"What's wrong Spike." Buffy said not really concerned but curious at the startled face he just made. He looked over to her in a daze, raised his left eyebrow ,

"Didn't think you cared, pet." I guess she forgot about last night. Which is a good thing.

"What happened last night," She looked over to an unresponsive vampire, she hadn't wanted to talk to him about the neck thing till later. "I mean why were you with my sister?"

Spike perked up, "I, uh...when I was walking back to my crypt I saw her walking, I couldn't just leave her there alone to get eaten, could I?" He lied to her for Dawn's sake.

"Since when do you care?" Spike looked up at her kind of angrily.

"Since she is the only one of you lot who actually likes me, " Spike toned, then looking down, "Plus I have a soft spot for her I guess, It is that damn sad puppy look thing you Summer's women have. With the pouty lips and teary eyes, drives me bloody mad! I can't refuse after that." Spike realized who he was talking to when it was silent. He has embarrassed himself enough in front of the Slayer for today, time to go. He stood picked up his duster nodded at the girls and went the same way he came.

"Spike is acting so kind." Tara said reeling in his graceful exit.

"A little too nice, I think something is terribly wrong with him." Willow stated, she hadn't minded him with the chip until he made known his love for Buffy. From then on she was distant, she didn't have true hatred towards Spike, but would show it for Buffy's sake.

Other than Xander everyone else pretty much excepted him. Anya had always liked him since that night at Riley's party. Tara had shown increasing interest in the vampire since she had met him. Giles did a bad time at disguising his fondness for Spike, he was his only link to his England past. And of course Dawn felt a school girl crush on Spike early on. Now her distance is only because of a certain sister who has a problem with him... Buffy thought about this.

------------------------------

Phone

"Hello" Buffy said into her home phone.

"Hi Buffy, I'm still at the mall with Devi, Can she sleep over tonight?" Dawn spilled out fast enough just for Buffy to understand before she would inevitably say no. "Sure."

"Aw, come on Buffy," Dawn pleaded, "Wait. Did you say yes?"

"Yea, she can sleep over I have to patrol, though so...But Willow will be here."

"Your the best! Thanks. Bye."

click

"Who was that?" Willow asked walking by in her slippers.

"Dawn, Devi is going to sleep over, your going to be here right?" Buffy asked hoping that the answer was yes considering she already volunteered willow for the job.

"Actually, I am meeting Tara tonight. We have a psyche test tomorrow, Studying is a must." Willow said, noticing Buffy's distraut face she mentioned that maybe Xander or Anya could come over.

"No, Xander has work tomorrow, he was complaining all day that he has so much to prepare tonight. Anya doesn't really seem like the type of person who would like that kind of thing without getting paid." Contemplating on what to do, the front door flings open and a brown blanket rushes in, quickly shutting the door. Spike throws the blanket down, wounds from the sun bleeding slightly. He looks up to notice the red headed witch and his goddess staring at him with grins wide. They both look over at each other to make sure the other is thinking the same thing.

"Thanks for volunteering Spike!" With that Willow darts upstairs muttering something about getting dressed. Spike's face pulls itself into confusion.

"You aren't doing anything tonight are you?" Buffy says seductively, getting close to him.

"That is all up to you." He says returning the seductiveness.

"Good," She squeals, "Dawn is coming home later with a friend, I need you to watch them while I go patrolling." Buffy dropped the sexy talk.

"You want me to what!"

"You heard me, all you really have to do is sit around and watch tv while they are up in Dawn's room doing girly things."

"Well if that is all someone has to do why don't you get someone else to do it?" He argues.

"Everyone else has lives." Buffy says walking into the dinning room. Spike follows.

"Oh and since I am dead, I'm expendable?"

"Exactly." Buffy answers precisely and moves into the kitchen. Opening the fridge she takes out water and celery. Spike placed himself at the head of her kitchen table staring at his hands. "I'm getting soft, tonight I get the pleasure of entertaining a bunch of girls who are too young to shag." He mutters but Buffy hears.

