We're your friends Dawn," Stephanie added. "Friends help each other out."

"And we've always known there was something funky about you- Ow!" Jeff said rubbing his side where Lita had just elbowed him. "I meant funky in a good way."

"Dawn, what Jeff is trying to say is that in the time we have become friends we have respected your need for privacy... you trusted us enough to become friends with us," She sighed when she saw a tear slip down Dawns cheek. "Aw sweetie... can’t you trust us enough with this also?"

Dawn looked down at her son asleep in her arms hearing again his silent plea before her gaze crossed over to the still sleeping Willow... 'Willow,' She thought, 'So selfless in her love, so giving... her own disaster with trust shouldn't be the stumbling block to lightening her friends burden... although she knew Willow would argue with her till she was red in the face that she and Dusk were no burden. But still... Willow deserved to live her life for her as well, not just for them. Finding them a new place was out of the question until she knew the full story of what exactly had happened out at the cabin and if mystical entities were the cause they would just be found again.'

There was no way around it.

She sighed knowing in hindsight that trusting her friends with her secret was her only option... and god help them if they crossed her.

**

Part Fifteen

**

"This isn't our room."

"I know," Chris replied managing to swipe his key card through the slot on the door and kick it open once the light flashed green while still balancing the sleeping red head in his arms. "Its mine." He added not waiting for her to reply as he walked through and lay Willow down on one of the beds.

Dawn stood outside in the hall while the others all filed in one at a time. She watched as Chris tenderly pulled off Willow's runners before tucking the covers around her. He had really taken this Florence Nightingale role towards her friend, not that Dawn minded. Willow was in dire need of someone to fuss over her... but Chris Jericho? A guy who's vocation in life consisted of Chris Jericho, Chris Jericho and Chris Jericho.

"You gonna stand out there all night?" Chris inquired his eyebrow lifting in askance as he met her stare from across the room. Dawn turned her eyes to the others to see them all staring at her.

"You have to invite us in."

"What?"

"You have to invite us in." She repeated holding his gaze daring him to turn to the others, expecting him too... but she wasn't to know that he had already decided on there way here that he wouldn't judge her or the others with her until he had heard the full story... so until she filled in the blanks he was going to do whatever she asked.

"I invite you in." He said at once noticing the approving look in Dawn's eyes. For the first time seeing the depth of maturity in the deep blue pools... 'Too much for someone so young' He thought. 'Just what had this small slip of a girl been through?'

"You can take my bed," Shane said trying unsuccessfully to squash the feeling of jealousy that had crept up inside of him at the look Dawn had shared with Chris.

Nodding her thanks to him she walked over to the second bed, reaching out to turn the lamp off on the bedside table before she gently laid Dusk down, immediately pulling the covers up over him before leaning down to kiss his forehead.

Shane watched her smile down at the child, the tenderness in her gaze pulled at his heart strings and he had to wonder where all his aggressive feelings had gone from earlier. He was supposed to be angry at her and even more furious at his friends but now he felt all mixed up and knew that it showed every time he was caught staring at her.

He ignored Lita's snicker walking around the couch to seat himself on one of the two empty chairs already feeling the blush on his face as the blood rushed to his head.

Lita and Stephanie sat on either ends of the couch while Matt and Jeff sat on the floor in front of the women with their backs leaning against the couch and as Dawn made to pass them heading for the other vacant chair when both Lita and Stephanie reached out to pull her down in between them.

Chris joined the group pausing in front of the girls to waggle his eyebrows down at them. "Aren’t you going to pull me down as well?"

"Sit your butt down over there, Jerky." Lita said nudging Chris over to the chair across from them with her foot.

"Hmmpf! Spoiled sport," He grumbled navigating his way over the outstretched legs of the Hardy brother's to the vacant chair.

Shane's look grew dark again when a giggle escaped Dawn's lips at Jericho's antic's then quickly suppressed it when more chuckles arose from the red headed diva, sending her a glare she happily responded by poking out her tongue out at him.

"Okay guys, that’s enough," Matt said shushing his friends into silence and Dawn wasn't surprised when his gaze fell on her. "I think I speak for us all in asking... what’s going on?"

Dawn looked thoughtful for a minute before she sighed and lifted her hands out in front of her and shrugged. "I guess you could say I'm on the run."

"From who?"

"The police?"

"Oh my god Dawn... you're a criminal!"

"I will get you the best lawyers-"

"Guys, guys... settle already." Dawn sat forward her voice rising in pitch so she could be heard above the others, her eyes darting to the two sleeping forms on the bed.

"Sorry, Dawn." Jeff apologised immediately his eyes following hers to the beds. The others offered there own apologies as they settled back to focus once again on Dawn.

"I'm not running from the police and no, I'm not a criminal." She answered her voice no more then a whisper as she continued. "I'm running from my past."

Shane's brow's knotted together but it was Chris who spoke. "Most of us are, Dawn... in some way or another."

"Yeah well... let's just say my past won’t be satisfied until it has caught up with me and destroyed everything I hold dear."

Shane watched as her gaze wondered back over to the beds and he understood why she had been so aggressive towards them back at the burning cabin.

"What happened in your past, Dawn?"

She looked up to meet his gaze and Shane's heart nearly stopped at the sadness he saw there.

"Love happened."

That was the last thing he expected her to reply and he lowered his eyes not wanting them to see the disappointment there.

"Love... that should be a good thing shouldn't it?" Matt asked not able to take the silence that had taken hold of the little group.

Dawn shrugged. "It should have been."

"What aren’t you telling us?" Chris said sitting forward in his chair.

"Do you believe in god? Angels? Heaven?"

The question seemed to shock them but nevertheless they all replied.

"Sometimes,"

"Yeah..."

"I like to think there's someone watching over us."

"So do I,"

"Sure..."

"Then you should all believe in the devil, demons and other night worldly creatures."

Shane thought about what she'd said. "With the good comes the bad."

"Exactly," She replied.

"So you’re saying the devil exists..." Stephanie asked.

"No..." Dawn said looking at them all individually before her eyes trailed back to Stephanie. "I'm saying the devil, demons, vampires, the boogie man and whatever creatures that haunt your nightmares exist."

"Which one are you?"

"Shane!" Lita shrieked wishing she was close enough to the other man to slap him upside the head.

"Its okay, Li... it's a fair enough question." She turned her eyes back to Shane and levelled him with her stare. "I'm half human half green glowy light. Some call me the key because my blood opens gateways to other dimensions... other worlds."

"Hah! Good one dawn." Matt chuckled but his merriment soon ended when Dawn looked at him deadpan and his expression sobered but he managed to squeak, "For real?"

"Have you heard nothing of the past thirty minutes?" Jeff said shaking his head at his brother as he sat up pulling his legs in beneath him till he sat facing Dawn with his legs crossed underneath him reminding Dawn of how Dusk would sit on top of his bed while he waited patiently for her to come read him a bedtime story. "So... which evil doer are you all running from?"

"My sister,"

"Your sister is evil?" Lita squirmed forward on the couch till she sat on its edge and Jeff gingerly leaned forward placing a small kiss on her knee before letting his chin rest there.

"Only to me," Dawn laughed half heartedly and her eyes took on a glazed look as if her thoughts were else where. "She tried to hurt us... If it wasn't for Willow I wouldn't be having this conversation with you all. She saved our lives."

"Why does she still sleep?" The question was unexpected but Dawn welcomed the change her eye's following Chris's towards the bed where Willow still slept.

"She's gathering her strength... she may be asleep for sometime."

"Is she..." Chris found he couldn't finish the sentence and Dawn found herself taking pity on him.

"Evil? No... Willow is a Wiccan... a good Wiccan, her actions saved us five years ago but they also took a lot out of her and she awoke without the use of her legs."

"And when she awakes from this one?"

All Dawn could do was shrug. "We will find that out when she wakes."

"Man this is deep." Matt breathed in and then out in a low whistle.

"There's one more thing I need to clear up." She began again as she heard a small whimper from the bed's behind them. "My sister isn't evil... I like to think that maybe she let her judgement get in the way of other more important things... like..."

"Important things like you?"

Dawn nodded slowly as she walked over to the bed as the whimpering began again and she gently stroked her son's brow, his body calming at once. "You see my sister fights on the side of good, she's the Slayer you know... the chosen one to rid the world of all evil." Dawn said dramatically her fingers lifting to sign invisible quotation marks.

"So she's kinda like a super hero." Jeff said giving Shane the thumbs up which he promptly responded by rolling his eyes.

Dawn chuckled as a visual image of Buffy in a leotard and cape entered her head. "Yeah, kinda... only I wouldn't say that in her presence."

"Gotcha." Jeff replied with a wink.

"But if she's good why are you running from her?" Stephanie asked her hand inadvertently trailing through Matt's dark curly locks.

They all watched as Dawn reached out to flick on the lamp beside the bed before calmly reaching out for the little body still huddled under the covers.

"Come on baby... its okay..."

Eyes widened and jaws dropped as Dawn slowly approached with her son in her arms, his scared yellow eyes turning curious as his gaze settled on their faces and a shy smile graced his features before he turned to hide his head in Dawn's shoulder.

"Everyone... meet Dusk... my son."

**

Part Sixteen

**

"You’re son?"

"Yep,"

"You’re son..."

Dawn rolled her eyes. "Which part of 'you’re son' do you not understand?"

"The part where it's your-" Shane never got to finish his sentence as Dawn's fist connected with his jaw, his head snapping back from the force of her blow.

"Don’t you ever refer to my son as an *it*." She spat out, contempt and loathing for the man before her pouring off her in buckets. The tension free room suddenly thick with it as she started to circle him like a buzzard would its prey.

Realising his mistake he stepped forward his palms held up in front of him. "Dawn, I didn't mean... I'm sorry."

The room stayed quiet, all eyes on Dawn but it was the little boy beside her who stepped forward, reaching his hand up to clasp Shane's big one in his.

"Its okay mister, I know I'm different on the outside."

"Dusk baby, come here." Dawn whispered reaching her hand out to him.

"Its okay mommy... he's different on the outside too."

Jeff chuckled crouching down till he was eye level with the little boy. "You know what? I've been trying to tell him that for a while now. You think maybe this time he'll listen?"

Dusk shrugged reminding Jeff of Dawn when she wasn't in the mood to consider something. She'd just shrug it off and say 'It's a possibility’.

"It's a possibility."

Jeff grinned his eyes moving behind the little boy to where his mother stood. "I think your rubbing off a little too much on the young lad."

"Oh, I can do Aunt Willow too." Dusk exclaimed his expression changing into his rendition of Willow's resolve face.

"That's enough, Dusk." Dawn scolded her son.

Dusk looked down at his feet and tapped the edge of his foot against the couch. "Aww mom..."

"Can we talk?"

Dawn looked up to see Shane standing beside her, a blue-ish hue marring the side of his chin, evidence of how powerful her blow had been.

"Alone." He stated more for Lita and Stephanie's benefit, the two women having discreetly inched closer.

"Pffft!" Stephanie exclaimed, annoyed at having being caught. "She's going to tell us anyway, why do you think girls go to the toilet in groups?"

"Steph... your ruining my fantasy."

"Pervert."

Lita stepped between the two before there verbal spar turned up a notch. "Hey, Dusk... you hungry?"

"Yes... may I have pancakes and peanut butter?"

"You sure can... you know, we're in the King of Bling Bling's hotel room and that means we can have whatever we want."

"Really? Do you think they would make funny shaped pancakes?"

"Lets find out." Lita held out her hand to Dusk and led him over to a small table which held the phone and the room service menu.

Stephanie and Matt got comfy again on the couch, while Chris made his way back over to Willow's bedside.

"Ah... I guess I'll see what room service has to offer..." Jeff said clearing his throat before joining Lita and Dusk on the floor where they were sprawled out with the room service menu between them.

"I really am sorry." He said, his eyes inadvertently moving to the trio on the floor as giggles erupted from Dusk and Lita.

