Chapter 1: Independence

My sister, the Slayer. It gets so tiring after a while, hearing Buffy's name all over town. It seems like everyone knows her. She's funny, she's decent-looking, and she can totally kick butt. Her friends are always over, talking about stuff that they think I don't know about, like dead bodies and lesbians. Xander, Willow, even Spike, they all depend on her to, like, save the world again and again. And I'm just the Slayer's little sister who needs to be looked after and protected from evil. Buffy's showed me how to use a few weapons, like stakes, but I'm not allowed ten feet near the advanced training things. Thye say I whine a lot, but really… I just miss the old Buffy. I wish we could be like sisters again, without her having to play mom.

Dawn closed her diary, then stuck it under her mattress. After dropping her pink highlighter pen onto her desk, she went over to her closet and began the daily search for a decent outfit. Feeling rebellious, she chose a skimpy white tank top with a low cut that dove down her neck and chest with a pair of tight, low-slung denim jeans.

When her outfit was assembled, she hastily squeezed into it. The ambiance of the outfit gave her an idea. Today she would start living the real life. After all, Buffy could go out partying all night with no excuse and totally get away with it.

Grabbing her makeup bag, Dawn headed to the bathroom. On her eyes she applied a smoky shade of deep blue with undertones of silver and gray. Dark liner and mascara, with maroon lips. She let her hair fall over her shoulders and down her back. A new Dawn looked back through half-mast eyelids. She liked it.

Grabbing Buffy's leather jacket off a chair as she headed for the front door, Dawn felt enlightened. Free. She could do whatever she wanted, and she had a whole lifetime to do it. The Slyer couldn't control her anymore, couldn't keep her on a leash like a dog. It was time she became independent. And she knew exactly where to start.

Spike answered the door to his crypt on the second knock. He wore black jeans and a T-shirt, and a cigarette peeked out of the corner of his mouth.

"Nibblet. What do you want?" He muttered lazily. Dawn saw alcohol bottles on his coffee table, explaining his drunken attitude. Perfect.

"Hi, Spike." She replied. "Can I come in?" The vampire made a dizzy sweep of his arm into the cave-like home, thus inviting her inside.

"Did Buffy send you?" He mumbled, slurring. She shook her head.

"No. I came alone. Because I wanted to." She turned the corner of her mouth up in what she hoped looked like a sophisticated smirk. Spike repositioned himself on the worn-down couch, a beer in his hand.

"Well, sit down if you want. Passions is on." He grunted as he moved to make room for Dawn to sit.

"Thanks. Hey, Spike?" Dawn began.

"Yeah, Nibblet?"

"Can I… Can I have a beer?" Dawn tried to sound confident, like she'd been drinking forever. Spike glanced drunkenly at her.

"Take whatever you want, Bit. As long as it's okay with…" Dawn was glad his slurring drowned out the last word. No more Buffy. She was fine without the Slayer watching over her every moment.

Reaching out, she took an unopened beer bottle off the coffee table and popped the cap open. Settling in next to Spike, she took a long swig. As the liquid washed through her body, she felt comfortable. Independent. As she leaned against the vampire's shoulder, all thoughts of her sister were washed from her mind. From now on it was all good.