Well, you made my morning just by having another segment of Dawning Light posted to lj. Then I read it over breakfast, and thought about it, got melancholy and contemplative, and did some dishes. I really like where you're going with the series, since Anita and crew need some outside problem to give them perspective and purpose, and Dawn is, in my head, the perfect choice. She makes everyone (well, the main characters) confront what they've been hiding or being angry about for years, like Nathaniel's past and Anita's hang-ups. None of these characters can afford to be wholly self-absorbed anymore, and I love your determination to mature them all. It's going to be difficult, in a verse like ABVH where everything is out to screw you, including most of Anita's police-workers, and what is Dolph going to say to Child Services?
You said this was 'all over the place' but I don't think that's a bad thing, because there's so many characters and reactions to keep track of, anyway.