Trust

by Rob Sorenson

Chapter Twelve

Memorial Day, Part III

Faith had slowly gone upstairs to shower and change after Angel practically stormed out. One of my best friends is pissed at me. What a great way to start the day. She sighed wearily, replacing her sweat pants/t-shirt combo with cutoffs and a tank top. Bare feet slipped easily into a pair of leather sandals Xander had spotted in a flea market for a dollar. Faith simply couldn’t find the energy to care all that much about her look today.

She briefly checked the mirror, a slight smile appearing on her face for the first time since Angel had booked. Thinking about Xander always seemed to do that. After almost a year together, they’d had disagreements about many things (most of which seemed pretty minor looking back on them). One thing, however, had never happened: Not once had he even hinted that her appearance was lacking, no matter what kind of crappy look she threw together. Gotta love a man like that.

Her smile faded as the other memories came.

“I don’t know. About…this. Do I look ok?”

“Christ, girl, you not been lookin’ around? Mosta these used-up bitches make my grandma look good.”

“It’s just…you know, I never done this.”

“What, you want a fuckin’ handbook or somethin’? Lemme break it down for you. Lay there and make little noises ‘til the motherfucker stops moving. You can figure that out, right?”

She most certainly could do that. She’d already done it for years. Faith took a deep breath and turned on the faucet in the Harris bathroom, splashing cold water over her cheeks.

Faith frowned as her Slayer hearing picked up a knock on the door. She made her way down the stairs, quickly realizing the knock hadn’t come from the front door, rather the one facing the garage in the kitchen. Opening the door, she came upon a rather sheepish-looking Angel.

“I left the radio on.”

Faith shifted awkwardly. “Killed the battery?”

“Yeah. Was wondering if maybe you could…”

The Slayer nodded a bit too vigorously, relieved at the distraction.

“Right. Ok, sure. I was just about to head out. Pop the hood and I’ll stick the charger on it. By the time we get back you’ll be good to go.”

“Thanks.”

Angel tried to step in as she set to work, but Faith shooed him away with one hand while leaning into his driver’s seat to pop the hood.

“Might spark when I hook it up.”

He moved back quickly. “Right.”

Any anger the vampire had left melted away as he watched her attach the cables to his battery with practiced hands. She was clearly pretty efficient with cars, something he’d never known about her. “Faith-“

“Ok! All set,” she said, heading toward the driver’s door of her own vehicle. “You ready?”

“Umm…actually…”

Faith looked at him quizzically. Angel pointed at his tinted car windows, then back to her clear ones. A ghost of a smile appeared on the Slayer’s face when she understood.

“Right. Stupid. Hang on a minute, I’ve got a big ole’ blanket you can cover up with.”

**********************************************************

“Wesley, you can sit with me, you know.”

Dawn had a mildly amused look on her face as she sat at the edge of her bed. Wesley had kept as much safe distance between them as possible, sitting at the desk she’d used to do homework on. Come to think of it…

“Seriously, come over here.”

Wes gave her a playfully suspicious gaze.

“Why, is there something here you don’t wish me to see?”

He turned, beginning to peek around. Dawn leaped off the bed and jumped into his lap, effectively blocking his view as she spoke.

“Hey!”

Wes tried to reach around her, but she laughingly resisted his efforts. “Stop being nosey! Nothing to see here!”

He leaned back, allowing her to settle a fraction closer against his thighs.

“You know how I get when presented with a mystery, Dawn. I must have answers.”

“This is a sanctuary, ok? Very few people have crossed this threshold without my permission…and those who haven’t lived to regret it. In other words, my turf, my rules. So no answers for you unless I say so, buddy.”

She claimed his mouth before he could respond, effectively ending intelligible conversation for nearly two minutes. Wesley threaded his fingers into her long hair, loving the sounds his touch drew from her…then he suddenly pulled away with an accusing stare.

“You’re trying to distract me from my thirst for knowledge about you.”

“No I’m not,” Dawn said, trailing butterfly kisses down his neck. “I’m working on quenching it.”

