Dawn woke the next morning, a small smile gracing her lips. She shifted slightly, a yawn building in her chest as she opened her eyes only to find herself staring directly at Spike's crotch. Immediately she scrambled to her feet, clumsily tripping over herself in the process, and a second wave of panic swept over her. She'd been with him all night!

Buffy's gonna kill me…kill Spike!

She hastily shed his coat and ran towards the door, only to find herself stopping and turning to look back at him. Somehow, just knowing that it would be several hours until she saw him again caused her to experience a sharp pang of loss…One last glance wouldn't slow her down that much…She knew it couldn't be much later than ten…

Forgetting her haste, she began to study him. He looked so peaceful when he was asleep…innocent almost…and younger. She knew that the absence of the coat contributed somewhat to the illusion. Without it he looked less imposing, slighter of frame, and less…wicked. Not so much the evil seductive vampire and more the devastatingly handsome sweetheart. The irony lie in the fact that he was both, as much as he tried to deny it. Her own heart melted a little more at the thought.

He was leaning back on the couch, his arm resting casually on the side. His legs were spread about a foot apart and his head was tilted to one side, lips slightly parted. His hair was tousled and his eyelashes cast a small shadow over the sharp, angular lines of his cheekbones. His lips were full, enticing, and oh-so-kissable…She ran back almost against her will, causing him to stir.

Not even waiting until he was fully awake, she pressed her mouth against the alluring lips that had so deviously tempted her back. Damn them…She kissed him again for good measure.

A bubble of warmth expanded within her when she felt him smile against her kiss, his eyes opening slowly. She didn't realize that that was the first time they had kissed without him initiating it. There'd been that time in the basement of that magic shop…but that hadn't been a real kiss…until he'd made it one…

She'd planned on running out immediately after, she would've been long gone anyway if his mouth weren't so damn persuasive, making her do things when he wasn't even awake, but before she could make her escape, he reached out and grabbed her waist, reeling her back in.

"Spike, I have to- Buffy!" She attempted to struggle away from him as the panic welled within her once more.

"Who gives a bloody damn about the Slayer?" he questioned, aggravation written all over his features.

Not put off in the slightest, she frowned right back at him and retorted, "Well, I give a 'bloody damn' about you. I really don't want the guy I'm in love with to end up as a 'big pile of dust'."

With that, she quickly pulled away and hurried out the door, oblivious to what she'd just said, or what affect it had had on him. He hadn't missed the fact that she'd quoted him- twice- and mockingly, but that wasn't where his thoughts lie.

Clearly, the girl was less inhibited in the morning. Spike marveled at her actions: first a kiss, and then her untimely declaration. Love…He'd been upset when she'd rushed off, but this day was quickly turning out to be a good one. He grinned complacently and closed his eyes as he spread out on the couch, once again drifting off to sleep…

Dawn arrived home and burst through the door, a torrent of explanations and excuses already winging their way out of her mouth. She stopped and pressed her lips together when she glanced first into the living room and then the kitchen, quickly surmising that there was no one downstairs. She double-checked just to be sure, but everything was unusually silent, the morning sunlight making its way softly through the windows.

Gratefully, she tiptoed up the steps and saw that all the doors were still closed. Everyone was still asleep. Or, at least, in bed…she mused as her thoughts turned to Willow and Tara. Sighing, she slipped into her room and closed the door. She sat for a moment, running her hands over the rumpled sheets, then kicked off her slippers and made her way to her desk, pulling out her journal to write:

Dear Diary,

It's been a while. Well, not that long, but a lot's happened! I saw Spike again! Buffy let me! Can we say 'miracle'?

He gave me the cutest bear EVER and I called it William. Plus, a rose!!! No guy's ever given me flowers before. Ok, wait. No guy's ever given me anything before, but that isn't the point. A rose from Spike was unbelievably sexy. Sexy. Sexy. SEXY. Spike is sooooo sexy!!!!!

Ok, I'm calm now. In case you hadn't guessed, I'm crazy happy.

Well, I had to come home (I spent ALL last night with him, eek!) so Buffy wouldn't go all, "me Slayer, you vamp, I kill you" on Spike, but I'll go see him tonight. I hope. OOOHHHH!

I'm not ready for sex.

Don't know where that came from, but anyway- Is that weird? I mean, I'm not saying…but Spike is so cool. My BOYFRIEND is so cool. Spike is my boyfriend!!!!!!!!!!!

