After you'd gone
Name : After you'd gone
Author : Lisi the slayer
Genre :Romance/Angst
Summery:
Spike sacrificed himself to close the Hellmouth over Sunnydale once and for all. Year on and Buffy is still distraught and beats her self up about how she never told him how she felt. But now he's back, back from the dead, determined to get his life back he sets out in search of Buffy, but how will Buffy react when she's see him and will she accept him into her life again ?
Pairings- New friend or new Foe ?
Dawn applied the last coating of Mascara to her already full and thick lashes. She gave them a final forced blink and moved them upwards with her index finger. She was finally old enough to go to the Bronze. She needed to look her best if she wanted to attract any attention in that place. Truth be told she was highly jealous of Buffy's relationship with Spike. She wanted someone of her own.
She took a final look in the mirror before walking quietly down the stairs and intending to leave without being spotted when Spike suddenly appeared at the bottom of the staircase.
" My my Niblet, haven't we scrubbed up tonight."
Dawn sighed and walked down the stairs a little quicker whilst hissing to Spike as urgently as possible.
" Don't tell Buffy."
Spike rose an eyebrow.
" Now Niblet you know how these things work out, If your doing something you don't want Buffy to know, you know I always have to come with you."
" You have got to be kidding, how am I meant to-"
She stopped herself quickly, realising she had said too much. Spike's playful face disappeared in a flash and was replaced by the face of pure seriousness.
" Dawn, your not looking for a boy are you tonight ?"
His voice soft and smooth with a clear undercurrent that told Dawn he sincerely wanted her answer to be no.
Dawn shrugged her shoulders with her un bothered face.
" And what if I am ?"
Spike's face grew incredulous.
" What if I am ? You do know what type of people got to the Bronze Niblet, especially at this time of night."
" Not everyone's a Vampire Spike, and they're not all bad."
Spike moved up close to her and took both of her hands in his.
" I protect you Buffy and the Scoobies because I care for you"
Dawn thrust her hands from his, emotion bubbling in her chest.
" So that's it. Your not going to move out of the way, your have a great night with Buffy and I'll stay upstairs alone. Nice plan Spike. It's obvious who you really care about."
Shaking and her voice rising several pitches higher Dawn made to run by stairs but Spike caught her arm softly, no matter how much she really wanted to hurt him she just couldn't make herself do it. She let him turn her around, his face hurt.
" Don't ever tell me I don't care Dawn. Don't ever because I don't know what I'd do if either you and Buffy ever got hurt and left me. I don't speak to you in your mind because I don't care. You like a daughter to me Dawn. I daughter I can never have. You've stuck by me, befriended me when everyone thought I was a monster. You saw the man in me, the man in this monster. Your never know how grateful I am."
Dawn looked deeply into Spike's icy blue eyes and with full confidence she told him.
" You are not a monster Spike. Drusila is, she made you what you were."
Spike's head tilted to the side slightly, half of his face falling into a shadow.
Dawn nodded and began to walk upstairs when Spike called out to her.
" You are not going to be by yourself, Buffy can wait a while."
Dawn turned around shocked and incredibly touched.
" Your spend time with me ?"
Spike looked suddenly very worried and rushed upstairs pulling her into her bedroom.
" Dawn, I worried about you. Very worried about you."
Dawn looked at him strangely.
" You do know I can take care of myself now don't you ?"
" Hey ! You saying you don't like our secret adventures ?"
Spike asked in a mock-hurt voice.
" No, of course I like our adventures but I can take care of myself."
Spike reached out and ran a hand through her brown hair.
" Your reminding me of myself. I wasn't exactly Mr. Popular when I was a human, I had no real friends, not to mention the girl I loved who thought I was beneath her, I just had a mother. A mother who was ill, ill and not getting better.
I built up resentment and then Dru turned me and all hell broke loose.
I don't what this for you. It leads into dark paths Dawn. Dark paths, paths I've walked and paths I can see you falling into. Your on the edge Dawn, like Willow is constantly on an edge with her magic. It takes one more step in the wrong direction before it's too late."
Dawn felt tears fall down her face.
" You think I'm evil ?"
Spike wrapped his arm around her shoulders.
" Evil ? No, but lost and vulnerable without question. Don't make the same mistakes I did. I have to see Buffy now but I'll contact you."
He promised a hand pointing at his head.
Dawn nodded and then without realising it said.
" I'd never hurt you !"
As soon as the words came from her mouth her hand flung over it. Her eyes were wide and fearful of what she had exclaimed.
Spike however looked like he understood better than even she did. He nodded and with pride shinning in his blue eyes he gave her a warm smile.
" I know Niblet."
