Buffy gave a sigh and decided it was time to face the day. She really
didn't want to. Sometime during the night, she had planted herself over
Spike's back. Her nose was in the very interesting curve between his
neck and back. She gave a tiny sniff. Yum. Her sleepiness was fading,
and she was pretty sure it was time to give up the ghost. She tilted her
head to the window, but there was no sunshine. Just... grey. Ugly grey.
The ugly grey that should never be in California representing rain and
thunderstorms. Because California was supposed to be sunshine and movie
stars. Buffy sighed again. Today was a tea and movie day. And ice cream.
And later today would be DoubleMeat Duty. She was picking up more shifts... and she absolutely HAD to start training more. Had to. It was going to be very busy for a few weeks, with little Buffy time. But, she'd done it before. She'd do it again. But who thought of this 'work' crap anyway? Stuff should be free. That was her motto. Stuff should be free.
*BOOOOOMMM!!!*, thunder sounded.
Beneath her, Spike shifted slightly, made a quiet, unintelligible noise, and tried to maneuver deeper into the covers.
She smiled. Spike was cold and didn't want to come out from under the covers anymore than she did. She snuggled against his back, nuzzled her nose against his neck.
Spike let out a quiet purr, but for some reason, it sounded shaky. Probably because he wasn't fully awake.
"Mornin'."
"..ugh." Spike nuzzled deeper into the pillows. "Idon'twannagetup..", he muttered quickly.
Buffy smiled. "Me either. It's such a great day to do nothing..."
Thunder boomed and lightening flashed, and Spike gave an almost imperceptible flinch. "Raining."
Her eyes brightened and she looked out the window a the ugly overcast sky. "Do... maybe we could even go out in this. Even though it's day."
"Uh... No thanks. I don't like... getting wet."
She felt kinda hurt. He could go out, in the DAY with her, but... he didn't want to get... wet? "Oh. Ok."
A very sudden, and extremely loud, *BBBOOOOOOOMMM!* nearly rocked the windows. Spike wasn't able to completely hide his flinch this time, and a mental, 'Ahh!', slipped out.
She felt him jump, and his mental cry. Gave a soft smile. She nuzzled her lips into his neck. "Don't like storms?"
"Not really. I'm not scared, or anything mind you. Like I said, I don't like getting wet."
*BOOOM!!*
Very quiet. "Not scared."
She gave a mental sigh. "Well.. They make me a little nervous... could... um... I hold your hand?"
He rolled slightly, so that he could see her. "Storms make you nervous?" Gently took her hand. "Really?"
She held his hand tighter. "Yeah?"
*BBBOOOOOOOMMMM!!!*
Small jump by the vampire, accompanied by an almost yelp. "Uh, yeah. We're... vampires... are walking lightening rods. All the extra iron in our bodies. Especially when a vamp's been living off animal blood."
She rubbed her thumb in slow circles over the back of his hand. "Ahhhh..."
A few thunder free moments later, and Spike was calming down, his tensed body relaxing. He rolled over slightly, so that Buffy was more on his side than back, and slipped one arm around her. "You... uh, won't tell the others that I'm scared.. Uh, that is, nervous about thunder... uh, lightening, will you?"
She smiled. 'The others', not 'your little pals.' "No."
"Thanks."
-=====================================================
Dawn tossed in her bed. She hated thunder. Hated it, hated it, hated it. Hated it with a passion only a teenager could manage. She used to go see Mom. And when Mom... well, when Mom wasn't there anymore, she slept with Buffy. But.... Spike was in there. And... she didn't know what they were doing. I mean.... if your boyfriend's memory coming back wasn't a boink fest waiting to happen, what was?
But then. Spike had said they were waiting for the right time. And... thunderstorms weren't the right time, right? And.... it would be kinda like having a big brother and sister at the same time... She waited out a few more thunder rolls, and lightning crashes. Rhino clutched firmly in her arms, she decided that Buffy's bed was probably way safer than hers. Wood headboard, and all. She crept slowly to Buffy's door, trying to decide how to knock. But a huge crash had her jumping, pounding the door with a panicked, "Buffy!!"
The thunder crash and sudden loud pounding had caused Spike to jump and tense up again, hearing Dawn's voice, he calmed slightly. Buffy rolled away from Spike, putting a respectable two feet between them. "Come in, Dawnie."
The vampire, for his part, made a semi-annoyed face at his girlfriend, and sat up to look at the room's new occupant. Dawn walked in, trying her best to not look young and scared with a rhino clutched in one hand.
"Hey, Lil' Bit. What's up?" He forced himself to relax. Couldn't let Dawn know about his little... very rational... fear, could he?
She shrugged, looked at her sister imploringly. "Not much... just.. wanted to see how the storm was treating you guys."
Buffy waved her forward, patting the space between her and Spike. "Better now that we have someone to share it with. Wanna sit with us?"
Dawn tried not to make too grateful a face as she laid down between her sister and her protector, slightly facing Spike. "Hi."
"Hi, Bit." He smiled at her. "Thunder got you a bit nervous? It's ok. It bothers your sister, too."
Dawn made a squish face, and said, "Buffy's not-" She felt Buffy's hand squeeze at hers softly. In warning. "- usually so forthcoming with her fear."
Spike grinned. "Well, she told me. So I'll protect both of you from the big mean storm."
Dawn was confused. Buffy wasn't scared of storms. She just wasn't. So why did she need Spike to protect her a from force of nature he couldn't possibly control anyway? She smiled at Spike. "Thanks."
Spike grinned, and started to say something, but was interrupted by a sudden *BOOOM!*, and the sound that exited his mouth was more like a yelp, than any intelligible words. He got up. "Uh, I just remembered, I got to... uh..-" He remembered the rice thing. "-go heat this up again. Be right back." He stood quickly and headed out into the hall.
As soon as Dawn heard him in the kitchen, she turned to Buffy. "What-?"
Buffy made a little face. "He... was.... jumpy with the storm, and wouldn't say it, and he looked so... scared, so I told him they made me nervous, could he hold my hand..."
Dawn smiled. "Oh. Totally get it now."
There was a crash of thunder, followed quickly by fast footsteps coming up the stairs. Spike practically flew through the door, panting slightly, eyes wide for a instant until he regained control. Then he stood up straight and regarded the sisters. "I heard the thunder... I just... hurried back to make sure that you two were alright."
Dawn, her face completely straight said, "I'm glad you're back. We needed a fearless man."
He knew. KNEW that she didn't buy it. Big brother's intuition. He sank down on the bed. "So maybe I'm a little nervous. So what? Doesn't mean I'm a chicken, or anything."
Dawn smiled, leaned against him, nuzzled his shoulder. "I know. Just don't like to be lied to."
He chuckled. "Sorry. Can we do something to take our minds off the storm? A game or something?"
Buffy was lounging on her pillow. "Umm... what game?"
"I dunno. You're the one who's so good at coming up with them, Slayer."
Buffy grinned. "Deepest Secret."
Dawn's eyes got wide, and she grinned, pulling away from Spike to sit adjacent to both of them, settling Rhino on her lap. "Yeah."
Spike gave a playful moan. "Oh no. Not again." Flopped back on the bed. "I am so going to win again."
The girls smirked. "Whatever."
"Huh. Are there stakes? Not real ones, mind you."
"Dinner," Buffy said. "Four nights a week for two weeks."
"Dinner?"
"Have to make it."
He brightened. "I like to cook, that wouldn't be good enough. Besides, what happens when you lose. You can't cook. Much."
She made a face at him. "Shut up. That's the deal.... and.... three days of full chores."