Where was I? Oh yeah. Sex. I want to, but I'm scared. I mean, he's soo hot, if I saw him naked- I swear, I'd die. But, what if I'm not good? I really love him. A- ohmigod, I TOLD him!! This morning, when I was have half dead! I said ILY!!! I didn't even think about it!! What if he thinks- well, I'll go see him. Maybe he's not uberly freaked. Maybe he didn't even notice!!

Yeah right. Crap. Crap crap crap! NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fearfully,

Dawn

I can't believe I said 'I love you'! That's so…what if he hates me? Dawn frowned as she put her pen away and tucked her journal back into its drawer. Isn't a journal supposed to help you sort things out, not add to your stress? Her frown deepened.

Don't be stupid. Her other voice said, ignoring her irrelevant thoughts…irrelevant meaning not pertaining to Spike. He…likes you. He won't hate you.

Just think you're weird…

In an effort to make her head voices shut up, she shut the drawer firmly, which is not the same thing as slamming, and went downstairs to get herself a bowl of cereal. She cursed when she tripped at the bottom of the stairs, then angrily ransacked the cabinets looking for sustenance.

Bingo…

She poured the cereal, then added just the right amount of milk and ate slowly, focusing intently on her food. Why was the sugar on Froot Loops white? Why wasn't it clear? And- damn it, she needed to see him again! So she could…fix things…

She banged her fist on the counter and angrily magicked her bowl into the sink, the few remaining O's and droplets of milk splashing around the kitchen. She stomped around, crushing the bits of cereal until she realized that she'd have to pick them up and immediately stopped. Fuming, she pulled out a dishrag, ignoring the thump of footsteps on the stairs.

Buffy entered in her pajamas and smiled at her, exclaiming happily, "Hey Dawnie! Sleep good?"

"Yeah," she mumbled distractedly. Her anger abated as she scooped up the crumbs while thinking solemnly about Spike. "Um…how was your sleep?"

"Nice," Buffy chirped. "Good dreams…"

"That's good." She began to mull over the previous night's events and a familiar sparkle of happiness and warmth filled her, replacing the worry. Every place he had touched came tingling to life, and suddenly her entire body craved him.

She knew, however, that she couldn't leave. Too much time with Spike might lead Buffy to change her mind about them. She'd only recently gotten him back…yesterday in fact. It felt like a lifetime ago, the hours spent with him completing her like nothing else could. It would be like dying all over again if he were torn from her this quickly. Glumly, she knew she'd have to wait until tonight.

She didn't know if it was love or teenage hormones, but she knew it wasn't natural for someone's mood to change every two seconds; a person could go crazy that way; happy to worried to pissed to happy to sad…She also found herself not really caring as she sulked up the stairs. Clearly the predominant mood of the day was not a joyful one…

The day passed drearily, an eternity of boredom and clock-staring, but finally, it was dusk. "Hey, Buffy," she called nonchalantly, or as nonchalantly as one could when jumping around inside like they had just drank an entire gallon of coffee, "I'm gonna go to the Bronze with Lindsay and Janice!"

"Ok! Be back before midnight…" her sister's disembodied voice yelled distractedly from somewhere in the house.

"All right!" she agreed perkily as she slipped out the front door. The second it clicked shut she set off at a rapid pace towards the cemetery, tightening her jacket around her. Her shoes clapped against the pavement as she hurried along, her mind focused on one thing…finding Spike. She passed darkened shops and homeless people lurking in the doorways, feeling a twinge of uneasiness and quickening her steps all the more. She recoiled sharply when a rough hand reached out from an alleyway and grabbed her. Her body went rigid. Nausea and fear rose as bile in her throat, but then-

"Hey, baby," her attacker growled. "Where you hurrying off to?"

That voice…Her body calmed and she wrenched her arm away. "Is scaring people your hobby or something?" she demanded.

"Actually, yeah." He bounced on the balls of his feet and leered down at her.

She huffed and turned, flouncing away.

"Dawn!" Spike called out apologetically. "Pet, I'm sorry…I was just playing." He reached out and grabbed her arm once more, turning her to face him. He was fully prepared to see a pissed off Summers glaring daggers at him, and was fairly shocked when instead he found her laughing up at him. "Why, you-"

Laughing again, she jogged away. He's not mad…or grossed out! she happily screeched to herself as she ran gracefully across the street.

