Chapter 15: A Difference of Opinion
“The thought of you and me and me and you/it’s clear, it’s blurry/your head, my mind, your mind, my head, as one/it’s real, the foolish worry/I feel you and you feel me as I feel you/it’s good, it’s scary/the speed, the heat, it’s deep, and steep/it’s light but hard to carry/ listen when I’m silent there’s a/SOUND that only you can hear…” ~K’s Choice, “A Sound That Only You Can Hear”
Spike was not a good liar. Oh, he could bluff his way through a game of poker with the best of them. He could lie without compunction to people he cared nothing about. Ask him to lie to someone he loved, however, and it was a completely different story.
Which was why the first words out of his mouth were, “Bloody hell. What do you know, Bit?”
“I heard you guys talking last night,” she replied. “You were talking about Glory and me and the Council.”
Spike ran through a number of phrases in his head, but none of them were things he should be saying out loud in front of a child. “Didn’t your mum ever tell you that it’s not good manners to eavesdrop, Niblet?”
Dawn fixed him with a glare, not willing to be sidetracked. “How else am I ever going to find out anything?” she demanded.
Spike sighed. He’d known this day was coming. Dawn was too sharp to not notice that something was up. Her questions a few weeks ago about the crazy guy’s reaction to her in the hospital, and then what Joyce had said to her during her dementia, had been warning enough. It was really only a matter of time before the truth came out.
“I can’t, luv,” he finally said, pulling away from the curb in front of the school.
Dawn glared at him. “You mean you won’t.”
“No, I mean I can’t,” Spike replied. “Not without talkin’ to your mum an’ Buffy first. Love you, Dawn, but I’m not in charge here.”
Dawn sat back in her seat sullenly. “Buffy never wants me to know anything.”
“Your sis wants to make sure you’re protected,” Spike corrected. “That’s important to her, ’cause you’re important. Might not be fair, but that’s the way it is.”
“So you’re not going to tell me anything.”
“I’m going to talk to Joyce first,” Spike said. Dawn was looking at him with those huge blue eyes of hers, but he refused to be moved. He was in enough trouble as it was; Buffy would be furious that he hadn’t lied.
She would be furious that Dawn was even aware that there was something to know.
“Fine,” Dawn grumbled, not at all appeased. “It’s so not fair, though.”
“Yeah, well, join the club,” Spike replied, not looking forward to the coming discussion.
~~~~~
Spike made certain that Dawn was in the kitchen, doing her homework, before calling Joyce at the art gallery. “Is everything okay?” Joyce asked upon hearing his voice.
“That’s a matter for debate,” he hedged, and then quickly described his conversation with Dawn.
“Does Buffy know?” Joyce asked, sounding immediately in control and in charge. Spike was happy to follow her lead on this one. Dawn was, after all, her daughter. He didn’t want the responsibility of explaining that she wasn’t actually real.
“Not yet.”
“Good,” Joyce commented. “What do you think, William?”
Although Spike was a little surprised to be asked his opinion on things, he had no problem giving it. “Tell her the truth. She’ll just nose around till she figures it out for herself anyway, an’ that won’t be pleasant. ‘Least this way you can control what she’s hearin’.”
“That’s what I was thinking also,” she agreed. “Will you tell Dawn that I’ll talk with her tonight? And don’t worry about calling Buffy. It might be better if I do that.”
Spike breathed a sigh of relief, glad he didn’t have to be the one to tell Buffy that the news had been broken, albeit inadvertently. “Right. I’ll see you when you get home then.”
He hung up the phone and turned to see Dawn watching him. “Thought you were supposed to be doin’ your homework, luv.”
“Did you talk to Mom?”
He nodded shortly. “Yeah, Bit. Joyce’ll talk with you when she gets home from the gallery.” He moved to go past her, a little put out by her anger with him. After all, it wasn’t as though Spike had done anything wrong.
Dawn’s hand on his arm stopped him. “Spike? Is it bad?”
