Something was off about Dawn tonight. Her nervous energy was almost visible. She had been pacing for almost half an hour when he finally gave up waiting for her to tell him.
"What's up, niblet?"
She didn't look at him, but at least she stopped pacing.
"There's this thing at school, Parent/ Teacher Day."
"U-hu?"
Dawn threw herself into his armchair.
"I don't want the bot to go there. She'll mess it up, I just know it."
Finally she did look at Spike.
"I wish you could go."
He burst out laughing, but when he saw her face he sobered.
"You're being serious about this."
She closely examined a spot on the armchair.
"I feel like you're the only one who really understands me. I would like you to be there."
Before he could say anything she took a breath and went on:
"I know. Not going to happen. And you couldn't anyway. There's daylight involved."
She had really given this some thought! How sad that out of all the people in her life a vampire would be her first choice...
Dawn looked back up at Spike.
"She has one advantage though."
Spike snorted.
"And what advantage would that be?"
"She's nice to you."
Spike's jaw clenched.
"That's not an advantage."
Dawn was still looking at him. He couldn't. She was just a kid, and he was supposed to take care of her. He couldn't burden her with his pain, he shouldn't -
"Talk to me, Spike", she said softly, and she didn't sound like a kid at all. And God he wanted to...he needed to talk...there was nobody he could talk to, and he felt like he was about to suffocate. Funny thing since he didn't need to breathe...but he couldn't. He needed to be strong for her, couldn't let his guard down. Dawn tilted her head a little, still holding his gaze, inviting him to sit with her. And he gave in. He sat down on the armrest and hung his head.
"It hurts, Dawn. Hearing her say those things...she does it because I had her programmed to. And all it does now is hammer home the fact that she isn't Buffy."
Dawn nodded once.
"I'll talk to Willow. I'm sure she can make her stop doing it."
Spike lifted his head and looked at Dawn, surprise evident on his face. The niblet understood, and she was willing to help him. Definitely not a kid anymore.