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Buffy The Vampire Slayer > BTVS - Season Six
Hank by Painbow
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Disclaimer: Still don't own 'em.

A/N: Well, here we are...part one of Buffy's Birthday...






Chapter 7


Dawn sat in the living room, arms folded across her chest, glaring at Buffy.

“I’m sorry, Dawnie. One of these days we’ll have a real dinner, I swear.” She avoided looking her sister in the eye. The events of that night still hung between them, even though Buffy had apologized. She was certain Dawn didn’t fully trust her, and to be completely honest, Buffy wasn’t sure she trusted herself.

“Yeah, sure, whatever.” Dawn looked out the window.

Hank walked into the family room and Buffy quickly shoved her weapons bag behind her. She was so used to a state of “everyone knows Buffy’s the slayer” in her own house, that she kept forgetting her dad didn’t know. And Buffy didn’t want to tell him. She didn’t really trust him to stick around, no matter how many times he tried to assure her he wasn’t going anywhere.

“Hey, sweetie. Where are you going?”

Buffy scrambled. “Oh…um, out with some friends. To the Bronze!” She flinched a little at how forced that sounded.

Hank smiled, missing the scramble for an excuse completely. “Good! I’m glad you’re getting out with your friends.”

“Um, yeah…it should be fun. What are—” Buffy stopped speaking when she noticed a suitcase in the hall. Her jaw tightened. “Well, that didn’t take long. Leaving already, are you?” She refused to cry. “Not sure why I’m surprised.”

She turned to her bag and began shoving weapons in at random. She felt a hand on her back. Shrugging it off, she turned to face her father. “What?”

“Buffy, I’m not leaving. Well, I am, but only for a couple of days to LA. I’ll be back in time for your Birthday.”

Buffy forced back tears. “I’ll believe it when I see it.” She walked quickly to the door, breathing deeply once outside.

Dawn glared at Hank from the couch. Hank wanted her to believe him. “Dawn, I will be back.”

“Really? Cause I’d be a lot happier if you stayed gone.” She stood up and pushed past him, running up the stairs.

Hank sighed, staring after her and picked up his suitcase.



*****



Buffy set her weapons bag back in the closet and made her way down the hall to the guest room. She paused at the door, breathing deeply. She didn’t want to go in, just in case, but she had to know. Was her father really coming back?

Of course the question was how would she feel if he did? All her friends hated him. A lot. She hadn’t had Xander over since Hank had been back. When he’d found out he’d started ranting relatively incoherently. Willow just avoided him as much as possible, glaring at him whenever he was in the room. Of course, Hank pretty much ignored her as much as was polite. They didn’t seem to be any closer to getting over their argument. Spike, not that he could be considered a friend, ground his teeth at every mention of her father…of course, she hadn’t seen much of him lately.

But deep down, she didn’t want him to be gone completely. He really was helping. She’d cut down her shifts at the Palace to twice a week and was thinking about looking for another job, someplace without the smell. And…it felt really good to have her dad back. To know he cared enough about her and Dawn to come back.

Of course, she didn’t really trust him, as evidenced by this evening’s freak out followed by…

She pushed open the door and let out a breath she didn’t even know she was holding. Most of his stuff was still here. He was really coming back…or else donating a lot of men’s accessories to her and Dawn.

She closed the door and walked by Dawn’s, noticing that the light was on.

She tapped lightly on the door. “C’I come in?” She opened the door a little to see Dawn sitting on her bed, reading a magazine. “Dawn? Is it okay if I come in?” Her sister continued to ignore her.

Buffy came just inside the door. “Dad’s coming back.”

Dawn didn’t put down the magazine. “Too bad.”

Buffy gaped at her.

Dawn looked up, exasperated with her sister. “Look, Buffy, I know you’re all thrilled that dad’s back, but I’m not. We don’t need him! And I sure as hell don’t want him here.”

Buffy frowned at her. “Dawn, we do need him. He’s helping out with the bills and—”

“So all you’re interested in is his money? What about how he left us, Buffy? He’s worthless…and really annoying…and he left us!”

“But he came back,” said Buffy, softly.

“Yeah? Well I don’t care. He’s not my father. I don’t owe the bastard anything.”

“Dawn! Don’t—”

“Don’t what? What will you do? Hit me again?”

Buffy looked like she’d been slapped. “I said I was sorry. And I am. Dawnie, I wish—”

“Yeah, whatever.” She turned back to her magazine.



*****



Dawn headed to the Magic Box, hoping that someone would want to go to the Bronze with her. She’d been spending a lot of time at home lately and wanted to get out.

She opened the door and walked in, noticing that everyone had paper strewn out in front of them. She sighed. This did not look good.

She walked over to the table. Xander was frowning at something in front of him and Willow was clacking away at her laptop, tongue sticking out the corner of her mouth. Anya was up at the counter, sorting through pieces of paper with a slight gleam in her eye.