Spike paused and drew in a deep breath. “No. I don’t think it’s bad, Niblet.” He put a friendly arm over her shoulders. “Your mum will tell you all about it when she gets home, but no matter what, ‘m here for you, yeah?”
“Yeah,” the girl replied, knowing that she could trust him in that area at least. Spike had never let her down before.
~~~~~
Joyce made the decision to tell Dawn herself, with just the two of them. Right after she got home, she took her youngest daughter upstairs to her room. Spike stayed downstairs, waiting for Giles and Buffy, who were supposed to be arriving shortly.
The ex-Watcher showed up first, and he frowned when he didn’t see either Joyce or Dawn. “How are things going?”
Spike shrugged. “Hard to say. Haven’t heard any ungodly shrieking or anythin’ like that, an’ I’ll take that as a good sign.”
“Indeed.” There was a moment’s pause, and then Giles gave Spike a sharp look. “You couldn’t have lied to her?”
“‘m not a good liar,” Spike protested. “An’ that’s s’posed to be a good thing, I thought.”
Giles had to admit that the other man had a point. He certainly hadn’t expected Dawn to ferret the truth out for herself. “I must admit that I didn’t think the truth would come out like this. We’ll have to tell the others soon, too.”
Spike gave him a disbelieving look. “You didn’t think Dawn would know somethin’ was up?” He snorted. “You lot don’t give that girl enough credit. She’s a sharp one.”
“Obviously,” Giles said drily. “We’ll have to be more careful from now on, certainly.”
Spike might have replied, but Buffy came rushing into the house. “Where’s Mom?” she demanded. “She left me a message saying that she was going to tell Dawn about her being the Key.”
“She’s upstairs,” Spike said, grabbing her arm when she tried to hurry past. “Buffy, I don’t think now’s a good time. You should let your mum tell Dawn her own way.”
The Slayer glared at him. “She wasn’t supposed to tell Dawn at all. Dawn wasn’t supposed to find out.”
“Well, she did,” Spike snapped. “The Niblet was eavesdroppin’ the other night when we were talkin’ it over, an’ then she ambushed me with questions when I picked her up from school. Joyce didn’t have much of a choice.”
Spike was sorry he’d said anything, because Buffy’s anger refocused on him. “And you couldn’t lie to her?”
“I suck at lying,” Spike exclaimed. “Bloody hell! You lot should remember that’s a good thing.”
“And now Dawn knows and she’s going to freak,” Buffy hissed. “Didn’t you think about that before you spilled the beans?”
Giles laid a calming hand on her arm. “Buffy, you know Spike didn’t tell Dawn anything. He simply didn’t deny her questions, and maybe that’s for the best. If she were to stumble across the truth herself, that could be quite traumatic.”
Buffy was not pacified. “I don’t see how you could tell her without asking me first. I’m the Slayer. I’m the one that’s supposed to be protecting her!”
“And I’m her mother,” Joyce said quietly as she came down the stairs. “It was my decision to make. Spike made a good point. At least this way I could tell her the truth and reassure her at the same time.”
Buffy looked from one to the other, anger and betrayal on her face. “Fine. I’m going to go patrol.”
She pointedly did not invite Spike.
Spike watched her go. He’d anticipated her being upset, but hadn’t expected her to be quite that mad. “Spike?” He turned to face Joyce. “Dawn needs you.”
“Right. I’ll just go see her then.” Spike took the stairs two at a time and knocked on the youngest Summers’ door. “Niblet?” When he got no response, he slipped inside, shutting the door gently behind him. “You okay?”
“I guess.” The girl had the remains of tears on her face, and her voice was shaky enough that Spike knew she wasn’t as okay as she wanted him to think. “It’s just weird.”
“Yeah, it is a bit,” Spike acknowledged, sitting on the bed next to her. “Couldn’t believe it myself when your sister first told me. Have all these memories of you, from way back. Didn’t seem right.”
