Author's note: New chapter! Hope you like it. Please review!

Spike groaned as he walked back to the cemetery. If it was happening what he thought it was, he was in serious problem. He knew that, whenever you get some affection with a Summer girl, you get hurt, you loose her. It happened with Joyce, with Buffy, and, if he didn't do something soon, it'd happen with Dawn. He didn't know how it'd happened. Maybe years ago, when Buffy had died. He had promised Buffy he'd take care of her, and he had. Dawn had become sort of his protegee. But being a human (well, not exactly a human, but that didn't matter), she grew up. And he found himself not needed by her anymore. And that hurt. For it was Dawn the only one that cared about him before. Without her, what he had left? No. He was just hurting himself. He wouldn't do this. The best would be to avoid Dawn.

His plan didn't work, though. The very next day the witch asked him if he could look after Dawn after 10, for she and Tara would be out patrolling or something. He hadn't an excuse to refuse, so he had to agree.

So there he was now. Standing in the front porch about to knock the door, when it suddenly opened. There was Tara in the door.

"Spike, hi!" she greeted. "You're early. Well, it doesn't matter. Come in."

Either she was very happy or she had had a lot of coffee.

He nodded at her and walked in. Dawn was lying in the couch talking by the phone. She was wearing sweat pants and a lousy pony tail. For the goofy smile in her lips, Spike guessed she was talking to that stupid git of the night before.

"Hello, pet," he said, as casually as he managed. She just looked up at him and gave him a little wave. Friendly wave. Friendly. No eyes rolling, no sighing. Just, friendly, casual wave. Well, maybe this wouldn't be such a bad night.

Tara and Willow left, and about half on hour later Dawn was still talking in the phone, while Spike watched the TV. About another fifteen minutes had passed when she finally hung up. She walked over where Spike was.

"Hey," she said, casually.

"Hi, pet. Finished your world discussing talk?"

Dawn actually smiled at this. After days of hating each other, she was just being nice. Just like that.

"Yeah, we decided that for the moment moving to Venus wasn't an option," she said.

"Wise."

"Yeah."

There was an awkward moment between them.

"So," Spike finally asked. "What do you wanna do tonight? Having some friend over?"

Dawn shook her head. "I rented some movies."

"Really? Which ones?"

"'Interview with the Vampire' and 'Ten things I hate about you'" she stopped and grinned, knowing that Spike would totally hate her choices. Waiting for his answer.

"Oh, come on, luv. You can't be serious," he finally said. "'Interview with the vampire'? That movie is anything but real. And you're gonna make me watch a sappy love movie?"

"First, I don't care if you think 'Interview with the vampire' is bad. It has Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise and Antonio Banderas in it. That's enough to convince me. And 'Ten things I hate about you' is good. You just have to give it a try."

"I don't want to. For God's sake, Nibblet. Couldn't you have worse taste in movies?"

Dawn rolled her eyes. "Look who's talking. The Big Bad 'Passions" watcher."

Spike pointed at her with his finger, and opened his mouth a couple of times, but nothing came out of it. Dawn laughed at this.

"Just watch the movies. You might enjoy them."

"I doubt it."

Dawn sighed in desperation. "Come on, Spike! They're just movies. Not the end of the world."

Spike was about to say something else, but decided against it. What was the point? He knew he was going to watch the bloody movies anyway. And he didn't want to start another fight with Dawn.

And hour later they were watching 'Ten things I hate about you'. He wouldn't admit it, but he was actually enjoying the movie. He shot a glance to Dawn. Again. She was watching it with a slight smile on her face, taking absently pop corns in her mouth. At that moment he felt a desperate urge to grab her and kiss her or something. He shook his head in which he thought was a discrete way, and tried to focus on the movie.

There he was again. She knew she wasn't imagining it! He was glancing at her. It made her stomach feel weird. Like the first time Mark had kissed her. And then he shook his head, as if to clear his thoughts. She wondered what was crossing his mind. While her thoughts kept coming back to the night he had kissed her. But it was wrong. He didn't want her. It was the Buffy part in her that he wanted. He was trying to find Buffy in Dawn. Well, he wouldn't be able to. Buffy and Dawn were two very different persons... Buffy, it still hurt to think about her sometimes. Anyway, back to Spike. He wouldn't hurt her. She was being friendly again with him, but just because it was very tiring to be angry with him all the time. He needed a life -not literally, but... he needed to get over Buffy. It was either that what had made him kiss her or a very sick way to toy with her feelings.