Dear Lord, he thought as she lightly nipped his earlobe. This isn’t going precisely as planned. Focus, man. Focus…

Wesley gently but firmly moved her away from him, holding her shoulders as he glanced at the bed.

“You win. We’ll sit over there.”

I want to do a lot more than sit, Dawn thought wickedly…but she played it cool.

“Glad you could see it my way.”

She slid slowly off his lap, intentionally creating an intoxicating friction. Wesley swallowed audibly. Who on earth is teaching her these things? He got up to follow, wheels turning in his mind.

Dawn sat cross-legged at the foot of the bed, pointing him toward the head. He did as he was told, matching her position as he faced her. For the first time, Dawn’s cheeks displayed a bit more color.

He’s on my bed. Oh dear God almighty, he’s on my bed. Where I lay my head. I SO want him to sit there. Or was I supposed to sit on him? Maybe both. How was it she said that worked again? Crap, I can’t remember!

“So, Dawn…precisely how long has Faith known about us?”

She looked at him sharply. Whoa.

“Ummm…just a few days, actually. Why do you ask?”

He smiled. “No reason whatsoever.”

Dawn reached out her hands. “You can move closer, you know. I don’t bite.”

Wes raised an eyebrow. “I have a left earlobe that proves otherwise.”

Dawn raised her eyebrow right back. “Is that your way of asking for a matched set?”

At that moment, Faith Harris earned a permanent place on the Pryce family Christmas card list. Almost against his will he moved close enough for their knees to touch as he responded.

“You enjoy wounding people, then?”

Dawn grinned. “Can’t be in this family if you don’t learn to like it.”

They shared a chuckle. As the laughter died Wesley’s face took on a serious expression. Dawn touched his cheek with her fingertips.

“What’s wrong?”

“As I said downstairs, there are some things we must discuss.”

Dawn shifted nervously. “Ok.”

After a moment of hesitation, Wesley reached into his jacket pocket, pulling out a large brown envelope. Without a word, he held it out to her.

**********************************************

“How’s everything going in here?”

Buffy stood in the kitchen, holding a batch of grilled hot dogs on a plate covered in aluminum foil. Spike responded without turning around.

“Almost there. Got the cutting part right…no thanks to the little one here.”

Andrew’s mouth dropped open. “I completely avoided the knife like you said!”

“Yeah, but you were slobberin’ all over me while I was tryin’ to work.”

“That is a total exaggeration! I wasn’t slobbering over any part of you!” He paused a moment, taking a nervous glance at Buffy, who had put the food down and stood with her arms folded. “The onion, I mean. I wasn’t slobbering over any part of the delicious onion-y treat.”

“Stop fluttering about and make yourself useful, whelp. Get the deep fryer ready.”

“Yes sir.”

“I TOLD you not to call me that!”

Buffy shook her head. “I’m going to get the burgers.”

“The wings done yet?”

“They’re going on with the steaks. Xander did burgers and dogs first.”

“What? That’s just stupid. Should’ve put steaks on first since they take longer.”

Buffy smirked. “Yeah, like you’ve ever grilled a steak in your life.”

This got Spike to turn around. “I cooked you dinner last week, Slayer. Memory slippin’ with age, is it?”

Buffy frowned for a second, thinking back. “Wasn’t that a microwave pizza?”

“Your point being?”

Andrew was going through drawers, drawing an annoyed look from the vampire.

“What are you doin’?”

“Looking for an extension cord. There’s nowhere to plug in the fryer.”

“There’s a bloody outlet behind the flour canister. You’re supposed to have a great big brain, right? Use it for once.”

“Why do you have to be so abusive all the time!? I can’t work like this!”

Buffy left to join Xander and Cordy in the back yard, smiling all the way.

“I can’t believe he can’t see it.”

Xander threw her a grin as he gave the burgers a final flip. “You mean Spike, I assume? Well, to be fair, neither one of us had a clue ‘til Will said something.”

