Disclaimer: Not mine – But can I have Spike? Pretty please? With sugar on top?

A/N: Thank you for the lovely reviews, there are too many for me to thank all of you personally but I want you to know I appreciate every single review I get! We're getting closer people! Spuffy very soon! Some of the dialogue in this chapter is taken directly from 'crush'.

Chapter 17: I know something you don't know!

Spike didn't bother to take his head out of the fridge when the door to his crypt swung open. He knew who it was.

"What you doing here Nibblet?" He asked.

"How did you know it was me?" She asked, trying not to sound too impressed and failing miserably. Spike turned to face her, smile on his face and glass of blood in his hand. With his free hand he tapped his nose. Dawn nodded in understanding.

"So back to my question." He said as he sat down on his sarcophagus, gesturing for her to come closer. "What are you doing here?"

"I'll leave if you want me to." She said, pouting.

Spike shook his head. "That's not what I said Nibblet. You know I don't mind you being here, but you usually get dropped off by big sis and since I don't see her anywhere..." He trailed off and raised an eyebrow, indicating it was time for her to elaborate.

Dawn sighed. "I was just so sick of being at home. It's like nobody knows how to talk to me anymore. You're the only one who doesn't look at me like an alien!"

Spike smiled kindly at her. "S'not their fault pet, they just don't know how to deal with it is all."

"But I'm still me." She insisted sadly. "No one had a problem with me till they found out I wasn't technically human. Originally anyway."

Spike chuckled ruefully. "Well I was human. I got over it." Dawn smiled at that. "Don't worry about the others, they'll get over themselves soon enough."

Dawn took a seat next to him – not too close, that made him uncomfortable. "If that's true then why do they still treat you like that?" She asked.

Spike thought before he answered, not sure how much she remembered of his first stay in Sunnydale and his determination to kill his third slayer. "Because you never tired to kill any of them bit. They have plenty of reasons not to like me."

"But I don't believe that!" She insisted. "You've saved us way more times than you've tried to kill any of us. I think they're just being mean!"

Spike was touched by what she said; he felt his heart swell at the statement of acceptance in her words. He wondered if it was a trait of Summers women to be so adorable.

"Appreciate the thought bit." He told her sincerely as he lit up a cigarette "But don't worry too much. S'not like I can stand any of them anyway."

"But you like Buffy though." It was a statement more than a question.

"Well yeah." Spike replied, confused. "She's ok for a slayer I guess."

"But you REALLY like her don't you." Dawn stated, a knowing smile on her face.

Spike frowned in puzzlement. "What are you getting at pet?"

Dawn grinned. "You're in love with her!"

Hearing what she said Spike began to actually choke on his cigarette. "What was that?" He asked in disbelief.

Dawn began to bounce up and down in excitement at his reaction. "You do! You love Buffy!"

"No way!" He said weakly. "She's the slayer. I'd never love her!" Even he noticed the lack of conviction in his voice but he refused to give in just yet. "What makes you say that?"

"I heard you singing the other night. I heard you tell her when she was asleep." She told him simply and spike groaned. There was no way of getting out of this.

"Have you told her?" He asked, not sure what he wanted the answer to be.

"No." She said. "But I think you should tell her."

"No!" Spike stated vehemently. "And your not going to tell her either!"

"But..." She tried to protest.

"No dawn! You have to promise not to tell her!" He insisted.

Dawn batted her eyelashes innocently. "Would I do such a thing?" Spike growled at her in response...

Buffy was whistling as she walked through her front door, amazed at how much her mood had improved since Riley had left town.

"Dawn?" Joyce called from the kitchen.

"No mom it's me." Buffy replied taking off her coat.

"Is Dawn with you?" Joyce asked, coming out of the kitchen, a worried expression on her face.

"No." Buffy replied. "What's wrong?"

Joyce sighed. "She didn't come home form school today."

Buffy felt the panic rise in her gut. Images of Glory or God knows what else getting hold of her sister flooding through her mind. She quickly put her coat back on. "I'll go find her." She declared, heading out once more...

"And the lady just invited you in?" dawn asked incredulously in a hushed voice. She sat opposite Spike on the lid of the sarcophagus, the whole crypt illuminated only by a few scattered candles. The whole image eerily reminiscent of campfire scary story scenes from hundreds of horror movies.

After enduring hours of 'when did you know you loved Buffy?', 'why do you love Buffy?', 'Why wont you tell Buffy?' and so on Spike had decided to try the only thing he could to get Dawn to shut up – scare the hell out of her!

"Well I had hubby by the throat didn't I?" he replied in a quiet voice, matching hers. "Told her I'd let him live if she invited me in."

"And did you?" She asked, "Let them live?"

