“Dawn Katherine Summers, go into the living room.” Buffy spoke calmly, her tone of voice not reflecting the anger that was apparent in the expression she wore. Dawn practically sprinted into the living room, a fresh batch of tears streaming down her face.

Buffy turned to Spike, and with the same calm tone asked, “Where did you find her and what was she doing?” Buffy didn’t even question Spike’s involvement, mainly because she knew how protective he was of Dawn and also because the grim expression he wore reflected exactly what she was feeling.

“The Bronze. I told her she had to tell you the rest though. Figured that would be a good starting punishment, luv.” Spike smiled gently, following Buffy into the living room, but stopping at the entrance to lean on the door and quietly watch the two sisters. He was slightly tense, prepared to grab Buffy if she got too angry, knowing it was a possibility.

Buffy strode over to the younger Summers, and stood above her, arms on hips and an expectant look on her face. Dawn looked up at her, tears still streaming down her face. Neither said anything, just staring at one another. Finally Dawn looked down again, curling into herself.

“Well?” Buffy said in the same calm voice. She had never been this angry. Looking over her sister, she couldn’t believe what she saw. Dawn was wearing a tight, leather skirt with an even smaller top. She had small, strappy heels on drawing attention to her long legs. What she was wearing left nothing to the imagination and wasn’t decent enough for anyone with self-respect, let alone her little sister to wear. Her mascara-streaked face showed signs of far too much make up. And now that Buffy was away from Spike, she realized the stench of cigarette smoke was not just coming off him. Buffy took a long breath, “Are you going to tell me what else you were doing, besides dressing like that?”

Dawn looked up at Buffy in fear. The last thing she wanted to do was tell her about her other activities, but she knew if she didn’t Spike would. And he would be a lot harsher in telling Buffy about what she had done. Looking down at her lap again, she quickly mumbled, “I was at the Bronze with Janice and some guys and I kindawassmokinganddrinkingsomebeer.”

Buffy closed her eyes trying to take a moment to reign in her anger after a few moments she said, “You might want to repeat that because I really hope you didn’t say you were smoking and drinking.”

Dawn just looked down, the silent tears now being joined by a few small sobs. “I’m sorry,” she whispered, afraid to look up.

That did it. Buffy’s head snapped up and she screamed, “You’re sorry! Oh, well that makes it all better. My baby sister, who I’m responsible for, gets dragged from a bar by a vampire at one am in the morning where she was smoking and drinking and dressed like a – I don’t even want to say what you look like, and thinks a sorry will make it all better!?!” Buffy laughed. “You have no idea how much trouble you are in. You lied to me Dawn! And after the shoplifting! The first time I let you go out after that fiasco and what do you do? Do you remember what you told me your plans were tonight? Do you?”

“Yes.”

“You said you were going to, and I quote, ‘Rent a couple of Brad Pitt movies and have a veg-out night in front of the TV.’ How dare you lie to me like this! Do you have any idea what kind of trouble you could get yourself into? What if Spike hadn’t been there?”

“I’m not a child.” Dawn said quietly, angry that Buffy was saying the same thing she always said.

“What was that?” Buffy leaned in towards Dawn, not believing what she was hearing.

“I’m not a child!” Dawn said more defiantly. “You treat as if I’m a two-year old who can’t do anything for herself! Why can’t I go out like the rest of my friends do? Why can’t you treat me with respect and let me have some fun!”

“You are a child and acting like this proves it! God damn it Dawn, what the hell are you trying to prove to me? That you’re an adult? Because right now, the only thing I see is an irresponsible little girl who I can’t even trust to sleepover at a friends.” Buffy paused, rubbing her eyes with the palms of her hands. She sighed heavily and looked back up at her sister. “I have no idea what I’m supposed to do with you. What’s next, drugs, breaking and entering, stealing cars?”

“Maybe if you would just – ”

“I don’t want to hear it!” Buffy snapped. In a quieter voice that showed just how hurt Buffy was behind her anger, she said, “I could ground you for two months and I doubt that you would learn anything. You want to know why? Because this is the third time you’ve done this. The third time you have betrayed my trust. Now, you are going to go upstairs and take that shit off of your face. You are going to change into your pyjamas and out of that get up. You will be sleeping on the couch because I thought you were going to be at Janice’s tonight and an,” Buffy paused trying to figure out the best way to describe Arabella, “an unexpected visitor is in your room. You are then going to come down here and go to sleep.”

