Title: Unexpected places

Author: Spuffygrl

Summary: Buffy is a romance novelist who has been burnt by love FAR too many times. Then she meets Spike, a young, single dad, who makes it his personal duty to change that.

Disclaimer: (RECAP: joss is tied to a chair)

Me: relinquish your ownership!

Joss: NO!

Me: well then give me my favorite characters

Joss: no!

Me: (to audience) this may take a little longer than I'd expected. But I can be very persuasive when I want to be. (hides the barney tapes behind back)

Rating: PG-13 for now. May be R later

A/n: Yeah vacation!!! Happy non-denominational holidays everyone!!!

Accidental meeting

"That movie was just bad" commented Dawn as the three girls walked back into Willow's modest little home. "J.Lo…no comment."

"I totally agree" Buffy nodded.

"Next time" mumbled Willow. "I pick the movie."

Dawn and Buffy grinned at her. She'd been asleep within the first ten minutes of the movie. It had been quite entertaining actually, hearing her soft snoring whenever there was a silent part in the movie.

Willow opened the front door and turned the lights on. "Are you staying over, Buffy?" she asked.

"Please stay" begged Dawn. "Aunt Willow is gonna go to sleep and I'm gonna have to finish this movie night alone."

"I can stay up as long as the next person" grumbled Willow grudgingly.

"Sure you can" Dawn responded quickly before turning back to Buffy with silent, pleading eyes.

"Um…" she looked to Willow who shrugged indifferently. "I guess we're having a slumber party then.'

Dawn squealed happily. "Great! I'll go take a shower and be back in a few minutes." She raced upstairs happily.

The next morning, Dawn bounced into the kitchen only to find her aunt already awake and dressed. "Morning" Willow said in a chipper voice, getting up to make her niece some pancakes.

"Aunt Willow?" Dawn asked tiredly as she sat at the kitchen table.

"Hmm?"

"Have you ever thought that Buffy and dad would make a good couple?"

Willow smiles as she poured the pancake batter into the pan. "Once or twice."

"Then why didn't you fix them up?" Dawn wondered suddenly awake.

"Because I promised them that I wouldn't get involved in their love lives."

"Promised who?"

"Both of them…and Xander."

Dawn thought that over. Xander was Willow's boyfriend but he was currently in New York. He left yesterday and would be back in a day or two.

"What if I did something but you just happen to give tips. Then you wouldn't be breaking a promise, you'd be helping your niece."

Willow set a plate of plain pancakes in front of Dawn. She sat down and bit her lip. A smile spread across her lips. "That could work."

Unfortunately, Buffy walked into the kitchen just then ending their conversation. "Do I smell pancakes?" asked Buffy stretching. She was dressed and her hair was its usual shinny self.

"I'll make you some" Willow smiled. The more she thought about it, the more she like her brother and her best friend together.

"Thanks Will." Buffy sat down at the table with Dawn, who was the only one still in her PJs. "So what do you wanna do today Dawnie?"

Dawn shrugged. "Whatever it is, it better not involve watching movies."

"Agreed" nodded Buffy. Her head still hurt from the awkward position she'd slept in and the sugar rush didn't help much.

The doorbell rang and Buffy got up to get it. She opened the door and she gasped. It was him, the mystery man from the club.

"W-what are you doing here?" she asked nervously. He was just as gorgeous as when they first met.

"I could ask you the same thing luv" he responded just as shocked.

"DAD!" Dawn called as she ran into her father's arms.

"Hey bit" he said scooping her in his arms and swinging her around slightly while she giggled.

"Dad?" Buffy questioned.

"Buffy" Dawn said once Spike put her down on the floor. "This is my dad. Dad, this is aunt Willow's best friend, Buffy." Buffy and Spike stared at each other too shocked for words.

Maybe it won't be so hard to get them together Dawn smiled as she looked between the adults.

"Why are you here dad?" Dawn asked after a beat breaking both adults out of their trance.

"Huh?" asked Spike before reality fully set in. "Oh! Right. I wanted to know if you guys wanted to go to the amusement park. My treat."

"cool!" Dawn's eyes shone with excitement. "Can Buffy come too?"

Buffy looked up at him once again and gave a slight smile before looking back down at Dawn. "I'm sure your father doesn't want me tagging along…"

"No" Spike interrupted with a smile. "I don't mind. You can to come with us."

"Yeah Buffy" encouraged Dawn. "Come with us."

"Um…" she looked up at Spike and returned his smile. "I'd love to."

a/n: Happy holidays guys. Please don't forget to review!