Description: Buffy's not feeling well, Spike won't go away, and Dawn knows more that she should. The Scoobies lives are about to be changed forever.

Rating: PG-13

Pairing: Buffy/Spike (did you think otherwise?)

Part 1:

She awoke with the horrible churning in her stomach. 'Never should have eaten that pizza last night.' She rolled over and threw the blankets off her legs. She stood up, stretching and immediately bent over in pain. She could feel the bile rising in her throat. She took off running through the hall and into the bathroom, slamming the door behind her.

Dawn stood in her doorway, and listened to the sounds of her sister in the bathroom.

"Buffy, that's 3 days straight. Will you please just go to the doctor?" She asked loudly to make sure Buffy heard her.

"I'm fine Dawnie." Dawn heard the faucet running and a moment later Buffy appeared in the doorway. "It's probably just the flu. I hear it's going around."

"Yea, Janice is out sick with it." Dawn said. "But I still think you should go to the doctor. Maybe he could give you some good drugs." Dawn laughed.

"I'm good. Now you should be getting ready for school. Go."

Dawn turned on her heel and went back into her room, shutting the door quietly behind her. Buffy went back into her room and laid back down.

She loved the way the cool satin sheets felt against her warm skin, the sunlight peeking through her closed blinds. She lay her head down on the pillow and closed her eyes. Thoughts of a certain blonde vampire filled her mind.

She hated everything about him. The way he always wore all black, but looked so damn good in it; his cocky attitude; his piercing blue eyes; and that British accent. It sent shivers down her spine just thinking about him.

She and Spike had been and "item", if that's what you could call it, for almost a full month now. Their relationship consisted of him accompanying her on patrols. Of course when they were together, little ever got done. Most nights they ended up making out in the cemetery.

Buffy was pulled from her thoughts by the sounds of a hand knocking on her door. "What?" she called.

Dawn opened the door and peered inside. "Hey I'm gonna head to Janice's today after school. She asked me to bring her the homework and stuff."

"Okay. Well I'll be working till 8 tonight. So feel free to make yourself some dinner."

"Okay." Dawn said stepping back into the hall. "Have a good day." She called in before shutting the door once again.

Buffy waited for the sound of the front door opening and then shutting before she let herself drift off to sleep. She had a good 3 hours before she had to be up for work, and she intended to get some sleep.

Part 2:

Buffy's alarm clock pulled her out of her deep sleep. She threw her arm over and hit the object with full Slayer strength. The small clock broke into pieces, springs, and batteries flying.

"Guess I gotta get another one of those." She grumbled as she pulled herself from bed. She picked up her watch and checked out the time. '10:35. Gotta get up."

Buffy had recently landed a job at a local lawyer's office as a secretary. It took her about fifteen minutes to get there, and an hour to get ready. It paid well enough. It took care of the bills and put food on the table for her and Dawn. And she only had to work five days a week. She started late today because her boss had an early trial and wouldn't be at the office until after lunch.

Buffy chose her outfit carefully. She wanted to look professional, but at the same time young and hip. She decided on a knee length black skirt and a beige sweater. It was only November, but southern California had gotten quite cold. She pulled her hair into a tight ponytail and applied a light coat of make-up.

She glanced down at her watch and grimaced at the time. "I'm gonna be late. She hurriedly slipped on a par of heels and took off down the steps. Grabbing her house keys at the bottom, she threw on her coat. She took a mental note making sure she hadn't missed anything, locked the door and was out.



Dawn trudged through school like every other day. After classes she took off over to Janice's to bring her her books. She was there for almost two hours before she could escape the never stopping mouth of Janice.

The cold autumn breeze whipped around, and Dawn pulled her coat tighter. 'Knew I should have worn a heavier jacket.' Dawn thought as she walked down her street against the wind. Her hair flew out around her, and Dawn began walking a little faster to get out of the cold.

She bounded up her porch steps and dug her key out of her pocket. Sliding it into the hole, she pushed the door open and jumped inside. She shut the door again and proceeded to take off her coat and shoes.

She made her way to the living room and pushed the blinking red light on the answering machine.

"Message one: Buffy, it's Giles. I just called to check up on you and Dawn. I should be able to get a flight sometime next week. Uh.give me a call back when you get this.you have the number. Goodbye.

Message two: Dawnie? Hey I'm gonna be home early around 6. Figured I'd stop for Chinese.or maybe pizza. Your choice, call me back. Bye.

Dawn listened to each message smiling at the thought of Chinese food instead of her or her sister's horrible cooking. She picked up the cordless phone and dialed Buffy's work number.

"Simon and McGregor Legal Office. Buffy speaking."

"It's me." Dawn said picking up her book bags and heading up the steps as she talked.

"Hey Dawnie. I should be done here in about an hour or so. What do you want?" Buffy asked in a cheerful voice.

"How about pizza? Pepperoni sound good?"

"Whatever. It's your choice tonight." Dawn could hear the gentle clicking of the keyboard over the line. "So I'll pick up a medium, pepperoni pizza?"

"Why don't you make it a large." Dawn suggested.

"Do you really think the two of us can finish a large pizza?" Buffy asked. "I mean I know you can eat Dawn but still."

"Actually I was gonna call Spike up and see if he wanted to come over for a little movie night."

"Ugh that's just what I need. A night with my kid sister and the tag along vampire." Buffy mumbled. She acted as though the evening sounded like a complete horror, but deep in her mind she was looking forward to it.

"Oh come on Buff, it'll be fun." Dawn giggled. "You know life is always interesting when Spike is around."

"Oh yea, that's a little bit of an understatement." Buffy laughed. "Listen Dawn I've still got a little more work to do, but I should be home in an hour."

"Okay. I'll call Spike, he can pick up some movies." Dawn said. "Bye."

"Bye Dawnie."

Dawn clicked the talk button on the phone and proceeded to call Spike's cell.



Spike was laying in his crypt staring blankly at the ceiling. His mind wandered to thoughts of Buffy and their on again, off again relationship. He couldn't figure out what she was thinking sometimes. Some days she only wanted to be in his arms, curling up on a patch of grass in the cemetery during one of their patrols. And other days she wanted nothing to do with him.

Suddenly a shrill ringing erupted from the other side of the crypt making Spike jump.