“Buffy – ”

“Not a word, Dawn!” Buffy snapped. “I am tired, have had a bad day, and you are not making it better. I will talk to you in the morning.”

“But – ”

“Go, NOW!” Buffy shouted. Dawn scrambled from her seat and fled up the stairs, glaring at Spike as she passed them.

As soon as the sound of a slamming door was heard, Buffy crumpled to the floor crying. Spike was instantly at her side, ready to wrap his arms around her. Her tears made him forget everything that she had said that day, everything he had felt, and everything he had decided. He couldn’t handle seeing his light so upset.

Unconsciously, Buffy reached out to Spike and buried her head in his chest. She felt his strong arms wrap around her and she held onto him tighter. She could here his soft voice murmuring words of comfort, and she let them wash over her in waves of comfort.

“What am I going to do?” Buffy asked between sobs. “She just keeps on getting worse and worse and nothing I do helps. I don’t know if I can do this any longer.”

“Shh, luv. The Nibblet’s just going through a phase. She’s trying to prove that she’s an adult. It’ll pass.”

“But what if it doesn’t?” Buffy sat back, disentangling herself from Spike. She looked up into his eyes and whispered, “I wish my mom was here. She’d know what to do.”

Spike’s heart broke at those words. Buffy looked like a little girl at this moment, being forced to deal with raising an adolescent when she was barely finished being an adolescent herself. Sometimes he forgot just how young she and her friends were. Barely 21.

Spike reached out a hand and cupped her face, wiping the tears flowing down her cheek away with his thumb. “She is, pet. She’s in your heart and soul. I know she’s watching over you from heaven.”

Buffy jerked back at the statement as if he had stung her. Shit. Spike realized what he had just said and wished that he could take it back. But it was too late. He sat back as he watched the cold, empty expression come over her face.

“What would you know about where my mother is?” Her voice trembled in anger and pain. “You don’t know anything about it!” Buffy jumped up and walked into the hallway.

Spike jumped up and followed her, cursing that he hadn’t thought before he spoke. “Buffy, I’m sorry.” Spike reached out and touched her on the arm, praying she would realize that he didn’t mean it that way, although he knew that his efforts would be futile.

Buffy snapped around to face him, hands dangerously clenched at her sides. “What are you doing here anyways Spike? I thought I made it clear that I didn’t want you in my life anymore!”

Spike could feel the anger and defensiveness start to boil deep within him. “I didn’t want to be here. But for some reason I bloody well thought you might want to know what your sister had been getting up to! I love her like she’s my own, Buffy. I couldn’t bear to see anything happen to her.”

“You know nothing about love Spike! Thank-you for bringing her back, but from now on stay away from her, stay away from my friends, and stay away from me!”

That was it. Spike actually felt himself snap. “Do you always have to be such a bloody bint, Slayer? I have never done anything, anything, but try and help you. Have I tried to hurt you or yours once in the past year? No! And why? Because for some unknown reason I love you.” Buffy opened her mouth to retort, but Spike cut her off, “Don’t. I know what you’re going to say. I’m a demon! I’m soulless! I can’t feel! I can’t love! That’s all bullocks and you know it. If I couldn’t then why would I let you beat me to an inch of my unlife. If I didn’t actually feel I would have walked away or hit you back. How dare you tell me to stop caring about other people, about Dawn. You don’t have the bloody right.”

“I don’t have a right? I don’t have a right! I’m just her guardian and sister. I think that pretty much gives me all the rights I need!” Buffy screamed back.

As the yelling continued, Willow rolled over in her bed and covered her head with a pillow. She knew from the instant that Buffy had called Dawn by her first name that tonight was not the time to get involved. It bothered her that it was now Spike and Buffy yelling. She couldn’t make out what they were saying through the pillow, but it reminded her of the kind of fight a couple would have. She chuckled at thought; it was too absurd to even think. Never going to happen. Willow rolled over again and tried to block out the shouting more by hugging the pillow more tightly to her head.

