DISCLAIMER: See first chapter.

"Spike?"

"Yes, Bit?"

"Where's Buffy?"

"Now, I would guess that she's still with Angel. After all, he did carry her out of the Bronze last night."

Dawn's next sentence shocked Spike's attention from the TV to her. "I HATE HIM!"

"Now, Bit. . ."

"No! I hate him! He leaves her heartbroken for two years then shows up when she dies and expects me to be grateful he's even here! Now, two years after that, he shows up and dares to carry my big sister out of Willow's party!"

"Now, Dawn, Angel may not be the most present of lovers, but he has always loved your sister as much as she loves him. He would have come back long ago if she had only asked."

"He doesn't deserve her!"

"I won't argue with that, pet. But they love each other and no one or nothing can come between them. Believe me, I've tried."

"She's MY sister! She stopped being HIS lover a long time ago! She's MINE!" Dawn screamed, stomping her foot for emphasis every so often. She looked at Spike. Her eyes were full of tears and starting to spill over. "He doesn't deserve her! He doesn't NEED her!" She slumped her shoulders in defeat. "I do." The last sentence came out as a tearful whisper.

Spike was in front of her before she could even blink. "Dawnie, she'll figure that out soon enough. Your sister's a smart girl." He pulled the sobbing teen into his chest. "She'll be back, luv." He stroked her hair in a soothing manner that had calmed her so quickly so many times before.

"She left me! Left me again!"

Spike led Dawn over to the couch and sat down. She curled up on his lap and buried her head in his shoulder. 'Damn you, Angel! Damn you for putting Dawn through this.' Spike would have staked Angel just on principle. Buffy wasn't thinking straight. Then again, she never did when it came to Angel.

He knew when this had all started with Dawn. The summer that Buffy was dead. Then he spent time trying to get Buffy to love him. But since his soul had been returned, he realized that Buffy wasn't the one he really wanted. He was drawn to Dawn. He remembered other times with girls that seemed so much like Dawn. Not the Key. Dawn. Of course, Dru had always taken them away from him. Dru had always been a selfish little bitch. He had loved her at one time though.

Dawn stirred and Spike resumed smoothing her hair. "It's all right, pet. I won't leave you."

"Promise?" she asked sleepily.

"I swear."

Dawn wasn't quite the same after that night. She went to school, came home, did her homework and watched Passions with Spike. He always made sure she had a decent dinner and was helping her with homework.

Spike would cringe when he went to check on her sometimes after she fell asleep. She would sometimes cry herself to sleep and call out for Buffy in her sleep. Those were the nights that he would sit close by and stroke her hair, trying to give her good dreams.

"Dawn, what are you still doing up? Don't you have school in the morning?"

Dawn was typing almost viciously at her keyboard. She had been hoping to hide this from everyone else until she was ready to show them what she had learned. She had found the last three monks of the order which had created her in the first place. Once they were told of the final battle between the Slayer and the beast and the Slayer's sacrifice, they were willing to teach Dawn about what being the Key really meant. They were teaching her about her powers.

"Just chatting with some friends."

"Where are these friends?"

"Asia. I found the last three monks of the order that sent me here. They're teaching me about the Key and what kind of powers I have."

Spike smiled. Dawn sounded a lot like a little kid at Christmas time. He was a little concerned that these "monks" were actually from Glory's camp but he didn't think that they would be helping Dawn learn to use her powers. Instead they would be trying to capture her and kill her for what happened to Glory.

"What kind of powers, Nibblet?"

"They told me that I have several powers. We haven't been talking too long."

"I'm sure this is all really bloody fascinating but you do have school tomorrow."

"I don't want to go. I want to keep talking to these guys."

"Dawn, the only way you get to stay home tomorrow is if you get so sick that you can't get out of bed."

"Fine." She logged off and crawled into bed. She didn't realize just how potent her thoughts could be.

Dawn rolled over and turned off her alarm clock. 'I feel like I've been run over by a semi.'

She tried to sit up but fell back to her pillow. "I can't get up." She wanted to call out to Spike. Her voice didn't seem to be working very well. "Spike!"

