Chapter 2 Gone
A few days later. Buffy is home by herself and hears a knock on the door.
Anya: (She has arrived on Buffy's door step, bags in hand. Sounding in tears.) I've left Xander.
Buffy: You what? (Sounds surprised.)
Anya: Well after he called off the wedding, we haven't sorted out what we want and he hasn't reset a date. I just up and left. It's driving me crazy. He's all hot then cold. Marry me, just not right now. (Drops her bags and goes to lean on Buffy's shoulder.) Please let me stay for awhile. I don't want to be alone.
Buffy: Well since you are already here. (She cautiously invites her in.)
Somewhere across town Willow hears a knock at her door.
Willow: Xander what's wrong? What happened? You're bleeding.
Xander: (Comes into her apartment.) It's Anya, she's gone nuts.
Willow: Tell me something I didn't know.
Xander: Willow, I'm serious. She tried to kill me.
Willow: (Sounding concerned.) Really!
Xander: She threw a rolling pin at my head. Look at this. (Points to head.) She's deranged.
Willow: No arguments there.
Xander: This is serious. Because I wouldn't reset a date for the wedding, and I didn't want to discuss it, she finally lost it and she freaked on me. Then she got violent, and threw the rolling pin at my head. Apparently that friend of hers from the wedding. That demon friend of hers the one that was maid of honor at our almost wedding. She's been putting ideas into Anya's head again.
Willow: Sure there's any room left in her demony head to have any more ideas?
Xander: Willow I serious. She's never walked out before. What am I going to do? I have to go out and I have to find her.
Willow: She's at Buffy's house. Buffy just called me. She said I'd never guess who just turned up on her doorstep suitcase in hand. Besides you're going to go after her and get another rolling pin thrown at your head?
Xander: Well I have to do something don't I?
Willow: Why? People are going to do whatever they want. Whenever they want. If you don't want them to go, they go. They don't look back, they don't care. (She sounds sad.)
Xander: We still talking about me here? (Sees the look on her face. Goes over to give her a hug.) Still no word from Tara?
Willow: We talk, and it's all polite and friendly, but she has this wall up. When's she going to forgive me Xander? I've done everything that I could. I'm sorry for what I did.
Xander: She loves you Will, but it takes time. She was pretty angry after you did that spell that took away all our memories, and seems like it wasn't the first time you did something like that?
Willow: But I'm sorry. Can't she see that I'm sorry?
Xander: You just have to give her time. People stay angry as long as they need to. There's not much you can do as far as working things out, if they stay angry. Can't break down those walls with anger in the way.
Willow: Maybe I just have to face it. Tara's gone, and maybe she's never going to come back.
Xander: I have to face it too. Anya's gone till I reset a date for this wedding. I don't know why I can't seem to bring myself to do it. I mean I know I love her.
Willow: Xander. You've grown up so much over the last year. More I think than any of us. But maybe you just went too fast. That's probably why you backed out. You have to give yourself time, space, figure out what you want. Last thing you want is another wedding, where you call it off at the last minute. That would just piss her off more.
Xander: Know what? Your right. We're not getting anywhere till I figure this out for myself first. I know what I'm going to do now.
Willow: What?
Xander: Nothing. I have to figure this out before I chase her all over the place. Else like you said, we're just going to continue having the same problems, and God knows what she will do next time. Women.
Willow: Women. (They shake their heads in unison.)
A few days later. Their house guest has settled in nicely. Nicely for Dawn and Spike, who love having the extra company, and listening to her stories. Buffy is having some difficulties adjusting to the house guest, who is currently residing in Buffy's old room. Anya and Spike have become fast friends, and though Buffy would never admit it, she's a little uncomfortable with their closeness. She is in the kitchen preparing a snack, as she listens to their happy chatter from the living room.
Anya: (Sitting on the couch with Spike. They go over stories of destruction and devastation that they caused.) Yeah you should have seen what I did to his testicles. He couldn't walk for a week. That obviously wasn't my best work though. I was young, inexperienced. After I became a vengeance demon. V.D. For short. Not the other kind. Although I inflicted a lot of that on people, and Xander's penis has diseases from a shumash tribe.