Dawn grimaced. "Ouch. Fine."
"Ugh. Ok, ok. Let's let Dawn go first. Same rules? Five points?"
"Right!" The sisters chirped in unison.
"Ok... Spike." Dawn thought a moment. Brightened. "Have you ever had sex in a public place?"
Buffy was careful not to look down, or up, or flinch, or blink. She was still. Very still.
His eyes got big, glanced at Buffy. "Yes. At least, I guess you'd say it was a public place."
She made an 'uck' face. "Ok. Your turn."
He chuckled. "Uh... Slayer. What's the most embarrassing thing one of your parents put you through when you were little?"
Buffy glared about it, even now. "Dad made me sing, at every Christmas party, in a cute little dress, and ugly little hat, and he'd point and go, 'that's my little girl. That's my Buffy.'" She sighed. "It was embarrassing."
Spike, to his credit, didn't even snicker. "I get that. Had something similar with my Gram and Grandpa."
Buffy grimaced. "Sucks." Turned her eyes on her little sister. "Dawn, Dawn, Dawn... What is the farthest you've been with Andrew?"
Spike regarded the teenager with a blank face.
Dawn, the smart girl she was, blanched, looking in the general direction that was Spike. She whimpered.
"You can pass." Deadpan. Literally.
She wiggled a bit, settling Rhino in front of her, as if he'd protect her. "Second," she said quietly.
Low, dangerous snarl, which Spike somehow managed to do without even twitching his face at all. "Your turn."
Dawn felt suddenly self-righteous. "Who did you have sex with in a public place? Which is, I'll remind you, against the law?"
"Not when you're dead." He decided to both tell the truth, and protect Buffy. "Dru."
She tried not to pout. He just didn't care who knew what. "Fine. Your turn."
"Buffy." Evil chuckle. "Have you ever been tied to a bed?"
Handcuffs weren't ties. They were chains. "Nope."
'Handcuffs count..'
'Do not. Those are chains. Chained. No.'
'I'll ask that next.' Out loud. "Your turn, luv."
She shot him a look. 'You wouldn't even.' Smiled. "Where did you screw the whore in public?"
Leaned back, closed his eyes, crossed legs at the ankles. "Oh.. Outside a pub in London. Round the turn of the century. Held her up against a wall, I did."
Dawn gagged. "Oh my God, that's sick. What is wrong with people? Hello? Bed, much?"
He just chuckled, relaxing even more, barely even noticing when the thunder boomed again. "My turn, right?"
"No." Buffy's voice wasn't quite as nice as it had been two minutes ago. "Dawn."
"Ok. She can have my turn." 'Relax, luv. I was kidding about the question. I'm just playing with you. Lighten up. You need to laugh more.'
She gave him a mental eyebrow. 'Asking me about being chained to a bed with DAWN here is supposed to make me chuckle?'
Dawn, aware of the tension mumbled, "Do you really hate Angel, Spike?"
"Most of the time. Yeah."
She frowned. "That's not what I meant. Like.... do you deep down, have this... feeling of, 'That bastard. Can't wait till he fries in hell'?"
He actually had to think about it. Sure, he hated Angelus, and Angel was a poof, but now he had a soul too, so what did that make him? "I... I don't really know. I definitely feel that way about Angelus. But Angel.... Just don't know him that well, I guess. It'd be like asking me if I wanted Jay Leno to fry in hell. I know how he is on tv, and that answer would be yes, but the real guy? I just don't know."
Dawn nodded. "Ok. For the record, I do."
"We knew that."
Smiled sweetly at Spike. "Your turn."
He thought. "Uh. Dawn. I have to ask this. Buffy told me that YOU are the one who told her that I'm ticklish. Is it true, and exactly WHY did you tell her?"
She fishfaced a minute while Buffy laughed at her. "Well... yeah... but... it was supposed to HELP you! She didn't like you, and I was trying to tell her how cool you were, and nice, and fun, and you were even ticklish like a real person." Her eyes were huge. "You aren't mad, are you?"
He chuckled. "Nah. Not mad. I'm a little annoyed at Joyce for telling you, though. Not much I can do about that. I should have known, though. She thought it was so bloody funny when she figured it out. Pinned me twice in one night, she did." He smiled at the memory.
Buffy smiled. Her turn. "Why did you start hanging around my mom to start with?"
"I was lonely."
She smiled gently at him. 'No one was love-starved around my mom.'
"No one understood. No one cared, except her. When all the rest of you were treating me like dirt, she treated me like a friend. Like family. And like I've pointed out, even went as far as to play with me." Returned the smile to Buffy. 'Yeah. I noticed.'
Dawn liked hearing about her mom, as much as she liked hearing about herself. "What's your first memory of me?"
He grinned. "When you screamed in my face back at the Parent/Teacher night." Chuckled. "And then punched me in the gut. I wasn't expecting that."
She huffed. "Shouldn't go around threatening to eat little kids. Some of them are half as fierce as me."
Buffy smiled proudly at her sister, touched her hand to her hair.
"Ooooh. Scary. Come on, Bit. That was all on reflex. Besides, you didn't even hurt me. And, when you pin me in training? That's because I'm acting the part of a minion vamp. Weaker, dumber. There's only one way to take down a Master."
Dawn gave him an absolutely indignant, insulted, angry face. "More than one way. Three, Spike."
"What? One way. Not three."
She pounced him, her hands running over his ribs. "Strikes. Three strikes, boy." The last word was said in open challenge, and daring.
He laughed, squirming. "NO! Dawn! I'm... not... a... boy!!! STOP!! SLAYER!!"
Buffy watched the scene with interest. Dawn was running the board. "Yeah, Spike?"
Dawn kept her fingers going ruthlessly.
"HELP!!!", he howled, thrashing around like a worm on a hook.
*KKKAAABBOOOOOOMMM!!!!*
Dawn squealed, burrowing immediately into Spike's chest, quivering. Spike tried to hide his own momentary shaking and wrapped his arms around Dawn, holding her close. "S'ok, Bit. We're safe here." Grinned at Buffy. "Your sis'll protect us."
Her eyes were tightly closed, her face in his neck, shoulders hunched. She swallowed. "Don't like 'em. Not quite the big girl she made herself out to be.
Nuzzled her in a brotherly fashion. "Me neither, Bit. Me neither. We should keep playing the game, don't you think? If we have enough fun, we'll scare the storm away." He gave Buffy a goofy grin. "That's what my Gram used to say, anyway."
Buffy smiled, helped Dawn to a sitting position to start playing with her hair. Dawn relaxed quickly. "Your turn Spike," Buffy said quietly.
"Uh... Ok. Buffy. Did what Dawn and your mum told you about me help your opinion of me in anyway?"
"Of course not. Just made me watch you more carefully. Them more carefully. Well, for a while, then you just weren't so evil."
"Not for lack of trying," he muttered.
She grinned. "Hardest thing to steal?"
Dashing grin. "The keys to your heart."
Buffy and Dawn both gave pained groans.
"Cheeeeeeeeeeeeezzzzieeeeee," Dawn moaned.
He snorted. "I thought it was good. Of course, no one EVER thinks what I like is good.. Cept Buffy. And your mum."
Dawn grimaced. "I've heard about your eggs, buddy."
"Huh? Eggs?"
"For breakfast? Anyway. My question. Did you REALLY sleep with Harmony?"
Disgusted moan. "Yeah. But I wasn't thinking about her. My mind couldn't have been further away."
Dawn made a slightly confused face. "Oh." Her face cleared. "OH!"
"Care to share your sudden revelation, Bit?"
