(As I typically write at 4am, typos sneak in even though I try to do my best to spell right and proper sentences lol, fixed a serious typo in this one, any others please let me know and I'll fix it. Would hate to kill the mood!)

I Wish Sometimes That Could Be Me

Chapter Two:

Dawn sat in the balcony with her friends Janice and Rebecca, watching the crowd dance and loosen up to the music. Some went to school with the girls while others were older, looking to do more than just dance. Though as Dawn watched a couple of the girls from her school grinding against a couple rougher crowd looking guys, she figured it wasn't just the older ones looking for a good time. And here Dawn sat with friends, Rebecca a prude and Janice who got in trouble on to many times with boys and now was on a permanent ban list thanks to her mom. Buffy would never let Dawn get close to boys and as result, everyone at school saw her as weird. Especially last week with Devon! The cutest guy in her art class, and she thought she had a chance. He always smiled at her, they had been eating lunch at the same table for weeks and he said hi whenever they saw each other in school or out. Then when she goes to kiss him, he freaks out, in front of everyone no less. She had half the football team and cheerleaders, and the entire 'You are so sick and typical' outcast crowd around to witness her major failure.

Not only that she had to run into Spike while she was licking her wounds and he goes hot and cold on her. Making her feel important, then a child, then back to important then disappearing before Buffy starting shrieking at her.

"Hey oh my god, Dawn, look at that guy! Is hot or is he hot! Becca?"

"He's hot. Way to old for us though."

"What, who?" Dawn scanned the crowd and saw him standing by the pillar nearest the stage. He had a bottle of beer in his hand, his eyes looking over all the girls in front of him. Some like meals, while others, like meals with a prize inside. Dawn sighed. "Oh him. He is of the hot. And Becca is totally right. We don't have a chance. He's completely in love with me sister."

"The way he's looking at that woman approaching him, doesn't look like he loves anyone to me." Janice cackled and the sound annoyed Dawn. She couldn't talk about Spike like that. But she guessed her friend was right. Spike was making his heavy, 'I want you' eyes at the brunette sliding her arm up the pole, flashing her best smile and breasts in his face. She made a gagging sound.

"Oh Dawnie, you jealous?"

"Am not!" Dawn grabbed her drink and covered her face with it. She cast her eyes back down at them. He was touching her arm and licking his upper lip. That woman was hooked. Dawn sat up as she watched Buffy walk to them, ignoring pissed off patrons whose drinks were spilled in the process. She saw Buffy get close to Spike and manage to make the woman back off, Dawn was completely surprised. Was her sister really jealous? But no, Buffy curled her hand into the lapel of his jacket and yanked him up straight. Spike was laughing, his hand over her's staring daggers into her siste'rs face. But Buffy was holding her own. Dawn couldn't make out what they were saying.

"Spike! Did you keep my sister from coming home?"

"Absolutely not! Knew it would tear you up inside. I walked the girl home, she almost got ran over. I did my good deed for the week."

Buffy rolled her eyes. "If I find out you did anything to make her eyes that red, and she didn't fool me. I knew she had been crying….I will stake you." She pushed him into the pole and then stepped back. "But thank you for getting her home okay. It seems more and more these days, I can't control her."

Spike rubbed out the wrinkle in the lapel and sighed. "Can't control that one. She's fire in a little tiny body. She's a teenager, slayer, the very definition of uncontrollable. And just so you know, BUT don't you dare tell her I told you." He pointed at her face and sneered as he eyed her up making sure his point got across. "It was over a boy at school. Said he made a right fool of her. Hurt Lil' Bit's feelings."

"Oh…well…thanks I guess." Buffy narrowed her eyes and then stormed off.

Spike watched her go, as he drank the rest of his beer. He looked around and felt eyes on him. At first he thought it was the woman he had been chatting up before Buffy The Mood Slayer ruined his good time but he couldn't find her anywhere. Such a pity, he thought as he started off towards the bar for another bottle.

Dawn couldn't follow where she went but smiled to herself, thinking from their interaction Spike had put Buffy in her little blonde dumb faced place.

Janice spotted Dawn's mood had picked up and she was starring hard, heart shaped holes into that guy, Spike. "Hey girlie, care to share?"

"Oh nothing."

"Mh hm, right.' Janice pointed at Dawn and Becca giggled.

That's when he noticed her, he gave one better look around for that woman and when he did, he saw her. Up top, watching him so intensely, when she had noticed him watching back she quickly leaned back and tried making conversation with her friends.

Dawn quickly tried picking up the conversation that her friends were having, clearly over clothes.

Devon came over, hands in pockets and eyes cast down. "Hey Dawn. Can we talk?"

Janice raised her eyebrows and Becca glowered at him. Both had their arms crossed while Dawn stood and sighed. "Easy, no biting. Sure Devon."