Spike: Yeah I can remember one time, for Dru's birthday. (From the kitchen we can hear one dish being broken, and then another.) What I mean is, for someone, who will not be named in this house's birthday, we wanted to... (he goes on to tell her about some pretty bizarre things, he and Dru have done for her various parties, up to assembling the judge.) I can tell you that was a laugh riot. (They sigh in unison recalling the good old times.)
Buffy: (Comes from the kitchen with some glasses)
Anya: Oh Buffy you didn't have to do that by yourself, you should have asked someone to help you. (Anya then goes back to what she was doing.)
Buffy: (Picks up a butter knife threateningly off the tray, as she balances the tray with one hand.)
Spike: (Goes over to help out.) Now, now, temper, temper luv. (Takes the tray and the butter knife.)
Dawn: (Comes in from visiting friends.)
Buffy: It's disturbing all the happy talk between you two. I mean the happy talk about hurting people. It's just disturbing.
Dawn: No it's not Buffy, I think it's kind of cool. Sides, how many good stories have you told about killing demons, or dusting vampires.
Buffy: But what I do is different, what I am is totally different..
Dawn: (She rolls her eyes.)
Spike: Yeah how's it different? I mean there are a couple of people who don't show up for kitten poker one night, and I start to get dirty looks cause I'm married to a slayer and she's probably killed them, or dusted them.
Buffy: But slaying is my job. It's something I have to do, it's my destiny.
Spike: So being bad is what vamps and demons do. It's our job, it's our destiny.
Dawn: Yeah, why is everything always ok when you do it but when we do it, it's all like such a big deal. Buffy kills vamps and demons. Buffy wants to date vampires. Buffy, Buffy, Buffy, it's always Buffy.
Anya: Yeah I agree. What they said. Does kind of seem a little double standardish, if you ask me.
Buffy: Well no one asked you. I can't believe I'm hearing this. Did I just fall into some backward dimension or something? I can't believe you're all just ganging up on me like this. (Points to Spike.) You are suppose to be on my side.
Spike: What and back you up, cause I don't like you staking all my friends? Well the one's I've still got. Gets even smaller everyday. People find out your married to a slayer and it's like you've got bloody leprosy.
Buffy: Oh so being married to me is like a plague?
Spike: Now pet, I never meant that. What I meant to say was.
Buffy: Well it's what you said. Well if you don't like being married to me, we can always fix that.
Dawn: (Motions to Anya.) I think this would be a good time for us to go upstairs or something.
Anya: But why? This was just getting good.
Dawn: Anya!
Anya: Ok. I 'm coming already. But I hope we can still hear upstairs through the rails.
Dawn and Anya exit the room and go upstairs.
Spike: What's that suppose to mean?
Buffy: Just that if being married to me is so bad, you don't have to be.
Spike: You're blowing this way out of proportion. All I meant was you get to prance around in this self righteous world, never convicted of doing anything bad, but the moment me or Anya talk about our past it's like we're these terrible people. It's part of who we were, there is darkness in us, you're just gonna to have to accept that babe.
Buffy: Well that's you and Anya. Not me.
Spike: I know that. All I'm saying is you should lighten up a little. You're moody, and blowing things way out of proportion. You should lighten up, like Anya. Even Dawn finds my stories funny. Dru would never have... (Before he can to take the words back it's too late.)
Buffy: Dru! There's that name again. I told you not to compare me to Drusilla. (She pushes him towards the kitchen.) I'm nothing like her, and if you like Drusilla so much you should have married her and not me. (They arrive at the kitchen door and she forces him into the kitchen.) Also if you hate my job so much, why don't you do something? Why did you marry me? I have to slay vampires, it's what I do. I'm the slayer. (Frustrated she opens the back door and pushes him outside. Realizing what she's just did, she opens the door and drags him back in.)
Spike: Are you crazy? What did you do that for? Have you lost your mind? Is it that time of the month again? I could have been toast, good thing there's some shade on the back porch, you're bleeding crazy!
Buffy: (Still angry.) Yeah, well next time I'll leave you out there.
Spike:Walking over to her angry himself now. He stares her down.) Yeah, well what makes you think there will be a next time. (He goes over to the fridge, gets his packets of blood from the fridge, puts them in his jacket. Then goes over to the living room and gets his blanket from a space under the sofa.) I'm not putting up with this. If I wanted crazy I would have stayed with Dru. (Throwing the name in Buffy's face deliberately this time, he walks out the back door, blanket fully around him.) I'm outta here. See ya Goldilocks.