Shook her head quickly. "No. Your question." She shoved it out quickly, like she was running out of air to say it.
Cocked his head at Dawn, but dropped the subject. "Why did you like me, Bit? When no one but your mum did, you suddenly did. Why?"
She gave a small shrug, looked at her Rhino, that she had reclaimed. "You seemed like you didn't know who you were either."
He smiled at her. "This whole group is composed of misfits and normal life rejects, Bit. We are two among family."
She grinned. "Yup."
He looked to Buffy. "You've been quiet, luv. Why don't you have a go?"
She thought a moment. "When... when you found out you were the Key, and... you.... hacked your arm, you weren't trying to hurt yourself were you? Like... die?"
Spike placed a comforting hand on Dawn's shoulder as she answered. Dawn shook her head. "I wanted.... to feel. Wanted to know if my blood was as red as yours, flowed the same. I wanted to be sure I was as real as you."
Spike looked at Buffy. They both knew what that was like.
Buffy nodded. "You're up, Dawnie."
Spike scooted back so that his back was against the headboard, waiting.
She cocked her head at Spike. "Were you mad when I came in?"
"Came in when?"
"This morning."
He shook his head. "Not at all. Actually, I was glad to see you. More company, less scary the storm is. Why would you think I'd be mad?"
She had seen his quick frown, when she walked in the room. "Dunno. Just wondered." Smiled at him. "Your turn."
He laid back, closing his eyes. "Ohh. I don't know what to ask. Buffy, would you take my turn? I'll think of a good one for next time."
Buffy grinned. "Dawn, did you kiss Andrew on the first date?"
One blue eye opened, regarding the teen.
Dawn glared at Buffy. "You suck. Really. You just... suck."
"Nope. That's me. Now answer the question, or lose a point."
Deep breath. "Yeah." Glared at Spike defiantly. "He's a good kisser."
Snort. Eye closed.
Dawn's eyes lit up. "Did you ever kiss Angelus?"
"Point."
Dawn's eyes got wide. "Oh my God. You DID?"
"Point means neither yes nor no, Bit."
Schooled her features. "Right. You're up."
"Same question that I asked Buffy earlier. Most embarrassing parental experience."
Dawn snorted. "I had to be a PONY for Halloween. I cried for a week."
He bit back a chuckle. "Your turn."
Buffy grinned. "Spike. First feeling when you could hit me back."
"Thank God." He chuckled.
She laughed. Dawn gave Spike a charming smile.
"Uh oh. What now, Bit? Every time you look at me like that, it costs me something."
"Who were you thinking about if you weren't thinking about Harmony?"
"Your sister."
Instant gag reflex.
He laughed. "Easy, Bit. It's not as bad as it sounds."
"You were doing that.... Skank biscuit, and thinking about... Buffy?"
"Made it bearable."
"That'd be like.... me kissing Andrew, thinking about Miguel." She blinked. "AS in.... wrong, and I would never ever do it. Ever."
"Like mixing sugar in cough syrup." He grinned at her. "Have an unrequited crush, Bit? Speaking from experience, don't do anything, most likely, YOU are the one who's gonna get hurt." He glanced at Buffy. "Even if it eventually works out."
Dawn took a few stuttering breaths. "Me and Andrew.... aren't... um... going out, exactly... The rules of our relationship are few and undefined. So- What... that means is... that... that I, um.. can see other people... I'll just.... have... ya know, to tell him, eventually."
Buffy's jaw dropped. "You're CHEATING on Andrew?"
Spike just looked at her, his romantic's heart breaking for the wank- uh, Andrew.
Dawn tucked her hair behind her ear defensively. "It's... not cheating." She looked pleadingly from Spike to Buffy. "Miguel.... he just... we were just... talking, and then.... he was kissing me, and I was thinking, no, this is bad, but then...I was going, oh my this is NOT bad. This is good..."
Spike groaned. "N'er so easily a heart turned, than one who has yet to learn..", he muttered to himself, making a mental note to finish that later. It sounded good.
She made a desperate sound, at Buffy, who looked more sympathetic to her plight. "I feel really bad. I do. And... I like Andrew. A lot. But... oh, God... Miguel could kiss for an hour with out coming up for-" She broke off, catching Spike's look.
Eyes flashed gold/yellow. Shy poet gone, vicious vampire in control. It was only an instant, but it scared him. He stood up. "I'll be right back, ok?" Headed for the kitchen.
She looked at Buffy, honestly frightened. "Oh, God. I didn't make him lose it, did I??"
Buffy stood, patted Dawn. "Of course not. Stay here till I come back." She walked quickly to the stairs.
"I'm SORRY!" Dawn called after her.
Buffy followed him to the kitchen. "What's wrong?"
Spike was sitting at the dining table, his head in his hands. A glass of orange juice nearby. He only drank orange juice when he was feeling sick or shaky. "I scared myself. That's what's wrong."
Buffy's small hands pulled at his wrists, to see his face.
He looked up, eyes reddened, cheeks wet. "I felt... the demon. But it wasn't the demon that was mad, it was me, and that pissed it off. I was too relaxed. I almost lost control."
She wiped at his cheeks. "You wouldn't have hurt her."
"*I* wouldn't. IT would."
"No. Because when 'IT' had a firmer hold on you, you still never did."
Spike took a sip of the orange juice. "I know. I was just... I made myself nervous."
She wrapped her smaller ones around his on the glass. "Why were you mad?"
"I don't know. I just... hate it when anyone... plays with other people's emotions, you know? Too many painful memories. I actually feel sorry for Andrew. I know how much it's going to hurt him if he even remotely cares about her."
Buffy tried to remember how many hearts she had broken when she was Dawn's age. A lot. She said quietly, "I don't think she's purposely playing, Spike. And I think she'll do her best to clear it up."
He nodded. "I know. I know. It's just... no matter how long ago it was. Open wounds. You know?"
Angel. "Yeah. I know."
He considered. "Yeah. I guess you do." Stood up, washed his glass out. "Let's go back. Who's turn is it?"
She smiled. "Yours." They headed back up the stairs.
Dawn was sitting on the bed, just where Buffy had left her, but facing the door now, her bottom lip being thoroughly abused by her teeth. Her eyes were huge and very watery.
Spike practically flew through the door and tackled the youngest Summers to the bed in a bear hug. "Sorry if I scared you. Sorry, Bit."
Her bottom lip was shaking. "I'm sorry."
He cocked his head. "It's not your fault, Niblet. I'm just... overly sensitive when it comes to matters of the heart."
She said, almost like a question, "I love you?"
"I love you too, Dawn." He held her tightly. "I love you too." As always, the words where said with such assurance that there was no way to doubt them.
She sighed. "I don't... I don't wanna be like the people who broke your heart." She put one hand where his heart was.
"You're nothing like them, Bit. Nothing. You have an integrity that shines through everything. I was young, foolish. Didn't pay attention to the obvious. And I paid for it. But you know what?"
"What?"
He glanced from Dawn to Buffy and back again. "I'm glad. Because I had to pay to earn the right to have this. And I don't regret a thing."
Buffy and Dawn, at the same time, felt cherished. Both smiled, though Spike could only see Dawn's. "When... we're done, I'm gonna call Andrew. Tell him, before he finds out, and apologize."
Kissed her on the forehead. "Good girl."
Buffy approached the bed, sat near Spike and Dawn hugging. "Good idea, Dawnie." She ran a hand down her sister's hair, very afraid of her getting hurt. "Just... remember, he... might be mad. Just.... be ready, if he doesn't want to talk for a while."
