Jac@blackplumes.freeserve.co.uk

Rating: PG

Disclaimer: I own nothing, I merely borrow.

Summary: Continuing the series Might Have Been which started with Becoming Part 2. Set during ‘Lover’s Walk’. What might have happened if Dawn had been around at the time.

“Spike! You’re back,” Dawn shrieked as she entered the kitchen to find the blonde vampire sitting at the counter with her mother.

Spike smiled at the young girl, remembering the Slayer’s sister with a fondness he didn’t care to examine. “Nibblet. You’ve grown.”

“Mom says I’m gonna be taller than Buffy.”

“Well that’s not hard.”

“Are you here to see Buffy?”

“No. I’m here to kill her.”

Dawn frowned. “Oh. I thought you liked her. Last time you were here you said…” “Can we just forget about that Sweet Bit?”

“But I thought you wanted to kiss her and stuff. And now your girlfriend’s dumped you…”

“Dawn!” Joyce intervened, feeling the need to shield Spike from her youngest daughter’s unthinking insensitivity.

“Well she did.”

“And Spike’s upset, so just let him…”

“Hey. I’m still in the room you know. And if I’m upset, it’s all the Slayer’s fault. Bloody bit…”

“Spike!”

“Sorry Joyce,” the vampire apologised, lowering his head, slightly ashamed. He really did like Joyce. One major downside to killing Buffy was going to be upsetting her and Dawn.

“Why has Buffy upset you?” Dawn’s question roused him from his thoughts and he noticed that Joyce had left them alone. Spike rolled his eyes. Didn’t anyone take him seriously anymore?

“She made Dru leave me.”

“How?”

“What?”

“How could Buffy make Dru leave you? You were in Brazil. She was here.”

“It was the circumstances pigeon. My truce with the Slayer.”

“Oh right. So it wasn’t that your girlfriend was jealous or anything?”

“Jealous of what?”

“Of the fact that you’re in love with Buffy.”

Spike’s mind emptied and he floundered helplessly for something to say. There was a long pause. Followed by a longer pause. Dawn’s eyes widened as realisation hit.

“Oh my God!”

“Whatever you think you know luv, it’s wrong.”

“It is so not wrong.”

“I’m warning you Nibblet!”

“You are so into her! Spike loves Buffy! Spike loves…”

The vampire covered Dawn’s mouth with his hand in an attempt to silence her near hysteria. Both were snapped to attention when the back door burst open and they were greeted with the sight of Angel, struggling against the barrier in the doorway.

Dawn screamed and without thinking, Spike stepped in front of her, shielding her from the older vampire. Angel barely noticed as he growled at his Childe. “You shouldn’t have come back here Spike!”

“Yeah well, you shouldn’t have shagged the Slayer. Let he who is without blame and all that.”

“What does sha…?”

Spike’s hand returned to Dawn’s mouth as he shushed her. “Have a heart Nibblet. I’m already in enough trouble here.”

“Take your hands off her Spike. Dawn move away from him. Come to me.”

“Are you kidding?” Dawn exclaimed as Spike’s hand moved away and he went back to being the only thing between her and Angel. “You’ll probably kill me. And I like Spike. I know he would never hurt me.”

Spike smirked at his Sire. “Looks like you’re not top vamp around here anymore.”

“If you do anything to her. I’m gonna…”

“Yeah? You and what army?”

“That would be me.”

Dawn squeaked as Spike was slammed back onto the kitchen counter by her sister. “Angel, why don’t you come on in?”

“Mom!” the younger girl yelled as Angel stepped into the kitchen.

“Dawn, go to bed.”

“No.”

“Dawn!”

“Buffy. Please let him go. He wasn’t hurting us.”

“Buffy? What is going on?” Joyce asked, stopping in the doorway and staring at the scene in front of her.

“Mom, tell her,” Dawn begged, almost in tears as her sister continued to restrain Spike. “Tell her he wasn’t hurting us. Tell her to let him go.”

“Buffy,” Joyce began, moving to place a comforting arm around her younger daughter’s shoulders.

“No,” Buffy interrupted. “This is Spike. He’s evil remember?”

“He is not!” Dawns shouted before Joyce could answer. “And he loves you. Spike tell her.”

Spike smiled fondly at Dawn, ignoring her last plea and concentrating on the sobs wracking her body. “Shh, shh, Nibblet. I swear you’re sister’s not going to off me just yet. I have plenty of insurance.”

Buffy raised her eyebrows at Spike in question and he grinned up at her. “Might want to loosen up a bit luv.”

Reluctantly, Buffy stepped back and Spike straightened, turning to Dawn. “Now you get off to bed Nibblet. If you stay down here, the wan… I mean the loser your sister calls her boyfriend will simply bore you death.”

“But…”

“No but’s Little Bit. Go on. I’ll see you again soon.”

Dawn nodded and turned to go, throwing a murderous glare at her sister on her way, before turning back and throwing her arms around Spike. “Come back soon ok.”

Spike looked down at the girl and awkwardly patted her shoulder. “Yeah.”

With that Dawn ran from the kitchen and up the stairs to her bedroom, making sure to slam the door when she got there. She could hear raised voices coming from downstairs and she buried her head under her pillow to drown out the noise.

At least she knew that Spike loved Buffy. He wouldn’t stay away for long. Buffy on the other hand was still being an idiot. Dawn was going to have to do something really special to get through to her.

Might Have Been: Harsh Light of Day