In a room down the hall, Arabella couldn’t take it anymore. She had been lying in bed listening to a screaming Buffy and her sister, and now what she assumed must be her boyfriend. Or ex-boyfriend if the argument kept on going much longer. She toyed with the idea of going back to the Magic Box for a moment, before getting out of the warm bed she was lying in and heading towards the stairs. As she got to the stairwell, she could hear the argument clearly and cringed at what she heard.

“The day you do something that isn’t 100% selfish is the day hell freezes over,” Buffy snorted. Her arms were now crossing her chest and she was itching for a good enough reason to throw Spike through the closed front door, repair costs be damned.

As Spike opened his mouth to retort, the clearing of someone’s throat could be heard behind him. “Sorry, didn’t mean to interrupt. Thank-you for your hospitality Buffy, but I think…” As Arabella continue, Spike slowly turned around and looked up to the top of the stairs. He was sure he knew that voice. As he looked up, scanning the bare feet and going up, he blinked when he reached the familiar voice’s face.

“Ari?”

“Ari?”

“William?” Arabella froze mid-step and cocked her head to the side, a surprised look on her face.

Spike looked shocked for a moment before a big grin spread across his face. “Bloody hell, woman! It’s been a long time!” He was instantly knocked backwards by her flying down the rest of the stairs and into his arms, where he enveloped her in a bear hug and began spinning her around the room.

Buffy just stood there, mouth open, anger in her eyes. Does every demon know this girl? She thought, frowning as she watched the couple. She stepped back as they spun by but didn’t say a word, knowing it would be pointless to try and get either of their attention until they were done with their ‘hello.’

Finally, the two laughing figures stopped and looked at each other with big grins, hugging one more time before they began to speak.

“What in bloody hell are you doing here, lamb?” Spike asked, having completely forgotten that he was even in Buffy’s house.

“I should be asking you that! What are you doing here, Will?”

“Before either you answer that question, I want to know how you two know each other. Because I have to say, Ari, beings friends with an infamous vamp, really not helping your non-evil status.” Buffy said angrily, crossing her arms across her chest while she glared daggers at the two beings standing in front of you. She raised her eyebrows in question, and in return Spike laughed.

Buffy stood there stunned. Spike had laughed. Out loud. Loudly out loud. And it wasn’t a bitter laugh. It was a real, genuine, “I’m just plain happy” laugh. She had never heard it before and wondered why some tramp could get him to make the unfamiliar sound. Wait a minute, tramp? Where the hell did that thought come from? Buffy mentally shook herself tried to focus on finding answers and not on the fact that Spike had lazily draped his arm over Arabella’s shoulder.

“Well?”

Laughing again and sharing a smirk with Arabella, Spike finally answered, “Ari’s a good little higher being. She may run with a bad crowd, but she’s all about the balance and all that rot. Doesn’t get involved in the nastier side of her social set. Does get annoyed once in a while. That’s when even the worst Big Bads are glad she’s all goodness and light.”

“Will! I do not get annoyed once in a while,” Ari emphasized with a jab to Spike’s ribs. “And you know perfectly well that I’m not ‘all goodness and light’ as you put it – I prefer to remain neutral unless things become unbalanced.” In response, Spike just rolled his eyes.

Buffy did not know how to react. As Arabella went on to explain why she was in Sunnydale, all Buffy could concentrate on was the silent interaction between the two in front of her. He doesn’t smile like that with me. Why are they so affectionate? Why doesn’t he laugh with me that way? And why doesn’t he call me lamb? I don’t see why they have to be so close. He’s only supposed to look at me – The reasonable part of Buffy’s brain suddenly decided to kick in and stop her before she let herself figure out just why she was feeling the way she was suddenly. She tuned back into the conversation just in time to hear the two finish the story.

“So I’m here now instead, without anything but my bloody pyjamas. But enough of me – this story has become quite a bore, so if you really must know the exact deals, do ask someone else.”

Spike just grinned even bigger, seeing that his old friend was just like he remembered her. “I’m assuming you got annoyed and the Shenhrak demon is no more?”

