Buffy needed something short of a miracle to smile during this new apocalypse, but Dawn’s words just about did it. She was very much smiling now. One that spoke with warmth and admiration.
She was experiencing a revelation. Her Dawnie wasn’t a little girl anymore. No, she’d blossomed into this specimen of a woman Buffy always hoped she’d become. Beautiful, selfless, kind. And it took her all this time to realize.
Buffy reached out her hand and tucked a strand of hair behind Dawn’s ears, proud tears brimming in her eyes, “Let’s not let that be today, okay?”
Dawn could feel a smile blooming on her own face at the sight of Buffy’s. With impending doom constantly looming over their heads (but over her sister’s more than anyone else), it had been far too long since the youngest Summers had last seen that expression. She was beyond glad to see it, and proud to have been the one to finally coax it back out of hiding. Because no matter what, no matter how far they drifted, Summers women always knew each other best.
“Don’t worry, I’m not planning on it. But just remember this, Buffy: you’re not alone, okay? I’m always here for you now, no matter what - just like you’ve always been for me.”
