“You guys got back quick,” Dawn said opening the front door to Giles’ knock and stepping aside to allow him in. “What, did Spike break the land speed record or something?”

“Dawn!” Buffy exclaimed, moving to push past Giles only to be stopped short by Spike’s hand on her arm and the quick shake of his head when she turned to question him. This wasn’t their Dawn.

“Well, at least we know you’re safe—if somewhat tardy,” Giles said.

“That was so not my fault. Mel’s mom got a puncture on the way back, and we had to wait for the auto club guy, and he took forever... And...and I forgot to take my cell phone when I left this morning,” she finished in a rush. “I’m sorry, Giles, I really didn’t mean to be late. I know tonight’s important. But I’m here now—all ready to go. And Spike’s already yelled at me.” She looked past Giles to pout at the vampire still standing on the porch. “So could we please skip the lecture and I’ll just grab my stuff?”

“Yes, well, I’m afraid there’s been a change of plan. If you wouldn’t mind inviting Spike in we can...”

“Huh?”

“This isn’t our Buffy and Spike,” he explained.

“Again with the huh?”

“If you would stop interrupting me every two seconds and let me explain,” Giles snapped.

Dawn rolled her eyes. “Geesh, cranky much?” she muttered before leaning back against the wall and signalling for him to continue.

“Buffy and Spike, that is this Buffy and Spike, are from another—parallel—dimension.”

“Like Sliders?” she asked, before adding a quick apology when the watcher glared at her once more.

“Yes, like Sliders,” Giles said, fighting the urge to roll his own eyes at the fact that, thanks to Spike and Dawn’s shared love of the show in question, he actually understood what Dawn was talking about. “It seems that their Dawn has been kidnapped and they’ve been trying to find her.

“Like...”

“Dawn!”

“Sorry,” she huffed.

“Now if you don’t mind...”

“Huh? Oh, yeah... Come in, Spike,” she said. “Uh...unless, you’re, you know...evil?”

“You do know it’s a bit late for caveats once you’ve already issued the invite, don’t you, pet?” Spike said as he entered, his voice tinged with equal parts laughter and concern.

~*~

“Jenny? I’m at Buffy and Spike’s,” Giles said when the phone was picked up at the other end. “Yes, we’ve found Dawn. She asked me to give you her apologies. And I’m afraid that I’m going to have to ask your forgiveness, too. It seems something—rather remarkable, actually—has come up that requires our attention.” Giles sighed. “I know, and I’m so sorry, my dear. I do promise to make it up to you.” He listened for a moment before continuing, “Yes, it would probably be best if you came here—I’m sure that Dawn will entertain William for us while we work.” He glanced at the teen hovering in the living room doorway; Dawn’s eager nod confirmed his words. “Yes, that would be good, although you might want to buy enough for two extra. I have to go,” he announced, cringing at the protesting squeal of tyres on the driveway, “if I’m not mistaken Spike and Buffy are home. I love you too. I’ll see you shortly.”

He poked his head into the living room and smiled reassuringly at the dimension-travellers. “Jenny will be over soon,” he said over the heavy clunk of boots on the stairs. “And she’s bringing pizza,” he added for Dawn’s benefit.

~*~

“Spike?”

“Not now, Bit.”

“But I...”

“I said not now,” Spike snapped, closing his eyes for a moment and then huffing out a sigh. “Gimme a hand getting something out of the boot, Rupert?” he asked, turning on his heel and heading back out the door without waiting for an answer.

Giles opened his mouth to say that there was more important business at hand than getting their latest acquisition out of the boot—a task that he was sure the vampire could accomplish quite well without his meagre assistance, then, catching Buffy’s pleading look, he closed it and followed Spike outside.

“Buffy, I didn’t mean to...” Dawn started, swiping roughly at the tears that threatened to fall.

“I know, sweetie,” Buffy said, wrapping her free arm around her sister’s shoulders and squeezing gently while balancing a large vase on her hip with the other arm. “He was worried. Just give him a chance to cool down.” She brushed the hair away from Dawn’s face, tucking it behind her ear before adding, “But you know you aren’t supposed to go anywhere without your cell.”

“I know, and I thought I had it, honest. I took it out of my bag last night to charge it, and this morning I forgot that it wasn’t in there. I won’t do it again, I promise. I didn’t mean to worry you guys, and I really didn’t mean to make Giles late for dinner...”

“Shhh,” Buffy said, breaking into the teen’s spiel before she could get too worked up. “It’s okay. No harm done, just be more careful next time, ‘kay?”

“I will, I promise.”

“So, you all ready to go?” Buffy asked, changing the subject.

“I...uh, that is... Buffy, something really cool’s happened. Just...don’t freak, okay?” Dawn turned her sister around so she was facing the living room.

~*~

The loud crash had Spike flying up the stairs and back into the house with Giles on his heels.

“It’s alright,” Giles said between pants.

“This got something to do with what you were trying to tell me out there?” Spike asked, slipping an arm around Buffy as they stared at their doubles.

“We come in peace,” the dimension travelling Spike quipped, holding his hands up palms out.

“Spike!” his Buffy chastised, hitting him lightly on the shoulder before turning to their counterparts. “Please, ignore him, he’s such an...”

“Yeah, he is,” the other Buffy agreed with an affectionate smile. “And apparently it’s not just mine that is.”

“Oi,” the two Spikes protested in unison.

“If we’re quite done, perhaps we could retire to the living room for a sensible discussion?” Giles pinched the bridge of his nose, he had a feeling that this was going to be a very long night.

“Aren’t you supposed to be going out? Anniversary, remember?” Buffy asked.

“Yes, that was the plan. However, I think the situation at hand is rather more pressing.”