canon au } { post-s4, of brainwashing and true love's kiss

[kiss_evilgoodbye]

Gunn: [is standing at the front desk, looking confused and skeptical, all at the same time] Who are you - [and then he catches sight of Buffy and it's like a lightbulb going off] - oh. [a beat as he calls back over his shoulder] Hey boss! Your ex is here. [he then turns back to Derek] Who's Tall and Surly?

Buffy: [sigh] Gunn, this is Derek. Derek, this is Charles Gunn. He works for Angel Investigations.

Derek: Dawn isn't returning our calls. We're here to check on her.

Gunn: Right. Dawn's guy. I'm gonna let Angel field this one. [he picks up a battle axe] I'm going to go handle a Chaos demon downtown.

Buffy: [oh, that's not good.] Getting clear of the blast zone?

Gunn: You know it. [holds up his hand a bit to give Derek a kind of handgrab high five before making his way out the door] When you're done with the big guy, if you want to stick around we should go for a beer sometime.

Derek: Guess it'll depend on the crater that gets left behind in my wake

Gunn: No comment. [and with that he's going to head out]

Angel: [sheepishly pokes his head out from behind the door, and he holds up a finger as though to tell them to slow down] This isn't my fault.

Buffy: [arms cross in front of her chest] Where is my sister?

Angel: [there's a long pause before] ... I don't know exactly. [a beat] But I'm working on it!

Derek: You lost her? [there is a tiny growl at that]

Angel: Not ... intentionally. She made some kind of deal with the Oracles!

Buffy: [facepalm] Damnit, Dawn.

Derek: [looks over at Buffy because he is sharing those sentiments, then back at Angel] Where are they?

Angel: [exasperated look to Buffy]

Buffy: Oh, no. We're going to have words.

Angel: [sighs] Follow me. [turns to lead the way to the sewer entrance] I hope you didn't wear shoes you're overly attached to.

Derek: They'll survive. [his nose may not. Can't turn that shit off]

Angel: [and down they go, through the sewers to the entrance to the oracles domain. He does the appropriate rituals and the annoyed, gold-skinned man and woman studying the group]

She-Oracle: Twice in one week. This is ... annoying.

Derek: Then we'll keep it brief. Where's Dawn Summers?

She-Oracle: Not your concern. She got what she asked for.

Derek: Dawn's my mate. Her welfare is my concern, and whatever she asked you for probably had to do with my well being. So no, where is she?

Buffy: [her eyebrows go up slightly at that mate talk, but she'll turn back on the oracles with just as much determination] And she's my sister. Do you really want to keep me from my sister?

He-Oracle: She made her decision. She wanted to just be a girl with her boyfriend and a job and a life. No Key. [he gives a bit of a shrug] And she wanted you to live and be happy.

She-Oracle: The terms were fulfilled, but there's always a price. And she did not specify what kind of happiness, nor what life she wished to live.

Derek: [listens, his arms crossed because no, that was not what he wanted to hear. Because that meant she was living a life somewhere else with someone else] Well, you didn't fulfill that part, because I can't be happy without her.

She-Oracle: [her eyebrows raise] So you did not appreciate our gift? We thought you would be quite pleased.

Derek: [his head tilts] You're the ones who brought my sister back?

He-Oracle: [snorts] Who else would it have been?

Derek: And you think taking my mate away from me in exchange for my sister is a good thing? That my sister would be happy to know the price to her brother attached to her resurrection? That Dawn intended for you to separate us could give any of us a happy life? [he huffed] You obviously don't know what happiness is.

She-Oracle: She didn't specify total happiness. Are you happy that your sister was returned to you?

Buffy: Hey! Hello! What about my happiness? As in I'm not with my sister gone, and the less happy I get, the more punchy I get. So why don't you just tell me where Dawn is so I can get with the rescuing. I've been doing it her whole life, I've gotten pretty good at it.

He-Oracle: That would be a waste, as she doesn't believe she has a sister.

Derek: [scowling, because he's not going to answer that. Instead he looks at Angel, silently asking the vampire if punching them will do any good]

Angel: [gives a bit of a shrug. probably not, beyond making them feel better.]

Buffy: See that's really not okay with me. [she starts to surge forward and Angel grabs her arm before she can get in punching distance. He tried a full on assault already. It's why he didn't call sooner. She glances back at him with a look, before turning her murder eyes on the Oracles] Tell me where my sister is. Now.

She-Oracle: [studies them for a moment, before waving her hand. When she does an image appears in air in front of her, showing Dawn, carrying on as normal. She's teaching a bunch of high school students about the Civil War, according to the notes on the board] There. Satisfied?

Derek: [his heart skips a beat at seeing her and he takes a step forward, trying to examine the image, looking for any clues. Names, locations, a name of the school. Something to guide him] No, not until she's back with us.

