"Spike, why are you so quiet? It's not like you to be brooding like that," pouted Dawn.

Dawn had needed school supplies and shoes, and Spike had offered to take her to the mall after school that day. Buffy was working all day and he knew she wouldn't have time. He hated shopping, like any self-respecting man, but it would help the Nibblet and his Slayer, so he had volunteered to put up with it.

As he walked through the mall with the Nibblet, it disgusted him to see how many things he would do to please the Slayer. And worst of all, he liked it… He was really beginning to become like Peaches.

"Nothing, Nibblet. Nothing," he answered distantly.

She shrugged.

"Well, anyway, if you don't talk, I will… Which reminds me, I had to tell you about my friend Megan… She's so cool. The other day, we walked into our chemistry class and…"

Her sudden stop in flow of words made Spike look up.

"And what?" he asked, not really interested since he was hoping he could go back to brooding in peace.

Buffy had just put too many things on his mind, the night before, for him to really care about what was going on around him, unless it was about his Slayer.

"Oh Spike! Look!" said Dawn, looking at a window.

He looked at the window and saw a nice, light blue dress.

"That looks good, Little Bit," he said flippantly.

"I wish I had a dress like that for Homecoming," said Dawn sadly.

The sadness and resignation in Dawn's voice made Spike wince. He was well aware of the girls' money problems and he was pretty sure that Buffy wouldn't be able to pay for such a dress. Gently, he put his arm on Dawn' shoulder and pulled her away from the window. They brooded all the way back home.

***

This Thursday night was special. Buffy had decided to stay home with Dawn for the evening. They had rented a movie and ordered pizza. They hardly did that anymore since Buffy was now working long hours at the Magic Box, and slaying most of the night.

Dawn was glad that Buffy had finally quit the Doublemeat Palace. She hated the food there and Buffy always smelled bad when she came back home. Three weeks ago, Anya had offered her to work again at the Magic Box, throwing in a dollar an hour more than the Doublemeat Palace.

Anya had been desperate.

About three months prior, she had begun planning the opening of a second Magic Box in San Francisco. She’d figured to open the store in six months or so, but her plans had been pre-empted when Xander's company was awarded a very important and lucrative construction contract in the Bay area. They had to move to be near the site. Anya had had only one week to find somebody to help Willow with the operation of the Sunnydale store and, of course, her first choice, Tara, had already another well paying job.

When Anya had first approached Buffy, Buffy had said no, remembering very well how she had fared during her previous experience at the store. She also remembered how no one had seemed to believe her when she had told them that she had re-lived the same scene over and over again. Finally, Anya had offered her an extra dollar an hour to convince her. Seeing how desperate Anya really was, Buffy had set her own conditions and Anya had unhappily accepted them all. Buffy had began to work at the store the day Anya had left, to the delight of Willow who loved to spend time with her best friend.

But lately, Spike had told Dawn that for some unexplained reasons, the vampire population had seriously increased in the last few weeks, which made Buffy a lot busier. So Dawn knew that her sister would stay until she went to bed and hit the cemetery run afterwards.

Buffy was silently eating her pizza across from her, by the coffee table

"Buffy, what's wrong?" asked Dawn, unnerved by her sister's lack of conversation.

"Huh?" said Buffy looking up at her.

"You're quiet, like dead quiet," explained Dawn. "What's wrong?"

"I… I need to talk to you about something and… and I don't know how…" answered Buffy hesitantly.

"Wh-what is it?" she asked, afraid of the answer.

"See, we still have all these debts and… and we're obviously pretty much out of money. And I was thinking maybe… maybe it would be a good idea if… if we sell the house?"

Dawn looked at her pizza not really knowing what to say or think. The house was the only thing they had left, the only place she remembered ever staying… the only place she had in fact lived.

"You know, we could live a little better for a while," Buffy tried to convince her little sister. "And pay all the hospital bills. I could go back to college and then, I could get a job to pay for *your* college… I don't know. What do you think?"

At first, Dawn was pained that Buffy had thought about it, about moving away from the only thing that could remind her of their mother, but the pain was quickly replaced by resignation. What Buffy said made sense. Dawn remembered that a few months ago, she had told Xander that Buffy's life was over, that never she would be a doctor, or a lawyer, or a teacher, that she was condemned to be a professional looser just because she had to save the world on a weekly basis. And Dawn had found it so unfair that Buffy's dreams were shattered because she had to be the grown up, the mother and the Slayer. Buffy deserved a lot better than what she had. And she was right. With the money, Buffy could go back to school and earn a decent living.

Finally, resignation was replaced by sadness. Dawn loved that house. She never thought she would live anywhere else. She had so many good memories in this house, and so many bad ones also. Which brought hope to her sadness. Who knew, maybe this new place would be full of wonderful happy moments, and not too many sad ones.

"Dawn?" asked Buffy after a few seconds of silence.

Dawn looked at Buffy who was looking at her intently. She sadly smiled at her.

"I know you're right," sighed Dawn.