“Hey, guys,” she said, trying to get their attention.

“Hey, Dawnster,” said Xander, not even looking up from his work.

Anya spared her a glance from the counter. “Hello, Dawn. Would you like to help me with the money?”

Dawn half-smiled. “No thanks, Anya.”

Anya shrugged and bent back over her work.

“So I was wondering if anyone wanted to go to the Bronze with me tonight?”

Willow looked up. “Sorry, Dawnie. After I finish up with this I have to go to my group…you know, the whole Spellcasters Anonymous…we’re trying to come up with a better name,” she finished in response to Xander’s look.

Xander turned his look to Dawn. “Sorry, Dawnie. I have to finish these crew schedules for tomorrow.”

Anya gave her a sympathetic look. “It just looks like one of those nights.”

“Yeah, ok,” said Dawn. “Whatever that means,” she mumbled as she walked out. She’d already been by Spike’s earlier and he’d been out, probably getting more blood or going to a poker game or something.

Buffy was out patrolling again, but things were still weird since her sister had hit her. She knew Buffy was sorry and that it had happened because of extreme circumstances, but their relationship had changed anyway. Dawn wasn’t so sure how much she trusted Buffy now and for how long her lack of trust would last.

Of course, she had to admit to herself that a lot of the lack of trust was because Dawn was angry. Really, really angry at Buffy. The night she’d come into her room it was clear; Buffy didn’t care about her. Buffy didn’t want to be around her. It’s not like she’d gone out of her way since she came back to try to spend time with her. Every one of the few times Buffy had suggested they do something it was a “oh…well I don’t have anything else to do” situation. And it wasn’t just Buffy.

Part of her felt really bad. She knew Buffy was hurting and she wanted to help her. But the other part of her just couldn’t forgive the months of neglect. She knew Willow was still trying to get better, but they hadn’t had so much as a chess game in months. And Xander and Anya were getting married and so busy and hadn’t asked her if she wanted to help. At all.

She kicked over a garbage can as she walked past. Her guidance councilor had been talking about it with her today. People just tended to leave. She wished they wouldn’t, but it’s not like she could do anything about it.



*****



“Guys, this is Sophie. Sophie this is…”

Dawn watched Buffy make the introductions from the couch. She was nervous about her gift. She really hoped that Buffy would like it.

She glanced out the window, noticing a cab pull up in the driveway. Hank got out and ran to the door, clutching an envelope. She stifled the part of her that was glad he’d really come back and glared at him, hoping he’d trip on the way to the door.

Things were better today. At least they seemed better. Buffy looked happy. Spike had come too and Dawn had watched her sister great him from the door. She’d given him a hug, whispering something in his ear that had made Spike look dumbfounded. Dawn had grinned at him and he’d motioned for her to leave before Buffy caught her staring at them.

Dawn watched everyone dancing in the family room as Hank came in the front door. She rolled her eyes when Buffy hugged him, dumbfounding her second man in less than an hour.

Anya and Xander put on the music and started dancing, pulling in Clem and Sophie, as well as the friend they’d brought for Buffy. Xander glanced over at her.

“Hey, Dawnster! Join the fun!”

“Yes! Come share in our groove thing.” Anya smiled at her. Dawn decided to get up and dance, completely missing the strange woman on the front porch.



*****



Dawn clutched her hands in her lap. It was almost time for her present.

Buffy looked oddly at the neck massager that Willow bought her and put it down, thanking Willow. Dawn’s gift was next.

Buffy opened the paper and pulled out the box inside. She opened it and reached in, pulling out the gift.

"Oh, Dawnie, it’s beautiful.”

“Well, I thought, you have enough stuff that reminds you of,” Dawn looked over at Hank, “work, so I thought I’d get you something else.”

Buffy looked at the picture her sister had picked up for her. It was Dorothy Hamil and it was signed. “Dawn, this must have cost a fortune!”

“Um,” Dawn glanced at Hank, a little guiltily. “No. It wasn’t too bad. I just thought you’d—”

The picture was stuck back in her lap as Buffy got up to thank Xander and Anya for their gift. Dawn looked down at the picture, picked it up and set it on the table. She got up off the couch and stood next to Spike, trying to keep her cool.

He put a hand on her shoulder. “Don’t take it personal, Bit. Slayer’s just got a lot on her mind, ’s all.”

Once Xander was finished explaining where to put the “CD’s”, Hank handed an envelope to Buffy. He’d been dodging glares from Buffy’s friends all evening, but he’d promised he’d be back for Buffy’s birthday, so here he was.

“This is for you, sweetie.”

Buffy smiled at her father and opened the envelope. She pulled out the papers inside and stared.

Hank looked nervous. “I hope you like it better then flowers and a balloon.”

Buffy continued to stare at the papers. Her father had paid off the mortgage on the house. The entire mortgage.