Dawn nodded, a stubborn glint to her eye. "He'll accept my apology. I'll just wait impatiently while he does. He's kinda wrapped around my pinky. He really likes me." She shrugged. "So he'll get over it. And so will Miguel."
Spike grinned and gave Dawn a quick tickle before releasing her. "You Summers women just have that effect on guys."
Buffy grinned while Dawn made a fake whip-cracking noise. "You bet. Your turn."
He stretched out across the foot of the bed, allowing Dawn to use his lap as a footrest. "Ohhh. I dunno. Uh, Buffy. What's your favorite thing about me?"
'The way you respond when I touch you... like no one before has ever... made you feel as much, and how it... awes you, and humbles me and makes me feel invincible at the same time.' She said with a quiet smile, "The way you tell me you love me."
Tears came to his eyes from both the mental and spoken words. He sniffed, making it seem like allergies. "Fair enough. Your turn."
"Um... Does Dawn's blood have the same effect mine does?"
"On what?"
"General male vamps?"
He snorted. "Maybe. I don't know. I'm immune. But I sure as hell hope not."
Dawn was befuddled, and it was her turn. "What does Slayer blood do to general male vamps?"
Spike chuckled. "It's a powerful aphrodisiac. Among other things."
She was intrigued. "So... my blood is like... sexy?" She said the last word low, like it was a scandal.
He looked at her. "To vampires. Which you will be staying away from. Thank you very much." Closed his eyes.
This was too cool. "But like.... my BLOOD is a turn on? Like... 'Whooo hoooo look at that, she's got... -slayer blood-, Rawr... want her!'??"
"Want to kill her and find the next female vamp is more like it."
She pouted. "Oh." Big sigh. "Whatever. You're up."
He smiled to himself. One possible problem averted. "Ok. Buffy. When exactly did you start ... not hating me so much.. and why?"
She considered. "After Riley, when you said you were sorry it hurt me."
"And that made you hate me less? Because I was sorry?" His eyes widened with understanding. "Because I cared."
She nodded.
"Ah. You're up."
Dawn watched them carefully, wondering if she should be taking notes or something. Buffy questioned, "How... often did you think of me over Harmony?"
"Reeeeallly often. Like, all the time. Even when we were just talking. It made her less.... annoying. Not by much, but every little bit helps, you know?"
Buffy nodded, doing her best to not wince, and not feel flattered at the same time. Dawn, again, gagged.
Dawn said, "I can ask.... like, anything, right?"
"Anything."
Buffy nodded.
"Kind of a two-part question."
"That's fine. Who's it for?", the vampire asked curiously.
"You?"
"Ask away."
Had to be the most embarrassing questions to leave her lips, ever, but... curiosity was curiosity. "Have you ever had sex with more than one person at a time?"
His eyes got huge. "Uh.... Before I answer, what's the second part of the question?"
"Is it harder to do with more or easier?"
"Harder. And that answers both questions."
She nodded, but glowed with the inner knowledge. Janice, was wrong. Buffy sat, having nothing to say, just staring at Dawn.
Spike started to ask Buffy a question, but seeing the look on her face, he had to roll over to keep from laughing. And even that didn't work. His shoulders were shaking as he tried to hold it in, his back to the sisters.
Buffy's eyes finally left her sister's downcast face to look at Spike. Laughing at their uncomfortableness. "Your turn."
He waved a hand by way of saying, "Give me a minute..." Swallowed a coupled of times, and rolled back onto his back, panting. "Ok. Sorry 'bout that. Uh, Buffy. Do you have any idea what your name means?"
She shook her head. "Chosen?"
He bit his lip for a moment. "Do you want to know your first name, or second?"
He knew? "Both."
"First, I'll tell you your middle name, because I don't know if I can say the first one with a straight face. Anne, means comforting beauty."
She smiled, and Dawn returned it.
"And Buffy..." Bit his lip again. "Buffy means... either 'from the plains', or... A direct translation gives it's meaning as... 'a buffalo'."
She gave a shocked look. "It does not mean BUFFALO!"
"Does too."
She pouted. "Helmet."
"HEY!"
Dawn just gaped at both of them, starting to giggle. "William means HELMET?"
"It means 'devoted protector', thank you very much."
The looks on their faces were priceless. Dawn was starting to lose it. Small snort. "Helmet," the sisters said together in a bout of laughter.
Spike growled. "It. Means. Devoted. Protector. And I don't even use that name, so it doesn't matter."
Dawn pointed a finger at him, leaning on Buffy for support. "Helmet." Another gale of laughter.
He really wanted to pounce them. So he did. "Ok, that's it." He pounced both of them, tickling Buffy with one hand and Dawn with the other. "Call me a helmet, will you?"
The girls used their four arms to his two, quickly reversing the situation. "Yeah," Buffy said. "Basically we were."
Spike tried to growl through his laughter, but it was coming out as a half gurgling sound. "..NO!", he gasped out around laughs. "Stop! Don't .. NOT THE RIBS!!"
Dawn was tickling between his ribs, laughing at him. "Not here? Is that what you mean?"
"AHH! YES! StoP!!" He bucked furiously, trying unsuccessfully to throw the sisters off.
The girl's laughed, pinning him, tickling. "I'd say the game's over, right, Dawn?"
"Right, Buffy."
"Which leaves Spike the only person passing. Right?"
"Absolutely," Dawn chirped.
He let out a squeal as Dawn found that spot between the second and third rib. "BIT!"
Buffy and Dawn stopped tickling simultaneously, to pat him on the ribs. "Which means you have dinner for FOUR days, and chores for THREE!" Dawn grinned at him triumphantly.
He stared up at them, panting hard. "The... chores.. didn't apply.. to me..."
Dawn gave him a look. "You slept here last night. You can do chores. Welsher."
"I don't live here, so I'm not welshing. And I don't want to do chores anyway."
"But you'll do dinner?"
"Yes."
"And not chores??" Dawn looked down at his feet, expecting to see clay. "Welsher."
"I like cooking, and I hate chores. And there's nothing you can do to make me. The chores applied to you two. Not me. I didn't agree to it, so I'm not welshing."
Buffy was amazed. "You ARE! You're welshing." She looked at her sister. "Close your eyes, Dawnie. I don't want you to see this. You shouldn't have to see people you care about teaching you how to welsh." Dawn obediently closed her eyes.
Spike looked up at Buffy, slightly scared. What was she going to do? She leaned forward, kissed him. Oh. He fought back a purr, not wanting Dawn to hear. 'What kind of chores are we talking here, Slayer?'
She smiled, kept her silence, angling her head.
What else could he do? He kissed along her jawline, trying to keep the sounds to a minimum. And to shut off the motor that drove his purring, because he almost couldn't control it. As it was, it was a such a low frequency that only himself and Buffy could hear it. But he was vibrating the bed slightly, and he knew it.
Dawn was confused, and desperately praying that should she choose to open her eyes, she wouldn't need more therapy than she already did.
Buffy tilted his head back up to her lips, bit softly at his bottom lip.
'God, luv. You're killing me. What do I have to do?'
She ran her tongue softly just inside his bottom lip. 'You like?'
'Oooooh yeah.'
She pulled back slowly, letting the kiss linger, till their lips broke apart. 'Last of it's kind till 3 days full chores are agreed to.'
Spike gave a mental groan. And then, for Dawn's benefit, went into soap opera mode. "Ok... Ok! I surrender. As much as it pains me to do so, I accept your demands. You have yourselves a chore slave for three days... That is, assuming that I don't drop dusty from exhaustion some time during this horrible punishment." Draped an arm across his forehead, moaning dramatically, lay back. Eyes closed. A corpse. A slightly giggling corpse, but a corpse.