Cordy took a sip of the low-carb beer she’d brought before speaking.

“So…it doesn’t piss you off?”

Buffy shrugged. “Not really. Just a little weird. Almost cute, actually…’cause Spike is just so oblivious.”

Xander nodded. “Yeah. Hey, since you’re so ok with it, why don’t you three…” He trailed off when he saw Buffy’s expression. “Ok, gonna finish up these burgers.”

“Good move. I was considering fulfilling your apron prophecy. By the way, what’s keeping Faith? Aren’t we eating soon?”

Xander considered a moment. “Probably about 15 minutes. She knew what time we were going to be sitting down.” He glanced at Cordelia. “Any clue what Angel wanted to talk to her about?”

************************************************

Neither had said a word when Faith had brought him the huge woolen blanket that Xander had used throughout his life. Not even the fact that it was a garish plaid print got so much as a grunt from Angel as he covered himself. Under different circumstances Faith would have teased him; sitting up in the front seat, he looked like a rather silly Scottish ghost as they traveled the Sunnydale streets, which were even quieter than usual due to the holiday.

After five minutes, the silence was too much for her. Angel, Faith knew, could stay quiet for weeks if he so chose. She kept her eyes on the road as she spoke softly.

“Look, you know there’s nothing in this world I wouldn’t do for you.”

The blanket moved slightly, but there was no response. Faith forged on.

“It’s just…I wasn’t ever planning on going there again. I don’t even go to LA with Xand, and I know he’d like me to be with him more often. You get that, right?”

“You wouldn’t be doing it for me, Faith. If it were up to me you’d never feel another second of pain.”

She swallowed, unsure how to respond to that. Angel continued softly.

“On the other hand, maybe this is something you need to-“

“Hold it. Stop right there. I don’t wanna hear the ‘face your fears’ speech.”

She sensed his eyes on her through the plaid covering.

“Ok, how about I give you the ‘helping others that are going through the same thing you were’ speech?”

Faith snorted. “Yeah, you can keep that one to yourself too. Know why?”

Silence.

“Tell me something. Did you give a rat’s ass whether or not little girls were being used up every day down there until vamps got involved? ‘Cause I’m thinkin’ no.”

There was a pause.

“I can’t control human activity in LA.”

“Exactly. Neither can I.”

“Now, however, the situation falls under what we ARE supposed to control. You know that as well as I do.”

There was a long silence as Faith deliberately missed the turn down Revello. Angel spoke gently.

“I realize how difficult it must be for you to relive that time.”

No you don’t, Faith thought…but she said nothing as he continued.

“It’s not as if I’m asking you to go undercover or anything.”

Faith actually chuckled. “Might wanna scope out a new choice of words there.”

He sighed. “Look-“

She reached with one hand and placed it on his back. “Wait a sec. I understand what you’re askin’ me to do. Don’t tell anyone I said this, but the idea of doing that scares the livin’ shit outta me.”

“I understand-“

“No, I don’t think you do. Putting me back in that world might not be healthy for me OR some old business partners if I happen to see ‘em. You know what I’m sayin’?”

Angel waited a beat. “You think you might...” He didn’t have to finish.

“I think I might not wanna ever find out what I could do. If it were just about me seein’ those kind of people again, that’s one thing. Now, though…” She trailed off. Angel finished the sentence.

“Now you could hurt them.”

Angel didn’t see Faith’s nod. He wondered how many more times she was going to circle Buffy’s block when the cell phone cried out.

“Christ, man…you have vampire hearing. You need to set it so loud?”

“I almost lost a fight with a demon once because I didn’t hear Fred calling to give me info on how to kill it. Ever since then I keep the volume high.”

“How’d you manage to win then?”

“Cut its head off.”

She nodded. “Yup, 9 times out of 10…”

He hit the call button.

“This is Angel. Hey, have you got anything?”

There was another long silence in the car. Faith presumed whoever it was had a lot to say. She frowned when Angel sighed heavily and responded.

