Chapter 6:

What? What had she just said? Surely, I heard her wrong. God, I'm such an idiot! Scared the Bit half to death, all because she wanted the same thing I want. How could I be so bloody stupid? Does she really think I dont want her? "Well, that's not what I expected to hear." he said, still taken aback. When he saw the hurt look on her, he clarified, "Not that that's not what I wanted to hear, jus' wasn't expectin' it, that's all."

"I know." she muttered quietly, still not not looking at him directly.

Spike studied her, trying to figure out just what exactly was going on in her mind, What does she want? I know there are things I am not able to give, seein' as I'm a vampire, but I'll do my best. "How do you know that? How do you know that it's more than I'm able to give you?" he asked. He reached out and turned her face to meet his, "What do you want? I'll give you everything I can, but you have to tell me what it is that you want, pet."

Dawn stayed silent for a moment, trying to get the courage to ask him the one question that meant everything, and honestly, she wasn't really sure if she truly wanted to know his answer. "Could you ever love me?" she asked, finally locking her eyes with his. There. It's out there now, and I can't take it back. What if he says no? What if he-

That's it? She just wants me to be able to love her? That was easy. "I do love you, Dawn." he stated. That really what she thought I couldn't give her?

Dawn smiled sadly, "No, I mean really love me. Like the way you loved Buffy." she admitted bitterly, her sister's name rolling off her tongue like acid.

Spike took an unnecessary breath, "I could never love you like I loved your sister, on account of the fact that I never loved her at all. But, if your askin' if I could ever be in love with you, then the answer is yes. It's already happened, pet. I love you. I'm in love with you." he declared.

Dawn stared at him wide-eyed. "Do you mean that? A-are you sure?" she asked, praying that he did and wasn't going to take it back.

Spike grinned, " 'Course, I'm sure. Love you more than anything, pet."

Dawn smiled and crawled onto his lap, still clad in only her t-shirt and a g-string, that shows off more than it actually covers. Dawn sat, staring him in the eyes for a moment, looking as if she was trying to decide something, then came to a decision. She reached for the hem of her shirt, slowly raising it, when Spike stilled her hands, pulling her shirt back down. "What are you doing, luv?" he asked, with a curious expression.

Dawn's entire body tensed and she started to lift herself off of him, humiliated. I thought it was obvious what I was doing...thought he wanted me to. Does he not want me now? Am I taking everything the wrong way?

Spike pushed her back down onto him, "I didn't say get off me, luv, I just asked what you were doing." he told her, sensing her embarrassment.

She was now fidgeting with her hands, "I just... I umm, I thought that's what you wanted." she answered nervously.

Spike tilted his head to the side, Is she offerin' to give herself to me, right now? Just to make me happy? 'Cause she thinks that's what I want from her? "No, pet. I don't want you to do something you don't want to do. I can wait, luv, I can wait as long as I have to, until you're sure, 'til you're ready." he explained.

Dawn shook her head side to side, "It's okay. I'm ready. I want to...that is if you want to." she assured him.

Spike raised his eyebrow, "Oh, I want to. No denyin' that." he smirked as he took her hand and placed it on the bulge in his pants, laughing when he heard Dawn's heart speed up and her face turn beet red, "But, not now...not here. Your first time should be special, not on the ground in some dirty, dusty, old abandoned building. You deserve better." he told her seriously.

Wow. He's turning down sex because he thinks I deserve better. This man...vampire...whatever, is amazing. How the hell could Buffy not see that? Well, lucky for me that she didn't. "If it's with you, it would be special. Doesn't matter where." she said honestly.

How did I ever convince myself that I was in love with the slayer, when this gorgeous and amazing woman was right in front of my bloody face the whole time? he wondered. Spike was still awe-struck when Dawn spoke again, "But if you want to wait, I can do that, too." she said with a gleam in her eye, as she stood up and turned around, giving him a full view of her backside and heard Spike growl loudly when she bent over to retrieve her jeans.

*~*~*

Several minutes later, when she was fully dressed, she sat beside Spike, leaning against the wall, resting her head on his shoulder.

Dawn seemed lost in thought, "What's on your mind, pet?" Spike asked curiously.

Dawn hesitated before answering, "You remember that night you found me with Principal Wood?" she asked slowly.

Spike thought back, remembering how hurt and angry Dawn had been when she found out what he had tried to do, remembered that she almost killed the wanker for it. "Yeah...I remember."

She bit her lip before continuing, "I would have killed him, you know. If you hadn't of shown up and stopped me, I would have killed him." Dawn admitted.

Spike turned his head to face her, "I know." he said. He knew that this should have disturbed him, especially now that he has a soul, but it didn't. Of course, he never wanted her to carry something like that on her conscious, but the fact that she would have, for him, made him love her even more.

Dawn studied his face momentarily, before saying, "You know what else? You were wrong that night." she stated. At his questioning look, she continued, "You said that you weren't worth it...but you are. You always have been...to me, at least, even without your soul."

Spike was touched beyond words. Never in his life had someone said anything as meaningful as this about him. No one before, had ever made him feel like he mattered. He had no idea what to say to that. She had always treated him like a man, never less. She knew he was a vampire, knew he had killed hundreds upon hundreds of innocent people, and never had any remorse...until now, but it never made a difference to how she treated him. She didn't see him for what he was, but rather who he was.

Spike put his arm around her slender frame and drew her closer, placing a kiss on top of her head, "You have no idea, just how much that means to me. I would never have let you go through with it, but the fact that you would, means more to me than you will ever know."

AN: ok, i hope ya'll like...i just hope that ya'll didn't think it was too ooc or too fluffy, i might of gone a bit overboard...sorry if i did. please review and tell me what you thought. thanks to everyone who reads and enjoys.