"I'm sorry too," She replied her hand reaching up as if to touch the bruise on his chin, only to fall to her side a few moments later, colour rising to her cheeks.

"Did we just have a moment?"

"A moment?" She looked sceptical. "Don’t be silly..."

"I think we did."

"I think maybe you should change your brand of hair dye, the current one is obviously killing off the sensible side of your brain."

He grinned. "I traded sensible in for this cape."

"In which they got the short end of the stick I see." She laughed openly back at him causing the others in the room to stare at them in shock. More yelling and maybe a few hits were expected... but laughter?

Dramatically Shane clutched his chest, "You cut me to the quick, fair Dawn... when all I wish is to serve you for the rest of my days." He fell to the floor then and began to twitch uncontrollably.

The others were in fits of laughter as Jeff comically mimed all of Shane’s actions.

"A kiss sweet Dawn... will save me from impending doom." Shane continued, too caught up in the moment to worry about the mockery Jeff made of his antics on the other side of the room.

"Kiss him, mommy! Kiss him!" Dusk shrieked squirming around on the floor in his amusement.

"Kiss me, mommy... kiss me..." Shane mimicked, continuing to twitch and jerk in front of her.

"You’re crazy!" She laughed. In her mind she had planned to walk away from him but his hand came out, grabbed her ankle and pulled, uttering a muffled 'humph' when she tumbled down on top of him. Meanwhile Jeff, Dusk and Lita had started up a 'kiss' chant.

Shane rolled her over so that his upper body lay on top of hers, her hands held in one of his above her head.

"One kiss..." He said, his head already descending towards hers. "Besides, it’s expected now to shut them up."

Dawn felt his lips gentle and soft against her own, so gentle in fact she thought she must have imagined it. Her eyes fluttered shut and she lifted her head up to his wanting to feel that feather like touch again.

His lips seemed to draw her in, their mouths fusing together in what could only be described in her mind as a gust of wind whipping at her heels, daring in all its power to lift her right off her feet.

"Wow." He said lifting his head. His body rolled off her on to his back, a dreamy expression plastered to his face as he stared up at the ceiling.

"She's waking up!"

Dawn sat up refusing to meet the other's teasing stares instead focusing her thoughts on the man seated beside the bed. "What?"

"Willow... she's waking up."

Dawn was on her feet in an instant, nearly tripping over Shane's body in her haste to reach the bed.

"Will's? Will's can you hear me?"

"Dawnie..." Willow's voice broke on a sob, her hand reaching up blindly to clasp around Dawn's smaller one.

"Shhh, Willow. We're safe..."

"Dusk... where's Dusk?"

"He's here, we're all safe."

Willow slowly opened her eyes and waited for them to focus on the people around her, smiling when her gaze met that of Dawn's. "Hey,"

"Hey yourself, how you feeling?"

A sad look crossed her face and Dawn knew instantly that Willow still could not feel her legs.

"Aw Will's..."

A single tear slipped down her cheek but Willow held fast to her emotions as her gaze fell on the others. "Who are all these people?"

"These are our friends Aunt Willow," Dusk said climbing up on the bed next to her to make the introductions. "That’s Jeff, he's funny... that's Lita, she's funny too but not as funny as Jeff." Lita stuck her tongue out at Jeff who basked in the child's admiration. "That's Matt, and that’s Stephanie. That man still lying on the floor over there staring up at the ceiling is Shane." He leaned closer to Willow and whispered conspiratorially, "He like's mommy..."

Willow smiled at the mischief displayed in the little boy's eyes, her smile turning into a chuckle when she saw Dawn's eyes roll.

"And lastly, that's Chris,"

Willow turned to where the other man stood her face turning as red as her hair when Dusk added.

"He like's you."

**

Part Seventeen

**

Willow leaned back against the headboard and silently watched these people Dawn called friends. She didn't know what to make of them although there aura's seemed harmless enough, Lita's was as red as her hair showing how much fire burned within her. She was the alpha female, the mother... and the four men with her were her cubs. Jeff's shone a smoky white, mirroring the free spirit that flowed inside and radiated tenfold when he was in thinking mode which he was now, his head bent as he jotted thoughts down on a tiny notebook with an equally tiny grey lead while his brother's showed a combination of blue and green symbolising his love of life and will to succeed. Stephanie's was a bright shade of orange that encased a cold glow of white depicting a hard life not as perfect as she would have everyone believe but as Willow soon noticed the ice in her aura was thawing mostly thanks to the elder Hardy brother. Shane's, she was pleased to see was a dark blue colour which reminded her of the colour of the sky just before dawn, quite fitting when Dawn's own aqua shades flowed up to compliment his. But the last man with his long blonde hair and bright omniscient blue eyes was a mystery to her. His aura was a mixture of colours all separate in there own case's but still flowed together as one, erratically merging and inter-twining as if fighting for supremacy. Reading aura's had never been a problem for her before but as her gaze settled on his she had a feeling he knew what she was doing and so blocking her from seeing the real him. Now that thought didn't sit well with her! They had too much at stake here, too much to lose. Last thing they needed was a wild card.

Willow's eyes fell on Dusk sitting on Dawn's lap, his tiny mouth opening in a tired yawn and she sent him a small smile which he tried to return as his eyes fluttered to a close.

She knew she would have to tell Dawn what had happened out at the cabin and knew the younger woman wouldn't like what she had to tell. Plus she didn't know how much of their lifestyle Dawn had let the others in on, didn't know if they would be strong enough to withstand the truth of the world they lived in. Main focus here was to protect Dusk, no matter his parentage, no matter his monster like appearance for that’s where his demon status ended, with his looks... underneath all that he was as human as the next person. He was Dusk, Dawn's little boy who she would move hell or high water to protect. They had been so careful, so diligent in there efforts, yet they were still found. She just couldn't understand it.

**

He knew what she was doing, her eyes moving from one person to the next, drinking in their persona, sussing them out. Trying to figure out if they were friend or foe, hell, he'd even done it himself a few times! Wasn't that difficult if one concentrated hard enough, but for her it seemed one glance at them was all it took for her to determine their loyalties.

A smile had tinged his eyes when her gaze fell on him and the reading he feed her showed in her expression. 'Not only you can play this game,' He thought drawing deep from within himself for the mixture of emotions needed to cloud his aura.

Trish had taught him how to do it, the ‘Magicks’ running wild in the female line of his family while all the men got was charm and good looks. But he and Trish had been as close as a brother and sister could get and he a willing pupil when she offered to teach him the basic's of magic.

There bond growing as they did, and with it his knowledge of the craft. No one knew of course, it would have been considered abominable and a direct insult to his father if it were discovered. Men in his family weren’t meant to dabble in what was considered a woman's fancy. So there secret had been just that, there's. But as with everything he had learned in life, secrets never stayed secrets for long.

He had been eighteen and it was a couple days shy of her sixteenth birthday, he had offered to go wait for her after school and keep her busy for a while so there parents could ready a surprise they had been planning for over four months. As far as Chris knew she didn't know a thing about it and he could barely contain his excitement about knowing something was waiting for her back home, they had never kept secrets from one another before... only kept them from everyone else.

Making sure to drive the scenic route home he was all pumped up and rearing to go once they pulled up outside their family home and didn't noticed how different she seemed, almost scared. He had brushed it off as fatigue practically pulling her up to the house and through the front door, his smile falling as soon as he entered when he was seized and pulled to the side. Confused and a bit dazed he looked around to find his parents amongst the throng of family members dressed in long flowing hooded robes, his confusion turning to anger when he heard Trish scream as she was hit across the face before being dumped on the floor before their parents.

His own scream dying in his throat when Trish's eyes caught and held his as their mother raised a knife and continually brought it down upon her daughter's form, leaning down to cut out her heart before offering it up to her husband.

The rage built in him like a flame to dry wood and before he knew what he had done, a giant fireball grew within him reaching up through his chest and down his arms to flow in full force out of his hands towards his parents, the sound of their screams doing little to defuse the rage that still boiled inside him. He found he had no control over it and when it was over, his body blackened with soot heaved from smoke inhalation, his once peaceful home was now stacked with dead family members.

He had left then, just walked out the front door and kept on walking, never looking back once. Yet now 'she' was here bringing all his buried past to the surface, reminding him of the rage that had passed through him, that could still pass through him if he was pushed far enough.

And he couldn't help but wonder if or when that rage finally made its way to the surface... wether he would be fighting with her or against her.

**

Part Eighteen

**

"How you feeling?"

"Hmmm?" Willow feigned interest in her question but Dawn saw that Willow's eyes remained on the blonde Canadian who currently sat across the room staring back just as intently at her red headed friend.

"Is everything alright, Will’s?"

"How much do you know about him?"

Not the answer Dawn was looking for and she didn't have to ask which *Him* Willow was referring to but her brows furrowed in confusion at the obvious 'why?'

"I've known Chris ever since I started with the WWE." Dawn said shooting Chris another glance but she may have well been invisible for all the attention he was paying her. "He's a good guy Willow."

"I have no doubt." Willow was quick to agree, "He must have a good side to be in league with this bunch. They are all pretty brilliant in there own way."

"You have 'but’ face."

Willow smiled. "But, what do you know about him? Other then he's a wrestler."

Dawn thought for a moment and had to admit she knew absolutely nothing about Chris Jericho outside of wrestling.

That thought was very disconcerting given their situation.

She practically knew all there was to know about Matt, Jeff and Lita... and Stephanie, well, she was a McMahon, the whole world knew about her even before she was born. Shane was still a bit of a mystery but he did have three other North Carolinian's to back him up.

"What do you see, Willow?" She asked instantly falling into battle mode.

"That's just it, Dawnie... I don’t see a thing."

"He has no aura?"

"No, that's not it." Willow said thoughtfully. "He has one. Question is why does he feel the need to hide it from me."

"We could always beat it out of him." Dawn suggested laughing at her own jest although her eyes remained hard.

"I doubt it would work, that one has a stubborn streak almost as big as his chin."

Dawn erupted into giggles causing the others to turn their heads curiously in there direction. "Willow... you just made a joke..." Dawn exclaimed wrapping her arms around the redhead. "You are getting better!"

Willow returned Dawn's hug but over the other girls shoulder all amusement left her eyes as they once again locked into a battle of will's with the man sitting on the other side of the room.

'I'll find out what you’re hiding’ she thought to herself and when his eyes slanted in response she realised he knew exactly what she had been thinking.

**

"What's going on with those two?"

Dawn looked up from where she was sitting on the floor playing thumb wars with Dusk to smile at Lita and Stephanie as the two diva's joined them in their cross legged position on the floor.

"Yeah, we all thought they'd be some great big romance brewing but instead we see cold stares and silent treatment." Lita shrugged. "I've never seen him like this before."

"Lita speaks the truth," Stephanie agreed, "His cold stares we are all pretty much use to but the silent treatment?"

"Miss the sound of his voice do you, Steph?"

"No." She replied deadpan then went on in the same breath. "I'm just stating my point because usually we can’t shut him up."

"Aunt Willow doesn't trust him."

Dawn pulled Dusk up into her lap wrapping her arms around his middle before whispering for him to be quiet.

"Willow is very cautious that's all." Dawn explained her son's outburst away with a wave of her hand, he was just too insightful.

"That's understandable given the life you three have lived." Stephanie said shrugging off Dawn's explanation. "But you needn't worry about Chris. He's the most trustworthy of us all."

Lita just nodded her head in agreement.

Dawn turned to the couple who were the topic of there conversation. Her eyes moving from Willow to Chris and then back again. 'For Chris's sake I hope your right.'

**

Chris didn't know what to do.

He sensed how strong the redhead was in her craft and knew it wouldn't be long until she mentally wore him down breaking past all his walls to delve into the deep recesses of his mind, unlocking the horrors of his past, bringing them to the forefront for the whole world to see. For him to see.

He couldn't let her bring forth all the rage he had felt that night, he couldn't let her see how he had allowed that rage to consume him in his desperation to help Trish, how that rage had blotted out right from wrong leaving only a strong need to make them pay... make them 'all' pay.