Spike had dozed off on the couch downstairs. He heard her alarm go off. He then heard her call his name. Her voice was really weak-sounding. He flew up the stairs.

Dawn was laying in her bed with sweat rolling down her face. He sat down on the edge of the bed and touched her forehead. "Spike, I don't feel so good."

"You're running a fever, sweetheart. I'm going to call Red and get some help. I'll take care of you. Don't worry."

He left the room long enough to call Willow and bring a cool damp washcloth for Dawn's forehead. That's why when Willow showed up thirty minutes later she found him wiping her brow with a washcloth.

She checked Dawn's temperature. "We need to get her into a cool tub of water."

"I'll carry her." Spike picked her up and carried her into the bathroom. Once there, Willow drew a tub of cool water and Spike gently set her in the tub, clothes and all. He used a cup from the sink to pour water over her head repeatedly. He let her lay her head against his arm like a pillow.

"Spike! What the hell are you doing in here?"

"I promised your sister that I wouldn't leave her. That includes especially when she's bloody sick. I also promised you that I would look after her until the end of the world no matter when that would be." He turned back to the young lady in the tub. "Or did you think I had forgotten my vow to you, Slayer." He looked back at Buffy. "I may have been gone for almost a year but I could never forget that vow."

He gently smoothed the hair back from Dawn's face. "It's ok, pet. I'm right here and don't plan on going anywhere." She moaned a little and rolled her head around on his arm as if responding to his words. "Easy, pet. You'll be ok." He poured another cup of water over her head. He wanted to make her feel better. "Dawnie? Buffy's here. Wake up, pet. She wants to know that you're ok."

Dawn opened her eyes a little. "Buffy?"

"Right here, Dawnie. I'm here. I can take care of you."

"You can help Spike." Dawn's voice was a little raspy. "He promised not to leave me."

"That I did, bit. And I plan on keeping my word." He scooped up another cup of water. "Close your eyes." She did as he said and he poured the water over her head. "How do you feel?"

"A little better. Still awful. And hot. But a little better. Not as bad as this morning." She tipped her head to the side and seemed to snuggle into Spike's arm. The simple show of trust brought tears to Buffy's eyes. Dawn fell back to sleep. Buffy realized that it would be so easy for Spike to hurt Dawn. She was still amazed by the fact that he never had. He had never hurt her either. He lay his cool forehead against her warm one and closed his eyes. "That feels good," she murmured in her sleep. Spike smiled.

Buffy realized that Dawn was in good hands with Spike. She slipped out of the bathroom and went home as quietly as she had arrived.

About eight-thirty that night, Dawn's fever was gone and she opened her eyes to find two intense blue ones staring back at her. "What am I doing in the tub?" She looked down at her clothes. "Why am I still dressed in the tub?"

"You had a pretty high fever today. It's finally broken. You've been in and out of consciousness all day."

"You've been beside me all day?"

"Yeah. Right here, pet. I promised you I wouldn't leave you and I didn't." He gestured to the shelf beside the toilet. There was a clean set of pajamas setting there. "Can you get out of the tub and get dressed?"

"I think I can." She stood up and Spike had to react quickly in order to keep her from falling flat on her face. "Maybe not."

He picked her up and set her on the toilet, helping her get dressed. Then he carried her into her bedroom. He pulled back the covers while holding her with one arm. Then he gently placed her in her bed and covered her up. The sheets had been washed while she was in the tub. He turned to leave.

"You're leaving me?"

"I'm just going to go downstairs for a bit."

"Stay with me. Please." He walked back into the room from the doorway.

"I can't, luv. Big sis would 'ave my head."

"I still feel a little queasy. I might need help. Stay please."

"Ok, bit. For a little while." He kicked off his boots and stretched out on the bed on top of the covers. She snuggled up to him and rested against his chest. She was asleep in about twenty seconds.

The next day, Spike waited on Dawn hand and foot. He wanted her to rest and regain her strength. She was online most of the day explaining the situation from the day before to the monks. Spike didn't leave her alone for very long at time.