Dawn looked over at him. “So do you love me because the monks made you? Is that the only reason Mom loves me? And Buffy-“
“Shh,” he said, as she started to sound a little hysterical. “No, ‘s not why I love you. I still loved you after Buffy told me ’bout you bein’ the Key. Have you noticed any difference in how I treat you? Huh?”
Dawn shook her head. “No, but…I’m not real, Spike. I mean, I shouldn’t even exist!”
“An’ I should?” Dawn met Spike’s eyes for the first time, sensing the pain in his voice. “I was a vampire, luv, an’ pretty much as nasty as you could get. An’ then I was human again. Most people would tell you I shouldn’t be real, or I should’ve been dead a hundred an’ twenty years ago.”
She opened her mouth to argue, to complain that it wasn’t the same, but then shut it again. It wasn’t the same, but yet it was. They were both creatures of chance, of someone else’s whim. Spike existed because of Drusilla and the Initiative. Dawn existed because of some weird monks.
That was just Sunnydale.
“I don’t have any family,” Dawn said quietly. “I mean, not really. Mom, and Buffy-“
“You’re mine,” Spike said in a low, fierce voice. “Don’t care what your mum or your sister decide, though I know they’ve already made their choice. But you’re mine, because without you, an’ Buffy, an’ your mum, I don’t have any family either. An’ without us, Tara’s alone. ‘s not just you, Dawn.”
His tone was gentle, but the words had the effect of a slap to the face of someone who had gone into hysterics. Dawn was quickly reminded that things could be worse, that a fake mom and fake sister who wanted her (or at least a fake mom who wanted her) was better than no one wanting her at all.
“Your mum asked me if I thought we should tell you the truth,” Spike said quietly. “An’ I said I thought we should, because I knew you could handle it. You’re a strong girl, Dawn Summers. One of these days you’ll be an exceptional woman.”
If Spike’s previous admonition had been a slap, these words were a balm. Dawn found herself throwing her arms around his neck and sobbing into his shoulder. And, as her previous tears in her mother’s presence had soothed, so did the arms of the ex-vampire.
~~~~~
“Do you think we should check on them?” Giles asked. He had an arm around Joyce, trying to comfort her. Revealing the truth to Dawn had apparently been as traumatic for her as hearing it had been for the girl.
Joyce sighed, wiping a stray tear with one hand. “No, I don’t think so. Spike-” She hesitated. “Spike is so good with her. I have a feeling he’ll know just what to say to make things right.” Then she added, “I just hope Buffy comes around.”
Giles pulled her close, pressing a gentle kiss to her lips. “I’m sure Buffy will come around in time. It really was inevitable that Dawn find out.”
What more either of them might have said was lost as they gave into the sensation of lips on lips and hands on skin.
~~~~~
There was at least a small part of Buffy that knew she was overreacting, at least to Spike’s part in the whole mess. It wasn’t like it was his fault that her nosy little sister had chosen to eavesdrop on the conversation. Nor did he have any control over whom Dawn hit up for information.
On the other hand, Buffy was furious, and she needed to be mad at someone. Spike seemed like a good pick. Never mind logic for the moment.
It mostly had to do with the fact that Dawn finding out she was the Key illustrated how much she wasn’t in control of the situation. If her sister could find out so easily, what was stopping Glory from making the same discovery? She was the Slayer; she was supposed to be in charge.
Buffy hated not being in charge.
Of course, Dawn knowing about the Key meant that she would have to tell her friends as well. Telling them meant she would also have to explain keeping the secret for as long as she had, which would not be fun. At least this time she would have Giles and Spike on her side, rather than standing alone on the side of keeping silent.
She’d also have to apologize to Spike at some point, which sucked. Buffy hated apologies.
First stop, however, was to call a Scooby meeting. Tomorrow would be soon enough. Tonight, Buffy wanted to kill something. Possibly lots of somethings.
~~~~~
They gathered in the Summers’ home, sitting on the couch, perching on chairs, lounging on the floor. For the first time, Joyce was present. Dawn had begged to be able to stay up, but the vote had been a unanimous “no.” Mostly, no one wanted the girl present since they were going to be discussing her.
