Dawn
absentmindedly chewed on the inside of her cheek as she stared at the clothing
that was spread out over her bed. Skirt and white tee shirt
with the monkey on it? Or jeans and red tank top? She went with the
jeans and tank, and slipped Willow's clogs on her feet before heading towards
Buffy's bedroom.
Choosing
not to knock, Dawn just strolled right in. Her sister was fast asleep, which
wasn't much of a surprise, considering she had been out patrolling way after
hours, as usual. Dawn kind of wondered why Buffy was putting in all the
over-time, it's not like she could be nominated Slayer of the month. Heck, she
probably wouldn't even be nominated Doublemeat
employee of the month.
"Hey
Buffy," Dawn gave her sister a not-so-gentle wake up shake.
"Ugh,
do you really want to try for round 27?" Buffy mumbled sleepily. "Not
that I'm counting," she added with a groan.
"Depends,"
said Dawn, humoring her sister's half-conscious state. "How did I do for
the first twenty-six?"
"Huh?"
Buffy's eyes snapped open and she gaped at her sister. "I was just-uh-
dreaming about last night's patrol."
Dawn
gestured to the various bruises and scratches that littered Buffy's skin, "Must have been some fight."
Buffy
took notice of the love marks that she was used to acquiring by now. "Yeah
he was a pretty skilled…," she glanced to Dawn. "Fighter."
"Whatever."
Dawn shrugged. "I need you to go shopping with me after school. I've
outgrown all of my pants."
Buffy
sat up and stretched. "Well, you're the one who keeps eating doughnuts as
if we're rich enough to own stock in them," she said through a yawn.
Dawn
narrowed her eyes at the insinuation. "I'm getting too *tall.* They practically stop at my knees."
"Those
ones seem to fit you fine."
"These
are my only pair! I can't wear them everyday," Dawn whined angrily.
"I'll smell! I don't want to smell…unlike someone else I know," she
finished under her breath.
Buffy
realized that she still wore the scent of Spike's crypt floor. "Hey it's
not my fault that I get dumpster duty at work," she lied. "Speaking
of which, I have the afternoon shift. So I'm all work and no pay-for-pants
Buffy today."
"I
need clothes! And I need money for clothes." Dawn crossed her arms.
"What do you want me to do? Stand naked on the street corner begging for
quarters so I can buy my own stuff?"
Buffy
frowned. "There will be no standing on street corners for quarters,
Dawn." She sighed. "I have some money from my last paycheck. I can
leave it with Willow and she'll take you." Buffy paused, wondering if
Willow would be the best escort, although she did seem to have patched things
up with Dawn. "Unless you'd rather go with Xander…"
"No
that's fine," Dawn replied. She needed to buy some bras too; besides, Xander wouldn't be able to go in the dressing rooms and
help her out. "I'll go ask her."
"Okay,"
Buffy climbed back under the covers, hoping to snooze well through noon.
The
door was open ajar, so Dawn poked her head into the room. Willow was sleeping,
curled in a fetal position, with a little smile on her face. It was kind of
startling, because Willow hadn't smiled in quite some time. Dawn moved over to
the bedside and nudged her.
"Will-ow," Dawn whispered in a sing songy
voice. She crouched down on her knees, and leaned in to the softly snoring
redhead, until they were nose to nose. "Oh Sleeping Beauty…"
As she
teased, Dawn's lips accidentally tickled the ones in front of her.
Unexpectedly, they responded. Before she could even think of what was
happening, Willow-lips were caressing her own.
"Mm…Tara,"
Willow moaned into the supposed mouth of her former lover. Dawn got a bit
caught up in the moment, and let a little tongue slide past her teeth and into
the action. Willow's eyes fluttered
open, and she jerked her head back. "Dawn?!"
"Hey,
check that out." Dawn laughed nervously while an embarrassed flush crept
over her cheeks. "It really does work."
* * *
END