She-Oracle: Unfortunately, that is not part of the arrangement. [she waves a hand and the image disappears]

Buffy: Arrangement, my ass - [she's about to charge forward again and Angel pulls her back hard]

Angel: You're not going to get anything else out of them. We should go.

Derek: [eyes them both, because no, he pretty much wants to punch them in the face too. But he's going to hold back, a plan forming in his head and he goes to look at Buffy. He also has a bad feeling punching too hard will put Laura in danger] Come on, there are other ways to find her.

Angel: [Buffy doesn't look happy. She looks back to Angel and he gives her one of those Looks] Trust me. We'll find her.

Buffy: [holds that look for a moment, before nodding and stepping back towards him] If this isn't fixable? We're going to have words. [but she'll leave it at that and follow Angel and Derek back up to the Hyperion]

Derek: [waits until they were upstairs] They said she wanted a life that didn't involve being the key. That means she's human now. I can find her like that, we just need to know a location and I need something to get her scent again since I haven't had a strong connection to it for a few weeks.

Angel: I might have something for that. [he heads into his office for a pad before returning and starting to sketch quickly] One of the lettermen had a logo on the back of the jacket. Maybe Willow or someone can get on the computer and find it in the internet somewhere.

Buffy: On the internet.

Angel: Isn't that what I said?

Derek: Sam's probably better for that. [and is pulling out his phone already, dialing the younger Winchester]

Angel: [finishes drawing the sketch and passing it over to him of the Maple Grove Senior High School logo, not that he knows that]

Sam: [picks up the phone] Derek? Everything okay?

Derek: Not really, Sam. I need your help tracking down an image to a location. You got time to look it up for us?

Sam: Sure. I mean, I'm surprised that Dawn hasn't done it... for you... oh crap is she okay?

Derek: She will be. Let me send you this image. [he looks at his phone, trying to figure out how to take a picture while keeping connected with it]

Buffy: [he happens to be with the least tech savvy people ever, but Buffy can manage in a pinch if he can't figure it out]

Sam: You don't know how to send the image to me, do you?

Derek: It's a new phone. [lies]

Sam: [sighs and walks Derek through the steps]

Buffy: [smirks a bit at that]

Sam: [and he's doing his geek thing] That's the logo for Maple Grove High School. Which is out in Minnesota. Why are you looking at a logo for a school in MInnesota?

Derek: Because we're trying to find Dawn. Thanks Sam. [hangs up] We're going to Minnesota.

Sam: [licks his lips, then stands up and goes to grab his jacket because someone else is going to Minnesota too after telling his brother he'll back back in a few days]

Buffy: Minnesota it is. You drive. We should probably pack and tell Cora. [she glances back to Angel] You coming?

Angel: Daylight driving isn't too good for me. Just call me when you find her?

Derek: [he thinks for a moment, and then turns and puts all his energy into a punch straight across Angel's face, his eyes glowing blue because no really, he needed to punch something]

Angel: [yeah, okay, he'll take it, rubbing his jaw once Derek is done] Is that a yes or no?

Buffy: [lets it happen, before nodding] I'll call.

Derek: [nods and goes to leave, very grumpy puppy face] We'll head back to the loft, get some things, and head out to this school.

Buffy: Okay. [she glances over to him and places a hand on his shoulder] We'll get her back, Derek.

Derek: We have to. [because now that he wasn't dying, he knew exactly what he wanted in parts of his life, and he wasn't about to sacrifice it now]

Buffy: We will. [and with that they'll drive back to the loft and get some stuff. IN THE MEANTIME Sam is off to kidnap a clueless Dawn?]

Sam: [staking out, finding her, taking notes, having no clue what is going on, and will finally confront her in a coffee shop]

Dawn: [turns and is confronted by SUDDEN TALL MAN] Oh! Sorry. Nearly spilled my coffee on you.

Sam: [chuckles] No, it's okay, Dawn. It wouldn't be the first time.

Dawn: [blinks briefly for a moment, before frowning] Sorry, do we know each other?

Sam: Yeah, it's Sam. Winchester? [he knows he is hard to forget, so this is probably not good] We went to school together. I was the skinny geek in the front row most of the time?

Dawn: [she frowns for a moment, before shaking her head] Sorry, I'm not placing you. You went to Minnesota State?

Sam: [nope, nope this is all wrong. But this is Dawn. No doppelganger could replace that clumsiness] Yeah. Go Spartans.

Dawn: [she brightens a bit at that] Right, yeah. Sorry I don't remember you. I'm terrible with faces.

Sam: Nah, it's totally fine. I kinda grew out a bit too after finishing. Amazing what happens when you start eating right and working out.

Dawn: Very true. Though I'm definitely guilty of a pizza binge every once in a while. [she takes a sip of her coffee before shifting her bag on her shoulder] So what are you doing now?