Of course, both Spike and Joyce were well aware that Dawn would be listening on the stairs. They just decided not to say anything about it.
“So Dawn is the Key that Glory’s looking for?” Willow asked. “That’s just-“
“Weird,” Xander muttered. He was feeling highly uncomfortable with the fact that his memories had been played with to such an extent.
Anya was probably taking it with the most aplomb. “It’s really not that weird,” she said. “Giving the Key to the Slayer was a stroke of genius, actually.”
“Right,” Buffy said. “Genius. It’s really important that this doesn’t get out, guys. I didn’t want to tell you because it could put you in danger.”
“But you told Spike,” Xander accused. “And like we’re not in danger all the time.”
“Buffy didn’t have a choice ’bout tellin’ me,” Spike said from his position leaning against the wall. “Walked in on her when she found out.”
Although Buffy had yet to apologize, or even really speak to him, she appreciated his support. It was yet another reminder of his devotion, and it just brought on the guilt feelings again.
The others were mollified by Spike’s explanation for his own knowledge. “There’s more,” Giles said, giving Buffy an apologetic look.
“More?” Buffy asked.
Giles sighed. “The Council has information on Glory. They’re, uh, on their way, actually. It seems they feel the information is best delivered in person.”
“They’re coming here?” Buffy demanded, a defninite note of hysteria in her voice. “Giles, make them not come here. I don’t trust them.”
“More Watchers?” Tara asked. “Isn’t that okay? Like more Gileses, right?”
“Not quite,” Spike said drily. “Some of those blokes are right bastards.”
Buffy let out a quick breath. “What he said. They almost killed me when they took away my Slayer powers with that test. And then they almost killed me again when I was in Faith’s body. I probably would be dead if Spike and Tara hadn’t figured out the switch.”
“You had things under control, luv,” Spike said. “But I think I have to agree with the Slayer. This is a volatile situation to be introducin’ new players into.”
“What about Dawn?” Joyce asked. “Do they know she’s the Key? Do they need to know?”
“They aren’t going to know,” Buffy stated firmly. “It isn’t any of their business.”
“I have to agree with that, Rupert,” Spike agreed. “Best if it’s kept quiet.”
The others were nodding. “They’re okay with former demons, right?” Anya asked. “I mean, they just get cranky about current demons. Right?”
Xander patted her knee with the hand not in a cast. “If they want you, they’ll have to come through me, An.”
Anya didn’t look too reassured, and Spike intervened before the ex-demon could say anything to irreparably damage Xander’s manhood. “They’d have to take exception to me too, luv.”
“That’s not going to happen,” Buffy said. “It’s fine. It’s going to be fine. They’ll come, they’ll give us the information, and then they will go home. Even if I have to kick their asses all the way back to England.”
~~~~~
Spike slipped out of the Summers’ home that night before Buffy could stop him. He was tired of the drama, tired of always defending himself and his actions, past and present. What he really wanted was a good night’s sleep and the opportunity to go and bury himself in work for the next couple days. With the Council in town, the Slayer’s fuse was certain to be shorter than Spike had any desire to deal with.
Sleep, however, was elusive, and Spike found himself wondering what the bloody hell he was doing in a relationship with the Slayer. It wasn’t just that he once was a vampire, but also that he was now human. Dracula’s words from the end of the summer were coming back to haunt him. He wondered if he really was dark enough, strong enough, for Buffy to really love. Or, perhaps he was too dark, had been too dark. Maybe he had too much blood on his hands to expect her to trust him.
Because she really didn’t-trust him. If Buffy had any faith at all in him, she wouldn’t have gotten so upset with him just because he didn’t come up with a quick lie to placate Dawn.
After only a few hours of highly unsatisfactory tossing and turning, Spike rose to go into the gallery. At least running the gallery was something he did, and did well. Joyce trusted him implicitly, and that was a balm to his wounded spirit at this point.
