Summery: Dawn’s bored as she waits for Parent Teacher night to be over.

Disclaimer: Joss owns all.

Author’s note: Beta’d by the fab Bloodytearsoflife.

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Chapter 5: Bored and just a little anxious

Light flickered around her, as she raised her hand rose to her mouth. The scene before her was shocking, sure, but she’d already seen it. Popping a piece of popcorn into her mouth, Dawn raised the remote towards the TV and turned it off. Reruns sucked. She was bored. Bored and just a little anxious. Also, she really wanted to see Spike. See Spike and hug him. Wonder if my hug magic will work on Spike?

“No,” she said out loud. “Can’t do it.”

She paused.

“Great, now I’m talking to myself,” she mumbled.

Dawn looked at the clock. Maybe Spike had already invaded the school.

She really wanted to be there.

She kept trying to think of things to occupy her time. Problem was that everyone she wanted to talk to either didn’t know her yet or was occupied with Parent Teacher night.

Everyone except...

“Oooh!” Dawn waved her hands in the air, eagerly removing the bowl of popcorn from her lap and setting it aside. She jumped up, brushed off the crumbs from her jeans and flailed her arms a little in her excitement. Why she hadn’t thought of this sooner, she didn’t know.

Suddenly she calmed down, breathing in and out. Then, raising her eyes to the ceiling, she began to chant, her voice echoing slightly inside the mansion’s walls.

“Anyanka, I beseech thee. In the name of all women scorned. Come before me.”

A puff of smoke later and Anyanka in all her glory was standing in the middle of Dawn’s living room.

“Tremble before the mighty Anyanka,” intoned the vengeance demon. “What pain and suffering would you like to inflict on the male who has wronged you?”

Dawn gave a giddy squeal and clapped her hands, resisting the urge to rush Anya and hug her.

“Well someone’s excited by vengeance,” noted Anya, happily. “So what will it be? Boils on the penis? Evisceration? Turn him inside out so his intestines are out for all to see?”

“Uh, no.”

“Why not?” asked Anyanka, shifting into her human face. “I can feel the need for vengeance just radiating off of you.”

“So I merit a wish or two, right?” asked Dawn, her brain already beginning to plan something.

“More than one or two,” Anya replied as she scrutinized her. “You’re really old. You’ve been divorced, what seven times?”

“Well, seven times when I was the injured party anyway. I want a wish.”

“Is it against some guy who has broken your heart into tiny, tiny pieces and you want him to writhe in pain for all eternity?” Anya asked eagerly.

“Again with the no,” answered Dawn.

“Then, no. I do scorned woman wishes.”

“Not true!” Dawn exclaimed, pointing her finger at her friend. “D’Hoffryn explained everything to me. Did I tell you I’m really good friends with D’Hoffryn...or I will be, in a few years.”

“Oh, I know who and what you are. I could tell the moment I popped in here. You’re the Key. You’re older than D’Hoffryn. I’m just perplexed as to why you are locked in a human form subject to ageing and death. It’s gross.”

“True, but then, like the phoenix reborn, so am I. Yes, at age 14, but hey, I get to skip that whole potty training thing.”

“So why do you need me.?” Anya asked suspiciously. “You’re the all powerful key.”

Dawn snorted. “Powerful my ass. I goofed. I came back in time and slept with someone I shouldn’t have.”

“You want to take it back?”

“No, the Xander sex was really great. I don’t want to take it back. But I do want to make sure that he still has all the sex with everyone else he’s supposed to have as if I'm not here. Or the kissage, ‘cause I’m pretty sure that he doesn’t boink Cordelia Chase.”

There was a pause, Anya went completely still.

“You want to make sure he has sex?”

“Yep.”

“You want to make sure a man has sex?” Anya repeated, disbelieving her ears.

“Yes. What part of that isn’t clear?”

“It’s just unless it’s wishing that a man can’t stop having sex or has sex only with demons or...or sheep, I’ve never done that kind of thing before,” Anya explained, slightly worried.

