Chapter 5: Suggestions and Help

Buffy barged into Spike's crypt knowing it was in the middle of the day so he would be sleeping. She didn't want to wake him but didn't want to stay in the house not knowing when people would come home. She didn't want to deal with anyone right now.

She sat on the couch crying. She cried for the loss of her mother feeling the loss deeply. She cried for the fact she was alive after living so happy in Heaven and cried for the future she had in front of her. She cried for Dawn and what might happen to her if she couldn't pull off a miracle. Right now Dawn wasn't even talking to her.

She didn't even lift up her eyes and stop crying as Spike sat down next to her. She knew he sat down because she felt the edge of the couch move. She continued to cry harder as Spike wrapped his arms around her pulling her close. She cried into his chest until she couldn't anymore. With a slight hiccup, she used the wet towel that Spike had thoughtfully brought with him to dry her eyes as Spike asked gently, "Visit not go well?"

Buffy bit her lip shaking her head miserably, "Not at all. I could lose Dawn. She was given to me and is my responsibility and I could lose her. I don't know what to do."

She hiccuped again and pulled her knees up to her chest as she rocked back and forth lost in thought. Spike stayed silent while she thought until she admitted, "The social service lady whose name was Lauren said that if Dawn wasn't in school every day on time, if I didn't have some source of income and have a normal routine in 2 months when she comes back, she will take her away. I can't do this."

Spike spoke quietly but firmly, "You can do this and you will. The bit needs you to be strong and confident. She can't be strong and confident until you are. Think about learning to slay. Do you remember it?"

Buffy looked up at him with a nod, "It was hard."

Spike chuckled, "I'm sure it was. Killing a big vampire when you were only a young girl the nibblet's age had to be bloody hard but you did it right?"

Buffy nodded, "I did."

Spike smiled gently at her lifting her chin to have her eyes meet his, "And you will do this too. If you have confidence then Dawn will too. She needs you and you need her. You just have to make her see that."

Buffy sighed as she shook her head gently, "No I want to protect Dawn from this."

Spike frowned but admitted, "I think that's all the more reason to tell her. If she knows what's at stake she's a smart girl, she'll get in line. I'm sure she doesn't want to lose you anymore than you want to lose her. Just think of how bloody motivated she will be knowing that her actions make the decision on if she goes to live with random strangers or stays with you."

Buffy shrugged not convinced, "She would probably be happier right now."

Spike actually had the nerve to laugh at that, "Do you know what the little bit and I did every Friday night?"

Buffy shook her head looking at Spike, "No."

He smiled but looked sad as he remembered, "Every Friday night we had a planned date night in a way. Not what you are thinking but instead it was where we would go to the cemetery. We would sit and tell stories about times you were alive. We would talk with you about our week and we would cry. But she would tell you how much she missed you and wished you were here."

Buffy quietly mumbled, "I wish she'd talk now."

Spike smiled, "She will. Just give her time."

Buffy sighed as she shoved her hand through her hair with a nod as she offered, "I have to figure out how to motivate Dawn. Have any ideas?"

Spike chuckled, "First you have to talk to her. Here practice on me."

Willow sat with Tara on the couch in the living room back at the Summers' house talking, "I just realized that the social worker should have come today. I don't see Buffy around. Do you think she came?"

Willow shrugged, "I didn't really hear it mentioned. I remember her asking me about the previous visit but the Buffybot handled it. I didn't think much about it."

Tara nodded as she admitted, "Think we should have been here for the meeting?"

Willow shook her head, "Probably not. It was probably pretty simple. She came in and saw Dawn was well cared for and left. Buffy probably went out to look for a job or something so I think everything is fine. I just wish she would spend more time with us. I just expected us to go back to how we used to be."

Tara shrugged, "She's still adjusting. It takes time."

Willow looked upset as she admitted, "I thought we'd hang together and be a big group again not some scattered group."

Tara smiled gently at Willow, "Things change. We have to understand that."

Willow didn't look convinced but Tara took her mind off it whispering, "Let's go spend some time in our room."

Willow followed with a smile.

Meanwhile Dawn sat in school doodling on her science notebook, "I hate my big sister." No notes had been taken and it was obvious that Dawn's heart was not at school.