Disclaimer: The characters belong to Joss Whedon.

Timeline: less than two years post NFA (Angel), about three years post Chosen (BtVS)

Set about seven years before the events of my Wes/Faith story, "Needed".

Background: Spike is the only known survivor of the big battle in NFA. A few months after that battle, Spike meets Faith. Faith was several months pregnant – the child's father, complete mystery for everyone so far. Spike and Faith stick together in a completely non sexual way. They work as treasure hunters and demon fighters, rogue demon fighters :) Faith and Spike are invited at Dawn's wedding, in Cleveland.

Pairing: Spike/Dawn

Beta: Rachael

Epilogue

The ceremony itself was proceeding without incidents. Spike on the other hand was nervous. Like a long a long-tailed cat in a rocking-chair factory, Pratchett's comparison came to mind. When a clumsy idiot altar boy tripped and accidentally threw some holy water on his jacket the minute he entered the church, he started to worry about keeping quiet during the vows. He cursed silently for a few minutes, as the droplets of water burned their way through the fabric. His worries increased when, a few minutes later he burned his palm resting it carelessly on the pew right about an engraved cross.

Spike looked at the happy couple, trying to put the small inconveniences out of his mind. He was quite surprised actually about the lack of drama. It wasn't just that Dawn was saying her "I do" without hesitation, but in true Summers tradition, the event should've been sprinkled with all sort of mishaps and obstacles that they'd overcome in a nick of time.

With a private shrug, Spike let his mind drift while the priest talked about love, marriage, and a lot of other stuff that had little to do with his life anymore. He sneaked a peak at Faith. She was surreptitiously checking her watch. He wondered if his Slayer was really bored or if she was just trying to mask the unwanted feelings the wedding might have awakened in her soul. He wondered about Alex's father again.

"Gotta change the jacket," he told Faith when they were leaving the church.

She nodded absentmindedly. Something was up with her. Or she was up to something. If it had anything to do with him, she'd tell him.

"I'll come back as soon as possible," he said.

"Did you change your mind about staying at the party?" she asked.

"Neah. We'll get out after a few minutes."

"Good," she said, and there was something in her tone that made him think he was going to find out soon what was on her mind.

He rushed back into the Summers house to grab another jacket. He sensed Buffy before his hand even touched the door to his room. He wondered why she was there. She hadn't shown him any interest, except maybe that brief moment when he had arrived. Earlier, when they were in the church she had seemed happy with whoever that guy on her arm was.

"Congratulations, Slayer. Beautiful ceremony," he said.

Buffy stood in the middle of his room looking at him with an indecipherable expression.

"Anything wrong?" Spike asked after a few moments of uncomfortable silence.

"Whatever else you have done, you had never lied to me before," she said.

Her tone was serious and heavy. What the hell was she talking about?

"Huh?"

"You told me that you and Faith were just friends. But that's not true, is it?" she said, pointing disgusted at the bed.

He didn't hear pain in her tone. Not even jealousy.

He took in the sight as it must have appeared to her: torn pillow case, crumpled sheets, stained with baby oil and body fluids. She couldn't smell Dawn all over the bed as he did. But what she could see were the few long, dark hairs on the pillow. Buffy's mind interpreted them as belonging to Faith, of course. The length was the same, and there was only a shade of difference between Dawn's newly black hair and Faith's dark brown.

Spike knew he could not tell her the truth. She would not believe him even if he did tell her, and it would certainly come to blows. And if she did believe him, it might very well come to staking. He told himself that this was the reason, and not protecting the Nibblet.

"Nothing to say?" Buffy asked.

He shook his head.

"Don't consider that the invitation to stay here extends beyond the wedding."

Spike watched her leave with a heavy heart. Not only he had just lost the last shreds of respect and affection she still had for him, but he had also aggravated the already tenuous relationship between Faith and Buffy. He didn't even want to think what he had done last night to his beautiful friendship with Dawn.

He packed his bags, went into Faith's room and was relieved to find that hers were already packed. He took all of them to the car before he went to the party.

Faith was waiting for him at their table. She looked ready to leave. He circled behind her and leaned to whisper in her ear.

"One dance with the bride, and then we're off," he promised.

Faith's lips tightened into a line and she glanced down at her watch again. Spike hurried away before she had the chance to enforce his growing need to leave the reception.

He spotted Dawn easily. She looked amazingly beautiful in her wedding dress. Even more than she had in church. He wished she'd look this way forever. The sudden temptation to turn her shocked him. He couldn't do that to her. Not to his precious little girl. He saw her wincing ever so slightly when she sat down, and the previous night came back to him. He sidled to her chair like a tiger on the prowl.

"May I have this dance?"

He could see her wanting to say no. But that wouldn't be polite. That would raise suspicions. That would make it impossible for her to pretend that he was just good ol' Spike and the night before had never happened.

They danced without talking. When the song was ending, he told her.

"Your sister thinks I was with Faith last night. I didn't deny it."

She looked up at him, meeting his eyes for the first time that day. He didn't see hate or gratitude in her eyes. He, who had always been able to understand women, could not guess what she was feeling. The dance ended, and he let go of her.

"I love you, Nibblet," he whispered, as she walked away.

Dawn's almost imperceptible flinch was the only sign that she had heard him.

Spike went back to Faith, who stood up as soon as she saw him approaching.

"Let's go," he said.

When they got to the car, Faith did not comment seeing that the bags were already inside. It was also unusual that they did not have the customary argument about who would drive. He had pulled out of the parking lot pondering how much or if he should tell her. Things were going too well between them to start keeping secrets. Besides, sooner or later, she was going to talk to Buffy.

"Let's swing by the New Watchers' Council before we pick up Alex from the babysitter," Faith said, interrupting his thoughts.

"It's Sunday. No one's gonna be there," he replied.

Faith looked at him and smiled.

"Precisely," she said.

Spike felt a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. Life with Faith was never going to be boring.

The end