“There’s a first time for everything,” Dawn replied, giving Anya her best smile.

“Fine,” said Anya resigned, shaking her head at the Key.

“No more protesting?”

“Wish away,” Anya offered in a bored tone.

Dawn smiled. “I wish that Xander Harris pursues all the same romantic relationships that he would have normally, as if I wasn’t here.”

Anyanka gave a grimace and then shifted into her demonic face. “Wish granted.”

“Thanks.”

“No problem. Any other wishes?” Anya asked, looking eager.

Dawn pondered a moment. There were other possibilities, the Immortal's painful, painful death was on the top of her list, but she'd already taken care of that...or will take care of that in the future. The thing was that if Dawn pulled this off, then there would be no need to avenge her sister's death or even to prevent it. If everything went according to plan, Spike and Buffy will be enjoying a happily ever after without her. “Not right now. But I’ll let you know. I’ll see you next year.”,” she offered off handedly.

“Next year?” Anya questioned, blinking her eyes at her.

“Xander kisses Willow next year, Cordelia calls for vengeance.”

“Okay then,” Anya answered back, not in the least fazed by the prediction.

Dawn waved as Anya puffed out of the room. She looked up at the clock and smiled. It was time to save Willow from Cordelia

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“So did you read it last night?” asked Dawn as she entered the library the next day.

The Scoobies were all sitting around as if they were waiting for her to return.

“We were just about to,” explained Xander, patting the seat beside him.

With a flounce, Dawn sat down next to Xander, giving him a curious look. She wasn’t quite sure how the wish would go: and if it would it take effect right away. As she sat, Xander pushed his chair closer to her and draped his arm across the back of her chair.

So clearly not working yet, she observed.

There was a groan from both Cordy and Willow. Dawn smiled. She wasn’t exactly sure if they groaned because of Xander’s public display of affection or because she was there at all. She was going with the Xander issue. Willow had Xander on the brain and Cordelia was just vile.

“I can’t believe I’m here at school this early, to read some stupid letter by future girl,” observed Cordy, examining her nails.

“No one asked you to come,” retorted Buffy and Dawn at the same time catching both girls off guard.

Cordelia glared back in response while Buffy and Dawn shared smiles.

“So read on...” Xander encouraged Giles, trying to ignore the death glares from the girls in the room. The glares lasted only until Giles took up the envelope.

The group held their breath as Giles tore open the envelope.

“Hey look, it opens!” exclaimed Willow, sitting forward in her chair.

Dawn turned sharply towards the red head, a questioning look on her face.

“We tried opening it last night,” Willow admitted with a sheepish smile.

“Oh, so good thing I got it all enchanted,” responded Dawn.

“It wasn’t so helpful at the time,” snarked Cordelia. “We thought we were going to die.”

“We did not!” countered Willow. “We were just, you know, worried, ‘cause of Spike.”

“Unfortunately you didn’t die,” Dawn snarked right back.

“What is your damage?” Cordelia screeched, slapping her hands down on the table in front of her.

“I don’t like you,” answered Dawn factually as if it was common knowledge.

“Ugh, Cordelia’s... Cordelia,” Buffy placated. “Can we read please.? Snyder is going to be totally on my case if I miss first period. The ‘get out of grounding free’ card will totally be revoked if mom gets a call from the Troll man.”

Giles cleared his throat. “If you all are done.”

The teenagers were silent. Giles began to read.

Dear Giles, Buffy, Xander, and Willow,

Willow, you escorted Mrs. Summers to every classroom without actually seeing any teachers.

“Hey!” exclaimed Willow her eyes wide, pointing her finger, motioning at the letter that Giles held in his hand.

Giles continued as the others shushed her.

Joyce and Mr. ‘Troll man’ Snyder finally did meet up. Oh, Buffy tried so hard to keep them apart.

So when Joyce and Snyder come back that’s when the crazy starts. Spike and the minions of the Anointed One crash the party.

“But I killed the Anointed One!” Buffy exclaimed. “He’s dead.”