Sam: Consulting, mostly. I ended up going on to get a degree in mythology and folklore, and you wouldn't believe the amount of money that can be made with writers wanting someone to do their research for them.

Dawn: Nice. I was always tempted by the folklore department, but academia wasn't really for me. I like what I do now, though. Teaching history at Maple Grove High.

Sam: Funny, I thought you were really into all that back then, but I guess it's not for everyone. But hey, teaching is really the best job anyone can have.

Dawn: It really is. I love every minute of it. [the door to the coffee shop opens, and she peers around Sam. her face brightens when she sees a guy in a suit come in the door] Sweetie, hey. Come meet Sam. [she takes his hand and pulls him closer] Mark, this is Sam, he went to Minnesota State with me. We were just catching up. Sam, this is my boyfriend, Mark.

Mark: [plasters on the fakest smile you had ever seen as he extends a hand to him] Mark Foster. [as he talks, his name gets called from the counter, and Dawn excuses herself to pick up the coffee. Once she's out of earshot, his jaw sets and he leans in closer] Back off.

Sam: [holds up his hands innocently] Hey, I'm just catching up with an old friend. Not planning on stealing her away. [yet]

Mark: No you're not. You're a Winchester. She doesn't remember you and she's not going to so back. Off.

Sam: [his hands lower, and there's a small smile there] If you know who I am, you know I don't back off. And I'm the least of your worries right now. She's my friend, and I'm not going to let you mess with her life.

Mark: She made her choice. Derek and Buffy can both tell you that. Deals aren't made without a price, and she's getting what she wanted. It's not our fault she wasn't more specific.

Sam: Yeah, but I bet you didn't tell her that her choice involved her losing her boyfriend she wanted that happy life with.

Mark: I assure you, we're quite happy. [slow smirk] So why don't you get back in your car and keep driving. There's no one to save here.

Sam: [no, that was one of his only last friends there, Mark. So you're going to get a smirk back] I'm going to enjoy watching you tell Derek that when he gets here.

Mark: [his jaw sets] You sure you want to put him through that? Watch his mate look at him and not even recognize him?

Sam: Not my choice. You don't know anything about werewolves and how they mate for life, do you? If he's taken to calling her that... I wouldn't want to be in your shoes

Mark: [just smirking that stupid smirk as Dawn comes back and hands him his coffee and he glances back to her with a smile] Sweetheart, we're going to be late. We better go.

Dawn: Oh, you're right. [she glances back to Sam] It was nice seeing you again, Sam.

Sam: It was nice seeing you again too, Dawn. Hopefully it won't be the last time.

Dawn: Yeah, hopefully. [Mark's guiding her away and she turns back to face him again] Find me on Facebook!

Sam: [waves and goes to get a cup of coffee, pulling out his cell phone and texting Buffy since Derek is probably driving] We've got trouble.

Buffy: [she should have figured Sam wouldn't just leave it at that] How bad?

Sam: Total memory wipe, and there's this guy who knows her memory is wiped and is probably part of the team doing it and posing as her boyfriend. And Derek is probably going to want to kill him.

Buffy: [yeah, she was worried about that when "boyfriend" was part of the equation] Do you think you could get her away from him?

Sam: Probably. I need to see when she's away from him and figure out how to get her to trust me to come with me. I've already set up an alias and she bought it, but I don't know what this guy would be capable of just yet

Buffy: Dean and I can probably handle fake boyfriend. Find out where he spends his days and we'll take care of the punching. Just get her back to the bunker and Derek will meet you there.

Sam: Um, Dean's not here. I left him with the kids. He hasn't been feeling too good lately.

Buffy: [well, there goes that plan] I'll see where Faith is. Get me what you can on the boyfriend and get my sister somewhere safe.

Sam: Will do. Just... pre-warn Derek so he can get his anger under wraps before he gets here. If Dawn doesn't remember any of us... also - when did they become mates? I miss a wedding invitation?

Buffy: [stares at her phone for a moment because huh?] It just came up with the oracles. [there's a beat] He's a conduit. The guy watching Dawn is a conduit to the powers that be.

Sam: Okay. So what does that mean, and how bad does this make this?

Buffy: Conduits maintain the balance. Usually happen when someone super good and super bad fall in love and have a child that falls on both sides of the line. Half demon, half champion of truth, all jackass. Angel used to know one back in the nineties - he's the one who got him started on he whole champion quest.

Sam: Would he be connected at all to Dawn though, or is he just like a babysitter?

Buffy: Probably just a babysitter. According to the oracle she's 100 percent human now. No more Key.

Sam: Huh. Well, at least that means we can take him out if we need to.

Buffy: That'd take doing. We're better off just trying to break whatever spell they have on Dawn. Once she's back where she belongs, hopefully he'll leave us alone. [there's a beat] Figure out his fake life and where he goes during the day while Dawn's at school. We don't want Dawn panicking with you trying to take her somewhere else, so Faith and I will handle the conduit and you and Derek can handle Dawn.

