Good Luck, Bad Luck

Disclaimer: I own new crutches because I was stupid and picked up something too heavy. I also own tickets to the Sacramento Alternate Universe convention. But I don't own anything that Joss created.

Summary: Some people get lucky some…don't.

Reviews: Yes, please. I love reviews, adore reviewers. Readers Rock but Reviewers RULE!

A/N: WayWard Childe and I are thrilled you all like this story. Thanks.

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A normal night of research in the Magic Box did not usually include a Leprechaun but Sean was in attendance anyway. He poked around the books, ran his fingers through a bowl of crystals and peeked over the shoulders of Tara and Willow as they leafed through the huge ancient texts that Giles had assigned to them. Anya spent her time dusting the shelves and counting the money in the register. Xander was once more attempting to construct a workable schedule for his crew. Dawn was doing homework at the table, sitting opposite of Tara and Willow. Sean settled into a chair next to the teenager and leaned over to scan her work.

"That answer is wrong, Darlin." He murmured in the brunette's ear.

Dawn looked at the problem he pointed out. "I don't understand." She all but wailed.

The Leprechaun pulled a clean piece of paper towards them. "It goes like this. Pay attention now." He instructed gently as he proceeded to show her how she'd gotten it wrong and how to find the correct answers with the rest of it.

Dawn flashed a brilliant smile at her unusual tutor. "Thanks, I get it now. Why can't they teach it like that at school? Did you know the last time I seriously understood any of this stuff Spike was helping me?" Her face reflected horror.

"I wasn't supposed to tell." She looked down at the table. "Buffy's gonna be so angry if she finds out."

Tara sent her a sympathetic glance. "We won't tell, will we Baby?" She looked pleadingly at the redhead.

"No, I guess not. Just don't do it any more. Okay, Dawnie?" Willow tried to glare sternly at the teenager.

"Xander, you won't tell Buffy, will you?" Tara asked the young carpenter.

"Please Xander, please don't tell Buffy." Dawn entreated with big blue puppy eyes.

"Tell Buffy what?" The slayer in question asked as she came in the front door, Riley in tow as always.

"Um…nothing Buff." Xander mumbled, sending an annoyed glare at his emotional blackmailers.

"Is it about Spike?" Riley asked suspiciously as he had intercepted some of the glances being exchanged.

"It better not be." Buffy grumbled. "Sometimes I wonder why I let him stay undusted."

"Because you can't kill a helpless creature, no matter how irritating he can be." Dawn quoted. "And besides, if you kill Spike I won't speak to you ever again. He hasn't done anything."

Sean gazed appreciatively at the pretty teen. He could tell her affection for the blond vampire was genuine. In that moment he decided that faith such as hers should be rewarded. His attention turned to the conversation between the Slayer and her Watcher.

The petite blonde was describing the number of vampires she'd dusted and the demon she'd killed. Apparently she'd never seen one like it before and Giles immediately began to pull out books so he could try to get her to concentrate for a moment and identify it. Interspersed with her dissertation of the evening's patrol were incessant complaints about Spike. Everyone seemed to ignore her jabs at the absent vampire as a normal part of conversation. Each dig at his friend raised Sean's formidable Irish temper.

Spike made his usual 'slamming through the door' entrance earning himself glares from Buffy, Riley, Giles and Xander. Anya looked up in anticipation of a paying customer, scowling when she realized who it was.

"Hey all, what nasties are we looking for tonight, eh?" Spike rubbed his hands together and looked around expectantly.

"No one but you Spike. Why do you insist on coming here every day when you know we don't want or need your help?" Riley advanced threateningly on the blond menace. He twirled a stake in his fingers thoughtfully. Spike stood his ground and gazed at the former soldier with amused indifference.

"Only here to help." Spike drawled. He moved casually over to the stairs and sprawled comfortably.

Tara watched the exchange curiously. She'd been interested to see how Spike would handle himself when presented with Riley's hostility. Now she knew, Spike wouldn't hurt anyone unless he had to. A small spurt of pride surged through her heart. A slight frown crossed Willow's forehead as she noted her lover's attention to the Spike/Riley exchange.

