“The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other’s life. Rarely do members of one family grow up under the same roof.”
~ Richard Bach
Spike made breakfast for the girls and Connor spending a bit of time talking to the boy about how to treat Dawn. Connor seemed nice enough and very nervous. It appeared as expected; Dawn was the person in the relationship wearing the pants since she had more experience than he had. He had the one night stand with Cordelia but it had ended with her mostly not wanting anything more. It had hardly been a healthy relationship seeing how he was being used to make ends meet for Jasmine to appear in the world. He had one girlfriend once but it was very simple handholding and a kiss. He wanted to make sure he did well by Dawn so he listened to Spike when he told him, “You know what you are getting into with the Summers’ girls? They are unique. Full of love, brilliant, interesting, fun and stubborn. You have to know when to sit quietly and when to ask. They are just like you and me in that they feel pain, happiness and hurt but they rarely show it. They put on a brave front. You have to learn to see past it.”
Connor nodded listening carefully to the vamp’s wisdom. Spike was busy with the waffles but kept talking, “What are your intentions with Dawn?”
Connor shrugged admitting, “I like her. She’s nice and sweet and enjoys talking. She’s real funny too. I’ve never met a girl so full of life before. She has something to say about everything. It’s refreshing. Every other girl my age I’ve met wants something and talks just to get that something but not Dawn. She talks to entertain others. I enjoy her company.”
Spike smiled at the boy and ruffled his hair understanding where he was coming from, “I know what you mean. She’ll grow on you so if you aren’t planning on something solid, run now. I like you and you’re sort of family in a weird way. You’re Angel’s kid, therefore my nephew or no perhaps more like grandnephew? I don’t know but anyway we are related in some weird vampire way and I want what is best for both you and my Dawn. Dawn’s my little bit, Buffy’s little sister and I think of her as my little sister. You won’t hurt her, right? You understand that will go badly for you if you do?”
Spike waved the spatula around in the air as though it were a knife as he glanced at Connor to see his response. Connor looked nervous but managed to stutter out, “Don’t plan to, sir.”
Spike turned and slapped him on the back with a grin, “Then you have my blessing. Any time you need a guy talk, you don’t hesitate to call. Just treat her right. That’s all I’m asking.”
Connor nodded and took the large plate of waffles that Spike had in his hand. Spike gestured to the refrigerator still using the spatula, “Bring that and syrup which is on the 3rd shelf. Actually just bring that. I’ll heat the blood and syrup up together.”
Connor took the plate out to the girls who had set the table already. Spike brought the last waffle out along with syrup, whipped cream, fresh strawberries and blood for him and some orange juice. Buffy smiled at Spike and they both shared the same thought, ‘It was like having a real family.’ Dawn made a face at Spike’s blood covered waffles and Spike teased her about pouring some on her waffles unless she kept her looks to herself. Buffy and Dawn had fought over who uses the syrup first. Connor got some whipped cream placed on his nose for telling Dawn she should eat some waffles with her syrup while Buffy got fed strawberries by Spike.
Buffy’s order form for furniture was really long. She and Dawn had probably cleared out the entire baby store of their furniture, and accessories. She had bought white furniture to contrast the pink paint that Dawn had chosen. A crib, changing diaper, diaper genie, baby bath and a stroller were all bought. Buffy couldn’t decide on a rocking chair and Dawn said that perhaps they would have a baby shower for things such as a rocking chair, and baby clothes to be bought. Dawn had also chosen a pink and white teddy bear wall border to be placed at the top of the wall. Glow in the dark paint had been bought along with star and planet stencils that Dawn was hoping to talk Spike or Connor into doing so that neither of them had to climb on a ladder to paint on the ceiling.
Buffy couldn’t resist buying one crib mobile that was perfect. It had pink and white teddy bears and they both thought it was cute. It also matched the border perfectly.
Dawn had driven them home and the girls had come into the house so excited about what they had bought. The guys were not home yet but the furniture had already been taken out of the room so they could start to paint right away. There was a note that was placed on the ladder, “Buffy don’t you dare touch this ladder. It’s for Dawn to use only!” It was signed, “Love your big bad”. Buffy laughed then noticed the PS on the back of the note that read, “If I catch you on that ladder I’ll tan Dawn’s hide for letting it happen and then find a way to punish you.” Buffy shook her head showing Dawn the note that laughed and agreed, “See I told you, no ladders for you!”
Buffy put on the radio and they danced around the room painting the walls and each other pink having a grand old time.
Spike and Connor spent the morning moving furniture. When they were done Spike offered, “How would you like to come with me to get something for half pint’s birthday next week?”
Connor agreed immediately thankful for the tip on Dawn’s birthday, “I’d love to. Could you suggest something for me to buy her as well? I have some money since I’ve been working at a shop in L.A.”
Spike had nodded and taken him first to a jewelry shop where he picked out a beautiful set of jade earrings and a necklace to match. Spike had also picked up the engraved digital photo album that Buffy had requested for Dawn. Connor found something perfect and on sale too! It was a silver heart locket that would allow him to take a picture of each of them to put inside. On the front he had Dawn engraved and on the back he had the date they met engraved. It was simple but elegant and only 30 dollars too. It was perfect.