"Bloody hell." He cursed jumping off the cement sarcophagus that served as his bed. "Soddin telephone." He picked up the small object and pressed one of the tiny buttons. "Yeah." He asked rudely.

"Spike?" the voice asked.

"Niblet, what do you want?" Spike asked slumping down in his chair. The dust flew out around him as the weight of his body impacted the fabric.

"Geez, nice to talk to you Spike." Dawn said sarcastically. "I was just wondering if you wanted to come over for a movie night."

"I don't know Bit. I'm really in the mood for some violence."

"Oh come on. Buffy's gonna bring home pizza and you can get the movies. It'll be fun." Dawn was close to begging.

"Niblet, you know I'd love to but I gotta patrol tonight. With Big Sis working and all."

"Please Spike! Please, please, please, please!" Dawn begged.

"Fine, okay." Spike complied.

"Good. You can get the movies. Don't go getting all scary movies either like last time. Don't think I could take another Fright Night." Dawn laughed at the memory of their last movie night.

"Yea, yea, alright. I'll pick up some chick flicks for you and the Slayer. But don't think we're going to be watching some weepy love stories." Spike walked as he talked picking up his duster from the chair and slipping it over his shoulders. "I'll see you in bit Niblet." He hung up the phone without even waiting for Dawn to say goodbye. "Another lust filled evening with the Slayer. Sounds like fun." His duster billowed out around him as he opened the crypt door and exited leaving the door to shut with a loud slam that echoed throughout the empty crypt.

Part 3:

Dawn was sitting on the couch flipping through the television channels waiting anxiously for Spike and Buffy to arrive.

"Come on guys." She said looking at her watch. "It shouldn't take Spike a half hour to get movies."

Just as she finished he sentence the front door burst open and Spike came trotting in carrying an orange plastic bag in on hand.

"Finally," Dawn sighed. "God where were you?"

"Getting' your bloody movies." Spike said tossing the bag on the couch next to Dawn and making his way into the kitchen. "There must have been one hell of a sale down there. Soddin' people don't know when to leave the bloody place." Spike pulled out a pack of blood from the refrigerator and tore it open, downing it in one gulp.

"What did you get?" Dawn asked excitedly opening the bag. "Carrie, Children of the Corn, Queen of The Damned, and Romeo and Juliet? Nice choices Spike." Dawn said sarcastically.

"If you don't like them, next time you can get the movies, Niblet." Spike plopped himself down on the couch next to Dawn and grabbed the remote out of her hand.

"Hey." Dawn yelled, trying to grab it back.

"So where's Big Sis?" Spike asked beginning to flip through the channels.

"She should be home soon." Dawn said jumping for the remote. Spike easily eluded her grasps, and continued to flip through the channels. Dawn settled back onto the couch, crossing her arms over her chest in a pout.

"Now come on. You know that doesn't work on me Niblet." Spike said trying to ignore her.

Suddenly there was a knock at the door. Dawn jumped up from the couch and ran to the door. She opened it to see Buffy standing on the other side, a pizza in one hand, her messenger bag around her shoulders, and a bundle of mail in the other hand.

"A little help here?" Buffy moaned.

Dawn took the pizza from her and Spike, who had just showed up behind Dawn, took the mail. Buffy walked inside the house and shut the door behind her. She turned around to see Spike watching her, Dawn was nowhere in sight.

"What?" she asked quietly when she noticed her was staring at her.

"Just wanted to see my girl." Spike said with his deep, husky, sexy voice that made Buffy's knees go weak.

"I'm not your girl Spike." Buffy said trying to sounds annoyed.

"Oh really?" Spike asked moving closer to her. "Well would anyone who wasn't my girl let me do this?"

Spike quickly moved in and covered Buffy's lips with his own. He wrapped his arms around her waist, and hers around his neck. Buffy opened her mouth and their tongues battles for dominance.

"Hey Buffy?" Dawn called from the kitchen.

Buffy and Spike quickly broke apart and looked towards the kitchen.

"Yea Dawn?" Buffy yelled back.

"I can't find the paper plates."

"Coming." Buffy yelled walking.

Spike grabbed her arm. "This isn't over Slayer." He said in a lusty voice.

"By no means." Buffy replied, and walked into the kitchen. She walked over to a long line of cupboards and popped one open. She rummaged through the contents. No plates. She opened the next one and went through it. No plates there either. "Where are they?" Buffy whined as she opened a third cupboard. A slew or paper plates, cups, and disposable silverware fell out onto the counter below. Buffy shielded herself as the shelf came flying out towards her. It too fell, bouncing off the counter and crashing to the floor. "I found the plates."

"Are you all right?" Dawn asked hurrying to her sister's side.

"Yeah," Buffy said examining her arms. "Just a little cut."

"Your shelf's broken, Slayer." Spike said sipping down a soda. He'd begun drinking regular beverages since he and Buffy started "dating". Ever since she started calling him "blood breath".

"Thanks Spike. I noticed." She was examining her arm.

"No big, I fix it with a hammer and some nails." Spike said picking up the shelf.

"You can fix a shelf?" Dawn said in disbelief.

"Well yeah." Spike said with a cocky smile. "I can fix wood, bake cakes, and knit the cutest little sweater you've ever seen."

"Well while you two discuss Spike's abilities," Buffy flashed Spike a wicked grin, "I'm gonna head upstairs and change and clean this cut."

"I'll help you." Spike jumped.

"Whatever." Buffy sighed, pretending to not care, but secretly she was thinking the same thing Spike was. She lead the way out of the kitchen, Spike following.

"Do they really think I don't know?" Dawn asked herself. "Seriously. People can be so naïve."

"Spike I really don't need your help." Buffy said taking the peroxide out of the medicine cabinet. "I can dress this wound myself."

"Never said I was going to help you with your boo boo, Slayer." Spike said. He picked the tiny Slayer up and set her down on the bathroom sink.

"What are you doing?" Buffy asked seductively.

"The thing you want to do, but are too chicken." Spike answered.

"Hey, I'm no chi." Buffy's protest was cut off and covered her mouth with his. She could almost taste the soda he was drinking as his tongue tickled the top of her mouth. She giggled to herself when she felt her back pressing against the mirror on the medicine cabinet. Buffy felt Spike's hand resting on her knees. It began to creep up her leg, tickling her stomach as it passed, and finally landing just below her breasts. She broke the kiss and looked Spike in the eyes. "Dawn's right downstairs you know."