“How long ago?” A pause. “Are the two of you ok? No problems with the cops?”

Faith threw him a interested glance. He seemed to be getting smaller under the huge plaid blanket as the conversation went on.

“He said nothing else? All right. Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help. Tell him…you know what to tell him. Right. No, I’ll be back tomorrow.”

The Slayer had driven to the outskirts of Sunnydale, halting at the final traffic light in town. She took advantage of the red light to look at Angel.

“What happened? Everything ok?”

He responded tonelessly. “A few of the pimps were working different parts of the city.”

“Ok, unless everything has changed in the last coupla years, dude was connected. Had to be.”

“Right. We figured that out. Anyway, Gunn went back to his old neighborhood to see if anyone he knew could get some answers. One of his old crew – Rondell was his name -was killed. Apparently for asking the wrong questions.”

Faith exhaled sharply. “Shit.”

“Yeah. Gunn is godfather to Rondell’s daughter.”

“Gunn sound ok?”

“Don’t know. It was Fred on the phone. If I know him, he’s probably putting up a tough guy front.”

“Thank God none of the rest of us do that.”

The light turned green; Faith left the city limits, moving down the highway that eventually would lead them to Fresno if they kept going. Angel spoke again.

“He was still alive – barely – when Gunn found him.”

“Did he say anything?”

“Mostly personal things between them. One word, though, made no sense. Gunn thought he might be trying to tell him something about what we’re doing.”

“Just one word?”

“Yeah. Royal.”

The car abruptly pulled to the side of the road, skidding slightly against the shoulder. Faith’s voice was barely audible above the idling engine.

“Say that again?”

The blanket that ensheathed Angel turned sideways as he faced her.

“You recognize it?”

The car did an abrupt U-turn, heading back into Sunnydale. Angel spoke again.

“Fai-“

“What exactly was this Rondell guy supposed to be finding out?”

“Hopefully whoever was in charge of organized crime in LA…specifically prostitution, of course.”

“Of course,” Faith echoed, shaking her head slightly. “Ok. Looks like it’s gonna be old home week.”

Angel hesitated. “Does that mean…”

“Yeah. Guess I’m goin’ back to the old stompin’ grounds.”

“Ok.” The vampire took a deep breath. “About what you said before.…worrying about what might happen…the difference between then and now is you won’t be alone.”

Faith shook her head as she finally took the turn toward Buffy’s. “Yes, I will.”

He didn’t know what to say. Faith pulled her own cell phone out.

“Gonna call B to open up the garage door. Don’t want you walkin’ into the house with that thing. Spike’d never let you hear the end of it.”

She made the connection. Moments later, Faith pulled the car into Buffy’s garage.

“You can take off that giant kilt now.”

Angel removed it with a sigh of relief, quickly running a hand through his hair. As Faith opened her door, he spoke once more.

“So… about the word Royal?”

The look on her face sent chills down his spine.

“His first name is Jimmy.”

*********************************************

Willow froze where she stood. Her voice was a hoarse whisper.

“I’m going to kill everyone?”

Tara nodded slowly. “You won’t be able to stop yourself.”

The redhead retreated a step, shaking her head.

“No. NO. I won’t do that.”

“If you listen to me, honey, you’re right. You won’t. Please understand me, I know you don’t want to kill them…but you know you can. That will always be within you, and I am in the way of knowing that going to LA will make that happen. Please, Willow. Whatever happens, you can’t be with them. You must stay away.”

“Tara, I can control myself.”

“You thought you could before as well.”

“No, that was different. I didn’t have enough understanding of my powers. I moved too fast, before getting proper training. I have that now.”

Tara tilted her head with a sad expression. “If you saw Buffy or Xander die in front of you, how would you react?”

Willow swallowed hard. “I’d…I’d be like any other person, I suppose. Upset and…”

“Angry? Vengeful?”

“NO! Not…ok, angry, yes. Sure I’d be angry, and I’d probably want to get whatever demon did it to them, but…”

“A demon didn’t kill me.”

