AN: This is the sequel to Past and Present. This probably happened a few days after the last one ended. By the way things in italics are from prior events, ie: Spike's dream of what Dru told him.

She looked like the sun as she stood in front of the window, dancing to the music in her head. Light sparkled off her moist skin making her seem like she was glowing. He stared at her movements, her hips swiveling, her head swaying, and her eyes delightfully closed. Spike hadn't seen her this relaxed in a while. He idly wondered if her run tensed her up.

"Come dance with me, Spike," she giggled while bring her arms up in the air. Her hips grinded with the air as she squatted to the ground and he couldn't help but be memorized.

"I'll burn," he simply replied as he watched her dangerously fall into the sun. But his words were ignored as she grabbed his hands and slowly shimmed herself to him.

"Touching me would not make you burn," she grinned a saucy smile and entwined her fingers with his. Their hands rose above heads as she danced lewdly underneath. With twisting moves, Dawn continued to dance to inaudible music until she began to hum.

"So wrong, pet," he whispered as he brought his head down to her ear. After pushing some strands of hair behind her neck, he continued. "Your touch sears me."

She rolls his eyes at his incredibly husky tone and shakes her waist some more.

Spike cannot believe how sexy she is, slightly intoxicated and partly out of her mind. He noticed, as the sun shined on her cheek that there was still a light bruising on her cheek. Frowning, he released his hands from hers and went back to sit on the couch. He had more thinking to do.

"Aw, Spike, you totally ruined my music," she wined while pouring herself another screwdriver, but held the orange juice. She drowned down the plain vodka shot in one swallow and her face contorted into a harsh face. She coughed as the burn made it's way down her throat.

He shook his head, upset at her behavior.

"You're better than that," he declared with tight lips.

"I'm not better than anything," she hiccupped and ended with a giggle. He opened his mouth as if he was going to talk, but she stopped him. "If I was even close to the epitome that was Buffy, I wouldn't had to send him back," she shouted, pointing a shaky finger at him. "I wouldn't had to have..." she trailed off before her lip started trembling. Her eyes automatically closed as she sank to the ground, her knees weakening. Her small body racked in drunken sobs as she rested her head on her knees.

His hand reached out to touch her, but she slapped it away.

"All your fault," she cried as she dug her head further away from Spike.

He sighed as he went into the bathroom and drew a bath. He came back out and fetched Dawn, picking her up in his strong arms. She kicked and screamed, taking up quite a fight, but she soon relaxed as his fingers massaged her head.

"I want bubbles," she said, eyes still shut tightly. "Like last time."

He poured Mr. Bubbles into the bath and he couldn't help but remember doing this before.

"I'm taking off your clothes now," he whispered as he shimmed her pants and underwear off her. Trying to calm himself, he pulled her tank top off and placed her in the water. He knew he shouldn't look for she trusted him.

The water surrounded her and he could see her physically relax.

"What am I going to do with you?" he asked as his fingers danced in the water, close to her skin. It's then when he noticed the giant scar on her neck and the fading hickies that littered her body.


Only a couple more chapters left. R&R.