Her eyes widened and victory flashed within there green depths and Chris knew that she had broken past more of the wall he had erected. It wouldn't be long now.

His mind reached out to his friends, wrapping around them as he apologised to each one in turn for what he knew he would do once Willow finally saw him for what he was and what he had done.

He didn't know wether to laugh in joy at his secret staying buried or wether to cry in desolation for the loss of his friends, but most of all he wanted it all to just go away.

'Maybe I should just let her kill me' he thought knowing that would be one way to end the torment she was so close to releasing. That thought appealed to him more then allowing his friends to die at his hand just like everyone in his fathers house had when the lie he had been living was revealed and his most beloved sister perished in the name of tradition. Trish had been the start of it… maybe Willow would be the end.

He saw the surprise in her eyes when he softened his gaze before releasing the hold he had clamped around his defences sending out one last message, the one message he knew she had being waiting for.

'Come get me.'

**

Part Nineteen

**

'Come get me.'

His words had been channelled out and received yet still her face remained expressionless to what secrets lay within the dark recesses of his mind and he made no attempt hide the horror that was his past. His eyes closed as he felt her sort through his memories, seeing him as a child bouncing up and down on a trampoline while his proud father stood watching, saw him helping a little girl with blonde locks blow out the candles on her 10th birthday cake, the Christmas he had his arm in a sling, his first date and finally Trish's sixteenth birthday party.

He kept his eyes closed as he followed her around in her exploration, helping her to see what he had done by reliving it in his mind for her. Not allowing her to turn her mind away as he bared his soul, a soul that was bitter and tainted with the blood of his family.

'See what I am? See what I did?' He opened his eyes and met her gaze. 'You would do anything to protect your family, where as I did everything I could to kill mine.'

Her expression changed then and he arched a brow.

'Tears?'

He had expected and been ready for many a reaction from the redhead... but tears? They ran freely down her pale cheeks and though he tried with all his might to turn his head away, to push 'her' away, all he could do was concede and follow the commands of his traitorous mind as he stood to his feet and walked across the room till he stood by her bedside looking down on her.

Her arms reached for him and he went into them willingly, submissively... wholly.

"I've got you,"

He heard her whispered words float around him, securing him in there comfort and he relished it, gloried in the feel of her as she offered herself unconditionally for his taking.

"I've got you."

**

"Willow?"

Dawn hated breaking up what looked to all of them like a tender moment between Willow and the King of Bling Bling. They had all witnessed the display of affection that seemed to stretch out between there two friends and weren’t at all surprised by Jericho vacating his chair to join the redhead on the bed, but now Dawn was starting to get itchy feet knowing they had left it too long, they had to talk about what had happened out at the cabin.

"Willow?"

"Hmmm?"

"It's time, Will’s."

The redhead opened her eyes, not having to ask 'what' exactly it was time for as she nodded her head in acquiescence. Chris moved slightly, helping her reposition herself before settling again at her side and as far as Dawn could tell, Willow seemed quite happy with it.

She waited while the others gathered around the bed, Dusk planting himself in between Willow and Chris, causing the man to look down on the boy in envy.

"Okay," Dawn began once she had everyone's attention and the man at Willow's side had stopped looking at her son like he wanted to put him in the walls of Jericho. "I've pretty much clued everyone in on the big, the bad and the uglies... so there's no need to sugar coat anything."

"Hmmm, there’s a lot of people in the WWE who fit that description." Jeff said as images of Big Show and A-Train entered his mind, "Hell," he added turning to Shane. "You even fit the bill."

"You better take that back, Hardy." Shane warned.

Lita rolled her eyes as Jeff moved to stand beside Dawn. "I think not." He snickered only to come up short as Dawn slapped him upside the head. "Hey!"

"Play time's over, Hardy. Now shut it." Not waiting for a reply she turned to Willow. "Well?"

Willow could see the unasked question in Dawn's gaze and quickly reached out to clasp the other girl’s hand. "It wasn't Buffy."

A look of relief passed over the young girl’s features but it didn't stay long. 'Just because it wasn't Buffy doesn't mean Buffy didn't send them.' She thought to herself as Willow continued.

"There magic was strong and although I sensed only a few of them it seemed as if they were everywhere, I remember trying to get to Dusk but everywhere I turned they'd be a hooded figure blocking my path."

"Druids?"

"No," Willow replied closing her eyes as she called forth her memories of that night. "More like Druidess-es. They kept talking to each other in spurts of erratic chatter, at first I thought it was how they had countered my cloaking spell but when I tried to harness some of there magic and use it to rejuvenate the spell enough to cloak Dusk, I found that the spell was still operational and from what I could understand of there chatter, they were discussing a bound, someone or something when meshed together with it's missing half would bring misery and then death to all who'd wronged them."

Dusk's words when she'd found him in his hiding place came back to her. 'I tried to stop the bad people from hurting aunt Willow, but they wouldn't stop... and it kept getting hotter and hotter,' She turned to meet Willow's gaze seeing her own thoughts mirrored in that of the redheads. "They couldn't see Dusk, could they?"

"Couldn't or chose not to."

Dusk looked from his mother to his aunt, then back again but it was Chris who broke the growing silence.

"They weren't there for your son, Dawn." All eyes turned to Chris, his face having taken on a far away look. "They were there for Willow."

**

Part Twenty

**

Sunnydale...

"There late!"

"Yeah, well, considering they have done what we tried five years to do, I think we can allow them a little slack, don’t you?"

"No, I don’t," She replied heatedly. "How do we even know we can trust these people?"

"They did come highly recommended," Giles reminded her.

"Whoopie." Buffy replied deadpan. "I just want this over with."

"Well, looks like your going to get your wish," Giles remarked motioning towards the entrance doors of the Bronze.

Buffy turned and choked on her drink, a spray of diet coke spattering Giles crisp baby blue shirt front with tiny brown drops. She held her hand to her lips trying to stifle the giggles that rose in her throat and Giles had to wonder just what it was she was laughing at. His now spotted shirt of the group of people who were currently making there way towards them.

His question answered moments later when she leaned towards him conspiratorially to whisper, "If they wanted to stick out, why didn't they just come naked?"

Giles had to admit the group of people who were now standing in front of them did look rather ridiculous, but then again they were in Sunnydale, ignorance capital of the world, so without a doubt they would probably be looked upon as some religious cult on a mission to save the lost and naive.

"You are the watcher, are you not?"

Buffy quirked an eyebrow at the clipped haughty voice as it sliced through the noise around them.

"Ah, yes..." Giles replied getting to his feet to offer the man his hand and then promptly retracted it rubbing his palm down the front of his jacket when the man chose to ignore his out stretched hand.

"You are the slayer?"

Buffy stepped in front of Giles instinctively pushing him behind her as she faced the group to look them all, one by one, in the eye. "I am."

The group parted and a young girl who couldn't have been more then fifteen years old stepped forward. There was a commanding air about her and as the group dispersed, both Buffy and Giles saw that it was she they would be meeting with.

"Forgive my ruse," The girl began seating herself at there table before motioning them to come join her. "But this being the Hellmouth, well, a girl can never be too careful." She continued smiling up at them. "Shall we get down to business?"

"There must be some mistake-"

"There is no mistake, Mr Giles. I am who you seek."

"But on the phone-"

"On the phone you spoke to my uncle. My time is short, if you wish to know of my finding, please join me. If not, I will be on my way."

Buffy liked that idea and opened her mouth to tell her so when Giles pulled her to the side. "Don’t let her get to you, obviously the female line reign supreme in her kind." He whispered between his teeth before sending the girl seated at the table a smile. "We'll just let her tell us what she knows."

"I just get the feeling we're wasting our time," She eyed the girl wearily before inching closer to Giles. "Something doesn't seem right."

"Let’s just hear her out, okay?"

Buffy shrugged and stepped back. "Fine, if you want to waste your time, go right ahead."

Giles watched her walk off towards the bar for a few moments before turning to join the girl at the table. "So, what do you know?"

She eyed him wearily before lifting her drink to her lips. "Not much I'm afraid," She said bringing her coke back to the table. "Our lead took us to a secluded area five miles out of New York City."

"And?" Giles asked anxiously as he pulled a handkerchief from his breast pocket to wipe his brow. "Did you find the boy and his mother?"

"We found many traces, Mr Giles. But none of whom you are looking for."

"Are you sure?"

"Are you doubting my ability?"

He didn't respond.

"Mr Giles, you asked for help, we came, we saw, we found nothing."

Giles met Buffy's gaze through the crowd and he quickly lowered his eyes knowing she wasn't going to like what this young girl had just told him.

"My advice to you would be to give up."

Her voice sounded far away and he turned his face back to her only to be met with an empty chair. His eyes immediately searched the room but everyone she had arrived with had gone. He met Buffy's gaze again as she made her way towards him.

He doubted he would need words to explain to her what happened, he was sure his expression said it all. Then why was she smiling?

"Fear not, good man. I got the inside scoop from one of her lackeys."

"Huh?"

"The guy I was talking to at the bar... he came with them. I got some very interesting information from him." She told him looking very pleased with herself.

"Funny, I got nothing from the girl."

"Told you I had a funny feeling about this." She reminded him as she slipped her jacket over her shoulders.

"So, what did he tell you?"

She smiled. "Nothing,"

Giles frowned. "Just what is in these drinks they been serving you?"

"Don’t you get it?" She said pulling him along with her as she headed towards the exit. "They want us to quit the search,"

"True, she said so herself." Giles confirmed, a thoughtful look gracing his expression. "Question is why?"

"It's as plain as day to me." Buffy replied getting into the passengers side of Giles beat up Toyota.

"Where are we going?" He asked as if only now realising where he was.

"Home," She replied and waited as Giles drove the car out into the traffic. "I saw this symbol..." She pulled a paper napkin from her jacket pocket and handed it to him. He held it closer to his face so he could make out the drawing he saw there. "... Dangling from a chain at the man's neck."

"And?" Giles prompted her to give him the answers that would ease his confused mind.

Buffy pulled up outside her home and jumped out, not waiting for Giles as she ran into the house and up the stairs to Willow's room, a room that hadn't been touched in five years.

"Buffy?"

"In here, Giles."

She heard him enter the room and when she looked up to meet his gaze she had tears in her eyes. She held up her hand and from it dangled a chain with a symbol that matched the one she had drawn on the napkin.

"We need to find out who these people are and why they find it necessary for me to give up my search for Dawn and Willow."

**

Part Twenty-One

**

"Have we found anything?"

Giles and Xander looked up from where they sat in the Summers kitchen with a stack of books between them. There vexed expressions tormenting Buffy to no end for even daring to allow *that* question to pass through her lips.

"’We’ Buffy?" The younger of the two men spoke. "Please define your usage of the word 'We' because for me 'We' consists of the 'We' who stayed here to battle paper cuts and dust mites." He stated snapping the book that lay open in front of him shut. As if on cue a cloud of dust rose from the pages to add emphasis to his words.

"Ooookay..." Buffy breathed sharing an amused look with Anya. "Have

'You' found anything? 'You' being the 'You' seated at my table."

Xander mouthed the words 'Thankyou' and then reached for the next book on the pile.

Giles cleared his throat. "Well," He began flicking through one of the many books he had open before him. "It seems this symbol here," He held up the necklace Buffy had retrieved from Willow's belongings.

"...Is a family crest dating all the way back to the druids."

"Hence the dress sense for anything long and flowy." Buffy said moving to the counter to pull open the fridge. "I'm with yah."

Giles stood and shoved his hands in his pockets as he started to pace.

"The crest itself is passed down through the female line of a governing host family where she has the task of finding a suitable participant to take part in a..." his words trailed off as he straightened his glasses before looking down at the book lying open on the table. "...A joining ritual."

"A joining ritual? As in two bodies joining?"

"Apparently."

Buffy's face soured and she stuck out her tongue. "Ergh!"