"Really?" Spike asked with fake concern. "Don't bloody care." Again he captured Buffy's lips in a deep, passionate kiss. His hand rose so it was resting on her breast.

Buffy's hands found the bottom of Spike's t-shirt and tugged it out of his jeans. She ran her hands under his shirt over his chest feeling the muscles ripple under her touch. She pulled the shirt up breaking the kiss, momentarily, to slip it over his head. Immediately, their lips were back together.

Spike growled as Buffy's fingers ran over his nipples. He was very ticklish and she knew that. Spike moved his thumbs so were lightly brushing over Buffy's own nipples, molding them into tiny peaks.

"BUFFY?! SPIKE?!" Dawn screamed from downstairs.

The two lovers snapped apart. Spike scrambled to pull his shirt back on, while Buffy jumped down from the sink and opened the door.

"Yeah Dawn?" She yelled down.

"I'm putting the movies in whether or not you two are done screwing or not!" Dawn yelled up laughing.

Buffy waited for Spike to tuck his shirt back in and compose himself before the descended the steps together.

Dawn was sitting on the couch, stuffing a piece of pizza into her mouth.

"Are you two done with the whole sexcapades?" she asked through a mouth of pepperoni.

"What are you talking about Niblet?" Spike asked walking towards Dawn. He tussled her hair as he passes and dropped down on the couch.

"Oh come on." Dawn sighed. "I know about you two."

Buffy and Spike looked at each dumbfounded. Did she really know or was she bluffing?

"Dawnie what are you talking about?" Buffy asked innocently. "Spike and I are.well we're not really friends either, but we're not involved."

"Yeah you're sister's right." Spike added trying to sound convincing.

"Oh please. Do I look stupid to you? Wait, don't answer that." Dawn got up from the couch and sat her sister down next to Spike. "Look, what are the chances that every time you go out to patrol," she pointed at Buffy, "that Spike just happens to be there? And do you really think I don't hear you two at night?" Dawn asked the both of them. "He climbs in your window," she pointed at Spike who sat nervously on the couch. "And then you two make with the wild, loud, obnoxious sex."

Buffy was amazed. She had never thought her sweet, innocent; little sister could say these things.

"I think she's got us, luv." Spike said.

"Finally one of you admits it!" Dawn sighed, throwing her hand into the air. "Now if I could just get the Queen of Denial to admit it."

"Fine," Buffy sighed. "Spike and I have.been.umm.is dating the word?" She looked to Spike for help. "We've been seeing each other."

"And screwing, don't forget screwing." Dawn chimed in.

"Yes," Buffy complied quietly, just above a whisper.

"What was that I couldn't quite hear you." Dawn was enjoying this so much. She loved putting her sister on the spot and making her squirm.

"Niblet." Spike warned softly.

"Fine, fine." Buffy almost yelled. "I have been sleeping with Spike. That's right we've been sleeping together. Or as you like to call it 'making wild, obnoxious sex'!"

There was silence in the room. Dawn looked at Buffy; Buffy looked at Spike; and Spike looked from one Summers to the other.

"Well," he began, breaking the silence. "Now that this is all out in the open. I don't think I have to say anything, but Niblet," Spike looked at Dawn.

"Yeah, yeah I know." Dawn sighed plopping down in a chair. "Don't tell the gang or you'll kill me good."

Without another word, Spike got up off the couch and popped in one of the movies. The screen went fuzzy at first, and then the previews started. Buffy and Spike's relationship wasn't discussed anymore that night.

Part 4:

The room was dark. The TV screen crackled and hissed with static. The movie had been playing for a full 10 minutes before the Sandman had visited the three occupants, sending them into a deep slumber.

The Slayer was lying on the couch, her feet tucked under her body, her head resting on Spike's chest. She had a half smile spread across her face that gave off the essence of happiness.

Spike's arm rested gingerly on her around her shoulders. His head was tossed back against the back of the couch, mouth slightly open. His chest neglected to rise and fall, leaving Buffy's head still.

Dawn was curled up into a ball, lying in the big, overstuffed chair adjacent to the couch. After she had fallen asleep, Spike draped an afghan over her and tucked it under her chin, placing a soft kiss on her forehead.

"Night Niblet." He whispered before returning to the couch. He and Buffy had then curled up together and fallen asleep as well.

Dawn was the first to wake up. A terrible nightmare about killer squid attacking Sunnydale shook her to the core. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes, and attempted to stand up. Her legs quaked with sleepiness. Gaining her balance, Dawn walked to the kitchen and opened the refrigerator.

"Nothing. Nothing. Nothing." Dawn groaned as she searched through the contents. Finally deciding on some Gatorade, she pulled the jug out of the fridge and grabbed a glass out of the cupboard. And then it hit her like a truck.

Dawn was thrust into a room of spinning light. Prisms of color bounced off every wall and into Dawn's eyes. She felt like she was living through the 60s. Like she was hopped up on acid. The colors began to swirl together until it looked like there was a hurricane on each wall. Then the room began to spin and Dawn clung to anything for balance. But there was nothing there; she was in a room with nothing else around her but walls. Everything seemed to be moving; the floor, the ceiling, the walls. Yet Dawn was standing still. She looked down to see why she wasn't moving with the floor, and discovered that she was not standing on the floor but hovering a few inches above it. Her eyes flashed from the floor to the wall across from her.

Then she saw it: Buffy was huddled in an alley, screaming, and clutching her middle. She cried out something but Dawn couldn't hear her sister's voice, but the look on her face said that she was in pain. Her eyes were slammed shut and a few stray tears ran down her face. The only thing that Dawn heard was Buffy's heartbeat. It seemed to bounce off all the walls. Then it was joined by another, this one fainter than the other, but still noticeable.

As quickly as the picture appeared, it morphed into another. Dawn saw University Hospital. She saw an empty hallway. Suddenly Spike came running down that hall carrying something.no someone.in his arms. Dawn recognized the blonde immediately.

"Buffy." She breathed.

Spike ran down the hall carrying her and into a room. This time Dawn heard voices.

"How could this happen?" "Did you know?" "How could she not?" "Is this real?"

The voices sounded, almost angry, like they were in vast emotional pain.

Then everything went black.

Dawn woke up laying on the couch, Buffy and Spike hovering over her.

