Previously: Dawn wasn't so sure. But she was glad that she now had two people to actually have a conversation with. A paranormal conversation mind you. She wasn't going to waste her breath on the topic of boys etc when she could learn more about the world that Buffy lived in.

Chapter 14

'Buffy! I'm home!' Dawn called.

I had been busying myself with the contents of Buffy's fridge when Dawn made her presence known. Buffy had made sure there was blood in the fridge just for when I decided to drop in. I grabbed a bag and a mug and headed out to greet the Bit.

'Well hello Niblet. Who are your friends?'

Dawn was standing inside the apartment, with a tall dark haired girl and a shorter brown haired girl slowly edging their way into the room. The taller girl had the most unusual coloured eyes. The other looked quite normal to me. Though they were both staring at me. I suddenly became very self-conscious.

'Oh this is Candice' Dawn waved to the tall girl, who smiled in acknowledgment.

'And this is Carly' Carly curtseyed.

'Guys this is Spike. He lives down the hall' Dawn explained to them.

'Its awesome to meet you' Carly said.

She seemed nice enough. As long as Dawn was happy I wasn't going to open my trap and say anything.

The girl named Candice stood still and looked at the floor, as if there was something interesting written there.

'You lookin' for Buffy Bit?'

'Yeah. You know where she is?'

'Her and the rest of the Scoobies are down at that shop of Rupert's. Filling the place with supplies no doubt.'

It had been a few weeks since we had called Cleveland home. We had learned that Giles had sent all the now 'non potential' slayers home to their families. Kennedy who had planned to stay with Willow had received a message saying her father was fatally ill or something and so had left with the other slayers.

Willow had been upset but understanding.

We were all slowly getting used to the Cleveland atmosphere. It wasn't as good as Sunnydale but it was slowly growing on us all. We were finding our feet after our epic battle. Buffy, who had sacrificed everything, was finally starting to be her witty, sarcastic self again, which everyone was happy about. Especially the whelp. He seemed to think that 'the Buffster' would wake up and finally smell the roses. 'The roses' being the fact that she was still being friendly with me. She unconsciously made the decision to sit in my lap every once in a while. Right in front of everyone too. While nobody said anything, everyone couldn't help but wonder why Buffy would do that. I however, didn't mind. She could do almost anything she wanted with me and I'd be happy.

'Ok well Spike, I'm going there ok?'

'Right pet. See you later then.'

Dawn, Candice and Carly exited the apartment after both new girls said that it was nice to meet me. It was an odd thing; that both girls said it was 'nice' to see me. No one had eve said that. Not even Buffy.

As Dawn shut the door, I heard one of the girls utter

'He's soo hot! Is he single?'

I couldn't help but smile at that. Teenage girls. Ruled by their desires and wants, instead of their brain. To them I was dangerous, to anyone I was dangerous but they wanted me because I was hot.

The girls had exited the apartment and once again, I was left alone. It was about three hours until dusk and I would then be able to leave and see my girl again. That was what I had decided to call her. She was my girl. I never said it out loud but it was nice to think of her as 'my girl'.

I still had the blood and the mug in my hand and realized I hadn't heated it up. I wouldn't drink it unless it was at just the right temperature. Buffy thought I was just fussy, but it wasn't right to drink unless it was warm. It was like Xander trying to drink half frozen milk. It wasn't right.

I had poured the blood into the mug and heated it. After making the temperature just right I sauntered over to the couch and decided a few mindless hours in front of the telly was a good way to pass the time. I flicked it on and began to watch the show. It was something along the lines of 'Survivor'. They had to undergo challenges to stay in the game. Although my eyes were glued to the television I wasn't really seeing it. My mind had wandered back to my dream of Victoria.

'Are you sure it's ok for us to be here?' Candice asked. 'We're not going to interrupt them are we?'

'Well unless they're doing spells or kicking demon butt, we're welcome here' Dawn stated.

They had walked over to the store Giles now owned. They had wanted to open the store as soon as possible so that they had some money while the other gang members found jobs. Giles had wanted to run the store himself but Anya had insisted that she help. She loved nothing more than the smell of money.

