*sheepish look*
Someone, who is going to remain nameless, overlooked a rule. They were justly punished for it... And now they are going to try again while following all the rules!
I've added PART II to the end of PART I... The mods clued me in on a very good idea to minimize the amout of threads... Those guys are smart. They deserve a BIG thank you!
Here we go... Savior of Man, Part II (revised) A very different version of this story will be posted on Extraflamey in case anyone wants to read two versions.
Title: Savior of Man
Author: Beautifultrgdy, aka Beautifultragedy, aka Thumper
Disclaimer: I own nothing. Kleptomainia of characters is rampant.
WARNING: NC-17. Some angst... Not nearly as much as the prequel. I promise for a happy ending.
Summary: Read it... PLEASE?!
Here goes nothing...
Chapter 1 'Catching Up'
“I call up an Ancient power
In this time and in this hour.
Find the one I hold so dear,
Find her now and bring her here.
I call up an Ancient power
In this time and in this hour.
Find the one I hold so dear,
Find her now and bring her here.
I call up an Ancient power
In this time and in this hour.
Find the one I hold so dear,
Find her now and bring her here.”
Dawn pricks her finger and drops the blood into the flame of the sacred candle, hearing it sizzle and bubble in the heat.
The candle flickers as an unfelt breeze passed through the room. Dawn holds her breath as she waits for some sign that it worked. Nothing stirs. Nothing breathes. The world has stopped turning; all is quiet.
Her heart breaks all over again. She had really thought this one would work. Just like the other fifty spells she had tried. Even the ones where Tara helped her never succeeded. The silent tears streaming down her face go unnoticed by the brunette. She has cried so much in these last four months that tears are second nature; it feels weird not to have them.
Dawn places her hand gently on her stomach and thinks, ‘She just has to come back. She just has to.’ She lets her gaze wander to the picture in the middle of the alter before her. Beautiful green eyes stare back at her through a smiling, laughing face.
Dawn is shaken from her thoughts by the startling cry of a baby. She grins slightly, thinking of her beautiful niece and whispers, “I’m coming, Jenny.”
***********
“Wil,” Tara murmurs, “She’s crying again.” Willow nods, “You go back to sleep, baby. I’ll get her.” Tara kisses her wife softly on the lips and closes her eyes once more. A few seconds later when the crying hasn’t stopped, Tara opens them to find her wife back asleep.
Tara groans and starts to roll out of bed, but is stopped by Willow’s hand on her shoulder. “I’ll get her.” Tara laughs softly, “No, I’ll get her.” Willow shakes her head, “You’ve gotten her the last two nights.” Tara nods, “And you fall back asleep. Let me get her.”
Willow sleepily shakes her head, “I’ll get her.” Tara rolls her eyes and crawls out of bed, surprised that her wife is following her. Halfway to the nursery Willow points out, “Hey, she’s stopped crying.” Tara frowns, “I know.” Willow asks, “You’re worried?”
Tara shrugs and they walk to the slightly open nursery door. Dawn is rocking the baby in the chair and humming softly in her ear. Tara smiles as she sees the happy look on Dawn’s face as little Jenny coos up at her Aunt Dawn. The baby’s startling red hair looks just like her Mommy’s. And even though Tara can’t see her daughter’s eyes from here she knows that they are the same blue as her very own.
Willow quietly says, “Aw, they’re so cute.” Tara nods, “Yes, let’s go back to bed. Dawn has this.” Willow asks, “You sure? It’s not Dawn’s responsibility.” Tara nods, “Dawn needs this. Come back to bed with me?” Willow smiles, her sleep winning over and says, “Okay.
***********
The sun shines down on Tara’s face, causing her to wake from her very pleasant dream. Her wife is still tangled in her, but she manages to wiggle free without waking Willow up. As Tara looks over at the clock she wonders how long Dawn was up with Jenny.
“Nearly nine,” Tara murmurs, “Jenny should have been up two hours ago.” Tara pulls on a robe over her night clothes and begins to walk to the nursery. She pauses outside of Dawn’s door when she hears her baby gurgling and cooing in there.
Tara quietly opens the door to peak in on them. She sees Dawn fast asleep on the bed with her body nestled around Jenny, and the tiny red head is laying there waving her fist around in the air and talking to her sleeping Aunt Dawn.
Tara sees that Jenny is happy and quickly takes a shower and gets dressed. When she is fully awake and ready to make breakfast she walks back to Dawn’s room.
Tara, as quietly as she can, walks over to the bed and gingerly lifts her baby from it, kissing her gently on the forehead. Jenny sputters loudly, whimpering in protest at being removed from her comfortable spot. Tara rubs her nose against the baby’s face and tells her, “Aunt Dawnie is sleeping, why don’t you come downstairs and play with Mommy?”
Jenny stops fussing and Tara takes her downstairs, leaving poor exhausted Dawn to sleep for a while longer.