"Niblet?" Spike asked, his voice full of worry.

"Wh-what happened?" Dawn stuttered. She reached up to touch her head and found a blood-soaked towel there.

"Don't." Buffy said pulling Dawn's hand away. "You collapsed. We found you laying on the kitchen floor."

"What happened Bit?" Spike asked helping Dawn to sit up. "I mean we thought you were still asleep."

"I saw." Dawn stumbled. She looked up at the worried look on Buffy's face. That same look was mirrored on Spike's own. 'Everything is so perfect." Dawn thought. 'I can't screw this up I just can't. Buffy's finally happy, and Spike's here and we're a family. No, I won't tell them.' Dawn stopped for a moment and then began talking again. "I saw a spider."

"You fainted from a spider?" Spike asked, astonished. "That's not very believable, Bit."

"No," Dawn lied. "I saw this spider, and it was like huge, right? I guess I jumped back, lost my footing, and fell. I guess."

"Ugh, yeah." Spike said. He tried to sound convincing, but Buffy picked up on the doubt in his voice.

"Why don't you go get a shower and get ready?" Buffy suggested.

"Why? Where are we going?" Dawn asked.

"Well Spike and I thought it would be nice to go out for dinner tonight."

"But Buffy it's only," Dawn looked down at her watch and a surprised look spread across her face. "Oh, I guess it is close to sunset. OK." Dawn stood up and lost her balance, luckily Spike caught her. "Thanks. I'll be in my bathroom if anyone needs me." Dawn walked cautiously to the basement door and disappeared.

Buffy and Spike looked at each other questioningly.

"You believe her?" Buffy asked climbing onto the couch.

"Not for a second." Spike said taking a seat next to her.

"Is it time to play good cop, bad cop?" Buffy asked as Spike wrapped his arm around her waist.

"Naw, I think we should just let this one go. Maybe you can talk to her at dinner or something. Weasel it outta her?" Spike began kissing Buffy's neck; his fingers walked their way up her arm.

"Mmm, Spike." Buffy moaned. "Dawn's right downstairs."

"Yeah? So?" Spike asked. He pushed Buffy backwards so she was lying on her back, and he was half on top of her. Spike began to kiss up her neck and onto her face. He kissed along her jaw up to her left ear, where he nibbled on her earlobe.

Buffy moaned, but not in pleasure. She suddenly felt a nauseas feeling creeping up her throat. She pushed Spike off her violently and ran for the upstairs bathroom. Spike sat there for a moment before he picked himself up off the couch and followed Buffy's earlier trail upstairs.

'What the hell is going on?' Buffy thought as she leaned over the toilet. Feeling the cold porcelain against her cheek was heaven.

"You alright luv?" Spike called from the other side of the door.

"Y-yeah." Buffy answered. "I'm just dying here." She said in a lower voice.

Spike opened the door and in no time his arms were under Buffy's pulling her to her feet. He turned her to look at him. "Buffy is there something wrong?"

"N-no. No." Buffy lied. "I'm just feeling a little queasy."

"Slayer," Spike said in a warning voice. "Niblet told me about you. Said you've been sick for a couple days now. Why didn't you tell me?"

"I didn't want to worry you." Buffy said leaning into him, resting her head on his chest. "It's probably just the flu or some bug. I'm fine, trust me."

Spike looked down into her eyes. He could see something there. There was something that she wasn't telling him; some truth she was holding back. He could feel her heart beating against his chest as he stroked her hair softly. "Are you sure you're alright luv?" Spike asked.

"Fine." Buffy said trying to sound chipper. "I should really be getting ready for tonight." She moved from Spike's embrace and walked to the hall, pausing in the bathroom doorway. "Shouldn't you be getting ready too?"

"What's wrong with what I'm wearing?" Spike asked looking down at his attire: the black combat boots, black jeans, a black t-shirt, and his black duster.

"C'mon Spike." Buffy said with a giggle. "Can't you dress up just once in your unlife? For me?" Buffy succeeded in making the puppy-dog face.

"No don't." Spike warned. "That face doesn't work with me."

"Maybe I should get Dawn up here to double the effect." Buffy teased.

"Don't even, Slayer." Spike warned walking towards her. "Fine, whatever, I'll dress up. But don't expect me to act like some bloody ponce, it's just one night, don't think this is going to be a regular thing, the 'me dressing up and taking you out'."

"Wouldn't dare to think about it." Buffy said sweetly walking to her room.

"I'll be back in half an hour and you better be ready." Spike walked behind her and swatted her butt. "Don't be late."

Part 5:

Dawn stared into the full-length mirror opposite her. She smoothed out her hair with a comb and stared at her reflection.

Buffy told her to dress up for tonight so she chose an ankle length denim skirt, a blue, long sleeve peasant top, and pair of heels. She curled her hair into tight spirals and applied some light make-up.

"Dawn are you almost ready?!" Buffy called from downstairs.

"Yeah." She called back.

"Good." Buffy yelled. "Spike should be here any." The doorbell rang cutting off Buffy's sentence. "Who could that be?" she asked herself. 'Spike never rings, usually he just barges right in.' she thought as she made her way to the door and opened it, gazing at what she saw.

Spike was standing on her front porch wearing a pair of baggy khakis, and a blue sweater that really brought out his eyes; his hair was spiked slightly.

"Oh.my.God." Buffy sighed in amazement. "Spike you look, you look amazing."

"I look like Peaches." Spike groaned stepping inside the house.

Buffy stared in amazement. The thought that Spike had actually compared himself to his Sire amazed her. Spike hated to talk about Angel. "No." Buffy started, shutting the door, "you look amazing. But you couldn't lose the shoes?" She giggled looking down at his old, scummy, combat boots.

"No way pet." Spike laughed pulling her into his arms and kissing her gently. Buffy wrapped her arms around his neck, and deepened the kiss.

"God," Dawn sighed coming down the steps. "Don't you people ever give it a break?"

Buffy and Spike broke apart, looking at Dawn. "Bit." Spike said moving to the side of the stairs. "You look gorgeous."

Dawn giggled and said, "Thanks Spike."

"Yeah Dawn you look.are those my shoes?" Buffy asked.

"You look nice too Buffy." Dawn said, quickly changing the subject.

"Uh, yeah." Spike said quickly trying to recover. "I thought that went without saying."

