This is a challenge fiction. This is the outline I was given...

Challenge: Dawn spike shipper Not romance Got the idea of spike taking care of dawn while Buffy's gone Includes two of the fallowing: Dawn having a fight Spike teaching her to fight Dawn being hurt Spike talking to Buffy about treating dawn like a grownup Dawn visiting spike in his crypt Dawn running away and spike going with her Dru finding dawn Xander and spike being friends

He stopped outside the bedroom door, looking in at the room that only a week before had been a normal place. Curtains thoughtfully picked out and sewed by a mother, comforter on the bed, and pink dresser for clothes. All of it painted or changed as she turned into a teen. The once pink curtains now hung with bright orange lace over it in a flurried fashion. The comforter on her bed replaced by a blue blanket with yellow stars and suns. The dresser sanded and a rose etched in the centre. Clothes were thrown to the floor near her unmade bed. Blankets and pillows fallen on the floor sometime during the night.

He stepped inside, carefully avoiding anything valuable that had fallen on the floor. And walked towards the window, opening the curtains and parting them slightly, so more moonlight could fill the small room.

Dawn was lying asleep on her bed, wearing her jeans and shirt she had earlier that night, she only took off her shoes. As he watched the teen sleep a small smile grew on his face. She was safe; she didn't have a worry in the world. Why should that change? It wasn't fair to make her responsible for anything that had happened in the last week. School didn't matter, chores or work. She had lost a mother and sister in the same year. And as she slept, none of it mattered. It almost wasn't fair.

She had cried to sleep, not that anyone noticed but him. He watched her cry from outside, listening to her tears fall, breaking his own heart. After he was sure everyone had gone home, he climbed up the tree by her window and climbed in. She was still crying and didn't stop until he held her and rubbed her back. After that she just fell asleep, letting him stay the night.

He walked to her bed and sat next to her. His bruised hand cautiously reached up to her soft peach one. He ran a finger over her wrist and down her arm. Soft and warm, just the way a girl should be. Spike got off the bed and lay on the floor in front of her bed. It was going to be a long night.

**



This is the first chapter in a hopefully good story. I want 10 reviews before I write anymore. Tell me what you think. What should happen in the next chapter? How long you think it should be. Anything just review. Your opinion matters to me.