The vamp caught her easily. He grabbed her from behind and held her to him with one arm encircling her hips, her back pressed tightly to his chest. She felt cool breath on her ear as he pushed her hair aside, his fingers lightly trailing the back of her neck. His other arm tightened around her, and her breath caught as she succumbed to the small magic of his fingers…She was especially aware of them as they slipped down her arm…toyed and laced with her own…finally joining his other hand at her hips.

"Naughty girl," he murmured hypnotically, his lips now at her collarbone as his right hand snaked up under her shirt. He flicked his tongue over her pulse point, sucking gently at the twin marks on her throat that he had administered the night before. "Bad…bad Dawn…" His tone was a syrupy whisper and she moistened her lips nervously. "I should…punish you…"

He bit at her throat and nuzzled her ear; all while his hand caressed her stomach, moving dangerously higher while the other remained steadfast at her hip. She slumped against him, her eyes fluttering shut. Her entire body was tingling almost unbearably, and she pressed back against him, desperately seeking further contact. I shouldn't…this is…

"Spike…" She meant to protest, but it sounded like a plea…an invitation. "We- we're in the middle of the street!"

"And…?" His cool fingers traced the lace of her bra and she began to squirm.

She jerked away unexpectedly, and in uneven breaths, said, "That was so not of the good…someone could've seen and-" She was still breathing hard.

He raised an eyebrow.

Dawn turned and strode purposely along the street straightening her top as she went. Silently he followed, gliding silently at her side, an ethereal dark presence. He seemed to be made of the shadows, and they of him. As if he could, at will, slip between this world and the next…Though truthfully, she much preferred him in this one.

She was unbelievably hot, resisting the urge to fan herself as they walked. The things Spike could do to her…she suppressed a moan and tried hard to refuse the yearning feeling that told her to jump into his arms right then. As they entered the cemetery, she accelerated her pace, making a beeline towards the crypt. Quickly passing the small headstones and sparse trees, she walked inside and sat down, flipping on the TV.

This was not what he had expected. Baffled, he came to sit next to her and asked, "What was that all about?"

"What?"

"Coming here…" he prompted, trying to keep all the sexual frustration out of his voice. If she knew the power she had over him at that minute…

"Am I not allowed?"

He sighed, pushing all thoughts of his libido aside for the moment. "What's wrong?"

I'm nervous? "Nothing, why?"

"You're all…pouty."

"Am not."

They sat in silence for several minutes until Spike couldn't take it any longer…"Pet?"

She looked at him.

A bold change of subject was clearly the only way to go… "About…what you said. This morning."

She stared at him blankly. Inside, she was terrified. Her stomach clenched and she felt her cheeks redden. Ohmigod, he's gonna break up with me…

"I jus' wanted to know…did you mean it?"

"What? What? Did I mean what?" she asked shrilly while recalling vividly every detail of her slip up.

"Y' don't remember?" His face fell.

She noticed. Did he…care? Maybe, he wanted her to have meant… "What I said?"

He looked up. "Yeah…"

"I…did." She bit her lip and blushed even more furiously.

"Really?"

She heard a grin in his voice and wondered, Is he gonna laugh at me?

"Y'- you meant it?" She was surprised at the insecurity she heard in his voice.

Tentatively, she nodded.

He gave her that look, the one that meant he was trying not to show emotion,and spoke softly, "I love you too, baby."

She looked up, stunned speechless. After a moment, she was able to choke out, "You- you do?"

He rolled his tongue up under his teeth and moved closer. "Completely and entirely," he pronounced.

She felt as if she would choke on her happiness and threw herself into his arms. He pulled her on top of him and attacked her mouth with his as she wrapped her arms around his neck, a cloud of euphoria enveloping them both. For the first time, she kissed him back with everything she had, pouring all of herself into him.

"Love you, love you, love you…" he said in between nibbling and sucking on her lips. He held onto her waist as he poured out his emotions through the union of their lips. "Love you…my Dawn."

She smiled into their kiss, but a small shadow lurked in the corner of her joy and she pulled back, questioning through swollen lips, "More than Buffy?"

He seemed surprised and looked at her scornfully. "That bitch? Please…" He turned his attention to her throat, seeming to think that was enough.

She placed her hand on his head, forcing him to look up at her. Half of the shadow was gone… "More than Drusilla?" she breathed. Speaking was getting harder…

He paused. "More than Drusilla."