"It does." Buffy said with a smug smile. "But it's always nice to hear."

"Well I love the sweater." Spike said trying to sound like he cared. If it were up to him Buffy would never wear clothes, but that wasn't exactly legal. He came back over to Buffy and whispered in her ear, "Love the way it clings to your."

Buffy shoved him away playfully before he could finish that thought. "Okay. Off to dinner?"

"Where are we going?" Dawn asked excitedly.

"I don't know." Spike teased. "How about that swanky place down on Brooks Avenue?"

"The real expensive place that makes you use like all those little forks, and has cloth napkins and everything?" Dawn yelled.

"That's the one." Spike said with a grin. "Better get movin'."

The restaurant was beautiful. Chandeliers hung above every table, and a bottle of wine sat beside them. The tables themselves were huge, being able to seat 6 people around them. Being only three of them, Dawn, Buffy, and Spike were pretty far spread out. They had a table near the back of the restaurant, and there weren't many people around them.

"Spike this place is great." Dawn said picking at a roll the waitress had brought them. "What's the occasion?"

"What? Can't I take my girls out for a night on the town?" Spike asked fiddling with his silverware.

"Physically, yes." Buffy joked. "It's just that you never do, so Dawn and I are worried. Are you dying?"

Spike just looked at Buffy with raised eyebrows.

"Okay." Buffy sighed. "That really doesn't work with you does it?"

"Not really, luv." Spike laughed. "I just felt like taking my two favorite girls out for dinner and a movie. Is that so wrong?"

Both Buffy and Dawn looked at Spike with questioning expressions.

"Okay, okay." Spike admitted. "I won a couple bucks playing poker against Clem, and figured this would be a great way to spend it."

"Well at least you've stopped playing for kittens." Buffy sighed and set down her menu. "That's always a plus."

A waitress appeared next to their table holding a small notepad in one hand. She pulled a pencil out of the top binding of it and stood poised to write. "Are you all ready to order?" she asked sweetly.

"Yes." Buffy said quickly. "I'll have an order of popcorn shrimp, the chicken Alfredo, a bowl of the cream of broccoli soup, and a strawberry virgin margarita."

Dawn and Spike just stared at Buffy as she ordered.

"What?" she asked.

"Nothing." Dawn said and then turned back to the waitress. "I'll have the fettuccini and chicken special and a glass of spring water."

The waitress jotted that down and turned to Spike. "And for you?"

"I'll have the lobster and a glass of red wine." He said. The waitress wrote it down and took off. Dawn and Spike stared at Buffy.

"What?" she asked again.

"Buff, don't you think that's a lot of food. I mean you could feed the entire gang with that." Dawn said.

"I don't know." Buffy said smoothing the tablecloth nervously. "It's just that lately I've been eating a lot. Everything just seems to look good."

"That time of the month Slayer?" Spike teased.

"Spike!" Dawn said loudly, but just under a shout. "God, Neanderthal much?"

"No." Buffy said seriously. "Maybe just getting over the throwing-up- sickness-thingy."

"Yeah." Dawn nodded. "But I still think you should see a doctor."

"Dawn I'm." Buffy began, but Spike cut her off.

"It's already taken care of." Spike announced. "I made an appointment with Dr. Bringston next week. You'll go by yourself, unless I have to drag you in there."

Buffy looked at the determined look on Spike's face. That same look was mirrored on Dawn's face.

"Okay, okay." Buffy finally surrendered. "I'll go, but I don't have to be happy about it."

"Good." Dawn said. "Let's just eat this now?"

Part 6:

It had been just over a week since Dawn had had her vision and there hadn't been another one since. The mark on her head had all but disappeared and the memories of the sights she had seen were erased from her memory.

"Dawnie you're gonna be late for school!" Buffy yelled from the kitchen. Smoke filled the air, as the eldest Summers attempted to cook a nutritious, healthy breakfast for her sister. "Dawn!"

"I'm here, I'm here." Dawn answered, bounding into the kitchen, waving away the smoke and coughing dramatically. "Geez Buffy what are you trying to do? Burn the house down?"

"Shut up, Smarty-pants." Buffy teased her sister. "F-Y-I, I'm trying to cook breakfast for you. But you're late, so that's out of the question." Buffy slid a pancake out of the skillet and plopped it onto a plat while she slid the skillet into a sink full of water.

"I think I'll just grab something at school." Dawn said, hefting her book bag to her shoulder.

"Your school serves breakfast now?" Buffy asked in amazement. "Wow. All I ever got there was sent to the principal's office and many, many demons."

"Yeah." Dawn said. "I'll just grab a pack of donuts. You know, the powdered kind. The ones you can't eat without getting messy."

"Donuts?" Buffy gawked. "Yeah that's balanced breakfast. What do you eat for lunch? A bag of chips?"

Dawn looked up at her sister with a guilty face.

"Oh God." Buffy snickered. "Please tell me you don't eat a bag of chips for lunch. Dawn!"

"What?" she looked for a quick escape but found none. "It's just that.the Winter Formal is coming up and I saw this really cute dress in April Fools, and I wanted to fit into it."

"So?" Buffy asked.

"Well they don't have it in my size. So it's either drop a size or find another dress." Dawn looked at her sister and saw the worry on her face. "Chill Buffy's I'm gonna be fine. I swear after the dance I'll gain 10 pounds if you want."

"Fine." Buffy laughed. "Get moving you're gonna be late for school."

Dawn grabbed her book bag off the stool and swung it over one of her shoulders. She kissed her sister and was out the door. "Oh Buffy!" Dawn yelled running back through the door. "Don't forget your doctor's appointment is today. And you know Spike will kill you if you don't go." Without a response from her sister, Dawn once again left the kitchen and the house.

'I can't believe this. It's not right; it's a-a glitch or something. This can't be happening!' Buffy thought as she drifted through town. She had no idea what street she was on or even if she was still in Sunnydale. Nor did she care. 'No way. This isn't happening, I'm dreaming of something. Yeah that's it. I'm just dreaming.' Buffy lightly slapped her own arm. "Nope, not dreaming. But this can't be true."

She rounded the corner and ran into an elderly couple walking their dog.

"Oh sorry, Miss." The man said. The dog on the leash in front of him looked up and growled at Buffy. "Biscuit knock it off." The man scolded him.

"He never does this." The woman added.