Arabella just rolled her eyes and moved to lean against the entrance to the living room. Buffy’s annoyance at the two’s disregard for her presence had finally gotten to be enough, clearing her voice, Buffy said in a voice louder than needed, “I’m only going to ask one more time: How do you two know each other?”

“Oh, right, sorry about that.” Arabella smiled sweetly as all her attention diverted back to Buffy. “I met Will ten years after he was turned. I was doing research on Angelus to document him before he got cursed – bloody brilliant curse if you ask me. I nearly pissed myself when I heard about it. Of course, Angelus couldn’t go anywhere without his entourage,” Ari emphasized this with a role of her eyes, “so I got to know William here quite well. Only scourge I could stand, really. We became friends quite quickly and we’ve been friends ever since. He came to all my parties until the Prague incident.”

“Oh.” Buffy was really starting to hate how the keeper could say everything so casually, especially since she said it in a way that made a person feel like they had to react casually as well. She knew that she should be saying more, but she just didn’t know how to react. Research on Angel? Pre-soul? Buffy realized that she was definitely going to have to find a way to have a more detailed conversation with the woman in front of her.

“So, what are you doing here, Will?” Arabella asked, all attention going back to the bleached-blond vampire.

Spike shrugged and looked down ashamed. The last thing he wanted to do was to explain about the chip and everything it had led to. However much he had changed in the last few years, he was still proud of his reputation as William the Bloody and didn’t want it being ruined. “Got a chip in my head, lost my bite. I can only kill demons, so I help the Slayer here to get my spot of violence,” he said quietly.

Arabella studied Spike’s face for a moment, and then said grimly, “I didn’t think it was true when the Powers told me. You being neutered and working with the Slayer.” At seeing Spike’s stricken face at this statement, she quickly added, “Don’t worry, only me and a few other of the Power’s favourite tools know. You’re still one of the Scourges to the rest of the crowd. Bloody humans trying to be gods. They really don’t get the necessary evil thing do they?”

Spike smiled lightly and tried to shrug off the wave of depression the subject of his chip tended to bring along with it. “Yeah, wankers the lot, aren’t they? So what exactly are you doing here, lamb. I know why you’re in Sunnydale, but why LA? Last time you talked about visiting this side of the Atlantic you said, and I quote, ‘Bloody colonials, demons and humans alike! Bad manners, bad food, bad wine, bad everything. The only way I will ever bother with that continent again is if the Powers drag me kicking and screaming and threaten to make me look like a Fyarl demon!’” As Spike quoted her, his accent slipped into the same posh accent that she spoke with.

“They threatened to make me look like a Chaos demon actually,” Arabella said with a sigh and pout. Spike just laughed. Buffy, who had been angrily watching, found a small smile crossing her face. “I’m here for work if you must know. I was going to be coming to Sunnydale next week anyways.”

Buffy was about to ask what her work actually entailed when the loud stomping of a bitter Dawn could be heard coming down the stairs. All three turned to see the teenager storm past them, her overly abundant hormones in full swing. The pillow and sheets she was carrying were violently thrown onto the couch.

When Dawn cleared her long hair away from her face as she flopped onto the couch, Arabella took a quick intake of breath, and whispered something under her breath. Her eyes were locked on Dawn.

Spike’s head snapped up when his vampire hearing picked up the barely audible words. “What was that love?”

Arabella looked away from Dawn with a start and smiled at her old friend. “Nothing. I was just mumbling to myself about how tired I am. Buffy, I think I will go back up to bed now if that’s all right.”

Buffy nodded curtly, her angry gaze never leaving her little sister.

“Will, tomorrow. Tell me where and when so that we can catch up on old times.”

“The Bronze, just ask one of the Scoobies where it is. How about 9pm? I’d say earlier, but you know – pesky sun allergy and all.” Spike grinned trying to shake off the feeling that Arabella was trying to cover up what she had really said. He could have sworn it sounded like…

“Right then. Bronze. 9pm. I’ll see you then. Night all!” Arabella hurried upstairs, partially because she wanted to avoid Spike asking her what she said, but primarily because she didn’t want to witness the yelling she heard earlier.

Dawn just scowled and stared at the blank TV screen from the couch. “Are you just going to stare at me all night?”