Dawn started getting frustrated with Spike's overzealous attentions at about noon. She told him that he could go to sleep if he needed to. She was capable of taking care of herself. He insisted that he was fine. "I won't need to sleep for a while yet."

"Spike, I just think you should go get some sleep." She was worried that he would get grumpy and she had seen him grumpy before. She didn't like him grumpy.

"Are you sure you'll be ok?"

"I'm planning on a nap myself. If you want, you can crash in the chair there. That way you'll still be here if I need you for anything."

"That works for me, pet." She curled up under the covers while he covered up with his duster in the chair near her bed.

He woke up about two hours later to a nightmare. Dawn's nightmare. She was crying and tossing and turning on the bed. She had gotten tangled in the sheets and couldn't get free.

"Let me go! Please! Spike, help me!" He hurriedly untangled her shapely legs from the sheets and pulled her into his arms, murmuring into her ear.

"Easy, bit. I've got you. I'm here. I won't leave you. Relax. It's ok."

Slowly, the girl calmed down and relaxed in his arms. He tried to lay her down but she had clenched her hand in a claw over his upper arm. He couldn't break the grip without waking her up. He laid down next to her and pulled her in close. He pulled the covers over the both of them and fell back to sleep with a feeling of peace he hadn't known in years.

When they woke up, it was dark outside. Spike felt hungry but didn't dare move because now Dawn was tangled up in him. Her legs were wrapped around his; her arms wrapped around his chest and her head was nestled tightly into his shoulder. He smiled.

So did she. She was wrapped in arms that made her safe and kept all the demons away. She felt protected, loved and most of all, treasured. She thought to herself that this must be how Buffy felt when Angel held her. She snuggled closer to her vampire. *Her vampire.* She smiled a little in her sleep, thinking of him that way.

"Dawn?" She didn't want to wake up. If she woke up, she'd have to move away from him. and that was not what she wanted to do. "Dawn, please." Her eyes flew open. She recognized the timber of his voice. He was getting really hungry. "Dawn, let me up. Come on, pet. I promise I'll be right back." He was fighting an urge to feed from her.

Suddenly, she sat up. "Spike, we were supposed to go to the butcher's today for a new supply of blood. We ran out last night. Remember?" Looking over at him, she was worried. He had his game face on and she could tell that the blood lust was almost too strong to fight. He had also forgotten about getting more blood that day.

Dawn came to a conclusion. She would feed Spike. She darted from the bed to the door and then to the kitchen. She needed to take care of Spike the way he had taken care of her. She pulled the filet knife out of the drawer and lay her wrist on the counter. Making sure that she wasn't cutting too deep would be the trick. She drew the knife across her wrist, drawing blood. She drained some into the mug he usually used for his blood.

She grabbed the edge of the counter as the room started spinning. Grabbing the nearest towel and wrapping her wrist, Dawn started for the stairs carrying the mug for Spike. But he had smelt the blood and came downstairs. He took the mug and set it on the counter. Then, he sat her down at the island and looked at her wrist. Satisfied that the cut wasn't life- threatening, he picked up the mug and drained it quickly in order to take the edge of his bloodlust. Then, he set about bandaging Dawn's wrist. "Dawn, that was a stupid thing to do. What if I had been unable to control the blood lust? What if I had taken the towel off your wrist and fed straight from you? You wouldn't have been able to fight me off. Not in your weakened state."

"I had to take care of you. You missed getting your blood because of me. I couldn't let you go hungry."

"Dawn, that is the sweetest thing anyone's ever done for me. I love that you chose to feed me from yourself but it's dangerous, pet. Promise me you won't ever do that again? Especially not when I haven't eaten in a couple of days. Promise?"

"I promise. But I don't swear." Before Spike could protest, she continued. "I care about you, Spike. You've been there when no one else knew how to deal with me. You hold me when I feel alone. You are so much more than just my friend. I felt all alone the whole time you were gone. I won't lose you to hunger. Not when I can do something about it."

"Dawn, I could have gone to Willie's and gotten something to tide me over until Monday."

"I don't like the thought of you going anywhere when you're like that. What if Buffy or Angel had seen you leave the house like that? They would have thought that you had killed me and staked you without checking on me." Dawn started crying. The thought that Spike might be mad at her hurt. She had only been trying to take care of him!