Sam: I have her schedule down already, so I'll work on his angle. If he tries to take her away because of me being here, though, I'm assuming snatch and grab?

Buffy: Definitely. We'll deal with the fallout and meet you at the bunker.

Sam: Got it. See you in a few days. I'll call if plans change.

Buffy: [she glances up from her phone, looking at the highway markers for a moment] Pull over at this next rest stop for a sec? [because this is bad news and she doesn't want to be going 70-80 miles an hour when she delivers it]

Derek: [looks over at her, then nods. It's about ten minutes until the next stop, but he pulls off at that point, which is good because he could use a stretch anyway.]

Buffy: [so they get out and they get food and as they're taking it back to the car, Buffy pushes herself up on the hood of the Jeep so that she can look him in the eye without craning her neck] Good news and bad news. Good news first, Sam found Dawn.

Derek: [nods, because he was pretty sure Sam wasn't going to let it go. He wouldn't have] That will make it easier. Bad news?

Buffy: She's not Dawn. She thinks she's someone completely different. Different family, different life ... different boyfriend. She didn't recognize Sam at all.

Derek: [nods, going to open his granola bar] I was figuring that would be the case. If she knew us, she would have called by now.

Buffy: But there's more good news - the boyfriend? Not just some random schmuck they decided to brainwash with her. I think he might be a conduit to the powers that be. Which means, not only does he fall under absolutely punchable as far as Slayer standards are concerned, he should be able to tell us how to fix her.

Derek: [nods, trying to stay zen here when he is really wanting to be all growly] If he knows, he'll tell us. Between the three of us, he should know better than not to.

Buffy: Well, more like between me and Faith. She's going to meet us there, and Sam's going to take you to see Dawn. You have a stronger emotional connection to her than he does, so maybe you might be able to trigger something. Alternatively, if this backfires and they attack her first, I want someone supernaturally juiced to be there to protect her.

Derek: [there is a smirk there] They'll have to bring a lot of power to get past me to her.

Buffy: Exactly. [she takes another bite of her burger] Just ... remember that she doesn't remember you. At all. And that's probably going to hurt a lot, no matter how prepared you are for it. [there's a pause as she weighs her word choice for a moment] Especially if she really is your mate.

Derek: It's not her fault she doesn't remember me. I appreciate your concern though. [it already hurts, but he knows they will find a way to fix it. That's what matters. Annnnd then his granola bar suddenly is very interesting.]

Buffy: [mmmm-hmm. There's a suspicious big sister look coming your way, Derek]

Derek: [huffs through his nose] What were you told about what happened to me in Mexico?

Buffy: Which time?

Derek: Last week.

Buffy: I heard there was some full wolf action. And that you almost died.

Derek: I did die. [he looks up at her] One of the berserkers threw me around like a rag doll, crushing my chest, and then stabbed me in the gut.

Buffy: [winces a bit] But you got better. Obviously.

Derek: [nods] I think I had to die as a mortal to evolve to the kind of wolf I am now. But it wasn't instant - I sat on the ground for a good fifteen minutes barely able to breathe, bleeding out, and sitting there thinking I was never going to see her again.

Buffy: Which would not have fallen under the good category.

Derek: [shakes his head] But it gave me time to reflect on a few things. And I realized that if I had just a bit more time, if I somehow lived through that, I wasn't going to waste it. And I would let Dawn know just how much I really love her, and how I don't want anyone else but her.

Buffy: We'll get her back, Derek. You'll get to tell her.

Derek: I know we will. I'm too stubborn not to get what I want. [small smirk]

Buffy: [smirks back] Good. [and with that she finishes her burger and hops off the Jeep.] Come on. Let's go meet Sam and Faith.

Derek: Alright. [and he will drive the rest of the way there, stopping for gas as needed and maybe for a few hours of sleep somewhere along the way]

Buffy: [and eventually they will meet up with Sam and Faith, play car swapperoo and Sam and Derek will head off to see Dawn who Sam has had the foresight to make plans with?]

Sam: [totally has library plans with, and mentioned that he had a co-consultant in town who was a historian of a tiny town in California as well as the folklore of the area that she would probably love to meet]

Dawn: [so Dawn is waiting for them at the library, thumbing through a book in one of the open areas while she does. Doo dee doo. Yay history.]

Sam: [walks in with Derek at his side] Hey Dawn.

Dawn: [looks up with a bright smile] Hey Sam. [her eyes fall to Derek after that and there's something about him that makes her stop, just for a moment. She stares, a brief moment of confusion crossing her face and she shakes it off after, pushing to her feet to shake his hand] Sorry, you must be Sam's friend. Dawn Summers.

Derek: [he covers both his hands over hers, squeezing gently. He's playing a role right now and Sam prepped him so he'll be good for now. But he flashes her a small smile] Derek Hale. It's a pleasure to meet you.