Buffy: (Walks over to the back door which he's left open, and she slams it really hard.) Not if I see you first. I should just have staked him, when I had the chance. Would have simpled things up so much more. (Realizes that the time for such sentiments is far over with. Whether she likes it or not he's become a part of her, and all the pain and emotions that feelings bring comes with that.)
After the argument and Spike leaving for his crypt. Dawn makes her way downstairs.
Dawn: (Hearing it grow quite downstairs she takes some slowly cautions her way into the kitchen.) Where is Spike?
Buffy: He left. (Trying to not sound upset about the argument they just had.)
Dawn: What do you mean he left?
Buffy: He took his stuff and went back to his crypt!
Dawn: And you let him leave?
Buffy: What was I suppose to do?
Dawn: You're suppose to stop him. (Starting to get emotional again, remembering when Tara left Willow.) What if he doesn't come back? What if you can't work this out? What if it's forever?
Buffy: We didn't break up forever. This is an argument. (But she is not fully convinced of her own words.)
Dawn: An argument? Where he moves back to his crypt? Nice Buffy. If you hadn't started in on him about talking about his past, talking about who he was, he wouldn't have left. This is all your fault.
Buffy: Dawn, I never meant...
Dawn: You never meant to make him leave. Why does everyone end up leaving. (She starts to break into tears.) Every time I think I'm going to have a family again. First dad leaves, Giles, Tara, now Spike and Willow moved back out. Then your probably going to leave again, then I'm going to be all alone.
Buffy: Dawn you know that would never happen. I would never leave you again.
Dawn: But how do you know? How do you know what's going to happen? The future's not set remember. Things can change.
Buffy: We'll make up. Me and Spike fight all the time.
Dawn: (She goes over to the fridge. She looks in him drawer.) Where's all his blood?
Buffy: He took it with him. (Sounds worried.)
Dawn: He took it? (Sounds about to break into tears again.) This is all your fault. If he doesn't come back this is all your fault.
Buffy: We fight all the time, he always comes back. (Trying to sound convincing, but getting a bit worried, cause it's the first time he's taken his stuff back to the crypt.)
Dawn: That's just great Buffy. That's really reassuring. You know what. If Spike goes, I'm going. I'm not staying here with you. You can't break things apart like this. It's not fair. Just when things were starting to get good again.
Buffy: Dawn stop it. You're overreacting. (Trying to gain control of the situation.)
Dawn: No. You're acting like you don't care again. Like you can just push everyone's feelings aside and it doesn't matter. I really hate you right now. And if Spike goes, then... (throws her head back in defiance.) I'm going too.
Buffy: (Exhausted and not up for another argument.) Dawn. Go to your room.
Dawn: What? Are you serious? I'm 16, you can't tell me what to do, and you can't send me to my room.
Buffy: I can make you go!
Dawn: You think you're so tough. One of these days just wait. (She storms off.)
Dawn goes upstairs, but she is really upset with Buffy. She is afraid that Spike has left them for good. She packs an over night bag. Sneaks out her bedroom window and makes her way to the crypt.
Inside the crypt.
Spike: (Talks out loud to himself.) She's crazy. All I said was Dru and she throws me outside, she could have killed me. I could have been a big pile of dust. Temper she got there. Crazy too. Why do I get the crazy ones? (He plays the whole scene over in his head for the hundredth time.) I was sitting on the couch with Anya, she's the one who started in with her holier than thou attitude. (Goes over to the fridge to gets a nice glass of blood.) Half my stuff's still there. Hope she don't burn it or something. Saw what that Angela Bassett did to that blokes cloths in that Waiting to exhale movie. Then she makes me watch those chick flick movies I don't even like. Well that one with Angelena Jolie was ok, but do I get time for Dawson's Creek any more, no! It's all like family responsibilities this and family responsibilities that, and (screams out as if in pain.) Oh God I bloody well miss her already. (Turns on the television to try and get his mind off of her.)
Arriving at the crypt. Dawn knocks first. Then enters.
Dawn: Spike are you here?
