Thanks to ScoobyMac for his patience.
There are some "spoilers" taken from various sites to make up this story.
This story is set after Normal again.
Also, I took some parts from the "Leoff on line" "wildfeed" and added my own twist. Don¹t worry though, it¹s still good.
In addition, just so you know, a vague disclaimer is nobody¹s friend. I don¹t own anything mentioned in this story. So, don¹t sue me if you happen to own things mentioned, this is only in good fun.
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The hum of his voice reverberates in her ear; she turns to face the feisty sound of his voice. She is a more than a little confused; she had the strangest dreams that night. Perhaps it is like one of Buffy¹s prophetic dreams, maybe there¹s a genetic thing going on there. Dawn dismisses this; she¹s not the slayer, she never will be. She returns from her thoughts, to pay attention to the sultry man at her side, he has news for her.

"ŠIt¹s seven am, and a beautiful Friday afternoon is ahead, not a cloud in the sky. I¹d like to kick start the day with one of my favourite songs, it¹s the Cranberries, Dreams."

Dawn lies on the bed thinking of how ironic it is to hear that song. She listens to the words for a moment and then thumps her hand on the alarm clock, not ready for the new day, but she arises, none the less. Making sure to turn off the alarm, so as not to wake up Willow, before she has to. She sluggishly makes her bed, and then opens her cupboard door. Wondering, What should I wear?

She then decides to wear dark blue jeans, with a sporty white t-shirt, it has the number twenty on it, it also has this blue-green colour surrounding the number; she also settles on wearing a lovely light pink denim jacket. She looks amazing; she then pushes the cupboard door open to see herself in the mirror. She smirks. Dressed to kill.

She walks over to her dresser, which is next to the bed, and picks up her watch. She puts it on, she then tilts her wrist to see the time; we may actually be early today.

She then walks over to Willow¹s door; it was previously her mother¹s door. After Buffy died, it didn¹t seem right for Willow and Tara to move into Buffy¹s room, she felt like she was betraying her sister somehow, that and one way or another, she always thought that Buffy would come back. She raps loudly on Willow¹s door.

"Come on, Willow! Get up!"

She jumps up and down on the balls of her feet. Relishing in the fact, she is Willow¹s wake up call.

On the other side of the door, Willow lays wide-awake. Staring at the ceiling. With something on her mind, a few seconds pass before she yells her reply.

"I¹m up! I¹m up! Dawnie, you get ready for school."

Dawn beams with happiness; and enters the bathroom. Looking into the mirror for a moment, she then brushes her teeth. Willow remains on her bed. Her hands are folded over the covers; she sighs, and looks to her right, unhappy with the empty space beside her. Sigh.

"Sigh."

Buffy is in the kitchen, already awake. Wearing her Double Meat Palace uniform. Making Dawn her lunch; while the kettle boils. Dawn enters the room; Her blue Paul Frank backpack, the one with the monkey face on it, is slung over her shoulder, she puts it on the floor beside the stool, and takes a seat at the island. There¹s a vase of white roses on the counter, Dawn stares at them, for the longest moment. Wondering, Where¹d those come from? Buffy¹s back is to Dawn as she pours two cups of coffee, each into an aqua and a red mug; she then places the milk on the bench beside the cups. She turns to Dawn holding the red mug in her hand. She blows into the steaming coffee, to cool it, and then takes a sip. She watches her sister for a minute, she then smirks. Having the most hilarious thought.

"Your not planing on eating those are you? Because it took me a long time to prepare thisŠ"

Both Buffy and Dawn look at the brown paper bag that contains Dawn¹s lunch, Buffy rolls her eyes.

"ŠWell long enough."

Dawn glances at her sister, and giggles. Thinking, I remember that, I ate white roses on a dare whenŠ

"Hey, I was five."

Dawn takes the brown paper bag, she leans off the stool and puts her lunch in her school bag, while Buffy takes a few steps over to a cupboard, and she pulls out a bowl. And opens another cupboard and takes out a box of cereal. She puts these at the island, and turns around to get the milk. She returns back to the island to find that Dawn hand put the cereal into the bowl, a spoon already in her hand, Dawn waits for Buffy to hand her the milk. Buffy gives her the carton with a smile, she watches Dawn pour the milk into the bowl, with a fascinated look. Dawn gives the milk back to Buffy without a word. Buffy watches Dawn eat her breakfast. "Do you want fries with that?"

Dawn looks up at her sister, milk dripping down her chin, she almost chokes on her breakfast, she swallows what is left in her mouth, and laughs. After a moment, she composes herself. Ok, that was a little forced.

"No, thank you. But some orange juice would be nice."

Dawn keeps a straight face and continues eating her cereal, while Buffy pours her a glass of orange juice. She hands the glass to Dawn.

"Thank you."

"Your welcome."