There. For the first time in her life… she was truly happy. This time she, Dawn, came first. It had always been Buffy… always been someone else. And this time, it was her. She knew. For once, someone loved her the way she loved them. He was hers. The fiery conviction in his voice made her surer of him-of them- than anything else. She would do anything for him. She was his. And he- he was hers. Finally…

The joy washed over her once again and she threw her head back, shutting her eyes as his tongue danced along her jawline. This was heaven. Things were finally right. The way they should be. And she knew. She wanted this moment to last…

"I wanna be with you forever," she gasped as he treated her neck to the pleasure of his mouth.

"Wanna be with you too, baby." He rolled her off of him, laying her back on the couch and positioning himself over her.

This time, she didn't feel the fear that usually arose when she realized what he wanted. Instead of the usual protests, she commanded,

"Turn me."

Spike stopped moving, sure his vampiric hearing had failed him and asked, "What?"

For once Dawn didn't backtrack, didn't take back her words. She wanted this. "Turn me," she ordered once again, more sure than she had ever been in her life. "I want you. I wanna be yours."

"You are mine, pet," he assured her, not wanting her to do something she'd regret.

"I wanna be like you. Make me like you."

"Luv, being a vampire…it's not something you can take back."

"I know, Spike. But I want this. Want you."

"I want you too, luv. Always…" He looked hungrily at her pale throat, running his thumbs over the small holes. "I don't know if I can…the chip…"

"You can," she affirmed. "I want it. I'll do anything…"

He sighed, a tremor of desire snaking through him as she uttered those words. Anything…When was the last time someone had spoken to him like that? Told him they would do anything to have him? Anything to be with him? Had anyone ever wanted him- loved him- that much?

He looked deep into her eyes as if they held the answer. Minutes passed as he studied her, until finally, he broke the intense silence that had settled over them. Whatever he saw there must have convinced him, because his next words were, "Relax…if you don't, this might not work…"

She pushed herself up, forcing him to move off of her. He settled down next to her and she turned and sat in his lap, between his legs, wriggling around to get comfortable. She felt him tense. "You relax too, Spike," she admonished teasingly as she stared at the far wall.

"Keep moving like that and I'll do anything but relax."

She laughed softly, smoothing her hair aside as she leaned back against him. She folded her hands in her lap, the image of a docile young girl, and laughed again as she thought that this was most certainly not something that docile young girls did. Her eyes closed in pleasure when she felt him nuzzle her hair. He began to kiss her neck slowly, directly over his previous bitemarks, his tongue languidly caressing her skin. Somehow, not being able to see him, having him behind her, made this twice as exhilarating. It was the ultimate trust. "Mmm," a breathy moan escaped unbidden from her throat as she surrendered herself to him. She felt his fangs scrape her neck and she jerked.

"Shhh…" he lulled again, giving her another small nip as he swirled his tongue over her flesh. She fell slack against him once more, almost unwillingly. How does he do that…?

Slowly, his fangs repierced her throat, inch by inch, and her thoughts dropped away. She tried to ignore the pain so that he wouldn't feel pain and bit down on her lower lip as she felt Spike's fangs fully inside of her for the first time. He suckled gently at the wound, his lips caressing, his tongue coaxing, slowly increasing the speed and intensity…and suddenly it didn't feel so bad. She felt the sensations from the night before coursing through her and she began to breathe hard, gasping raggedly as her blood pumped into his mouth and he swallowed greedily.

Dawn reached back blindly to grip his shoulders, sliding her right hand to his head and holding him to her. The feeling was almost too much; Spike's thighs clamped tight around her own, his hands at her waist as the pulse of life drained from her into him, his mouth at her neck…Her shoulders heaved and her body trembled as the two most primal forces, life and death, consumed and surrounded them both.

Just as she felt herself nearing the brink, he pulled back. "Spike…" she moaned despairingly at the intense feeling of loss.

"You sure about this, pet?" His voice was heavy with desire. He'd been almost unable to stop himself, but he had to make sure before it was too late…

"Yes, yes…" she breathed desperately, entreatingly. He lowered his head again when she opened her eyes, full of sudden clarity, and asked, "Spike, promise me?"

"What's that, pet?" He stroked her arm with his thumb reassuringly.

"Promise me…when I'm…if I wanna kill Buffy or…any of them, you won't let me?"