The three purchases had come with a gravity pen stand as well. Connor had chuckled and said he would add that to Dawn’s gift since she liked pens so much. Connor had it gift-wrapped and had a bounce in his step as they stopped by the flower shop for flowers for their girls. Daisies were brought for Dawn and red and pink roses were bought for Buffy. Both guys rushed home to give the flowers and knew their gifts for Dawn would have to wait until Thursday when they had decided to throw her an early birthday party. The guys stuffed the jewelry into the top cabinet of the kitchen knowing neither girl would look there and rushed upstairs to find the girls covered in pink paint but the bedroom looked great.
The two guys shook their hand handing them their flowers. Buffy gave Spike a kiss getting pink on his face and then she laughed teasingly him with a slight wiggle in her hips, “Oooh we need a bath together!”
Spike had shaken his head but followed Buffy leaving Connor and Dawn behind. Connor handed Dawn her flowers and she gave him a gentle kiss. She looked sheepishly at him as she whispered, “Thanks Connor.”
Luckily Connor didn’t get any paint on him so he went downstairs to watch television while the others cleaned up.
Willow and Oz came over for dinner and a movie. After the movie, Dawn asked Willow if she would mind performing two spells. Willow looked at Dawn curiously and Dawn brought downstairs a bag that had all the ingredients in them as well as two spell books. She showed Willow the first that would reveal magic within an individual and Willow shook her head offering some advice, “Dawnie, this isn’t what you need. You need a knife, the portal spell in the back of this book and that is it to test your theory. Are you sure you want to know this though? You seem to be a happy adjusted normal girl and this could change your life.”
Dawn thought about it and replied, “I need to know if I still have the ability to open portals or not. It’s been eating at me.”
Willow nodded and got up and went to get a kitchen knife and brought it back to Dawn then started the lesson, “Safest dimension I know of is a world with all clouds. What you have to do is close your eyes and focus on a world with no clouds, prick your finger, then repeat the spell in Latin and we will see if it works. If not I can do the reveal spell to double check but if you are still a key, this will tell you.”
Dawn nodded and closed her eyes and pricked her finger, she felt odd as she chanted the spell and a gapping portal was opened in front of her. Willow chanted something and closed it and stood up looking surprised and slightly alarmed, “Um. Err right. I guess that answers your question.”
Willow frowned big time in shock glancing towards the place that the portal had been to the grown up Dawn in front of her, “Um… I’m not even sure what to do with that information. The Coven needs to know and we will probably have to do a blood spell like we did on Spike and Buffy so that no one but you could use the blood but damn. How did you still get to be the key?”
Willow stood there looking perplexed. Buffy looked horrified and Spike was holding her tight to give her strength. Honestly, the entire gang including Giles had assumed that Dawn was normal. They never imagined she was still the key. Dawn didn’t even look happy to learn that, “What does that mean for me? Am I still normal?”
Willow whispered, “You’re still Dawn. You are part of Buffy still. Dawnie would you mind returning with me a day or so early from your break so I can take you to the Coven? I’d really like to know how to handle this information. I don’t want anyone to ever be able to use you again. I seriously thought you were just normal.”
Buffy finally spoke up in a quaky voice, “I think that’s a good idea.” Worry lines had appeared on her face as she glanced at Dawn nervously not able to comprehend that her little sister was still able to open portals including Hell.
Willow tried to put that out of her mind and looked in the bag, “What’s the rest of this stuff.”
Connor spoke up, “That’s for me. Can you see what I am exactly?”
Willow shrugged not seeing the problem, “You’re Angel’s kid right?” Connor nodded and she grinned crackling her knuckles as she started to prepare the necessary spell, “That’s easy enough.”
She created a salt circle and told Connor to stand in the center. Connor did as he was asked and Willow had Dawn wave some herbs around and asked Oz to read the Latin like he did years ago to ensoul Angel. He shrugged and agreed still giving the same old compliant back then, “You know I don’t speak Latin but ok…”.
Within a few minutes of chanting, a white light glowed from Connor and Willow spoke softly even as power flowed through her, “You can step out of the circle.”
Connor did as he was asked and Willow said a few words causing Connor to glow yellow. Dawn shielded her eyes and watched as Connor’s face changed to that of a demon. Dawn was horrified and asked, “What does this mean?”
Willow responded as though nothing was the matter, “He’s half demon, half human. It means he’s strong, probably can see and hear things we humans can’t. It also means he’s immortal. He might age a bit more. I’m not sure how that works but I don’t think he really should exist.”
Connor shrugged and Willow said a few more things and Connor reverted back to his normal state. Connor asked a bit angry at being told he wasn’t normal. He had hoped by being sent to that normal family, it might just straighten things up a bit. Sure he knew he wasn’t really completely normal seeing how had serious strength he had been working on controlling but to be told he was half demon was a tiny bit of a shock for even him, “So that’s it? I’m immortal like a demon and I am strong and enhanced senses but nothing else?”
Willow shook her head, “As far as I can tell, that’s it. You’re like a human with enhanced abilities. The immortality is a guess. I didn’t cast one of those spells on you. Did you want me to?”
Connor hesitated and made a quick decision, “Actually no. I’d rather not know.”
Willow nodded and respected his decision and turned to Dawn. Dawn bit her lower lip and looked at Connor, “I guess I’d rather not know too. Knowing I’m a damn key is enough.”
Willow nodded and collected the items and put them back in the bag to take back with her. She didn’t like to leave magical items in places. People tended to be tempted to use them. They watched one more movie and then split up for the night with Dawn’s portal ability heavy on their hearts.