Sam: I hope we're not taking you away from anything. I was helping Derek with a research project and my research hasn't really been pulling things out on the history end. Derek, do you want to explain the project?

Derek: Sure. [looks at Dawn, easy smile] Well, I'll admit it's a bit personal. You see, we're trying to track the migration of a town called Sunnydale. There was some kind of disaster back in 2003 and after that, a population from the city traveled and resettled in the town of Beacon Hills. Now, I'm working on a project to trace these families and I can't find any historical records from Sunnydale at all. I was wondering if you knew any sources.

Dawn: [it takes her a minute, because for some reason his hands are distracting, but eventually she realized that he asked her a question, and she blinks. There's ... something she's feeling at seeing him, but she doesn't know how or why] For Sunnydale? Why do you think I would know?

Derek: Well, Sam told me you studied history, and I'm trying to find historical documents.

Sam: And I don't know what would happen to historical documents for a town that literally no longer exists. If they would have survived at all.

Derek: [his hands are folded on the table, just in reach of hers] I guess I just could use a new set of eyes on it, and Sam pretty much sucks at this.

Sam: [wry, amused] Thanks, Derek.

Dawn: [she nods for a moment] Well, anything I can do to help. It sounds like a fun project. [there's a pause as she looks down at his hands again, then back up at his face] Sorry, have we met before? Sam already knows I'm terrible with faces but you just seem ... really familiar. Do you do lecture circuits or something?

Derek: [that was a good sign, but he keeps his face neutral and smiles a bit] Have you ever been out to California for work? Though I did spend a few years in New York. I tend to help out at Beacon Hills High School on special projects.

Dawn: [pauses for a moment before shaking her head] No, I've pretty much been in Minnesota my whole life. It's so weird. [she stares at him again for a moment, and when she starts to pin down the feeling - she's happy. she's happy to see him, why? - she looks away and reaches for her laptop] Do you know if they had any digital records at all?

Derek: I don't know. I mean, part of the problem is that the earthquake happened before the digital age got into full swing. But here, let me show you what I found. [and he gets up and walks behind her, leaning down beside her to type in a website that Sam had found and made him memorize the URL for. It was a census site for beacon hills]

Dawn: [she straightens just slightly at the proximity, flustered, but she doesn't pull away. Her head just turns to watch his face as he types, still so confused but not really sure what to do about it. Eventually she tears her eyes away from him and back to the computer screen]

Derek: [he's keeping track of her heartbeat, and her scent, and he takes in a deep breath and then chuckles] You smell like flowers.

Dawn: What? [her eyes are startled back to him, and she seems genuinely confused by the statement until she figures it out] Oh. It's my shampoo. [there's a beat] Good flowers or bad flowers, because there's the shampoos where they're nice and floral-like, and then there's ones where it's just like way over the top and choking everyone it comes in contact with and wow I need to just ... stop. [because she shouldn't care about whether he thinks she smells good or not. She has a boyfriend. A boyfriend named Mark who's a nice guy, and she never gets like this. What is wrong with her?]

Derek: [he couldn't help but smile in that way she only brings out in him, and he nods] In the good way. I like it.

Dawn: [there's something about that smile that tugs at something in her, something that makes her chest clench and she starts to feel a little distressed, and she pushes him back as she gets to her feet] Sorry, I just ... I need some air.

Derek: [stands up to give her room, smelling the distress]

Sam: [is watching carefully] Are you okay, Dawn?

Dawn: Yeah, fine. It's just ... really hot in here. I'll be right back. [and she'll just take off for the door, pacing on the sidewalk just outside as she tried to get ahold of herself.]

Derek: [closes his eyes, focusing on her in case the "boyfriend" shows up]

Sam: You're just as smooth of a liar as we are. But it's working - something in her recognizes you.

Derek: I don't want to overwhelm her. But if she can figure it out and fight her own way back, it would be the best solution.

Sam: I'm sure Buffy and Faith will still kick the snot out of the conduit anyway to make sure.

Buffy: [as though on cue, Sam's phone starts ringing. The second he picks up, there's a breathless Buffy on the other end] Believe it or not? True love's kiss.

Sam: [..... nope, he's going to laugh. And Derek heard that and just gives him a look because you know what, they are in a library] What, are the oracles watching Once upon a Time or something?

Buffy: It's been used on me before. And it's usually a bit looser - it just has to be someone who truly loves them, it doesn't necessarily have to be returned - but Dawn hasn't actually accepted that this is her life. So Derek kisses her, it'll be enough to snap her out of it.

Sam: Well, seeing the looks she's already been giving the big, bad wolf here, I'm sure our little red isn't going to complain when he tries.

Derek: [so giving Sam a look. You did not just call him the big bad wolf.]