Spike had immersed himself in work when two men and a woman dressed in business attire entered. “Be right with you!” he called, biting back a sigh. Joyce had decided not to come in, since Dawn needed the reassurance of her mother’s presence at the moment.
He filed the invoice away and went out to meet his customers. “May I help you?”
“Are you William the Bloody?” the woman asked.
Spike frowned. “Who-” He stopped, realizing from the accent and dress that he was hosting members of the Watchers’ Council. “Watchers. Yeah, that would be me. I go by William Giles now, though.”
“Yes, so we’ve heard,” one of the men said, contempt dripping from his tone. Apparently the Council had as much respect for ex-vampires as current ones. “I understand that you are aiding the Slayer.”
Spike’s eyebrows went up. “I patrol with her on occasion. Kept all my fighting skills, even if I don’t have the same strength.” He allowed just a touch of bloodthirstiness to come into his eyes. “Could still snap your neck without givin’ it much thought.”
There was a certain amount of satisfaction to be gained from watching them back off a couple steps. “What do you want?” he asked shortly. “I’ve got a gallery to run here.”
“What exactly is your role where it concerns the Slayer?” the woman asked.
Spike raised an eyebrow. “I think we already went over this. Told you, I help the Slayer on occasion. I also have a job, an’ I watch out for Dawn. Oh, yeah, an’ we’re sleepin’ together, not that it’s any of your business.” He took a step forward, invading her space. “What’s this about then? What does it matter what I do?”
“We are conducting a review of the Slayer and her methods,” the woman said primly. Underneath the bloodless exterior, Spike could detect some heat. No, not heat. Attraction.
He cocked an eyebrow. “Is that right? An’ you want to know-from an ex-vampire who was instrumental in killin’ two Slayers-how Buffy’s doin’?”
“Well, yes, actually,” the woman replied. “If it wouldn’t be too much trouble.”
“No trouble at all,” Spike decided, flipping the “Open” sign over. “I can take a bit of a lunch break.” He gave her a look. “Seems a bit unfair that you know my name when I don’t know yours, pet.”
“I, uh, I’m Lydia Chalmers.” Spike took the hand she held out with smooth charm. “I actually did my thesis on you. Or, well, on William the Bloody.”
“Isn’t that neat,” Spike murmured. “Well, then you know I’m something of an expert on Slayers myself. An’ I’ll tell you this much-Buffy’s the best Slayer I’ve ever seen, an’ I saw more than the two I killed.”
Lydia blinked at the sudden change in tone, from smooth to sharp in no time flat. “Well, she seems a bit unorthodox.”
“Why do you think I never killed her?” Spike asked. “Had her on my fangs, so to speak, an’ never quite managed to do the deed. Girl’s the best there is, maybe the best there ever will be. Take it from an expert.” He smiled, suddenly warm. “Why don’t you tell me all about yourself, luv?”
His sudden change in tone had her flustered again. “I-well, there really isn’t anything very interesting to tell, you know. Not like you.” One of his comments suddenly registered. “You’ve seen more Slayers than just the two?”
“Certainly,” Spike replied. “Total of five. Was a bit busy when I ran into the other two, however. A bit-preoccupied, shall we say? If you wrote your thesis on William the Bloody, I would think you had some questions you were dyin’ to ask, an’ now’s your chance.” He was nearly purring at this point, really laying it on thick for the bint. Spike figured he’d make certain that at least one member of the Watcher’s Council would be putty in the Slayer’s very capable hands.
As Lydia blushed even more deeply, Spike smiled; he had her just where he wanted her.
Oh, yeah. The Big Bad hadn’t lost it.
~~~~~
Buffy put a shaky hand to her face. She hated the fact that the Council could put her under their thumb so easily. She hated that she hadn’t gotten a chance to call Spike and warn him that Watchers were on their way. Most of all, she hated that she had to play the Council’s silly little games while Glory was on the loose, after her sister, and in her house.