Dawn cracked open her eyes, slowly. Thank God. Nothing more for her therapy. She laughed. "Haha! We win!" Turned puzzled eyes on Buffy. "How'd we win?"
And later today would be DoubleMeat Duty. She was picking up more shifts... and she absolutely HAD to start training more. Had to. It was going to be very busy for a few weeks, with little Buffy time. But, she'd done it before. She'd do it again. But who thought of this 'work' crap anyway? Stuff should be free. That was her motto. Stuff should be free.
*BOOOOOMMM!!!*, thunder sounded.
Beneath her, Spike shifted slightly, made a quiet, unintelligible noise, and tried to maneuver deeper into the covers.
She smiled. Spike was cold and didn't want to come out from under the covers anymore than she did. She snuggled against his back, nuzzled her nose against his neck.
Spike let out a quiet purr, but for some reason, it sounded shaky. Probably because he wasn't fully awake.
"Mornin'."
"..ugh." Spike nuzzled deeper into the pillows. "Idon'twannagetup..", he muttered quickly.
Buffy smiled. "Me either. It's such a great day to do nothing..."
Thunder boomed and lightening flashed, and Spike gave an almost imperceptible flinch. "Raining."
Her eyes brightened and she looked out the window a the ugly overcast sky. "Do... maybe we could even go out in this. Even though it's day."
"Uh... No thanks. I don't like... getting wet."
She felt kinda hurt. He could go out, in the DAY with her, but... he didn't want to get... wet? "Oh. Ok."
A very sudden, and extremely loud, *BBBOOOOOOOMMM!* nearly rocked the windows. Spike wasn't able to completely hide his flinch this time, and a mental, 'Ahh!', slipped out.
She felt him jump, and his mental cry. Gave a soft smile. She nuzzled her lips into his neck. "Don't like storms?"
"Not really. I'm not scared, or anything mind you. Like I said, I don't like getting wet."
*BOOOM!!*
Very quiet. "Not scared."
She gave a mental sigh. "Well.. They make me a little nervous... could... um... I hold your hand?"
He rolled slightly, so that he could see her. "Storms make you nervous?" Gently took her hand. "Really?"
She held his hand tighter. "Yeah?"
*BBBOOOOOOOMMMM!!!*
Small jump by the vampire, accompanied by an almost yelp. "Uh, yeah. We're... vampires... are walking lightening rods. All the extra iron in our bodies. Especially when a vamp's been living off animal blood."
She rubbed her thumb in slow circles over the back of his hand. "Ahhhh..."
A few thunder free moments later, and Spike was calming down, his tensed body relaxing. He rolled over slightly, so that Buffy was more on his side than back, and slipped one arm around her. "You... uh, won't tell the others that I'm scared.. Uh, that is, nervous about thunder... uh, lightening, will you?"
She smiled. 'The others', not 'your little pals.' "No."
"Thanks."
-=====================================================
Dawn tossed in her bed. She hated thunder. Hated it, hated it, hated it. Hated it with a passion only a teenager could manage. She used to go see Mom. And when Mom... well, when Mom wasn't there anymore, she slept with Buffy. But.... Spike was in there. And... she didn't know what they were doing. I mean.... if your boyfriend's memory coming back wasn't a boink fest waiting to happen, what was?
But then. Spike had said they were waiting for the right time. And... thunderstorms weren't the right time, right? And.... it would be kinda like having a big brother and sister at the same time... She waited out a few more thunder rolls, and lightning crashes. Rhino clutched firmly in her arms, she decided that Buffy's bed was probably way safer than hers. Wood headboard, and all. She crept slowly to Buffy's door, trying to decide how to knock. But a huge crash had her jumping, pounding the door with a panicked, "Buffy!!"
The thunder crash and sudden loud pounding had caused Spike to jump and tense up again, hearing Dawn's voice, he calmed slightly. Buffy rolled away from Spike, putting a respectable two feet between them. "Come in, Dawnie."
The vampire, for his part, made a semi-annoyed face at his girlfriend, and sat up to look at the room's new occupant. Dawn walked in, trying her best to not look young and scared with a rhino clutched in one hand.
"Hey, Lil' Bit. What's up?" He forced himself to relax. Couldn't let Dawn know about his little... very rational... fear, could he?
She shrugged, looked at her sister imploringly. "Not much... just.. wanted to see how the storm was treating you guys."
Buffy waved her forward, patting the space between her and Spike. "Better now that we have someone to share it with. Wanna sit with us?"
Dawn tried not to make too grateful a face as she laid down between her sister and her protector, slightly facing Spike. "Hi."
"Hi, Bit." He smiled at her. "Thunder got you a bit nervous? It's ok. It bothers your sister, too."
Dawn made a squish face, and said, "Buffy's not-" She felt Buffy's hand squeeze at hers softly. In warning. "- usually so forthcoming with her fear."
Spike grinned. "Well, she told me. So I'll protect both of you from the big mean storm."
Dawn was confused. Buffy wasn't scared of storms. She just wasn't. So why did she need Spike to protect her a from force of nature he couldn't possibly control anyway? She smiled at Spike. "Thanks."
Spike grinned, and started to say something, but was interrupted by a sudden *BOOOM!*, and the sound that exited his mouth was more like a yelp, than any intelligible words. He got up. "Uh, I just remembered, I got to... uh..-" He remembered the rice thing. "-go heat this up again. Be right back." He stood quickly and headed out into the hall.
As soon as Dawn heard him in the kitchen, she turned to Buffy. "What-?"
Buffy made a little face. "He... was.... jumpy with the storm, and wouldn't say it, and he looked so... scared, so I told him they made me nervous, could he hold my hand..."
Dawn smiled. "Oh. Totally get it now."
There was a crash of thunder, followed quickly by fast footsteps coming up the stairs. Spike practically flew through the door, panting slightly, eyes wide for a instant until he regained control. Then he stood up straight and regarded the sisters. "I heard the thunder... I just... hurried back to make sure that you two were alright."
Dawn, her face completely straight said, "I'm glad you're back. We needed a fearless man."
He knew. KNEW that she didn't buy it. Big brother's intuition. He sank down on the bed. "So maybe I'm a little nervous. So what? Doesn't mean I'm a chicken, or anything."
Dawn smiled, leaned against him, nuzzled his shoulder. "I know. Just don't like to be lied to."
He chuckled. "Sorry. Can we do something to take our minds off the storm? A game or something?"
Buffy was lounging on her pillow. "Umm... what game?"
"I dunno. You're the one who's so good at coming up with them, Slayer."
Buffy grinned. "Deepest Secret."
Dawn's eyes got wide, and she grinned, pulling away from Spike to sit adjacent to both of them, settling Rhino on her lap. "Yeah."
Spike gave a playful moan. "Oh no. Not again." Flopped back on the bed. "I am so going to win again."
The girls smirked. "Whatever."
"Huh. Are there stakes? Not real ones, mind you."
"Dinner," Buffy said. "Four nights a week for two weeks."
"Dinner?"
"Have to make it."
He brightened. "I like to cook, that wouldn't be good enough. Besides, what happens when you lose. You can't cook. Much."
She made a face at him. "Shut up. That's the deal.... and.... three days of full chores."
Dawn grimaced. "Ouch. Fine."
"Ugh. Ok, ok. Let's let Dawn go first. Same rules? Five points?"
"Right!" The sisters chirped in unison.
"Ok... Spike." Dawn thought a moment. Brightened. "Have you ever had sex in a public place?"