Dawn walked over to the railing, taking a quick look around trying to see where Spike went but she couldn't find him. She couldn't believe he caught her staring, now he probably thought she was weird or something.

"Listen, I don't want to keep you long, you look like you're having a great time with your friends but I…"

"No you listen, and believe I'm not this forward, except that one time…but….oh …" She sighed and tucked her hair behind her ear. "I thought…."

"Me too. I guess….I really like you as a friend but I don't think I am….feeling like that for you. I'm sorry. I mean with the issues with your sister and everyone thinks you're weird I just….can't have that attention."

"Oh, I ….well that's really…."

"Love, there you are." Spike draped his arm over Dawn's shoulders. "Was getting worried some bloke stole you away and here I see one is trying." He winked at the boy and tapped his shoulder. Spike ran his other hand down her long hair and then her exposed arm. Dawn swallowed hard and felt goose bumps raise on her arms. She stared wide eyed at Spike's profile and then at Devon.

"Hi, Spike."

"Spike?" Devon said in a shaky voice.

"Right that's me. And you?" Spike held out his hand, the one with the skull ring on the index finger.

"Devon…ah" He shook the blonde man's hand, gasping at the tight and cold grip.

"Right, well Dawn and I have to be going, car's purring outside, we have a fun filled evening to get to. Take care boy."

"B-bye Devon." Dawn waved and then looked at Janice and Becca who were whispering staring over their glasses of Coke at her. They started giggled and waved bye.

Dawn let Spike led her from the Bronze and down the alley to the lit street. "Spike, what the hell!?"

"Ah Nibblet don't tell me that wasn't fun." He grinned from ear to ear as he pulled the cigarette from behind his ear and lit it with his Zippo. As the lid closed he stuffed it back into his pocket and kept smiling at Dawn.

"Well, kind of, Devon looked so …..Embarrassed." She made a smile that matched his. She squealed and laughed as she tucked her hair back and zipped up her jacket.

"Pay back is always a fun time, love." Spike started walking in the direction of the cemetery which held his home, his crypt.

"Where you going?" Dawn followed next to him, happy at Spike's sudden surprise and to be out of there. She wasn't in the mood to be giggling and judging others with her friends, she'd rather be with her secret crush.

"Home, and you?"

"Oh well.." Dawn's voice lowered.

"I'm kidding, Lil' Bit. I rented movies, so it's just you and me I suppose." He thought back to that woman, who was more than willing to spend time with him before Buffy destroyed his chances. It was always that way. She would never be with him, and she just had to scare all other potential lovers away, it was always him and Dawn left to their own devices. He looked down at his partner in crime and all in all he couldn't complain. She was sweet. He loved movies and talking and eating junk food together with her. He loved that she was so trusting of him and knew everything about his past more than any of the scoobies, the watch and his books, even Angelus knew. Dawn knew more than even Drusilla probably did. Dawn was the one person he was comfortable sharing…CERTAIN parts of his human self with. He had to remain the bashful bad boy in her eyes but he could tell her things about his mum and job. She never judged him and in turn he never judged her. He smiled to himself thinking that his perfect companion was the underage sister of the world's most annoying slayer, whom he couldn't kill….yet.

Dawn smiled to herself thinking that she may not be able to be anymore to Spike than a friend, but it was better than nothing and she couldn't believe how crazy her sister was to be so mean to him. Buffy made Dawn feel like something was wrong with everyone. Made Willow guilty for her magic, made Xander guilt for being so normal, Giles for his father-figure role, Spike for being soulless, and herself for existing. Spike was perfect; he liked her existence, and her general company. Her only real friend.

Crash!

"Oh my god. I am sooooo sorry about that." The woman bent down, she did it so gracefully and lady like too, in that tight skirt. Dawn jumped back as Spike fell back and bags of clothes landed on him. The woman pushed her hair back and her face was so beautiful. She had the greenest eyes Dawn had ever seen, her skin was so soft and perfect, lips full. She could see the effects she was having on Spike. Though peeved to have been caught off guard he was pleasantly surprised by the package the distraction came in.

" 's right, love. No harm done." He corrected himself and bent to help pick the clothing up. He watched her the entire time, the seconds to Spike seemed like minutes to Dawn.

"Such a gentleman. Those are to find around here these days." She gave such a feminine confident laugh. She tucked the last bits of clothing into her bags, while Spike managed to gather the rest of his, picking up last a lacy pair of panties. He winked at the woman and picked the bags up for her.

"Nothing else to be, to such a lovely lady." He purred.

The woman blushed and it was so apparent because her skin was white as milk. Spike bit the inside of his lip, happy with his effect on the woman. "Well then, help me get these to the car please?"

"Certainly." Spike nodded his head, letting her know he'd follow her.

The woman looked over her shoulder before walking farther down the street, her hips swaying farther than natural, drawing Spike's eyes so nothing else was real to him.