Buffy clumsily puts the O.J into the fridge. Then sips her coffee, still watching Dawn eat. Dawn finishes, what she can of her breakfast. And drops the spoon into the bowl and looks up at her sister. Buffy places her empty coffee mug onto the counter. And almost out of nowhere.

"I¹m sorry, Dawnie. I¹m sorry I hurt you. AndŠ"

Buffy leans back, onto the sink area behind her, she looks away from Dawn, and as quickly, as she looked away from her sister, she looks right back to her.

"ŠAnd it¹s ok, now. I¹m not going to hurt you; I would never hurt you! Can you trust me to be your sister again?"

Dawn stares blankly at her sister, then down at her almost empty bowl of Wheeties. She wipes the milk from her chin with the sleeve of her jacket, and then puts her bowl into the sink. She faces Buffy, looking into her eyes. Buffy thinks, I¹m sorry. I didn¹t mean to hurt you. Buffy¹s face shows her apprehension. Dawn notices this and smiles, thinking, She does care. Dawn hugs her sister.

"Ofcourse I can! You my sister, I know you would never intentionally hurt me, or the others."

Dawn tightens her grasp, which Buffy gladly returns. Willow enters the room, tying Her hair up. She seems a tad hasty. And then gulps down, the now cold coffee from the aqua mug.

"Willow. I¹m sorry."

Buffy says sincerely facing her friend, while Willow stands in front of the refrigerator. Buffy is still holding her sister, but not too tight, she¹d squeeze her sister to death, she¹s so very thankful, that Dawn had forgiven her.

"You know, for trying to kill you."

Willow looks blankly at her friend; she puts the mug into the sink, and faces Buffy. She grins widely and joins in the group hug.

"It¹s ok Buffy."

They let go of the embrace after a moment. Dawn checks her watch. It reads seven forty five am.

"I have to be early today."

Dawn declares, both Willow and Buffy check the clock on the stove. Willow tries to cover her apprehension, and with a faux smile, she replies. "So do I."

Willow leaves the room; Buffy grabs the car keys off the counter, and locks the back door. As Dawn picks up her bag, Buffy looks past Dawn into the hall watching Willow walk up to the staircase.

"What¹s with Willow?"

Buffy hushes herself. As Dawn hooks her blue bag on her shoulders. They are both Deep in thought, hoping their friend is ok. Dawn replies. "I don¹t know. I¹m really worried about her."

Buffy nods in agreement, and replies.

"She¹ll be ok."

Although Buffy isn¹t too sure about that. She clangs the car keys in her hand, as her and Dawn walk down the hall. Dawn leans against the wall, while Buffy stands at the foot of the stairs, they wait patiently for Willow. Dawn smirks, something funny had come to mind.

"I think you might kill usŠ"

Buffy shoots Dawn a "What-do-you-mean?" Face. Dawn continues.

"ŠWith your driving."

Buff¹s frown fades and she gives Dawn a wide smile.

"And what¹s wrong with my driving?"

Upstairs Willow is frantically looking for something, something of importance. She is very frustrated with her lack of memory at this moment, so out of annoyance she speaks to herself softly so the others will not hear her.

"Where is it? It was just here a minute ago! I know! A quick location spell. No! No magic, I¹ll justŠI¹ll find it the traditional way."

Her hysteria increases as she looks through the drawers, throwing clothes out of the way. Some of which are not even hers.

"By looking!"

She growls in aggravation, she doesn¹t find it, she gives up her search, and goes back downstairs to finds Buffy and Dawn talking.

"So I¹ll meet you after school."

Buffy says with a lot of gusto. Willow picks up her bag, which she had left on a step. Noticing the conversation, Willow asks curiously.

"You two going out?"

Dawn responds with a smile.

"YepŠ"

Dawn glances to Buffy, who nods approvingly.

"You¹re welcome to come."

Willow steps back, a little down in the dumps.

"No, thanks. You guys have fun without me. I have some stuff to do anyway."

Buffy opens the front door. Dawn walks through it, just as Willow exits, Buffy asks.

"Did you find what you were looking for?"

Willow stops at the porch, a little lost in her thoughts.

"What? Oh, no. I guess it¹s not important."

Buffy closes the door behind herself.

Xander enters a basement, very sneakily. He searches the area; no one is present. No one, but him. He searches the bookshelfs in the corner; they are filled with science fiction books. Burroughs, Tolkein and Wolfe chiefly pile up the shelfs. Xander then proceeds to pull the books out wildly. He is very frustrated.

"There¹s got to be a switch!"

He speaks softly in frustration. After a short while, he stops and observes a Stephen King book; the stand, it is up on the top shelf with Burroughs. He holds his breath, and pulls the book back. The mahogany bookcase sways and moves towards him, it makes a creaking sound. He stands still, amused that there actually was a secret room, and surprised he found it. A wide smile emerges on his face; he enters this new room wary of booby traps.

