"I'm not patrolling tonight, Spike. It's Halloween."
"Like that's stopped folks before? I seem to remember trying to kill you one Halloween."
"And the Halloween after that we were attacked by a house, I know, I was there for both." Buffy rolled her eyes and looked at Giles for help.
Giles didn't even look up from his book as he droned out in monotone the same thing he had been saying all day. "Things have been quieting down like they should, there are no signs of anything bad, we should have a normal, quiet," he glanced over his glasses at his Slayer and Spike "that is if you two quit bickering, Halloween."
"What am I supposed to do then? It's not like I get any of the good night-time programs."
Buffy crossed her arms in front of her. "I don't know, Spike. I don't care. Go trick-or-treating."
Spike shot her a look that told her he didn't find her comment as amusing as she did. Dawn perked up in her chair. "You could go to the party." Out of the corner of his eye Spike saw Buffy shake her head. Of course, this only served to make him want to go. He flashed Dawn a smile and she told him more about the party. It starts at 10. Ends at 2. "Costumes are optional but you have to dress up" Dawn explained "what kind of Halloween party would it be if you weren't dressed up?" After rattling on about it for a bit longer she paused for a breath. "So, are you coming?"
"Yea, I'll go with you Little Bit." Spike grinned when Buffy groaned and hid her face in her hands.
Dawn dragged Spike up to the house by his sleeve. She was dressed as Little Red Ridding Hood, up to date with short skirt and low-cut top. Spike had agreed to go as The Big Bad Wolf because the half-mask hid his face well, but he made sure to grumble about it so Dawn wouldn't know. He whined that she should have just let him come as a vampire as they reached the house. Buffy and the other Scoobies would be by later. Apparently they were having trouble with Xander's costume.
The house was huge and scattered with people. Dawn weaved her way through, still leading Spike. They stopped in a different room full of kids Dawns age. Immediately they were swarmed by people.
"Dawn you came!" A girl in an equally revealing angel costume hugged her tightly. When they parted she noticed Spike. "Oh my god," she whispered, not knowing Spike had no problem hearing her. "Is that the guy you-"
Dawn cut her off with a few smacks to the arm and a hushed "Janice!"
Janice slid over to Spike with a coy smile. "Hi Mr. Big Bad Wolf."
"I'm goin' for a smoke, Nibblet."
Spike paid no attention to Dawn's friends as he turned to leave. He heard the girls giggle and one said "He calls you 'Nibblet'? That's so cute!" Before their voices were lost in the thumping music and shouting party goers. He glanced around for Buffy and her lackeys but they weren't there yet. Spike set his half-mask on the counter and lit up.