“You just thought you did. But he is now,” Dawn noted rolling her eyes.

“Huh?” articulated the slayer.

“Spike killed him last night,” explained the Key. There was a chance that she shouldn’t be telling this to her sister, but it seemed stupid to have them worry.

“How do you know this?” Willow asked.

“Spike told me,” explained Dawn casually.

“When?” asked Xander, a hint of suspicion in his voice.

“In four years,” Dawn explained, with a wave of her hand, somehow conveying just how not a betrayal this was.

“Oh.” Xander sat back in his chair. Dawn could tell that he wasn’t entirely convinced but was accepting for now.

Again Giles continued as the group fell silent.

Spike said something about not having the patience to wait for Saturday. He got bored. He’s like that.

I got side tracked. So the fight happens, Willow and Cordelia end up in a utility closet all night, which the guilt will probably force me to save them from. All night alone with Cordelia....I’m cringing here. Who would want to endure a night of Cordelia Chase?

“Not me, that‘s for sure,” moaned Willow. “I did thank you right?”

Dawn nodded as Cordy glared at them both.

The fight ends with Mrs. Summers bashing Spike over the head with an axe. Something he will always look fondly on for the rest of his unlife by the way. Miraculously, I think only like three people actually died. All I remember is being extremely annoyed that I had to have a babysitter that night and that Buffy didn’t get in trouble at all.

So endeth the predictions.

Giles set down the letter and began to clean his glasses.

“So?” asked Dawn into the quiet of the library. “Do you believe me now?”

“Your story does seem to check out,” admitted Giles placing his glasses on his face.

Dawn smirked at her sister’s watcher. “Good.” She leaned against Xander’s arm, her hand reaching out to graze along the length of his thigh.

If her vengeance wish wasn’t going to kick in she wanted to take full advantage of Xander before the next girl moved in on her territory. God, she had spent most of her childhood in Sunnydale with a major Xander crush, this was too good to not take advantage of.

“So now that we believe you, tell me where Spike’s lair or whatever is, so I can make with the stake-age,” demanded Buffy, getting out a stake to demonstrate her point.

Dawn sat up right. “No! There will be no Spike stake-age!”

“Why not?” Xander asked Dawn, his eyebrows raised. “He almost made me his nummy treat last night.”

Dawn patted Xander’s leg. “Don’t worry, Xander, Spike won’t make you his nummy treat. He’d much rather bite Buffy.”

“That’s a relief,” noted the teen.

“Uh, can I have an instant replay of that segway to avoid?” asked Buffy.

“I have my reasons,” responded Dawn,. “And no I won’t be telling you what they are. We need to concentrate on Glory, and your Inca mummy girl for next week.”

“Inca mummy girl?” asked Willow.

“It’s a thing,” said Dawn, getting up from her chair. “I was really very jealous at the time. I probably will be again. I’d tell you more but you have school to attend.”

“Where are you going?” Cordelia asked.

“Away from you, actually,” Dawn answered, walking out of the library just as the first period bell rang.

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Dawn stepped into the bright morning sunshine and slipped on her sunglasses. She couldn’t believe just how much Cordelia was getting to her. There was a slight twinge of guilt as she remembered just how Cordelia died, but it didn’t last long. She didn’t have time for this; she had a medical intern to find. Dawn opened the door of the convertible provided by her lawyers and slid into the driver’s seat. She had a hunch, a hunch that needed something that Giles and the Sunnydale High library couldn’t help her with.

Ben was a doctor. At least he would be in three years from now. For now, he was an intern. Therefore, wouldn’t it make sense that he would be in med school right now?

She just had to find out where. And Giles’ aversion to technology wasn’t helpful at all.

She parked in front of the internet café on Main Street and walked in, eager to find out just where Ben/Glory was right now.

Sitting down at a computer, Dawn typed in Ben’s name into a search engine, bracing herself for the mediocrity of 1998 as the computer searched ... very...very...slowly.

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tbc...