AN: This is a story about what if Dracula wanted the Key instead of the Slayer. I changed around the whole timeline of Buffy, so please read this so you won't become confused. Dawn's 16, almost 17. She did a thing in season 6 and snuck out and got with Justin (All The Way). Buffy is with Riley. Hmm, and though this talks about the key, no one knows what it is. And I don't think I'm going to go into it. And please excuse the wayy out of character-ness that is Joyce.

Um, I think that's about it. I know I should be working on Kidnaped, but I'm really stuck, le sighe. Anyway, enjoy!

Dawn woke up with a gasp. Memories from the dream was retreating towards her and making it difficult for her to breath. Wildly looking around, she tried to calm herself. But it wasn't working for her skin started to crawl. She clawed at her flesh to get it to stop, but it, also, wasn't working. A quick thought of a shower seemed like a good idea. She stripped off her clothes and headed for the bathroom, hoping to get the feelings to stop.

The brunette remembered everything. Not just the things in her dream, but other things. Other horrible, delectably delicious, bloody, and violent memories. She did many of those horrible, delectably delicious, blood and violent things, too. In her past she had hurt others. Like Dracula said, she had a darkness. A deep, undiscovered darkness that came out when she was with him. It made her feel dirty and used.

The water felt good on her muscles as it shot down on her. It was hot and steamed up the area around her.
She swear she saw a profile of Dracula as she fluttered her eyes open once her hair was rinsed. Having paranoia hit her again, she stepped out of the shower and into a towel.

"Not gonna think about it," she told herself and air dried her hair.

"Not gonna think about his eyes or he way he touched me... or the way..."

Her eyes went wide as she realized what she was doing. Thinking about him! Knowing the only way she was going to forget, was to go talk to her best friend. Dawn dressed in a pair of old jeans and a brown t-shirt and headed out the door, determined to forget about the dark headed vampire.

Dark clouds still covered the sky. Dracula's doing, she bet. Even with no sun, there wasn't many vamps out. She guessed it was because they could all sense him around.

Walking into his crypt, she gave a smile as she saw him sleeping on the sofa. Probably stayed up early watching Dawson Creek reruns, she mused with a chuckle.

"Hey 'bit," he greeted in his sleep. She gave a wide grin and sat down where his head was at. He subconsciously moved his head into her lap and arched into her fingers running through his hair.

"Had fun at the beach yesterday?" he asked.

"Yeah, got to wear my new bathing suit that I got. Totally worked on my tan," Dawn supplied. "But I have tan lines now, so I think I'm gonna have to tan naked."

This woke Spike up. He sat up from her lap and started to cough.

"Bloody 'ell, platelet. I was sleepin'."

She gave him an eye roll and patted his shoulder.

"I'm sorry, Spike. But I didn't want you sleeping your life away!" she proclaimed with false worry. Then she shrugged. "I donno. My mom used to say that to me when I woke up at four in the afternoon."

He ruffled up his hair and narrowed his eyes at her.

"Yeah, well you got a life to waste away, I don't. So next time, please refrain from doing so," he grumbled and blinked his eyes a few times.

Dawn gave him a pair of her doe eyes and a slight smile. She was debating whether or not she should tell him about Dracula. Even though she thought hanging with Spike would clear her mind, she was wrong. It was as if just being there with another vampire made her feel uncomfortable, scared of what the count would think.

"Penny for them?" he asked while cupping his hands over a fag and lit it.

"Just thinkin'. You know, with all this dark weather, I should take you swimming. Mmm, a moonlit dip."

He gave her an unusual sideward glance and then picked up his cell phone that was ringing.

"'Ello?" he answered. "Yeah, she's here. No, wasn't plannin' to. Why? Really? The git's in town, eh? Yeah, we'll come over."

Dawn's eyebrows creased as she listened to him. Was he talking about...

"C'mon, love. Big sis wants us to go the shop. Got us another baddie."

"Who?" she questioned, licking her lips.

"Dracula."

R&R,