A/N: 2 months have passed since the wedding.

"Never realised how much I missed this place 'till now."

"Speak for yourself. I was happy on the constantly sunny beaches of Barbados."

Spike jabbed his wife in the ribs. "Luckily, I know you don't mean that. You're just itching for Dawn and Alice to walk through those doors."

The slayer smiled. She hadn't seen either of them for a month and as heavenly as their honeymoon was, she was glad to be home.

Spike's voice drew her out of her thoughts. "Standing there isn't gonna speed up time. Keep yourself busy, yeah?"

The vampire had all but tipped the contents of his holdall onto the bed. Unpacking really wasn't his strong point.

"Need a hand?"

"You're alright, love." He tossed around a few items of clothing before holding one up and looking at it for a few seconds. "Does this count for a dark wash?"

Buffy squeezed her lips together to keep from laughing.

"My husband, the domestic genius."

"Watch it, slayer."

The couple were pulled out of their bubble by a chirpy voice.

"Knock, knock?"

Dawn had poked her head around the front door. Buffy had to everything to stop herself from sprinting towards her. As the younger Summers girl moved closer to them, a sleepy 9 month year old in her arms became more visible. However, her baby blue eyes woke up as soon as she recognised her parents. She outstretched her arms towards her doting mother, eager to be held by her again.

"Hey, you," Buffy cooed as she picked her up. "We've missed you so much."

Alice giggled and nuzzled her mom. Spike approached them and put an arm around his girls.

"Never again are we goin' away for a month without you, kitten. Too bloody long."

"Oh yeah," Dawn interrupted. "I thought you were only going for a couple of weeks."

Buffy suddenly looked both annoyed and grateful. "Giles insisted we stay longer and paid for the rest of the month."

Dawn rolled her eyes.

"Typical Giles, splashing the cash. Anyway, how was it?"

The newlyweds tried to think of a word to sum up their glorious vacation.

"Tiring."

Buffy blushed at her husband's choice.

Dawn held up a hand.

"Changed my mind. I may need therapy if you utter another syllable."

Spike swatted Buffy's behind, lightly, and winked at her as Dawn wandered into the kitchen.

"You trying to scare my sister off before we've even been here 5 minutes?"

"Just makin' sure she doesn't rush into anything herself. She's a gorgeous girl and I know what blokes are like. I'll go to hell and back before I let anyone take advantage of her."

Buffy's heart melted at how protective he was of his sister-in-law. "I know."

"Now, princess," he started, taking Alice from Buffy's arms. "We may just have brought back a present or two for you."

Buffy joined her sister in the kitchen, where she was making coffee.

"Milk, two sugars?" she asked. Buffy nodded. "Thanks."

"No problem. Oh yeah, forgot to mention, Willow called. Apparently Faith has finally found herself a place back in Boston. I hear she's even got a job too."

"Faith? Working? I'll believe it when I see it."

Several seconds passed.

"How are you Dawn?"

The girl looked confused. "Erm...good, thanks. Same as usual. Why?"

Good question. Where did this come from?

"I guess I've just been wrapped up in my own world with the wedding and...the baby not long before that." Pain flashed across both of their faces. "And I haven't exactly been there for you much. I want to know what's been happening in your life?"

Dawn looked a little taken aback but pleasantly surprised at the same time. She joined her older sister at the breakfast bar.

"Apart from College, not a lot I suppose. Although, there are a group of girls who've invited me on vacation next week. They moved here from Canada a couple of years ago or something."

"That's awesome," Buffy stated, a little concerned as to why Dawn hadn't alerted her of her plans a little sooner. "Where are you going?"

"Only London. I explained that Giles could get us set up with a really good hotel. He's cool with it. I didn't tell you sooner 'cause I know how worked up you get about me going away and I didn't want to ruin your honeymoon."

"You're 18 now. I trust you enough to make your own decisions. Wish I was as bright as you back then."

"You make it sound like you're decades old."

"I'm 30 in a few years. That's like a lifetime."

Dawn sighed. "Don't let Spike here you say that." She wasn't going to argue. "Anyway, if that's what you're think, look at it this way. You have a husband, who clearly worships the ground you walk on, a healthy, happy daughter, a beautiful house on the beach and friends and family who would do anything for you. That's a pretty good for a 'lifetime' from where I'm standing."

"I know. What you're saying, it's completely true but it feels like there's a hole right in the middle of this perfect life and I can't put a finger on what's causing it."

Dawn didn't look surprised. "I think I do. There's a tiny part of you that still can't get over the fact that you lost a baby. A poor, defenceless baby that never did anything to anyone. That hole in your chest is simply you wondering and missing what could've been."

Buffy's jaw dropped slightly.

"Of course, that's just what I think."

"Is there a psych major you're taking that I don't know about?"

"No," she giggled. "I guess I'm just good at reading people." Buffy looked hesitant, as if she was struggling to word something, when Spike approached them.

"Still got a bit of unpacking to do but fancy going out for some grub tonight? Haven't spoiled my girls enough recently."

The slayer looked shocked. "I hope you mean Alice and Dawn. You've done nothing but spoil me for months!"

"Can a man not use what little he has to treat his family?" He mimicked a poetic style.

"He may but only if he realises when he's been far too generous. To his wife in particular."

"And so it begins again," Dawn complained. "I have to say I enjoyed the peace and quiet when you two were away. Maybe drinking your coffee will give me...oh say 2 minutes of bliss?"

Buffy looked at the cup. "Actually, I think I'll pass on it. I drank way too much caffeine this trip."

Spike raised an eyebrow. "Lies, Mrs Pratt. You didn't touch it. Thought maybe you were on some pointless diet or something."

"No, I drunk loads of those energy drinks from the mini fridge, remember?

"Anyway, unpacking. Let's get to it," Spike commanded. "I'm bloody famished."

"Yes, sir."

"Think I like that. May get you to use it more often, love."

"La, la, la, la!" Dawn yelled, her fingers in her ears as she jogged up the stairs away from their kinky conversation. Buffy sighed.

"Sweetie, you don't have to go overboard."

Spike disagreed. "Just makin' sure. And where do you think you're going?" he asked as Buffy started up the stairs.

"Going to make sure you haven't scarred my sister for life."

Buffy found her sister curled up on her bed.

"Everything okay?"

The girl looked up and nodded. "Yeah. Its just...can I ask you something?"