"It's okay." Buffy said half-heartedly. "Probably just scared him."

"I am sorry, Miss." The woman apologized again. "Come on Anthony." She said pulling the man's sleeve.

Buffy let the couple pass her and then turned down the street they had just left.

"She's definitely the one." The old lady said.

"It's happened already." The man agreed. "The chain of events is set into place."

The old couple walked down the street chanting as they went:

Two of the two, That never should be. Two of the two, Shall be the key. Two of the two, Are the ones we need. Two of the two, Will set us free.

Buffy walked into her house and locked the door behind her. She leaned back against it, feeling the cold wood against her arms.

"This isn't right," She said aloud to no one in particular. "This can't be. Spike.Spike can't d-do this. He's a-he's a vampire, and he c-can't do this." The tears started falling down her face as the truth of what was happening began to sink in. "No." She told herself as she sunk to the floor in a heap, crying and shaking. "No. I'm not pregnant. I can't be. The doctor's wrong."

Buffy looked up. The basement door swung open and Spike strutted in.

"Slayer!" he called, not noticing Buffy sitting on the ground.

She quickly picked herself up off the ground and wiped the tears from her face. "What do you want?" She asked, annoyed.

Spike studied her face. "What's wrong pet?" he asked concerned.

"Nothing." She lied. "You need something?"

"Just came by for a little." He came over to her and tried to wrap his arms around her, but she pushed him away. "What?"

"Not now, Spike." Buffy said moving past him to the kitchen island. "If there's nothing you want, I-I'd rather just be alone right now."

Spike looked at her, trying to see if she was for real. The look on her face told him she was. "What's wrong?" He asked in a more serious tone.

"Nothing. It's just-" she started but felt the churning in her stomach start once more. "Oh great." She mumbled as she plowed past him, and ran up the steps.

"I thought I told you to go to the doc's." Spike yelled after her.

"Did!" Buffy yelled back between gagging and throwing up.

"What'd he say?" Spike called from the bottom of the steps.

"He said that I-" There was a pause.

"Said what Slayer?"

'I can't tell him. Not yet.' Buffy thought. She laid her head against the toilet feeling the porcelain cool her skin. She pulled herself to her feet, fighting the feeling of impending sickness rising in her, and walked to the doorway. "He said I was getting over the flu." She was lying and prayed that Spike couldn't see her face.

Buffy was a horrible liar. Every time someone looked at her face when she was lying they knew instantly. Her cheeks turned red, and she couldn't look the person in the face.

"You should go to bed. Niblet should be home soon, and she can take care of you." Spike called up. "Want me to stay?"

"No!" She yelled back quickly. "I'll be fine. I'll just go to bed like you said. Leave. I'll be fine."

"Alright pet." Spike said. "Call if you need anything." With that he left.

"I need a lot." Buffy admitted to herself. "Right now I need a time machine to go back in time and stop myself from sleeping with you." Buffy walked across the hall and into her room. She crawled into her bed, under the covers.

'No way this is happening.' She thought as her eyelids sunk down casting her into the world of darkness. 'No way possible. It's not possible. It's just-a-a fluke. That's what it is. A fluke. Nothing's wrong.'

They filtered into the room. No one there was dressed in anything other than the traditional black robe. Their faces were covered and a quiet chant arose from the group.

"Two of the two, that never should be. Two of the two, shall be the key." They sang, as a smaller group began to pour an array of liquids into a huge vat in the center of the room. As the liquids combine a thick green smoke arose from the vat filling the room.

"Two of the two, are the ones we need. Two of the two, will set us free!"

An explosion shook the place and a great flame erupted from the vat.

"It has happened." One of the cloaked creatures called. "The ones that shall deliver us are at hand. The Slayer is to protect this world, yet, unknown to her; she will bring about the end of it! Of her own intent."

Part 7:

Two months. It had been two months since Buffy found out she was pregnant. Two months of morning sickness, and finding bigger clothes. She hadn't begun to show yet, so no one else knew as of yet.

The way she figured it, Buffy was about 10 weeks along. She started wearing baggier clothes so no one would notice that she was gaining weight.

"Dawnie? You up yet?" Buffy called, lightly knocking on her sister's bedroom door. There was no answer. "Dawn?" Buffy pushed the door lightly, just enough so that she could peek inside.

Dawn's bed was made, her clothes were put away, and there wasn't a single thing on the floor. All her stuffed animals were sitting quietly near the top of her bed, and a pair of jeans and t-shirt were laid at the bottom.

"This can't be good." Buffy joked. "Dawn's never this organized."

"Whatcha lookin' at?" Dawn asked, causing Buffy to jump. She turned around to see her sister looking at her with a confused face.

"Dawn, geez!" Buffy gasped. "What are you trying to do? Give me a heart attack?"

Dawn pushed passed her sister and into her room. "What did you need?" she asked flopping down on her bed.

"I just came to see if you were up or not." Buffy said taking a few steps into the room. "So what's the agenda for today? I don't have work this weekend so we could go see a movie if you want."

"Buffy?" Dawn asked. "Don't you remember?"

"Remember what?" Buffy asked back.

"Buffy, Giles is coming in today." Dawn said matter-of-factly. "His flight land in two hours. We're supposed to go pick him up."

Buffy stared blankly at Dawn for a moment and then it all came rushing back to her. She had taken off work until Tuesday so she could spend time with Giles. He was catching a flight from London to L.A., and then a hopper from L.A. to Sunnydale.

"Right." Buffy said, playfully slapping her head. "But that still doesn't explain why your room is all cleaned up. Oh no," her face sunk into a look of peril, "this is one of those signs of an apocalypse isn't it? Is the world ending again?"

"Shut up." Dawn spat, picking up a pillow and flinging it at her sister's head.

Buffy easily avoided the on coming pillow and stuck her tongue out. "Slayer powers." Buffy explained. "You'll never beat me in a pillow fight."

"Just wait and see." Dawn said mysteriously. "Somewhere, sometime, you'll go down."

"Oh please." Buffy teased. "Stop with the cryptic. I get that enough from Spike." She picked up the pillow lying beside her feet and tossed it onto the bed. "I'll go get dressed and then we'll head. We can stop for some lunch before we pick up Giles."

"Sounds good." Dawn said. She got up and pushed her sister out of the room. "Now leave, I have to change too."

