Disclaimer: I don't own anything you recognise.

A/N: I just recently got a review about this story (Not to mention some of my others) and I realised that I don't want to be that person who starts a story but never bothers to finish them. This is not the last chapter but I do promise to update at least once a week from now on.

Chapter 8: Forbidden

Spike heaved a huge sigh as he stepped off of the front porch of 1630 Revello Drive. The sky was midnight black, little pinpricks of light dotted the cloudless sky as Spike sighed again. Clem was crypt sitting for him and Spike was pretty sure that he had enjoyed it too, the flabby skinned demon didn't have a TV so Spike's crypt was sure to be a welcome change.

Dawn was asleep inside - he hadn't wanted to wake her just to tell her that he was leaving. She would probably have insisted in keeping him company which was out of the question and her sister probably wouldn't have approved. Said Slayer had not spoken to him since the night before and judging by her attitude then, she wanted him out as soon as possible. At that moment, Buffy was patrolling the streets of Sunnydale and when she had refused to look at him, she had meant it. Spike hadn't seen even a glimpse of he eyes since telling her.

Giles had taken over Spike's spot on the couch and now that he thought about it, there couldn't have been a better time for him to leave than today. Buffy housed many people at a time - it was true - but it didn't mean that she was happy about it.

When Spike left the Summer's household, the only thing he had with him were the clothes he had arrived with plus an extra pair for when the initial ones needed washing – he hadn't acquired anything new. With the crickets as the only thing disturbing the peace in Revello Drive (which was unusual in itself), Spike left for home.

*               *               *               *               *

Dawn opened her eyes to the brightest day so far this year. Yawning, she made her way to the kitchen - intent on fixing herself something to eat.

Humming all excruciatingly jaunty tune, she entered the kitchen. "Hi Buff…" Dawn trailed off as she saw her sister hovering over a up of barely drunk, stone cold coffee.

Dawn frowned and looked at her sister. "What's wrong and why are you staring like that?"

Buffy blinked a little and raised her eyes to meet her sister's worried gaze. "He left then?"

Dawn's frown deepened before she realised what her sister had said. Glancing around, she looked lost for a second before it hit her. Saddened, Dawn turned back to her sister. "I suppose…he didn't even say bye?"

Buffy replied with a shrug.

Dawn glance down at the cup in Buffy's hands and noticed that her sister was in scuffed clothes. She had obviously fought in them and they were yesterdays. "How long have you been down here Buffy?"

"Since three this morning." She replied monotonously.

Glancing at the clock, Dawn saw that it was now 11am. "You've been down here for eight hours?!" Dawn exclaimed aghast.

Buffy didn't warrant that with a response, Dawn didn't exactly expect one either.

"Buffy, it really isn't like he moved to the other end of the world. He's just back in his crypt. You're taking this pretty badly don't you think? Especially as someone who professed to hating his guts not two months ago."

Buffy looked at he sister sharply. This was the first sign of normal human emotion that she had showed and Dawn took it as a step forward. "What makes you think this is about him?" she asked softly.

Dawn just rolled her eyes. "Look Buffy, go upstairs and take a bath. It's the weekend, relax a little. Giles is back and for once, it's not because of a big bad. I'm going to go and visit Spike soon."

"No!" Buffy said bluntly. "He's not here anymore and you have homework to do. I don't want you visiting him."

Dawn glared at her sister. "You can't stop me. I told him that I would visit him today and he's holding me to it. I'm not going back on my word Buffy. Lighten up. He hasn't betrayed you or anything like that."

She stalked to the door and then turned back. "It's nobody's fault but yours. If you wanted him to stay, you should have told him so. It's your problem if your pride is too huge for you to see anything else!" She banged out of the kitchen and ran to the bathroom.

Buffy stood up and groaned. Sitting in one position for eight hours was not good for the legs at all.

Willow appeared in the doorway 12 minutes later looking groggy and tired. "What's with all the noise? Dawn is loud enough to wake the whole street. What happened?"

Draining the coffee down the disposal, she answered her friend with her back to her. "Spike left either really late last night or really early this morning. He was gone when I got back from my patrol."

If there was any chance of a smile lighting Willow's face, it was gone with those words. "I had gotten used to him. I'm gonna miss him." She said miserably as she took a seat and resumed Buffy's position.

Buffy turned to look at her friend - her expression remaining stoic – as she asked "Where's Tara?"

"Sleep." Willow answered.

"Even with Dawn's banging?"

"She's not loud enough to wake Tara. You know that. Tara always gets up when she intends, not even mother nature can say otherwise."

Buffy's face broke into its first smile of the day.

Willow raised her head and looked at her friend. "Are you going to visit him today then?"

Willow caught the flash of pain before it fled Buffy's face.

"I don't know Willow. I think I'll leave it for a day or two."

Willow nodded understandingly.

*               *               *               *               *

Dawn was sitting in the front room with Tara. Buffy was at work, Willow was in the library and Giles was helping Anya out at the 'Magic Box', much to Anya's chagrin but she didn't really have a choice as her silent, oversees partner – although not so silent and oversees at the moment - owned half the shop.

"So how long is this silent treatment with your sister going to go on for Dawnie? She's trying you know."

Dawn huffed and crossed her arms. "She's bitter and grumpy way before her time. She has no right to stop me from seeing Spike just because she feels like he abandoned her."