"Oh, I should mention that the keeper of the necklace, as she is called, is not the one who..." He paused as if searching for the right word. "...partakes, in the ritual. Her job is only to choose.

It is the head male, who must be of the same generation as the keeper, say a brother or a cousin who will preform the ritual."

"Wow!" Anya exclaimed. "You guy's have really done your homework."

"That's not all," The Watcher went on. “About twelve year's ago the necklace went missing, the 'real' one that is and the Keeper who had been sixteen years old at the time paid for the loss with her life."

Buffy stared up at him expectantly. "That's it? It was just getting good."

Xander shrugged. "There is nothing else, that's where the trail comes to a big fat end."

"What would Willow be doing with it?" Anya asked. "I mean, I know I haven’t known Willow as long as you guy's, but, haven’t *we* been her only family?"

"I can’t believe I'm going to say this," Buffy said twisting the cap of the water bottle she held in her hands. "But she's right."

Anya sent her friend a stiff look, which the Slayer chose to ignore.

"Xander, has Willow ever mentioned the necklace to you?"

He shrugged. "This is the first time I have seen or heard of it and

I've known Will's my whole life, sometimes I think even before that!"

"What about her parents? Could her mom have handed it down to Willow?"

Xander turned his 'are you kidding me?' expression on his wife.

"Not to be disrespectful or anything, but Willow's mom couldn't even give her the flu."

Buffy turned her eye's locking onto the mature gaze of the man who had been her mentor, her conscience and her friend. He had ceased in his pacing and now stood at the head of the table, his fingers absently drummed on its top.

"What is it Giles?" She asked her open bottle of water forgotten on the counter top as she took a step forward.

"I'm not sure..." He replied honestly. "This may lead nowhere, but, do we still have Willow's laptop?"

Buffy frowned not sure where Giles was going with this. "Yeah, it's up in her room. I'll go get it."

Xander stood too. "I'll come with you." He said leaning down to place a kiss on the top of Anya's head before he followed after Buffy's retreating form. "Wait up a minute." He called as she disappeared from his view.

"What?" She paused at the top of the stairs to ask.

"I know I'm risking getting beat up by asking this, but I care too much about Willow not to."

By the look on his face he could tell he had her full attention, so he continued.

"I need to know what you have planned once you find them."

"I'm the Slayer, Xander. I plan on doing my job."

"Refresh my memory will you? What exactly is your job?"

She opened her mouth to answer but the words never came."

"Buffy, I know Anya and I weren't around when all this went down and frankly I'm kinda glad we weren't considering... well, never mind that. My point is *they* are family."

"Dawn and Willow maybe-"

"No, Buffy." Xander cut in stepping past her on the landing, disappointment written across his face. "They *all*are."

Leaving her with that thought he continued on down the hallway to what was still Willow's room.

**

"Me?" Willow eyes were the size of ping pong balls. "Why would they want me? I'm just Willow."

Dawn closed her eyes, racking her brain for any flaw, any blemish they had missed during there time on the run. And she couldn't think of any!

Since the beginning it had been about protecting Dusk not only from the eyes of the world, but from there past as well.

The thought of someone coming after either her or Willow hadn't entered her head. It didn't make sense. To everyone who knew them before Dusk came along, they had disappeared off the face of the earth and the ever shifting world of the WWE never allowed them to stay in one city long enough for them to be tracked.

Unless... she began to worry her bottom lip between her teeth, unless, whoever was tracking them now was someone who knew who they were, someone who knew of their connection to the Slayer.

Yet, the question still remained, why now?

Opening her eyes she turned to the redhead and by the look on her face it was pretty apparent she had come to the same conclusion.

"It could be anyone."

The redhead remained silent as if in her own mind she were doing exactly what Dawn had been doing only moments before. And it was a few moments more before she voiced a reply.

"There is a way to find out who…"

Confusion marred Dawn's brow for a minute, then turned to concern as she realised just what the redhead was suggesting. She absently took a step forward and planted her hands on her hips.

"No."

"You don’t have a say in the matter." Willow replied, her resolve face peeking into view.

Dawn silently fumed! She so wanted to stamp her foot right now and would have had it just been her and Willow in the room.

Mentally counting to ten she approached the redhead again, this time kneeling down beside the bed so she was eye level with the witch.

"Please Willow, you're not at your full strength."

The redhead's gaze reached across the room to the little boy fast asleep on the couch.

"Right now, Dawnie, I don’t think we have any other choice."

There was nothing dawn could say as the redhead turned her head into

Jericho's shoulder, the blonde man's arms tightening around her while his eyes filled with understanding as he stared back at her, almost as if he knew already what the redhead had planned.

His eyes closed and he settled back against the pillows with the redhead still locked in his arms, his pained expression telling her that although he had accepted Willow's decision, he didn't like it in the least.

**

"What's going on?" Stephanie asked as Dawn came away from the couple on the bed. "What is Willow going to do?"

Dawn sighed and shook her head in resignation. "She's going to do a spell to take her mind back to just before the attack."

Lita looked confused. "That's a good thing right?"

"Yep." Dawn replied sitting down beside Lita before allowing her head to drop into her hands.

"Then why all the worry?"

"Because," She paused when she felt the hand that gently moved across her back in comforting strokes, before starting again. "Because, even though Willow will be seeing everything in her dream state, the physical aspects, the pain, the heat... everything... will happen in reality... and there wont be a damn thing I can do to stop it."

**

Part Twenty-Two

**

Dawn couldn’t sleep.

Instead she sat in the dark and listened to the quiet even breathing of the others as they slept, her fingers absently brushing the hair back from her son’s forehead as he lay nestled in her lap.

Tomorrow Matt and Stephanie would go sort them out some mode of transportation while she, Lita and Jeff collected all their gear from there own rooms, seeing as they were all spending the night shacked up with the ‘King of Bling Bling’.

Shane had the job of watching Dusk and though Dawn was hesitant at first she couldn’t doubt the way her son had taken to the green haired super hero. Or the way she herself had.

“I like him too.”

Startled at the unexpected little voice inside her head, she jumped in her seat causing Dusk to giggle when she frantically reached out to stop him slipping off her lap.

“Dusk,” She admonished in silent tones so as not to wake the others. “You shouldn’t be reading mommy’s thoughts like that.”

“I’m sorry.” He lowered his eyes and a crestfallen expression graced his features for a minute, but it didn’t stay there long as his yellow eyes quickly darted back up to hers. “But I do like him.”

She smiled. “I know Dusk. I like him too.” She confessed openly, leaning forward to kiss the top of his head. “Now sleep, we have a big day ahead of us tomorrow.”

“I love you mommy.” He whispered sleepily.

She replied the way she always did. “I love you more.”

Her fingers began the task of brushing his hair away from his face again and she continued to watch as he obediently shut his eyes and within minutes his breathing slowed to a steady even rhythm.

**

Shane lay on atop his makeshift bed on the floor across the room and watched the display of love that flowed from mother to son, then back again. The tenderness he had just witnessed only strengthening the pull he felt whenever he watched them, either together or a part. He couldn’t hear the whispered words that had been passed between them, but whatever was said had brought a smile to Dawn’s face, something he hadn’t seen too often since meeting her.

He liked her. You had to be blind not to see that he liked her. He liked everything about her. He liked the whole package. From her long straight mousey brown hair to the end of her steel capped motorcycle boots. Hell, he even liked the fact that she had pissed him off his very first night on Raw.

There was definitely no denying that Dawn Summers and all she entailed more than rocked his world!

**

Sunnydale…

“What is it you’re hoping to find?”

“I don’t know.”

Xander watched as Giles continued to scroll through file after file on Willow’s laptop.

“And here I thought Giles and all things binary didn’t mix.”

The older man turned to look over his shoulder, pinning the younger man with a pointed stare.

“I’ll have you know that I have learnt a few things over the years, and its not as if it’s hard or anything… it’s basically just common sense.”

“Oh? And was it common sense that got you through Willow’s security code?”

Giles cheeks went so red he would have given Willow a run for her money!

“And don’t try and say that there wasn’t one because I know for a fact there is.” Xander added with a smirk.

Giles cleared his throat and smiled half heartedly at Buffy and Anya, who both had disbelieving expressions plastered across there faces.

“Well, I may have picked up a thing or two from Willow, before… well, you know.”

“You picked up hacking?”

“Now Buffy, *hacking* is such a criminal sounding word…”

Anya leaned forward and whispered conspiratorially in his ear. “Don’t worry Giles, you’re secret is safe with us.”

Giles blushed again as they all erupted into laughter.

He shook his head and turned back to the computer screen in front of him and pointedly ignored them.

“I will never understand this generation.”

**

Part Twenty Three

**

"Am I good or am I good!"

Jeff looked up as Stephanie breezed in through the hotel door in her usual confident `out of my way' manner and smirked at the sight of his brother huffing and puffing along behind her, his arms overflowing with boxes and shopping bags.

"Was that a trick question?" He asked from his sprawled out position on the floor.

"It wasn't a question at all," Stephanie replied smiling at her boyfriend as he collapsed on the couch, the packages still in his arms.

"Oh," Jeff went back to counting all the blue fruit loops Dusk was currently pulling out of the cereal box.

"Don't you want to know why I'm so good?"

"Steph, please, you're practically my sister,"

She glared at him.

"But, by the look on your face I can see you're going to tell me anyway." He continued rolling his eyes at the giggling five year old sprawled out on the floor next to him.

Stephanie brightened immediately stepping over Matt's out stretched legs to join Jeff and Dusk on the floor.

"Well, I totally charmed this rental guy into hiring us out a deluxe camper van for half the price and would have gotten a portable DVD player thrown in as well if you're brother had of held off his `Mr Touch-my-girl-I-break-your-fingers' routine."

Behind her Matt finally laid down his burden and was now mimicking her every word.

"…but nooo…" She rolled her eyes. "…Not only did we not get the DVD player but-"

Jeff held up his hand and his eyes widened at how easily his action had shushed the chatty woman in front of them.

"I get it. Dusk even gets it…" He said motioning to the little boy who nodded enthusiastically at his side. "…you're point already?"

"Sorry," She apologized and smiled in spite of herself when Dusk crawled into her lap, not a word of protest passing between her lips. "I guess I got a little carried away." She said wrapping her arms around the little body that now cuddled into her and she hugged him to her chest.

"Traitor," Jeff grumbled poking the little boy in the side causing him to giggle more. Stephanie giggled too and shoved at Jeff's shoulder to get him focused once again on there conversation.

"Daddy's giving us paid leave."

Jeff perked up.

"Man, you are good!" He exclaimed as the door opened again and Dawn,

Lita and Shane entered with enough food to feed both the Raw and Smack Down rosters.

"Cool, food," Jeff continued getting to his feet to take the bags from Lita and Dawn.

"Oh, so now you help." Matt said sending his brother a glare.

The younger Hardy ignored his brother's theatrics opting to greet his girlfriend instead.

"Well, of course bro, they bring big heavy bags full of food and toiletry needs for that huge camper van you guys rented."

Matt glared at his brother and cringed, lifting his finger to his lips to shush his brother, but too late. Stephanie had already heard.

"You mean you already knew about the camper van, yet you let me rave on about it like a lunatic?"

Jeff smiled apologetically at his brother, but it was to Stephanie he voiced his reply.

"You see, Steph, Matt called here when you were still at the rental place," He started off.

"And seeing Dawn, Jeff and I had already packed everything from our room's Jeff opted to stay here while the rest of us go get supplies for our trip." Lita finished for him. She held up a bucket of cookie dough fudge mint chip ice cream and waved it in front of Stephanie's face. "See, we even got you're favourite."

Stephanie's gaze went to the bags that Jeff still held.

"…and Oreo's?" She asked licking her lips.

"Four boxes," Lita replied.

Stephanie smiled and slung her arm around Lita's shoulders.

"I love you."

"Did you get everything?"

Everyone turned to see Chris standing in the bedroom doorway with

Willow cradled in his arms.

"Yes, Willow," Dawn answered moving forward to clasp the hand her friend held out to her. "We got everything."

