Home is Where the Hellmouth is

"Then I'm saying yes,"

Dawn felt relief flood her body and step forward slightly. It was then she noticed that sometime during their heated conversation, they had moved closer together.

Oh.

Spike stared into her blue eyes, and his head bent down on its own accord.

Dawn tilted her head up instinctively and her hand moved to trace a line from his sharp cheekbones to his full lips. Nice lips, she thought dreamily one side of her said as the other side screamed for her to back away.

Spike shivered at her heated touch making its way down his face. Bloody hell, his mind screamed.

Dawn reached up ever so slightly so their lips were a mere inch apart.

She was breathing soft little sighs on his lips, all sweet and hot. He brushed against her lips gently, barely there when she suddenly jerked back.

She didn't know why she had pulled away, but her brain finally connected with her body.

"Sorry," she mumbled and started walking again, praying her face wasn't as red as it felt. When was the last time anyone had made her blush like this?
Spike hid his disappointment and followed her, a few steps behind. At least he could watch her ass swing.

Dawn swung open the door and ignored Spike behind her.

"Connor?" she called, walking into the living room.

"Hey," Connor answered and walked out of his room t o join her in the living room where she found Angel and Willow sitting on the couch.

"Hey," Dawn said, slightly nervous.

"Hey," Willow gave her hesitant smile, "You slept the day away,"

Dawn managed a laugh, "Guess I was tired,"

Dawn's laugh sounded a little forced, but Willow didn't say anything. She then noticed Spike was at her heels. He was a sucker for the Summers women.

"Hey Spike," She said in her friendliest voice.

"Hello Red," Spike responded and everyone was silent.

Dawn took a deep breath, "When are you guys leaving?"

Willow turned to Angel and he answered, "We were thinking tomorrow,"

Dawn bit her lip. Say it now, she told her self. Okay here goes nothing.

"I was thinking I'd go back with you," At their shocked expressions she clarified, "Just to stop the end of the world," she paused, "Again."

"Are you sure?" Willow asked with concern.

Dawn nodded, not trusting herself to speak.

"Me too," Spike piped up.

Angel frowned but didn't say anything.

"Me three," Connor added and Dawn gave him a smile, it was nice to know her best friend would be there with her.

"Guess we should get packing," Dawn announced and she and Connor went into their rooms.

"Right, I'm gonna get my stuff too," Willow added and followed Dawn.

Spike then noticed he was stuck in the room with Peaches and groaned.

"Aren't you gonna get packing? Gotta have time to pack up the hair gel," He jibed but Angel just shot forward and slammed Spike against the wall by the throat.

"Bloody hell," Spike managed to choke out.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Angel hissed.

"Believe it's called poking fun at you and your gelled hair," Spike answered with a smirk.

"Dawn is not your Buffy replacement," Angel growled and Spike gaped at him, "Why would I ever think that?"

"Gee, could be because that's how you work," Angel said sarcastically, choking him tighter.

"I love the bird and not because she's Buffy's sister," Spike snarled and pushed Angel away.

Angel released him willingly, "You hurt her and you will be kissing daylight, soul or no soul,"

Spike cocked his head at him, "Sure she isn't your Buffy replacement?"

Angel just left the room.

"Well guess that answers my bloody question," Spike said to no one.

Dawn had managed to cram all of her necessity clothing and toiletries into her bag and her bag full of slaying tools. All that was left was her knick-knacks and she wasn't sure if she should take them. Who knew when she was coming back? With a sigh she plopped back on her bed and stared at the ceiling. Was this the right thing to do? Facing her demos-so to speak? Was she going to be the Slayer or the Key? And who was Aisha? Dawn was really hoping it didn't have the word hell or god in it.

"Silver?" Willow's voice came through the door with a knock.

"Yeah? " Dawn answered.

"You ready?" came the reply and Dawn grabbed her bags and on an impulse grabbed Buffy's beloved pig Mr. Gordo. God knew she'd need some comfort.

"I'm ready,"

Everyone piled together in the SUV Angel had rented.

"Whoa, you could live in this thing," Connor commented as he put his bags in the back. Dawn laughed, "And still have room to rent," She glanced around her to make sure they'd gotten on the bags.

"It's not a road trip without junk food snacks and trashy magazines," Willow chirped and hand Dawn a pile of goodies.

"You still a licorice lover?" Willow asked with a slight nervous smile.

"Red?" Dawn answered with a grin and Willow grinned back, "Duh." Some things never change.

Angel and Willow sat in the front seats and Connor and Dawn in the second row-leaving Spike with the whole backseat. Dawn felt a tinge of disappointment when Spike volunteered to be the loner in the backseat-she kind of wanted to sit with him. And a lot more than that, her devil teased.

"Silver?" Connor prompted, handing her the bag of Chee-tos.

"Thanks," she said eagerly and grabbed a handful then handed them back to Spike, "Want some?"