"Slow and steady."

He mutters. This area is cluttered, very dark and dank. Not at all like it¹s companion area, which is filled with light and colour. The walls are covered with photos. He studies the room. Looking at the snapshots. There must be hundred¹s of photos. Mostly of Buffy, some were of him and the others. Even Spike.

"Whoa."

This must have taken them a while. He takes some of the photos and puts them into his brown nylon coat. He looks to the other side of the room, puzzled. There are six small monitors in all, and below them in a wooden basket; are many tapes. Xander puts a tape in the video recorder, and takes a seat in a black swivel chair. He turns on the monitors and pushes play on the video recorder. Pushing the fast forward button, he watches in bemusement. The first tapes were of Buffy. Buffy hunting vampires. Buffy at the Double Meat Palace. Buffy with Dawn. Buffy with him and Willow. Buffy with Tara.

"I should hurry."

He skips past one video, and puts in another. Not sure of what he¹s searching for. He sticks to his system, by watching the video while in is fast forward, with any luck he might find something. A moment passes he suddenly pushes play.

"Anya?"

Xander watches Anya; a small smile surfaces on his face. It quickly turns to a frown.

"Spike!"

He realised he yelled, and stays silent. Angry and confused.

"No."

He shakes his head back and forth, in disbelief. He ejects the tape and in a fit of rage, he runs to the nearest wall, and smashes the tape into it. He then stomps on it, just to be certain it¹s not coming back to haunt him. His anger fades slightly. Thinking, He¹s the deadest man in Deadonia.

Knowing he has a job to do, Xander resumes looking through the tapes, and stops once he has found what he¹s looking for. He puts the tape into the inside pocket of his coat and exits, not knowing Warren is watching.

At UC Sunnydale, Willow is leaning against a wall, near Tara¹s class. She talks to herself. She starts pacing, very nervous. For food, kisses and gay loveŠI don¹t think she would like it if I justŠ

"ŠYou know, theŠno that¹s not rightŠ"

A group of students pass by; she quits her vocalizations, and leans back against the wall, her left foot rose against it with the rest of her body, she waits a moment, and then sighs. She kicks her left foot away from the wall.

"I shouldn¹t have come."

She dreamily leaves, walking past a fountain along the way. Tara walks around a bend, and immediately spots Willow. She waves goodbye to a friend, and walks at a brisk pace over to Willow. She yells so she won¹t miss Willow.

"Willow!"

Willow stops, more than a little relieved. Tara catches up with her and they walk at a leisurely pace.

"Hey."

"Hey."

The awkward silence stretches between them. Willow thinks, oh, no, today is Friday. I thought today was ThursdayŠ

"Oh, no! I have class! I¹m already late."

Willow is really embarrassed by her error. Tara smiles with amusement. "You have to go."

Tara looks down at herself. Willow¹s gaze does not leave Tara; She¹s still as stunning as ever. Tara shifts side-to-side, unsure of what to say and what to do. Willow smiles sheepishly.

"Can you meet me at homeŠerrŠBuffy¹s at six thirty?"

Tara looks up at Willow, and thinks for a minute. She smiles and nods. "Sure."

Willow returns the smile. A little unsure whether Tara wants to be there at all.

"Sure?"

Tara does not try to hide her amusement. She giggles, and replies.

"I¹m sure."

They smile once again and depart. Each going in their own direction.

"May I help you, officer?"

Jonathon leans out of the door curiously; While Andrew stands behind him; with his arms across his chest. Very nervously watching the verbalization between Jonathon and the police officer, that had one to many donuts in his lifetime.

"Yes, you may."

The officer grabs Jonathon by the wrist and slaps on a handcuff.

"You are under arrest, for the murder of Katrina Silber, anything you say and do, may be used against you in a court of lawŠ"

Neither Jonathon nor Andrew could hear the rest of the officer¹s speech, as they are put into the back of a police car. As their neighbours look on, disapprovingly.

"Thank you for shopping at the magic box, and please do come again." Giles would be proud. I miss GilesŠand XandŠwhat he did was wrong, I know. But; he said it was out of love for me andŠI can¹t think about this now.

Anya watches the customers leave, and starts to count the money in her hands. Only this doesn¹t cheer her up.

"I know what¹ll turn that frown upside down!"

Anya stops counting and looks over to her friend. Curiosity burns her mind.

"Yes. And what would that be?"

Halfrek falls ineptly into a seat.

"Well, you¹ve had your powers for almost a week now, and I was thinking a good curse would do you good."

Anya puts the money into the register, looks around. They are alone. Sit walks over to the large round table and sits beside Halfrek, a smile already resting on her face.

"And what did you have in mind?"

Anya is very inquisitive; she nods for Halfrek to tell her. Halfrek gives a wicked smile.

