Dawn snuggled in closer to Spike as he hugged her. "Thank you" she whispered to him.
"Not a problem Nibblet, but how do we break it to the watcher?" he asked breaking their hug.
"We just do" Dawn said shrugging "it's my choice isn't it?"
"I suppose so bit" Spike said holding his arm out for her, which she took without a moment's hesitation. They walked back into the house and Dawn walked to the center of the room where Buffy was standing waiting with Giles.
"I want you to call the scoobies"
"Why?"
"Because I have something to tell you and it'll be easier to tell you all at once." Dawn replied. Buffy eyed Spike but agreed to call the scoobies. Buffy walked out of the room leaving Dawn, Spike and Giles alone.
"Have you called the council?" Dawn asked Giles
"No Dawn I was waiting for you." Giles said while cleaning his glasses. Dawn nodded.
"Thanks" Dawn walked over and sat next to Spike on the couch. Spike could hear her heart beating faster and he gently rubbed her arm making sure he blocked his action from Giles view point. No need to upset anyone now he thought. After about five minutes Dawn's heart rate was normal again but quickened once Buffy reentered the room.
"They'll be right here" Buffy said addressing Dawn. By this time Spike had stopped calming Dawn, there was no point in even trying she was so jumpy.
Just then the doorbell rang and the rest of the Scooby gang filed in Xander Willow Tara Anya
"What's up guys?" Xander asked and went to sit down next to Dawn. "Hey Dawnie" he said using her old nickname. She smiled weakly in return.
"Yeah what's going on?" Willow asked "We don't usually have late night meetings."
"I wanted to talk to everybody" Dawn said standing up and pacing.
"Well what is it Dawn?" Tara asked in a concerned voice.
"Well – it's just me and Spike found out I'm a slayer." She blurted out.
"You mean potential?" Anya asked.
"No" Spike said "Full on Slayer" Dawn sighed in relief and shot Spike a thankful expression and he nodded in return.
"Oh my god Dawnie!" Willow said coming over and hugging her. "that-that's awesome!"
"Yeah Dawnie it's great" Xander said standing up to come join in their hug.
"So you're positive then?" Tara asked Giles.
"Yes, we're quite sure she took Spike down in the matter of a moment."
"Wow I would've paid to see that" Anya said
Dawn stepped away from Xander and Willow "That's not all."
"It's not?" Buffy question from her leaning spot against the wall. Dawn shook her head.
"I asked Spike to be my trainer and he accepted." Dawn said looking each and every one of them in the eyes pausing when she got to Giles. "That's why I asked you to wait on calling the council"
"You mean you want him to be your watcher?" Giles asked softly.
"In a way yes."
"In a way?" Buffy questioned standing up to her full height there was something that bothered her about all this.
"I want him to teach me to fight but I don't expect him to train me on demons and other big bad's" Dawn glanced up at Buffy " I'm not changing my mind Buffy"
"I know" she replied in a resigned way. "Giles call the council and tell them what has happened."
Giles nodded and got up to go into the kitchen to make the phone call.
"So why Spike?" Willow asked.
"Uh red sitting right here"
"Sorry Spike I was just curious"
"I think we all are" Buffy said sitting down on the edge of the sofa, as if waiting to hear a good story.
" I- well I like his fighting technique and I trust him so I thought he would be a good choice I didn't want some England watcher to train me in fighting. I mean look what happened with Wesley."
"She's got a point" Xander said. "Look how faith turned out, rogue slayer"
"Hey faith's better now!" Willow said jumping to the slayer's defense. Buffy nodded looking straight at Dawn.
"You made a wise choice" She told her sincerely.
"She did?" Spike asked sounding stunned"
Buffy nodded again "She did"
"Thanks Buffy!" Dawn said jumping up and hugging her sister, just as they were pulling away Giles walked in cleaning his glasses.
"What do they say?" Dawn asked eagerly
"Well dawn, now as to be expected they weren't to happy with the Spike charade. But they're willing to work with it now the question is do you want a watcher?"
"I don't know. Yes? No?" Dawn shook her head in confusion and she looked at Spike for help since he'd been quiet up till now.
"Bit I can teach you a lot but a watcher might not be such a bad idea."
"Do you know enough to be my watcher?" she asked quietly knowing he could hear her but it would be hard for the others.
"Actually yes I suppose I do"
"Then it's settled, I don't want a watcher I want Spike for a watcher."
Giles nodded "Yes, Yes I suppose that's wise considering he'll be training you."
"Well I guess the council won't like it?" Dawn inquired
"No I suppose they won't" Giles said sighing and going into the kitchen once more.
Dawn was beaming. "Can we train?" she asked Spike.
"Now Luv? Shouldn't you get some rest? Why don't we wait till morning then we'll go down into the basement and start."
"Alright" Dawn replied looking down hearted.
"I'll see you at eight in the morning in the basement" Spike called after Dawn as she went upstairs to go to bed. "Make that eight sharp!" he yelled.