"What do you think?" He grinned. Dawn gulped and paled slightly. "Too much for you?" He asked concerned.

"No!" Dawn replied quickly, determined not to be scared. "Go on."

"Right. So I kill 'em all right quick. But there's someone missing. A little girl." He continued.

"What did you do?" Dawn whispered

"Well I got real quiet and listened real hard." He told her "The I heard this little sigh coming from the coal bin. So I stayed quiet and..."

BANG

Spike and Dawn both jumped up and yelped in surprise, both having been lost in the story as the door of the crypt was thrown open.

"Bloody hell." Spike muttered, cursing his own ridiculous behaviour.

"Spike I need you help! Dawn's..." Buffy paused as she took in the sight of her sister and Spike sitting cross-legged opposite each other in the centre of the crypt. "...Right here." She finished.

Dawn looked at her watch and her eyes widened. She hadn't meant to stay this long.

"What are you doing here Dawn?" Buffy asked, both relieved to have found her and angry that she had made her and her mother worry.

"Sorry." Dawn replied sheepishly. "Spike was just telling this really cool story..."

Buffy sighed and shook her head. "Well Spike can finish his story another time Dawn. Mom's been worried sick!"

Spike, who had until now been silent snapped his head towards Dawn at this. "You told me she knew you were here!"

"Sorry." Dawn mumbled again quietly, not meeting his gaze.

Spike shook his head and turned to Buffy. "Sorry slayer. I wouldn't have let he stay if I knew you'd be worried."

"It's okay Spike," she told him. "It's not your fault."

Buffy rubbed her eyes as her tiredness began to catch up with her. The adrenaline and determination to find Dawn having kept her relatively alert until now. She wondered how long it had been since she'd had a proper rest. Her actions were not missed by Spike.

"You ok Slayer?" He asked quietly.

Buffy Sighed and looked up at him. She could really use the support of her best friend right now. "Dawn could you wait outside for a minute." She asked her sister. "Just scream if something tries to eat you."

Dawn grumbled in protest but did as she was told. She winked at Spike behind Buffy's back as she reached the door, mouthing the words 'tell her'. Spike growled at her in response and she quickly ran out, shutting the door behind her. The moment the door closed Buffy collapsed into Spike's arms, allowing his strength to hold her up for now. He held her gently, stroking her hair.

"S'alright Buffy." He mumbled reassuringly. "I'm here, talk to me."

"Oh Spike." Buffy sighed, pulling back slightly to look at him, seeing the friendly concern in his eyes. She smiled. She always felt better when he held her. That night he had stayed at her house, in her bed had been the best sleep she'd had in months...and the lusty dreams his proximity had caused hadn't been unenjoyable either! "I'm just so tired." She told him after moments of silence. "Mom being sick, Dawn being the key, Glory. Everything. It's just wearing me out you know?"

"Yeah." He said quietly, pulling her closer once more. One hand holding her head to his chest over his unbeating heart, his other hand rubbing soothing circles on her back. "I know."...

A few minutes later Buffy emerged form the crypt feeling much better, the kind of better that only Spike could make her. As she and Dawn headed out of the cemetery she knew she should probably say something to the teen about running off and scaring everyone.

"What were you doing here Dawnie?" She asked

"Just hanging with Spike." She replied simply.

Buffy roiled her eyes. "I could see that!" she said. "What I meant was why? It's dangerous out here!"

"Spike wouldn't hurt me!" Dawn cried angrily, startling Buffy.

"I know that." Buffy replied calmly. "But the hundred and one evil things lurking between here and the house might."

"Spike wouldn't let them hurt me." Dawn mumbled, looking at the floor. "He's cool."

Buffy looked at her sister form the corner of her eye, half grin in place. "You have a crush on him!" She teased lightly.

"Do not!" Dawn insisted, the blush creeping over her face belying her words.

"You do so have a crush!" Buffy sing songed, laughing at her sisters now grumpy expression.

"I so don't!" Dawn repeated. "And even if I did it wouldn't matter! He'd never notice in a million years. Not with you around!"

"What do you mean?" Buffy asked, stopping Dawn with a hand on her arm. "What does it matter if I'm around or not?"

Dawn rolled her eyes. "You're as clueless as he is!"

"Dawn what are you talking about?" Buffy asked confused.

"Oh come on Buffy you didn't notice?" At Buffy's confused look she continued. "Spike's totally in love with you!"

Buffy blinked almost in slow motion. Her chest reacting very strangely to her sister's words. Her heart felt almost like it was filling and compressing at the same time, and her breath caught in her throat. "Huh?"

A/N: Come on R & R, you know you want to know how she reacts! Love you all!