"Daddy?" Dawn was still trying to get used to calling Angel that. Calling Buffy 'Mom' was a little easier but still kind of weird.

"Yes, Dawnie?"

"I've been thinking about my eighteenth birthday party. I want to have a roller skating party. Like the ones they used to have in 1970's New York and all. The disco music, the whole nine yards." She paused for a moment. Angel looked up from the newspaper he was reading.

"You've been doing your homework. But I don't understand."

"I want to do this for Spike."

"He told you about Karia." It was a statement. He knew the story. He had been living in New York when it happened. He knew the story and he realized how much Dawn meant to Spike for him to tell her about that time in his life. He also knew that Spike had never let go of the memory of Karia. That was why he was always so careful around Dru. He didn't want that to happen to anyone else.

"He's been having nightmares lately and if I could help him get over this, . . ."

"I know, honey. I think it's a great idea." He folded the paper and set it down. "How about you come over tomorrow while he's sleeping and we'll talk about it. Don't tell him anything except that he has to be there. He'll be surprised and maybe, then, he'll get over the memory. Especially when he realizes that you won't be leaving him. You are the most precious thing in his life. Have been for a long time now. It's because of you that he doesn't kill anymore, even though the chip doesn't work anymore."

"Dad, there's something else I wanted to talk to you about. I just didn't want to do it around Mom."

"What is it, Dawn?"

In response, Dawn simply moved the collar of her shirt down her shoulder and showed Angel the mark that Spike had left. Angel got up and walked around the table to look at it a little closer. "He marked you?"

She nodded. "I wanted it. I didn't realize it when he did it the first time. When he explained it to me though, I was glad he did it. He apologized the first time when he realized that I was scared."

"He's bitten you more than once?"

"I sometimes let him drink from me. Just a little. He doesn't like to but sometimes he has to." She knew that Angel was getting mad. She needed to calm him down quick. "When we forget to get more blood, sometimes I cut myself and make him drink. The first time I did that was right after I was so sick. Back when I was first learning about my powers. He yelled at me for it. That's why I ran off. Mom doesn't know about the times I've let him bite me." Her tears started falling. "Daddy, please don't be mad at me. I love him and I just couldn't take it if I had to lose him."

Angel wrapped his arms around the trembling girl. "I'm not mad, sweetheart. I just want to make sure that you understand what this all means. I worry about you, Dawn. I always have. Ever since the monks gave you form and sent you here to Sunnydale." He smiled. "The Powers That Be never allowed the memories to take hold in my head. Just my heart. I know everything that you and Buffy have been through since then. They don't let me forget any of it."

She pulled away from him. "Then, we don't tell Mom. Right?"

"Right. She would go all 'wiggy', as she puts it." He shook his head. "I will never get used to the way your mother talks."

"It's ok. As long as you don't go all cryptic on us again." She started to chuckle. "Mom might get really upset about that. In fact, . . ."

"I might have to thoroughly kick every inch of his ass," Buffy laughed from the door. She crossed the room and joined the group hug. "So what are you two conspiring about now?"

"Dawnie's eighteenth birthday party. She wants a roller party. Disco music and all."

"I think we can do that. As long as she doesn't expect me up on skates."

"She might not but I do. At least for one song." Angel and Buffy stepped away from Dawn locked into each other's eyes.

"I'm leaving now. Since it looks like you two want some smoochies." Dawn slipped out the door before her words even registered in her parents' minds.

"Spike, you are coming to my party aren't you?"

"Sweetheart, that party is for you and your friends."

"You have to come. Otherwise, I won't go either."

"Pet, you have to go. It's your party." He could tell that she was going to be stubborn about this. "Don't be so silly."

"I get my stubborn streak from my mother and you know how stubborn she can be. You have to be there. I can't have any fun if you're not there." She started pouting.

"Now, pet."

"You have to come to my party. Everyone's going to be there. Cordy and Wes are even coming down from L.A."

'Ok. How can I argue with that?" Spike laughed and wrapped his arms around the girl that he loved so desperately. He had already figured out what to get her for her birthday. She was going to be so surprised. Possibly even angry with him that he hadn't given it to her sooner and that he had spent so much money on her.

