Author's Note: Just reminding everyone that this story takes place during season seven of BtVS and season four of Angel. Xander and Anya are no longer an item.

Part Five

Spike kept his arm hooked around Dawn's waist to help her walk to Xander's bedroom, and when she pushed the door open all the voices in the room stopped abruptly. She hobbled into the room and saw that all three of them were waiting to see who it was before they started talking again. "It's just me, guys." She situated herself into a chair by Xander's desk and gave them a look to go on. When they didn't, she crossed her arms and raised her eyebrows. "Look, whatever is being said here, I deserve to hear it, seeing as I was the one who was almost Angelus' dinner."

Willow nodded slowly, while Xander shook himself out of this thoughts long enough to realize that Dawn was sitting in a hard chair. "Here Dawn, come sit on my bed, it's probably a lot more comfy then that chair." He helped her up and he and Spike gently put her on the bed.

She smiled at both of them. "Yeah, that's a lot better."

Anya glanced at the comforter on the bed and then back to Dawn. "Just try not to bleed on the sheets though!"

Xander shot her a look before turning his attention back to Dawn. He gave her a look as if to tell her not to listen to Anya and Dawn gave him a small smile before pulling the extra blanket on top of her bare legs and laying down more on the bed. Spike shifted uncomfortably where he was standing and started to walk towards the bedroom door.

"I'm going out for a smoke, I'll be back in a few minutes." He was halfway out the door when Willow stopped him.

"But Buffy didn't want any of us outside before she gets back, she said -"

Spike interrupted her. "I know what she said, I was there." His voice got lower as he went on. "But the fact of the matter is, we aren't entirely safe up here either. Yes, he doesn't have an invite, but if he found out where Harris lives, then that opens a whole other door of options for him."

Xander looked at him in confusion. "Such as...?"

"Such as burning the bloody building down for starters." He grabbed the pack of cigarettes out of his coat pocket and pulled one out. "I'll be outside keeping watch." He stuck the unlit cigarette into his mouth and walked briskly out the door. They were silent until they heard the front door slam shut, and Dawn finally piped up.

"He's right you know."

The three of them shook their heads in agreement, and Dawn briefly closed her eyes for a moment, feeling extremely tired from the events of the day. Xander looked at Willow and Anya and motioned for the door. "You should rest for a while." As the girls walked out of the door, Dawn caught Xander's arm.

"Can you stay with me a minute?" He looked down and saw the sadness and fear in her eyes.

He nodded slowly before pushing the door closed and walking back over. Dawn moved over a little on the bed, making room for him. "Can you just lay here for a little while?" She looked out the window for a moment before turning back to him. "I don't feel like being alone right now."

Xander climbed into the bed with her wrapping his arms around her protectively, and she immediately nestled her head against his chest. She took his hand in hers and gave it a little squeeze. "Thank you."

He looked down at her sideways. "For what?"

"For saving my life." She titled her head upwards and touched her lips to his. "And also for staying here with me."

Xander gave her a small smile. "There's nowhere I'd rather be."

-----

As Andrew opened the freezer door for the tenth time in the past hour, Anya gave him a death stare. "Ok, has there been anything in that freezer the first hundred times you opened it?"

Andrew shifted his weight to one foot as he attempted to hop up on the countertop. "No, but I'm hungry. I think Xander ate the last Hungry Man TV dinner."

Anya rolled her eyes as she sat down at one of the stools by the island counter in the center of the room. "Well, it is his apartment you know, and its not like you can just wave you hand and poof some food into the freezer."

Willow looked up from the magazine she was pretending to read. "Well actually..."

Andrew looked at her with big eyes. "Oooh could you? I want a T-bone steak with mashed potatoes and a –"

Willow's eyes widened and she shook her head until she thought it might fall off her neck. "Big no. I don't think I'm ready to try any spells out right now, it's still too soon." At Andrew's crestfallen face, she stood up and opened up a few of the cabinets. She spotted what she wanted and pulled out a box of instant mashed potatoes. "But I can make some of this if you want."

Andrew beamed. "I am eternally in your gratitude your –"

"Oh would you stop with the Star Trek references!" Anya huffed as she glanced at the closed bedroom door where Xander and Dawn were in.

"Hey that wasn't from Star –"

"-Whatever." Anya waved her hand in the direction of the door. "Why hasn't Xander come out yet? It's been almost an hour already."