“With the amount of trust I have in you right now, I just might,” Buffy spat. Dawn couldn’t hide her flinch, Buffy’s words had hurt. A lot. She waited silently for Buffy to continue. “I’m tired though, and it’s late. I’ll talk to you in the morning.” Buffy said with a more resigned tone, before she quickly turned to Spike. “Goodnight Spike. You can leave now.” Buffy knew she was being harsher than she needed to be, but everything from the last 24 hours had added up, and Buffy knew she would explode if she heard one more word from anyone.

Spike just gave her a pained look as he stormed out the front door and down the street.

Buffy closed the door behind him and headed up the stairs without saying one more thing to her little sister. She was too angry and too tired to deal with Dawn anymore that night. Buffy got in bed, almost forgetting to change out of her clothing.

I’d rather deal with five apocalypses than another day like today. She thought as she snuggled into her sheets and let the exhaustion that she had been fighting finally take hold.

Definitely an apocalypse…

*****

The next morning, Buffy rolled over to turn off her alarm as she groaned. Still half asleep, her brain had yet to remind her of the events of the previous night. She flopped onto her back with a small smile. No Double Meat today…Buffy yawned deeply and started to rub her eyes, trying to get the sleep out of them so she could start her day. There was a soft tapping on her door right before Willow’s red hair popped through the small crack.

“Hey, good morning,” Willow said as she walked into the room after seeing that Buffy was awake.

“Morning,” Buffy said sleepily, snuggling into her covers in an attempt to avoid getting up.

“I was just wondering what happened last night,” Willow said timidly. As soon as she said the sentence, Buffy’s eyes snapped open and she shot up from her bed. Willow continued nervously, “I didn’t want to get involved, you know, it sounded like I would have just got in the way. But I figured you’d want to talk this morning and, you know, maybe I could help figure things out.” As Willow babbled on Buffy was scrambling around her room trying to get dressed as fast as she possibly could. “Buffy, slow down. What happened?”

“Dawn,” Buffy said with the same tone she had used last night.

“Gonna need more details here. I mean, I figured that much. With the yelling and all.” Willow smiled weakly, not sure if she wanted to be witness to hurricane Buffy.

“Last night. Spike saw Dawn at the Bronze. Dressed like a complete skank while she smoked and drank.”

Willow eyes went wide in disbelief. “Dawnie? But she was meant to be sleeping over at Janice’s. Are you sure?”

“Very.” Buffy said as she tied her hair back in a severe ponytail.

“Oh, um. So I guess you’re going to be grounding her for a long time?” Willow didn’t know what to say. She had never seen Buffy this mad. And she had seen Buffy mad. Willow was curious to know more details, but realized that now wasn’t the time.

Buffy turned around to face her best friend and the angry look on her face melted to a sad one. “I just don’t know what to do, Will. I mean, I don’t know what I’m supposed to say, how I’m supposed to react. This is the third time she’s done something like this in the last few months. I’m afraid that nothing I do or say is going to make things any better.”

Willow leaned forward and gave Buffy a big hug. “You’ll get through this and so will Dawn. Remember, it’s not just you dealing with this. It’s all the Scoobies. We’ll be behind you no matter what and make sure we get Dawn straightened out.”

“Thanks Will.” Buffy smiled as she wiped a few stray tears off her cheeks. “I’m just so afraid that she’s going to get in more trouble and that social services is going to find out and take her away.”

“That’s not going to happen,” Willow said firmly, giving Buffy her resolve face. “If I have to handcuff myself to your little sister to make sure she stays out of trouble I will. We’re family, and nothing and no one is going to break us apart.” The girls hugged again.

“I don’t know what I’d do without you. You do realize you’re the best friend I could possibly have, right?”

“Darn tootin’!” Willow said with a silly grin. “Why don’t you go to the bathroom and freshen up before you go and talk to Dawn. I’ll go call Tara and tell her what happened. Her and Dawn are really close – maybe she can find out what’s going on with her. Plus, it gives me reason to talk to her.” Will smiled as they got up to into the hall.