Buffy was careful not to look down, or up, or flinch, or blink. She was still. Very still.
His eyes got big, glanced at Buffy. "Yes. At least, I guess you'd say it was a public place."
She made an 'uck' face. "Ok. Your turn."
He chuckled. "Uh... Slayer. What's the most embarrassing thing one of your parents put you through when you were little?"
Buffy glared about it, even now. "Dad made me sing, at every Christmas party, in a cute little dress, and ugly little hat, and he'd point and go, 'that's my little girl. That's my Buffy.'" She sighed. "It was embarrassing."
Spike, to his credit, didn't even snicker. "I get that. Had something similar with my Gram and Grandpa."
Buffy grimaced. "Sucks." Turned her eyes on her little sister. "Dawn, Dawn, Dawn... What is the farthest you've been with Andrew?"
Spike regarded the teenager with a blank face.
Dawn, the smart girl she was, blanched, looking in the general direction that was Spike. She whimpered.
"You can pass." Deadpan. Literally.
She wiggled a bit, settling Rhino in front of her, as if he'd protect her. "Second," she said quietly.
Low, dangerous snarl, which Spike somehow managed to do without even twitching his face at all. "Your turn."
Dawn felt suddenly self-righteous. "Who did you have sex with in a public place? Which is, I'll remind you, against the law?"
"Not when you're dead." He decided to both tell the truth, and protect Buffy. "Dru."
She tried not to pout. He just didn't care who knew what. "Fine. Your turn."
"Buffy." Evil chuckle. "Have you ever been tied to a bed?"
Handcuffs weren't ties. They were chains. "Nope."
'Handcuffs count..'
'Do not. Those are chains. Chained. No.'
'I'll ask that next.' Out loud. "Your turn, luv."
She shot him a look. 'You wouldn't even.' Smiled. "Where did you screw the whore in public?"
Leaned back, closed his eyes, crossed legs at the ankles. "Oh.. Outside a pub in London. Round the turn of the century. Held her up against a wall, I did."
Dawn gagged. "Oh my God, that's sick. What is wrong with people? Hello? Bed, much?"
He just chuckled, relaxing even more, barely even noticing when the thunder boomed again. "My turn, right?"
"No." Buffy's voice wasn't quite as nice as it had been two minutes ago. "Dawn."
"Ok. She can have my turn." 'Relax, luv. I was kidding about the question. I'm just playing with you. Lighten up. You need to laugh more.'
She gave him a mental eyebrow. 'Asking me about being chained to a bed with DAWN here is supposed to make me chuckle?'
Dawn, aware of the tension mumbled, "Do you really hate Angel, Spike?"
"Most of the time. Yeah."
She frowned. "That's not what I meant. Like.... do you deep down, have this... feeling of, 'That bastard. Can't wait till he fries in hell'?"
He actually had to think about it. Sure, he hated Angelus, and Angel was a poof, but now he had a soul too, so what did that make him? "I... I don't really know. I definitely feel that way about Angelus. But Angel.... Just don't know him that well, I guess. It'd be like asking me if I wanted Jay Leno to fry in hell. I know how he is on tv, and that answer would be yes, but the real guy? I just don't know."
Dawn nodded. "Ok. For the record, I do."
"We knew that."
Smiled sweetly at Spike. "Your turn."
He thought. "Uh. Dawn. I have to ask this. Buffy told me that YOU are the one who told her that I'm ticklish. Is it true, and exactly WHY did you tell her?"
She fishfaced a minute while Buffy laughed at her. "Well... yeah... but... it was supposed to HELP you! She didn't like you, and I was trying to tell her how cool you were, and nice, and fun, and you were even ticklish like a real person." Her eyes were huge. "You aren't mad, are you?"
He chuckled. "Nah. Not mad. I'm a little annoyed at Joyce for telling you, though. Not much I can do about that. I should have known, though. She thought it was so bloody funny when she figured it out. Pinned me twice in one night, she did." He smiled at the memory.
Buffy smiled. Her turn. "Why did you start hanging around my mom to start with?"
"I was lonely."
She smiled gently at him. 'No one was love-starved around my mom.'
"No one understood. No one cared, except her. When all the rest of you were treating me like dirt, she treated me like a friend. Like family. And like I've pointed out, even went as far as to play with me." Returned the smile to Buffy. 'Yeah. I noticed.'
Dawn liked hearing about her mom, as much as she liked hearing about herself. "What's your first memory of me?"
He grinned. "When you screamed in my face back at the Parent/Teacher night." Chuckled. "And then punched me in the gut. I wasn't expecting that."
She huffed. "Shouldn't go around threatening to eat little kids. Some of them are half as fierce as me."
Buffy smiled proudly at her sister, touched her hand to her hair.
"Ooooh. Scary. Come on, Bit. That was all on reflex. Besides, you didn't even hurt me. And, when you pin me in training? That's because I'm acting the part of a minion vamp. Weaker, dumber. There's only one way to take down a Master."
Dawn gave him an absolutely indignant, insulted, angry face. "More than one way. Three, Spike."
"What? One way. Not three."
She pounced him, her hands running over his ribs. "Strikes. Three strikes, boy." The last word was said in open challenge, and daring.
He laughed, squirming. "NO! Dawn! I'm... not... a... boy!!! STOP!! SLAYER!!"
Buffy watched the scene with interest. Dawn was running the board. "Yeah, Spike?"
Dawn kept her fingers going ruthlessly.
"HELP!!!", he howled, thrashing around like a worm on a hook.
*KKKAAABBOOOOOOMMM!!!!*
Dawn squealed, burrowing immediately into Spike's chest, quivering. Spike tried to hide his own momentary shaking and wrapped his arms around Dawn, holding her close. "S'ok, Bit. We're safe here." Grinned at Buffy. "Your sis'll protect us."
Her eyes were tightly closed, her face in his neck, shoulders hunched. She swallowed. "Don't like 'em. Not quite the big girl she made herself out to be.
Nuzzled her in a brotherly fashion. "Me neither, Bit. Me neither. We should keep playing the game, don't you think? If we have enough fun, we'll scare the storm away." He gave Buffy a goofy grin. "That's what my Gram used to say, anyway."
Buffy smiled, helped Dawn to a sitting position to start playing with her hair. Dawn relaxed quickly. "Your turn Spike," Buffy said quietly.
"Uh... Ok. Buffy. Did what Dawn and your mum told you about me help your opinion of me in anyway?"
"Of course not. Just made me watch you more carefully. Them more carefully. Well, for a while, then you just weren't so evil."
"Not for lack of trying," he muttered.
She grinned. "Hardest thing to steal?"
Dashing grin. "The keys to your heart."
Buffy and Dawn both gave pained groans.
"Cheeeeeeeeeeeeezzzzieeeeee," Dawn moaned.
He snorted. "I thought it was good. Of course, no one EVER thinks what I like is good.. Cept Buffy. And your mum."
Dawn grimaced. "I've heard about your eggs, buddy."
"Huh? Eggs?"
"For breakfast? Anyway. My question. Did you REALLY sleep with Harmony?"
Disgusted moan. "Yeah. But I wasn't thinking about her. My mind couldn't have been further away."
Dawn made a slightly confused face. "Oh." Her face cleared. "OH!"
"Care to share your sudden revelation, Bit?"
Shook her head quickly. "No. Your question." She shoved it out quickly, like she was running out of air to say it.
Cocked his head at Dawn, but dropped the subject. "Why did you like me, Bit? When no one but your mum did, you suddenly did. Why?"