“That was different. I wasn’t the same person.”

“I agree you’re different now. Now you’re someone who is afraid to find a new relationship because of what happens when you get terribly hurt. It makes you very dangerous.”

“That’s not what it is. Not at all.”

“Willow, you’ve had opportunities. You and I both know that. I’ll bet you tell yourself they’re not me. No one compares to me, is that about right? But that’s not the real reason, is it? The truth is, your love can destroy the world. Therefore you avoid it.”

Willow shook her head. “I…I don’t think…” She trailed off, unsure. Tara spoke with compassion.

“Baby, you don’t have to deny it. It’s ok. You’re right. It’s safer for everyone that you avoid that kind of trauma. It’s too much of a risk.”

Willow’s tears began to flow again.

“There must be some way…I don’t want to kill everyone, but I don’t want to be alone for the rest of my life either. If that means I stay away from LA, then I will, but…what about the next time something really bad is happening? I’m supposed to help.”

It was Tara’s turn to shake her head. “You can’t, Willow. Not as much as you used to. There isn’t enough self-control inside you to protect them.”

“What can I do, then? There must be something.”

Tara was silent for a moment. “There is one thing…”

Willow’s eyes filled with hope. “What? Please, Tara…help me. I’ll do whatever it takes.”

“How much do you know about Spirit Cleansing spells?”

Willow blinked several times before responding. “Spirit Cleansing? That would…that would remove…”

“Youe magic,” Tara finished with a nod. “Yes it would. All of it. Baby, you can’t handle the power you have. It’s just a matter of time until you try to destroy the world, and you’re only getting stronger. If you want to live free from fear, you have to eliminate the magic within you.”

“What about New York? I was able to access my dark side and I won. I beat it.”

Tara hesitated for a long moment. “Did you do it alone?”

Willow looked down at the cemetery grass, saying nothing. Tara answered her own question.

“You had to join with someone else. Putting their life at risk.”

“I would never have risked Dawn’s life,” Willow protested, “unless I had no other choice. It was a crisis, and I felt like I could handle it. I just wanted to be sure.”

“So you used the life of an 18 year old girl as an insurance policy? Willow, listen to yourself.”

Neither said a word for a long moment. Finally Willow, keeping her eyes on the ground, spoke quietly.

“Giles kept a book with the Spirit Cleanser. He willed it to me.”

“And you hung on to it.”

A nod.

“Willow, you already know what to do.”

After another long pause, Willow looked up, face resolute.

“Ok. If that’s what has to be done…then we’ll find a shaman.”

Tara shook her head. “Only you can cleanse your own spirit, Willow. You must perform the spell on yourself.”

“Will you stay with me while I do it?”

The blonde wiped a tear from Willow’s cheek. “Of course I will, honey.”

Willow nodded, attempting a smile, but failing miserably. “I buried the book where we had our first kiss.”

Tara smiled and moved to one side. “Lead the way.”

*************************************************

Dawn couldn’t speak.

The photos themselves were innocuous enough; just a day at the beach she’d enjoyed with Wes during the school year. It had been a favorite memory: she’d been utterly convinced after that day that he wanted more than friendship.

Now that fond recollection was forever tainted by the knowledge that they’d been watched. Dawn held the photos in her hand. Surfing. Laughing together. Tentative kisses, filled with promise and risk. It was special, and it had been all theirs.

No more. It was nothing less than a violation, and it took all of Dawn’s self-control to remain calm. Wes spoke softly.

“I cannot begin to express how much I loathe showing these to you.”

Dawn grated out one word. “Lilah?”

He nodded. She showed little visible emotion, but was unable to prevent trembling slightly. That bitch. That fucking…she closed her eyes, willing herself to stay cool.

For his part, Wesley had never been prouder of her. Most people would’ve flown into a screaming rage upon seeing such a thing. It reinforced what he already believed; Dawn Summers, when aroused, was a formidable adversary – with or without Buffy. He cleared his throat as he removed the remaining contents of the envelope.