Buffy: Well, since I know he can hear this - go. Smooch. Faith and I will keep conduit boy here until it's done.

Derek: [rolls his eyes] Get in a few for me.

Buffy: [oh, she will. though she can't hear that as well as he can]

Sam: I'll text you later.

Derek: [licks his lips] I'll wait until she comes back. Just in case there are adverse effects.

Dawn: [it takes her a few minutes, but eventually she composes herself and makes her way back in again. She gives them both a smile before nodding] Sorry about that. I don't know what came over me. [she doesn't make direct eye contact with Derek, but she gestures back to the laptop] What did you want to show me?

Derek: [he leans back down like he is going to the computer, and then looks over at her] Actually, there is something I've been wanting to do first. [and he's going to gently cradle her cheek to make her look at him, and then with the swiftness of his wolf, lean in to kiss her deeply]

Dawn: [the kiss takes her by surprise, too much so to protest and for a moment it's just her kissing him back because he kissed her. But after a moment, she starts really kissing him a back, one hand coming up to fist the front of his jacket and pull him closer. She then pushes back suddenly and stares at him as everything comes rushing back in one violent swoop, and she looks up to meet his eyes with a smile] Hi.

Derek: [he looks her in the eyes, and then smiles] There's my Dawn.

Dawn: [she groans softly, because sudden memory resurgence comes with a little bit of pain, but after closing her eyes for a moment she tips forward, resting her forehead against his shoulder] You're okay.

Derek: [holds her to him, rubbing her back gently] Now that I have you back, I'm perfect.

Dawn: [she sighs softly, knowing that there were probably more consequences than getting a creepy fake boyfriend and fake life] How bad did I mess up?

Derek: Actually, beyond the oracles giving you a fake life and being bastards about it, not badly. [runs fingers through her hair] I missed you.

Sam: You guys do know we're in public, right?

Dawn: [she glances over at him, then around the library] We should go somewhere not public.

Derek: I'm going to take you home. After we drop Sam off at his hotel.

Sam: You're welcome, you know, for finding you.

Dawn: [glances back at him with a grin before making her way over and sliding her arms around his waist] Thank you for not chloroforming me and throwing me in the trunk to drag me back to Beacon Hills.

Sam: [hugs her tightly] I've been trying to cut down on the kidnapping lately. I have kids now to set a good example for.

Dawn: You're doing very well.

Derek: [is packing up her laptop] Come on, let's get you back to the hotel safe.

Dawn: [and off they go, back to the hotel to drop off Sam, and then home! Which is a long drive and Dawn probably falls asleep on the way, because her brain had a long day]

Derek: [and they are probably picking up a Buffy along the way?]

Dawn: [that too, so there's sister snuggling and possibly a bit of yelling]

Derek: [and he's good with waiting until they are back home and alone to really catch her up on everything. Well, except one thing] So... you should probably know before we get home that we have a house guest.

Dawn: We do?

Derek: Yeah. However you asked for your favor from them, they ended up giving me a "gift."

Dawn: Good gift or bad gift?

Derek: [looks over at her] They brought Laura back to life.

Dawn: [her eyes go saucer wide] Oh my God. Is she okay? [there's a beat] Are you okay?

Derek: She's adjusting. She's taking it better than I thought. I'm good with it.

Dawn: Good. That's ... good.

Derek: Everyone lived to see another day. It's very good.

Dawn: I'm sorry, about ... all of this. I just sort of ... lost it.

Derek: [reaches over to just take her hand and hold it] Don't be sorry, Dawn. You did what you thought was right.

Dawn: No, I did exactly what you told me not to do. [she threads her fingers through his anyway]

Derek: You always do what I tell you not to do. [smirks, squeezing her hand] Doesn't mean you didn't think it was the right thing to do.

Dawn: [sighs softly before pulling him in closer] I just wasn't okay with there being a world without you in it.

Derek: [good thing he's not driving at this point, because pulling him over would be bad] Good thing I felt the same about you, since I went after you once I realized something was wrong. [presses his forehead against hers]

Dawn: [I thought they were home, either way she's leaning in to kiss him softly] We should go upstairs. And hope the loft is empty because we totally missed the window for thank God you're alive sex and I feel that I should make up for it. A lot.

Derek: [smirks] I'm sure I can convince Laura to seduce a certain deputy again for the night if she needs an excuse.

Dawn: [eyebrow raise] She works fast.

Derek: Yeah, she does.

Dawn: I can't say I blame her. If I had come back from the dead, I'd want to climb a hot deputy like a tree too.

Derek: Well you know, some of us wait for the one we love to come back from being an idiot and getting herself brainwashed. [smirks]

Dawn: [she grins a bit at that] Well, if that's what works for you.

Derek: [cups her cheeks in his hands and kisses her] It's all I've wanted since I got back from Mexico.

Dawn: Well. She is back with all of her faculties intact. Shall we go inside?