She had to figure out some place to stash her mom and sister while she went through with the freakin’ Watcher tests, and there was only one person she could think of.
And he wasn’t even talking to her right now.
“Mom, get some stuff together,” Buffy said. “You guys can’t stay here right now.”
There was one good thing about Dawn knowing her true identity; Glory showing up at the house, demanding her Key had put the fear of God into her. Buffy was actually pretty proud of her sister. In spite of seriousness of the situation, Dawn had been smart and sassy, which meant that Glory hadn’t a clue who Dawn really was at this point.
The ride over to the gallery was silent, no one knowing quite what to say. Buffy walked inside, Joyce and Dawn close on her heels. She watched as Spike looked up at the ringing of the bell. “Buffy? What’s wrong?”
“I need you to take mom and Dawn for a while, somewhere safe,” she said quickly. The Slayer grabbed him by the arm and pulled him into the back office. “Your apartment, or somewhere, I don’t know.”
“What happened?” he asked, seeing the near panic in her eyes.
Buffy looked away. “Glory was in my house, and I have to go do the Council’s tests. Someone has to look out for them.”
“Was anybody-No, ‘course they weren’t. You lot wouldn’t be here if somebody got hurt.” Spike let out his breath in a rush and ran a hand through his hair. “Bloody, buggerin’ hell,” he muttered. “Right then. Safe. My apartment or the old mansion, I s’pose. Those are the only two places I can think of.”
Buffy frowned, trying to think. “What’s the safest?”
“Mansion,” Spike said immediately. “Even if she’d find us, there’s lots of hidin’ places an’ more than one exit. Glory finds us in my place somehow, there’s no more than one way in or out.”
She nodded. “Mansion then. I’ll come get you guys when it’s safe.” The Slayer hesitated. “Did the Watchers come?”
Spike grinned broadly. “Yeah, an’ I gave ’em an earful. Told ’em you were the best Slayer that’s ever lived.”
“Oh, Spike.” Buffy suddenly grabbed him in a desperate hug. “I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry. I know you didn’t mean to tell Dawn, and I know you’re doing your best. I’m just-“
“Goin’ a bit crazy?” he suggested, his arms coming around to hold her. “Buffy-luv, these Watchers think they’ve got power over you, but you just remember-you’re the Slayer. Without the Slayer, Council’s redundant, nothin’. In the end, you’re the one with the power.”
They kissed, saying through their actions what they couldn’t put into words. “Knock ’em dead, Slayer.”
~~~~~
By the time Buffy got done dropping off Joyce and Dawn with Spike, she was already running a bit late for her appointment with Quentin Travers. (And just the thought of his name made Buffy wish horrible things on him.) It didn’t help that she was stopped on her way back to the Magic Box by rejects from the Renaissance fair.
The last thing she needed was more people out to kill her. Glory wanted to kill her to get to the Key. The random vampire and demon wanted to kill her because she was the Slayer. And now these freaks wanted her dead because she was protecting the Key.
She just couldn’t win.
Except that she could. She was, after all, the Slayer, as Spike had so kindly reminded her. Buffy could keep Dawn safe, defeat the bad guys, and send the Council packing. Because she was the Slayer.
Buffy was finally beginning to understand just what that meant.
It was with that understanding that she walked into the Magic Box full of confidence as to how the next few minutes were going to go. “You’re late,” Travers commented as she entered.
“Yeah.”
“Are you okay?” Giles asked, standing from his position on the stairs, seeing the sword in her hand. “Was there an attack?”
“Yeah,” Buffy replied.
Travers didn’t even seem to register that information. “Well, we can begin the review. We’ll skip the more obvious questions, and-“
“There’s not going to be a review,” Buffy said evenly.
“I beg your pardon?”
“There’s not going to be a review,” the Slayer repeated. “See, I’ve had all these people telling me how unimportant I am the last few days. Glory came to my house today-“
“Buffy!” Giles interrupted. “Are you-“
“I’m fine,” she said, waving off his concern. “She told me I was a flea, a bug, that she was going to squash me, but she didn’t. We had what in her world probably passes for a conversation, and that was it. You know why? Because I have something she wants.”