"Sure, pet." His hands were now on her inner thighs, thumbs caressing her through the fabric of her jeans. "There'll be plenty of tasty townies to eat…no need to go after the Scoobies. 's not like you'd be able to kill the Slayer anyway…"

He resumed his work on her neck, but this time, it felt different. Not so good, and more draining. But then one of his hands moved to grip her waist, pulling her tight against his iron hardness just as the other moved up between her thighs and pressed there, and she felt a waver of intense heat sweep through her. It held for a moment, then exploded in a shower of dazzling fireworks, falling all around her. She cried out in ecstasy, the primal beat of life pounding within her, but almost immediately her eyes began to flutter shut and she felt…tired. Even as the aftershocks of pleasure coursed through her, she was nearly asleep…

"Dawn…pet." A light shake. His voice sounded far away. So far… "Dawn!"

Suddenly, there was a wrist pressed to her lips and she wanted to drink…knew it was important…She opened her mouth and let the crimson liquid flow through her lips. It was sweet, the nectar of life itself…She sucked eagerly, moving one hand to weakly hold her fount in place as her tongue caressed the shallow cut.

After a moment, she released him and her eyes closed completely. She couldn't move…couldn't breathe...but it didn't matter, because she couldn't feel. She had fallen into the abyss…and she was gone…

Spike carried her down to his bed and set her down gently. She was already cool, but there were still traces of life in her; the tinge of rose in her cheeks, the way his vampiric senses told him her pulse hadn't completely ceased pumping, the blood still flowing within her, however faintly…He stared down at her for a moment, then moved to sit in a chair as his thoughts overwhelmed him.

What's the Slayer gonna do when she finds out I've turned her kid sister? he wondered.

Gonna bloody kill you, that's what she'll do…he told himself.

Doesn't matter now, does it? She's yours now…can leave town…do whatever you like. It'll be bloody brilliant…

He thought of all they'd been through, all they'd get to do…and he smiled. Unlife was good…indeed it was. His musings continued until dawn, when he slept, waiting eagerly for his new princess to awaken.

Dawn opened her eyes. She felt different…better. She sat up and rubbed her neck, emitting a small hiss of pain as she massaged the sore area. But at the same time, she liked it.

She stood and looked distastefully at her own clothing. It was so…nice. Ugh.

She knew the room was dark, the candle having extinguished itself sometime during the night, and yet she could see every detail of the room as if in broad daylight. It was like wearing night vision goggles, only without that stupid green glow. Speaking of details…

She saw Spike and gave a purr of delight.

Sire…

This would be fun…

Spike awoke with a start to see Dawn standing over him. Her eyes were lowered and she toyed with a strand of her dark hair. Her hip was jutted out seductively and a small smile played on her lips as she raised her eyes to look at him.

Her eyes. They were…different. Darker, more dangerous…seductive. He looked around the dark room and noticed her sweater and shirt lying discarded near the bed. His gaze returned to her, clad in only jeans and bra. He appraised her body and growled, unrestrained.

Old Dawn would've jumped; but then again, Old Dawn never would've removed her clothing for him either. At least, not this way. Now, however, she merely smiled and ran her hand seductively down her chest. She licked her lips and stepped closer.

"Wanna play… Sire??"

---------------THE END--------------

Wow. This fic took 9 months to write and I have to say, I'm pretty pleased with the results. Not the best thing EVER, granted, but pretty decent in my opinion. I had so much fun writing this and I hope you enjoyed reading it just as much.

As for a sequel?? Probably. Not for a couple of months though, because I've got a couple other things in the works, such as an AU Spuffy, a Spillow one shot, and a couple other things I'd like to try. But I'm pretty sure there will be one.

Special thanks goes to Chelle86 and Rainy Day Parade for encouraging me so much and helping me out when that annoying little thing called writer's block hit me. Thanks to Claire Starling, for her great reviews…they always made me feel all tingly inside, and to Green-Eyed-Goddess, because I was a huge fan of her stories before she reviewed this one. Plus thanks to loner-elf, WashoopiCandi, BadBoyLover, Chelsea, MyStIcSaIyAn45, Rock-Witch, stargurl727, Amanda, lexinator, DevilishGirl0222, Draco-FutureBF, naughty169420, cali-luv, Ezmerelda, and anyone else who reviewed and enjoyed my story. You guys are my inspiration to write, so thank you all so much.

PS: I know it was probably cruel and unusual to make you wait this long for the finale, but my mom put Spyware crap on the internet and only recently did I convince her to take it off. What's the big deal, you ask? Well, what if you're mother read some of the stuff you saw on fanfiction?? Hmm?