"Just you remember that they are both young. Don't you dare do anything to either of them, alright?" Buffy semi-yells at the 'shag' comment. Spike looks up at her smiling slightly.

"I know, I know. There are rules." Spike says looking back down.

"Rules?" Buffy knows what he is talking about but just wants to make sure he is on the same thinking range as her.

"Ya, no touching, seducing, kissing, grabbing, tickling, or biting anyone that is not old enough to marry." Spike recited this and Buffy looked sincere.

"Who sets these rules?" She asks curiously.

"Dawn did, the first time I really talked to her alone." Spike smiled in remembrance. Buffy felt funny, he listens to what Dawn told him to do? He never listens to me unless I threaten him...

"Dawn means a lot to you, doesn't she?" Spike looked up at this and nodded his head.

"She reminds me of my sister."

"You have a sister!" Buffy was startled he never brought up his past.

"Had a sister. She was 5 years older than me and when she turned 15 my father sold her off to the highest bidder, which was some baron in a far away town." Spike said bitterly, "I loved her so much and he took her away from me." Buffy felt bad for the vampire, her hand reached out and touched his shoulder comfortingly. He looked up and acknowledged her with a smile. "Sanah, she was full of life, my best friend. Her green eyes were so light, like the sun... That baron married her, I never saw her again. My 20th birthday I got word she died, I went to say good bye to her. Met her children, they where beautiful, all with the same green eyes..." Spike looked up again to see Buffy with tears coming down her cheeks. He was angry with himself, what had he done to make her, the one he loved, cry? His face showed his concern, Buffy smiled and shook her head lightly.

"It's nothing." She whispered. Spike realized it must be hormones or something. "What did you do after that?" She said wiping away the tears.

"Uh," He wasn't prepared to answer that question, "I, uh, got dead." Buffy smiled at this seemingly funny response. She got up and poured herself some more water.

"You want some?" Buffy offered him some water or food. At this Spike got up and walked near Buffy taking a cup from the cupboard to the left, setting it down he let his hand linger on the water pitcher as he watched the unneeded liquid fall into the cup.

"You know your way around my kitchen?"

"Joyce's kitchen." Spike smiled in remembrance of the wonderful lady who treated him like a man. "I used to visit her and we would talk." Buffy gave him a wondering look, I guessed he found his way here more often then just those times when I caught him with mom.

"Since I don't want to burn myself more today, Can I just stay here till bit gets home with her friend?"

"Ya, just as long as you don't irritate me too much." Buffy said this in a playful tone, Spike knew she was grateful for him being such a pushover. Buffy took her glass to the sink before taking her hair down from a bun. She shook her hair straight so it fell around her shoulders, Spike was watching her intently She's so beautiful. Buffy looked up,

"Well I'm going to take a shower, get ready for class. Your welcome to our couch, the shades are already down." With that Spike smiled back at her and she walked up the stairs and into the bathroom.

Spike took her offer up on the couch, kicking off his boots and throwing his duster on top of them, he flopped down on his back.

I forgot what I came here for in the first place. Oh yea, talk to Buffy about the other night. Well that's for later I guess, way too tired now. She got me talking about Sanah...I wish I had more time to be with her before she died, so young...

Spike drifted off to sleep.

---------------------------------

"Yea, I just got the new Linkin Park CD. We'll listen too it while you paint my nails." Dawn tempted as she unlocked the front door to her house. Devi stood behind her waiting patiently, looking towards the horizon, almost sunset..

Dawn finally opened the door just in time to see Buffy rushing down the stairs her hair still a little wet.

"Hey, I'm late for work, Willow had to go over Tara's to study and everyone else was busy, so Spike's here to watch you guys. Please don't make too much of a mess." With that Buffy kissed Dawn's forehead and gave a short wave to Devi as she slammed the door behind her.

"Bloody hell!" Spike jumped up to a sitting position on the couch, Dawn looked over at him from the foyer, "What's with all the noise."

"Hi, Spike. Sorry, Buffy was rushing, slammed the door." Dawn explained as Devi stepped out from behind her. Devi's light green eyes wondered over to Spike.