A/N: As usual, this began as one of my mid-Season Six Spuffy one-shots, but then it became… this. -_- It's kinda fun to write xD I love Spike and Dawn. Not SPAWN. Spike and Dawn. There's a big difference. Spawn is like… with them as a couple. This is their brother-sister relationship that I adore. But, um… yeah. When you're reading it, it might actually read like a spoof, even though it isn't supposed to be. I think that the reason for that is that it's hard to write a concept like this without it coming off as a spoof. But it isn't. Yeah. This only has one slight cannon tweak: Tara and Willow are still together because it was useful to me. Oh, and Dawn's thing abut Willow and Tara paying rent? That's really my thing. It always annoyed me that there were these two extra people living in the house and usurping Buffy's funds and Buffy just let them live there, no cost.

Dedicated to Joss Whedon xD

Guardianship

Chapter One

Dawn opened her notebook, not sure what she wanted to do. All she knew was that she needed to feel the pen in her hand. Drawing or writing; it didn't matter.

As usual, Dawn was angry. At Buffy. Buffy was complaining about money, as was per usual. There was a very simple solution: make Tara and Willow pay rent. They were living in the house, eating their food, and running up their electric and water bills. And it wasn't like they did anything around the house. They were freeloaders, honestly!

A knock came at the door. "Dawny, can I come in?"

When Dawn didn't answer, Buffy opened the door and came in. She sat on the bed next to Dawn.

"Hey," Buffy said.

Dawn didn't respond. Ignoring Buffy was kind of fun.

"Dawn, there's something I've been… I've been trying to find the right way to tell you. I don't really know how you're going to react, and it's really scary - "

Dawn still didn't react.

"I'm sending you to live with Spike."

Okay. She was obviously just trying to get a reaction. Dawn still didn't have to say anything.

"You always seem happier when he's around. And-and I can't take care of you right now. Money's tight, so I'm turning the house into a B&B. I need your room. And I don't want you to see me sink to that level. I'll be working weird hours - night shifts at the DMP, cooking and cleaning during the day, and slaying in between. So-so pack up what you want. There are boxes outside your door."

Buffy got up and hurriedly left the room, kicking some cardboard boxes into Dawn's bedroom.

Oh, God. Buffy was serious.

But nowadays Buffy was making decisions without anyone's input and wouldn't budge from them, so arguing was useless. Besides, Spike was pretty cool.

Dawn went around the room, placing in the boxes all the things that she couldn't live without. Her diaries, her sketchbook, charcoal pencils, and pastels in their special metal case. A Britney Spears concert t-shirt. Basically all of her clothes, her Harry Potter and Anne of Green Gables books.

That was it.

Spike had C.D.s and a lot of books. He had a laptop (mooching wireless from the coffee shop). There was nothing Dawn really needed.

It had only taken one box.

Buffy brought her box down to the kitchen. Tara was there talking to Buffy.

"Citizenship, guardianship, birth certificate. It's all there. I put copies of all of both his and Dawn's papers in your top drawer."

They caught sight of Dawn in their conversation. Buffy went over to her.

"Hey, Dawny," Buffy said. "Are you ready to go?"

"Yeah." Dawn was silent for a moment. "Buffy, am I ever going to get to see you?"

"Of course, Dawn. Lots. Not as much as now, but… sweetie, don't even worry about it. You'll always be my little sister."

Dawn nodded wordlessly.

"We've - me, Spike, Xander, Willow, and Tara - have been setting this up for a long time. Spike had a wall put up in his crypt and we set up a bedroom there for you. I think you'll like it. Spike's coming to get you in a few minutes."

There was a honk from outside.

"Well," Buffy said. "Bye. I love you." She gave Dawn another hug.

"Bye."

Dawn picked up her box and went out to Spike's car.