"Okay," She said, her gaze never wavering from Dawns. "Soon, I'll begin the spell."

**

"Eureka!"

"Eureka what?"

"Buffy!" Giles called ignoring Anya’s glare as she waited for an answer to her question.

"What is it?" The slayer asked coming through the kitchen door with

Xander at her heels.

"I think I've found it," He said waiting patiently as Buffy came to stand behind him and peer over his shoulder at the computer screen in front of him.

Her mouth fell open.

"You're reading Willow's diary?"

"Willow's diary?" Xander exclaimed coming to stand behind Giles as well. "Does it mention anything about me?" Three sets of eyes focused on him and he took a hasty step back.

"This dates back to when Willow was in the forth grade," Giles said taking the girls attention off the still cringing Xander. It's an open book to the life she led before Buffy came to Sunnydale." He explained scrolling down the screen. "It's rather sad to read actually, her parents…" He paused and sighed as he looked at all of them in turn. "She was so lonely."

"That's not true, she had me." Xander protested, but Giles slowly shook his head.

"You can still be lonely amongst friends."

Xander looked hurt by Giles words and turned away from them, to busy himself at the sink.

"It seems when Willow was in the fifth grade she had an online friend who went by the handle name `TKiPherS'." His glasses began to slip down his nose and he reached up to adjust them before continuing. "They spoke online everyday for over four years it’s all logged here in her diary. She writes of those times being the happiest part of her day."

Buffy frowned. "Willow had that episode with `Malcolm' in high school. Remember the change in her, how addicted she was to chatting to him. She even ditched school."

"Exactly," Giles agreed. "From the dates she's got here, Willow spent most of her free time online talking to this one person."

"Is there an address for this person?"

"No only a number for a post office box." He replied bringing it up on screen for them all to see. "Willow had one too, so they obviously corresponded in letter form."

"Where are these letters?"

"Destroyed," Giles said scrolling down the screen some more till he found what he wanted. "It was requested by this person that Willow destroy any letter or card she received. A request Willow honoured."

"That's a weird request for a fifth grader to make."

"I totally agree," Giles nodded then went on excitedly. "But now to my *Eureka* moment…"

"Oh joy," Xander exclaimed clapping his hands and jumping up and down on the spot.

Giles ignored him, something he had mastered over the years. "Willow was sent a gift which she received on the eve of her sixteenth birthday."

"And…" Buffy said, her eyes darting to the emblem that lay on the table beside Willows lap top.

"And… according to everything recorded here that's when all correspondence, online or otherwise ended between the two girls."

"So you think that's how Willow came to be in possession of the emblem?"

"No," Giles shook his head. "I don't think I know that's how Willow got that emblem."

"How…"

"The answer is right in front of you."

Buffy put her hands on her hips obviously at the end of her tether. "Giles this is no time to be playing `spot the eureka'."

He rolled his eyes and pointed at the screen. "The name `TKiPherS'."

"Okay," She said motioning for him to continue.

"At first it just looks like a bunch a bunch of letters, but you look closely and sound it out with the first and last letters silent and

you have `Ki-Pher'

"Kipher," Buffy whispered silently to herself.

"Not Kipher, Buffy… Ki-Pher…"

"Ki-pher… kii…pherrr… keeper…"

Giles grinned and nodded.

"Willows long time net friend had been the `Keeper'."

**

Part Twenty Four

**

Sunnydale…

Buffy sat on the steps of the back porch and just stared out at the yard - A yard full of memories.

“Our memories,” She whispered to herself as thoughts of her, Willow and Xander frolicking on the grass as they messed around with the camera her mother had given her for Christmas. She still had the photo of the three of them they taken on that day taped to her dresser mirror.

Now she thought about it, it seemed weird that they had been friends for so long and Willow had not once mentioned anything about her net friend. Not even to Xander and he had practically known her since birth! Even when Willow had her little episode with Malcolm she had told them everything.

She did know one thing though, the people she and Giles had met at the Bronze could give her all the answers she needed, wether they wanted to all not.

“What are you thinking?”

Buffy looked up, a little startled that she hadn’t heard Giles approach. “I think you know,” She replied lightly.

“You may not like what they have to tell you,” He said seating himself on the step beside her. “If Willow is there chosen one, they will expect her to bond with…”

“There head male?” Buffy finished for him when his words trailed off.

“The head male… or the head ‘it’.”

The slayers face soured and she stuck out her tongue. “You mean *He* could be some slimy puss oozing demon?”

“Well… yes,” Giles replied removing his glasses and inspecting the lenses.

“No matter our past… I have to help her.”

“I knew you would.”

She smiled and he returned her gesture with one of his own.

“I’ll get the council to arrange another meeting.”

“Thanks.”

“And Dawn?” He added quietly, just voicing her name being enough to convey his meaning to the young woman beside him.

He watched as she stared sightlessly at her feet, her expression alone one of deep sorrow and confusion.

“I don’t know, Giles… I just don’t know…”

**

Within the hour the small party of friends were on the road. Matt had been elected to drive the first shift with Stephanie as navigator,

Lita, Jeff and Shane sat in the cabin and kept Dusk amused with all the sights of the outside world as they passed. Dawn and Chris were to assist Willow in the only other room in the camper van.

“Are you sure, Willow?”

“Dawn please,” The red head responded from her position on the bed. “We need answers and this is our only option.”

She turned her head and immediately met the crystal blue gaze of the man who had yet to leave her side.

“Once the circle is closed you both must stay back. No matter what you see or hear, I don’t want either of you breaking the circle.”

Only when she had gotten confirmation from both her friends did she nod for Dawn to finish the circle, while Chris took a few steps back drawing the thick curtains closed on the tiny rear window before lighting all the candles that had been purchased that morning. As soon as the last candle was lit he made to move back to Willow’s side, but Dawn’s hand on his arm stalled his progress.

“It’s closed,” She said motioning to the circle. “From here on out, she’s on her own.”

**

Willow closed her eyes.

“Days of old and past forbidden, grant my wish to see what’s hidden.”

As soon as the words had left her mouth her body stiffened and her mind was transported back in time to the night of the fire and although the fire was yet to start she could already taste the smoke and soot that filled her mouth and nostrils, causing her to gag and sputter as it found it’s way down her windpipe.

She saw herself sitting at one end of the kitchen table scraping carrots while Dusk sat at the other end reading through a wordlist she had given him to learn as part of his home schooling routine.

Her gaze flickered to the window to see the sky was darkening outside rather rapidly and the moon shone an ominous red colour that sent off a warning signal inside her head, but as her eyes travelled back down to the table she saw herself and Dusk continuing on as if everything was okay.

‘But everything’s not okay!’ A voice screamed inside her head.

After that everything happened so fast she wasn’t sure it had actually happened. One minute they were sitting there and the next Willow’s wheel chair was up turned and the petite witch was trying to claw her way across the kitchen floor to Dusk who was cowering in a corner with three robed figures towering over him. And there was nothing she could do but watch.

She watched as her eyes turned black in her rage and a multitude of fire balls leapt from her mouth to embed themselves within the folds of their robes, but to her horror the balls of fire turned to ice mere seconds after contact and her eyes widened more when the curtains caught a light. They then turned to her, her eyes widening as she saw there faces.

‘Beautiful.’ That’s the only thing that came into her mind as she gazed upon them. They were tall, blonde and beautiful and amazingly familiar.

All she could do was watch as they advanced towards her, in her mind she could hear Dusk’s screams and she tried to send him the command to go to his secret place, but it was like the three figures had her mind in there grasp, searching through her memories.

In her mind she saw herself as a little girl sitting in front of her computer, her expression one of happiness as she typed merrily away on her keyboard. There was a flash of light as another memory was pulled forward and this time she saw herself a few years older sitting in the woods alone and in her hands she held the pages of a letter. Then another flash and she saw herself burning that letter and then another and then another and then another.

Her memories were rifled through like a roller deck of index cards until they found what they sought. The memory of a little cassette shaped box that had held her sweet sixteenth birthday present.

She watched as all three figures shuffled about excitedly, there movements breaking the hold they had on her senses and she saw her eyes immediately dart around the room in search of Dusk. She couldn’t see him anywhere and then suddenly the smoke and glare of the flames seemed to part and there he was, his face contorted into what he could have looked like in his human likeness, his teeth bared and his husky animalistic growl filled the room as he launched himself at one of the figures, his hands and teeth attacking there enemy.

“Dusk no!” She heard herself scream, but it was too late, she could already hear him slurp as he drank and even though it didn’t last long the life blood that he took from the other being was so vast it brought the bigger form to his knees.

The little boy lifted his head and she saw the blood that dripped from his chin before he went for the second figure, but unlike his friend, he had been ready for Dusk’s attack and with one swing of his arm he had sent the little boy crashing into the wall.

Willow could only watch as Dusk crumpled to the floor and with a wave of her hand the back door was opened and she levitated Dusk’s small body through it before turning the full force of her powers on the two remaining men.

She saw her eyes, lips and hair the colour of night and with an unhuman cry she unleashed the extent of her anger and rage in an almighty explosion of fire and brimstone, not caring where or on whom her anger fell as long as she destroyed the two remaining men who knelt over there friend.

The only thought going through her mind was of Dusk and how she had to protect him. They had seen what he had become, they had seen as she had the monster that lay within, but there was no way in hell she would allow them to live to tell the tale.

She felt around for the necklace around her neck and watched as its ruby centre glowed fiercely, somehow she knew Dusk was okay and the still glowing ruby was proof that soon Dawn would arrive.

When all that was left of the three hooded figures was the bright orange flames that consumed them did she allow herself to relax, her body spent and physically drained she knew she wouldn’t be able to make her way out of the house before the flames consumed her as well, so with a shaky breath she closed her eyes and waited for the inevitable.

**

A bright light appeared within the flames and her brows creased as she watched her still form being engulfed by the bright light and a few moments later she saw her body being lifted and carried out of the house to the place where Jericho had first seen her. She continued to watch in fascination as the bright light hovered over her unconscious form, the tiny molecules bonding together to take the shape of a young woman.

Willow had no idea who she was, but strangely enough she felt totally at ease in her presence as if she had known this woman all her life.

And then the sound of a motor bike came floating through the darkness and the woman was gone leaving a still unconscious Willow and a fire engulfed house.

**

Part Twenty Five

**

“That’s a very serious face your displaying there Miss Lita, care to share your thoughts with a devilishly charming super hero and his stand in side kick?”

Lita grinned more at Jeff’s reaction to Shane’s pretend interview then at the interview itself.

Refer to me as your ‘stand in side kick’ again and I will shove that mock microphone up your mock a-“

“Child in the room,” Lita reminded him quickly and the three of them all turned and smiled innocently at the little boy who merely rolled his eyes at them before going back to his colouring.

“Do you ever get the feeling that he knows more then he lets on?” Jeff asked in hushed tones.

“All the time,” Shane replied. “But that just makes him that much more special.”

Lita smiled. “Well he is special,” She said. “As are Dawn and Willow,”

“Speaking of Willow,” Jeff piped in. “We haven’t seen much of our Canadian colleague since he met her, what do you think that’s about?”

“Love,” Lita replied simply.

“But they only just met.”

“So did Dawn and Shane.”

“Love doesn’t happen that fast.”

“What are you – cupids time keeper?”

Shane felt like he was watching a tennis match.

“No,” The younger Hardy continued. “I’m just saying love doesn’t happen that fast.”

“Keep talking Hardy and you aren’t gonna get any for a month.”

Jeff opened his mouth to reply and then just as quickly shut it again causing not only Shane to laugh but Dusk as well.

“Stop being so analytical,” Lita went on. “It’s not becoming in a man of your mental calibre.”

“I’m not being analytical,” Jeff replied joining the little boy on the floor deciding he’d rather colour in with Dusk then participate in a conversation that clearly needed a dictionary present.

Lita and Shane both shared a look and then burst out laughing when Jeff leaned over to Dusk and asked.

