Special Thanks to-

Culf: Usually I make it hinted at maybe a future romance but for Dawn and Spike to be together isn't only disgusting, it's improbable. Right now, Spike simply sees Dawn for her potential self and he's willing to wait. So don't worry, no DS smoochies. Well, maybe on the cheek.

Sevhevcracksmeup: Thanks. I never saw her as annoying, just going through some teen angst added to the being the key. But I've tried to build Dawnie into something more than Dawnie. I'm glad you appreciate the efforts.

Naughty: Take your time on the story, sweetie. You only have to tell me the idea, you don't actually have to write a chapter! My secret is… just let it flow. Don't try to make it anything. The best stories write themselves.

And to Incepte, Zanthinegirl, Sarah, Kali Lynn (thanks for being so loyal to me), and Enn-Enn (thank you too for being loyal and observant!).

Now, without further ado...

PART THREE

"I hear her heart's beating loud as thunder. Saw the stars crashing down..." ~ China Girl by David Bowie

Back at the mansion, Angelus circled Giles like a hawk, preparing to pounce on his prey. Giles hung his head so Angelus wouldn't have the satisfaction of seeing him blink back the tears of pain.

"You know, I can stop the pain. You've been so very brave," he paused to put a comforting hand on Giles' shoulder, "but it's over." He circled behind him. "You've given enough." And finally, with a hidden smirk, Angelus leaned down to Giles' ear to make the killing blow. "Now, let me make it stop."

Giles let out a half sob of pain. "Please!"

Angelus smirk widened but he covered the look as he came to kneel before Giles. "Just tell me what I need to know," he crooned invitingly.

"In order... to be worthy..." Giles started weakly.

"Yeah?" Angelus whispered, leaning forward.

"You must perform the ritual... in a tutu." At Angelus' glare, Giles grit his teeth and hissed, "Pillock!"

Growling, Angelus stood. "All right. Someone get the chainsaw."

"Now, now, don't let us lose our temper," Spike chided. Spike, a little wild eyed, wheeled himself into view. He had to stop Angelus from really hurting Giles or else Buffy wouldn't let Dru go. He had rushed here and didn't even have time to check on the little bit before getting back to Angel.

"Keep out of it, sit 'n spin," Angelus growled.

Spike sighed. "Look, you cut him up, you'll never get your answers."

Angelus raised an eyebrow. "Since when did you become so levelheaded?"

"Right about the time you became so pig-headed," Spike retorted. "You have your way with him, you'll never get to destroy the world. And I don't fancy spending the next month trying to get librarian out of the carpet. There are other ways..."

Angelus smiled as he remembered something. "That's right." He smiled as he turned back to Giles'. "We almost forgot, didn't we Rupert?"

Giles eyes filled with realization first, then horror before he managed to gasp, "Don't."

Angelus grinned, obviously pleased at his distress. "No, I believe it's time you paid for your disobedience. I guess I've been too kind to you, Rupert."

Behind Angelus, Spike realized what his sire planned to do. He could practically punch himself. He stopped the poof from harming the old fart, only to have him turn on the nibblet. He didn't care about the watcher but he wanted Dawn safe.

"Why don't we go visit Dawnie, Rupert?" Angelus grinned, hauling Giles toward Drusilla's room.

~*~

Dawn had blanked out for a bit, she couldn't remember exactly what had happened. All she remembered is that after Drusilla had escorted her from the main room, she had started to feel dizzy. She heard a distant voice telling her to "be in me".

Now, she heard humming. "I must be the luckiest vampire in all of the New World!" Drusilla gushed as she came into view. "I have the prettiest dolly and it isn't even my birthday."

Drusilla smiled as she sat behind Dawn on the bed. Dawn spun around when she heard her lift something, but Drusilla revealed the hairbrush with a smile. "We don't want your hair to be out of place, do we poppet?"

Dawn slowly turned back around. She was loathed to admit that she loved having her hair brushed and Drusilla did it very well. Buffy used to brush it for her all the time, but she always snagged the knots. Drusilla was very careful, almost as if her hair were rare silk.

"So bright, you are. When I first spotted you across the foggy way, you were shinning so brightly. I had thought that my mum had sent a star down from the heavens. But all those pesky humans ignored you, and I couldn't stand it. I do not tolerate rudeness." Drusilla turned to Dawn. "But I'm going to keep you shiny and new. If I ask daddy nicely, you can stay over and play forever."

Drusilla squealed at the idea. "What fun we shall have! We'll kill your family and paint the town with their blood. Their screams shall be the music we waltz to all night long as we bathe in blood. Just you, me, daddy, and Spike."

Dawn's eyes widened. "Spike?"

Drusilla nodded excitedly. "Oh!" she squealed, hugging the girl tightly. "You shall sleep between me and Spike, like the little dolly you are."

Dawn, slipping into the scenario, looked up at Drusilla. "Do you think he'll like me?"

Drusilla laughed. "Little William hasn't had anyone else swirling about in his thoughts. He was covered in you and I was getting very angry. But when I saw the neglected star, I knew why he longed to snatch it up."

Dawn bit her lip as she looked away. Spike thought about her? Wait, what was she thinking? She had to get out of here, fast, before they killed her.

"The pretty girl shall not wrinkle her forehead, you'll get wrinkles. No aging. One of the rules. And no one disobeys the rules without punishment." Drusilla's eyes sparkled. "Daddy punishes me all the time. He makes me hurt something fierce and scream out the most beautiful melodies. He'll make you better, I promise." Drusilla smiled at her doll. "He'll fix you up and you'll be the best doll ever. No one will ever be able to break you and we'll be a happy family."

"Don't you miss your family?" Dawn asked. Although Buffy and her mom bugged her sometimes, she couldn't imagine life without them.

Drusilla smiled. "I miss their screams. My mum had the most bell like scream. So pretty."

Dawn winced. It was a shame what Angelus had done to Drusilla, she seemed like she was a good person.

"Don't you ever... want to hurt Angel?" Dawn asked.

Drusilla giggled. "Oh yes. I hurt Daddy sometimes. He loves it when I scratch him with my nails 'til he bleeds rivers." Drusilla mistook Dawn's disappointed look. "Oh, but don't you worry, as soon as Daddy fixes you, we're going to have fun!"

~*~

Please Review again, my lovelies, and you shall be rewarded greatly. Tell me what lines you like, tell me what you'd like to see, and tell me what you think. Criticize me, praise me, or love me- I don't care. Just speak, my readers. Please.

~ Claire Starling