Derek: Yeah. [he takes her hand, leaving the elevator landing towards the front door, going to open it up]

Dawn: [slapped to the door is a note from Laura: "Meeting Cora for dinner after she's liberated from Peter. Be back to say hi to Dawn later."] She's keeping active.

Derek: She's trying to make up for lost time. Plus she's not the alpha anymore, and that gives her a bit of freedom.

Dawn: Has she met Scott yet?

Derek: Not yet. He's dealing with a few emotional things since Mexico and has been focusing on school and lacrosse.

Dawn: [nods] And what about Cora? How's she handling the Peter thing?

Derek: Cora's the one who really saved him in the end. She's made it her personal mission I think to get back the uncle she knows he can be. Laura wants nothing to do with him. [sighs] He's just so broken right now, but he has to be the one to fix himself. We take turns sitting with him though so he has family and isn't alone.

Dawn: I can take a shift if you want. I've got some books I think he'd like.

Derek: I think that would mean a lot to him. Right now I think Cora's working on getting him to leave the bedroom and at least come into the rest of the safe house.

Dawn: That's good. Little steps at a time.

Derek: [he's closed the door, and goes to take her by both hands, walking backwards towards the bedroom] Now, I still owe you a few bedtime stories about what happened to me in Mexico...

Dawn: [follows his lead] But it's not bedtime yet.

Derek: Well, we'll just have to be creative in what we do in bed until it is bedtime.

Dawn: [nods as she skips slightly to catch up with him, sliding her arms around his shoulders] I have a few ideas.

Derek: So do I. [and he opens the door behind him, and then leans down to kiss her as he walks them through the door]

Dawn: [she hums softly as she kisses him, finally having this feel the way it's supposed to. Mark tried, repeatedly to catch her interest but there was always something wrong with it. this feels right, and perfect, and she's more than willing to just let him take her away]

Derek: [kicks the door shut behind him, so glad for these soundproof walls that he put up now. He leads her to the bed, and then stops kissing her a moment, looking down at her with a smile, his thumb running along her cheek]

Dawn: [looks back at him for a moment, before brushing one hand against his side] What?

Derek: [he kisses her softly before pressing his forehead to hers] Promise me you won't ever leave me... [it's a soft request, but there is a lot behind it]

Dawn: [she can sense that and she leans into him reassuring him that she's right there] Despite current evidence to the contrary, I don't want to.

Derek: [he goes to nuzzle into her neck, pressing a kiss where her pulse is the strongest against his lips] Good. Because I don't want to lose you again. Ever.

Dawn: [her eyes close at the pressure, tipping her head back slightly as she does] I don't want to lose you either.

Derek: [he doesn't know why, but his fangs come out and the gently run along her neck, and he doesn't bite, but just enough pressure to make them known as he teases the skin there]

Dawn: [she shivers softly at the press of his teeth, a bit more than normal when he nips at her] Derek?

Derek: [he pulls back, his eyes glowing, fangs out but he's not transformed in the face. And that is a very vulnerable look in his eyes]

Dawn: [she doesn't mind the wolf. She never has. It's the scared look behind them that makes her worry] Hey, what is it?

Derek: [he closes his eyes a moment] I want you to stay forever. Us. Mates.

Dawn: [whoa. whoa.] Are you sure?

Derek: [he nods his head just a bit] Yes.

Dawn: [she stares at him for a moment, just trying to process what he's saying to her. It's a big thing, a huge responsibility, and she knows that. But she also knows that that's exactly what she wants. That part, she doesn't really have to think about. She just nods before moving in to kiss him again, long and slow. She doesn't have words for this one. She feels like her words wouldn't really do it much justice]

Derek: [her kiss is all the answer he needs. His arms envelope her, pulling her against him as he responds in kind, his fangs sliding away as he kisses her deeply, one hand sliding up to thread into her hair on the back of her head, keeping her lips against his]

Dawn: [she holds the kiss as best she can, taking a few more steps back towards the bed and pulling him with her]

Derek: [he goes, and shifts to lay her down on the bed and sliding over her, his fingers already at work on getting her out of her top, wanting to just get down to skin on skin quickly]

Dawn: [she'll help with that, shifting to help him get her out of her clothes and doing the same for him, shoving off his jacket and pulling on his shirt as she goes]

Derek: [clothes are easy to discard, and ironically, being naked isn't something he really minds anymore. Especially in this moment, pressed against the woman he loved as his hands explored her body, touching familiar landscapes he had been yearning to explore for over a week now]

Dawn: [she's just trying to catch up, remind herself why this is perfect and right and why she doesn't need anything else. Her fingers tug at his shoulders and his sides to pull him closer, her legs shifting to frame his hips as she does]

Derek: [he's taking his time, gentle but urgent, needing to take her all in and yet wanting to take his time. He pressed against her, his body grinding against her hips]