“And here I thought you were being completely unselfish,” Buffy teased. Her brief talk with Willow was all it took to reassure her that she could do this. “By the way, where is the being which is yet another problem for me to deal with?”

“What? What problem? There wasn’t a demon involved in the whole Dawn thing, was there? I mean other than Spike.” Willow looked at Buffy confused.

“I mean Arabella. Where is she?”

“Oh. Anya and Xander picked her up about ten minutes ago to go over to the Magic Box. As soon as she vacated Dawn’s room, Dawn locked herself in there. It sounds like you don’t like her too much. Anything you want to tell me?”

“I don’t know,” Buffy picked at her sweater. “I just don’t like her. She knows Spike. You should have seen them last night.”

“Oh. Why does that matter? I mean, from what the texts I’ve read say it’s her job to know demons. Plus, Anya swore that she was a good guy. I’m sure it’s just your Slayer-self being overly cautious.”

“Yeah, you’re right. What else could it be?” Buffy said with false cheeriness and headed into the bathroom to freshen up. As she did, her thoughts started to think about why she just didn’t like Arabella. Maybe because he calls her lamb, and hugs her, and laughs with her, and – whoa Buffy, what’s with you? This is Spike. Buffy mentally slapped herself and tried to ignore the teasing voice at the back of her mind telling her she was jealous. She was just being the Slayer. She wasn’t meant to trust strange non-humans, even if all the texts and one of her closest friends said not to worry. As she finished in the bathroom she sat down on the toilet and took a moment to think before she went to deal with the immediate problem at hand. Dawn.

Buffy asked herself what her mother would have done in this situation. She knew that she had to be the calm, rational one, however hard it was. Buffy thought about how Joyce had dealt with Buffy the many times she had got in trouble. Even though most of those times were really because she was saving the world, it didn’t change that the way her mother reacted to each occurrence, and Buffy realized that she had to be the same. Buffy’s problem was she didn’t know if she could do it. It would be hard not to just give in and let Dawn go off with a slap on the wrist and a “never do that again, young lady.” Things would be so much easier that way. Buffy stood up and prepared to bite the bullet of being the bad guy. Things will only be easier until her next little outing, she thought sadly. With a quick check in the mirror to ensure that she looked serious and adult enough to be taken seriously, Buffy headed off to face her sister.

As she stepped into the hall and walked towards Dawn’s bedroom door, she could faintly hear what sounded like heavy metal coming from underneath it. She was surprised that Dawn would even own that type of music since her tastes tended to sway towards the boy band pop variety. Buffy paused outside her sister’s door and listened briefly. She could hear the music clearly now and realised that the song was familiar – a 70’s punk song she often heard when she would walk into Spike’s crypt. He must have given her a tape this summer, that’s so – Yet another mental slap. Buffy decided she really had to break her habit of letting her thoughts drift towards the vampire. Buffy closed her eyes and pictured Dawn when she first saw her that evening. It was all it took to get her back into angry-guardian mode.

Knocking firmly, she said, “Dawn, open up, we need to talk.” She heard the music shut off and the loud stomping of her sister as she came to the door. The lock made a telltale click right before the door was swung open. A sullen Dawn stood on the other side, glaring at Buffy in the doorway.

“I’m waiting. What’s the punishment this time?” Dawn spat. She knew she had screwed up big time, but her anger over the fact that Buffy was treating her like a child was overriding any guilt or regret she felt over her actions.

“It’s not that simple Dawn. We need to talk.” Dawn just rolled her eyes. “Why don’t we go down to the kitchen and talk there.”

“Whatever.” Dawn pushed by Buffy as she headed towards the stairs.

Buffy took a moment to collect herself before she followed. Once in the kitchen, Dawn sat herself on a stool, facing away from Buffy.

“Dawn look at me.” Buffy could actually feel Dawn rolling her eyes, even with her face turned away. “Dawn…” She said in a warning tone. Buffy wondered if Dawn realized that she was just setting herself up for more trouble.

“Alright!” Dawn spun around on her seat and crossed her arms over her chest as she leaned against the island. “Happy?”

“Not in the slightest. Now, do you have anything you’d like to say to me to begin with?”

“Would it change anything?”

“Maybe.”