"Now, pet. I'm not mad at you. I'm scared because sometimes I just can't fight the hunger and I'm afraid that sometime you'll do just what you did today and I'll turn around and kill you. Or that you'll try to draw some blood and cut too deep or in the wrong place and be dead before I realize what you've done."

"I'm sorry, Spike. I just wanted to help."

"Pet, I know that. You don't have to risk yourself to take care of me. If you didn't want to let me leave the house like that, you could have gone to Willie's for me."

"That's in a bad neighborhood. Would you really trust demons around me?"

"I know you can take care of yourself, bit. Besides, they should all know that if they hurt you, they have to deal with me. The Big Bad."

She giggled. "Not even the kind of naughty."

"Where did you learn about that phrase? I'll strangle Harris if he . . ."

"He didn't tell me about it." She kind of turned away from Spike. "I kind of picked it out of his head. He didn't know I had done it."

"Where did you learn to do that?"

"I figured it out one day when it came to me just what Willow was thinking about some idiot that worked for her. I concentrated on that thought and found out exactly who she was talking about and why and she never even knew I was there."

"Sweets, you shouldn't go prying into people's minds."

"I don't normally. But the other day, when Xander started talking to Willow about you, the image of you tied up in a chair in his parents' basement came across crystal clear and I just had to find out what that was all about." It wasn't very funny to her how they had tied Spike up and made him completely dependant on them. He was a vampire and what the Initiative had done to him was bad enough. But to have the gang treat him like a dog was just plain wrong.

"It wasn't a fun time." She stepped up to him and gently laid her hand on his face. He caught it and held it there. He treasured every little gesture that she made to show him how much she cared. She was the best of all the Scoobies. Always making sure that he was ok. Even the big things she did, like cutting herself to feed him. Always thinking of him first and herself second. It amazed him that anyone cared that much about him.

"Spike, I - -" What would she say? *I love you.* Right. Like that would go over easy. He was like more than a hundred years older than she was. Their relationship would never work. *Wait. Buffy and Angel worked out. And there's a lot more age difference with them than with Spike and I.* She ran out the back door and into the night.

"Dawn!" He was suddenly scared. What was wrong? What made her run off like that? He ran after her.

Throwing open the door to Spike's old crypt, Dawn fled down the ladder and threw herself on the bed that still stood in the corner. She cried inconsolably for about twenty minutes before she cried herself to sleep.

Spike was running through the graveyard, shouting Dawn's name. He hadn't found her yet and was getting close to the mansion. Maybe Buffy and Angel could help him find her. If he hadn't found her by the time he reached the mansion, . . .

"Spike, what are you doing out here?" Buffy's voice rang out as she almost ran into him.

"Looking for Dawn. We were talking in the kitchen and suddenly she ran out. I've been looking for her."

"We'll help." Suddenly, Spike stopped and sniffed the air. Dawn's scent. "She's over this way." They ran toward Spike's old crypt. "She's in here." He followed the scent inside and down the ladder. There was Dawn curled up on the bed in the corner sound asleep with fresh tear tracks on her face. Spike sat down on the edge of the bed and touched her shoulder. Dawn sat bolt upright on the bed. She wiped at her eyes with a grubby hand and tried to hide the fact that she had been crying.

"Dawn, what are you doing here?"

"I needed to get out of the house and came here because . . ." She bowed her head and started crying again.

Spike pulled her in close and stroked her hair. "I'll take her home."

Just then, Buffy saw the gauze wrapped around Dawn's wrist. "What the hell is going on?"

"She fed me. We ran out of blood and before I could stop her, she cut her wrist to feed me. I yelled at her about it and that was about the time that she ran out."

Buffy sat down on the bed. Dawn looked at her sister as if afraid that she was going to hate her. "I don't hate you, Dawnie." She put a hand on her little sister's shoulder. "I understand." She looked at Spike. "Can we have a moment alone?"

He nodded and went upstairs and sat on the doorstep.

"Dawn, do you love Spike?"

