Teaser

The plane had just stopped near the terminal and a tunnel has been launched from the airport.

The flight attendants were fussing for already several minutes, getting the passengers ready for the exit to come soon.

The hubbub of conversations was mixed with the slamming of baggage compartments and the noise of people preparing to disembark the plane after a lengthy flight.

Finally, the front door opened and the pilot’s voice rang out in the cabin.

“We thank you for traveling with us and hope you had a nice trip. We wish you a very nice stay in Cleveland, United States of America”

The same message was repeated in Italian and the long line of passengers started to move toward the exit Near the back of the plane, Dawn Summers was sighing impatiently, ready to jump in the crowd of people slowly moving towards freedom. Close to her, her sister, Buffy, was still sitting in her seat, waiting patiently.

“You don’t have to fidget that way Dawn, we’ll eventually get out of here. Just wait for your turn”

Dawn turned to look at her sister, an irritated look on her face.

“Why do you have to be so annoying, even for things as simple as getting out of a plane?”

“ ‘Cause I’m the big sister and you’re the kid” answered Buffy playfully. “That’s my job. Some things’ll never change.”

Dawn smiled at her sister and turned again to the line before her.

“Come on, it’s our turn” she said, her hand to Buffy.

Buffy took her sister’s hand and got up to follow her in the plane’s lane, her backpack thrown over her shoulder. After some minutes of advance, a smile to the flight attendants and to the pilot, both young women finally emerged in one of the airport’s lane where they followed the other passengers.

“I’m so happy to be here!” Dawn exclaimed. “It’s been so long since we saw the others. Do you think everyone will be there? Well, I know about Giles, ‘cause he’s one setting up that meeting. But what about Xander? And Willow? I know she has a lot of stuff going on lately in Brazil. But she’s gonna be here, right? And if she could just leave Kennedy in Brazil for that matter, I wouldn’t complain. What do you think? And…”

Buffy rolled her eyes, exasperated by her sister’s rambling.

“Dawn, please! Slow down! One thing at a time!”

Dawn shut up and cast a puzzled look to her sister, before resuming:

“Yeah, sorry, I always forget that you can’t remember two questions before forgetting. So, do you know if Xander is there?”

Buffy sighed at her sister’s comment but decided against commenting on it.

“I’ve already told you a hundred times, Xander and Willow are there. And to your great disappointment, Kennedy too”

Dawn rolled her eyes at this.

“I kind of knew, but it can’t hurt to hope…” she said, pouting a little. Then, she added, suddenly happy again : “So, are you happy to be here ? ‘Cause you know, I’m so glad to see them all again!”

“Yeah, ’cause no one could see that”

Buffy affectionately wrapped her arm around her sister’s shoulder.

“I’m glad to be here.” she asserted

Then, Dawn pushed a door leading to the arrival hallway of Cleveland’s airport. Both sisters’ eyes traveled around the room, looking for a familiar face.

Finally they noticed Giles walking towards them with a broad smile on his face.

Buffy Summers’ former watcher reached them quickly and hugged them affectionately.

“Buffy, Dawn!”

“Giles, I’m so happy to see you! You look good!” exclaimed Dawn, smiling.

Giles smiled back and began to take Dawn’s travel bag. But Buffy stopped him immediately.

“Giles, if you want to get useful by carrying stuff, you will have things to do, Dawn’s not traveling light!”

Giles had an indulgent smile and insisted to take Dawn’s bag. The younger Summers let him do so.

“Well, that’s why I’m taking this one right now. I leave the serious things to more skilled people” Giles answered, with a fake severe look on his face.

Buffy smiled and took his arm as the three of them were getting away from the crowd to the luggage belt in the international area.

“So, how was your trip from Rome?”

“So long! » complained Buffy. “Sometimes I wish that I was a powerful witch, then I would just teleport myself! Then I wouldn’t have to listen to my kid sister whining during the whole flight, ’cause she’s so impatient to see you again!”

Giles smiled to Dawn and put his free arm around her shoulders in a fatherly way.

“You know that Willow actually travels by plane?” He asked Buffy.

“Maybe it’s because, she does NOT have a babbling little sister?” asked Buffy playfully

“Hey!” protested Dawn.

But she chose to ignore her sister and turned to Giles again:

“Have the others arrived yet?” she asked.

“Robin left to pick up Xander at the bus station just before I left. They should be back before us and Willow and Kennedy will arrive later this afternoon from Rio. They should be there just before our first council meeting.”

“I can’t wait to be there!” exclaimed Dawn. “I can’t wait to see Xander and Willow again. It’s so good to be all together again! I hope they’re doing fine!”