Spike: Bit's that you?
Dawn: Yeah.
Spike: What ya doing here?
Dawn: Buffy said you left! (She sounds upset.) You took your blood from the fridge.
Spike: Noticed that did ya. (He feels bad cause he can see all the turmoil on her face. Thinks at least one Summer's is sad he left.) I was upset.
Dawn: Yeah Buffy has a way of doing that with people. (Remembers her recent argument with Buffy, as well.)
Spike: I just wish she'd stop being such a bitch. (Looks at Dawn, realizes, what he just said.) What I mean is ...no what I said before. But I love her to distraction, drives me crazy when she acts like this.
Dawn: So it's not over? You're not leaving for good? (Holding her breath waiting for an answer.)
Spike: What and leave my favorite little bit, to get into mischief and trouble. (Gives her one of his inquisitive looks.) Never. Your big Sis and I just have some things we need to sass out. A couple days to cool off, and we might be able to have a rational conversation. She's all moody lately. Kind of distracted.
Dawn: She's just power tripping. She actually tried to make me go to my room. Can you believe that? Then when I refused she threatened to use force. Just wait, one of these days I'm gonna show her.
Spike: Now, now bit. Talk like that's gonna get you into trouble. (Sees her bag.) So your sister doesn't know you're here?
Dawn: No. I snuck out of my window. If you're not staying there, then I'm not staying there. (She stands all defiant.)
Spike: (He smiles.) So there's some division in the ranks? You know she's gonna be real pissed with the both of us, when she finds you gone. (On a more subdued note.) Sides she's gonna worry. (He's mad at Buffy, but he doesn't want to make her worry unnecessarily.)
Dawn: If she's so worried she'll come looking for me.
Spike: Yeah. You'd think she'd do that. (Spike thinking that she didn't really run after him.) Well I should send you packing, she'll have both our hides. Me for letting you stay, and you for running off.
Dawn: Even though she's gonna be all pissed. Can I stay? (She looks hopeful.)
Spike: Not with language like that. (He laughs cause it's the pot calling the kettle black.) Course bit. But no hogging the telly, and I get dibs on the sofa.
Dawn: Deal. (She smiles at him.)
Spike: (He ruffles her hair.) So who's up for some kitten poker? They settle down to play cards.)
Back at the Summer's house. Buffy has not noticed that Dawn has snuck out. She sits in the living room. Trying to figure out what went wrong.
Anya: (Entering the living room, after too many hours of silence, she makes her way over to Buffy by the sofa.) Where's Dawn and Spike?
Buffy: Dawn's in her room, and Spike...Spike.. (She breaks into tears.) He left. (She sounds surprised by her outburst, but also hurt.)
Anya: You had a fight, and he left?
Buffy: Yes. (Sounding even more tearful.)
Anya : Xander and I had a fight, and I left him. (Places a hand on Buffy's shoulder and makes her look up.) But it doesn't mean I don't love him, or that I'm not hoping to get back together. He just has to figure out what he wants.
Buffy: But we know what we want. We got married and everything. What if he stays gone, like my dad?
Anya: I think he loves you. I've been around the house for a few days, and I still don't know everything there is to know about humans, but he always watches you, when you walk in and out of a room, and when you're not around you should hear how he talks about you. It's all like Buffy did this and Buffy did that. It's so cute. It's how I hope Xander talks about me, when I'm not around. Dawn and I just smile about the cute looks you two give each other and the way you always try to touch each other when you think no ones looking, or when you know people are looking and you just don't care, and I'm right across the hall from you, so I hear the noises that come from your room and...
Buffy: Anya. I think I get it. (She sounds embarrassed.)
Anya: All I'm trying to say is, I think you have something special. Xander and I thought it would never last. We figured you were just using each other for the sex, but then you got married, and you didn't even hesitate, and I think that's how it should be with people. Either you are sure or you are not. Or you are just crazy and rushing into things and going to suffer terribly for it. You know what they say marry in haste repent at leisure.
Buffy: (Has a worried look on her face.)
Anya: Oh, but what I mean is. I don't think that's the case with you and Spike. I think you really care for each other, and after seeing you together, the way you act, and the way you connect. I know you care for each other, and you will work this out.