She could read the surprise on Buffy's face. Probably her sister had expected her to have a tantrum, but Dawn had matured in the last few months. Being taken away from Buffy by Social Services had made her grow up a lot. She had also realised the seriousness of their money problems, and she had seen how hard Buffy was working to prevent them from losing everything they had. As hard as she found it, Dawn had decided to do the best with what she had, and to not bother Buffy with petty wants and needs.

"But I would agree to sell the house only on one condition," said Dawn.

"What is it?" asked Buffy with a small voice.

"That you go back and finish college," answered Dawn seriously.

And she saw tears running down Buffy's face. Nowadays, school was crucial if you wanted a life that was even remotely good, and Dawn sincerely wished Buffy had a good life, the kind she really deserved, the kind Megan's sister would have. Buffy was her hero, she was everybody's secret saviour and she deserved a good and happy life.

"Buffy, I don't want you to be a clerk all your life," she explained. "I want you to become something, like Megan's sister… She'll be a lawyer, you know… And we'll be in college together in a little less then two years… That will be cool."

"Thank you, Dawn," said Buffy wiping her tears with the back of her hand.

Dawn smiled at her and resumed eating her pizza. Her sister smiled and went back to her pizza also. They smiled at each other and resumed eating their pizza.

"Will there be room for Spike to move in with us in our new place?" asked Dawn in her own teenager way, after a few minutes of silence.

"Would you like to?" asked Buffy with a small voice.

"Yes," answered Dawn. "I really like him, you know. He cooks good breakfast and dinners… I wonder if he would want to make my lunches too."

"I have to admit, seeing Spike in the kitchen is kind of funny," said Buffy laughing.

"Yeah!" answered Dawn smiling. "And what about Willow and Tara? Where are they gonna live if we sell the house?"

"Willow told me not to worry about them… I think they'll try to move into Giles’ condo over by the Magic Box," answered Buffy.

Dawn would have liked to move there but the condo was too small for two people… and a vampire. It only had one bedroom.

"You think we can find a place to stay along Main Street?" asked Dawn.

"Is it where you would like us to move?"

"Yeah! I would kind of like it," answered Dawn.

"Then, that's where we'll look," answered Buffy smiling. "I have to admit that it would make commuting to work a lot easier."

"You like the whole idea, don't you?" asked Dawn suddenly serious.

"Of selling the house? Not really… But if it means improving our life conditions, I think it's the best thing to do," answered Buffy.

Dawn smiled. She knew at that moment that they would do just fine.

***

"Now, remember, Dawn," said a very nervous Buffy. "No walking home alone and no riding with drunk or stoned drivers. You have your list with you?"

"Yes, Buffy! Don't worry," answered Dawn, smiling and walking toward the entrance of the Bronze.

"Okay, now go have fun! And don't forget to page me! And watch out for vampires!"

"Okay," she answered before walking in.

She had finally made it! Her first night at the Bronze without adult supervision!

"Have fun, Little Bit!" she heard Spike say as she walked in.

Dawn made her way through the crowd looking for Megan when she inadvertently walked in the middle of Kristy's circle of friends.

"Oh! Look who's here! *Dawnie*! So, your sister finally let you out of her sight!" said Kristy in her own nasty way.

Dawn profoundly disliked Kristy. Not only was she the head of the cheerleaders, she was also the biggest gossip at school. And she was totally brainless. Dawn had hoped she wouldn't run into her tonight but, of course, since the Bronze was *the* hangout place, it was inevitable.

'Stupid me! I should have looked out for that *spider*!' thought Dawn.

"Oh! Really!" answered Dawn out loud, looking behind her innocently. "I thought she was still following me!"

Kristy was about to say something else when Damian walked by.

All the girls at school really liked Damian. He was so cute with his big blue eyes and his unruly dark blond hair. He was also a football player, which meant in Dawn's mind, that he had eyes only for the cheerleaders.

"Oh! Damian!" said Kristy, stopping him by grabbing his arm. "You came! This is so nice of you!"

'Like you own the place!' thought Dawn, smiling as if the thought had never crossed her mind.

"Did you see that? *Dawnie* here has been able to join us. Isn't that sweet! Her sister finally decided to let her out at night!" said Kristy.

Dawn lost her smile. She was mortified. This was by far the most humiliating night of her life.

'He'll think I'm a wimp!' she thought, looking at Damian.

Like every other girls, Dawn was not indifferent to Damian's looks. And she liked him for his mind too. They had an English class together and they had teamed up for their homework. Dawn hadn’t believed her luck that day.

She had been in this English class with none of her friends in the group. She had felt so alone. When the teacher had told them to team up for their assignments, she had shyly looked around, not really knowing what to do or who to team up with. She didn't really know anybody in this class, except for Damian who everybody knew anyway. He had teamed up with three of his friends. They had talked for a while when she saw him nod and look around. He had seen her. He had walked to her desk and sat next to her.

"Hey, listen! The teacher said we should be five for these assignments and we…" he looked at his friends who had joined him. "We thought maybe you would like to join us."

