Magic
When Dawn was 9, she'd stay up past bedtime watching the cheesy Disney version of Cinderella. She'd do this three, four, even five nights a week sometimes. Buffy always teased her that she had a crush on Price Charming, but that wasn't it. It was the magic.
Dawn believed in magic long before Buffy was a slayer. When she told her mom this, she hired a lame magician for Dawn's 10th birthday party. But Dawn believed in something bigger. She wholeheartedly believed that one day her fairy godmother would come. She would make things beautiful and Dawn would magically fall in love.
"Dawn, you need to get your clothes!" Willow hollered across the house. Dawn leaned up from her chair, but stopped as Tara arose first.
"I'll get them, Dawnie." Dawn and Tara shared a smile as the girl resumed her reclined position.
"Gee, since when are you Dawn?" Willow chastised. "You spoil her." Tara bent forward and kissed Willow.
"I spoil you too."
Dawn watched the exchange lovingly. Without Buffy, Tara was the person Dawn most found comfort in. And the fact that she did everything for her only made Dawn like Tara more.
She had a strange feeling these days though. It was sort of a stomach ache, like the kind she got before a really big exam. She felt it anytime Tara and Willow were together. Sometimes, she'd lay awake in bed wondering what she'd do if they broke up. Then, she'd see them happy together, but the feeling was still there. If they were still in love, what was bothering her?
"Dawn? Ya there?" Willow waved her hand in front of the dazed girl's face.
"Oh, yeah, what's up?" She answered, snapping out of her thoughts.
"Tara and I have to discuss some things with Anya and Xander tonight, so Spike's gonna come over and watch you in a little bit. Are you alright until then?" Dawn scowled.
"Why can't I be there? I can handle it."
"Because of... stuff. Grown-up things. And you love when Spike watches you... not that you shouldn't love when we watch you, but we can't right now, we will later, and -"
"Okay, okay. I'll stay here," Dawn relented, cutting off Willow's babbling. Willow nodded her head in an attempt at authority, then left.
"Hey, I'm sorry you can't come, but I promise we'll be back soon," Tara consoled Dawn, stroking her hair. "You be good."
Then there was that feeling. Her gut kind of sank, and her heart felt strong - not good or bad, just strong. She didn't know how to deal with this. So, like old times, she crawled up to her bed and popped in her trusted "Cinderella" tape.
It didn't make her feel any better this time though. Everything seemed more empty than the other times she watched it. Cinderella didn't even know Prince Charming - he never even said anything! The fairy godmother was ten times cooler. Hell, she'd rather be with her any day.
Then the feeling hit her hard. Oh god. She didn't want Prince Charming. Not ever. She wanted someone magical, full of life, and... Tara.
Spike called up the stairs to Dawn, but she didn't notice. All she could think was "I'm in love with Tara."
That night when Tara and Willow came home, the air was tense. Dawn couldn't tell if there was something bothering them too, or if it was all her. She would look at Tara, catch herself, look away, then repeat the whole process.
Every so often, she would feel Tara's eyes upon her, and that feeling - that love feeling - would take over and her skin would heat a million degrees. She decided she couldn't put up with this anymore. She had to think of some way to solve her problem.
When Tara and Willow left the room, she took action. Going over to the "secret" magic stash by the mantle, she formulated a plan. Dawn could be her own fairy godmother, then she wouldn't need Tara. She could magically fix it all herself.
She grabbed one of the magic books (the one with the largest font) and searched for love spells. The perfect one caught her eye. It was called "Erase Her From Your Heart" and required lots of ingredients Dawn couldn't pronounce.
Guessing on what things were what, she mixed them together and smelled them.
"Eww," she cringed. She was really going to have to eat this stuff? As she raised the bowl to her mouth, someone's hand grasped her shoulder.
"Dawnie, what are you doing?" Tara asked. Dawn was frozen in her tracks.
"Umm, I was just... experimenting." She looked away, hoping Tara would just let it slide. Her hopes were in vain.
"Dawn, there are always better ways to solve things. I know it's hard right now, but..."
"You use magic, why can't I? Why can't I fix this?" Dawn cried.
"What is it that needs to be fixed, Dawn? You know you can tell me anything. Whatever it is, it'll be okay."
Dawn sighed. Okay, time for plan B.
"I love you."
Tara paused for a moment, then kissed Dawn softly.
"Then that's okay."
And magically, it was.