Dawn sat up rail-straight in bed. A few minutes. Her eyes had only been closed for a few lousy minutes, and Glory was in her dreams. She fumbled for her journal and quickly scribbled down what had happened in the dream before sleep left her and she forgot it. After several moments of fervent writing, Dawn set the book aside. Strangely, she knew what to do now. And it was all thanks to Glory. Irony, thy name is Hellmouth.

"Spike? Can we talk?"

Spike looked up from the TV and smiled at Dawn, "Yeah, sure." He flicked off the television, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing!" She assured him, sitting somewhat awkwardly on the edge of the couch next to him. Her heart hammered in her chest and she knew Spike could probably hear it, but he didn't say anything about it, so she folded her hands tightly in her lap, her knuckles white, "It's just...I've been thinking, about us--And what we are." Dawn let out a shuddering breath, "I mean, until a while ago, we had this brotherly/sisterly thing going on and then we kissed and it got weird and I HATE that it got weird--"

"Nibblet, slow down!" Spike interrupted, "I thought we already discussed the kissing, pet?"

"We did. But I lied to you." She looked down, "I'm sorry, I know I promised a long, long time ago that I would *always* be honest with you, but I was really freaked out."

"How did you lie?"

"I don't want to forget what happened." Dawn admitted in a quiet whisper, "Spike, things are changing, I feel that. I've been having dreams, lately. The last one sort of cleared things up for me, and I realized I have these feelings for you."

"Feelings..."

"Yeah." Dawn nodded, "The kind that *aren't* meant for someone who is supposed to be my 'brother' or 'guardian'."

Spike ducked his head, a smile playing at his lips, and Dawn felt herself melt. He was *so* adorable.

"Spike?"

He looked up and grinned, putting a hand to the back of her head and pulling her forward to kiss her forehead, "Dawn...You have no idea what kind of Hell I've been going through."

"What? But why?"

"I've been feeling... bloody hell…stuff...for you, too." He said.

"Really? I never thought you would. I mean, after you had a crush on Buffy I figured you'd see me as 'the little sister' forever. I mean...I'm just me."

Spike growled a little and shook his head, "You need to stop with that self-esteem nonsense. You are so different from Buffy, and it's not bad that you are."

Dawn looked down, "I'll never be her. I can't be a substitute."

"You're right. You will never be the woman your sister was." Spike agreed, "Instead, you'll be the woman *you* are. The one I've wanted for a long time."

She looked up, eyes wide with surprise, "You really want me?"

"Yes."

"Spike..."

He leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers in a soft kiss. Dawn's hands rested gently on his chest and pushed him away carefully, "Wait a second. If you wanted me, why did you agree to forget the kiss?"

"I thought you wouldn't want me."

Dawn laughed and shook her head, "We are so stupid."

"Yeah, we are." He agreed, then pulled her forward until she was almost on his lap, their lips meeting again. Her arms wrapped around him, fingers toying with the hair at the name of his neck. Spike's tongue brushed her lower lip and her mouth opened in invitation, allowing him in to explore the warm recesses. She tasted like cinnamon and peppermint and something so distinctly *her*. It was like getting the one thing he wanted most in the world, all wrapped up in a perfect, Dawn-shaped package.

"You do know," Dawn murmured when they finally broke apart, "that Willow will flip? Not to mention Xander?"

Spike smirked, "The witch likes me; and the whelp lives in Seattle so he can't stake me from there."

Dawn shook her head with a smile and pecked him on the lips, "But he and Anya and the baby are coming to see me off to college in a few months."

Spike froze, "College."

"Yeah," She was suddenly quiet, her eyes sad, "I'm leaving for NYU."

"I forgot..."

"Me too."

Spike leaned his forehead against hers, "We'll cross that bridge when we get to it. For now...I have to patrol."

"Can I come?"

Spike nodded, knowing he wouldn't be concentrating on patrol tonight.