**

Dawn woke up from another nightmare. It was one of many that would come to her in the dark. Her eyes went to the framed picture of her and Buffy. She couldn't believe that it was only taken a month ago and now this…

She got out of bed and went over to Buffy's bedroom. Nothing had been moved since the funeral. She stepped in and her heart seemed to stop for a moment. She half-expected her older sister to come barging in behind her, yelling at her to get out of her room.

Dawn picked up a bottle of perfume and let her fingers linger on the cool glass. A small smile came upon her face as she noticed something in the nearby closet. She bent down and picked up Mr. Gordo, Buffy's stuffed pig. She hugged it to her chest as a tear rolled down her cheek.

"She's sleeping, but you can go in."

Dawn gasped at the sound of Willow's voice. She quickly ran back to her room and hid underneath her covers, pretending to be sound asleep.

"She's really quiet now," Willow said in the doorway. "Hardly talks to anyone."

Dawn listened to hear whom Willow was talking to.

"I mean, her mother, then the first time Buffy passed away," Willow said, "And then Tara. She's pretty much closed herself off from the world."

There was a moment of silence and then other person spoke.

"Well, I hope she talks to me," a deep male voice said.

Dawn sat up in bed immediately, her eyes filled with surprise. "Riley!"

**

Dawn and Riley sat in the kitchen, drinking lemonade. Dawn's eyes were still filled with amazement at the sight of Riley. She looked down at the kitchen table, concentrating hard on the wood.

"Dawn?" Riley's voice was filled with concern. "Do you want to talk?"

She didn't reply.

"I miss her too," Riley said. "I wish I was here to help you all, but…"

"Why weren't you?" Dawn's voice was empty and cold.

"I don't know," he said. "I didn't even know you were in trouble until it was too late, but if I knew, Dawn, I would have come back."

She finally looked up at him. "But, you're back now."

He gave her a small smile. "Yeah, I am, for as long as you want me to be."

She returned his smile and yawned. "I should be getting back to bed."

Riley followed her up to her room and watched as she got into bed. She looked at him. "Did Willow fix up the guest room?"

He nodded.

"Good night," she said.

"Night." He stayed in the room until she fell asleep. Every now and then she would toss and turn as if trying to escape a nightmare. He went over to her bed and placed his hand over hers. "I'm not going anywhere anymore." He got down on the floor next to Dawn's bed and laid down. Despite the uncomfortable hard wooden floor, he soon fell asleep.

**

Dawn walked into the kitchen the next morning, thinking last night was all a dream until she saw Riley at the table with a bowl of cereal. Willow handed her a piece of toast. "You're going to miss the bus." She went into the other room.

Dawn took a bite of her toast and sat down across from Riley. "I saw you."

He looked at her. "You saw me?"

"I saw you on the floor last night," she said. "You didn't have to."

"I didn't want you to be alone," he said.

Willow came back with a book bag. "I need to get to class. Dawn, you're gonna be okay?"

Dawn nodded. "I think I can manage walking to the end of the block."

"See you later," Willow said. "Help yourself to anything, Riley." She smiled at them and left through the back door.

"Let me drive you to school," Riley said. "Riley..."

"I want to," he said. "Come on."

She sighed and picked up her books.

"And I'll get you ice cream later when I pick you up from school," he said.

She grinned. "Okay, if you insist."

**

Riley let the tears run down his face as he stood in front of Buffy's tombstone. After dropping Dawn off, he had made his way to the cemetery. He placed a red rose on her grave and closed his eyes.

"Riley?"

He turned to see Xander and Anya behind him. He quickly wiped away his tears. "Hey."

"When did you get back?" Xander asked.

"Last night," he said. "I'm staying with Willow and Dawn."

A moment of uncomfortable silence passed.

"When did you find out?" Xander said.

"A few weeks ago," Riley said. "I was in Brazil and news was circulating that a slayer had been killed by a demon. I found out it was Buffy and I came back as soon I could."

"And your wife?" Anya said.

"My ex-wife," he said with a frown.

"What happened?" she said.

"Sam was transferred to Southeast Asia," Riley said. "We tried the long distance thing for awhile, but it wasn't going to work. It's been about three months now." He cleared his throat and changed the subject. "How are you two?"