Dawn could not believe he would actually ask *her* to join *his* team. She had smiled at him and accepted.

"See, our *Dawnie* here has this thing that makes her sister thinks she is still thirteen… Which she *is*, really!" said Kristy, bringing Dawn back to the ugliness of the situation she now found herself in.

"Kristy!" said Damian visibly tired of her babbling and getting angry at her offensiveness. "That's enough! Don't you think you've insulted enough people for one day?"

Dawn's jaw dropped. Nice and gentlemanly Damian had stood up to Kristy.

Damian had been all that Kristy had talked about for the last two years. She had threatened every girl that had come within 2 feet of Damian, which had made him relatively out of reach to the other girls at school. And no one in their right mind would want the nasty attention of Kristy and her friends.

Dawn had learned that in the past, Damian hadn't minded her claim to him because instead of dealing with a crowd of girls, he only had to push one away, when she got to be too much. But Dawn had overheard, at one of her study sessions, that Damian had been increasingly annoyed by Kristy's attitude lately. Girls were beginning to interest him but Kristy was so intimidating that no girls, except for the girls in his little group, dared talk to him.

Dawn was shocked back into reality when Damian took her hand in his.

"I think we have a better place to be, don't you think, Dawn?" he said, looking right at Kristy.

Dawn was still so surprised, that she realised Damian had started walking away only when he pulled on her. He brought her to the table where his friends were waiting for him. Most of them she knew already, being part of her English class team, or hanging around them when they were working at the library.

"You want to sit?" asked Damian, showing her the bench his friends had obviously kept for him.

"Thanks…" said Dawn, taking the seat. "And thanks for your help over there."

"Oh! That's nothing… She's been a bitch for so long, it was time for me to straighten things out with her… You just happened to give me the perfect excuse for it," he added smiling.

Dawn smiled back at him and was about to tell him something when her friend Megan arrived.

"Dawn! You came! I'm so glad you could make it!" she said hugging her.

"Yes. My sister thinks that being a Junior has its privileges, which includes coming to the Bronze," said Dawn smiling.

"See, I told you she wasn't *that* bad… She's just like my mom," said the tall black girl with a smile.

Dawn saw Damian look at them with great interest.

"Oh! Megan, you know Damian, right?" asked Dawn pointing at Damian.

"Yes. Hi!" said Megan.

"And this is Genny, Mark, Evan, and Cindy," introduced Dawn showing the other people at the table.

"Hi!" said Megan.

And she turned back to Dawn.

"So, how is your sister anyway? Is she done with the Doublemeat Palace yet?"

"She's good. And yes, she's so done. Did I tell you that her boyfriend has practically moved in with us?"

"That Spike guy?" asked Megan smiling. "No kidding?"

"Your parents don't have a problem with…" Damian began to ask.

He interrupted himself when Dawn lost her smile and looked at the floor.

"I… I don't have parents," answered Dawn soberly. "My mom died two years ago and my father doesn't want to know anything about us," said Dawn, hurt to be reminded of her lack of parental figures.

"Oh, Dawn! I am so sorry!" said Damian, putting his hands on her shoulders. "God! I'm such a total idiot!"

"No," said Dawn sadly. "You didn't know."

Looking at him, Dawn could not help but see a fuming Kristy from the corner of her eyes.

"But it's okay," said Dawn smiling. "Let's talk about something nicer."

Damian took his hands away from Dawn's shoulders, and took her hand in his again. He squeezed it gently and smiled at her.

'Wow!' thought Dawn. 'That's something!'

***

"Dawn, I meant to talk to you about something for a while and… and I never seem to find the courage to bring the subject up," said Damian shyly.

"Well, what is it?" asked Dawn nervously.

Damian took a deep breath.

They were both sitting by themselves in the library where they were working on their homework. Their three team mates had taken a break and gone to the cafeteria. In the meantime, Damian was helping Dawn with her algebra. Dawn and Damian had been seeing each other quite a bit over the last month and she had begun to see that not only was he cute, athletic and smart, but that she had fit very well into his circle of friends.

"Damian?" asked Dawn worried at his hesitation.

"I… I wanted to tell you how deeply sorry I am," he said.

"What for?" asked Dawn surprised.

"Because of your parents… I really didn't know, and I didn't mean to hurt you."

"Damian, you've been thinking about that for a month?" asked Dawn surprised.

"Yeah! Kind of," he said shyly. "I just didn't find the right moment to talk to you about it. And I thought it was important for me to tell you that I was sorry."

"Oh! That's okay, really," said Dawn looking at the floor.

"Is it hard?" he asked after a few seconds of silence. "If you don't want to talk about it, it's okay," he added quickly.

"No. You know, sometimes talking about it makes it a little easier," said Dawn smiling sadly at him.

She had never talked about it to anybody except the Scoobies, Spike and Megan, and even now she had given him that answer only to make him feel better. Talking about her parents was never easy.

"My father left my mom before I was five, when he promptly walked out of our life. My mom suddenly died two years ago of an aneurysm after a brain surgery," explained Dawn.