She gave a small shrug, looked at her Rhino, that she had reclaimed. "You seemed like you didn't know who you were either."
He smiled at her. "This whole group is composed of misfits and normal life rejects, Bit. We are two among family."
She grinned. "Yup."
He looked to Buffy. "You've been quiet, luv. Why don't you have a go?"
She thought a moment. "When... when you found out you were the Key, and... you.... hacked your arm, you weren't trying to hurt yourself were you? Like... die?"
Spike placed a comforting hand on Dawn's shoulder as she answered. Dawn shook her head. "I wanted.... to feel. Wanted to know if my blood was as red as yours, flowed the same. I wanted to be sure I was as real as you."
Spike looked at Buffy. They both knew what that was like.
Buffy nodded. "You're up, Dawnie."
Spike scooted back so that his back was against the headboard, waiting.
She cocked her head at Spike. "Were you mad when I came in?"
"Came in when?"
"This morning."
He shook his head. "Not at all. Actually, I was glad to see you. More company, less scary the storm is. Why would you think I'd be mad?"
She had seen his quick frown, when she walked in the room. "Dunno. Just wondered." Smiled at him. "Your turn."
He laid back, closing his eyes. "Ohh. I don't know what to ask. Buffy, would you take my turn? I'll think of a good one for next time."
Buffy grinned. "Dawn, did you kiss Andrew on the first date?"
One blue eye opened, regarding the teen.
Dawn glared at Buffy. "You suck. Really. You just... suck."
"Nope. That's me. Now answer the question, or lose a point."
Deep breath. "Yeah." Glared at Spike defiantly. "He's a good kisser."
Snort. Eye closed.
Dawn's eyes lit up. "Did you ever kiss Angelus?"
"Point."
Dawn's eyes got wide. "Oh my God. You DID?"
"Point means neither yes nor no, Bit."
Schooled her features. "Right. You're up."
"Same question that I asked Buffy earlier. Most embarrassing parental experience."
Dawn snorted. "I had to be a PONY for Halloween. I cried for a week."
He bit back a chuckle. "Your turn."
Buffy grinned. "Spike. First feeling when you could hit me back."
"Thank God." He chuckled.
She laughed. Dawn gave Spike a charming smile.
"Uh oh. What now, Bit? Every time you look at me like that, it costs me something."
"Who were you thinking about if you weren't thinking about Harmony?"
"Your sister."
Instant gag reflex.
He laughed. "Easy, Bit. It's not as bad as it sounds."
"You were doing that.... Skank biscuit, and thinking about... Buffy?"
"Made it bearable."
"That'd be like.... me kissing Andrew, thinking about Miguel." She blinked. "AS in.... wrong, and I would never ever do it. Ever."
"Like mixing sugar in cough syrup." He grinned at her. "Have an unrequited crush, Bit? Speaking from experience, don't do anything, most likely, YOU are the one who's gonna get hurt." He glanced at Buffy. "Even if it eventually works out."
Dawn took a few stuttering breaths. "Me and Andrew.... aren't... um... going out, exactly... The rules of our relationship are few and undefined. So- What... that means is... that... that I, um.. can see other people... I'll just.... have... ya know, to tell him, eventually."
Buffy's jaw dropped. "You're CHEATING on Andrew?"
Spike just looked at her, his romantic's heart breaking for the wank- uh, Andrew.
Dawn tucked her hair behind her ear defensively. "It's... not cheating." She looked pleadingly from Spike to Buffy. "Miguel.... he just... we were just... talking, and then.... he was kissing me, and I was thinking, no, this is bad, but then...I was going, oh my this is NOT bad. This is good..."
Spike groaned. "N'er so easily a heart turned, than one who has yet to learn..", he muttered to himself, making a mental note to finish that later. It sounded good.
She made a desperate sound, at Buffy, who looked more sympathetic to her plight. "I feel really bad. I do. And... I like Andrew. A lot. But... oh, God... Miguel could kiss for an hour with out coming up for-" She broke off, catching Spike's look.
Eyes flashed gold/yellow. Shy poet gone, vicious vampire in control. It was only an instant, but it scared him. He stood up. "I'll be right back, ok?" Headed for the kitchen.
She looked at Buffy, honestly frightened. "Oh, God. I didn't make him lose it, did I??"
Buffy stood, patted Dawn. "Of course not. Stay here till I come back." She walked quickly to the stairs.
"I'm SORRY!" Dawn called after her.
Buffy followed him to the kitchen. "What's wrong?"
Spike was sitting at the dining table, his head in his hands. A glass of orange juice nearby. He only drank orange juice when he was feeling sick or shaky. "I scared myself. That's what's wrong."
Buffy's small hands pulled at his wrists, to see his face.
He looked up, eyes reddened, cheeks wet. "I felt... the demon. But it wasn't the demon that was mad, it was me, and that pissed it off. I was too relaxed. I almost lost control."
She wiped at his cheeks. "You wouldn't have hurt her."
"*I* wouldn't. IT would."
"No. Because when 'IT' had a firmer hold on you, you still never did."
Spike took a sip of the orange juice. "I know. I was just... I made myself nervous."
She wrapped her smaller ones around his on the glass. "Why were you mad?"
"I don't know. I just... hate it when anyone... plays with other people's emotions, you know? Too many painful memories. I actually feel sorry for Andrew. I know how much it's going to hurt him if he even remotely cares about her."
Buffy tried to remember how many hearts she had broken when she was Dawn's age. A lot. She said quietly, "I don't think she's purposely playing, Spike. And I think she'll do her best to clear it up."
He nodded. "I know. I know. It's just... no matter how long ago it was. Open wounds. You know?"
Angel. "Yeah. I know."
He considered. "Yeah. I guess you do." Stood up, washed his glass out. "Let's go back. Who's turn is it?"
She smiled. "Yours." They headed back up the stairs.
Dawn was sitting on the bed, just where Buffy had left her, but facing the door now, her bottom lip being thoroughly abused by her teeth. Her eyes were huge and very watery.
Spike practically flew through the door and tackled the youngest Summers to the bed in a bear hug. "Sorry if I scared you. Sorry, Bit."
Her bottom lip was shaking. "I'm sorry."
He cocked his head. "It's not your fault, Niblet. I'm just... overly sensitive when it comes to matters of the heart."
She said, almost like a question, "I love you?"
"I love you too, Dawn." He held her tightly. "I love you too." As always, the words where said with such assurance that there was no way to doubt them.
She sighed. "I don't... I don't wanna be like the people who broke your heart." She put one hand where his heart was.
"You're nothing like them, Bit. Nothing. You have an integrity that shines through everything. I was young, foolish. Didn't pay attention to the obvious. And I paid for it. But you know what?"
"What?"
He glanced from Dawn to Buffy and back again. "I'm glad. Because I had to pay to earn the right to have this. And I don't regret a thing."
Buffy and Dawn, at the same time, felt cherished. Both smiled, though Spike could only see Dawn's. "When... we're done, I'm gonna call Andrew. Tell him, before he finds out, and apologize."
Kissed her on the forehead. "Good girl."
Buffy approached the bed, sat near Spike and Dawn hugging. "Good idea, Dawnie." She ran a hand down her sister's hair, very afraid of her getting hurt. "Just... remember, he... might be mad. Just.... be ready, if he doesn't want to talk for a while."
Dawn nodded, a stubborn glint to her eye. "He'll accept my apology. I'll just wait impatiently while he does. He's kinda wrapped around my pinky. He really likes me." She shrugged. "So he'll get over it. And so will Miguel."
Spike grinned and gave Dawn a quick tickle before releasing her. "You Summers women just have that effect on guys."