“What’s mental calibre mean?”

**

Chris stood at the edge of the circle and watched the conflicting emotions pass over Willow’s face as she thrashed about on the bed.

He had never felt as helpless as he did right at that moment. He couldn’t physically help her… in this battle it wouldn’t matter if he had all the muscles in the world and even if he relied on what he had learned in the past he doubted it would be of much use, hell he might kill them all… just like he had killed his family.

Here he was a descendant of ‘Edhock’ and as far as he knew, the *last* living descendant, yet still he could do nothing, not without breaching the circle that still remained closed around the red head.

He lifted his eyes and his gaze travelled across the tiny room to the young woman who sat on the floor with her back up against the wall and her legs crossed in front of her. She nervously chewed on the finger nails of her left hand while her gaze remained trained on the bed where Willow lay.

Chris knew exactly what was going through her mind because the same thought was playing over and over inside his. She wanted to help, she wanted to fight this battle alongside the red head just like he did, but like him fear of breaking the circle and somehow causing Willow more pain then necessary held her back.

Held them both back.

**

Sunnydale…

“Sunnydale Mortuary?” Xander swallowed and looked across at his friend. “Your great meeting place is the Sunnydale Mortuary?”

“Don’t give me that look Xander it’s not as if you’ve never been here before.”

“Yeah, but I still get freaked out every time we come back for a visit.” He countered checking to make sure he had his bright yellow water pistol fully loaded with holy water.

“Just stay close to me, if anything goes down during this meeting it’s going to be in a place I’m familiar with.” Buffy said getting out of the car and walking around to the trunk.

“I hear yah,” Xander replied as he was met with the night’s cold chill as he got out of the car too. “Ah, I believe our date has arrived.” He added as two headlights appeared in the darkness, there glare getting brighter and brighter still as the car neared them.

Four figures emerged from the car, all clad in the same identical robes there last contacts had worn.

“Well, at least there punctual.” Buffy muttered stepping away from the car as the figures approached.

“You have some information for us.” Came the voice Buffy knew to be the young girl her and Giles had met earlier.

“That’s my line.” She said feigning boredom.

The four figures moved closer, the smallest of the three staying centred while the other three fanned out around her.

“I don’t understand.” The woman said.

Buffy held up her hand and let the emblem dangle from her fingers. “What about now?”

She smiled as all four figures focused in on the necklace.

“Where did you get that?”

Buffy was surprised at the gruff voice of one of the taller figures, it seemed almost wrong to have such graceful movements and delicate features with such a gruff voice.

‘Well, at least the girl seemed delicate…’ She told herself.

“I asked you a question.” The taller figure said stepping forward and pulling the hood of his robe down to glare back at her.

Buffy was stunned by the directness of this man, hadn’t the young woman said *she* was the one in charge? Yet, it that were so why had she retreated? Why was this man towering over her now and why the hell was her stomach doing flip flops!

“Why are you looking for Willow?”

The man’s eyes became hooded and his nostrils flared as he looked down his nose at her.

“Buffy…” Xander warned trying unsuccessfully to pull the slayer away from the man presently glaring down at her.

“You would do well to heed your friends warning.”

“What do you want with Willow?” She repeated ignoring what either man had said.

The tall man shrugged. “She is but a means to an end,” He replied reaching out as if to take the necklace from her, but she quickly pulled her hand back.

“What means and whose end?” She asked slipping the necklace back into the inside pocket of her jacket.

“Our means and her-“

“Look here-“ Xander cut in heatedly stepping forward but Buffy silenced him with a hand to his chest.

“We won’t let you harm her.” She said.

The man chuckled and Buffy found she liked the sound, deep but not too throaty.

“That’s funny coming from someone who is just as guilty as trying to harm not only her friend but also her sister and nephew.”

“You know nothing about it.” Buffy spat.

“I know all about it and more.” He countered nonplussed. “I know where they’ve been hiding all this time I know who they consider they’re friends…” He looked pointedly at her before adding. “…and who they don’t.”

He reached out and she felt the tip of his hand upon her cheek.

“We don’t want to harm her all we want is to see tradition fulfilled so we can begin again.”

“Yeah, till it’s ‘feast on heart’ week!” Xander piped up. “And let me lay it all on the line now, you are getting no where near my Will’s heart.”

“That is the old way,” The young girl stepped forward, but was silenced with a sharp look from the taller man.

“My sister is right,” He said turning back to face them. We do not abide by the ancient law and by right that act was performed only on the Keeper and your friend is *not* the Keeper.”

“No, but she is the former Keeper’s chosen one, isn’t she?”

The man nodded confirming Buffy’s words.

“Then the tradition you speak of is the sharing of bodily fluids tradition?”

“Xander.” Buffy whispered sharply at his side.

“What?” He exclaimed. “We’ll never get the answers we want with all the sexual tension passing between you and ‘Mr Blonde and Tall.”

“Your friend is right.” The man responded.

Buffy blushed. “He… he is?”

“Yes, your friend is bound to the head male and we await consummation before the emblem can be passed on.

Buffy’s eyes widened. “Oh… I… I knew that…” She only just managed to get out. She shifted uncomfortably before staring up at him again. “You’re not the head male are you?”

He smiled rather nicely.

“No, I’m not the head male we speak of.”

“Why now?” Xander said having to clear his throat to break there locked gaze.

“I don’t understand.” The man replied.

“Seems to be a lot of that going around tonight,” Xander agreed lifting his eyes heavenward. “Why. Now.” He repeated slowly. “Why not before when Willow was still in Sunnydale, Why come looking for her now?”

“We haven’t come for her we have come for the necklace, her part will follow.”

“What will you do with it?” Buffy asked slowly.

“We will present it to the head male and *he* will have no choice but to claim his rightful place within the family.”

“Where is he?” Buffy asked, all this man having told them now coming together in her head. “Where is *your* head male?”

“He is already with *your* Willow.”

**

“Dawnie?”

Dawn’s head snapped up from where it rested on the top of her raised knees.

“Willow…”

She moved towards the bed stopping just centimetres from the circle.

“Is it over?” She asked sensing Chris by her side.

The cabin door inched open and Dusk’s head poked through the opening.

Willow’s eyes immediately darted to the little boy and there gazes locked.

“Yes,” Willow replied surprising them all by getting up off the bed to stand unaided before them. “It’s over.”

**

Part Twenty Six

**

"Willow…"

Dawn knew her eyes had to be the size of saucers and by the muffled exclamation from the man behind her she knew he had to have a similar countenance.

"You're… standing…"

The redhead rolled her eyes. "Well, Duh!" She laughed pushing what she had seen in her dream state to the back of her mind as Dusk ran and jumped into her arms.

"Aunt Willow!" He cried. "You're all better!"

"So it seems," She grinned setting the little boy back on her feet before being engulfed again, in Dawn's arms this time.

"Willow, golly… is this permanent?"

"I don't know, time will tell I guess." She replied returning Dawn's hug and the younger girl's eyebrows met in the middle when she pulled back and saw that all too powerful resolve enter Willow's eyes.

"What is it?" She asked. "What did you see?"

Willow's eyes went to the little boy who was now demanding the attention of all the others who had since entered the room after

Dusk's excited cry before going back to Dawn, her look alone conveying that now was not the time to talk, but talk they would and soon.

She gave Dawn's hand a squeeze before moving to the man who had been waiting patiently for his time with the redhead and she purred contentedly when Chris's strong arms banded around her.

"Willow," She heard him whisper into her hair. "My Willow…"

**

Sunnydale…

"Here, Buffy? You brought them back here?"

"Well I couldn't very well take them to the mall dressed as they were; besides we're only here long enough for Xander to find them some clothes."

"A feat indeed in a house dominated by females," Xander grumbled entering the kitchen where Buffy and Giles stood conversing rather loudly.

"You call two females dominating?" Buffy asked with a raised brow.

"When one's a slayer and the others an ex demon, that's a big `Yay'."

He countered not missing a beat as he hopped up on a stool. "One of the fanged duo left a box of clothes in the basement so I didn't need to go through my vast array of Hawaiian shirts."

"Thank god," Giles mumbled clearing his throat when Buffy chuckled.

"Laugh now Buffy, but I doubt you'll be laughing when they come down."

"No," Anya agreed walking in. "She's gonna be drooling just like I am, the female is pretty enough but those guys are heaven."

"Hey!" Xander exclaimed. "Husband standing right here…" But his words went unheeded as there four guests entered the kitchen.

"Wow." Was the only response Buffy could manage.

"Thankyou for the clothes," The female of the group said almost shyly.

"I… ah…" Buffy expelled a long rush of air.

"She mean's you're welcome," Xander answered for the tongue tied Slayer and then sent Giles a look that dripped with sarcasm, "As you can see it wasn't Buffy’s idea to bring `buff and beautiful' back here." He continued waving a hand towards the men who were all dressed in leather pants and silk shirts. As if remembering the others in the room Buffy turned sheepishly to her watcher to see him staring sternly back at her.

"Well, at least we know who the clothes belong to…" She joked sheepishly.

Giles rolled his eyes. "What am I going to do with you?"

At hearing Giles words, the tallest of the three men stepped forward his arm out stretched as if to protect Buffy.

"Whoa, big guy," Buffy said grabbing his arm. "Tweed loving English man is a good guy."

"I see you've made an impression already." Giles mused not flinching at the other man's actions. "Introductions are needed I think."

Buffy nodded, but it was the tall man who spoke.

"My brother's are Gangrel and Christian, my sister is Molly and I am called Edge. We are descendants of Edhock.

A light flickered in Giles eyes as his brain started to tick over time at the name the `Edge' had given.

"Edhock. The head family, but it is written that the Edhock family all perished at the hand of one of there own."

"Most did, only a handful survived. We are all that is left now."

"So I imagine you have come for the emblem."

"Among other things," Edge replied easily his eyes trailing down Buffy's jean-clad form.

Giles pulled her to the side. "I don't think we should trust them." He said in hushed tones.

"Oh, Giles, your being an old fuddy-duddy, of course we can trust them. Who wouldn't trust someone so perfectly sculptured."

Giles sat down heavily on a stool next to Xander in exasperation and the younger man sent him an `I told you so' look.

"Told you she's not thinking with her head…"

**

"No… Willow, you have to be mistaken."

"I wish I were," The redhead replied.

"Well, I don't believe it." Dawn declared as she paced the room. "He has never been a danger to either of us or the rest of them out there and we have been with the others for three days now, Dusk has been alone with them at some stage during those three days…"

"Since he was born we have protected him, kept him isolated from the outside world and in doing so we have only seen the side of Dusk we nurtured in love and peace."

Dawn shook her head as Willow continued.

"We didn't take into account what would happen if he felt threatened either for himself of for one of us."

"He's not like his father."

"He drank Dawnie, I saw him, heard him…"

`I tried to help Aunt Willow, mommy…' Dusk's whispered words to her on the night of the fire came back to her and her heart broke over and over again. Her darling beautiful little boy with the vampiric features had gone all human and killed someone or something, but killed nonetheless and the vampire that lay within him had made his presence known and had its first taste of what all vampires' lust after. Blood. The question was how long it would be before the demon within him lusted for more.

"We'll go into hiding again. We've done it once we can do it again-"

"And when it becomes to strong for even us to control?" The redhead asked softly.

Dawn's gaze turned steely and she drew herself up to her full height even though she already looked down on the petite redhead.

"I will deal with that when and if it happens."

"Dawn-"

"No!" She exclaimed passionately her fingers fisting into the hem of her shirt. "Willow… he's just a little boy."

"A little boy whose father was a vampire,"

"He's a part of me too… I have to trust that part of him overpowers whatever else is inside of him."

She turned to face Willow then, her eyes pleading.

"He's my son."

Willow opened her arms and Dawn went into them willingly. "Okay, Dawnie…" Willow whispered softly. "We'll do this your way."

**

Part Twenty Seven

**

“So when are we to do this?”

