Buffy frowned at the girls in the training room, She really didn't want to be her and neither did they. The sun was actually shining and it was a gorgeous day. She looked a the group in front ofher, Penny was so antsy she couldn't keep still in her seat. Reminded her of someone else who could never stay still, she quickly shook those thoghts from her head. Lily was whispering to Thia and Thia being the sheep she that she was nodded agreeabley with her. Lily didn't like Buffy for whatever reason, she had a habit of calling her Miss Summers as if she was a dowdy old maid schoolteacher. She got along well with most of the other girls though.

. She finally gave up, she couldn't stand to be here another moment "Why don't you all just take the day off."

The younger slayers turned and stared at her in shock, she had never let them out early before.

"Are you sure Ms. Summers?" Lily asked in that voice.

Buffy managed not to glare at her, "I'm sure, take the day off . Have fun." She smiled at them as she picked up her purse.

The girls were already giggling and discussing what to do on their free afternoon as Buffy followed them out the door. "Why is she in such a good mood?" She heard Thia ask.

"Oh, it's obvious Miss Summers must be getting some!" Lily answered with a giggle.

"Not likely." Buffy said loud enough for only herself to hear. iThe one person I want doesn't want me/i

She took the long way home, taking in the sights on the street and wondering if William had walked down this very street all those years ago. It had been that way since she had arrived in London, she had instantly begun to think about Spike especially when she looked at the Victorian houses, she wondered if she could find the one William had lived in. Willow might be able to track that down for her.

She sighed as she came to her door, little good that would do her. Spike wanted nothing to do with her, it was best to accept that. She really wanted to respect his wishes but her heart nagged at her that she wanted and needed to see him, even if it was only for closure.

Buffy picked up the phone and began to dial Angel's number, hesitating she put the receiver down. She would probably just alienate Angel if she called and asked him to talk to Spike on her behalf. Anyway she was kidding herself if she really thought Spike would listen to Angel anyway. Who could she get to talk to him? Her conversation with Dawn replayed in her mine, that was it, Dawn could talk to him, he had a soft spot for her little sister. She knew it was wrong to take advantage of that, but she just knew he wouldn't hurt Dawn's feelings, he would at least listen to her.

"Dawn, you herre?" Buffy called out as she walked down the hall to the bedrooms. Dawn's door was closed she knocked as she cracked the door and peeked in. Dawn was lying on her stomach on the bed, a book opened in front of her, her headphones secure over her ears. "Dawn!" Buffy called again.

Dawn jumped and set up on the bed, "You scared me! What are you doing home early?"

Buffy let out a heavy sigh as she sat down beside her sister, "I let them go early, I just couldn't be there for another minute." She picked up the pillow and hugged it to her chest.

"Is it Spike?" Dawn asked picking up the other pillow from the bed and mimicking her sister's actions.

"Yeah, Dawn, I've been thinking. I want to honor Spike's wishes, I really do. I have a plan."

Dawn leaned forward conspiratorially, "A plan, what is it?"

"It involves you." Buffy began to chew on her bottom lip.

A broad grin crossed Dawn's face, "I'm in."

"You don't even know what the plan is yet." Buffy rolled her eyes.

"If it's a plan to see Spike again, talk some sense into him then I am in." Dawn laughed softly.

"Okay, he said he didn't want to talk to me for sure, but you were right he didn't say he didn't want to talk to anyone else...so maybe you could call and talk to him for me?" Buffy looked hopeful.

"I'll do it." Dawn leaned over and hugged Buffy, "I'll make him see."

"Thanks, Dawn." Buffy smiled as she pulled away, "I'll get Wolfram and Harts number for you."

*******

Spike took a deep breath as he began to speak, "Mr. Summers, my name is William. I'm a friend of Buffy and Dawn. I heard about what happened in Sunnydale, I thought maybe you could tell me if the girls are okay?"

"William, if you know Buffy and Dawn very well then you know we haven't been close for a very long time. How did you find my number, anyway?" Hank asked suspiciously.

"Actually Buffy has mentioned you before, I knew you lived in LA and that your name, it was easy to find you in the book. I don't want anything from you, just to know that the girls are okay." Spike continued desperately.

Hank could obviously hear the slight desperartion in Spike's voice, "I did talk to them after the Sunnydale incident. I had tried to call and check on them but of course there was no phone service, no anything, for all I knew I had lost them both."