Dawn: [her hips push up to meet the press of him, fingers digging into his shoulders with a soft moan as she does. It feels like it's been ages since they've done this, just took the time to explore each other and as much as she needs more of him, she's willing to let him take his time]

Derek: [after a while, he wants that more too, and his hand went to find the condoms placed in the pillows. He finds one, gets it on easily, and once they are both panting for more, his lips lock back onto her as he presses inside of her]

Dawn: [she groans softly at the press of him, her hips pushing up to meet his as he settles inside her. She leans eagerly into the kiss, one leg hooking up over his hip to pull him closer]

Derek: [he thrusts, moving at a familiar pace, one that they had established working best for them. His body knows how to fulfill her needs, and he just lets it work as he focuses on kissing her lips, neck, and any other piece of flesh he could find]

Dawn: [her hands continue to wand over his shoulders, meeting each of his kisses and pressing as close as she can. Her fingers start to dig in harder the closer she gets, her body slowly building towards that familiar release]

Derek: [he's close too, and he speeds up as he gets there, until he hits that peak and his teeth press against her neck again, trying not to bite her but it's going to leave a nice little mark in the morning anyway]

Dawn: [his teeth pressing into her skin is that last bit she needs, falling over the edge with a soft cry as her body sags and relaxes under him. As she comes down, her fingers trace small shapes into his back, using it to calm her]

Derek: [he just nuzzles her cheek with his as he comes back down, settling his weight comfortably on top of her. He closes his eyes, just taking in her scent and kissing her neck] I love you.

Dawn: [hums softly as she turns her head just enough to press his cheek against hers] I love you too.

Derek: [he pulled his head back, blue eyes glowing down at her after having looked at her with yellow ones for weeks, and human ones after that. He smiles, his hand running through her hair]

Dawn: [she smiles a bit when she sees that. As much as she wanted the gold eyes, for him, these are the ones she's used to] Hey. You're you again.

Derek: [his grin grew] Actually, I'm a bit more now.

Dawn: [raises an eyebrow] Oh really?

Derek: [he smiled and chuckled, once, and then his face grew a bit serious] You remember what I told you before I left for Mexico?

Dawn: [she does. And she closes her eyes] Derek, they were giving me a play-by-play. I know that you ... [words she doesn't want to say]

Derek: [he kissed her gently to ease her a bit] I did, as a mortal. And wanting just more time with you was the last thought in my head. And then... something happened. I think... I think whatever was going on with me wasn't Kate after all, but a byproduct of her actions. I evolved, and when I came back to consciousness... I had shifted. Into a full wolf.

Dawn: [Her eyes widen a bit at that and she starts to sit up a little] Really?

Derek: [nods] Yeah. Just like Mom was able to.

Dawn: [she pauses as she processes it for a minute before nodding] Told you it was a good thing.

Derek: I could have still done without the dying.

Dawn: You and me both.

Derek: [snuggles back down into the bed, pulling her back into his arms] I'm still working on getting control of the shift, for the record. So don't be surprised if you wake up sleeping with a wolf.

Dawn: [hums softly as she curls into him, closing her eyes as she does] Duly noted.

Derek: [pulls the covers over them] By the way... your sister, Angel, and Sam heard me refer to you as my mate.

Dawn: [makes a "mmph" noise] You have to tell your sisters.

Derek: I will. And when you're up for it, I want to get you a ring to make it official to human standards too.

Dawn: [nods a bit] Sounds good to me.

Derek: [nuzzles her cheek] I'm glad we waited until we were adults to be together. I don't think we would have appreciated each other like this as kids.

Dawn: [she shakes her head] Me either. This is better.

Derek: It's perfect.

Dawn: [she nods, finding his hand and threading her fingers over his] It is. I wouldn't have it any other way. [a beat] Other than, you know, us getting kidnapped less.

Derek: We should really work on avoiding that from now on.

Dawn: Agreed. Less kidnapping. More snuggles.

Derek: Sounds like a plan I can get behind. [kisses under her ear, squeezing her hand]

Dawn: Good. [she relaxes a bit next to him] I feel like I haven't slept well in ages.

Derek: I think we both can use a nice, long sleep. We can talk more tomorrow.

Dawn: [nods a bit before turn and curling into him, tucking herself into his side as she drifts off]

Derek: [he falls asleep easily after her, and yeah, he needs to work on this control because Dawn is going to wake up to a black wolf curled up against her in the morning, muzzle nuzzling under her cheek]

Dawn: [and she rouse slowly, notice that her boyfriend is much more furry than usual, and just go with it. He's warm and snuggly, she can work with this]

Derek: [he's still fast asleep, but will unconsciously snuggle up to his mate more, trying to be protective and loving at the same time instinctually]

Dawn: [yes. snuggling is good. She'll just keep snuggled close as she drifts back to sleep again]