Dawn sat on a small makeshift bed she had set up on the cabin floor of the camper van for Dusk, his little head nestled in her lap, his eyes were closed and his chest rose and fell with every breath he took.

‘Breathe.’ She had to remind herself as she brushed his hair back from his furrowed brow. He drew breath just like her. He sweated and cried tears just like her, he walked around in the sunlight just like her and he loved Willow’s funny shaped pancakes… just like her!

“Dawn,” Willow said again when the younger woman didn’t respond to her question.

“Tomorrow night,” Dawn said not looking up. “We’ll be in LA tomorrow night, as will the WWE. Stephanie’s dad gave us leave but I guess old habits die hard.”

“Meaning they are going to the arena anyway?”

Dawn nodded.

“So it makes sense to leave tomorrow night…” Willow began to pace as a plan started forming in her head. “…while they are occupied with there friends… although getting away from Chris is going to be hard…” She chuckled half heartedly and Dawn’s gut twisted at what she’d be asking Willow to give up by accompanying her. “He’d follow me to the toilet if I’d let him.” She continued.

“He’s a good man,” Dawn said in hushed tones more to herself then to Willow, but the redhead still heard.

“Yes,” She agreed. “They are all good people.”

Dawn shifted down on the bed until her body curled around that of her son and closed her eyes.

The redhead frowned at Dawn’s blatant dismissal, but didn’t question her action, after hearing what she had to say about Dusk’s actions during the fire, Dawn had to be more then a little worried, deciding to leave mother and son as they were Willow quietly made her way to the cabin door and left.

**

Sunnydale…

“Do you have everything you need?”

“Armed and ready,” Buffy replied opening the front of her jacket to reveal the wooden stake she had sitting snugly in the inside pocket. “What about you?”

Giles scratched his head, his eyes darting anywhere but at her. “Well, considering we don’t know what to expect since our newly appointed allies there only tell us what ‘they’ think we should know-“

“And in a round about way,” Xander piped up from behind them.

“Quite,” Giles agreed. “Since we don’t know what will be waiting for us I thought I’d bring along a bit of everything.” He went on pulling a notebook and pen from his pocket he idly began to check off items.

Buffy looked down at the one bag he had down at his feet, the fact that he still had to meet her gaze not escaping her attention.

“That’s a little of everything? Where are we, tiny tot land?”

Without looking up from his list he motioned up to the house where Gangrel and Christian were currently carting boxes from the house to the driveway.

“Seems I found a use for all that brawn after all,” Giles chuckled and then coughed to hide his amusement as he awaited her response, but none came and when he ventured a look her way he saw why. Her eyes were locked on to the sweat glistening down the backs of the two men as they went about there task.

His eyes went heavenward.

“Of all the potential slayers in the world, I get this one.”

“Hey!”

He grinned. “I meant that in a good way.”

“Yeah, sure you did,” She laughed lightly punching him on the shoulder. “Just be glad I’m not as bold as Anya.” She said pointing to where the ex demon sat in a deckchair on the grass by the driveway with a bowl of popcorn.

“Ooooh baby! Shake it for me!” They heard her call as Christian walked passed.

Buffy shot a look Xander’s way and he shrugged. “She’s allowed her fun.”

Buffy smiled knowingly. “Meaning she’s staying here and you’re coming?”

“Exactly,”

Her smile widened as Edge and Molly exited the house and approached them.

“We are ready.” Was all the tall man said before he and his sister walked to the car.

‘He didn’t even look at me,’ Buffy thought as she and Giles followed them.

“Those will have to stay behind,” Edge said pointing to the boxes Christian and Gangrel had stacked in two piles beside the car.

Buffy quirked an eyebrow at the man beside her. “Giles?”

“Leave it. Most of what I need is here anyway.” He said patting the bag at his side.

“Then why did you…” Her words trailed off when he smiled. “Why Rupert Giles I am shocked… am I rubbing off on you?”

He chuckled.

“I can’t possibly get these boxes up to the house again on my own,” Anya said stepping forward a hopeful look on her face, but at Edge’s order Christian and Gangrel moved to stand behind there brother.

“Don’t worry, An, I got it…” She said bending down and easily picking up one of the two stacks sitting on the driveway and carrying it up to the house and placed them just inside the doorway. As she turned she slammed face first into something flat and extremely hard.

Taking a step back she rubbed her nose only then opening her eyes to see a pair of amused grey pools shining down on her.

“You know,” She began moving aside so Edge could place the rest of the boxes down. “I’ve been down this whole stealthy guy likes girl deal before and let me just say right here and right now that you don’t need to earn brownie points with me.” She reached up and patted his cheek. “Where you are concerned, I’m a sure thing.”

Confusion tinged with disbelief swam around inside his head as she brushed passed him.

‘What just happened?’ He asked himself shaking his head as he followed her.

“Come on lover boy,” Xander said tossing him the car keys. “Since you know where we’re going, you get to drive.”

Edge nodded and walked around to the driver’s side.

“So,” Xander continued once he had bid his farewell to his wife and everyone was seated inside the car. “Where are we going?”

Edge turned the key in the ignition.

“LA.”

**

Part Twenty Eight

**

Willow looked around the main cabin of the camper van. Her efforts to tidy up the room hadn’t really changed much of the look of it considering it had already been clean in the first place, but having been immobile for so long she just couldn’t seem to sit still. If she didn’t think her movements would awaken Dawn and Dusk sleeping in the next room she would be dancing to the tune floating around in her head. It’d been so long since she’d danced.

Her gaze went out the window to where Matt, Stephanie, Lita, Jeff and Shane sat at a window booth inside Taco Bell, the two couples laughing gaily enjoying this bit of time together while Shane sat back with a scowl on his face. He had wanted Dawn to go with them into the restaurant even making sure she and Chris would keep an eye on Dusk, but Dawn had flat out turned him down… and it didn’t end there. He had followed her into the tiny cabin where Dusk slept and soon they were embroiled in a screaming match, which only ended when Dusk started to stir and Shane had been unceremoniously shoved out of the room, a hurt look on his face that soon turned to anger when the door was slammed in his face. To say he was in a bad moon because of that little confrontation would have been the understatement of the year.

With a sigh Willow walked to the front of the van and peeped through the partition to the driver’s seat where Chris sat idly perusing a street map. He turned then and smiled at her as if sensing her there and she returned his smile with one of her own.

‘Goddess, it will be hard to leave this time.’ She thought sending him a little wave before moving away from the partition, knocking Chris’s jacket off the back of a chair as she went. Reaching down to retrieve it something fluttered to the floor at her feet. It was a photo.

Willow’s eyebrows met in the middle and a flash of recognition washed over her as she stared down at whose face it was that stared back at her from the photo.

It was the girl from the fire, the girl who had carried her out of there burning cabin. Then it clicked where else she had seen this woman. In Chris’s mind when she had broken through the wall he had erected to hide his past. This girl was his sister, but why would Chris’s sister be helping her… and at that time? Chris hadn’t entered her life until after… what was she missing? Bending down again she picked up the photo and put it back into the pocket of Chris’s jacket before draping it back over the chair.

A car drove passed then, its headlights shining in through the cabin window and the hair on the back of her neck stood on end. She watched the car do a U-turn and come back, slowing down in speed as it neared the camper van again.

She went back up front and saw that Chris had turned off the interior light and was doing as she had moments before.

‘Something is definitely wrong.’ She thought and when Chris met her gaze she saw that he had sensed it too.

“Buffy,” She whispered taking a step back before turning to bolt towards the cabin where Dawn and Dusk still slept, but as she pushed the door open all she found was an empty bed with a pile of dishevelled blankets beside it.

**

Part Twenty Nine

**

“Mommy?”

“Shh…” Dawn cooed as she hurriedly roused her sleeping son. “It’s not safe here anymore,” she explained in hushed tones as she helped him into his jacket.

“Have the bad people found us again?”

“No, it’s not the bad people this time. It’s something else. Something new.” She whispered in reply and watched as confusion filled his little face before turning her gaze away.

“What about Aunt Willow?”

“It’s safer for Willow to stay with Chris and the others,” She said thankful that her eyes were focused on tying his shoes laces so she wouldn’t have to see his face.

“Why can’t we stay? I like Shane and the others, don’t you like Shane mommy?”

Dawn sighed. How was she supposed to tell him that the reason they couldn’t stay was because of ‘him’ and not the others. Because he had tasted blood and in knowing that Willow’s question remained prominent in her mind.

How long before Dusk’s demon side lusted for the taste of blood again? And if his demon side won over would she be able to stop him or would she do what she was doing now - Runaway.

“I like Shane, sweetie. I like him a lot.” She said when she realised he was still waiting for a reply. “But sometimes leaving is the best thing you can do for those you love.”

‘Love’ Had she really said love? Such a small word and yet it held so much power behind it. Shane’s face floated into her mind then. She had only known him for a short time, yet he symbolised everything she had being waiting for in a man. He accepted her as she was with all her imperfections, accepted the life she had come from with neither a raised brow or a harsh word. He didn’t judge, didn’t criticize, didn’t mock. He had listened without interruption and had accepted it. Accepted her.

‘And that’s why you have to leave,” She told herself. Before with Justin love wasn’t enough and he had turned on her, just like Buffy had when family hadn’t been enough either.

Wiping a hand across her face almost as if to wipe away from her mind the memories of her past she stood to her full height and held her hand out to Dusk. He accepted her hand readily her eyes full of trust. No questions passed through his lips when instead of going through the door she lead him to the small cabin window and slid it open.

“Now,” She said dropping down to her knees so that she was eye level with him. “Once you are outside I want you to wait behind the van until I join you okay?”

Dusk nodded.

“Okay then, let’s go.”

She hoisted him up and out through the opening, keeping a hold of him until he had set both feet on the ground outside before shoving a small knapsack through the opening and letting it fall to the ground below.

“Okay Dusk, I’m coming now.”

She heard no reply, but considering they were sneaking out of the camper van she didn’t really expect him to answer.

It took a bit more manoeuvring for her to fit through the open window, but through trial and error she found both her shoe clad feet dropping to the pavement below.

The smile she had put on her face for Dusk’s benefit died when she turned around and saw Dusk in the arms of a stranger, his eyes wide and scared while his cries were muffled by the strangers hand as it covered his mouth. But that wasn’t the only shock she was in for she soon realised when three more figures stepped out from the shadows and her gaze locked with that of her older sister.

**

Part Thirty

**

Buffy didn’t get a chance to utter her sisters name, didn’t even get a chance to look her over to see how much she had grown in the last five years, all she saw was her sister flying at her in a rage of anger and despair. Five long years of pain and betrayal guided Dawn’s fists to meet there mark and Buffy did nothing to stop it.

Xander and Giles rushed forward, but one look from Buffy had there steps coming to a halt. Edge moved, his big stride bringing him to Dawn’s back, his big arms wrapping around her to still her blows, but it was Buffy who freed Dawn from his hold as the butt of her palm met his nose. And the punishment continued until Dawn was heaving, her body spent and her chest contracting rapidly as she fought to fill her lungs with air.

Buffy lay on the asphalt a few feet away, her own tears trailing down her cheeks as she crawled along the ground toward her sister.

“Dawn…”

Her arms went around the younger girl as she sobbed, offering what silent comfort she could after all this time. It all seemed perfect, it all seemed right, until a tiny voice broke the silence, a voice that had Dawn lifting her head.

“Mommy?”

And then the unthinkable happened. The stranger who’d been holding Dusk back got a good look at Dusk’s face. As if on instinct the strangers hand went inside his robe and a dagger was brought forth and held up over the child.

It all happened in a time span of a few seconds, but to Dawn it seemed to last forever. She was too far away to stop that dagger from descending; she knew it and it felt like that dagger was slicing through her own body when she saw it embed itself into her son.

Chaos ensued. Voices screamed. Bodies clashed and she vaguely glimpsed Willow and the others, but that glimpse was over shadowed by Dusk’s small form that pulled into itself as the initial pain tore through his body, but it was what happened after that that had everybody, even Dawn gasping. Her brows drew together before wonder and surprise took hold of her features.

