Title: Babysitting Duties 9/9
Author: Forsaken2003
Pairing: S/X
Rating: PG13
Disclaimer: I own none, all belong to Joss Whedon
Comments: Always welcomed!
Summary: Spike and Xander babysit Dawn for the weekend.
Warnings/Spoilers: Season 5.
Beta'd by: Unbeta'd
Prompt #506 from tamingthemuse- Yaw
Note: From now on most of my tamingthemuse stories will be named as the challenge.
Dawn sat on the chair in the living room one leg thrown over the arm. She heard Xander and Spike in the kitchen making spaghetti. It was Joyce's favorite. Also from the smacking she was hearing there was a bit of making out happening. There was a ding from her cell phone expecting it to be Janet. A shriek erupted from her lungs and jumped up off the chair.
It barely registered to her when both men came running out ready to kill whatever dared break into the house and scare Dawn. What they found was Dawn jumping up and down, her phone clutch to her chest.
"Dawnie, you've got to stop with the screeching," Xander said. He had a butcher knife in his hand. "Do you know how mad your mom would be if we had destroyed her living room and there was actually no threat?"
"I'm so sorry," Dawn said bashfully. "It's just Dylan texted me!"
While Spike fought the growl that wanted to burst from him Xander smiled. "That's great, Dawn. What did he say?"
"He asked if I was okay after last night. He also asked if I wanted to meet him at The Double Meat Palace after supper for ice cream." Dawn began to bounce up and down excitedly.
"What about ice cream?" Buffy asked as she walked into the house. Joyce was right behind her.
Dawn hurried over and gave her mom a hug. "Welcome back!" She turned to Buffy. "Dylan just asked me out tonight."
Buffy went into slayer mode. "No way. You know how dangerous it is out there. Why do you meet up in the after school tomorrow?"
Dawn's phone beeped and Dylan wrote again, this time saying 'please'. "No." She turned to Joyce. "Please, mom?"
Before Buffy could argue some more Xander stepped in. "I think you should let her."
"What?" Buffy said angrily.
"Buff, she's a fifteen year old girl. She deserves to have a semi-normal life. I know you want to protect her but it isn't fair keeping her locked away," Xander said. "She knows how to protect herself. She'll have a weapon on her at all times and she has her cell just in case."
Dawn turned to her mother. "Please, mom? I really like Dylan and I think he likes me too."
Joyce saw the look Buffy was giving her and she understood completely but her little pumpkin belly needed this. "Only if he comes to pick up and walks you home."
With another squeal Dawn kissed her mom on the cheek before texting Dylan back. He agreed to Mrs. Summers' demands. Spike with his super eye sight saw Dawn reply 'THX' and an incoming response 'YAW'. He'd never understand kids and their laziness to write complete words and sentences.
"Thanks for hanging out with me this weekend, guys." Dawn hugged both of them. "I have to go shower and find something to wear!"
When she was out of sight Buffy started up again. "What the hell, Xan! You know it's not safe out there."
"I know, Buffy, but you can't just hide her away. She's stronger than you give her credit for. She is a Summers' woman after all," Xander said.
"My Xan is right. Trust me, I don't like it any more than you do but she deserves to have some sort of normalcy," Spike added. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Xander smile at him.
Joyce smiled at them. "Thank you so much for looking after her for me."
"It was no trouble. Any time you need us to stay with her we'd be happy too," Xander said with a smile. He could see that Buffy was still unhappy so he pulled her into an embrace. "Trust me, Buff. She'll be fine."
"I know," Buffy said with sigh. "And I should be happy for her. I just don't think I could live with myself if something happened to her."
"She's a smart girl. Dawn knows what's out here and that gives her an advantage," Xander said. "Maybe some defense lessons from a certain blonde slayer would ease your mind?"
Buffy nodded. That was a good idea. By the time she was done with her sister vampires would run away by her mere name being said. "Good idea, thanks." When the boys left she was going to go upstairs and help Dawn pick out something to wear and have a little girl talk with her. She had no idea what she'd do without Xander.
"Always happy to help," Xander replied with a smile. "I'll see you tomorrow. I hope you had a good trip Mrs. Summers."
Spike and Xander left the Summers' women to enjoy their supper and help Dawn with her date. "Thanks for backing us up in there, baby." He kissed Spike before walking around to the driver's side of his car.
"You were right last night. We can't always protect her," Spike said as he climbed in. "But if this little shit hurts nibblet I'll make him pray for death."
Xander decided not to mention that Spike couldn't physically hurt anyone. "I'll be in line with you."
"Let's go home and enjoy not having bloody kids," Spike said. "I've missed having you."
"I've missed you having me," Xander answered. He loved Dawn but he missed his life that didn't revolve around kids. Just him and Spike. That was all he needed at the end of the day.
The End