"You know, my mother also left us before I was five… I don't even have a picture of her. I wish I could know what really happened between my parents, and to her," confided Damian.

"Your father, he doesn't tell you?" asked Dawn relieved to redirect the conversation towards his family instead of hers.

"No. He always evades the question, or anything related to her for that matter. You know, sometimes, I really wish I could find out where she is… And I wish I could talk to her and ask her why she left," said Damian sincerely.

"You know, my sister has this friend, Willow, and she's really good at finding information about people. If one day, you want to, I could ask her to look for your mother."

"You would?" asked Damian with hope in his eyes.

"Yeah! Sure. Just let me find out what information she needs to start her search and we'll be on it!" said Dawn smiling.

"Oh! Thanks, Dawn!" he said hugging her.

They let go of each other and began to pull apart. Then their eyes met and slowly, their lips also met. Damian never thought that kissing a girl would be as nice and exciting. Dawn never thought that kissing a living guy would feel so warm and soft. They looked at each other, smiling shyly. They resumed their math homework, sitting closer to one another.

***

"Did you see her? She's only after him for his money! Everybody knows she's poor and he's rolling in money… I'm telling you, she's a gold digger," heard Dawn as she walked past Kristy who was looking at her pointedly.

"What is she talking about?" asked Dawn to Megan who was walking right next to her.

"I have no idea," answered Megan. "And since when do you listen to her, anyway?"

Dawn felt very awkward. She had the nagging impression everybody was looking at her weirdly.

Megan left to go to her class and Dawn walked to the cafeteria where Damian was having lunch at his usual table, with his friends.

"Hi!" said Damian smiling at her. "How are you?"

"I'm okay," she answered sitting on the chair next to him. "You know, I talked to Willow last night and she told me what she would need to start looking for your mom."

"Oh! That's great! What does she…"

"Damian! Are you coming? You know we have a football meeting! And Coach won't be happy if we're late," interrupted Mark.

"Yep! Just a minute!" answered Damian. "What do you need to know?" he asked Dawn.

"Your mom and dad’s name, and preferably all of your birthdays," answered Dawn, giving him a pen and a pad.

"I don't know my mom's," said Damian.

"That's okay. Willow said it's easier if you have it but if you don't, it's okay too."

Damian grinned and wrote down what she asked.

"Come on, Damian!" insisted Mark.

Damian jotted down the names and dates, and gave the pad and pen back to Dawn before leaving .

"Did you girls listen to the news last night?" asked Genny to Cindy and Dawn.

"No, why?" asked Cindy.

"His father," said Genny looking at Damian's retreating back.

"What about him?" asked Dawn curious.

"He just got the biggest state construction contract ever!" said Genny. "They say he'll be making millions and millions of dollars."

"He *is* already so filthy rich," said Cindy. "Don't you girls think he could share?" she joked.

"What are you guys talking about?" asked Dawn confused.

"Dawn, don't tell us you don't know," said Cindy smiling. "Damian's father is a millionaire."

Dawn's eyes became big with surprise and… horror. She was poor, poorer than that girl in 'Pretty in Pink'… And she didn't think she would remotely be able to have an half- decent dress for Homecoming. And he was rich? Like millionaire rich? That meant he could have everything he wanted…

And then she remembered the way people were looking at her in the hallway. Everybody though she was with him for his money. She knew now what Kristy had meant earlier, when she was walking in the corridor with Megan...

Abruptly, Dawn stood up, interrupting the two chatting girls.

"Sorry," said Dawn awkwardly. "I’ve got to go."

And she left as fast as her shaking legs could take her..

***

Damian was at his locker taking his books out for his next class. Sadly, his eyes found Dawn's picture on his door, the one Cindy had taken one afternoon, when they were sitting outside, and he traced her smiling face with his finger. She hadn't talked to him in a week and she didn't even come to their group study anymore, which she had seemed to enjoy so much before. He knew something had made her walk away from him but he didn't know what. He hoped that it was not because of his friends. He didn't think it would be like them but somebody could have told her something that hurt her inadvertently, she was so sensitive. All his friends knew how much he liked her. She was so nice and funny, and she didn't treat him like an untouchable icon.

But now, she was avoiding them, avoiding him. He had seen her change direction in the hall when she saw him. He was so distressed by her behaviour that he had spent entire evenings brooding, and trying to find out what he might have done to push her away.

He closed his locker door and saw her coming up the stairs. Purposely, he walked towards her: he wanted to know what was going on. When she saw him, she turned around and ran down the stairs. This time, Damian had no intention of letting her go.

He caught up with her in the girl’s locker room. He was so desperate to be with her again that he had walked right in there after her. Even if the room was empty at this hour, he knew that if he got caught, he would surely be suspended for a week.

He found her, sitting on a bench with her face in her hands. She was crying.

"Dawn, what's wrong?" he asked worried.

"Go away!" she said, somewhat surprised to see he had followed her.

"No!" he said. "Not this time. I want to know what's wrong."