Buffy: (Feeling better, after Anya's rant.) I hope you're right. He's just never left before.
Anya: Neither have I. Sometimes you just need space. After all they say absence makes the heart grow fonder.
Buffy: Where'd you get the chipper quotes from?
Anya: I got some of them from hallmark. (Does the voice over from the commercial.) If you could say it like hallmark. You wouldn't need hall mark. I was thinking of using some of the quotes to boost business at the store. (She smiles.)
Buffy: (She laughs. Only Anya could make hall mark cards sound so commercialized at a time like this.)
Anya: See that's the spirit. Knew we could have you perking up in no time. Now go wash your face and we can go spend lots of money. That always makes me feel better. That or going to the store and making lots of money.
Buffy: I'll have to settle for watching you shop. The budget's kinda tight around here. (They get their jackets. Buffy yells upstairs.) Dawn I'm going out for a couple hours. (She gets no answer.) Great. She's not speaking to me. Think I should have her come with us?
Anya: If she's not speaking to you, don't ya think it will just make shopping uncomfortable?
Buffy: You're right. I'll let her cool down for a couple of hours. (Yells up again.) I'll be back later.
Sometime later. Back at Spike's crypt.
Spike: And the way your Sis thinks she's right, when she's not.
Dawn: Yeah, and she thinks she's so, so smart.
Spike: I hate that. (Thinks for a second.) But I love her. Everything about her.
Dawn: She not always so bad. But she is bossy.
Spike: She does smell pretty, and she's awfully cute.
Dawn: Well she does let me borrow her sweaters at times, but still.
Spike: I know bit, but she is pretty good to have around.
Dawn: Yeah I guess so. I guess I like her too, but she drives me crazy, more than she drives you crazy. I mean I wanted to get this shirt at the mall the other day while we were out, (she describes the shirt to Spike, and the store they were in,) and she's all like no, it's too expensive. Yet she still gets to dress so cool.
Spike: She does dress awfully nice. (Dawn gives him that, your suppose to be on my side look.) I mean yeah, bad her dressing all good, while bit doesn't get her shirt. But I do miss her. I know it's only been half a day, but I miss her a lot. Bet she's worried about you, not about me mind you, but about you. She's probably all worried by now. It's dark out now.
Dawn: It would serve her right. If I never came back home. (Feels bad for saying that, remembers when she took off a few weeks ago, just before the wedding.) But I wouldn't want to worry her too much. You think she's worried?
Spike: I think she loves you, and she's got to be worried about you. I know I'd worry if you were missing. You're my Sis too now. I worry about you the way Buffy worries. Guess it's cause we both love you. (He sounds shy about saying it.)
Dawn: (She gets a little choked up.) You do? I mean you both love me?
Spike: I do bit, and I know your sister loves you a great deal too. We'll both be there for you, no matter what happens between us.
Dawn: I guess I love you guys a lot too. I feel really bad if either of you were just gone one day. Promise, no matter what happens we will still be ok.
Spike: I promise bit. (Puts his hand up.) Scouts honor. Oh well not scouts honor, I was never a boy scout, that was parts of Adam. I keep forgetting that. But we should shake on it or something. Like real men. (Spits in his hand and puts it out for Dawn to shake.)
Dawn: Can we say eww factor. I don't think so. (She scrunches up her face.)
Spike: What? It's just spit. (Pulls his hand back.) Ok then bit what do you suggest to seal the deal.
Dawn: I know how about we become blood brothers, like on television. Since we're family. Still has the same ick factor, but it's a lot more official.
Spike: And you thought the spit was ick. You don't want your Summers blood mixing with some hundred year old, demony vamp.
Dawn: And why not? I was the key remember? That makes my blood older than any of yours practically, and remember how evil the knights and Glory thought the key was. I say that make me a candidate for blood brother.
Spike: Fine, but it's going to have to be blood brother and sister, less there's something that you forgot to mention.
Dawn: Hun? (Has the blank questioning look on her face.)
Spike: (He just smiles.) Just don't grow up too quick bit. (He goes and gets the knife, and he pricks his finger, and hers and they link fingers for a minute.)
Dawn: (She smiles.) There it's official. We're blood brothers. I mean blood siblings. Now no matter what happens. We're family.
Spike: That's right bit. Family.