Xander wrapped his arm around Anya. "It's always better the second time around."

"Second?" Riley said.

"Long story," Xander said. He went over to the tombstone and placed his own flower on top of the grave. "It's good to see you again, Riley."

He smiled at them. "It's good to be back."

**

As promised, Riley took Dawn out for some ice cream after school. They took a seat outside the shop. Dawn licked her cone and smiled at Riley. "Thanks," she said.

"No problem," he said. "It's just good to see you smiling again."

"They're worried about me, aren't they?" Dawn said. "Willow and Xander. I mean, they're always trying to be careful with me, like I'm going to fall apart if they say or do something wrong."

"You couldn't go to anyone else?" Riley asked.

Dawn's face saddened. "I lost everyone I could go to." She lowered her eyes. "My mother, Buffy, Tara, Spike…"

"Spike?" Riley was surprised to hear his name.

Dawn nodded. "No one told you?"

Riley waited for the story.

"There was this demon called Orsis, who was looking for me," Dawn said, "Well, the Key. He wanted to redo the entire ritual of opening up the dimensions." Dawn put down her melting ice cream cone. "Spike found him before he could find me, but it was too late. He was coming for me and…"

Riley put a hand on her shoulder. "It's okay, Dawn."

Dawn fought back the tears. "Orsis killed Spike. Right before Buffy's eyes and she…she went crazy. She went after him for revenge without any weapons or help. By time we arrived, she was gone." Tears started to roll down her cheeks. "Willow had found this spell that could destroy Orsis, but we needed something in order for it to work."

"What was that?" Riley said.

"My blood." Dawn showed him the scar on her arm. "And guess what? It worked." Dawn finally let it out. Her sadness, anger, pain. She covered her face with her hands as she sobbed.

Riley reached for her and pulled her inside his arms.

**

"No." Dawn pointed a finger towards the door. "You are not sleeping in here again."

Riley stepped inside her room. "I just wanted to give you something."

Dawn raised an eyebrow. "A present?"

He took a gold necklace out from his pocket. "I got it from this man in Peru." He showed her the small stone dangling from it. There was a symbol engraved on it. "It means strength."

"You're giving this to me?" Dawn clutched the necklace in her hand. "I…"

"I want you to always wear it." Riley helped her put it on. " Never forget how strong you are."

Dawn looked into his eyes. "Never."

**

SEVEN YEARS LATER

Xander took a hold of Anya's hand as they walked up the hill to the picnic area. His other hand held onto his four-year-old son, Joshua.

"Aunt Willow!" Joshua ran to her and threw his arms around her. "I missed you!"

Willow smiled. "I just saw you yesterday."

He kissed her on the cheek and turned back to his parents. "Can I go swing?"

They nodded and watched as he ran to the playground. They joined Willow and her girlfriend, Melissa, at the picnic table.

"Are they here yet?" Xander asked.

Willow shook her head. "I just called them. Dawn said give them ten more minutes."

"They just have to make an entrance, don't they?" Anya said.

"She just had a baby, Anya," Willow said. "I think she's entitled to it."

"Didn't you feel like queen of the world when you adopted Joshua?" Melissa asked.

Anya thought about it. "Well, I suppose I understand then." She looked over at the playground and smiled at her son. "Dawn can take as long as she wants."

**

Dawn picked up her newborn daughter and stroked her soft skin. She walked over to the mantle over the fireplace and showed her a picture of Buffy. "This is your Aunt Buffy." The baby yawned in response.

Riley walked into the room. "Time to go to the park."

Dawn slung the baby bag over her shoulder and walked out the door.

Riley smiled at his wife and daughter as they walked over to the car. He took Anne out of Dawn's arms. "How's she doing?"

"She just woke up from a nap," Dawn said. "She should be ready for a long day at the park."

Riley took Dawn into his arms and kissed her. "Are you?"

"I think so," she said. "I'm strong, remember?"

"I haven't forgotten," he said.

Dawn held onto Riley and Anne tightly. She traced the necklace Riley had given to her when he had returned and smiled. "Neither have I."