Giles walked through the airport lugging his two bags along. He wished dearly that just once he could have a trip to see his slayer that didn't involve a horrid prophecy. But alas it was not meant to be.

Before he had left England, he had been debriefed by the Watcher's Council about a prophecy that- surprise surprise- involved that slayer. Giles hated to be the barer of bad news, but being a Watcher it was his sacred duty.

This prophecy was unlike any other he had heard before. All the Council could tell him was that it involved the Slayer and would indeed bring about the end of the world. But there was something else. Something about a riddle.

"Two of the two, that never should be." Giles mumbled to himself as he made his way through the crowd. 'It just doesn't make sense. One of the two is the Slayer, that much we know, but.' His thoughts were interrupted by a voice.

"Giles!" someone called.

He turned around to see Dawn rushing at him. She threw herself in his arms and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

"It's so good to see you." She said taking a step back.

"As always it's a delight to see you too, Dawn." Giles replied. "Where's your sister?"

"Buffy?" Dawn asked.

"Unless you have another sister that I'm unaware about." Giles laughed.

"She's coming." Dawn said picking up on of Giles's bags. "Let me help you."

"Giles!" Buffy yelled coming up behind them. He turned and was greeted by another set of arms embracing him, this time with much more strength.

"It's great to see you." She said, still holding him tight.

"You-too." Giles managed to gasp out. "Um Buffy-"

"Yea." She asked still in an embrace.

"Can't-breath-" Giles choked out.

"Oh, God. Sorry." Buffy apologized, releasing her grip. "I'm just glad to see you again."

"As am I." Giles said looking her over. "You look different."

Buffy jumped. 'Does he know? He can't know. There's no way to tell, right? Oh God, please don't let him know.' Her thoughts raced a million miles a minute. She was too busy thinking to hear what Giles had said. "What was that?" she asked politely.

"I said, Did you cut your hair?" Giles repeated himself.

Buffy let out a sigh of relief. "No, maybe just the way I have it pulled up."

"Perhaps." Giles said. "Shall we?"

"We shall." Dawn said with a giggle, leading them out of the airport.

Later that night, Spike was patrolling in the cemetery near his crypt. He'd been chasing a Kroliocta Demon for almost an hour, and couldn't find him anywhere. He decided he better recruit Buffy for some help.

He walked down Revello Drive whistling one of those stupid jingles he heard on the telly. When he got to the Slayer's house, he noticed that the lights were on in the living room. He strode down the sidewalk and up the porch steps pushing the door open ands stepping inside.

"Spike." Dawn called from the living room.

Spike walked through the door and saw the whole group there. Willow was sitting on one of the chairs and Tara was set on the arm of it. Xander and Anya were seated on the couch next to Giles, and Buffy was on the other side. Dawn was sitting on the floor beside her sister.

"Hello all." Spike said, trying to sound as pleasant as possible without making himself physically nauseous.

"Hey Spike." Tara said.

"Spike." Xander called.

"Hello Spike." Giles said. The he turned back to Dawn on the floor. "How did you know it was him without even looking?"

"Easy," Dawn laughed. "Everyone else is here and Spike's the only one who just barges right in." Everyone else in the room laughed too.

"Right," Spike said getting back to why he had come here. "Not to break up the party or anything, but I need your help." He directed his eyes at Buffy.

"What's up, Spike?" She asked rising from the couch.

"There's this Kroliocta Demon that I can't seem to find. Nasty sort of fella, all claws and teeth." Spike explained.

"You should go Buffy." Giles said standing up. "I'm tired. Think I'll go to bed."

"Okay." Buffy said stepping over Dawn to get to Spike. "You'll get Dawn to bed? Sometime tonight?" She asked.

"Of course." Giles assured her.

"Well we should be going." Xander said picking himself up off the couch. "Will, Tara you guys want a ride home?"

"Sure." Tara said, rising and pulling her girlfriend with her.

"You ready Spike?" Buffy asked. She grabbed her coat and stopped at the door.

"Yeah." He said turning to her. "Night all." He called back before they left the house.

"Last time I saw it," Spike began as they paced the neighborhood near the Bronze, "it was right around here."

"So what does this thing look for?" Buffy asked. Her head turned from side to side, checking out every shadow for possible hiding places.

"It likes wet places." Spike said checking out the other side of the street. "Sewers, drains, ditches. Basically anyplace that has moisture of any type." Spike stopped walking and looked at Buffy with raised eyebrows.

"What?" she asked, confused.

"You know," Spike said in his low, sinister voice. "We don't have to find this thing right away. We could." He moved towards her, his arm circling her waist.

"Spike!" she shoved him away. "We've got a demon to find."

Spike looked at her with his puppy dog eyes.

"After," she said. "After we kill the demon." Buffy smiled and earned a grin out of Spike as well.

A growl followed by a chorus of screams erupted from an alleyway down the road.

"Looks like we found our man." Buffy said.

"Yeah," Spike agreed. "You go into the mouth there, and I'll loop around back. We'll come at him from all angles. Won't know what hit him."

"Let's go." Buffy said, taking off in a sprint. She was into the alley in no time at all.

Shadows covered the walls and parts of the floor. A dumpster sat against one wall.

"No monster." Buffy said quietly. She crept down the alley, staying close to the shadows. Then she saw it.

An enormous green demon with countless claws and teeth. Its mouth was littered with them; three rows on the bottom and three on the top. Each tooth seemed to be bigger than the last, and pointier.

"Here we go." Buffy said quietly to herself. She leapt out of the shadows and landed a swift kick to his chest, sending the demon stumbling backwards. Buffy landed flat on her feet and fell back into her fight stance. "You know I was really hoping to at least have one night where I didn't have to beat something's ass." Buffy punned. The demon rushed her and she easily jumped out of the way, and landed an elbow in the back of its head. "But I guess it does do the body good."

She missed the monster's next attack. He backhanded her across the face, sending her flying into the dumpster. Buffy shook off the pain in her shoulder and picked herself up into a fight stance again. She got another kick in before the demon got the best of her.

He landed a quick punch to her face and a kick to her stomach sent her flying into the wall. She landed with a sickening thud.

Buffy immediately grabbed her stomach and cried out in pain. She had never felt this amount of pain after a fight before. She thought only of her child. 'Ohmigod.' She admitted to herself. 'My child. Can't let.get hurt.' She clutched her stomach and screamed as loud as she possibly could. "SPIKE!"