"Nothing's wrong."

"Then why are you crying? And why have you been running away from me for the last week?"

Damian, as hurt as he was, felt a pinch of anger in him. He loved that girl and he simply could not understand why she would ignore him so.

"Dawn, what's wrong? Why aren't you coming to lunch with us anymore?" he asked again after a few seconds of silence, sitting next to her.

"I've been busy," lied Dawn.

"Dawn, look at me," said Damian gently. "Tell me what's wrong."

"You're rich, okay! That's what's wrong!" she yelled back at him.

"What does *that* have to do with anything?" asked Damian totally confused.

"Well, news flash! I'm poor! Not only am I poor, I'm Salvation Army poor! And people talk. They say I'm with you for your money… Some even say I sleep with you for it!"

"No," whispered Damian, hurt by her words.

"And I don't want people to think I'm that way… I don't want *you* to see me that way… I don't want you to think I want to be your friend because you have money! I don't want your friends to look at me like the poor *trash* I am," she said with a broken voice.

"Oh Dawn, baby!" said Damian taking her hands in his. "You're not trash… And I don't see you that way. You're nice, and funny, and I love to be with you. You respect me for who I am and you don't see me as a super hero, or a football player, or a rich kid for that matter. You see me as me, and that's why I want to be with you. I don't see you as a poor kid or a slut, I see you as the wonderful person you are. I would give everything I have to be with you, if that's what it takes. I don't want you to listen to people like Kristy… She *is* so jealous of you, she can hardly breathe. She can't even imagine that I could prefer somebody other than her," he added in a lighter voice, which made a sad smile appear on Dawn's face. "Dawn, please don't listen to them, and come back to me. I miss you."

Dawn took refuge in his arms. After a few minutes, they stood up and Dawn dried her eyes laughing.

"Everybody will think I'm a wimp," she said.

"No," said Damian smiling, caressing the side of her face. "You're not."

And he kissed her sweetly.

"Come on, let's go before somebody finds us and we get in trouble," he whispered, caressing her cheek gently.

Taking her hand in his, Damian walked to the door. They went to the cafeteria where Damian's friends were waiting for him.

"Dawn!" Cindy beamed. "We haven't seen you in a while. I missed you!"

"Sorry," said Dawn happy with Cindy's comment. "I had some things to take care of."

"What happened? Your eyes are all red," asked Genny.

"Allergies," answered Damian for her.

Dawn smiled at him fondly.

"Dawn, I forgot to ask you something," said Damian to her once they were sitting, and the others were not paying attention to them.

"What?" asked Dawn.

Damian took both her hands in his.

"Dawn, would you come to the Homecoming dance with me?"

Dawn looked at him surprise. One week away from the dance, she thought he would already have somebody to go with. Then, remembering her financial situation, she looked at their joined hands sadly.

"I… I… I can't," she whispered. "I… I don't have anything to wear."

Damian knew she would not want him to pay for her, for anything, especially with the conversation they just had. Dawn was a proud girl and wouldn't take or want charity from anybody.

"Then we'll both go in jeans," he said mischievously.

Dawn laughed.

"Okay," she said smiling. "Then, yes! I'll go with you."

~ ~ Chapter 3 ~ ~

"So now we've got your shoes, your socks and your shirts. Are we missing anything else?" asked Buffy.

Dawn and Buffy had gone to the mall to finish the shopping Dawn had begun with Spike the other day.

"Nothing, really," added Dawn distracted.

Buffy looked in the same direction as Dawn and saw it: a wonderful light blue dress that would be so perfect for Dawn's Homecoming Dance.

"Let's go try it," said Buffy smiling.

"I can't, Buffy… We can't afford it," said Dawn sadly.

"It doesn't mean you can't try it," said Buffy, pulling her toward the store.

They walked in the store where an old lady walked towards them.

"May I help you?" she asked, looking down her nose at them.

"Yes!" said Buffy, not in the less taken aback by the woman attitude. "My sister here wants to try *that* dress there."

"I see," said the lady looking severely at Dawn from head to toes.

Dawn looked away embarrassed by the woman scrutiny. It cruelly reminded her of when she told Damian, the day before, how poor she was. She was also embarrassed to walk in this obviously high-class high price store with bags from Payless Shoes and Marshall’s.

"I think a size four should do," said the woman. "Follow me."

A few minutes later, Dawn was looking at herself in the mirror of the dressing room. She couldn't believe how wonderful the dress looked on her. For once in her life, she could look at herself in the mirror, and find that she was actually pretty, not too big, not too small.

"Dawn, are you done?" asked Buffy from the other side of the fitting room door.

"Just a minute," answered Dawn.

She looked at the price tag and it broke her heart. She knew Buffy would never be able to pay for something so expensive.

"It doesn't fit very well," lied Dawn.

She didn't want her sister to see the dress on her. She didn't want her sister to be reminded that she was back on earth and poor like they never imagined they could be. It would break her heart, as it did hers.

"Let me see," said Buffy.

