Dawn swallowed.
She couldn't let Buffy show any of her feelings. She gritted her teeth furiously.
"Dawn!" Buffy called out when she saw Dawn in the doorway.
"Getting cute and cuddly here?" Dawn informed. She shot Spike an angry look.
Liar,she thought. He looked panicked.
"Egghh no!" Buffy who had her fingers twirled around Spike's neck let go of him, backing away.
Dawn raised her eyebrows. Then she walked out.
"What was that pissed off reaction about?" Buffy asked Spike suspiciously.
"How would I know? Look, I'll be around, Buffy. But I am not some sort of daft who will step up when you ask me to. I'll be where I want when I want it" With these words he left her behind.
"What you're gonna do?" Buffy called.
"Check on the bit"
See, Buffy will always be Buffy.
Little Dawnie will always be treated like the kid. Like I'm damn blind, Dawn was leaning with her back against the tree tame in their garden.
Her arms were crossed over her chest.
She could feel his presence coming near her.
"Dawn…" He started.
"Let me guess you prefer my big sister?" she snapped.
"It ain't what you're thinking at all"
"Then what is it?"
"Buffy is still not having the most brilliant time here. It's hard for her"
"Why doesn't she share it with me?"
"She's being protective. You know her, right?"
"I guess" Dawn shrugged and finally looked Spike in his eyes for the first time. Spike was finding this a lot harder without his 'gift'
"I do need some time alone" Dawn told him.
"You mad with me?"
"I need to figure it out. Give me some time alone," Dawn pleaded again.
"Alright, I'll go back inside and check on Buffy," he admitted.
"What am I Spike the big cuddle puppy?" He grumbled to himself.
As he came back in the house, Buffy was nowhere to be seen.
He ran up the stairs and knocked on Willow's door.
"Come in" Willow called. "Oh Spike… it's you" she flatly remarked when he came in the room and shut the door.
"Need your help, red"
"Sure!" then her face filled with a look of question and doubt. "And why would I help?"
"Because I won't tell Tara you did spells. Playing little mind games"
"Hey!" Willow called out indignantly. "Alright…" she quickly added.
"I need you to give me back that little 'gift' you gave me earlier"
"I can't do it permanently. It might go wrong"
"Do it anyway. I can take it"
"Ok, I will… but don't blame me later" Willow's fingers ran across the bookcase until she found the right spellbook.
"Let's get started, red" Spike sat down in the comfy chair in the room.
"Bring it on.."