***********
Willow grins as she smells breakfast cooking from down the stairs. She rolls out of bed and heads to shower, loving the fact that she wakes up every day to a beautiful wife and a lovely daughter.
After dressing, she heads down the stairs to hear Buffy and Tara talking.
“Dawn was up with her last night?” Tara smiles, “Yes, my life saver Dawn. If it weren’t for her I’d never get a night’s sleep.” Tara turns to Jenny and says in baby talk, “You never wanna let your mommies sleep, do you?”
Buffy laughs, “I sleep so soundly I never hear her cry.” Willow walks into the kitchen to see Buffy playing with her daughter, placing kisses on the baby and swinging her in the air. Willow walks over and kisses Tara’s neck saying, “Good morning, Doll.”
Tara smiles, “Morning, Wil. Did you sleep okay?” Willow grins, “Yes.” She steals Jenny away from Buffy and covers the girl in kisses. “Mwah, Mwah, Mwah! How’s my baby girl this morning?”
Buffy smiles, “You guys are the best moms.” Tara blushes, “Thanks, Buffy.” Tara places a large omelet on a plate along with some bacon and hands it to Buffy saying, “Slayers need good breakfasts.” Buffy shrugs, “Can’t argue with that.”
Tara also hands Willow a plate with a much smaller omelet saying, “Mommy’s need their breakfasts, too.” Willow kisses Tara’s lips and whispers, “Thank you, baby.”
**********
Dawn wakes up, the sunlight streaming through the one hole in her curtain and hitting her face. She opens her eyes and is faced with a picture of Anna. The beautiful blonde is laughing, her eyes crinkled at the edges, and her face turning red.
Dawn takes her fingers and brushes the glass slightly, longing for her lover to come back. Her stomach feels as if it houses rocks, heavy and stiff. She already knows, but has to find out for sure before she says something to any of her family.
She crawls out of bed, this feat something so great it is nearly not accomplished. She vaguely remembers Tara taking Jenny away from her this morning, but she was too tired to protest. Dawn wanders to the bathroom, still in a half-dream half-awake state.
After showering quickly, she returns to her room to get dressed. She leafs through her closet, looking for something to wear to the doctor today. Even though it is nearly 90 degrees outside, she finds Anna’s white jacket/sweater thing. After Dawn pulls on a pair of loose fitting jeans and a yellow button up shirt, she puts the jacket on.
If she breathes deeply, she can smell Anna. If she listens hard enough she can hear her laugh. Dawn smiles wistfully as she leaves her room and starts to head downstairs. About halfway through she gets dizzy and sits down with a loud, ‘THUD.’
Buffy rushes into the foyer, looking around. She sees Dawn sitting on the stairs and asks, “Are you okay?” Dawn nods slowly, “I just got a little dizzy, Buff.” Buffy nods, “You’re not sleeping enough.” Dawn shrugs as if to say, ‘What are you gonna do?’
Tara appears behind Buffy asking, “Everything all right?” Buffy nods, “Dawn’s just a little dizzy.” Tara makes a ‘hmm’ noise but doesn’t say anything.
After a minute Dawn stands up, “Good as new,” she murmurs, joining the rest of her family in the dinning room for breakfast. Tara sets a plate in front of dawn and the girl begins to eat mechanically. Food into mouth. Chew three times. Swallow. Repeat.
Buffy clears her throat, “So, Dawn. How are your classes this term?” Tara winces as Buffy asks, “you are taking classes aren’t you?” Dawn shakes her head. Buffy gets the mad mom face, “Why not?!” Tara reaches over and places a quieting hand on Buffy’s arm. “We thought it best of Dawn were to take a semester off, Buffy. Clear her head.”
Buffy scoffs, “Well, who died and made you guardian of her?” Willow calmly tells Buffy, “Dawn doesn’t have a guardian anymore, Buff. She’s 20 years old.” Buffy protests, “Mom wouldn’t want her to drop out!” Tara argues, “She’s not dropping out! It’s just a break. The temporary kind.”
Dawn stands up abruptly, “SHE is sitting right here. SHE is not a kid. SHE can speak for HERSELF!” Everyone stares at Dawn, including Jenny, who jumps at the loud yelling. Dawn lowers her voice and tells Buffy, “Enrollment was a month ago, if you really cared about college you would have asked then.
Buffy starts to protest but Dawn cuts her off, “I don’t want to hear it Buffy.” Buffy says, “Well, too bad! You’re gonna hear it.” Dawn shakes her head, “Unlike you, I have better things to do today. I’m running late as it is.”
Willow cuts in, “And you do have better things to do Buffy. You are supposed to pick up the latest shipment of Potentials at the airport in two hours.” Buffy groans, “More? Isn’t four enough?” Giles has no more room in his apartment, that means some will stay here.”
No one notices Dawn leave the room.
