A/N: This is Part Eleven of the CLOSURE series. This is a sequel of the ENOUGH series, so please read that one first or this won't make any sense.

 I've realized that I wrote a lot of similar stuff on the last chapters. I apologize. I've been busy at work and that tends to affect the way I write. I'm now in a dilemma and I seem to have discovered I can't write my way out of a paper bag. I hope I don't disappoint anyone.

Disclaimer: You should know that this belongs to Joss Whedon and the parties involved in getting the show on the air.

Feedback: As you wish.

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Conditions

Dawn didn't like the way her sister dealt with things. She didn't like that up until a year ago she was still treated like a child. Technically she was about four years old, but she was now an 18-year-old woman who had seen a lot of things in her life.

But she always felt bad when she saw her sister crying.

It had been two years and a couple months since she had last called her sister by her name. She felt so angry with her that she reacted by adopting Spike's manners and his way of talking. It was a very immature thing to do but she was reacting to what she had found out.

Buffy had slept with Spike, and she had treated him like shit afterwards. Dawn had once hoped that her sister and the vampire tried a relationship. After all, she was fifteen and still believed in romance. However, when she received the uncensored version of what Buffy did to Spike, she stopped believing in fairy tales and princes rescuing princesses.

Life was so different.

But that didn't mean she was cold inside.

After Giles walked into the house, she noticed her sister weeping out in the back. Dawn nodded at Giles and went outside to hold her sister. Some minutes later, Buffy stopped crying and seemed to have renewed vigor.

"Dawn, tell me something," Buffy asked, "what made you trust Spike?"

Dawn thought for a moment and tried to remember when had she trusted fully the vampire.

"In real life? When we broke into the Magic Box and I found out I was the key." Dawn said, smiling, "In our fake memories it must have been when he spilled everything to mom after Drusilla dumped him."

"That was it? You just trusted in him?" Buffy asked.

"At that time I didn't think like you," Dawn replied, "I saw him first as a cool older guy who was having a conversation with mom. After that, I saw him as someone who didn't treat me like a child. That had something to do with it."

"I wish I could have seen things the way you saw them." Buffy sighed.

"Actually, I understood you after a while." Dawn admitted, "Some time ago."

"Explain." Buffy said.

"The fear you all felt did have a foundation," Dawn said, "I read everything that Giles has written about Spike."

"That still didn't change your mind?" Buffy asked.

"Well, it made me uncomfortable, but he was already my friend." Dawn stated.

"A friend, huh?" Buffy smiled, "And what about the crush you had on him?"

"Old news." Dawn said, "In the end, he was more like a brother. The kinda cool brother that you can tell everything to."

"That brother doesn't think of us that way." Buffy said, feeling a bit nervous and sad.

"I believe it has something to do with the way the chip went out." Dawn said.

"Whatever the case is, we'll have to fight for our life." Buffy said.

"I know." Dawn sighed, "We've reached the point where it's either him or us."

"I wish there was any other way." Buffy said.

"We should know at least where is he now:" Dawn said, and in the further part of her brain, an idea surged out of it. She had a plan, but she couldn't tell her sister about it.

"We have at least Anya for that." Buffy said, "We won't be unprepared."

"Yes," Dawn said, smiling, "Anya knows where he is."

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An hour later, the scoobies were preparing themselves for the fight to come. The invitation had been revoked and they were trying to figure out what weapons could be the more effective against an invincible vampire. The main idea was to have Jean and Buffy fight with him and get the ring off his fingers. A very simple and dangerous plan but they had no other choice.

Except for Dawn, who still had the idea on the back of her head.

She waited patiently until the right moment came. Anya was not as attached to Xander as before but she still was always within five feet of him. When Xander went to the bathroom, Dawn saw her chance and approached Anya.

"Hey, Ahn, how are you?" Dawn asked, making small talk.

"Tired." The demon answered, "Why are we waiting for him instead of finding him and killing him first?"

