A Visit


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She was in none of the rush to get home she had been in yesterday and when she realised the sun had already risen when she woke, she decided to spend the day with Spike. She much preferred spending time with him anyway. She had woken to find his arm draped across her, but as much as she had liked the feel of it, she had forced herself to wiggle out of his grasp and sit up, inadvertently waking him at the same time. There were a few moments of awkwardness but as soon as they left the bed and made their way upstairs, they were instantly more at ease.

They settled down to a lazy day of television-watching and Buffy slouched in the comfy chair after Spike had insisted, taking the hard chair himself. After a couple of hours of mindless television, they found some food in the fridge he had in the crypt and settled down for lunch on top of a large coffin. They sat astride it, facing each other, the motley collection of food between them.

“So, feeling any calmer today?” he asked with a smile and a tilt of his head, causing her to glare at him.

“I think I had good reason to be pissed.”

“Oh definitely, love. Don’t blame you.”

She smiled wryly and took a sip of the water he had found before answering.

“I didn’t totally overreact?” she asked sheepishly.

He placed his glass down and reached out to touch her arm, his gaze bright as it met hers.

“Not at all. They were lying to you – us - and you had every right to want to know what was going on.”

“Not so sure I wanted to know now.”

He frowned compassionately and squeezed her arm slightly.

“Can’t even imagine what you’re going through, pet. Finding out about so much death in the space of two days. S’not the kind of thing you want just thrust on you.”

“Guess I asked for it though.”

He squeezed her arm again and pulled back with a wry smile.

“It’s okay,” she continued, “I think not remembering being dead is kinda helping it not seem quite real right now. I think denial is a good place to be.”

He smiled softly and she smiled back, taking a chip from the bag and eating it.



They must have been there for hours at least but she had no desire whatsoever to leave the crypt. Which was so strange, after she had barely stayed sane being cooped up in her house all day. Maybe it was Spike’s soothing presence- which she figured was magnified by being surrounded by his things and a place that was so very him. She felt relaxed though- until later that afternoon, when there was a knock on the door.

“Demons wouldn’t knock, right?” she asked him as he got to his feet hesitantly.

Before he could move any further though, the door opened, throwing a small ray of sunlight into the crypt, and a figure stepped into the room. When she closed the door behind her again, Buffy quickly recognised her sister and felt a wave of guilt that she had abandoned her. After all, Dawn had been truthful with her and didn’t deserve the anger that was directed at her friends.

“Dawn!”

“Buffy, you’re here! I was so worried!”

She was guiltily silent but Dawn continued, moving into the crypt.

“I’m so sorry about not telling you. I wanted to tell you but they wouldn’t let me.”

Buffy finally moved, getting to her feet and walking over to her sister, placing her hands on her shoulders.

“It’s okay, Dawnie. I know.”

“They didn’t want you to know until they’d found everything... I told them we should tell you but they didn’t listen to me.”

“It’s fine, Dawn. I know it wasn’t your fault.”

“You’re not mad at me for telling you about…you know?”

“No,” Buffy answered with a soft smile, tucking a hair behind the girl’s ear, “I’m glad you told me. I think I needed to know.”

Dawn nodded, a worried look still on her face.



“Come on,” Spike called out, moving to Dawn’s other side, “Why don’t you sit down? Tell us what they’ve been teaching you today?”

Dawn gave him a wide smile and Buffy could instantly see just how much affection the girl had for the vampire. Which just confused her own understanding of the vampire and his place in her world. Dawn settled into the armchair and gave a little giggle.

“What?!” Buffy asked.

“Sorry. It’s just…this is your chair,” she explained to Spike, “You never let anyone else sit here.”

“Well, maybe I’ve got a helping of gallantry with my amnesia,” he answered with a smile, moving to perch on the sarcophagus. Buffy watched him for a long moment before turning back to her sister.

“Dawnie…is there anything important Spike should know?”

She glanced at the vampire once more and gave him a soft smile.

“It’s fine, pet. Don’t need to know.”

She frowned slightly but Dawn spoke up anyway.

“You’re a good vampire.”

She turned back to her sister, not missing the frown on the vampire’s face though.

“Whatever Xander or anyone tells you…you are good. I know you are.”

“Maybe they know better, eh pet?”

“No-one knows you better than me,” the teenager blurted out quickly, and then added in a low voice, “You looked after me when Buffy was…when Buffy was gone.”

The girl threw him a look mixed with such pain that Buffy felt a stab at her heart. She had really been gone and Dawn had been left alone, with no mother to look after her.

“Well, got your Big Sis back now, eh pet? Bet nothing can beat that?”

“No,” Dawn answered quietly, meeting Buffy’s gaze, “Nothing.”



They carried on a light conversation for some time after that, with Dawn regaling them of her school day adventures, but finally, she straightened, looked at her watch and frowned.

“Dawnie? Is something wrong?”

Dawn looked at her guiltily and bit her lip.

“I, err… I didn’t just come here myself. I kinda got…sent. The Scoobies want you at the shop.”

“The Who-bies?”

“Oh, your friends. They call themselves the Scoobies… I never really understood why…but then I wasn’t around.”

“You mean you were too young?”

“No, I was-“ Dawn cut herself and then nodded fervently, “Yeah, way too young.”

Buffy frowned but then focussed on what her sister’s original words had been.

“So you got sent to bring me back, huh?”

“Well…I guess they thought you were least likely to shout at me.”

Buffy frowned and Dawn winced slightly.

“Well…look, they just want to talk to you about this trigger thing. They think it might be something about you…or something. I don’t really understand.”

“Oh,” she answered, her mind racing, “Well, I… I guess if I can help…”

She glanced at the vampire now and frowned.

“It’s still light out.”

“S’fine, love. You go on without me. I’ll stay here.”

“But-“

“I’ll stay with you,” Dawn volunteered, “You could help me with my homework! You always used to help me…”

The girl trailed off and gave him a sheepish look.

“Well, erm, I mean…I could just sit here with you?”

“If you want, pet,” he replied, “Be nice to have a bit of company.”

The girl smiled widely and when Buffy’s gaze caught his, she gave him a grateful smile.

“Guess I better get going then.”

She gave the two a slightly fearful gaze, but then with a deep breath headed out of the crypt and into the bright light of the cemetery.