The demon stalked towards her, and Buffy inched backwards. "Well this is a first," it snickered. "Don't think I've ever heard of the Slayer cowering in fear. Wait till everyone hears about this." Then it's body dropped, lifeless in front of Buffy.

"Don't think he'll be doing much telling to anyone." Spike said, standing above the body. He stretched his hand towards Buffy. She went to take his hand, but doubled back in pain. "Slayer?" Spike asked worried.

Buffy just sat there and cried, clutching her stomach. The pain shot through her like a lightening bolt through the night sky. And it all seemed to settle in her stomach. "Oh God." She cried.

"Slayer what's wrong?" Spike asked, kneeling by her side.

"Spike." Buffy said weakly. "Take me-"

"Home?" Spike finished.

"No," Buffy tried to get up, but Spike wrapped his arm around her and lifted her off the ground. "Hospital. Take me to the-hospital."

Spike was stunned. Since when did the Slayer ever admit that she needed professional medical attention? He figured someone was really wrong. He picked her up with both arms and took off running in the direction of University Hospital.

Part 8:

"How long do you think before they get back?" Dawn asked Giles. Both were sitting in the Summers' living room playing a game of Monopoly.

"I don't know, Dawn." Giles said tossing the dice onto the board. "But I told your sister that I would have you in bed sometime tonight."

"It's only 11:23." Dawn said, glancing down at her watch. "I've still got time. Besides there's no way I'm going to bed when I'm finally winning a game against you."

"You are not winning." Giles huffed. "I'm simply in a slump."

"You're losing." Dawn laughed. "But you're too British to admit it."

"I am not." Giles said. He rose from his chair and walked to the kitchen door. "Would you care for something to drink?"

"I'll get them." Dawn said rushing to the kitchen. She only made it five steps before she collapsed.

Again she was in the spinning room. The colors were back, and swirling even faster this time. She was still floating above the floor, but something was different. There was sound this time. A low pitched, almost a whisper. Dawn couldn't make out the words, but she got a vibe from it that sent shivers down her spine.

Gradually the whispers grew louder until she could make out the words.

"TWO OF THE TWO, TWO OF THE TWO, TWO OF THE TWO, TWO OF THE TWO, TWO OF THE TWO." A chorus of voices shouted. The sound seemed to surround her, with no origin.

Dawn brought her hands to her ears to dull the sound but it did nothing. The voices grew louder and louder, still chanting the same thing.

Then a loud boom erupted from nowhere, but the voices continued to shout. That's when she finally saw it.

Two robed figures entered the room. Their cloaks were different than the others'. They were an off white color decorated with beads and jewels. Atop their heads was some sort of black headdress. It was made of thorns or something like it.

They were carrying something too. Dawn couldn't tell what it was, but each of them was carrying one. It was wrapped in a white cloth, whatever it was.

"The two of the two!" the crowd shouted and bowed before them.

"The sacrifices." One of them shouted. "We shall be free!"

Spike had no idea he could possibly run that fast, and carrying a person too. But he sprinted down the road, looking only straight ahead.

'Gotta get her help.' He thought. His feet pounded on the pavement as he turned the corner to University Hospital. The automatic doors swung open and Spike plowed through.

"I need some help!" He shouted. Immediately a dozen doctors and nurses surrounded Spike.

"What happened?" one of the doctors asked.

"We were attacked." Spike said quickly.

One of the nurses pushed over a bed. Spike gently laid Buffy's body on it. The doctors went to work.

"Pulse faint."

"Breaths are labored and shallow."

"She took one to the stomach." Spike managed to get in before he was cut off again.

"Let's get her in to ER 1 and start a mainline." Buffy's bed was pushed away by a group of four or five doctors and nurses. Spike tried to follow but one of them held him back. "Sir, I'm going to have to ask you to stay here."

"But I've got to stay with her." Spike attempted to get past the man, but he blocked the way.

"Sir," a doctor appeared in the doorway of where the bed had disappeared. "Sir we have a multiple patient complication."

"What's that mean?" Spike asked looking worried.

The doctor turned quickly. "That means your girlfriend is pregnant." He said before he too disappeared through the door.

Spike stood there in awe. 'Buffy.pregnant?'

"Dawn?" Giles called. He waved the smelling salt in front of her and called again, "Dawn? Can you hear me?"

Dawn's eyes fluttered open and the light came fading back. "Not again." Dawn sighed rubbing her head.

"Again?" Giles questioned. "Dawn, has this happened before?"

She looked up at him. Giles was the father that Dawn never really had. She felt like she could tell him everything, but she still didn't want to ruin it.

"Dawn," Giles said in a caring voice, "Dawn you need to tell me what happened."

"I-I uh-" Dawn stuttered, still trying to make up her mind. "I had a vision."

"You had a-a vision?" Giles stumbled. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. "How did this start? Was this the first one? Or has happened before?"

"Once." Dawn admitted.

"Why didn't Buffy tell me about this?" Giles asked.

"I didn't tell her." Dawn said quietly. At Giles's questioning look she explained further. "It's just that, Buffy's finally starting to enjoy life again, and I didn't want to ruin everything. Even she and Spike were starting to get along."

"Dawn, you can't-" Giles began, but was cut off by the phone ringing. He went to answer it, and Dawn sat up.

Her head was pounding. 'Probably from bouncing off the floor.' She thought.

Giles returned seconds later with a worried look on his face.

"Giles what's wrong?" Dawn immediately asked.

"That was Spike." Giles failed to explain further.

"Giles speak!" Dawn demanded.

'God she sounds so much like her sister.' Giles thought. "Spike took Buffy to the hospital."

Dawn jumped up from the couch and fell right back down again. Giles moved beside her and helped her to her feet.

"Is she okay? Was she hurt bad? What about the-" Dawn stopped herself just in time. She hadn't let anyone know that she knew about Buffy's current "situation". She didn't even think that Buffy knew herself. "Is she gonna be okay, Giles?"

"I don't know. Spike said they took her into the Emergency Room." He explained.

"Let's go." Dawn said rushing to the door.

"Dawn!" Giles shouted, running after her. He grabbed her coat off the hook and handed it to her. "Put on your coat. It's freezing out there."

Dawn slipped on her coat and Giles his. They were out the door in no time at all.