Dawn: (Speaking of family, she feels guilty about Buffy.) I guess I love Buffy too, but sometimes.. ( Her stomach growls. She blushes a little.) Oh. Guess that's my stomach letting me know, it's time for lunch.
Spike: Lunchtime ...was hours ago. I've only got the blood that I took with me from the fridge. You Nibblet need to get some food into ya. Put some meat on those bones.
Dawn: We could order pizza. (She looks really hopeful.)
Spike: They don't deliver out here. Kinda an outta the way location.
Dawn: Oh yeah. I forgot. (Sounds disappointed.)
Spike: Sides we really should let your sister know where you are. I don't want her getting more upset than she already was this morning.
Dawn: Well if she does I'll just kick her butt. (Does her defiant chin move.)
Spike: You won't be kicking anything without some food in you here, (points to her tummy,) and some training here. (Points to her head.) I spoke to Giles, and he thinks it would be a good idea to start training. What do you think bit?
Dawn: I'm all up for that. But I don't want Buffy knowing. Also it's been a few weeks now, and I don't know if I still have what it takes. What if Giles was wrong. What if what I did was a fluke?
Spike: Giles is pretty smart. He's had a lot of practice with stuff like this. Whatever this is, and if he thinks you should be training, then you should be training. Sides you did kick my butt, remember?
Dawn: Yeah but it was just that one time. What if it's all just a coincidence?
Spike: Bit. I've seen you in action. That didn't seem like a fluke to me.
Dawn: But how are we going to train without Buffy knowing?
Spike: Well just pick the lock to the magic box and go after hours.
Dawn: Yeah but what about Buffy?
Spike: We'll just sneak out after she goes patrolling. Don't think we have to train ya, every day, just a couple times a week. Still bit. I don't like this not telling Buffy. Don't like keeping things from her.
Dawn: I'm gonna tell her. Just don't know what to tell her, or how to just yet. But I will, but it's not as if I can just walk over to her and say hey Buffy, I think I got some of your slayer genes. She'd make a big deal about it, and overreact and then I don't know it would be all weird and stuff.
Spike: Only for a little bit, besides maybe your not giving her as much credit as you should. She can have a level head every once in awhile.
Dawn: Yeah. Like when cows jump over the moon. Or when Dingoes ate my baby get a new album. (She laughs. Her stomach growls again.)
Spike: Come on Platelet. It's late we should get you home. Grab your bag.
Back at the house Buffy and Anya have returned from shopping. They return home to an empty house.
Buffy: She's not here. I just checked her room. That little brat. I told her I'd be back. I can believe she's just walks out like that.
Anya: Well she is sixteen. Those adventurous young ones. Maybe she's out having sex, doing drugs, or robbing stores. You should probably find her and fast.
Buffy: Anya. Don't help.
Anya: Ok. But I was just trying to be practical.
Buffy: Yeah, practically scaring me. Now usually when she goes missing the best person to find her is... (She realizes that it's Spike.)
Anya: Who's the best person to find Dawn?
Buffy: Seems to be Spike. He always seems to know where she is. (Wonders if she should go and find him, to help look for Dawn. He's the one she's always counted on whenever Dawn was missing.) I don't even know how long she's been missing. She said she wasn't going to pull this crap anymore.
Anya: So Spike and Dawn are missing. Maybe they are together. You did argue with them both in the same day.
Buffy: Of course, she's probably at the crypt. You wait here. I'm going to.. (Just then she hears voices outside the front door.)
Spike: Yeah and that Troll demon never saw what hit him, should have seen it, it was... (trails off as he opens the door to see Buffy glaring at him.)
Dawn: (Laughing.) That was a funny story, especially when you tell it. (She also trails off as she enters the house. Sees Buffy standing there.)
Buffy: Where have you been?
Dawn: (Walking past Spike and into the house. Back to her defiant posture.) I got bored so I went for a walk.
Buffy: I told you to go to your room.
Dawn: I did. Then I left. (Gives her a defiant look.) I'm practically an adult. You can't treat me like a child.
Buffy: When you act like one I can.
Spike: (Stepping in before another all out war can happen.) Bit just came to see if I was ok. She missed me, unlike some other people I could mention.