Four days later, all the arrangements were made and the party was only two days away. Dawn had it all planned. When Spike got into the shower, she would take his clothes and leave the set she had found for him. It was the same clothes he had worn in the picture with Karia. She knew he would fight her on this. That was why no one had told him what kind of party this was. He never would have shown up.

"So, my William has a new dancing queen does he?" The singsong voice coming from the dark terrified the fledgling standing in front of the mad vampire. "I'll just have to go to the party and take care of that. I took her away from him once, I can do it again." She stepped forward and ripped off the fledgling's head before he even knew what was happening. "Boys, time to visit Sunnydale."

"Spike, hurry up. Dawn's already there. You want to make her mad on her special day?" Xander and Angel were waiting for the souled vampire at the foot of the stairs. They were both just waiting to hear him raise a fuss when he saw what he had to wear.

"Bloody hell!!!! What is this?"

"Just put it on and let's go! I want to be there when they bring in the cake!" Xander yelled up the stairs. He had all he could do to keep from laughing.

"Xander, cool it. He's going to have a hard time tonight. Our sources have told me that Drucilla might even be coming in to Sunnydale soon. I just hope it's not tonight. That might ruin everything."

"Or it might solve the whole problem." At Angel's puzzled look, Xander explained his thought. "Dawn's doing this to get him over the memory of the girl that Drusilla killed. If Dawn ends up in danger and he saves her, it's as if he were saving the girl that was taken from him all those years ago."

"I see what you mean. I just hope he hurries. Dawn is going to be furious because we're late as it is."

Just then, Spike came walking down the stairs looking for all the world like he had just stepped from the pages of a history book. The look on his face stated that he would love to know who he should kill for this one.

"This was all Dawn's idea. She wanted to do this for you but she knew that you'd fight her."

"Bloody right I would have!"

"Spike, do you know how often I've had to comfort Dawn on the ride to school because she was crying? She would hear you cry out in your sleep. Your nightmares were hurting her. She thought that maybe this way you could get over this and go back to being the person she loves."

"I've been hurting the bit?" Spike hung his head in shame. He hated that thought. He felt guilty anytime Dawn had made him bite her for some special nourishment.

"We know that you don't mean to. She knows you don't mean to. She just doesn't know what else to do. She wants you to get past this and be hers again. She told us the other day that she regrets bringing the whole thing up to you. She says that's when this whole thing started."

"Alright. I'll go. I hope this works though because I bloody well don't like hurting the bit."

The three men left the house to celebrate Dawn's eighteenth birthday.

When they arrived at the rink, the party was already in full swing. Spike easily found Dawn. She was dressed just like Karia had been most nights. The brightly colored top and tight short shorts were going to drive him to distraction all night. She was skating circles around the kids on the floor.

She skated up to the edge of the floor where he was standing. "I love it."

"Only for you, pet." He kissed the tip of her nose. Then, noticing that Kirstie was watching, he tipped her head up and kissed her on the lips. "You are mine," he whispered, sending a chill up her spine. She shivered visibly and he chuckled. The sound brought a smile to her lips.

"There you are. I was wondering where you had gone." She chuckled. Suddenly, she looked up. "I'll be back in a bit. I have to take care of something. A couple of songs, then we do the presents." With that, she skated off.

Suddenly, everyone heard the announcer. "Everyone clear the floor. The birthday girl wants to show you all how it was done in the 70's." When everyone had skated to the edge of the floor, Dawn took center stage. 'Dancing Queen' started and Dawn started dancing.

When the song came to the point of mentioning her chosing a king, she grabbed Spike's hand and dragged him out on the floor. What she didn't know was that Spike had a question to ask her after the song was over and before the next one began.

The song ended and Spike was on one knee in front of Dawn. He pulled the little black box out of his pocket. Dawn was wondering what he was up to. He opened the box and showed her the diamond ring inside. "Dawn, will you marry me? Be my dancing queen forever?"

"Spike . . . I . . . I don't know what to say." The tears in her eyes were tears of more than joy. "Of course. I could never say no to you."

He put the ring on her finger and stood up. They wrapped their arms around each other and held each other tight.

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A/N: I know. I suck leaving it like this. The next chapter will have a lot more action to it. Not as much fluff. So there you go.