"Well, I thought Xander would be a good place to start. The man left you at the alter. I think it¹s time for a little vengeance. Don¹t you? "

Halfrek whole-heartedly asks. Anya¹s smile fades and she keeps a straight face.

"I triedŠI couldn¹t do it to him."

Willow is beaming with excitement; she walks down the lamppost lit street, a few hundred metres from home. She looks up at the moon. I¹m late.

Tara waits inside the Summer¹s house, making her way down the stairs, a small bounce in her step. Someone knocks at the front door. She stops halfway down the stairs and peeks around the banister, looking at the door. I wonder who that could be. Maybe Willow lost her keys. Tara walks the rest of the way down the stairs, and opens the front door. "Hey youŠ"

Willow walks down Ravello drive. Not a care in the world. An ear splitting bang echoes down the street. And brings worry to her world. What wasŠ "Tara!"

She shrieks, and then bolts into the Summer¹s house only to slip over, after crossing the threshold. While Getting up, she notices that her hands are wet; she looks at her them.

"What?"

Her hands are soaked in blood. Fearfully, her eyes follow the scarlet colour along the wooden floor, she finds her lover.

"Tara!"

"That movie was grossly wrong."

Buffy and Dawn walk side by side along the luminescent prominent Sunnydale street.

Waking out of the Sun movie theatre, Buffy stands closest to the curb, with Dawn on her left, they walk over to the road, Buffy looks left and right, they both then dawdle their way across the road.

"Yeah, your probably right. But you have to admit the effects were good."

Dawn answers back, she seems to have a small amount of knowledge about special effects. Buffy lulls for a moment, and soon tilts her head to her shoulders, stretching her neck. They walk into the Espresso pump, very thankful that it is open late on Friday¹s.

"The effects were good. Hot chocolate?"

Dawn had thought Buffy hadn¹t herd her, she rocks back and forth considering whether she wants it or not, Free food, I¹m in.

"Yes please. I¹m just going to phone home."

Dawn points her hands behind herself, towards the payphone a few feet away. Buffy nods and orders their drinks, while Dawn takes out some change and walks over to the payphone, she puts it into the public phone, and Dials home. No one answers, Dawn frowns confused, Where¹s Willow? She hangs up, puts more change into the phone and redials, this time she checks for messages. She listens intently for a moment, and then she drops the phone and runs to her sister, with tears in her eyes.

Spike sits in a seat, watching Œ Sabrina the teenage witch¹, he laughs. "Salem is there anything you wont do."

Xander then breaks down Spike¹s Door, and walks into his crypt, very noticeably drunk. Spike sits up and looks over to the door, he groans when he sees it¹s Xander.

"Well look what the cat drug in."

Spike says sarcastically, returning his gaze to the T.V. Xander stands by the door for a minute; amused with the picture he is seeing. He then rushes Spike, and starts punching.

"I should have killed you a long time ago! You used her!"

Spike pushes Xander off him. Causing some pain, Spike backs away a few steps from Xander; he tilts his head back and looks at Xander inquisitively, as well as angrily.

"I used her!"

Spike raises his voice out of aggravation, a blue vein surfaces in his forehead.

"More like she used me! I mean I get it, I am strong and capable and that is something she needs; she needs an animal in her man. And she just threw me away like I was yesterday¹s bleedin¹ trash. I mean talk about gratitude, for youŠbitty Buffy."

Xander takes a few steps back; he trips into a seat. He replays images in his mind, how could I have been so blind?

"What!?"

Xander yells and then proceeds to jump out of the seat and starts to pummel Spike.

"BuffyŠand Anya! You are so deadŠwell, deader."

Spike takes the blows to the head. While being punched in the face, Spike manages to blurt out.

"She still loves you!"

Xander keeps punching, this time with more force. Spike tries another tack.

"The whole time, she couldn¹t stop taking about you. At times I think she was imagining you, instead of seeing me."

Xander stops thumping Spike, and falls back into a seat, he takes this in. Spike pulls out a bottle of ŒJim Beam¹ from the mini-bar he keeps beside the TV, and takes a swig. Xander¹s anger slowly fades.

"With you!?"

Xander still cannot believe what he is hearing, Spike smirks. "I can¹t help it being a beast."

He clears the blood off his face, licking the crimson thickness off his fingers, one digit at a time.

Buffy and Dawn rush into the hospital, not stopping at the front desk, Dawn spots Willow almost immediately. Dawn and Buffy rush up to Willow. They hug her separately. And then take a few steps back. Buffy enquires.

"What happened?"

Buffy is panicked and worried; her anxiety shows even without her fearful question. Willow stares at the floor, Buffy thinks, Maybe we should sit down. She takes Willow¹s hand and leads her to a seat; they sit Buffy and Dawn taking either side of Willow.

"She¹s being operated on nowŠ"

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