Chapter 9

Buffy snuck in through her window and wasn't surprised to see Dawn there. She gave her sister a smile and Dawn returned it, even though her heart wasn't in it. She had a feeling she knew why Buffy came back. "You're going away, aren't you?" She asked and Buffy nodded.

"I have to, Dawny. I'm going to England with Spike. I hope you can understand." Dawn nodded after a few seconds and then embraced her older sister.

"I'll miss you." She said and Buffy returned the hug.

"I'll miss you, too. Try to stay out of trouble." She stated and Dawn pulled away, with a smile on her face.

"You know me." Buffy smiled again as she started to pack more of her stuff. She got everything she needed and then turned back to Dawn. She wanted to hurry up since Spike was waiting for her. She then took a paper out of her pocket and handed it to Dawn, who took it with a confused expression on her face.

"It's a letter for mom and dad. I can't face them. I want you to wait a few minutes after I leave and then give it to them. It should explain everything. They have to realize that I'm not a little kid anymore and that I'll be okay." She said and Dawn nodded as she clutched the letter to her chest.

"Will I ever see you again?" The girl asked as she started to feel tears in her eyes.

"Of course you will. I just need to give them some time. When I come back, I know things will be different. I just need to get away for a while." Dawn nodded in understanding when Buffy finished.

"Good luck." She told her and Buffy smiled as she placed a kiss on Dawn's forehead.

"Take care, kid." She said and Dawn rolled her eyes as Buffy made it out the window.

"I'm not a kid." She called before her sister hit the ground and Buffy only waved to her as she ran to where Spike was waiting. Dawn smiled and was happy that her sister finally felt free. Her smile then faded when she looked down at the note in her hand. She took a deep breath as she left the room and went to find her parents.

Dawn found her parents downstairs in the living room arguing about something again. They stopped when they saw her and Joyce wondered what could have put that look on her daughter's face. "What's wrong, sweetie?" Joyce asked and Dawn then handed her the letter. She took it from her and gasped at what she read. Her hand went to her mouth and tears started to fall from her eyes. Hank looked concerned and grabbed the letter out of his wife's hands when she finished. He had a look of anger on his face when he started to read it. His expression then changed to one of hurt and he didn't know what to think about that. Dawn decided to head back upstairs before they could start fighting again. Instead of a fight though, Joyce only looked at Hank with a mix of pain and hatred on her face. She shook her head as the tears continued to fall. "I will never forgive you for causing my baby to run away." She said as she walked away from him and Hank only stared after her. His family was falling apart and it was his fault. He thought he was doing the right thing, but nothing was worse than having your child leave.
Buffy and Spike were on their way to England later that night. They were sitting in the plane and Buffy was gripping the armrests enough to make her knuckles turn white. She was terrified of flying, but she would risk it right about now. Spike placed his hand over hers and gave it a comforting squeeze. "Just take deep breaths, love. We'll be there before you know it." Buffy nodded as she looked at her boyfriend.

"You probably think I'm a big baby." He smiled as he gave her a kiss on the cheek.

"I think you're bloody adorable. There's nothing wrong with being afraid. Just know that I'll always be here for you." He told her and Buffy felt touched at his words. She knew that he would never hurt her. She trusted him with her life and that was a very comforting thought. The flight didn't seem so scary anymore.

"I love you." She whispered and Spike felt touched this time. He would never get tired of hearing that.

"I love you, too." He replied as he gave her a kiss on the lips. He then pulled away, with a smirk on his face and Buffy wondered what put it there. "So, you want to take a visit to the loo?" Her eyes grew big at what he was implying.

"I am so not having sex in a tiny airplane bathroom." She said a little too loud and then heard a gasp behind her. She turned around to see a mother covering her son's ears. The woman glared at Buffy and she then turned away and shrank down in her seat. She was beyond mortified now. Spike still had a smile on his face.

"It would take your mind off of things." He told her and Buffy shook her head.

"It's not happening. I'll just have to think of something else to take my mind off of things." She explained and Spike wanted to do whatever he could to help her with that. He started to lick her neck because he knew that was soothing for her. He then nibbled her earlobe and sucked on it. He smiled when he heard Buffy giggle and he pulled away to look at her. "That tickles." She stated and he gave her a wink as he went back to what he was doing. She felt better after that and soon managed to fall asleep. Spike watched over her and couldn't believe everything that happened the last few weeks. He came to Sunnydale to get away for a while, but he never counted on meeting the woman of his dreams. He knew from the moment he first saw her at the Bronze that she was something special. He was worried that she wouldn't want anything to do with him because they were so different, but she surprised him. She always managed to surprise him. He looked down at his sleeping angel and placed a gentle kiss on the top of her head. She was his now and nothing would ever come between them.