Dawn and the girls approached the door, the sign on it reading 'Hocus Pocus – Magical Items and More'. Giles clearly hadn't started loading the store with supplies until today, because there were boxes upon boxes everywhere. The gang were busy moving boxes from the doorway to the middle of the store where Anya and Giles were labelling them and ticking them off a very long looking list.

'Geez. This box ways a ton. What's in this thing?' Xander was struggling with a rather large looking box and the only people who had their hands free were Dawn, Candice and Carly.

Candice rushed forward and grabbed the other side of the box before he dropped it.

'Judging by the smell and the weight, I'm guessing it's a box of scented candles. Strawberry and Vanilla I think' Candice smiled.

Xander gaped. 'Hey anyone know where this savoir came from?'

'She came from the doorway Xander' Dawn laughed.

Carly giggled too. Xander turned towards the door and saw that Dawn was standing there with yet another girl. He helped Candice move the box and then swung his arms around in gestures.

'Hey Dawn. Who are the magnificent beauties you bring with you?' he asked.

'This is Carly and the one who helped you with your candles was Candice' Dawn laughed.

Xander blushed slightly as he realised everyone was staring at him, and turned away, only to be met with an odd look from Anya.

'Magnificent beauties? Why wasn't I magnificent?'

'because your magnificence outshone everyone Anya'

Xander strode off to the corner of the shop where more boxes awaited, before Anya or anyone else could say something to him.

'Hey Where's Buffy?' asked Dawn to no one in particular.

'Oh she's in the back piling up stuff' Willow stated.

'Ok cool thanks Willow' Dawn turned towards the back, Candice and Carly following. Carly more reluctant than Candice. Carly seemed content to stare at Anya with an awestruck expression.

Dawn opened the door to the dingy back storeroom. Buffy sat atop a stack of boxes. When the girls entered, Buffy looked up.

'Oh hey Dawny! Like my throne?'

'Yeah Buffy… it's umm… creative?'

'You bet! That's me, creative Buffy. Oh, who are your friends?'

'Oh. Buffy I want you to meet Candice and Carly. They're in some of my classes and they wanted to meet the infamous Buffy Summers. And yes they know you're a slayer' Dawn stated.

Buffy looked shock, then anger flashed across her face. Before Buffy could say anything to her sister, Candice cut in.

'Don't worry your secrets safe with us. I'm the spawn of an ancient demon and Carly here is a vengeance demon. We have no intentions of making it into your bad books. Dawn just looked like she could do with someone to have paranormal conversations with. That and we recognised the Summers traits. The nose, the eyes, you know.'

Carly placed a hand on Candice's tall shoulder in an attempt to silence her. Candice fell into silence while Buffy stared them down. They seemed to be telling the truth. Candice did have the oddest coloured eyes and Carly had a vengeance demony vibe. Buffy had learned to pick that up complements of Anya.

Buffy smiled and sighed.

'Looks like you seem pretty happy with your friends Dawn, so therefore your all ok by me' she said looking at the girls.

Dawn had that stupid grin on her face, the one that usually had a hug after the smile.

'Now if you're going to stay here for a while, you can go out front and help the others with boxes ok? And don't tell them I did this' Buffy gestured to her throne.

'No problem Miss Summers' Carly beamed.

'Please call me Buffy'

'Ok then, no problem Buffy' Carly said.

Dawn and the girls turned to leave the room but not before Buffy asked what the time was. Dawn replied that it was about half an hour til dusk and that Spike had planned t swing by later. Buffy nodded and let them leave.

She climbed off her makeshift throne and starting tearing it apart. Placing boxes on the correct shelves, before anyone came in and caught her doing nothing. She would happily stack thousands of boxes in that half an hour. As long as Spike turned up it was all good.

Buffy felt that stupid grin cross her face; the one Dawn had worn just before and knew that nothing could wipe it off her face. Not even nearly dropping the box she was carrying. It would take an awful lot to wipe this grin off. She wasn't prepared to find out what would, she was just happy with stacking boxes.