Buffy’s eyes started to tear. “Oh, dad, I—” She threw her arms around him. “This is so wonderful! Thank you!”



*****



Everyone sat in the living room, staring at the door. They couldn’t leave the house, and there was no good explanation why.

Hank looked at the assembled faces. He couldn’t figure it out. Buffy and her close friends looked worried, but none of them looked at all surprised, like being trapped in a house for no reason made perfect sense to them.

That Richard guy, who was a friend of Xander’s, did look confused, as did Buffy’s friend from work.

“We’ve all got places we’d rather be,” Buffy was saying. Dawn looked up at her sharply and then ran up the stairs past several pairs of astounded eyes.

“What was that about?” asked Xander.

“Maybe I should go check on her,” said Hank, getting up from his chair.

“Er…maybe I should go,” said Buffy, not wanting her father to have to deal with Dawn, especially since she had such an aversion to the man.

Spike waved them both down. “Let me go check on the Bit,” he said. “None of you are exactly her favorite people at the moment.”

Spike made for the stairs and Xander looked around confused. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Anya patted his shoulder. “I think we’re very personable.”

Willow rolled her eyes at the ex-demon and Tara turned to the stairs, worry clear from her expression.



*****



Dawn lay face down on the bed, clutching the sheets. She heard a tap at the door.

“Go away!”

“’S me, pet. ‘N’I come in?”

Dawn sighed. “Yeah, whatever.”

Spike entered looking thoughtful. “‘Whatever’ should be banned from the English language.” He raised an eyebrow, looking down at Dawn. “What enthusiasm. Sure know how to make a fella welcome, bit.”

Dawn rolled on to her back. “They don’t care, Spike. At all. All they can think of is getting out of the house and away from me as fast as possible.”

Spike sat on the bed next to her. “Funny slant on our predicament, platelet.”

“Yeah? Well this is the most time any of them has spent with me in months. What am I supposed to think?”

Spike sighed. “I know, luv, but big sis has been…preoccupied.”

“Yeah. Whatever that means.”

Spike felt a bit guilty, which while not unprecedented, was still an uncomfortable feeling for him. He knew why Buffy had been preoccupied before. He knew why he had been preoccupied before. He shook it off. No use dwelling on it.

“Look, bit, they’re gonna ask you if you’re the reason we’re all stuck here—” Dawn looked furious and Spike pressed on. “I know you didn’t, they know you didn’t, but they wouldn’t be the Scoobies ‘f they didn’t jump to conclusions. Just…try not to blow up at them…no matter how annoying they get.”

Dawn raised an eyebrow. “Hypocrite much?”

“Ever heard the saying, ‘do as I say, not as I do?’” Spike smirked. Dawn smirked back.



*****



Xander looked over at Buffy, a bit of anger combining with the confusion already present on his face. “So…why are you letting evil dead go talk to Dawn anyway?”

Hank wondered the same thing. Except for the part where Xander called Spike ‘evil dead’. He wondered where the man could have possibly picked up that nickname. The name of a punk group, perhaps?

Buffy sighed, looking sad and not a little guilty. “Xander, right now the only person she even talks to is Spike.” She frowned. “I’m not sure why this is even an issue. Wasn’t he her babysitter when I was d—gone,” she said, catching herself just in time.

Xander deflated a little. “’S not like we had a lot of choice.”

Buffy raised an eyebrow. “Oh, good. That’s very comforting.” Xander had the grace to look embarrassed. “Xander, Spike’s right. None of us,” her gaze swept the room, pausing at her father, “are her favorite people at the moment. She’s been so angry lately…”

Everyone found something to occupy their eyes as an awkward silence filled the room. Hank looked at his hands. Judging from people’s reactions during the party, he wasn’t on anyone’s favorite person list. But he didn’t know what to do with Dawn either. She was so angry…

“We need to find a way to leave the house!”

Everyone looked at Anya, startled by her outburst. She looked down.

“The silence was making me uncomfortable.” Xander patted her arm.

Hank grasped on to something that, while it didn’t make sense, was easier to think about then his youngest. “Why are we stuck here? It doesn’t make any sense.”

Anya waved a hand. “Oh, it’s probably magic. That’s what it usually is.”

Hank’s jaw dropped.

Buffy scrambled to cover. “She’s joking!” Buffy laughed nervously.

Hank stared. “I don’t get it.”

Anya was indignant. “I was not! It’s always ma—” she flinched as Xander elbowed her in the ribs and her eyes widened. “I mean, Ha! Haha! A joke! To lighten the mood. Of course it’s not magic…because there’s no such thing…”

Buffy cut in again. “Hey! Dad! Why don’t you take Sophie, Clem and—”

“Richard,” whispered Xander, helpfully.

“—Richard and get some food for everyone from the kitchen.”

Hank looked like he was going to protest, but he went wordlessly to the kitchen.

*****




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