"I do. I worry so much about him. He takes care of me and I just want to take care of him. When he told me that what I had done was stupid, it hurt so much. I didn't know what to do. So I ran."

"I remember the first time I realized how I felt about Angel. I was terrified. He had given me his jacket and I wore it almost everywhere. Until I found out what he really was. He tried to convince me that he wouldn't hurt me. I finally believed him when he staked his sire, Darla, to protect me."

"I still remember when he left you. You were inconsolable for weeks."

"Was I really that bad?"

"Worse. Mom thought that you were going loony. She hated to see you like that. She told me that if she had known how you would react to Angel leaving, she never would have told him that it was for the best."

"Mom told him that it would be best if he left me?"

"She didn't know until later that I had followed her to the mansion and listened to the conversation. Angel knew I was there though. I begged him not to hurt you like that. I tried to get him to stay. I didn't want to see you cry anymore and you were only happy when he was here."

"Thanks, Dawnie. You know I don't approve of Spike. I probably won't ever truly approve of him but if he is what, or who, you want, I'll try not to stand in the way." Buffy wrapped her arms around her little sister. "I got what I wanted. I hope this is right for you."

"I love him and I think he loves me too."

She didn't realize that Spike was listening to the conversation. He cried, knowing that her feelings mirrored his. Angel stood nearby watching the young vampire struggle with his feelings for the youngest Summers. He knew what it was like. He had struggled with his feelings for Buffy repeatedly over the years.

"Spike? You ok?"

"The little bit and her sister needed some private time." Spike wiped his eyes trying to hide his tears from Angel. He knew it didn't work but at least he had the good manners to not mention it.

Suddenly, Buffy and Dawn were behind him and he stood up. "Ready to go home, pet?"

Dawn smiled at the vampire who had stolen the last Summers heart. "You bet. Let's go home." Spike tentatively reached out and took Dawnie's hand. Angel and Buffy watched them go and smiled as they wrapped arms around each other and walked back to the mansion.

Walking back toward the house, Spike just enjoyed being with Dawn and holding her hand. He was rather surprised when they walked up the front steps of the house without being stopped by any evil creatures. He escorted Dawn up to her room and tucked her into bed.

She was asleep almost immediately. Spike brushed the hair back from her face and kissed her forehead. "Sleep well, pet." She rolled over and snuggled up tight to her body pillow.

Even in her sleep, she knew when he was gone. Her sleep was still peaceful although not as much. That night, Spike spent the night on the couch downstairs in the living room, not wanting to be too far from Dawn.

The next morning, Dawn woke up to Spike calling her from the doorway. "Dawn, time for breakfast. Come on, luv."

"Still tired. Why don't you come lay down with me?"

"Breakfast is ready, ducks. Come on down. Time to eat." She got out of her bed and headed for the bathroom.

"Can we watch TV together for a while today?"

"We'll see what happens after breakfast. We should be okay for today."

"Don't forget that I need to get you a new supply of blood today. I don't want a repeat of yesterday."

"I won't, luv." He didn't want a repeat of yesterday either. He had been so scared when Dawn ran off. No one could have been more worried about her than he had been.

Later that night, Dawn was snuggled up to Spike on the couch. She was a little sleepy after supper and a bath. They were watching some silly movie on TV. He was reclined on the couch with her laying between his legs and her head on his chest just under his chin. They had been working all day to clean the house and get everything in order because the Social Services guys would be by the next day to check on how things were going at the house.

Buffy and Angel would be showing up at about 8 am. Buffy would deal with the guy from Social Services while Spike slept. It had already been arranged that he would sleep in Buffy's room and it would be presented as he was a cousin from out of town who's been staying with the family for the past couple of weeks. He works late at night when he's at home and so is used to being up all night.

"Good morning, Ms. Summers. How are you today?"

"I'm fine, Mr. Andrews. How are you?" Buffy hated this man but she was nice to him in order to keep her sister in the house. After all, Dawn was the only blood relation she had left. Even though Dawn was more like her daughter than her sister. Dawn had been made from her. That made her Buffy's daughter.

"Fine. Where's Dawn?"

