North and South...and West
by Rin
Sisters, Sisters
[reviews]
A week went before Dawn showed up on their doorstep. There wasn't a letter or telegram announcing her arrival. Instead, Joyce had just sent her up immediately. The young Summers girl was standing in their foyer, bag in hand, having just walked from the train depot. Buffy came downstairs to find her sister standing there, and Vincenzo getting ready to announce her arrival.
"Mrs. Rosenberg, you have a visitor." Vincenzo eyed the girl with suspicion, wondering why she had bags. He thought Amy was the only staff they had hired.
"Dawn!" Buffy rushed down the rest of the steps, and flew into her sister's arms, squeezing tight.
"Oh, Buffy..." Dawn broke down, dropping her bags on the floor, and crying in her sister's arms.
"I just put Samuel down. I wasn't sure if you'd come." Buffy pulled her sister into the front sitting room, and sat them on the couch. "Vincenzo, can you see to my sister's things? Put them in the guest room next to ours?"
"Right away, ma'am." Vincenzo was a great butler. Mrs. Calendar had suggested him to the couple, as well.
"How was your trip?" Buffy wasn't sure what to say. What could she say?
"Long." Dawn looked down but held onto her sister's hand. "How are Samuel and Will?"
"They're great. Will is at work, and we have a social to attend this evenin' but now that you're here, we can stay home instead." Buffy took a deep breath. "Samuel is growin' already. Will's taught him to roll over on his own."
"I hope he wakes soon, so I can see him." Dawn took her own deep breath, at last relaxing. She was far away from Riley Finn, and the pain he'd inflicted on her and Susie. She wouldn't have to pass by the spot it happened, her physical bruises were almost gone. Being with her sister would help a lot.
"I'm sure he can't wait, either." Buffy wrapped her sister in another hug. "I'm just so happy you're finally here."
"Me, too." Dawn smiled briefly. "Maybe I could get some rest, too. Trains may have gotten me here quicker but they're hard to sleep on."
"I know. Here...I'll show you where you'll be stayin'. I'll give ya the whole tour later, okay?" Buffy saw Dawn's nod, and led her upstairs. "I put you in the room next to ours, just in case you get lost."
"You didn't have to do that, Buffy. I'm sure you and Will want your privacy." Dawn blushed for the first time. She didn't want to think about sex in any shape or form. She was afraid she'd react to Will the same way she had to her brother and Dr. Giles.
"We'll get over it. You're welcome to stay as long as you like. Indefinitely, if you want." Buffy hadn't been much in the mood since reading the letter. Will understood this, and only held her wife throughout the night. Even though the sexual tension was still overflowing, neither would act on it, holding it in, contemplating what was to happen next when Dawn arrived. "Will should be home around suppertime. I can come get you then, if you'd like."
"That'd be nice." Dawn closed her eyes for a moment, as they entered the guest room. The four-poster bed, and lavish, imported rug and artwork were breathtaking. Dawn had never seen anything like this, not even on all the plantations in South Carolina. "This is...beautiful."
"I'll show you the rest later." Buffy helped her sister get comfortable for bed. "I'll come get you for supper. Get some rest for now."
"Okay." Dawn relaxed under the sheets before her sister started to leave the room. "Buffy?"
"Yeah?" The blonde turned around in the doorway, worried at her sister's hesitancy.
"Thank you." Dawn smiled forlornly, and settled further into the sheets, as Buffy nodded, and closed the door behind her.
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Amy was almost finished with her duties for the day. She had planned on coming over tonight to watch Samuel, while the Rosenbergs went to their social at General Grant's house. When Buffy said something came up, that they wouldn't need her tonight, Amy didn't argue. It just meant she could plan on supper with her own family, and spend more time with her husband.
Walking into the guest bedroom, she noticed a lump lying in the bed, and bags by the chair. Had Mrs. Rosenberg discovered her husband really WAS having an affair? Is that why she cancelled the evening's plans? Was this the woman? Was she now pregnant, shamed by her family, and left no place else to go? Okay, so it was far-fetched but Amy always had a knack for discovering the truth.
Staying as quiet as possible, Amy worked around the room, finishing her duties for the day. Thinking back on earlier this week when she'd seen General Rosenberg, she wasn't completely surprised that women would fawn over him. He really was as handsome as Mrs. Calendar said, and it showed how much his wife adored him in her actions that day. Mrs. Calendar was right about them being a happy couple, too. Why would the general need a mistress if he were happy?