Dawn rolled her eyes and stood right where she stopped. Her mouth screwed up in an annoyed manner, sighed as Spike's boy nature was coming out more and more. She couldn't believe him. It seemed lately anything with breasts was drawing his attention or maybe Dawn was just noticing and caring more. She watched as she opened the truck and flipped her hair over her shoulder, exposing a long line of her neck. Oh great, Dawn thought…just what the horny vampire needs.

The woman's laughter carried in the air and Dawn rolled her eyes.

Spike touched her hand and then motioned towards Dawn which caught her attention. Next thing Dawn knew the woman gave her a look, a soft smile then a frown for Spike. He kissed her hand and then walked over to Dawn, "Ready pet?"

"Yeah." Dawn started walking with Spike, she looked over her shoulder and the woman was organizing the things in her truck but still kept an eye on Spike's retreating form. She smiled behind the hair that had fallen over her face. " Just so you know, not cool. I know you're a man and everything but, teenage girl here and I do not need to be dragged along your adventures of the female gender, kay?"

Spike raised his eyebrow and gave her a side-long glance. "And when did my nibblet grow set of fangs for herself?"

"I didn't, I'm just….tired of guys being pigs in front of me. " Her eyes widened at her words. "NOT that you were being a pig, just…I'm tired of watching guys hit on girls." She dropped her head and she felt his chilled hand rest on the back of her neck, in a tender touch.

"Noted, love. Sorry about that. I'll try better next time." He smiled and let his fingers play back down her hair, then stuffed both hands in his pockets as they walked in silence to his crypt.

"So Buffy's not gonna miss you then?"

"Nah, she's out on patrol I guess then she said she was gonna do some special training with Giles somewhere. So Dawn can be bad tonight." She grinned as she bounded across the cement floor and threw herself into the couch that smelled so much like him.

"Not bad, we're watching movies. And I will safety return you to your safe warm house afterwards."

"Fine. Can we eat sugary things until we explode though?"

Spike looked over at her big eyes begging her for the treats and he couldn't deny this girl anything she wanted, with those eyes of hers. He rummaged behind the couch for a minute and then over the edge came a big box of lemon cookies. Then marshmallows and mini Snickers.

"Ohhh chocolate happiness. Awesome. You know me so well Spike." She giggled as she tore into the Snickers, already having eaten three by the time Spike took his seat on the couch with his warmed blood.

Spike clicked the remote a couple times and the DVD player turned on, it's whirling sound the only one besides the crinkling of the wrappers as Dawn torn through the candy. "Save some for me, pet. Don't want you getting sick all over my posh crypt here."

"Oh….think it already is." She put the candy down, feeling her sadness slipping away over Devon and Buffy and those stupid women who had to shove their breasts in Spike's face making him all drool face. Spike rolled his eyes and motioned to the chest over by the center pillar of the crypt. "Meds are in there, nibblet."

"Oh…thanks." Dawn swayed as she stood up. "To much sugar for little me." She crouched in front of the chest as the opening scenes of the movie played behind her. She could hear Spike settling into the couch, giving gulps in his glass of blood, mumbling about a bad actor or two that would make an appearance at some point in the film. She pushed a couple weapons aside, then some books. Under it all she found a little packet of Tums, scribbled over top of the label was the name, Dawn. She ran her thumb over it and smiled, then giggled thinking how he put one of the most needed items for her in here, thinking of her. Then she spotted it. It was so shiny. Even in the dark of the chest and crypt it managed to be glowing. The little pendant called to her as she reached down and touched the metal.

It was cool to the touch and looked so old, but was so fashionable all the same. It looked rather feminine and she couldn't figure out why Spike would have it, especially amongst weapons and books. She scooped it up and walked back over to the couch, She curled by beside him and held the necklace up to the light of the movie.

"Spike, what's this?"

"Wha..." She looked over, pulling his attention away from the movie. "Oh, found it on patrol. Didn't wanna throw it away so I stuffed it in there. You like it?"

"Yes, it's beautiful."

"It's yours then."

"Oh Johnny, please don't leave! I can be better."

"It's not you Anne. It's me….I can't control myself around you. It's best if I leave."

"BOLLOCKS." Spike snorted as he took another gulp of his drink.

Dawn smiled at the necklace then gave Spike a small peck on the cheek. "Thanks, Spike, I'll treasure it."

Spike touched his cheek then nudged Dawn with his elbow. "Stop or you'll make the big bad all sentimental and then I'll have to start buying you gifts all the time."

"Hey everyone deserves a kiss on the cheek every now and then."

Spike turned to Dawn and searched her eyes; a sad smile covered his mouth as he sighed. "That they do pet." He turned back to the movie and got lost in the story again.

Dawn settled into the couch, holding the necklace tight in her pocket, she felt it warm in her palm and a soft smile decorated her face the rest of the night.