She saw him shake his head again.

"Are you okay?" she asked him.

Spike jumped a little, while Dawn's voice broke his thoughts.

"Huh?"

"I asked you if you were okay."

"Uh-huh. Sure. Great."

Dawn gave him an odd look. "Okay."

"Uh, Dawn?" he said, suddenly.

"Yes?"

"There's something I need to ask you."

"What is it?" she said, rather oddly.

Spike sighed. What was he doing? He was okay with Dawn being nice to him. Why was he ruining it? Still, there was the doubt ringing in his head.

But he wouldn't do it. He couldn't. Dawn would be pissed, and she'd stop talking to him again. It wasn't worth it.

"Spike?" she said.

"Uh.. I.. forgot. I forgot what I was going to ask you."

Dawn shot him and odd look. A mixture of confusion and... relieve? "Okay."

They finished watching the movies. They sat there for a while, doing nothing.

"I'm bored," Dawn finally said.

"So, what you want to do about it, Bit?"

Dawn shrugged casually. "We could go patrolling."

"No. Way."

"Oh, come on, Spike. I can fight now. You taught me how, remember?"

"It was just in case problems found you. Not for you to go finding them."

"Oh, Spike, please! There's nothing to do here. And you'll be there."

After arguing a couple of minutes, Spike finally agreed. So now they were walking through the quiet streets. Spike was starting to feel uncomfortable again. But Dawn didn't seem to notice. Just now, Spike realized they never talked about the kiss. He shook his head, for a strange reason it kept coming back to his mind.

"So," Dawn said, trying to make conversation. "How did you like the movies?"

"They were okay." Dawn shoot him a look. "That's all I'm saying."

Dawn laughed. She laughed.

But her laugh didn't last much. For a vampire -a bad one -jumped in front of them. Dawn screamed. The vampire laughed. Dawn reacted and kicked him -hard. The vamp growled.

"You'll pay for that, little girl."

"Get away from her, mate," Spike warned. "Or else..."

But the vampire and Dawn were already fighting. Spike had to admit Dawn was good, not as good as Buffy had been, but pretty good for a common girl... just that Dawn wasn't that common.

Spike watched dumbly for a moment. Then realized Dawn needed help. The vamp was winning. The vamp grabbed her and pull her up. Dawn kicked him, but he didn't let go. Just then Spike reacted. He threw a stake to him, making him dust. That caused him to throw Dawn away, making her to fly towards Spike.

They both fell down. Spike landed on top of Dawn.

He looked down at her. She looked at him. Their eyes locked for a moment.

Dawn was dying inside. They were so close! She was a mess. But she shouldn't let Spike know. No, he wasn't interested in her, she just reminded him of Buffy.

Spike saw confusion and hurt in her eyes. He wondered why. But at the moment he didn't care. Dawn's face was inches away from him. It was just too much tempting. Before he knew what was he doing, he was leaning forward, closer to her face.

Dawn started. He was going to kiss her! Again! No, he couldn't. She certainly wanted it, but it would be wrong. She moved her face, and put a hand in his chest, making him stop.

"Spike," she said, warningly.

Spike came back to his senses. Dawn had stopped him from almost kissing her. Again. If he could have sighed, he would have. But he just moved off her, without saying anything. Not even apologizing, although he knew he probably should have.

Dawn stood up, too. They walked silently to her house. An awkward silence between them. Spike was angry. He could have sworn Dawn wanted him to kiss her... but then, she didn't.

They reached Dawn's place. Willow was waiting for them on the door.

"Oh, thanks God you're okay. We were so worried! But where were you?"

Neither of them said anything. "Oh, it doesn't matter. What matters is that you're okay! Come on, Dawnie, you should get some sleep. It's past midnight! Uh, Spike, you wanna come in?" she said, hesitantly.

"Uh, no. Thanks Red. But I think I should get going." He shot a last look to Dawn, who quickly looked away, before walking away.

Author's note: I'll be pasting the next chapter soon, but don't forget to review!