The Slayer’s eyes glittered. “I have what you want,” she told Travers. “You didn’t come here to figure out if I was good enough to be let back in. You wanted me to let you in. You might have the information, but as someone reminded me today, I’m the Slayer. I have the power. Without me, you can’t do jack.”
“This is beyond insolence-” one of the Watchers sputtered.
The sword quivering in the wall just inches from his nose shut him up pretty quickly. “Deal with it,” Buffy said. “So this is how it’s going to work. You’re going to give Giles his job back with pay-“
Giles cough didn’t quite hide the word “retroactively.”
“-retroactive to the month he was fired,” Buffy continued smoothly. “You’re going to give me all the information you have on Glory, and then you’ll contact me if you find anything else. And then me and my friends are going to go back to what we do best.”
It didn’t really come as a surprise to anyone that Buffy got exactly what she wanted.
~~~~~
Entry from Dawn’s diary:
Buffy got so freaked out when Glory appeared at our house today. I thought her head was going to explode or something. I knew she wanted me to leave, and then Glory saw me. And she was all like, “Your big sis has my Key.” And then I was all like, “My sister could kick your ass with one leg tied behind her.”
That probably doesn’t make a lot of sense out loud, but it sounded really cool in my head.
So now we’re in the really creepy mansion that Angel had, because Spike is supposed to be looking after Mom and me. It’s cool, though, since Spike’s here. I don’t think he could really do anything against Glory though. I mean, if Buffy’s scared of her, then she’s pretty tough, even though she doesn’t look like it.
I think they’ve pretty much made up now, though. I know Buffy was really upset with him for not lying to me about being the Key, but maybe it’ll be okay now. I hate it when they fight. It’s like when Mom and Dad fought, only worse, because now I know what it’ll feel like if Spike ever leaves.
~~~~~
They were downstairs on Buffy’s couch, with Joyce and Dawn safely asleep upstairs. “Thank you for keeping them safe today, Spike.”
“My pleasure, luv,” he replied. Spike was relishing the feel of her head on his shoulder, wondering how he could have even contemplated giving this up. There was nothing in the world that could make him leave. “Don’t know that I did all that much, though.”
“You were there,” she said. “Plus, that whole pep talk about the Council, telling me I had the power? You were right.”
Spike smiled. “I love it when you say that.”
“What? That you were right?” Buffy pulled back and looked him in the eye. “You were right about Dawn too, you know. It was better to tell her this way, especially if she was getting suspicious. And it definitely isn’t your fault she’s nosy. I’m blaming the monks.”
Spike cocked an eyebrow. “An’ you weren’t nosy at fifteen, luv?”
“Maybe a little,” Buffy admitted. “But that was with good cause.” She thought about it, and then added, “Which Dawn had too. I just hate that I can’t protect her from all of this. From being the Key, from Glory, everything. Glory’s a god, Spike. What am I supposed to do against a god?”
“I dunno,” he admitted. “But I imagine you’ll figure it out, Buffy. You’re the Slayer. ‘s what you do.”
“Are we good?” Buffy asked softly, a plaintive note in her voice. “I mean, you’d have every right to still be mad, but-“
“We’re good,” he said, giving her a kiss. “Love you, Buffy, even when you’re bein’ a bit of a bitch.”
She winced. “Yeah, I deserved that. I’ll see you tomorrow?”
“For certain.”
Spike didn’t go home after that. Instead, he went straight to Giles’ flat.
A very sleepy Giles answered the door. The newly reinstated Watcher was exhausted from the emotional roller-coaster of the last couple days. “Spike? Is everything okay?”
“Right now? Yeah,” Spike replied. “But I think we need to talk about Dawn. Might be wise to think about gettin’ out of Dodge.”
“Buffy would never-“
“Not Buffy,” Spike replied. “Dawn. I think we need to come up with a plan B.”