The Memorable Time In LA

Rated-R

Disclaimer- I own nothing except my imagination.

Distribution: Buffy is not coming back

It had been two months since Buffy's death. Dawn was finally not blaming herself, but she still wasn't over it. Every one had tried to make things easier for her; they hadn't talked much about Buffy or her death. They had always been very careful when talking about Buffy around Dawn. Spike was the only one who she talked about Buffy with.

Buffy had told him to protect Dawn, and that's what her did. He went and stayed with her at night when Willow went out. They also had one night a week when they would watch a movie at the Summers' home.

In the past two months Willow had gained custody of Dawn and Giles had gone back to England after everything had bees settled and taken care of. Xander had taken over patrol, with Spike helping out whenever he was free, but most of Spikes time was spent with Dawn.

One night Spike realized that it had been quite some time since Dawn had been out of the house. He decided to see if she was up to going out tonight, after Willow left. When they had settled down to watch T.V. he asked. "Hey, Nibblet, do you want to go somewhere tonight?"

"Not tonight," she answered full attention on the T.V.

"You can't do this forever."

"Do what?" she asked looking toward him.

"Stay in and not go out. You have to go out at some point. You know, have fun, you do remember fun, or at least know what it is don't you?" he asked with fake concern.

"Yes, I remember fun!" She made a face at him and he smiled at her. "I just don't feel like it tonight." She went back to the T.V.

"Ok. Another night then?" Spike asked

"Yeah another night."

They sat together for a few more minutes until Dawn got up off the floor. "Spike, I'm kinda tired. I think I'm going to go to bed." She walked over to Spike who was sitting on the couch and gave him a hug.

"Are you sure, Bit? It's only quarter after eight."

"Yeah, I have school tomorrow anyway."

As she pulled away he said, "Well that a bloody awful excuse ain't it?"

"What?" she asked confused.

"If you didn't want to be around me all you had to do was say so," he said with a smile, "That was as bad as 'I have to wash my hair'." She still looked confused. "You do know that it is Friday night right?"

"Oh, I guess it is."

"How could you forget that tomorrow was Saturday?" he asked with mock shock.

"Since Saturday isn't what I've been thinking about," she admitted.

"It's boy ain't it, didn't I ever tell you not to get involved with boys. Their horrible creatures, worse than anything you'll find out there," he said as he pointed to the door.

"No, it's not a boy, just the whole thing that has passed. I've been trying to get over Buffy's death and getting used to things here and trying to keep my grades up in school. It's just tiring and stressful." She sat down on the couch next to Spike and put her head on his shoulder.

"I know Bit, but I'm proud of you. You've been so strong and have coped with it so well,"

"Thanks."

"So do you want to stay up with me, or do you want to go to bed?"

"I guess I'll stay up for a few more hours."

"That's my girl, no need to go to be until at least five"

"Are you trying to get me on your weird vampire sleeping schedule?"

"No of course not."

At 12:25 Willow came home. She walked in and saw that Dawn was still awake. "Dawn why are you still up? Spike I thought I told you to make sure she went to bed."

"Well hello to you to Red. There was a movie on, but I was just about to send her there, wasn't I Lil' Bit," he looked over at Dawn.

"You were?"

"C'mon, help me out here a little," he said to her.

"Oh yeah, he was, but I talked him into letting me stay up for a little while longer, is that ok Willow?"

"Fine, but only for a little while, and Spike I'm counting on you, again, to make sure she gets there. I'm extremely tired so I'm going to bed. Good night everyone," and she went up the stairs to her room.

A few minutes later Spike got up off the couch. "C'mon Bit, time to go to bed."

"Ok," she said as she started for the stairs with Spike following behind her. When they reached the top of the stairs Dawn realized that he was doing it. "Spike, what are you doing?" Spike gave her a funny look but soon realized what she was referring to.

"I, um, uh," he started still not quite sure why he followed her, "I'm making sure you get to bed," he finished.

"Well, Spike, I think I can handle it," she assured him.

"How do I know you're going to make it to bed or even stay there?" he questioned with a smile.

"I guess that's a chance you'll just have to take."

"No, I think to make sure I'm going to have to put you there my self."

"Your kidding, right?" she asked worried.

"Nope," he answered with a serious face.

"But, what would Willow think if she found you in there?"

"Bit, I'm putting you to bed, not sleeping with you."

"But still, you don't need to do either, I'm 14 not 4."

"I'm sorry Bit, but I can't take any chances," he said as he picked her up and jogged very stealthily, as not to wake Willow, and tossed her onto her bed with a light thud. "Night Nibblet," he said as he closed the door and left.

"Night Spike." Then Dawn got up and changed for bed.

Dawn woke up the next morning at ten. She climbed out of bed and went down stairs. As she walked through the living room she saw that Spike sleeping on the couch. 'I guess he never went home last night' Dawn thought. She headed toward the kitchen, trying to restrain herself from jumping on the unsuspecting Spike. She stopped and thought about it. It was mean and she knew he wouldn't like it much, but that only made her want to do it even more, so she gave in.

She ran across the room and lunged for the couch and landed with a loud yell from Spike. "Bloody Hell!" he cried as she landed on him. When he saw whom it was who had done it he began tickling Dawn.

Willow was in the kitchen when she heard Spike cry in pain and ran into the living room. She stopped at the entrance when she realized what was going on. She walked away with a question for Spike on her mind, but decided to wait till later.

Willow found the two of them an hour later in the kitchen making a late breakfast. She decided now was as good a time as any to ask Spike her question. "Dawn, why don't you go and watch some T.V.?" she said then looked at Spike, "I have a question to ask Spike."

"But we're making breakfast, can't it wait?"

"Go on Bit, I'll watch it for you," Spike said and pushed her a little to get her moving.

"Fine, but I'm not a little kid anymore. You have to let me in on adult conversation at some point," she said as she left the kitchen.

"What is it Red," Spike asked.

"What would you say if I asked you live here with us?"

"I guess I would say, ok, why not."

"Great," Willow said with a smile, "because your good for her, Spike. She's so happy when she's around you. She'll be so happy to have you move in, that is if it'd not a problem for you," Willow asked with some concern.

"No it'll be fine, I'd love to," Spike assured her.

"Good."

At that moment Dawn came running back in. She ran up to Spike and threw her arms around him waist. "This is so great! You can sleep in Buffy's room," Dawn told him.

"Wait Dawn, are you sure. Buffy's room hasn't even been cleaned out yet," Willow said.

"Yeah, I'm sure. We can go through it and pack it up."

"Ok, as long as your sure, Bit," Spike said to her.

"It's fine, really."

So the next week and a half was spent packing up Buffy's things and bringing in Spike's. The set Buffy's things in the basement, and helped Spike pack and bring his stuff over.