“Dusk…” She whispered as he turned his head to look straight at her, his furrowed brow gone and his eyes as blue as hers.

She began to get up, to reach out to him, but he snarled as her with his teeth bared. It was almost as if he didn’t recognise who she was – No, not almost, she realised just as quickly. He didn’t recognise her at all. That wasn’t her son she was looking at, that was his demon.

And in the next instant her thoughts were confirmed as she watched him sink his teeth into the stranger’s neck.

**

Part Thirty One

**

“Dusk no!”

Dawn may as well have been screaming at herself for all the good it did her and she could only watch helplessly as the now limp body of her sons victim fell from his grasp. His eyes flickered up then and a harsh growl sounded deep in his throat as he stalked his next victim, which happened to be a stunned Xander who had kneeled down to check on the fallen man.

Chris’s attempts to pull Willow back went unheeded as she rushed to her once best friend’s aid, but Dusk’s arm flew out from his side and the red head was sent reeling back onto the pavement which incited Chris’s temper to no end.

Ever since these strangers had arrived he had been fighting within himself to keep the past from happening again, he knew who they were and he knew why they had come, but once he saw Willow’s head snap back from the force of the blow he knew he could contain it no longer, his own growl rose up in his throat and to everyone’s surprise an orange glow started to spiral up from the palm of his hand and when Chris’s eyes turned to his target the now flaming spiral darted to Dusk’s still growling form, but centimetres from the boys body the fire was diverted by a rosy shield that cloaked the boy.

“Stop Chris!”

That was Willow’s voice he could hear, Willow’s heart beat he could sense and Willow’s warmth he could feel surround him.

“The past doesn’t have too happen again… you have the power Chris, only you can control it!”

“I don’t know how…” He said more to himself then to her. “I saw you go down and… I don’t know how…”

“Feel me,” Willow was saying. “I’m right here with you. Know me Chris as I know you. Lower your hand and control the rage within you.”

In the next instant he was doing just that and the rosy shield that appeared around Dusk disappeared and returned to Willow’s necklace. A replica of the necklace he knew Dawn and Dusk wore.

Willow sighed. Now that only left Dusk to deal with and as soon as the force field was down the little boy wasted no time in choosing another victim, but he didn’t need to it seemed because as if in a daze Dawn stood to her feet and slowly walked towards her son.

“Dawn…” Buffy called trying unsuccessfully to get to her feet. Xander and Giles moved to help her, but it was Edge’s arms that reached her first and slowly hauled her to her feet, his arm staying protectively around her little waist.

“Dawn!” She called again, but the younger woman merely got closer and closer to the growling boy and as if in slow motion she watched him leap into the air and descend on his mother… and then the dust settled and all that was left – was Dawn.

**

Part Thirty Two

**

Buffy was on her knees in front of the weeping girl, her arms pulling her sisters form against her breast and her own tears falling down her cheek to mingle with Dawn's.

"I'm sorry… I'm sorry…" She whispered over and over again.

"What the hell happened?" Demanded a new voice, but neither girl took any notice and soon Buffy heard Willow's quiet tones explaining what had occurred moments before she heard the new voice again, this time right beside her. She lifted her eyes to his, but it was obvious this man wasn't here for her.

"Dawn…" He said his voice now gentle. "Dawn baby, it's me… it's

Shane…"

All Buffy could do was watch as he brushed Dawn's hair away from her tear streaked face and very calmly pulled her out of Buffy's embrace and into his own.

"Shhh…" He cooed. "I'm here… I'm here…"

The sincerity she heard in his voice tore at her, here was someone who really loved her sister with all his heart and soul and before she realised what she was doing her eyes darted to Edge before falling again on her sister and she couldn't help but notice dawn's reaction to him. Although she allowed him to pull her into his embrace she still remained cold and detached.

Buffy looked up again, this time her gaze fell on Willow who was locked in a great big old fashion Xander hug, the long time friends clinging to each other like no tomorrow and Buffy got an image of her having to use her slayer strength to pry them apart! And then her eyes met those of the red heads over Xander's shoulder and she smiled.

"Stay with her," she said lightly to the man who held her sister. He wet her gaze for the first time and nodded once before his head went back down to continue whispering comforting words into Dawn's ear.

She got up slowly and made her way over to Willow who was still held in Xander's embrace.

"Any Willow hugs left for me?" She asked tentatively.

"Five more minutes," Came Xander's reply, which brought forth a giggle from the red head and he pouted when she drew back to take the little blond in her arms.

**

"Chris,"

Chris turned to see Edge and Christian standing behind him and he sighed feeling rather then seeing Matt, Jeff, Lita and Stephanie rally behind him.

"Have you known all along?" He asked.

The taller man nodded.

"I'm not coming back you know."

"We're not here to take you back. If we were we would've done it a long time ago." Edge replied. "We've been waiting and watching as is our duty – for you to meet your life mate, but when you just disappeared from the WWE as well as all your friends we knew something had gone down. When we failed to pick up your trail a second time we went after the emblem instead."

Chris's brows furrowed and his eyes darted to Willow. He had never in his life felt what he felt once she had arrived in it. He'd known she was different as soon as he'd clapped eyes on her, but for her to be the emblem holder she would have had to have known Trish and Chris couldn't see how that were possible when he himself had only known Willow a short while and Trish had died over ten years ago.

"You found the emblem?"

Edge's reply was to hold up the gold seal that signified his family heritage.

"Where… who…"

The taller man nodded towards Willow. "I believe you'll find your answers with her."

Chris took the emblem in his hand and started towards Willow.

"Chris?" Edge called again halting the other mans steps and when Chris turned he saw the comradeship that existed between the males of his kind. "Not all of them died that night and those that survived don't blame you."

Chris returned his gaze with a knowing one of his own before continuing on his way to Willow and the others where he lightly touched her shoulder as he approached the still embracing girls and Willow smiled when she saw him standing there behind her and his once dead heart swelled as the last of the ice that had surrounded it for so long broke away. Like Edge had done before he simply held up the emblem, not needing words to say what he was feeling.

"That's m… I mean… where did you get that?" She asked recognising it straight away.

"This is the crest of my family." He began. "It signifies there hardships, there achievements, there loves… it's been passed on from mother to daughter for generations now and then from daughter to whoever she deems worthy…" He paused his eyes trapping hers with there gaze. "…to become life mate to the next male in line and in this case that male is me."

Willow's look was one of confusion. "I… I don't understand…"

"Here," He said hastily pulling out his wallet and pulling a photo out of a plastic slip. "Do you know who this is?"

Willow took the small snap shot in her hand. In it were two people, a boy about sixteen – obviously Chris, she mused taking in his shining blue eyes and beautiful smile. She smiled herself seeing him like that, he definitely needed to smile more. Then her eyes went to the other person in the photo. A girl a little younger and a lot smaller in size to Chris, she had big brown eyes, but her smile was just as big and beautiful as his.

"She was at the fire…" Willow began as the girl's image brought forth memories of her ordeal at the cabin fire. "She helped me get out of the cabin… She…"

"She's my sister." Chris said when her words trailed off. "And she gave you this emblem didn't she."

Willow's head began to nod and his smile brightened only to die again when just as quickly her head started to shake.

"No… no… she didn't give it to me, well not literally – you see I have never met her in the physical sense. We were net friends through a lot of my younger years in fact back them she was my best friend.

Every night we would chat for hours on end and then `that' arrived in the mail," She said pointing to the emblem. "It was a birthday gift, but after it arrived I never heard from her again and I hated the sight of it because for me it symbolised a friendship lost… but I could never bring myself to get rid of it because… because it was all

I had to remember our friendship by – to remember her by."

"She didn't stop communicating with you because she didn't want to be your friend anymore. You already know about the trauma in my past, I tried to mask it yet you saw it anyway, but what you didn't see was why." He felt her little hand squeeze his and that gave him the courage to continue. "It was her sixteenth birthday also you see and I had just picked her up from school, she was all excited and happy, she just couldn't wait to get home because she knew the whole family would be there for her party. Only when we got there we both found out it was more then your usual sixteenth birthday party – it was a sacrifice, her sacrifice at the hands of her family to keep the male line strong and the female line pure.

"They killed her?"

He nodded yet his eyes stayed on their entwined fingers. "They did… and then I killed them."

"Oh sweetie…"

And then he was in her arms, his own arms clutching just as tightly to her. And there they stayed.

**

Shane could barely breath Dawn was holding onto him so tight and rightly so considering what Willow had just said. He kept hearing her words over and over again in his mind, yet he still found it hard to believe, but looking at Dawn now Willow's words had to be true. Since meeting Dawn he had never seen her this needy… this broken.

He didn't know why but his words seemed to snap her out of whatever had her in its grasp and shoot her spiralling back into the land of the living.

"Dusk is where he belongs… with his father." She whispered hesitantly. She looked up at him then, her eyes unseeing and void. "I killed him too."

Shane didn't know what to say and even if he did he didn't think he could get them off his tongue and out of his mouth so he just held her, that seemed to be enough… at least he hoped it was, but after a while she pulled away from him. He couldn't explain it but somehow she looked different. There was something different about the look in her eye and the way she held her head.

"Do… do you mind getting me some water?" She asked lifting her hand to rub at her throat.

"No, of course not…" He replied getting to his feet. "I'll only be a minute."

She watched him run off towards the camper van, saw the others all gathered around the front of the van and noticed Willow and Chris in each others arms.

She knew Willow's time for happiness had come. All this time of looking after her and Dusk, of protecting them, of putting there lives before her own were about to come to an end. She was home with Chris and knew that he would make her happy.

`Only be a minute…' Had been Shane's parting words.

She got to her feet and slowly started to back away into the darkness and for the first time that night she smiled.

"That's okay Shane…" She whispered before disappearing altogether leaving only the sound of her voice to carry along on the breeze.

"…A minute is all I'll need…"

**

Epilogue

**

Some time in the future…

A lone beat up old ford gingerly made its way down a deserted highway. For miles upon miles the drive had been nothing but rough country and desert plains and she would have been more then happy to continue on her way had the little lever for the gas tank wasn’t currently making its slow descent into the red zone.

Having driven down this expanse of road many times before she knew the outskirts of a small town were all but a mile away and another mile after that a gas station, yet still she would have liked to just drive right passed it.

Interaction with other human beings was not something she made a habit of doing… at least not now.

The light for the fuel tank came on then and she rolled her eyes knowing she would have to stop.

When the gas station came into sight she pulled over and brought the old ford to a stop beside the first available gas pump. For a deserted area there were a lot of cars parked up waiting for there turn at one of the pumps, but she paid them no heed, merely filled up her fuel tank, reached inside the ford for her ever present bundle and made her way cautiously inside to pay.

As soon as she walked in she heard the screaming wail of a baby and her head immediately turned to the sound. A woman stood in line waiting for her turn at the cashier, a little infant in her arms carrying and pointing to a container of lolly pops. The mother ignored her child and tried to pacify him by shaking the packet of baby wipes she held.

“You’re lucky,” She heard the young mother say as she took her place in the queue behind the woman.

“Excuse me?”

The woman pointed to the tiny bundle she held in her arms. “I wish mine would be quiet like yours, seems mine never stops crying.” She complained before turning back around to pay for her purchases.

As she made her way back to her car she caw the woman again strapping her child into a baby seat all the while yelling at the infant. “Shut up! You’re a little monster!” before shutting the car door.

‘Little monster…’ her mind replayed the woman’s words.

“They had called my baby a monster once upon a time.” She whispered to no one in particular. “Only thing was there words had been true.”

She opened the passenger door and strapped her own tiny bundle into a child seat before walking around to the driver’ side. Once inside she pulled back the shawl that covered her ting bundle and stared at the cold, lifeless face of a plastic doll.

‘You’re lucky,’ the woman had said and Dawn slowly shook her head as the young mother drove away.

“No,” She whispered into the empty ford. “You’re the lucky one.”

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