“Why do we have to have them again?” Willow sighs at Buffy’s question and responds, “The Council thinks that it is necessary because we lost Anna…” She trails off, realizing what she had just said. Tara exhales sharply, her mind bending around that once again.
Willow continues lamely, “And ‘cause you’ll train them better.” Buffy rolls her eyes, “Yeah. In the mean time I get to babysit a bunch of whiney 16 year olds that wouldn’t know the pointy end of the stake if they sat on it and save the world should apocalypse come.”
*RING RING* *RING RING*
Buffy moves to the kitchen and answers the phone. She listens for a second and replies, “This is Miss Summers… No, I did not have an appointment with Shellie today... Oh, Dawn. This is her sister. I will be sure to tell her that her appointment has been moved up fifteen minutes... All right.”
Willow crooks an eyebrow, “Who was that?” Buffy shrugs, “Shellie’s office. Dawn has an appointment there today.” Willow looks at Tara and asks, “Did you know?”
Tara shakes her head, “No clue.” Then Dawn reappears in the room. “Dawnie, your appointment has been moved up 15 minutes,” Buffy tells her. Dawn nods, “Thank you.” After a second, “Do you want someone to take you,” Willow offers.
Dawn quickly shakes her head, “NO!” Tara smiles gently, “Willow was just offering, Dawn. Let’s not get excited.” Dawn imediately becomes calm, “Sorry, Wil. I’m just going to go on my own.” She pauses. “Then, do you think I could take Jenny to the park?”
Tara smiles, “I think she’ll like that.” Dawn finds a grin coming to her face as she wraps herself deeper in her sweater/jacket. She nods and turns to leave. Tara tells Willow, “Clean Jenny up; I’ll be right back.” She follows Dawn out to the car.
“Hey,” Dawn whispers, climbing into the front seat of what used to be Anna’s old jeep. She runs her hands over the steering wheel while she looks up at a picture of her and Anna standing at the park, laughing and having a good time.
Tara leans against the car door and smiles, “Thanks for watching Jenny last night.” Dawn shrugs, “No problem, Tare. I love her, you know that.” Tara nods, “I know. It’s kind of obvious, Dawnie.” She pauses before she says, “When you take Jenny to the park, if you want me to come so we can talk. I will.”
Dawn nods, “I’ll think about it.” But her insides are screaming for her to accept the offer right then. Tara nods, “See you later?” Dawn sighs, “I should be home in an hour.” Tara winks and walks off, feeling a sense of foreboding.
*********
“What kind of SICK, DEMENTED person would bring that… that… that THING into a doctor’s office?!”
“What satisfaction do you have from tormenting expecting mothers with that FLUFFY, PINK, LONG EARED, DEMONIC plush animal?!”
Dawn can hear Anya screaming from outside the office. She is almost too afraid to walk into the office, but hears a voice saying, “Miss Harris, if you do not keep your voice down we will have to ask you to leave and to not return.”
Dawn rolls her eyes as she finds herself wanting to help the ex-demon out. She quickly walks into the room, rushing over to Anya saying, “Where’s the bunny?” Anya point to a woman sitting in the corner, her bag clutched to her chest, her eyes wide with fear.
Dawn soothes Anya by saying, “I’ll make the bunny go away. Close you eyes until I tell you to open them.” Anya complies and Dawn walks over to the woman and whispers, “I am so sorry about that. She has an abnormal phobia to rabbits. We’re getting her professional help, but it doesn’t seem to be working. Could I ask you to hide that stuffed animal until the crazy lady is gone?”
The woman quickly nods and stuffs it away in her bag. Dawn tells Anya, “It’s safe. It’s gone.” Anya opens her eyes and hugs Dawn tightly, “Oh, you dear sweet girl. You saved me!” Dawn frowns, she doesn’t like to be touched.
At least here lately she hasn’t wanted anyone to touch here. Not since Anna’s… Disappearance, anyway. Then Anya pulls back, “What are you doing here? Xander promised he would be the one to pick me up.” Dawn frowns, “I have an appointment with Shellie.”
Anya smiles brightly, “Good. Xander promised.” Just then the man in question walks through the doors. “Hey,” he says as he kisses Anya’s cheek, “Ready to go?” She nods and turns to leave.
Xander realizes that Dawn is there and says, “Heya Dawnmiester. What are you doing here?” Dawn once again tells someone that she has an appointment. Xander frowns, “But… Shellie is sort of… A pregnancy doctor.”
He frowns, “At least, that’s why Anya is here.” Dawn doesn’t say anything. Xander hold up his hands, “You know what? I don’t want to know. It’s safer to be unknowing Xander, he doesn’t get beaten nearly as much.” Dawn nods and starts to say something but a voice calling her name distracts her.
“Dawn Summers? Shellie will see you now.”
The brunette gulps, “Here goes nothin’.”
******To Be Continued*******
Jessica
Adia I'm empty since you left me...