"I'm right here, Mr. Andrews. And I'm fine. Just a little glad that this is the last time we have to go through with this. I'm so tired of feeling like I'm under a microscope."

"Well, after today, there won't be anymore of these visits." Mr. Andrews sat down at the island in the kitchen. "How have things been around here lately?"

"Dawn missed school on Friday due to being sick. She was running a fever and in general feeling pretty nasty. Our cousin, William was here and helped take care of her all day. I was working and most of the night. He's always been really fond of Dawn."

"Where is William?"

"He's upstairs sleeping. I've moved into my mother's old room and he's staying in mine. He works nights and is all too used to being up late while sleeping all day." Just then, Angel walked in the back door. "Hey, Angel." He walked up to Buffy and kissed her. Then, he walked over and kissed Dawn on the forehead.

"Morning, sweetheart. Morning, Dawnie." He held out his hand. "You must be Mr. Andrews from Social Services. Buffy told me you were coming by today. I hope everything's ok."

"And you are?"

"Liam Angelus O'Donelly. Buffy's husband. After getting Dawn off to school and Buffy off to work, I visit with William and then head over to finish cleaning up the house that we're all moving into together."

"I guess congratulations are in order. I hope you are all really happy together." He took a deep breath. "Everything seems to be in order here. I'll turn in my final report today and that should be the end of it. And happy birthday, Dawn."

"Thank you, Mr. Andrews. And goodbye." Buffy walked the man to the door and leaned against the door after she closed it behind him. Dawn headed back up the stairs and turned around to look at Buffy and Angel by the door.

He stepped toward Dawn who took a step back. "Don't come near me. I don't need this harassment. Social Services won't be back. You two can go on about your lives now. I'll be fine."

"Dawnie, please don't be like this. I love you and so does Angel. We just want what's best for you."

"Just go home. I'll be ok. Spike's upstairs asleep and I'm just going to lay down and rest for now."

She turned around and walked up the stairs. Buffy just sighed and she left with Angel.

When she got up the stairs, Dawn didn't go to her room. Instead, she walked into Buffy's room. She kicked off her shoes and lay down next to Spike putting her head on his chest. He wrapped an arm around her in his sleep. He pulled her close and rubbed her arm.

"It's all right, pet. If you need to cry, do it. I won't mind." The dam holding back her tears broke just then at his tender words and she sobbed helplessly into his chest.

Spike nearly cried himself as he held his little bit. Feeling the sobs wracking her body, he knew it was because of Buffy and Angel. He hated to see Dawn like this but knew that she had to deal with this problem on her own. All he could do is be a support for her and hold her when she needed it.

Later that afternoon, when the two of them woke up, Spike had an idea. When Dawn came back from washing her face, Spike asked her, "What say we go to a movie, pet?"

"What movie?"

"You pick."

Dawn chose some sweet sappy movie about romance. Spike went with the intent of enjoying himself because of being out in public with Dawn. They just weren't expecting to bump into Kirstie the snob at the theater.

"Oh, sorry, Kirstie."

"Watch where you're going, freak!" Spike looked on from the ticket counter, curious. The little wench just called HIS Dawn a freak?

"I said I was sorry, Kirstie." Just then, Spike appeared at Dawn's side. He draped an arm around Dawn's shoulders, giving her a show of support.

"Is this git bothering you, luv?" he rumbled from beside her. Kirstie looked at Spike. Her attitude changed drastically. She suddenly had a predatory look to her and Dawn didn't like anyone looking at HER Spike like that.

"Who is this?" Kirstie asked.

"Kirstie, this is Spike."

"Your sister's boyfriend?"

With an impish glint in her eyes, Dawn craned her head to look up at Spike. He knew what she was going to say next. "No. MY boyfriend." Spike bent his head and kissed her forehead, relishing the look of total amazement Kirstie had on her face.

When Dawn shivered, Spike pulled off his duster and wrapped it around her shoulders. "Can't have you getting chilled now pet, can we?" She shook her head and leaned into his shoulder. "Let's go get some soda and popcorn or candy. Whatever you choose."