Reluctantly, Dawn opened the door and Buffy gasped.

"Oh, Dawn! You look so pretty!" she said, so moved that tears came to her eyes.

Dawn hugged her, glad that at least the sales woman was away and wasn't witnessing their misery.

"Don't worry, it's okay," said Dawn sadly.

Buffy let her go and smiled sadly.

"I'll go change," said Dawn soberly.

The money Giles had given them was long gone with all her mother's hospital bills and the normal day life expenses, and Buffy's job at the Doublemeat Palace had been barely enough to put food on the table. She was now working at the Magic Box, which was, in Dawn's mind, a huge improvement, but not enough to allow her to pay for a $300 dress.

A few minutes later, Dawn walked out of the dressing room and they left. The ride home was silent, like when she had seen the dress for the first time with Spike.

***

"I hate my life so much!" cried Buffy, sitting on the bed in Spike's crypt.

She had barged into his crypt just before the sun had gone down. She had been so upset. The only thing she could think about was to fight, punch something, break everything. Spike had barely been able to stop her before she destroyed everything in his crypt. He was now holding her strongly in his arms.

"Luv! What's going on?" he asked worried.

He never had seen her so utterly upset since he had known her. During her tantrum, she hadn't even told him what had disturbed her so much.

"I hate my miserable self! My miserable life! My miserable future!" she said, hitting his chest with her clenched fist to punctuate what she was telling him.

"Why? What happened?"

"We went to the mall today…" began Buffy sobbing.

And Spike knew before she told him what had happened.

The light blue dress.

"… And Dawn saw this dress in a window," continued Buffy.

"Light blue?" asked Spike quietly.

"Yes…" answered Buffy. "And we walked in the store, and there was this old woman that looked at us as if we were demons. 'Can I help you?' she said. And when I told her that Dawn wanted to try the dress, she gave her that look, that look that said: 'What would a low life like you want to do with a nice dress like this?' And she said coldly: 'I think a four would do,' like we were only dirt!

"Spike, Dawn was *so* pretty in that dress. She looked like a princess. This dress, it was made for *her* but… but I could never ever afford it. And I feel *so* bad. Dawn deserves better than this, she deserves better than living in poverty without any nice things. She doesn't even have a lipstick to herself!" finished Buffy, crying again.

"And Nibblet? What did she say?" asked Spike gently.

"She didn't say anything!" said Buffy. "If at least she had gotten mad at me or something, it would have been a bit better. But no! She just told me: 'Don't worry, Buffy. It's okay,' and walked away. But Spike, it's not okay. She looked so sad. She deserves pretty clothes, nice earrings, new shoes, and her own make-up… But I just can’t afford it!"

Buffy was sobbing so loud, Spike didn't know what to say. He rocked her gently.

"Ssh! Ssh! Luv! Things will get better, I promise you."

"How can they?" said Buffy defeated.

Spike hated to see her this way… And, if not from the 'almost non-existent' evilness of his heart, he knew what he had to do.

***

It was right before dawn when Spike left Buffy's house where he had spent the night. He left right before they would wake up so they wouldn't see him go to the basement. He wanted to give Buffy the money but he knew she was too proud to accept it. He just could not understand for the life of him why he would give it to her anyway. It was his head the Initiative had messed up with, not hers. But Buffy had messed up with his heart, and obviously, it was almost worse.

'And she needs it. I don't,' he tried to rationalise with himself.

So he had resigned himself to give her the money discreetly, little by little, by hiding it in her wallet. That had been ironic: his thief skills now served him putting money into a wallet instead of taking it out of it.

But this time around, he had to do more. He couldn't let Dawn go to Homecoming without a proper dress. When he was young and still alive, Homecoming didn't exist so it still didn't mean a lot to him, but obviously, it was very important for teenagers these days. And whom was he kidding? He wanted the Nibblet to have pretty things, like his own little sister used to. It was not as if he was doing it out of goodness of his heart. That bint at the store really needed a lesson… And that aspect of his little trip to the mall was worth it.

He had gone to his crypt to wait for dusk. He had a lot of cleaning to do anyway, after Buffy outburst the previous day. Dawn had dropped by late that afternoon and had told him the story about the dress too. She had left right before sundown, telling him that she and Buffy would be at the Magic Box until 10pm, if he cared to join them there.

Spike could not have hoped for something more perfect for his little surprise. He almost hoped the Slayer would get upset with him for spending so much money on them and kick his ass, giving him a good workout. But again, maybe he didn't want her to be upset. She was so pretty when she smiled at him… Anyway, Spike thought, it was all worth it, workout or not, if only to see a smile on the Nibblet's teary face… and the fear in the sales-bint’s eyes.

As soon as the sun was down, Spike walked to his car and drove to the mall.

When he walked into the store, the lady behind the counter looked at him from head to toe and gave him one of these snob looks. Spike knew immediately that this old chick was the one Buffy had described the night before and he had to remind himself of the pain he would have to bear if he was to hit her arrogant face.