“There was a letter accompanying the photographs.”

“Love letter?” Dawn asked tonelessly. He met her eyes and slowly shook his head.

“It wasn’t addressed to me.”

She read the threatening letter with no visible emotion on her face. Once finished, she slowly rose from the bed, walked over to the garbage can and dropped it in. Dawn spoke with her back to him.

“This is why you want to go public now, isn’t it?”

“No. One had nothing to do with the other.”

She turned to face him. They stared at one another for a long time. Finally she spoke.

“Are you sure this is what you want to do? If you’re trying to prove anything to me by telling everyone…”

Wesley crossed her room, taking Dawn’s hands in his.

“I planned this as soon as Buffy invited me three weeks ago. I only saw these pictures three days ago. Dawn, I am in love with you. Every other consideration is secondary to me.”

Her eyes misted. “I love you, too.”

“As usual, Lilah underestimated us. She believes your family won’t understand. I trust that, given time to adjust, they will.”

“I seem to remember you being afraid of that before.”

“I was an idiot.”

Dawn smiled slightly. “Yes, but I had the grace not to say so. Plus, I wanted you to be my idiot, and nothing was going to get in the way of that. I was on a mission.”

“Mission accomplished, Agent Summers. We are officially idiots in love.”

They kissed softly. She broke away with a grin. “Did you think I was going to be mad at you?”

Wesley looked at his shoes. “I was a bit concerned with my long-term health, I must say. This is my fault in many ways.”

“Ok, two things: number one, I would never hurt you. I might kick you out – by the way if I say ‘get out’ three times in a row with increasing volume, that means I’m serious-”

“I’ll file that away.”

“-but I could never hurt you. Unless you interrupt me again like just now.”

“Deeply sorry.”

She gave him a quick peck on the lips. “Secondly, Lilah’s insecurity isn’t your deal. If she can’t handle the fact that you’ve traded up, that’s her problem. She’ll never be able to drive a wedge between us as long as we communicate.”

Wesley bit his lip. “Right then. Um…in the spirit of communication, there is…one other thing we need to discuss.”

Dawn tilted her head. “You’re just full of issues tonight, aren’t you? Ok, what else?”

“We’ve reason to believe Wolfram and Hart are directly involved in our ongoing investigation of the daytime vampire attacks in Los Angeles.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Color me shocked. Like they aren’t involved in everything?”

“We’re concerned that something major is brewing…their security has increased to the point that our intelligence has completely dried up. They don’t do such things lightly.”

“Ok. And?”

He hesitated. Perhaps I should have quit while I was ahead.

“Angel had the suggestion that we could take advantage of our personal issues with Lilah to obtain information.”

Dawn frowned. “Huh?”

“Lilah…might perhaps be persuaded to confide in someone.”

“What’s that got to do with us? She’s going to have a blood feud with us over the whole relationship thing. We’re the last people she’d want to go all Dr. Phil with.”

He spoke slowly. “I agree. She certainly wouldn’t speak…to us.”

“Right. So what-“ Dawn broke off her sentence, processing his choice of words. “Hold on. Why do I have the feeling that you’re trying to tell me something I do NOT want to hear?”

“Dawn-“

“No wait, I’m putting this together now. You want to use these –“ Dawn motioned toward the photos, splayed out on her bed –“to your advantage. Make her think this crap worked, right? Tell me I’m wrong. Please.”

He said nothing. It was too much for her.

“You have got to be kidding me! Are you guys out of your freaking minds?!”

“Dawn, please calm down.”

“Calm down? You throw all this at me at once and I’m just supposed to be a big girl about you playing Undercover Gigolo with the bitch that’s trying to destroy us? Gee, I guess maybe I AM overreacting!”

“It won’t come to…that. I won’t allow it.”

She laughed derisively. “Gimme a break. You know damn well what you’d have to do to make this work.”

Wes spoke with quiet conviction. “Nevertheless, I will not, regardless of the circumstances. As I previously stated, you and I come before every other consideration. I wouldn’t even begin to consider this without your support. Would I share it with you otherwise?”