Willow shrugged. "He's probably just keeping her company. I don't think I'd wanna be alone if that happened to me today either."

Anya bit her lip. "But why does Xander have to stay in there? Can't we send him in there?" She pointed to Andrew who looked like a deer in headlights.

"She's closer to Xander then any of us here when you think about it. They've gotten pretty close over the last year or so, and he did save her today. It makes sense when you think about it." Willow poured a cup of milk into the potato flakes and started stirring it while Andrew stood attentively near her observing.

"And you don't have a problem with this? I mean she's like thirteen!"

Willow rolled her eyes and turned to Anya. "Dawn is seventeen years old Anya. She's also matured over the last year and is just as much a member of the Scooby Gang as we are. If you ask me, I think they would be kinda cute together eventually." Turning back around, she hid the smirk upon her lips; knowing that Anya's head was about thirty seconds from exploding.

Anya fumed. "Are you serious? She's Buffy's little sister! Do you know what Buffy would do to him if they went out? Besides, I still want to have sex with him."

An unexpected laugh escaped Willow's lips as she tied her hair back loosely with a ponytail holder. "I think Buffy would be fine with it. She loves Xander like a brother, and would rather Dawn be with someone she knows and trusts rather then a complete stranger." She handed the finished product to Andrew who looked at her appreciatively and grabbed a spoon to dig into it. "I wouldn't worry about it right now though."

Not believing Willow, Anya jumped up from the stool and walked briskly to the bedroom door before anyone could stop her and opened it up. Frowning, she stood there frozen in the open doorway when Willow and Andrew came up behind her to peer in. There, nestled in the crook of Xander's shoulder was Dawn's head. His arms were around her body and his head lay gently above hers on the pillow. Both were fast asleep, exhausted from the day's events. Willow took the initiative and softly closed the door again. She looked at Anya whose fists were balled, and looked as if she might have a temper tantrum. "I'll be outside with Spike."

Before Willow could argue she flew out the door, slamming it behind her.

Andrew turned to Willow. "Well, that went swell." He pointed to the cabinets in the kitchen again. "You got anymore cooking skills up your sleeves?"

-----

Spike took a long drag of his cigarette as his eyes continuously scanned the nearby areas around him. He was just itching for a fight and better it be Angelus then some half wit demon. He heard a crunching of leaves behind him and whirled around to see Anya walking towards him. "Was anyone bloody listening when I said that everyone else was supposed to stay in the apartment?"

Anya hugged her shoulders, trying to keep warm in the cool weather. She shrugged.

Spike noticed the disheartened look upon her face. "Nothing on the Tele then?"

Shaking her head, she kicked a pile of sticks with her shoe.

Rolling his eyes, he took another drag of his cigarette before tossing it on the ground and stomping on it with the heel of his boot. "I'm not really a fan of asking people what's wrong love, but you look like your hearts' just been ripped out."

She shoved her hands into her pockets and sighed. "I hate having these feelings. You'd think that after four years of being human I'd be used to it." She looked up at the vast night sky. "I think Xander is finally over me."

"And you're not I assume?"

She shook her head. "I know I should be, I mean we haven't been together in over a year after the whole wedding fiasco, but I can't help it."

Spike's eyes roamed over the surrounding stretch of land again. "And just how do you know he's over you? Did he tell you this himself?"

Anya leaned against a nearby tree. "Well, not exactly, but it seems pretty clear he's got feelings for someone else."

Spike looked at her for a brief moment before turning back around. "It's not Buffy again is it? He should know by now that's never gonna happen."

Anya laughed. "No, not Buffy. Same family tree though."

His gaze flew back to hers. "What are you saying exactly, that he and DAWN are involved?"

She nodded slightly, wishing she was wrong. "They seemed pretty comfortable in his bedroom just now."

Spike's eye twitched. "Comfortable how?"

"Well, I mean they were just sleeping, but they were all cuddly and everything." She sighed again.

For a moment Spike felt sorry for the ex-vengeance demon. Sure she wasn't the nicest person in the world, and like Cordelia she was missing the gene for tact, but he knew what it felt like to love someone and not have it returned. He opened his mouth to say something, but was interrupted when he felt the hot burn of a crossbow bolt fly into his left shoulder. He spun around and was greeted by the evil smirk of his years long adversary and once considered friend.

"Hello William, long time no see."

To be continued...