"Sir. I'm sorry but we do not dress men," she said visibly repulsed by Spike's looks.

He walked to the counter, looking dangerous, and showed $500 to the bint.

"I want *that* dress," said Spike pointing at the window. "Size four!"

"Oh! Certainly!" said the woman with a smile suddenly appearing on her face.

"And I want a pretty shirt to go over it, stockings, and nice gold earrings," he added authoritatively.

The woman shivered. Spike meant business and he meant it now. She started to walk away but Spike stopped her, grabbing her arm. He knew that his coldness would send a chill through her and he wanted to get back at her for what she had done to his Slayer and the Nibblet, for how she had made them feel 'inadequate'.

"And I want these sandals," he added pointing at a pair of nice white, high heeled sandals.

Decidedly, this store had everything, thought Spike.

"Wh-what size?" asked the woman, visibly uncomfortable.

"I don't know," said Spike flippantly. "You remember the poor little girl that came with her sister yesterday?" he asked still with an impudent attitude. "You know, the one that looked like she got her clothes from second hand stores? Well, lady! You. Do. The. Math!"

Spike released her hand and the lady hurriedly walked away, definitely paler.

"Oh! And I want it in a nice box, wrapped, and with a bow on top!" said Spike with a smug grin.

A few minutes later, the lady was back at the counter with what Spike had requested. Slowly, he inspected every piece of clothing, like he had done when he had chosen dresses for Drusilla. He also looked at the size of the sandals.

'She's good,' he thought about the old woman. 'A bint, but good.'

He had looked at Dawn's shoe size before he had left. He hadn't told the lady because he took a devilish pleasure in scaring her. Anyway, she had no rights to look at *his* girls from a pedestal.

He paid cash, clacking every one of his bills in his fingers before putting them on the counter in front of the woman. With shaky hands, the woman wrapped everything and Spike left with his typical smug grin on his face.

He stopped by the flower shop, on his way out of the mall, and bought a bouquet of wild flowers for Buffy.

Satisfied, he drove to Buffy's house. It was still early and he knew they would still be at the Magic Box. He opened the front door with his key and put what he had bought on the dining table. He went to the kitchen with the card that came with the flowers and got a pen.

'To my princesses, with love,' he wrote.

He put the card with the flowers and he left, locking the door behind him.

***

"So, it doesn't look to bad, working at the Magic Box," said Dawn smiling as she walked in the house.

"No… It's a *lot* better than working at the Doublemeat Palace, for sure."

"And you smell a lot better too," laughed Dawn.

She turned on the light and walked in the dining room.

"Buffy?" she called.

"Yes, what…" said Buffy walking in after her.

She saw the table and stopped. She looked at Dawn puzzled and walked to it. She took the card from the flowers and read it.

"What is it?" asked Dawn.

"It's for us," answered Buffy, giving her the card with a sweet smile, and picking up the flowers.

She smelled them, closing her eyes. He had remembered: these were her favourite.

"You’re not going to open the box?" asked Dawn, assuming it was for her sister.

"Just a minute," she said, smelling the flowers again.

She gave the flowers to her sister, and untied the bow. She opened the box, and moved the fine silk paper aside.

"Oh! Dawn!" she said moved. "This is not for me… It's for you!"

Puzzled, Dawn looked in the box. Her breath caught in her throat.

"Oh!… Oh!" she succeeded in saying. "He… he got that for me? Buffy…"

Tears were running down her eyes when she looked at her sister. Buffy's eyes were also full of tears.

"Buffy… It's so kind of him," she said hugging her sister.

"I know," said Buffy as happy as Dawn.

"I have to try it," said Dawn, smiling and whipping her tears away with the back of her hands.

"Yes. Let's go upstairs," said Buffy, taking the flowers from her sister's hands.

Dawn took the box and walked upstairs followed by Buffy who smelled the flowers again.

A few minutes later, Dawn had the dress on and was admiring herself in the mirror. From the bed, Buffy was looking at her, smelling the flowers from time to time.

Buffy had no idea where Spike had gotten the money, but she was so glad to see Dawn in her new dress that she didn't care. Dawn was happy… like every 16 year old had a right to be.

"Mom would be so proud of you," said Buffy smiling sadly at her sister.

"Oh! Buffy!" said Dawn teary again.

She took refuge in her sister's arms.

"I still miss her so much, even after all this time," said Dawn.

"Me too, Dawnie," said Buffy with tears in her eyes. "But it's not the time to cry. If we do, we'll have to redo our make-up."

Laughing nervously, Dawn walked away from her sister.

"We have to call Spike to ask him to come over and see me," said Dawn excitedly.

"I think that won't be necessary," said Buffy distantly.

"What? He's coming?" asked Dawn surprised.

Buffy didn't even have time to nod. They heard the front door open and close.

"Slayer? Nibblet? Are you in here?" he called from downstairs.

"Up here!" called Buffy smiling lovingly.

"Buffy, how did you know it was him and not another vampire?" asked Dawn visibly puzzled.