"Hey, Niblet, how goes the homework?" Spike leaned forward to peek at the teenager's papers.

"All done." Dawn told him proudly. "Sean helped me with it. He explains it almost as well as…um…the teacher does." She changed what she was going to say at the last second as she realized what she was about to reveal.

Spike's sapphire eyes sparkled with glee as he processed what it was she didn't say. A slight nod toward the girl told her he understood and was amused by it. She smiled in relief.

"How's your mum?" The vampire asked.

"She's great. Back to work and working late, which is why I'm here." Dawn gathered her papers together and stuffed them into her backpack. Willow and Tara closed their books and stood up.

"We're going to walk Dawnie home, okay Buff?" Willow announced.

The slayer nodded. "Be careful, I don't know if there are any more of those demons out there. I'd go with but Riley and I need to get back out and patrol some more."

"I'll walk you back." Spike got up and shook his leather duster into place.

Buffy frowned. "Why? What do you want? I don't want them out there with you."

Spike lifted his chin. "Slayer, you don't know if there are any more of those demons running about. You want to take a chance on little Sis's life? What about Red and Glenda? Want to see them hurt? I either walk with them or behind them. Take it or leave it." He held the front door open. "Ladies, whenever you're ready." With that ultimatum he swept out into the darkness, confidence oozing from his slender body.

Sean followed the three girls to the door. "If I may accompany you…?" He trailed off as Dawn graced him with a brilliant smile.

"Of course, I'd love to talk to you some more. Will you tell me about Ireland? I want to visit there some day." The teenager babbled as they left the shop.

"Well, now. 'Tis a beautiful place, Ireland is. A land full of magic and mystery." Sean began telling the enthralled girls all about his homeland, making the walk to Revello Drive seem unusually short.

Dawn invited them in but the witches had early classes and needed to get to the dorm so Spike and Sean declined in favor of escorting them back. Joyce came out from the kitchen to say hello as soon as she heard Spike's voice.

"Spike, how nice to see you! Are you coming in?" She asked.

"No, Ma'am. My friend and I need to see these lovely ladies home safely. I'm very happy to see you doing so well." Spike walked in far enough to give Buffy's mom a quick kiss on the cheek.

"I feel marvelous. Who is your friend?" Joyce smiled at Spike before shifting her attention to the Leprechaun.

"Sean Patrick O'Brien, and I'm pleased to make your acquaintance." Sean bowed as he introduced himself.

"You're from Ireland." Joyce exclaimed in delight. "We just got in a shipment of some wonderful Irish china at the gallery. There are some exquisite antique Belleek vases in it. I'm hoping to snag one for myself but they are a bit pricey. Maybe you could come by and take a look. Tell me if I got a good deal or not."

Sean beamed. "Sure and I'll be pleased to look over your goods. Belleek china is some of the most beautiful in the world. A little bit of the old country to look at would do these aged eyes good."

Spike glanced at the weary couple waiting by the front door. "Sean, Glenda and Red need to get home. We need to go. Joyce, it's good to see you, maybe I can stop in for a cuppa later in the week?"

"That would be lovely, Spike. I'll look forward to it. I'll make sure I have some marshmallows." Joyce nodded with a smile. She genuinely liked the blond vampire. She and Dawn waved the group on their way before locking the door and going to bed. Joyce had the odd thought just as she was dozing off that Sean looked suspiciously like a leprechaun but dismissed it immediately as silly because everyone knows that leprechauns just don't exist. The next thought that drifted through her sleepy mind reminded her that vampires shouldn't exist either but did. She fell into a sound sleep before either thought fully registered.

A quiet walk had Willow and Tara safely tucked into their dorm room. Sean and Spike strolled companionably back to Spike's crypt. The vampire invited his diminutive friend in for a drink but was refused with the excuse that Sean needed to turn in for the night.