Tara smiled slightly. "I know Dawn - it's all you've been saying and I know it's unfair-"

She said quickly as Dawn opened her mouth to protest,

"but people deal with things differently."

"Well then she should have treated him better." Dawn huffed again. "She should have been nicer and given him blood when he asked for it and not just when she wanted him to have it. It's not my fault that she only just decided to learn the error of her ways."

Tara put her arm around Dawn. "Give her time Dawnie, she may left you visit tomorrow."

Dawn pouted and stared hard at the blank TV screen. "But I wanted to see him today. I promised him."

Tara smiled secretly. She excused Dawn and watched her as she went up to her room. She knew what Dawn was going upstairs to do and she didn't blame her. She wasn't condoning it ether but she was not going to stop a 15 year old from doing something her heart was set on.

*               *               *               *               *

Spike heard the door of his crypt squeak as it was being opened. He laid his novelty mug with blood on the armrest of his armchair (ok, so he had taken one more thing with him) and turned his head too look at the door. He grinned as he watched Dawn sneak into the crypt.

Dawn had left through Buffy's window as soon as Tara has excused her. She knew it was wrong to leave like that, especially since Tara had been so nice about everything but Dawn would be damned that day she broke a promise to anyone. No one could say that the girl didn't have guts.

Dawn walked into the musty crypt and scanned for Spike. She located him in his armchair - watching her in amusement.

"If I didn't know better Bit, I'd say that you weren't supposed to be here and that you had done a classic 'Buffy' by sneaking out."

Dawn fixed him with a raised eyebrow. "Well then I guess that it's good that you don't know any better."

*               *               *               *               *

Tara had gone up to check on Dawn, only to find what she knew she would – an open window and an empty house.

That had been half an hour ago and she was beginning to worry. 'What ifs' were starting to run through her mind. She should have told Dawn to be back before Buffy returned. A confrontation would be bad.

Tara kept checking her watch every five minutes. Buffy would be home in two hours. It was plenty of time for Dawn to return and technically, Tara hadn't done anything wrong but she didn't want there to be another argument.

Buffy had done this a lot in her early slaying days so she above all people should understand.

*               *               *               *               *

"Snap!" Dawn giggled as she lay her card on top of Spike's.

Spike growled. "This is pathetic. I'm losing to a 15 year old girl while playing Snap! A proper vampire wouldn't be caught dead playing snap. He'd be playing poker - kitten poker."

Dawn's face screwed up in distaste. "Vampire's are so cruel to kittens. As if humans aren't bad enough, you need blood from animals too? And besides, you forgot to mention that proper vampire's wouldn't fall in love with the Slayer."

Spike nodded in approval. "Exactly. Look at the ponce of a grandsire of mine. And he's supposed to be the most vicious vampire ever recorded. What a great big poof."

Dawn giggled and declared "Snap!" again which caused Spike to growl some more. "I meant you Spike. Not Angel."

"I know what you bloody meant." Spike said disgusted. "It just doesn't feel very nice to know that I may be just as bad as that gel loving freak."

Dawn giggled again.

Spike narrowed his eyes at her. "If you start on my hair…"

"But it's true!!" Dawn squealed, rolling on the floor laughing. "You're just like him! Of course, I am not taking into account the fact that you're colouring is different."

Spike grabbed a shirt that was lying around and threw it at her. "There are a few differences though…" Spike said, the smile had left his lips and Dawn was clever enough o know why.

Dawn took a deep breath and expelled it quickly. "I still don't get what you see in her you know? She's not all that great and the girl can't pick up after herself, not to mention the fact that she doesn't bathe properly, she always comes home dirty – smelling of sweat, processed meat and nasty vampires. She takes people granted and she is always having a go at me."

Spike lay down a card and yelled in glee. "Snap!! Hahaha, beat you niblet."

Dawn rolled her eyes. "You're such a child." Dawn glanced at her watch and muttered an oath.

"Dawn! Watch you mouth!" Spike said scowling.

Dawn looked at the vampire. "It's ok for you to swear in front of me but not for me to use the same language?"

Spike smirked. "Exactly."

Dawn shook her head dismissively. "Well at least I don't smoke, drink – alcohol and blood or kill people. Besides, Buffy gets home in ten minutes and she's not supposed to know I left the house to see you."

"So go home then." Spike retorted as if it was so simple.

"There are a lot of nasties from here to Revello Drive, you'd let a girl – who isn't the Slayer – walk through that? And it takes my ten minutes to get beck so she's going to know I've been gone!"

Spike shook his head sighing. "Fine, I'll drive you. But I'm dropping you off at the corner. You'll be there in two minutes so you'll have enough time to get home and be sitting in front of the TV when big sis walks through the door."

"Thank you!" Dawn exclaimed.

"I still think a good jog would do you good." Spike said under his breath.

*               *               *               *               *

Five demons watched as Spike and Dawn set off in the DeSotto.

"Well?" The one nearest the back asked "What's going to happen?"

The leader pressed a button on the control he was holding. A red light lit up the entire crypt for a few seconds and then disappeared. "We'll see in three days."

The fattest one laughed to which they turned and walked back into the bushes as one.

*               *               *               *               *               *               *               *               *               *               *               *

I got it up! I really want to thank everyone who reviewed. I would also expressly love to thank the person who sent me my latest review. It was so nice that I felt I just had to get this chapter up. I love each and every one of the reviews. Thank you again.

Pure-HP

Please review and please don't flame.