Dawn listened out carefully, finally she heard Spike and Buffy's voices by the door, then they got quiter and the front door was shut. Dawn smiled mischievously and sneaked out of the front door heading straight for the Bronze.
The music was thumbing ! It was beating against her head it was so loud. But she loved it, it made her feel alive it wasn't long before someone caught her eye. He was lurking in the shadows and she was fleetingly reminded of Spike for a moment, but the boy bore no resemblance to Spike at all. This boy had neither Spike's blonde hair or icy blue eyes. Instead, the boy had flat raven hair and dark brown eyes that seemed to hypnotise.
Dawn looked at him intently for a while longer before the boy turned and their gazes met. At that moment the thumbing music seemed to zone out into nothing, she could feel sparks erupting all over her skin, the boy was grinning at her, his ivory teeth sparkling. He appeared to feel the same, the boy's head tilted to the middle of the dance floor, his brown eyes full of question. Dawn smiled as prettily as she could and nodded as she made her way to the centre.
The Bronze was packed with people and the boy was no where in sight, she began to feel frustrated until a hand gently locked round her wrist and guided her through the crowds.
" Hey there."
His voice was deep and beautiful to the ear, and he had a most mysterious accent she couldn't place.
Dawn fluttered her long eyelashes and looked as seductive as possible.
" I haven't seen you around here , are you new ?"
The boy laughed warmly and gave a most intriguing reply.
" There ain't nothing new about me."
(Spike and Buffy)
Spike put his hand over Buffy's.
" Now do you finally believe me Buffy, What i'm feeling. The love I have for you, it's real."
Buffy looked deep into Spike eyes and felt guilty as she re-looked their past and how she had reduced him to her Sex Slave after she had been brought back. The thoughts of what she had done to him filled her with the deepest shame.
" I'm sorry Spike, I'm sorry for what I did to you."
Spike looked at her surprised and slightly playful but his voice was deadly serious, even if his choice of words weren't.
" What you did to me ? You mean the whole Sex Slave thing you had going on ? Me in cuffs totally at your mercy ?"
Buffy bit her lip, her shame deepening.
Spike touched Buffy's cheek and Buffy looked up, he looked deep into her green eyes and felt warm that he saw such shame in them for what she had done.
" You broke my un-dead heart Buffy, you made me bloody submissive ! But it's okay baby, it's all in the past Pet. Tell me you love me."
His voice gentle and slightly pleading.
Buffy smiled and with her whole heart she replied.
" I love you Spike. I'm head over heels in love with you. And I'm so sorry for what I did to you."
(Dawn)
" My name's Dawn, don't you usually introduce yourself when meeting someone new "
The boy bowed and with mock sincerity replied.
" Apologies for my rudeness Dawn, I'm Anthony."
Anthony gently took Dawn's hand and brought it to his glistening lips, he kissed her hand ever so gently.
" I really like you Dawn, I want to know you."
Dawn felt a blush creep into her cheeks and she tried to grin it off.
" Where to ."
Anthony smiled, he moved out of the light into the shadows, his eyes glittering in the dark.
" For now here, I'll come here every night, I'll look out for you. Go now."
(Spike and Buffy)
Buffy opened the door, her hands touching the door hinge, her eyes never leaving Spike's and barely blinking.
" Spike,"
Spike took a step forward and wrapped and arm around Buffy's waist pulling her in for a deep kiss. Buffy responded hungrily and whined as Spike withdrew. Spike couldn't help but smile as he saw desire build in her eyes.
" What about Dawn Buffy ? This isn't the place, especially as it's your turn. It's pay back for all those days in Slavery. I warn you Buffy I'm ruthless."
Buffy thought she heard Dawn and turned away from Spike and towards the living room. In seeing nothing she turned around intending to persuade Spike to stay and found he's already left. Frowning she closed the door.
Being as quiet as she could she sneaked up into Dawn's room and saw her sister was innocently sleeping. Feeling proud of her little sister for staying safe she closed the door of her bedroom.
Dawn heard her bedroom door closed and a smirk formed on her face until she heard a familiar voice.
Niblet, What has got you in this happy mood ? I'm drowning in it !
Dawn felt her smirk disappear as she made her reply. Lying to Spike was like lying to no else.
Nothing, happy is all
When she got her reply she felt herself cringe.
Dawn I can't believe you against my word like that. See me tomorrow Dawn. Don't turn up and there be trouble.
His voice had been dreadfully serious and it set up a whole lot of dread in her stomach. Maybe if she got upset he'd go easy on her ?
Think again Niblet ! I'm merciless
Hey what so you think ? Review pretty pretty please 2 Reviews and I'll update !
Buffy/Spike