Buffy: Oh she came to see you. With her overnight bag? (Turning back to Dawn.) You defied me, you were running away again.
Dawn: I was not running away. I walked over to Spike's crypt. Told you I wasn't staying here.
Buffy: (Turning back to Spike.) And you...
Spike: And me what? I brought her back all safe and unharmed didn't I? We would have been here sooner if we hadn't stopped for pizza. Bit had a rumbly tummy.
Buffy: Well there's plenty of food in the fridge here.
Dawn: I didn't want the food that was here. I wanted something else. Sides, you didn't come looking for us. Either of us.
Buffy: So I'm suppose to come looking for you? Like you're twelve?
Dawn: No like your my sister with Super, Slayer, Strength and like you care.
Buffy: You could try acting like you're not twelve.
Spike: If all you're going to do is rag on her, we might as well both go back to the crypt right now, cause that's where she'll end up again, with you carrying on like that.
Buffy: Don't you start. How's this my fault?
Spike: Didn't say it was your fault. All I said was stop carrying on. She's safe. Things are fine. I'm going back to my crypt now.
Buffy: (In unison with Dawn.) You're not staying?
Spike: I'm coming back, but all my blood's at the crypt, and I don't want another argument. I'll be back in a couple of days.
Dawn: But you said we're family now.
Spike: Bit we are. I promise I'll be back. I just need a couple days to Sass things out. (Looks over at Buffy.) I'm not going anywhere. I made a promise, I plan to keep it. But I don't want to be fighting. Just think we need sometime to let things cool down. Like what Anya's doing with Xander. Right Anya.
Anya: Yep. Things are definitely cooled down. No heat, no sex, nothing. (Tries to smile, but she is realizing that she is starting to miss Xander also.)
Spike: Sides if I don't come back. You could burn my cloths. Like that Angela Bassett did in that movie.
Buffy: You ..saw Waiting to exhale? (Sounds surprised.)
Spike: Yeah. I tried to rent Adams family, they put the wrong movie in the case. Thought they looked different at first. Good movie thou still think she should have knocked out the secretary, then come back with an Oozy all Arnold like, then been all Asta la visa. Then shot the whole place up. That would have made the movie more realistic, I reckon.
Buffy: (Despite themselves, her and Dawn share that special look that they have about Spike. She realizes in that instant how much she misses him.) You will come back? (She sounds emotional.)
Spike: (They exchange looks and lock eyes.) Like you could keep me away luv. I just need to sass things out. Don't want a repeat of this morning. But I'll come back. Sides who's gonna play referee for you and bit here?
Anya: Well I suppose I could, if you really didn't come back. (All three give her a look.) But it's way better if you do it.
Spike: Night bit. You be good till I get back. Buffy, Anya. (He walks out the door.)
Buffy: (Buffy realizing she doesn't want to chase Dawn off like she did Spike.) Dawn. I don't want to fight with you. I'm sorry I treated you like a child.
Dawn: I'm sorry if I acted like one. (Needing reassurance.) Spike's gonna come back right?
Buffy: He said he would. (She trusts him to keep his word. She walks over and puts her arm around Dawn's shoulder.) Come on it's late.
Anya: How bout I make popcorn and we watch a movie.
Dawn: You're gonna make popcorn? (Her and Buffy in unison surprised that Anya is going to do anything.)
Anya: Of course I am. Micro-waved popcorn. Besides I'm practically living here now, till Xander comes to his senses and makes up his mind about a new wedding date. Don't think he can go too much longer without sex. I know I can't. I'm more wound than a spring, ready to pop! Oh by the way Buffy you're out of batteries again.
Buffy: (Covering Dawns ears.) Come on Dawn. I think it's time to go unpack your stuff.
Dawn: (Looking at Anya. Shaking her head.) Yeah-hun.
Anya: What? I need them for my portable radio. What did you think I meant? (Anya goes off to make popcorn.)
After they watch the movie and eat popcorn. They settle down to bed for the night. Anya thinking about Xander, and punching her pillow in frustration. Dawn about her new family. Buffy alone in her new bedroom, thinks about Spike. She goes and gets one of his tee-shirts from the closet. One that still has his scent on it. Even though she knows he's coming back, he's still gone. She falls asleep to "these eyes" by the guess who playing on the radio.
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