Buffy. She hadn't changed much, she looked older, more focused. That was probably Glory's fault. Not that Ben could really blame Buffy for hating the bitch he shared his mind with but it made things difficult. Horribly so. He hated being the one to have to cause her pain like this. But he did. He was going to have to take her sister. Again. It was entirely lucky for him that she didn't remember it. He'd probably be dead already if she suspected for a second the connection he had to Glory, or what he'd been willing to do to Dawn to live.
It was her life or his, and maybe he was selfish, maybe he should just let himself die. But why should he do that. It wasn't fair.
"I'm good Buffy, mostly still confused by why I wound up in Kansas in 2009 but other than that, You know me, I try to adapt. I can't get work though. My ID doesn't cover this place. How're you settling in? Can't imagine you'd have much trouble adjusting, and a lot of your friends are here right? And Dawn. How's she finding it?"
He needed a way to get into Dawn's confidance again. Get Buffy's trust. Get Dawns. Go from there. Hand her to Glory and...
He hated it. He did. He wasn't a monster. But there was no other way.