Buffy sat up, dazed.  Where was she?  She looked around in confusion,
before realizing she had slept on the couch in Giles' living room.
She growled a bit as she thought of her bed, in her room, in her
house.  The one she was denied because Spike wanted his girls to be
safe.  His girls.  She thought indignantly, Willow was her best
friend and Dawn was her sister.  Hers, not Spike's.  Like the
chipless wonder could protect her sister.  Buffy's stomach turned
over as she remembered the events of last night.  The scene ran
through her head like a really bad film, "I removed your chip."  Oh
my God, Spike didn't have a chip.  How in the world had she managed
to miss that one?  Giles had to be told at once.  The vampire had
invitations into all their homes.  He lived with her little sister
for crying out loud.

She bounced off the couch and ran up the stairs.  As she pounded on
Giles' door, she yelled at the top of her lungs.  She had to get Dawn
and Willow out of her house!  It wasn't safe for either of them.
Giles' tousled head emerged through the slightly opened door.  He
shook his head, trying to clear it of sleep-induced fuzz, and to also
absorb what the slayer was saying.  Finally, he extended one hand in
the gesture for stop that bobbies used so often.

He stepped through the door, clad in a white tee shirt and grey sweat
pants.  "Buffy, if you don't stop yelling and calm down, I won't be
able to understand you.  Now take a few deep breaths.  Good, now what
are you going on about?"

"I just remembered!  Willow told Spike that she had removed his chip
last night.  She said she hadn't told anyone and that it was so he
could better protect the Key.  Giles, my sister and my best friend
are in a house with a vampire who can bite.  We've got to get them
out of there.  NOW!"

"Spike's chip has been removed?  I wonder how Willow was able to
effect that?"

"Does it really matter how?  The point is he's with Dawn and Willow
and he can bite.  They aren't safe with him.  We have to get them out
of there."

"Buffy, I tend to think you're over reacting.  Spike truly loves
Willow and he's wonderful with Dawn.  I think if she wanted him to
take up sun bathing, he would.  I seriously doubt he would bite
either of them.  In fact, in some ways, it's not a bad idea.  I just
wish she had told us, so we could have had some precautions in
place."  The British shopkeeper looked thoughtful.

The slayer gaped at him in utter shock.  "You trust that bleached
blood sucker with Dawn and Willow?  My  Dawn and Willow?  Have you
gone completely nuts?"

"No, I haven't er ... Buffy.  I think I know my own universe and the
people in it very well indeed.  Please remember that I see the
interaction between Spike and the girls on a regular basis, while you
have memories and one short period of time observing them.  What was
Spike's reaction to having you in the house?"

The tiny blonde indignantly snorted, "He acted like I'd hurt them.
As if I would or could hurt Dawn.  I was willing to die for her."

"Yes, in your universe you were. Here, Buffy did die for her. But, we
don't know you.  I, on the other hand do know, and to a certain
extent trust, Spike.  And in this case, I'm the better judge of the
situation."

"But Giles ... "

"No buts, I'm sure both Dawn and Willow are perfectly safe.  Now, I'm
going to get dressed and see about getting some breakfast ready.  I
suggest you calm down, and consider the reality as opposed to the way
you remember things."  The door shut with a sharp click in the irate
blonde's face.

The Summers Home

Spike stood in front of the stove, competently flipping eggs with a
spatula.  The island in the kitchen was set for breakfast for two.
Spike's coffee mug flanked a larger mug of blood.  The second place
was set with a bowl of cereal and toast.  He slid eggs onto a plate
and put it in place, just as the tiny brunette sat down.  "Oooh,
Count Chocula, my favourite."

The blond shook his head while reaching for his mug of blood.  "If
you don't get a move on you'll be late for school. If I let you be
late for school, this'll be the last time Willow trusts me to do it.
You know what that means ... ?"

"Yes, Spike."  The teenager quoted, "It means that I will be forced
to eat sticks and leaves and other disgusting forms of rabbit food
for breakfast."  A smirk crossed her face, "And, that chocolate will
no longer be considered a food group, cause Willow thinks we all eat
too much of it."

"Very good, Platelet, now get your arse in gear."

"When is the wicked witch of the upstairs taking me to school anyway?
I haven't seen her yet."

"The witch is sleeping in today.  You get the Big Bad as chauffeur
this morning."

"Cool!  Are you gonna leave black marks on the driveway again?  You
know, the way you did last time Willow trusted you to get me to
school."

"No.  This time I'm gonna be the adult and get you to school safe and
sound.  If I do the tyre squeals  again, Willow will kick my arse.
She threatened to, last time.  Now, eat your breakfast, and let's
go.  If you're late, I won't have an unlife to worry about."

The teen-ager smiled up at her undead guardian, stuck her tongue out
at him, then applied herself to her breakfast.

Spike put the car in reverse and was backing out of the garage, when
the driveway was blocked by the watcher's little red
convertible.  "Bloody hell, what does the wanker want at this time of
the morning?"

Dawn looked at him, amused by his reaction.  She rolled her window
down an inch or so, to allow them to talk without Spike being hit
with sunlight.  "Morning, Giles.  What's the problem?  And is it
gonna make me late for school?"

"No, Dawn, you won't be late for school.  I rather think that Willow
might do dreadful things to me, should I delay you.  And I shouldn't
want you to miss your test, this morning.  Spike, I just needed to
ask you to come in and talk with me, when you have taken Dawn to
school.  Ideally I need to talk to Willow as well.  Is she able to
come in with you?"

"Sorry, Rupes, old boy, but Willow's in bed.  She needs to sleep as
much as possible before she does the spell tonight.  I want her well
rested and calm before she has to do that."  A sudden thought crossed
the vampire's mind.  "Does this have to do with the conversation we
had in the kitchen last night?"

"Er ... um ... yes, it does actually.  But now isn't the time to get
into that discussion.  I'll see you in ... "

"Give me about half an hour to get Platelet to school, then I'll be
there.  Good enough?"

"Er ... certainly."

"Okay, have a good day.  Don't get caught by the guards, cause if you
do, then Willow will have both our arses.  I'll pick you up at three."

"Spike, you of all people should know, that I seldom get caught."
She shot a cheeky grin at him.  Then with a quick hug and kiss on the
forehead, he pulled slowly away from the curb.  As he hit the street,
he couldn't resist the urge, and pushed both the brake and
accelerator down in the Desoto, leaving black marks and smoke behind
him.
 

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