Chapter 2:

Spike was disappointed that Dawn hadn't said a single word to him on their way home. He had wanted to talk to her about what happened tonight. What did she mean when she said 'She takes everything away from me, even the things she doesn't want and you almost did the same'? He knew she was talking about him, of course, since that was the whole point in her going to kill the principal. I still can't believe she was actually going to kill him for me.

Did she really think that the slayer took me away from her? We had gotten close during that summer that the slayer was gone. And after she came back, I stopped comin' around as much, and me and Dawn had barely even spoken to each other in the last year. I was the only person she talked to, who understood her, and I abandoned her just like everyone else in her life had. For her ungrateful, selfish, self-centered sister. God, I'm such a bloody idiot!

Spike had climbed up onto the roof near Dawn's room and settled himself in the shadows, where he usually stood at to watched her, and waited. And just like every other night, she came out to have a smoke, just like he expected. Only this time, he let her know he was there.

"Those things'll kill you." he said half serious, chuckling to himself when Dawn jumped back startled and would have fallen off the roof if he hadn't of been quick enough to catch her. Dawn only glared at him before looking straight ahead and taking a long drag. "I wanted to talk to you about what happened tonight." he said casually.

"I didn't do it for you!" she snapped.

Spike tilted his head to the side, "Right. I doubt you did it for that 'bitch' sister of yours. So why did you do it, then? Thought you wanted me dead, eh? I recall you threatenin' to set me on fire in my sleep." he said.

Dawn opened her mouth to say something, then closed it again before speaking, "I do. I would just rather it be me who does it and not him." she said unconvincingly, then changed the subject, "So I guess you're gonna tell Buffy about what I did, now that you're all soulful?"

Spike tightened his jaw, his soul was still a sore subject with him, "Now, why would I do somethin' like that, pet?" he asked her.

Dawn ignored the question, "Then if you're not going to tell her, why do you want to talk to me?" she asked harshly.

Spike studied her momentarily, "What's going on with you, luv?"

"I don't know what you're talking about." she said quietly.

Spike arched an eyebrow, "You know exactly what I'm talkin' about. You've changed, pet, this isn't you."

Dawn stood up and turned to face him, "Really? How the hell would you know? You don't even know me!" she spat at him.

Spike thought about what she had said. She was right, of course. He didn't know her. Not anymore. And that was his fault, he hadn't bothered to, not until now, that is. "Dawn, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have drifted apart from you like I did." he started.

"What, you mean the entire time you were off fucking my sister? Now that you're not anymore, you want to talk to me, hoping that maybe she'll notice and take you back?" she asked angrily.

"No. I assure you, that's not it. Nothing I do is for her anymore. I want to get to know you again. This time it's for you." Spike said honestly.

Dawn look at him in disbelief, "Right. Sure it is. You're still in love with her, that's why you went and got your soul. That's why you're here. For her." she stated bitterly.

Spike just laughed humorously, "Couldn't be more wrong on that one, luv." Then something clicked inside Spike brain, "You're jealous, aren't you?" he asked in wonder.

"What? No! Why would you think that?" Dawn quickly asked, her face turning bright red.

Spike smiled, "That's it, innit it? That's why you threatened me if I came near your sis again, not because you didn't want me to hurt her, but because you just didn't want me near her. That why you hate her so much?" he inquired.

Dawn didn't say anything, just shook her head. "She didn't want me but you did. That what you meant when you said that to poor Robyn?"

Tears filled Dawn's eyes as she stared off in the opposite direction. "Just go away, Spike." she whispered.

Spike reached out and caressed her face and made her look at him, "I'm not goin' anywhere, luv. Not as long as you're here."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Dawn questioned.

"It means just that. I'm not here because of the slayer. I'm here because of you. You're the only reason I stayed here." he said truthfully.

Dawn didn't know what to think. Why would he be here for me? He hadn't even bothered to talk to me in almost a year. He's lying. He is here for Buffy. It's always about her. "Liar." she said it so quietly he almost didn't hear her.

Spike took hold of her hand and placed a small kiss on the top of it, "I mean it, luv."

"Really? And what about Buffy? Where does she fit in?" she asked, still not convinced.

"She doesn't." he stated simply.

Dawn shook her head, still not understanding, "But you love her."

Spike moved closer to her and looked into her eyes, "No. I don't. Never really did. That night, when I almost...that night I realized that I didn't love her and never really had. I had a thing for her, not sure what it was, but it wasn't love. But it's over now. It was over that night. The only thing I feel for her when I see her is hate and absolute disgust. Both for her using me the way she did and for letting myself be used by her."

"But what about your soul? You got it for her. Why would you do that if you didn't love her?" Dawn asked puzzled.

Spike sighed, "Told you earlier, luv, you couldn't be more wrong."

Dawn furrowed her brow in confusion, "So, you lied? You don't have a soul?" she asked half wishing that he didn't, and that he had lied.

Spike laughed, "Wish it were that simple. Nope, it's here, pet, burnin' away at me, all the time." he started as he touched his chest, "I just didn't ask for it. What I told the shaman was to give me what she deserves, what I wanted was to get that soddin' chip outta my head. Go back to bein' me, the old me. But no, the bloke had other ideas. Now it's here, in me, all the time. I never wanted it to begin with, I bloody well hate it, and I hate her even more." he finished with a growl.

A/N: So what do you think?? Any good?