Spike made his way happily to the lower level of his home. He went to bed with the knowledge that Captain Cardboard was no longer a threat and that the violence that Spike was constantly threatened with could never occur. The feeling of safety was something he hadn't had since Riley's Initiative monsters put the cursed chip in.

Sean lingered outside Spike's crypt for a short time musing about the best way to teach Buffy and her soldier fellow a well-deserved lesson. An evil smirk crossed his face as the perfect plan occurred to him. Without bothering to verbalize his curse, he merely closed his eyes for a moment. Satisfied they would suffer for their misdeeds, he twirled his cane in delight and vanished.

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Dawn woke up feeling extraordinarily good. She dressed and skipped downstairs happily. Joyce greeted her youngest daughter with a smile and a glass of milk.

"Would you like eggs or pancakes?" The blonde asked.

"Eggs and toast, please. It's quicker." Dawn settled at the table and grinned. "Isn't it a great morning?"

Joyce smiled. "It is, isn't it?" She agreed.

Buffy entered the kitchen frowning. She was having a terrible morning and finding the blouse she'd intended to wear had fallen to the bottom of the closet and was wrinkled beyond belief further blackened her bad mood. She held a boot with a broken heel. "My favorite boots…ruined!" She wailed.

"What did you do to it?" Dawn asked her sister. "Really should be more careful kicking demon butt in cheap boots."

Buffy scowled at the teenager who grinned at her unrepentantly. "I just put them on. They're not that old and I didn't wear them on patrol." She griped.

Dawn tucked into the breakfast their mother set in front of her. She shook her head and raised her hand palm up in an 'I don't know then' gesture.

Buffy gave the younger girl a glare and threw the boot petulantly into the trash. She stormed back upstairs to finish dressing for her first class. That she was late did nothing to improve her disposition.

Dawn walked to school with her friend Janice, chattering happily about the Irish lore she'd heard from Sean the previous night. She was distressed when she discovered they had a pop quiz in math but was thrilled when she aced it. She and Janice were walking toward the Magic Box after school when she spotted something green lying in the crack of the sidewalk. Bending down to check it out, Dawn discovered to her delight that it was a twenty-dollar bill. Half a block further down, they passed a clothing store and paused, as they did every day, to sigh over the blouse in the display. Dawn gasped when she saw that the item she'd coveted for the past month had been drastically marked down.

"Dawn, it must be your lucky day." Janice marveled as she watched her friend accept the ample change from the twenty.

Dawn took the proffered bag from the sales clerk and grinned. "I guess it is."

Across town, Buffy's day went from bad to worse. Her purse strap broke, scattering her possessions all over the hall floor. She failed an unexpected psychology test and spilled coffee on her English notes while she studied them in the Student Union. She returned a book to the library and was dismayed to find it was overdue and she owed a hefty fine. She was thrilled to leave her last class of the day and retreat to the sanctuary of the Magic Box. She took her frustrations out on the punching bag in the training room while waiting for Riley to meet her for patrol.

The slayer regaled her boyfriend with her mishaps of the day while they strolled through one of Sunnydale's many cemeteries. Riley made sympathetic noises while she bemoaned her day. They managed to dust a few vampires but were relieved when it turned out to be fairly quiet on the demon front.

"What do you say we go back to my room?" Riley murmured seductively in Buffy's ear when they paused for a kiss. She nodded eagerly.

An hour later…

Riley angrily threw back the covers and left the bed. He snatched up his pants and threw them on before stomping down the hall to the bathroom. Buffy fell back into the bed in defeat.

'If this doesn't take the cake.' She thought. Realizing the futility of waiting in the bed, she got up and dressed. The former soldier returned and dug under the bed for his shoes. He finished dressing and waited by the door impatiently for his girlfriend.

"Riley, I'm…" Buffy began only to be interrupted.

"Don't say you're sorry." He growled.

They detoured through the cemetery on the way back to the Magic Box. "Are you okay?" Buffy asked quietly.

"That's never happened before. I don't know what the problem is." Riley grumbled. "It's not you." He hastened to assure her.