“Well I don’t, okay. So hurry up and tell me how long I’m grounded and what privileges I’ve lost. I’m sure there can’t be that many because you already keep me under lock and key!”

Buffy just looked at Dawn sadly. She’d heard Dawn say this all before. And she knew Dawn had heard her response before, but she figured she might as well try. Sitting on the stool next to Dawn’s, she said, “Dawn, I know you think that I’m over protective and that I treat you like a little kid, but you know how dangerous the world out there is. Especially for you. How many times have you been kidnapped or hurt? I can’t always be there to protect you. It only takes one time of me not being there for you to get hurt or killed. Why can’t you see that?”

“I can take care of myself! Why can’t you treat me my age and let me live my life? It’s not fair!”

“Nothings fair, Dawn!” Dawn moved away at the harshness in Buffy’s voice. “Dawn, look, I’m sorry I snapped like that. But you need to understand. You aren’t old enough to take care of yourself. Look at what happened on Halloween, or with Sweet. What would you have done if I didn’t show up?” Buffy looked at Dawn expectantly, and Dawn looked down ashamed. For a moment. Her head snapped back up and she had the same look of anger she had before.

“But that doesn’t mean that I can’t go out with my friends and have a good time at the Bronze. Why were things that were alright for you to do not alright for me?”

“Dawn, if drinking and smoking are your idea of a good time then you can’t go out with your friends. And those things were never alright for me! Do you have any idea how shocked I was last night? How angry and upset I was. I trusted you Dawn, after everything you’ve done and you lied to me again. When I was your age, yes, I went out all the time. But I never went near alcohol, and I never smoked, and I never dressed like a slut.” Dawn just looked like she had been slapped. “It may be harsh to hear me say that, but it’s true. You looked like a tramp. I have never been ashamed of you until I saw what you were wearing last night. And that was only a small part of everything. You betrayed my trust, Dawn. It’s going to take a long time and a lot of work to win it back.”

Buffy didn’t know if her words were actually getting through to Dawn, but she sure as hell hoped they were. They sat there quietly for a few moment, Buffy waited as Dawn digested what she had said. After a few moments, Dawn looked up with an unreadable expression.

“So what’s my punishment?” she said in a monotone voice, showing no emotion. She didn’t want Buffy to know how much her words had hurt, or how angry they made her feel. Maybe Buffy was right about some things, but Dawn still felt like she was being treated like a child. Buffy was the Slayer at her age. She went out every night, had the freedom to do what she wanted. Maybe Dawn didn’t have super powers, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t experience life the way she was meant to. It didn’t mean she couldn’t have fun.

Buffy looked away from her sister in exasperation. So this is how it’s going to be from now on. At least she’s not threatening to call social services. “Well, first off, I’m calling Janice’s mother as soon as this conversation is over. I think she’ll agree that you two are not to see or talk to one another outside of school.” This elicited a small squeak from the younger Summers, but no more. Buffy turned to Dawn and looked her straight in the eyes. “I am so disappointed in you Dawn. I have lost all trust in you. You’re going to have to earn it back, and until you do, you will be under constant monitoring. I’m going to call your school and arrange for you to see the counsellor once a week. I don’t care how much you protest – you will go. Your school day ends at three o’clock, you will be at the Magic Box to help Anya no later than three twenty, every day. There will be no going out after dark, not even to the video store. And you will not be going over to any friends’ houses or out with them until I feel that I can trust you to do so. Weekends will be spent either here or at the Magic Box, never alone. You will get all homework finished on time and, as strange as the concept may seem, you will attend all of your classes. And yes, I will be checking up on you regularly. This will go on for an indeterminate amount of time, but I assure you it will be long running.” Dawn opened her mouth to reply, but Dawn shushed her with a motion of her hand. “I don’t want to hear it. Now, Anya’s expecting you at the Magic Box in half an hour to work off the debt you already have there. You better go get ready.”

Dawn jumped up, willing the tears in her eyes to remain there until she was gone from Buffy’s sight. At the entrance to the kitchen, Dawn spun around, and shouted, “Just because you never had a life when you were my age doesn’t mean you have to stop me from having one!” She spun around again and stomped off, hitting shoulders with Willow as she passed.