Spike willingly took the bag and ate a handful, "bloody good things,"

"Uh-huh!" Willow agreed, "Pass those suckers up,"

Dawn watched the landscape go by, though there wasn't much to see in the dark. She glanced around to see Willow and Connor had fallen asleep. She wished she could but going back to Sunnydale put a damper on her drowsiness.

"Pet?" she turned to see Spike leaning forward in his seat, "Couldn't sleep?"

Dawn laughed, "Not really."

"Sit back her, lord knows I won't be so bored," Spike motioned to the large space besides him and Dawn felt the heat rise to her face at her earlier thoughts.

She maneuvered herself into the seat and tilted her head back with a sigh.

"Nervous?" He smirked and Dawn snapped, "No."

"Just…cautious," she muttered.

"Right."

Spike watched Dawn as she briefly closed her eyes. He could see how the past week had affected her, ever since he'd come back.

"You okay?" he asked quietly and Dawn nodded, "Yeah."

"How far away are we?" Dawn asked instinctively looking out the window before remembering it was nighttime.

"About an hour or so," Angel answered and Dawn realized he could here them, thanks to vampire hearing.

"Oh," Dawn said calmly but she felt her stomach twist.

Spike patted her hand in a kind gesture, but a pleasant shock rippled through them and they stared at their joined hands for a moment before pulling away.

Dawn cursed silently that she felt this way around Spike. He had been in love with her sister for god's sake! And probably still was!

That made Dawn wonder, was Spike still in love with Buffy? He had gone to Africa for her, but what about now, knowing that she was dead? Dawn doubted his feelings had changed all that much. She wished she could ask him, but not without sound jealous, she realized.

"Nibblet?" Spike questioned as he noticed she was deep in her thoughts.

She jerked her head to him and gave a sheepish smile, "Sorry, off in La-La land,"

Spike felt a strange feeling in his gut at her smile. She was so beautiful and strong. Just like Buffy. Spike froze. That was the bloody problem, Dawn reminded him so much of Buffy. Was Peaches right? Was Dawn his Buffy substitute? He didn't want her to be, but hell knows he didn't have that much control over his emotions. Spike wanted her though, that he knew. Wanted to kiss her and feel her and lick that gorgeous neck…his thoughts lazed around all the things he'd love to do with her.

Dawn could feel Spike's gaze on her, "Something wrong?"

Spike shook his head then decided to redirect his thoughts.

"So what's the Faith bird like?"

Angel glanced at Dawn and Spike through the review mirror and kept an ear in on their conversation. There was something between them. Even if Spike had denied having any sort of non-platonic feelings for Dawn, they were there and if his ears and nose were wrong, Dawn felt the same way.As ifthere weren't enough complications, Angel winced.

"Faith. What can I say about her? Basically, the evil, psychotic Slayer who apparently is now redeeming herself by being the residential Miss Sunnydale Slayer." Dawn said, trying to keep the bitterness out of her voice.

"Take it you don't like her," Spike commented.

"No it's just," Dawn sighed, "She was the one person to make Buffy feel," she paused trying to find the right word, "Like a victim."

"Buffy? Not exactly who I'd of called a helpless kitten," Spike said incredulously.

"Believe me, she felt like it. Even if she never said it. Faith was the first person to really get her, being a fellow Slayer and all that, but Faith liked to think of herself as better than human."

Spike nodded, "She thought she was a soddin' god,"

"Exactly."

"And," Spike continued, "Buffy had to deal with the consequences."

Dawn nodded, "Yeah. Big time. Good guess."

"After being around for a hundred years, you tend to know people," Spike said.

Dawn let out a small laugh at that.

Angel saw the 'Sunnydale ahead two miles' sign and gently shook Willow awake.

"We're almost there, tell Silver to wake Connor."

Willow nodded sleepily, "Silver, can you wake Connor up? We're almost there."

Dawn stiffened at Willow's words, but shook Connor awake, "Connor we're almost there."

Connor groggily straightened up and let out a yawn.

"Sorry I fell asleep on you," Connor apologized and Dawn smiled, "You were tired,"

Connor nodded and let out another yawn.

Spike watched as Dawn's poster stiffened as she heard they were close to Sunnyhell. He wanted to hold her and comfort her. Buggering hell, he was turning into a nancy-boy! What was it about the Summers women that made him cave?

Dawn sat in silence, almost afraid she'd of what she'd say if she opened her mouth. She felt so nervous it almost hurt. It did hurt. She was going to the very place she promised herself she'd never return to.

"Bit?" Spike questioned and eyed Dawn looking out the window, jaw clenched. She didn't respond and he didn't press it. He looked out the front window to see the 'Welcome to Sunnydale!' sign.

"Oi Peaches! Run over the sign good and proper!" Spike yelled.

Willow rolled her eyes, "I always did wonder who drove over the sign,"

Spike gave her a grin, "Me pet,"

Dawn was having trouble breathing. Her heart was racing.

As they drove past the sign Angel announced unnecessarily, "We're here."

Dawn shut her eyes. They were here.

Sunnydale.

The Hellmouth.

Home.