"Because we are not going to kill him." Dawn stated.

"Oh, you should, because he wants to kill us." Anya said.

"Has he said that?" Dawn asked.

"Well, no, but he implied it with his menaces." Anya replied.

"That's why I need your help, Ahn." Dawn said. Anya stared at her and scrunched her face as she figured out the plan.

"Oh, no, I won't go and tell him anything else!" Anya said. Dawn shook her head.

"No, Anya, I don't want you to tell him anything." Dawn said, "I just want you to tell me where is he right now."

"What? Why?" Anya asked.

"I need to talk to him." Dawn answered.

"That's not a good idea, Dawn." Anya stated, "I don't think he'll hear you."

Dawn noticed that her friends might listen and she dragged Anya to the back of the stairs, where no one would listen to them.

"I must try at least." Dawn said, "We can't just wait here like sitting ducks waiting for him to come and kill us."

"Oh, and go and get yourself killed? No way." Anya said, "No one would forgive me for that."

"I know he won't kill me." Dawn said, but then she smirked, "I hope so."

"It's a very bad idea, Dawn." Anya repeated, "Have Jean come with you."

"Yeah, right, I want to talk about peace and I come with a slayer?" Dawn snorted.

"All right, I agree, but you shouldn't go alone." Anya said. Dawn thought for a moment and knew about one person who would come with her.

"I know who would come with me, now, can you tell me where Spike is?" Dawn asked. Anya sighed and closed her eyes. After a few seconds, she opened them and looked at the young woman in front of her.

"He's coming, Dawn." Anya said, "He's leaving Los Angeles right now."

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Another half an hour later and after a million explanations and lies, Dawn and her accomplice left the Summers' residence. They knew that Spike was on the way and they had to intercept him. Dawn had told nothing to the Scooby gang in fear that they might try to stop her. Only Anya and her partner in crime knew what she was going to do. Dawn was driving the black Honda and her passenger shook her head.

"I don't know why you always ask me to cover your crimes, Dawnie." Tara said.

"Because I love you and you love me?" Dawn asked.

"Yes, but I believe that this is a very stupid idea." The blonde witch stated.

"I know, that's why you're here with me." Dawn replied.

"Maybe Jean was better suited for this task." Tara said.

"Can't bring a slayer when trying to talk with a vampire." Dawn said.

"What if he goes mad on us, Dawnie?" Tara asked.

"That's where you come in." Dawn answered, "You freeze him or something and we run like hell."

"Once again, a very stupid idea." Tara sighed and looked at the road. They would meet Spike again in about half an hour, and that might be the time they had left to live.

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"He's where?" Dawn asked again and looked at the Mc Donald's and smirked.

"He always liked burgers." Dawn stated. Anya had told her on the cell phone that Spike was now in a stationary position, and after a locating spell performed by Tara, they located the vampire on the fast food local.

"Ready, Dawn?" Tara asked. They both entered the establishment and looked around for the vampire. They were looking for the peroxide-bleached head but they weren't able to find him. After ten minutes of searching, a man stood up from his place and grabbed a coat. A leather coat. Dawn looked at him and noticed the high cheekbones. But there was no bleached hair, and the man had a beard. When he placed the leather coat on, Dawn recognized the vampire immediately. Her first reaction was to run and hug him, but she had to be careful. It wasn't the same vampire she trusted before. She looked at Tara and they both nodded. Spike approached them but he didn't seem to actually notice them. Dawn had to do something quick or he'd walk right past them and he'd go away.

"Spike?" She asked. The vampire stopped and turned to look at whoever had called his name. He noticed the two girls and his posture changed. He seemed to be lost in thought.

"Yes?" He asked.

"Do you know who I am?" Dawn asked, hoping to have some impact on the vampire. Spike eyed both her and Tara, who had fallen silent behind Dawn, as if to watch her back.