“This was your bright idea?”

“Actually, Angel had the basic plan.”

“Remind me to beat the crap out of him.”

“Attacking Angel isn’t recommended.”

“Yeah, ok, but I’ll get one clean shot if I blindside him. That’s good enough for me, ‘cause he SO has it coming.”

Wesley held up his hands in surrender. “All right. You’ve stated your position. We’ll try to find another avenue.”

He moved back toward the bed, gathering the letter and photos. “Let’s just forget I mentioned it. We’ll concentrate on ourselves for the rest of the weekend.”

She sighed, running her fingers through her hair. “I just…you understand how much you’re asking me to deal with, right?”

“We needn’t speak of it further. It’s done.”

“Wait a minute. Just…wait,” Dawn said wearily. “You said this was a last resort, right? There is no other way to even try?”

“I wouldn’t have dreamed of broaching this subject with you if it were otherwise.”

Dawn turned toward her desk, eyes falling on the diaries she’d wanted Wes to avoid rifling through earlier. It wasn’t that she absolutely wouldn’t share them, but…they were hers. It didn’t look like anything else ever could be…not in the bizarre life she shared with her family. There was always something (or someone) who would try to take it away. Still, she knew the right thing to do, even as her heart screamed its opposition.

Dawn faced Wesley. “After this, Lilah is out of our personal lives.”

He nodded emphatically. “One way or another, Lilah is my problem. I will deal with her when this is over.”

Not if I get my hands on the bitch first. “Ok. We’ll do what we have to do. Let the record show how much I hate it.”

He moved toward Dawn, wrapping his arms around her from behind. She closed her eyes as he whispered in her ear.

“Let the record also reflect that you are an amazing woman.”

She leaned her head back, exposing her throat. Wesley placed gentle kisses next to her adam’s apple while his hands roamed over her body. With a groan, Dawn wriggled out of his grasp, but just long enough so that she could face him. Gently, but firmly, she gripped his shoulders, pulling him toward her bed. Wes shook his head.

“Dawn…not now-“

He was cut off as her mouth pressed into his. Wesley moaned involuntarily as her hands moved to the rear of his jeans. Again she pulled, forcing them back another step as Wesley’s resistance weakened. With an effort, he pulled his head back, barely able to whisper.

“Dawn…”

“Wesley,” she answered in a husky voice. He shook his head slightly.

“Not with everyone downstairs. You know this.”

Dawn gave him a crooked grin.

“I don’t care.”

My God, Wesley thought. Where had THAT voice come from?

“I’m serious, darling. We cannot do this now…not properly.”

Without warning she wrapped her arms around him, fingers entwining at the small of his back. Before he could react, she hauled him the rest of the way to her bed, causing them to flop as one on to the mattress. The impact elicited groans from both. Dawn was plunging her tongue into his mouth again, causing Wesley to forget himself completely; common sense flew out the window, replaced by a heady feeling the likes of which he’d never experienced before. She was simply intoxicating…

*********************************************

Faith and Angel stepped into Casa Summers, forcing pleasant expressions…but not fast enough.

“Is everything ok?” Buffy asked. Faith gave her a grin.

“When I eat it will be. Smells good.”

“Hi, Faith!”

“Hey, Andy baby. What’s with the goggles?”

“Safety. Spike was using sharp knives.”

“Is everyone still alive?” Angel said dryly.

“Piss off, mate.”

“Spike,” Angel grated.

“Angel,” Spike growled.

“Buffy,” Buffy said cheerfully, clapping her hands together. “Ok, now that everyone’s all reaquainted, let’s set the table, shall we?”

Xander walked in slowly from the backyard, balancing a plate of steaks in one hand and hot wings in the other. Faith met him halfway.

“I got the steaks, hon.”

“Thanks.”

She glanced at the words on his apron. “I like your-“

“Yeah, yeah. What’s wrong?”

Faith turned toward the dining room, speaking with her back to him.