Buffy grinned while Dawn made a fake whip-cracking noise. "You bet. Your turn."
He stretched out across the foot of the bed, allowing Dawn to use his lap as a footrest. "Ohhh. I dunno. Uh, Buffy. What's your favorite thing about me?"
'The way you respond when I touch you... like no one before has ever... made you feel as much, and how it... awes you, and humbles me and makes me feel invincible at the same time.' She said with a quiet smile, "The way you tell me you love me."
Tears came to his eyes from both the mental and spoken words. He sniffed, making it seem like allergies. "Fair enough. Your turn."
"Um... Does Dawn's blood have the same effect mine does?"
"On what?"
"General male vamps?"
He snorted. "Maybe. I don't know. I'm immune. But I sure as hell hope not."
Dawn was befuddled, and it was her turn. "What does Slayer blood do to general male vamps?"
Spike chuckled. "It's a powerful aphrodisiac. Among other things."
She was intrigued. "So... my blood is like... sexy?" She said the last word low, like it was a scandal.
He looked at her. "To vampires. Which you will be staying away from. Thank you very much." Closed his eyes.
This was too cool. "But like.... my BLOOD is a turn on? Like... 'Whooo hoooo look at that, she's got... -slayer blood-, Rawr... want her!'??"
"Want to kill her and find the next female vamp is more like it."
She pouted. "Oh." Big sigh. "Whatever. You're up."
He smiled to himself. One possible problem averted. "Ok. Buffy. When exactly did you start ... not hating me so much.. and why?"
She considered. "After Riley, when you said you were sorry it hurt me."
"And that made you hate me less? Because I was sorry?" His eyes widened with understanding. "Because I cared."
She nodded.
"Ah. You're up."
Dawn watched them carefully, wondering if she should be taking notes or something. Buffy questioned, "How... often did you think of me over Harmony?"
"Reeeeallly often. Like, all the time. Even when we were just talking. It made her less.... annoying. Not by much, but every little bit helps, you know?"
Buffy nodded, doing her best to not wince, and not feel flattered at the same time. Dawn, again, gagged.
Dawn said, "I can ask.... like, anything, right?"
"Anything."
Buffy nodded.
"Kind of a two-part question."
"That's fine. Who's it for?", the vampire asked curiously.
"You?"
"Ask away."
Had to be the most embarrassing questions to leave her lips, ever, but... curiosity was curiosity. "Have you ever had sex with more than one person at a time?"
His eyes got huge. "Uh.... Before I answer, what's the second part of the question?"
"Is it harder to do with more or easier?"
"Harder. And that answers both questions."
She nodded, but glowed with the inner knowledge. Janice, was wrong. Buffy sat, having nothing to say, just staring at Dawn.
Spike started to ask Buffy a question, but seeing the look on her face, he had to roll over to keep from laughing. And even that didn't work. His shoulders were shaking as he tried to hold it in, his back to the sisters.
Buffy's eyes finally left her sister's downcast face to look at Spike. Laughing at their uncomfortableness. "Your turn."
He waved a hand by way of saying, "Give me a minute..." Swallowed a coupled of times, and rolled back onto his back, panting. "Ok. Sorry 'bout that. Uh, Buffy. Do you have any idea what your name means?"
She shook her head. "Chosen?"
He bit his lip for a moment. "Do you want to know your first name, or second?"
He knew? "Both."
"First, I'll tell you your middle name, because I don't know if I can say the first one with a straight face. Anne, means comforting beauty."
She smiled, and Dawn returned it.
"And Buffy..." Bit his lip again. "Buffy means... either 'from the plains', or... A direct translation gives it's meaning as... 'a buffalo'."
She gave a shocked look. "It does not mean BUFFALO!"
"Does too."
She pouted. "Helmet."
"HEY!"
Dawn just gaped at both of them, starting to giggle. "William means HELMET?"
"It means 'devoted protector', thank you very much."
The looks on their faces were priceless. Dawn was starting to lose it. Small snort. "Helmet," the sisters said together in a bout of laughter.
Spike growled. "It. Means. Devoted. Protector. And I don't even use that name, so it doesn't matter."
Dawn pointed a finger at him, leaning on Buffy for support. "Helmet." Another gale of laughter.
He really wanted to pounce them. So he did. "Ok, that's it." He pounced both of them, tickling Buffy with one hand and Dawn with the other. "Call me a helmet, will you?"
The girls used their four arms to his two, quickly reversing the situation. "Yeah," Buffy said. "Basically we were."
Spike tried to growl through his laughter, but it was coming out as a half gurgling sound. "..NO!", he gasped out around laughs. "Stop! Don't .. NOT THE RIBS!!"
Dawn was tickling between his ribs, laughing at him. "Not here? Is that what you mean?"
"AHH! YES! StoP!!" He bucked furiously, trying unsuccessfully to throw the sisters off.
The girl's laughed, pinning him, tickling. "I'd say the game's over, right, Dawn?"
"Right, Buffy."
"Which leaves Spike the only person passing. Right?"
"Absolutely," Dawn chirped.
He let out a squeal as Dawn found that spot between the second and third rib. "BIT!"
Buffy and Dawn stopped tickling simultaneously, to pat him on the ribs. "Which means you have dinner for FOUR days, and chores for THREE!" Dawn grinned at him triumphantly.
He stared up at them, panting hard. "The... chores.. didn't apply.. to me..."
Dawn gave him a look. "You slept here last night. You can do chores. Welsher."
"I don't live here, so I'm not welshing. And I don't want to do chores anyway."
"But you'll do dinner?"
"Yes."
"And not chores??" Dawn looked down at his feet, expecting to see clay. "Welsher."
"I like cooking, and I hate chores. And there's nothing you can do to make me. The chores applied to you two. Not me. I didn't agree to it, so I'm not welshing."
Buffy was amazed. "You ARE! You're welshing." She looked at her sister. "Close your eyes, Dawnie. I don't want you to see this. You shouldn't have to see people you care about teaching you how to welsh." Dawn obediently closed her eyes.
Spike looked up at Buffy, slightly scared. What was she going to do? She leaned forward, kissed him. Oh. He fought back a purr, not wanting Dawn to hear. 'What kind of chores are we talking here, Slayer?'
She smiled, kept her silence, angling her head.
What else could he do? He kissed along her jawline, trying to keep the sounds to a minimum. And to shut off the motor that drove his purring, because he almost couldn't control it. As it was, it was a such a low frequency that only himself and Buffy could hear it. But he was vibrating the bed slightly, and he knew it.
Dawn was confused, and desperately praying that should she choose to open her eyes, she wouldn't need more therapy than she already did.
Buffy tilted his head back up to her lips, bit softly at his bottom lip.
'God, luv. You're killing me. What do I have to do?'
She ran her tongue softly just inside his bottom lip. 'You like?'
'Oooooh yeah.'
She pulled back slowly, letting the kiss linger, till their lips broke apart. 'Last of it's kind till 3 days full chores are agreed to.'
Spike gave a mental groan. And then, for Dawn's benefit, went into soap opera mode. "Ok... Ok! I surrender. As much as it pains me to do so, I accept your demands. You have yourselves a chore slave for three days... That is, assuming that I don't drop dusty from exhaustion some time during this horrible punishment." Draped an arm across his forehead, moaning dramatically, lay back. Eyes closed. A corpse. A slightly giggling corpse, but a corpse.
Dawn cracked open her eyes, slowly. Thank God. Nothing more for her therapy. She laughed. "Haha! We win!" Turned puzzled eyes on Buffy. "How'd we win?"