Spike seemed to have a hint of recognition and fetched the paper he had on his pocket. He took out the crumbled photograph and stared at it. He then looked back at Dawn and his face remained neutral.

"Dawn." He said. Dawn smiled but still kept her distance.

"You still remember me." She said.

"Barely." He replied, "What do you want?"

Dawn's face almost fell at the harshness of Spike's voice. She managed to gain some control and stared at him.

"I know you want us to leave you alone," Dawn said, "but I need to talk to you."

Spike looked behind Dawn and noticed the blonde woman standing there. There was something about the two girls that was disturbing him.

But not in an uncomfortable way.

"Tara?" Spike asked. The blonde witch smiled weakly and nodded.

"Hi, Spike." She said. Spike was feeling confused now.

He hated that sensation.

"Spill." Spike coldly said.

"What?" Dawn asked.

"Talk. That's what you wanted, innit?" Spike said. Dawn thought that Spike had been happy to see them.

"Uhm, in private?" Dawn asked. She didn't want to start a scandal inside the place. Spike looked around and made no attempt to move.

"This place's as good as any other. Talk." He said. Dawn sighed and felt tears coming to her eyes.

"You want to kill us?" She asked in a tiny voice. Spike's spine shivered when he heard her like that, but he wouldn't allow that to distract him.

"Just the slayer." Spike nearly growled, "You lot should stay out of my way."

"She's my sister." Dawn said, "Could you at least give her a chance?"

"You wouldn't leave me alone." Spike said, "I have to take matters into my own hands."

"Then, talk with us." Tara said. Spike and Dawn turned to see her. "What happened to you, Spike?"

"You all happened to me." He said, as he began walking past them. He was feeling bad for seeing the girl's teary eyes. What the hell was going on?

"You promised." Dawn said, her voice threatening to break.

The voice and the statement of his promise hit him like a rock. Memories of Dawn flooded inside his head and his heart. He remembered what he thought about her. He knew then that he could always be truthful to her. Only her.

But three years of apathy had taken their toll.

"Stay out of Sunnydale, Dawn." Spike said, without turning back to look at her.

"What?" Dawn asked. Spike now turned around and blue eyes met blue eyes.

"Please stay out of Sunnydale, you too, Tara." Spike said.

"You know we can't." Tara said, "Talk with us, Spike. Or else we'll have to fight."

"I know." Spike said, "I'm trying to remember what I promised you, Dawn, don't make it harder."

"I can't forfeit my sister and my friends, Spike." Dawn stated, "Give us a chance to try to fix what happened."

"What I did to Riley and Angelus was no accident, Dawn." Spike said, "You came looking for me asking for explanations."

"It wasn't me," Dawn said, "it was Anya."

"You know what I'm talking about." Spike growled. Some kids who were near them heard the animalistic sound and ran from their places.

"It was bad judgment," Dawn said, "let's now try to avoid a fight."

"Don't know about it, Dawn." Spike said, "I've set my mind on killing the slayer."

"We'll find another way," Dawn insisted, "I believe that Giles would listen to you."

Spike's eyes narrowed. Dawn had a point. Having remembered his promise to Dawn, he knew that killing the slayer would hurt her. And most importantly, she wouldn't allow it. Should a fight ensue, he knew that the slayer's stupid friends would participate in it.

He still didn't care that much about them, but Dawn was another matter.

"We'll talk." Spike said, "Under my own terms."

Dawn and Tara smiled. They had achieved what they went to get.

"What terms?" Dawn asked.

"I won't kill any of the humans or Anyanka." Spike said, "As long as you don't try to kill me first."

"Done." Tara said, but she was beginning to feel nervous because he hadn't said anything about Jean or Buffy. And he didn't know that Angel was on his way to Sunnydale.

"And another thing." Spike said. Dawn and Tara looked at him.

"Get the slayer out of the way." Spike said. Dawn and Tara looked puzzled at him.

"If I see her, I will kill her."

End of Chapter.