Author's note: AU season 6, where apparently Angel kept the Gem of Amarra and just gave it to Spike? Just go with it. I'll update really quickly, hope you like!
He awoke. 148 days today. 148 days since the sun broke night and he watched her lifeless body crumple to the ground. 148 days since she was forced to give her life to protect her sister, his little bit. 148 days since he failed her. 148 days since his last shred of hope at happiness died. He would have ended himself, should have been dusted after her body was buried. But there was the Nibblet. Her mum dead, and then her sister, she had no one left. Giles wanted to be the one to take care of Dawn, but he wasn't going to let Spike anywhere near them. He went back to England after Dawn declared she'd rather live with Spike than the watcher. Granted, she hadn't seen him for a week after Buffy's funeral. The Scoobies didn't say it, but they blamed Dawm for Buffy's death. They were going to send her off to live with some aunt, but she cried and screamed and threatened to kill herself. It had been Glinda's idea for her and Red to move into Revello Drive, but Dawnie wouldn't have any of it. She had demanded that Spike move in with her. More like cried and begged rather than demanded, so how could he say no? The soddin' Scoobies had been furious, but Dawn had told them they had no power over her. The move all happened in a blur. Red forged up the documents, making him, William Blackwell, Dawn Summer's legal guardian. He moved in, planning on staying in the basement, but the Bit didn't like staying upstairs alone, and he didn't want to change Joyce's room, so he ended up in Buffy's. He didn't change a thing. The *smell*… she could have been alive. But she wasn't.
Dawn was worried about Spike, terrified he'd be too reckless, and terrified of losing the only thing she had left. So she called up Angel and demanded the Gem of Amarra. He only sent it because the shock of Buffy's death left him thinking fuzzy. The Scoobies went berserk, but there really wasn't anything they could do about it. Spike said he wasn't worthy, Buffy had sent it to Angel for a reason, but Dawn insisted. She knew he was a different person than he had been. It was better this way, going out during the day, better to fulfill his guardian duties. Plus, he had odd jobs he'd do, needed to pay bills and Buffy's student loans, buy food and blood.
Neither of them was dealing well. Dawn had to see a grief counselor because of the deaths and someone from social services about her new guardian. She had to lie to both of them about everything. At least it kept her pretty busy. But for dealing with the grief, her and Spike only had each other. The only Scooby they ever really talked to was Tara. She visited once or twice a week. Willow never knew. She'd talk to Dawn, teach her magic, and watch movies. She talked to Spike too. They really didn't mind each other, and her and Dawn were very close.
Spike had never cried so much in his life. He'd given up acting like the Big Bad that day at the tower. Dawn went from bouts of depression and apathy to fits of violent rage. She knew the Scoobies blamed her, but they acted so fake. She really hated them. They of course placed all blame for everything they could think up on Spike, but he was so indifferent towards them that they eventually gave it up. Spike taught Dawn to fight to deal with her emotions. He learned to cook, like Joyce used to, hoping to make things slightly more normal. They were healing. School would start again soon, so they talked of moving. Where would the go? They really didn't belong anywhere.
It was 148 days today. Spike was not okay. Dawn was not okay. But they were breathing. Healing. Trying. They watched Passions. He made spicy pizza for dinner. They talked about moving out around San Diego, out on the beach. They didn't know Buffy had only been dead for 147 days.