“Not now. Let’s just eat, ok?”

“Yes, dear.”

Xander almost ran into Angel as he turned the corner.

“Whoa there, Deadboy. Almost spilled Spike’s wings.”

Faith put the plate on the table and walked back to them, frowning.

“Xand, we talked about this. You weren’t gonna call him that any more.”

Xander rolled his eyes. “Fine. Sorry. Fell back on old habits.”

“That’s ok,” Angel said. “You can keep calling me that if I can still call you asshole.”

“Um…you never used to call me that.”

“Not when you were around, no.”

They exchanged grins. Xander handed him the plate of wings.

“Here. When you put these on the table, say they’re all charred. Spike’ll freak.”

“Sounds like fun.”

“I’m going to wash up.”

Xander headed upstairs.

*****************************************

Wesley was lost now, burying his face in her neck, inhaling deeply. The scent was a mixture of vanilla…and something else. Something that was fundamentally Dawn. Her hands were underneath his shirt, fingernails raking a tingling trail up and down his back.

******************************************

“Where the hell is Dawn?” Buffy wondered aloud while rummaging for silverware. “Seems like I haven’t seen her for hours.”

Spike shrugged. “Been busy in here. Couldn’t tell you.”

He reached out to touch her, but she jumped back with a grin.

“You’re all stinky. Go get the onion-y stuff off your hands before you touch me.”

He nodded with a smile of his own and went around the corner toward the stairs.

********************************************

Dawn’s knees were placed firmly on each side of him. She stared hard, lips slightly parted. Wesley had never seen anything so beautiful and erotic in his life. His hands brushed against her blouse, teasing the underside of her breast. The grip on his hips tightened. Wes grunted slightly.

“I’d forgotten how strong you are.”

She said nothing, eyes shining with lust. He’d never seen this look in her eyes. In fact, he couldn’t recall ever seeing any other woman at the moment, making the experience at once thrilling and terrifying. Even if he had seen that expression before, it certainly didn’t feel so all-encompassing…so full. Every nerve sang within him in response to the slightest movement from her hips, generating an astonished gasp. Her voice floated softly through the haze of his passion.

“I love you so much, Wesley.”

Somehow the sound of her voice caused the fog to clear. His logical mind reasserted itself.

Dammit, man, stop this! People will hear!! You’ve already been here too long!!!

**********************************************

“All right,” Buffy groused. “I’m going to kick her little butt.”

“Ease up, B. Ain’t no thang. I know how to set a table.”

“It’s rude for her to just disappear. She should be mingling.”

Buffy headed upstairs to find her.

***********************************************

“Dawn…Dawn….”

“Wesley,” she whispered reverently. He shook his head vigorously.

“Dawn, listen to me. This is not the time.”

“Said that already.”

“Yes, and it’s true. We need to get back downstairs.”

She moved her head to kiss him, but he raised a finger to her lips before they could bring him back to the abyss.

“I mean it. You know I’m right.”

She shook her head. “No, it’s ok. Please Wes, don’t go. Not yet…”

**************************************************

Faith impatiently tapped her fork against the table, causing Cordelia to grimace.

“Would you stop doing that?”

“I’m hungry. Where the Hell is everyone?”

“They’ll be here soon enough,” Angel reasoned.

“Whatever. They’re taking too damn long.”

Cordelia tilted her head. “You know, come to think of it, I haven’t seen Wesley since we first got here either. What happened to him?”

Faith’s eyes met Angel’s across the table.

****************************************************

Buffy met Xander and Spike as they came out of the bathroom.. She nodded toward the door they’d just left.

“She in there?”

“Think we would’ve seen her, luv.”

“Huh. I figured she still had hair issues.”

She went to Dawn’s bedroom door and raised her hand to knock…then froze at what she heard.

********************************************************

Wesley was moving away, but Dawn kept resisting.

“Wesley, no! Please don’t. Please…”

At that moment Buffy kicked open the door.

- End Chapter Twelve -