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Willow walked in the door to find Buffy chewing at her thumb. Worried, the redhead made her way over to the blonde, and enveloped her in a hug. She ran her fingers through Buffy's loose hair, and placed small kisses along her forehead.
"You okay?" Willow leaned back, and held Buffy's face in her hands.
"Yeah, Dawn's upstairs. She got here this afternoon." Buffy turned her face to kiss the palm of Willow's hand.
Amy came down the stairs to witness the display of affection. Smiling slightly, she chose to ignore the strange girl in the guest room.
"I've finished my work for the day. You sure ya don't need me tonight?" Amy arched an eyebrow, as the couple stayed attached instead of separating.
"No, Amy. My sister is in from South Carolina, so we're gonna stay home tonight." Buffy laced her fingers through Will's, and loved the soft, rough calluses there. "If you wanna take off now, you're more than welcome. Thank you again. You've been a real help."
"My pleasure, ma'am." Amy was sincere. This couple was interesting, and interesting was always a good thing. Once Amy departed their company, Will placed a soft kiss on Buffy's lips.
"Need me to make supper, so you can stay with Dawn?" Willow squeezed their entwined hands.
"Mrs. Calendar is already workin' on it, and Dawn's upstairs gettin' some rest." Buffy wrapped her arms around Willow's back again. "I love you, ya know?"
"I know. I love you, too." Willow placed another soft kiss on Buffy's lips. "How did she seem? Is there anything I should avoid doing or saying?"
"I'm not sure how these things work exactly. Just be patient with her, I suppose. She still believes you're a man, so she'll probably be a little leery of you." Buffy closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. "I'm glad she's here but I wish it were for different reasons."
"I know, dear. Me, too." Willow pushed the blonde's loose hairs behind her ear. "How is Samuel?"
"I was gettin' ready to go feed him. Wanna help?" Buffy smiled softly, and batted her eyelashes.
"Always." Willow would follow her wife anywhere, she'd decided long ago. "I'll grab a bottle from the kitchen, and meet you upstairs."
"Okay, I'll go check on Dawn." Buffy gave Willow one last sweet kiss before they separated, and tended to their tasks.
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"Thanks for supper. It was good." Dawn had been quiet throughout the entire meal, and had avoided eye contact with Will. When the redhead had placed her hand on the girl's shoulder in greeting earlier, Dawn had cringed only slightly. Willow immediately brought her hand back, and ushered them into the dining room.
"You'll like it here, I'm sure." Buffy slipped her arm through her sister's, and ushered her around the house, giving her the tour. "William will be jealous to see Will's library, as well."
"It won't bother mom a bit to see the dining room, either. She always loved those long tables." Dawn smiled for the first time since waking. "Samuel will be okay with Will?"
"Yes, those two are almost inseparable. Will is completely different from Father. He actually wants to take part in raisin' his children." Buffy's tone indicated a sadness, and Dawn understood. "I'm sorry. I forget that Dr. Giles is..."
"It's okay. He was always more of a father to us growin' up anyways." Dawn took in the library, and decided that yes, their brother would be jealous. "Mother was talkin' 'bout makin' the trip soon. She said she couldn't stand to be away from her grandson that long."
"I figured as much." Buffy smiled at her sister. "Dawn..."
"No...not now. I don't wanna talk about it yet. Just...give me some time, okay? It's still too...too new." Dawn knew exactly what her sister was asking; it was obvious in the change in tone and body language. "Soon, I promise...just give me time."
"As much as you need. We're here for you, and I know it's hard because of Will but...he's the most gentle man I've ever known, and only wants to make sure you're safe and okay." Buffy held her sister's upper arms.
"I know it's weird but...I don't feel as threatened by him as I thought I was. He's probably the closest contact I've had with a man since..." Dawn held her sister's elbows in response. "You really did find the perfect man, Buffy. He adores you, and Samuel? I've never heard of a man that took that much initiative with his children."
"I may be biased but he WILL make sure you're safe, okay? He'll be patient with you, and won't push. I think he still blames himself, despite my constant reassurance." Buffy sighed before pulling Dawn into a hug.
"I always was jealous of you. Now, I know why." Dawn smirked a bit, and was glad for the release in tension. "Let's take Samuel on a walk tomorrow. I'd like to see Washington, and maybe we can go meet the future president? Mother will be jealous."
"His wife at least. Julia comes by before lunchtime everyday. You'll get to see the social aspects of politics firsthand." Buffy laughed with her sister, and it felt good. How much she'd missed this bond, this friendship. Maybe their mother was right, and Dawn coming to live with them would help the girl more than anything.