And, with that, they walked into the theater, leaving Kirstie with her mouth wide open in shock.

Two hours later, Kirstie watched as Spike and Dawn walked out of the theater with his arm around her shoulders and hers around his waist. She was still wearing the duster. Kirstie couldn't believe it. What could that gorgeous guy see in Dawn? Kirstie was so much the better for him. She just knew it. The question was how to get him to notice her.

The next day, Dawn woke up to rain pouring down and Spike yelling at her to get out of bed and get ready for school. She rolled out of bed and got dressed.

"Dawn!! You have ten minutes to get to school!! Let's go, pet!!" Spike sometimes hated having to wake Dawn up. She looked so cute when she slept.

She looked in the mirror and decided against putting her duster on. Maybe Spike would let her wear his. Then, she could really rub her boyfriend in Kirstie's face. She grabbed her books and ran down the stairs.

As she reached for the front door, Spike caught her shoulder. "Now, ducks, I don't really fancy you going out without a coat, getting soaked and catching pneumonia. Big sis would have my head. Not to mention my own guilt." He handed her his duster off the hook by the door. "Take mine. Just be careful with it."

"No problem. I know that it's one of your trophies." She kissed him on the cheek and ran out the door.

At school that day, Kirstie kept trying to talk to Dawn. Dawn kept walking away from Kirstie. Finally, just before school let out for the day, Kirstie cornered Dawn in the restroom. "So why don't you and Spike ever do anything?"

"He works nights and sleeps during the day. We usually get two nights a week just for us. We don't bother going out because we normally have more fun sitting at home and watching a couple of movies and eating pizza."

"Do you --?"

"No. Spike is a perfect gentleman. There have been nights when we have fallen asleep in each other's arms in front of the TV but he has never tried anything with me." She smiled. "He said he would know when I was ready for that step in our relationship."

"So, does the almighty Buffy know about Spike?"

"Of course she does. Who do you think introduced us?' Dawn pushed past Kirstie and went to her last class, smiling because for a change Kirstie couldn't take something away from her.

Dawn had all but run home from school. She was in a great mood since Kirstie couldn't touch her anymore. She skipped up to Buffy's room and bounced on the bed. She wanted Spike to wake up.

"Bit, it's not a really good idea to wake me up like this." Spike growled as he tried to roll away from her.

"I'm not a freak! I'm not a freak!"

He grabbed Dawn and sat her down on the bed. "You never have been a freak. Never could be." He pulled her close. His lips met hers and he kissed her thoroughly. He pulled back and looked her in the eye. "Sorry, bit."

"For what?" She looked into his eyes and he looked away. "I'm glad you kissed me. Saves me the trouble of kissing you first and looking like a little . . . "

"Don't. You are a wonderful, beautiful young woman. If anyone says otherwise, they're wrong. And blind." He gently flipped the hair out of her face and tucked it behind her ear. His eyes stared right into hers as he leaned in to kiss her again.

This time, the kiss was gentle and deep. It was the type of kiss Dawn had always imagined Buffy and Angel sharing. She was trembling as he pulled away. Her lips were swollen and wet. Her face was totally flushed. She was breathing fast and he could hear her heart, pumping fast and hard.

"Wow!" she whispered. "Wow!"

Spike chuckled. It was a low rumble deep in his chest. "A little speechless, pet?"

She just sighed and fell over on the bed, curling into a little ball with a really huge grin on her face. She closed her eyes and was asleep in no time. Her adrenaline burned out rather quickly. He chuckled again and pulled the sheet up over her. He then headed downstairs to start supper.

Dawn pushed away from the table. "That was amazing. The steak was perfect." She leaned back against the back of her chair and stretched.

"Homework time, pet." Spike stood up and started clearing the table.

"I hate homework. Especially history."

"I'll be up after a bit in order to help you with history. Get everything else done first."

"Ok. Bring up the usual drinks?"

"Of course." Spike was smiling as he started clearing the table so he could do dishes.

Of course, Spike didn't smile for long when he came upstairs carrying two mugs of hot chocolate. He knocked on Dawn's door and waited for her to tell him to come in. When she did, he entered the room -- and stopped dead in his tracks.

