For people who read the first incarnation: Welcome. Before you start reading, this is not a new story. Sorry to disappoint you. This is a complete rewrite of the original Seducing Dawn. What is new is several new scenes, a lot more character buildup and a generally better written story. All the stuff from the original is still in here though.
For those who read the brief second incarnation: Again, this is not a new story. This is a second rewrite of chapters 1 and 2 added together with new chapters 3 and 4. Still it's better than what you read before.
For those who've not read this before: Thank you for bothering to read this far. For you, this is a new story. And a very good one at that. So I hope you enjoy it.
This story has been one of the most difficult things I've ever written, so I hope it's been worth it. Thanks go to the Author's Hangout in general for sterling advice, WildSweetOne, Quasimodem and poohlive in particular for helping me through linguistic troubles, the Story Discussion Circle for tearing the original apart and showing me what needed fixing and the people who bothered to give me feedback on the previous incarnations. Hopefully this is everything you wanted it to be and a little bit more.
Feedback is always enjoyed and don't forget to vote. Remember: mine is a fragile ego, so be nice and vote 5 with a nice e-mail saying how much you liked the story. For continuity purposes, this story was originally written between the series where Buffy dies and the new series. So take the characters from there. Congratulations if you've bothered to read this far. The story will begin soon. Honest. Hope you enjoy. The Earl
This story is dedicated to CAE. She knows who she is and why this is for her. Thanks for understanding and more importantly, for not being weird about it.
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Chapter 1:
Dawn lounged on her on her bed, half-heartedly trying to study. Miss Williams could be really evil if you failed her weekly tests and Dawn had already failed the last two. Her brown hair flopped around her eyes as a look of concentration crossed her elfin features.
However hard she tried to study though, her mind kept slipping back to what had been happening in her life. Tara and Willow, her legal guardians had had a huge argument a couple of weeks ago, which ended with Tara leaving the house. She'd announced that she would stay with Xander and Anya until they'd sorted things out.
Willow had been distraught by the breakup and had gone to pieces, unable to cope or function properly without Tara's love. She had been equally incensed and inconsolable about her rejection. By now, she'd recovered slightly, which Dawn was grateful for.
Ever since Buffy, her sister and legal guardian, had died four years ago, Willow and Tara had been Dawn's guardians. Sunnydale Social Services said that Dawn still needed a guardian until she finished high school, even though she was already eighteen. Although they were only six years older than her, they'd almost become second parents to Dawn and she had been grateful to have two people in a steady relationship around her.
Dawn didn't mind living with Tara and Willow; they'd been friends with her for years. It was also really handy to have two powerful witches around when you're the Vampire Slayer's younger sister. Some Sunnydale night monsters might have a grudge to settle.
Everyone had been really sympathetic to Dawn, almost as though her parents were divorcing. Dawn wondered whether she could use their separation as an excuse for failing the test: "Please excuse Dawn's poor results, but the lesbian lovers who act as her parents have recently split up and she couldn't concentrate." A smile crossed her lips briefly.
Dawn was worried though. It seemed like every time she got to depend on someone, they left her. Willow and Tara had been the only constant thing in her life for years and she'd built her foundations on the rock of their relationship. She stared at the book, not taking in a single word as she thought.
A knock on the door disturbed Dawn from her reverie.
"Dawny? S'me. Can I come in?"
Delighted at the sound of Willow's voice, Dawn put her books to one side. This was an excellent excuse for not studying. "Sure, come in."
Willow walked in and sank down on the bed. Her red hair was tousled and her face was puffy and red from crying. Dawn smelt the aura of alcohol before Willow even came close. "What is it Will?" she asked.
Willow collapsed in another bout of drunken sobbing and Dawn leant over to hug her, unsure of what to do. Willow had always been the most composed and together of their household and Dawn didn't know how to help her. She waited while Willow cried on her shoulder and became aware of Willow's hands moving from her back to her sides. Dawn was a little uncomfortable with this, but decided to keep quiet rather than say anything.
Willow moved her head from Dawn's shoulder and then suddenly darted forwards, kissing her full on the lips.
Astonished by her friend's bold action, Dawn tumbled back onto the bed. Willow followed her, continuing the kiss and moving on hand to Dawn's small breast.
Dawn recovered from her shock after a few seconds and pushed Willow away. "Will, what are you doing?"
Willow fell off the bed, unable to keep her balance from Dawn's slight push. Even through her whisky haze, she was suddenly very aware of her faux pas; she got up and ran out the room, confused and lonely, furious at her rejection, leaving a very bemused Dawn behind her.
Later that day, Dawn lay in bed, her mind still churning over what had happened earlier that day. Willow had avoided her for the rest of the day and that suited Dawn, as she wasn't quite sure what to say to her. She really couldn't deal with having Willow go to pieces on her; she wouldn't be able to cope if Willow left too.
She rolled over onto her back, tired, but not sleepy. Dawn hated not being able to sleep; it just seemed so pointless. A tingle down between her legs suggested an alternative way to pass the time than tossing and turning. She reached down with one hand and brushed her clit, thrilling in the shiver of pleasure that it evoked. Her arousal built as one hand slid over her lips and she whimpered as...
"Dawny? Can I come in?"
Dawn felt the arousal dissipate as Willow knocked at the door. Irritated, she considered feigning sleep, but decided that, as her arousal had gone, she may as well see what Willow wanted.
"Yeah, come in."