"Do you think it could be a side effect to those drugs Professor Walsh had you on?" Buffy asked timidly.

Spike was passing through the cemetery several feet away from the couple. He detected the unhappy expressions on their faces. He silently moved over to within hearing distance. They were so preoccupied with their conversation; they didn't notice the blond vampire eavesdropping.

"I don't know Buff, none of the other guys are still here so I can't ask if they have the same problem." Riley kicked a rock viciously. "It makes me feel so…"

"It's okay. It's not like we'll never do it again. This is just a temporary thing. We'll try again tomorrow night. It's probably my fault, I've had crappy luck all day and it just rubbed off on you." The slayer tried to soothe her boyfriend.

Spike face contorted with the effort of holding in his laughter until he could get out of hearing range. Silently he sped towards his crypt, slammed the door and collapsed into his easy chair as hysterical laughter burst out.

"So Farm Boy can't get it up." He chuckled to himself. "Well, isn't that just… neat."

He controlled his glee and left for his nightly visit to the Scooby hangout and his nightly round of 'irritate the slayer'. It had gotten to be so much more fun now that he could protect himself if necessary. It had given him an incredible feeling to save Glenda from the wankers trying to force themselves on her. He recalled her odd question about reincarnation. He resolved to ask her about it as soon as he saw her again before realizing he couldn't do it in front of the others without having to explain why he wanted to know.

Later…

The bleached menace strolled casually into the shop and visually took attendance. Buffy and Riley weren't in the main part of the shop but his vampire senses placed them in the training room, taking their frustration out on the punching bag. Giles, Xander and Willow were seated around the table elbow deep in demonology texts. Anya was dusting. Dawn had long ago been picked up by her mother.

"Watcher, Whelp, Red, Demon." He greeted them each in turn. "Where's Glenda? Is she okay?" He asked with deceptive casualness.

Willow turned a page and absently answered. "She's at home. She wanted to study for a test."

"Watcher, are there any nasties you need help with?" Spike asked, still using the blandly casual tone.

"No, Spike. This is very important. I don't have time to deal with you tonight." Rupert closed his book and chose another one from the stack in front of him.

Spike shrugged indifferently. "Don't say I didn't offer." He left the shop in a swirl of black leather, grinning to himself as he went. It was several minutes before he found himself in front of the witches door, hand raised to knock. He hesitated for a second before letting his knuckles rap sharply on the wood.

He heard her question from inside the room. "Who is it?"

Spike leaned against the door so he wouldn't have to shout. "It's Spike."

She opened the door and smiled. "Spike. It's good to see you. Why am I seeing you?" She backed up to allow him enough room to enter.

He stepped in and closed the door. "I just wanted to make sure you were all right. You had a bad scare the other night." He allowed his blue gaze to scan her appearance and was satisfied she seemed okay.

"I'm fine." She smiled up at him and once more noticed the similarities between the vampire and her long lost William.

A sudden bout of shyness swept over Spike. He perched nervously on the edge of the same chair he'd occupied the other night.

"Um…Glenda? I was wondering what you meant the other night when you asked me about reincarnation?" He questioned quietly.

Her smoky blue eyes settled on his profile. Now that she'd seen it, she wondered how she could have missed it before. She was more convinced than ever that her William had been Spike's reincarnated soul. But she couldn't figure out how to explain it to the vampire. She stated as much.

"Well, Pet, I always found it easier to start at the beginning." Spike smiled at her kindly.

"I don't think I'm ready yet." Tara said apologetically.

Spike nodded. "When you are ready then. Just remember, I've been around a long time. There's not much I haven't seen or heard." He stood up.

Tara panicked. "Are you leaving?" She asked.

"I really don't need to be here when Red comes home." He explained.

She nodded. "I understand." She moved to stand in front of him, gazing up into his face. His attention was caught by her expression. It was almost…loving. A nearly uncontrollable urge nudged him. Entranced, he bent down slowly until his lips were within a breath of hers. When she failed to stop him, he closed the infinitesimal distance and gently captured her mouth with his own.