Spike sighed on the other end of the line, he wondered why it had taken the city being destroyed before Hank thought about his daughters, "Did they contact you?"

"Yes, they did. I have to explain something to you, I know I've been pretty much worthless as a father to them for the last six years, but you have to understand, I do love my daughters and I'm proud of them too. But..........things went very bad after I screwed up with Joyce, once they moved to Sunnydale, when I did get down to visit or let them come here it was different, Dawn was still Dawnie, but Buffy, she had changed, it had started before she left here, I suppose you know she got in trouble at the high school?"

"Yes, I know the story." Spike answered.

"Well, she got more distant with each visit, she seemed like she was carrying the weight of the world on her small shoulders." Hank sighed.

She was, Spike thought to himself as Hank continued to talk.

"I finally gave up. It seemed easier to just let them go. It was selfish and it was so very wrong and I know I can never make up for it if I try for the rest of my life." Hank's voice cracked, "But I'm trying to do better now, just because you made mistakes in the past, doesn't mean you can't try to be better, right?"

Spike thought for a moment and replied softly, "Everyone deserves a second chance, Hank."

Hank sounded unsure, "I'm not sure I do, but I want one anyway. The girls seem willing to give me one. They came by here after escaped Sunnydale, they were with an odd group of refugees. Buffy took charge and found places for everyone to stay, she knew someone at that big lawfirm here in town and he helped. She and Dawn stayed here a couple days before heading for London. Buffy evidently had a research job there with a company before Sunnydale was destroyed so she was going to go over there. I told her Dawn could stay with me and Sharon but she wanted her with her and I didn't think I had the right to separate them now."

"So she's in London then. How was she when she left, I know leaving Sunnydale like that must have been hard for her." Spike sighed into the phone.

"She was very upset, we talked for the first time in years, really talked. She was very upset about the loss of a friend, a very close friend named Spike. Must have been a nickname, she was sure he had been killed in the destruction and she was very hurt about it. I think maybe they had been more then friends. She was trying to be strong about it, but I could tell his loss was a big heartache for her. They seem to be settled in London though, I talk to them about every other week, I hope to visit this summer. Did you know Spike, too?"

"Yes sir, I did. I have news, he didn't die in Sunnydale. He was injured and out of it but he's back now and he misses Buffy very much." Spike's voice hitched at the last part.

"He's alive! You need to let Buffy know as soon as possible. This will make my little girl so happy and she deserves that." Hank sounded excited, "I'll get her number and address for you."

"Thank you so much, Hank." Spike told him as he wrote down the information.

"You're welcome when you talk to her, tell her....tell her and Dawn that I love them." Hank hung up the phone a smile on his face.

******

"Wofram and Hart, may I help you?" Harmony answered the phone brightly.

"Harmony, this is Dawn, I would like to speak to Spike. Could you please get him for me?" Dawn asked sweetly.

"Dawn, Buffy's sister?" Harmony asked as she scanned a notepad in front of her.

"Yes." Dawn answered patiently.

"I'm sorry, you're on the list. I can't let you talk to him. Goodbye." Harmony started to hang up the phone.

"Wait! What list?" Dawn's voice raised.

"The list Angel gave me of people who can't talk to Spike, that's what list, Miss Smarty Pants." Harmony hung up the phone without as much as a goodbye.

Dawn stared at the dead phone in her hand, "Buffy...something fishy is going on here."

*********

Spike immediately called the airport, a phone call wasn't going to do it. It might be wrong to go against her wishes, but he wasn't going to give Buffy an easy way out, if she didn't want to see him she was going to have to tell him in person. He sighed as he hung up the phone, the quickest flight to London was the day after tomorrow, he would just have to bide his time until then.

******* "Angel, Angel!" Harmony burst into his office.

"What is it, Harmony? I'm in a meeting with Wesley." Angel gestured at Wesley sitting across from his desk.

"Dawn called for Spike. I didn't let her talk to him, just like you said." She smiled brightly, "I did good right?"

Wesley raised an eyebrow, " Angel, what reason could you possibly have for not letting Buffy's sister speak to Spike?"

Angel sighed deeply and tried to think of a response.

Harmony answered for him, "He doesn't want the Slayer or her sister bothering my Blondie Bear."

Wesley turned back to Angel an expectant look on his face, "Is that so, Angel?"

****

TBC