Buffy didn't know what to answer her. She had lately developed an awareness of Spike which puzzled her also. Most of the time, her slayer sense would not allow her to determine which vampire was approaching, unless it was Angel. But Angel had always been a particular case: he had a soul. But now, with Spike, somehow, it was gradually becoming different. She just knew he was there, or nearby, and the more time she spent with him, the further away she could feel him, almost to the point of sometimes feeling him from her house all the way to his crypt. She hadn't told her friends about it. She didn't want them to fuss over her to find the whys and ifs.

'Soul mates?' she wondered.

With Angel, it never was that way. But again, Angel was ages ago, when she was young, before she died, the second time. Maybe Angel and her were never soul mates... Or maybe they were and her relationship with Spike was of another nature completely.

"Wow! Nibblet! You are breathtaking!" said an astonished vampire as he walked in the room.

"Thanks," said Dawn hugging him. "You're the best."

"It's nothing, Bit! Anything to make you happy."

He looked at Buffy over Dawn's head. She smiled back at him happy that he would do something like that for Dawn. He let Dawn go and looked at her again.

"Are the shoes okay?" he asked.

"They're perfect!" she answered. "How did you know?"

"Well, I threatened the old bint at the store," he answered with a smug grin.

Buffy rolled her eyes and Dawn laughed.

"Bit, you have a date, I hope?" asked Spike serious.

"Oh! Damian! I have to tell him not to wear jeans!" said Dawn excited.

Spike frowned and Buffy laughed a sincere heart-felt laugh.

"Can I call him?" Dawn asked Buffy.

Buffy knew Dawn wasn't asking for permission. She always called whomever she wanted, whenever she wanted. No, her sister was dismissing them.

"Sure," said Buffy walking towards Spike. "Willow will get here in a few minutes, and we'll go on patrol. So don't stay up too late and be careful not to damage your dress."

Dawn rolled her eyes and Buffy walked out of the room followed by Spike. She walked to her room and he followed her, closing the door behind him. As soon as she heard the door close, she turned around and ran into his arms.

"Oh Spike! Thank you so much!" she said with a broken voice.

"Luv! It's nothing, really," he said caressing her hair.

The self-satisfied feeling that he felt so often before didn't manifest itself and that puzzled him. No, this time around, he was only feeling sincere joy at seeing her happy.

Buffy didn't ask him where he got the money, she was too afraid she wouldn't like the answer. And at this moment, she only wanted to be with him, she didn't want to be mad at him. What he had done was so… nice and selfless.

She looked at him and his lips met hers. Their kisses were getting more passionate when they heard the front door close.

"We've got to go patrol," said Buffy reluctantly, regaining her senses.

"I know," said Spike, looking lovingly at her eyes and biting his lower lip.

"Let's do it, quick," said Buffy, taking his hand in hers and walking out of the door.

***

With nervous fingers, Dawn dialled Damian's cellular phone number.

"Hello?" answered a masculine voice that sounded pretty much like Damian.

"Damian?" she asked.

"Speaking!"

"It's Dawn!" she said excited. "Were you asleep?"

"No, not really. What's up?"

"You would never, ever believe what just happened to me!"

"What happened?"

"Spike… You know my sister's boyfriend?"

"Yeah! The guy who's moving with you?"

"Yes, the one and only. Guess what he did!"

"What did he do?"

"He bought me a dress for Homecoming!!! Oh, Damian! You should see it! I don't know where he got the money and I don't care. I'm just so happy!"

"Wow! Does that mean we won't be wearing jeans?"

Dawn laughed happily.

"Yes, unless you really want to!"

***

Nervously, Dawn walked into the school after kissing her sister and Spike goodbye. She knew Damian would be there. He had told her he would be waiting for her in the lobby.

She walked in and saw him, glancing at the displays along the wall. He looked wonderful. She took the time to observe him before approaching. He still had his unruly hair but he was wearing a black suit that made him look older and breathtaking. The little red bow at his neck reminded Dawn of his joyful personality and his youth, which the black suit had hidden somehow.

He turned around and his eyes met hers. He stayed there, his hands in his pockets, his jaw hanging open. Dawn walked toward him smiling. He smiled back at her, eyeing her hungrily.

"Dawn, you're… you're so beautiful," he said impressed, once she was next to him.

"You like?" she asked with a little voice.

"No," he said very seriously.

Dawn's smile left her lips.

"I… I totally love it!" he said, sincerely and appreciatively looking at her.

Dawn's smile came back on her face.

"You're magnificent," he said again, walking around her.

Dawn blushed under his attention and stared at the ground shyly. He stopped in front of her and raised her chin so he could look at her eyes.

"Dawn, do you realise you *are* the prettiest girl in all Sunnydale?" he asked seriously. "Even when you're wearing jeans?"

Dawn beamed and let him kiss her. He then gave her his arm.

"Would you please, pretty lady, be my date for tonight?" he asked smiling.

"Of course, gentle Sir," she answered amused and happy.

She put her arm in his and together, they walked toward the dance.

Continued...