SUMMARY:  This is just a scene that… I couldn't come up with a fic to put around it.  It takes place just before Bargaining.  (Hey, better late than never.)

DISCLAIMER:  All hail Joss, creator of many good things.  Praise be to Mutant Enemy, Fox Television, et al.  I like to play with their toys, but I always put 'em back when I'm done.  No harm, no foul, right?

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Spike slouched into the plush cushions of the Summers' living room sofa.  With his leather coat and hair gel seemingly on hiatus, the vampire looked no more dangerous than the average twenty-something he must have been when he was turned.  Of course, the average twenty-something didn't drink reheated pig's blood out of a white ceramic mug with wildflowers painted on the sides, but other than that…

Dawn could easily picture a world in which Spike – or maybe he'd just be William or Will or Billy – was her older brother.  They'd tease each other about hair and clothes (punk vs. trendy 2001).  He'd look after her and take her for ice cream on hot summer afternoons.  They'd laugh over childhood memories, meet and mock each other's friends… not that she had a lot of friends, except for Janice, who could be pretty obnoxious sometimes.

"Did you have a lot of friends when you were my age?"

Dawn sat on the floor, head resting on her arms folded atop the coffee table.  The wide, blue eyes she turned on him were filled with sadness and curiosity.  Spike smirked a bit to himself and looked away from the TV show he hadn't really been watching anyway.

"No," he conceded softly, "can't say as I did.  I knew people, had acquaintances.  But looking back there's no one I can name to say 'That was my friend.'  Why d'you ask, pidge?  Kids givin' you a hard time at school?"

Dawn looked down at nothing in particular.

"Kinda."

"Want me to scare some of 'em for ya?" he asked half-heartedly.  Dawn smiled gratefully.

"No.  Thanks."  Spike nodded.

"I can be scary," he persisted.

"I know.  Maybe later."

"Anytime, pet.  You just say the word."

Dawn turned back to the television.  I have the coolest big brother ever, she thought.

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fin.