"Where in the bloody hell did you find that thing?"

"In a chest in the basement. Don't you like it?"

Dawn was wearing what was obviously an old tie-dyed t-shirt and a short pair of shorts. Like it? Spike loved the way the shirt looked on Dawn and that was the problem.

"That chest downstairs is mine, luv. That shirt happens to be the one I wore at Woodstock." He chuckled and shook his head. "I can't believe that I let Dru talk me into keeping that bloody thing. She always did have a soft spot for those flower children. Maybe because she felt like she belonged with them."

"I might have known that HER name would come up." Dawn got off her bed and walked to the window. She didn't want Spike to see just how much it bothered her to hear him talk about Drusilla.

"Jealous, pet?" She whipped her head around to glare at him and he saw the pain in her eyes. "Dawn, you'll just have to accept the fact that Dru was a major part of my life back then. We ran together for more than a hundred years."

"I hate her. She hurt you. More than once."

"Yes. She did. But there's no reason to hate her. She was crazy. She did a lot of stuff that I wanted to dust her for myself. But don't hate her. She's not worth the effort."

Dawn shrugged and sat back down on the bed. "So tell me all about Woodstock. What was it like with all those people?"

Spike chuckled and started with some of his stories.

Several weeks later, Dawn was going through some of Spike's old photo albums and came across a picture that really interested her. It was an old newspaper clipping about a roller dancing competition in New York City. The picture was of a girl that could have been her. The thing that really drew her attention was the guy this girl was roller dancing with. It looked a lot like Spike.

She thought it had to be just a coincidence until she noticed Spike's handwriting next to the picture. 'My Karia. Dancing Queen. New York City. 1977.' It gave her an idea.

Two days later came her first chance to ask Spike about the picture. "Spike, who was Karia?"

"What?" Her question took him completely by surprise. He hadn't thought about Karia in years. "How did you find out about Karia?" Dawn held up the photo album. He sat down on the couch. "Cop a squat, pet. I'll tell you about her."

Once Dawn was comfortable, Spike started the story.

"In early 1977, Dru and I found ourselves in New York. Since we appeared to be stuck there for a while, we decided to create as much chaos and disruption as we could.

Dru loved to roller skate so we started spending a lot of time at roller rinks. We were out one night when I saw her. Karia, the dancing queen.

Dru would hunt each night while I wanted the quick kill each night. Then I would go to the rink to watch Karia. She taught me to skate and we started to skate together. She was so much like you. Always moving, full of energy. Always looking at everything with those intense emerald green eyes.

I took to the skating in order to get close to her. She was tall and gangly, while Dru was elegant and graceful. Off the ice that is. On the ice, Dru was the awkward one compared to Karia.

The problems started when Dru realized that I had no intention of killing Karia or turning her. That's when she started torturing the girl. She would leave vicious notes. Sending minions to follow her and frighten her was normal. In short, she took matters into her own hands.

A few days later, I heard that Karia had disappeared. Three days later, she was left where I would find her after spending all night searching for her. She was left not three blocks from where Dru and I were staying.

As I headed down the alley that night, the smell of blood was almost nauseating even to me. What I found in that alley that night has haunted me ever since.

Karia was dead. Even if I hadn't had the ability to hear a heartbeat which wasn't there, just looking at the body was enough. Her throat had been ripped out after several vamps "used" her. They carved the words "Vamp Whore" into her legs and had bitten her breasts numerous times.

Since the sun was about to come up, I hid her body and burned it the next night. Then I attacked Dru. I beat her, carved words into her skin. I poured holy water on her and shoved a cross into her.

That was the night that I started to hate Dru.

He looked into the fear-filled eyes of his Nibblet when he finished his story. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you, pet. I want you to know that I am not the creature I was then."

Dawn slid across the room and crawled into Spike's lap. "I know. Do you really think I would trust you if I thought you were still capable of that?"

"Dawn, I love you."

"I love you too, William." He loved the sound of that, his mortal name rolling off her tongue.

They fell asleep just like that, with her curled up on his lap and him leaning back against the back of the couch.