Chapter 12

Buffy lingered patiently in the hospital waiting room for Spike to tell her it was okay to come in. She just couldn’t get her sister’s petrified face out of her mind, and really feared that Dawn would hate her now.

“Love, she’s asking for you.”

Buffy let out a breath she didn’t even need, and then followed him inside of Dawn’s room, only to see her sister lying in bed, tubes sticking out of her body where she had been given a blood transfusion. What surprised her the most was noticing that Charles was in the bed with her, holding her close to his side, which seemed to give her sister comfort. Buffy sat down in the chair next to her bed, gripping one of her hands. “I’m so sorry, Dawny.”

Dawn squeezed her sister’s hand as best she could. “I’m just glad that I didn’t lose you again. Spike told me about what you were thinking, and it’s not true. You were amazing to me, Buffy. It would have been so easy for you to give in, but you didn’t. You fought down the demon, I don’t know of other vampires who could have had so much control if put in the same situation. I know about Mom, how hard it must have been for you to deal with her like that. I’m really sorry, Buffy. I don’t know what I would have done if it was me. I’m just lucky that I didn’t have to see her.”

Buffy laid her head down to be closer to Dawn, pecking her on the cheek. “I love you.”

“Love you, too, but I’m feeling kind of smothered here.”

Buffy laughed, pulling away as she once again took in the sight of her little sister in the arms of her best friend. “So, are you guys a thing now?”

She blushed, burying her face against Charles’ shoulder.

He chuckled. “I’d like to give it a go, if she was willing.”

Dawn stared at him in shock, clearly not expecting that. “Seriously?”

Charles nodded, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “Haven’t you figured out yet that I’m bloody crazy about you? I must have been hiding it pretty well.”

“I’ll say,” Dawn responded. “Because you really could have fooled me, I thought you just saw me as a kid.”

He shrugged. “Was never one for expressing how I feel in words, I’m more of an action man.” Charles clarified that by pressing his lips to hers in a gentle caress.

She grinned, getting up to take Spike’s hand, who had been quiet during their whole exchange. “Glad you’re feeling better, Dawny, we’ll just leave you two alone now.” Once they were out of the room, Buffy turned to her boyfriend and could see that he was just as amused. “They grow up so fast.”


* * * * *


Buffy groaned at the obvious display of affection, wondering if she was ever that nauseating with Spike.

“Could you two possibly take a break? Every time I turn around, you’re practically dry humping each other. I know you’re not a little kid anymore, Dawn, but I still don’t need to keep seeing this.”

Her cheeks heated up, moving away from her boyfriend’s delectable lips. “Sorry, I didn’t know you were back yet.”

Charles chuckled, wrapping his arms around her. “It’s your own fault for letting her stay here in the first place. I did warn you that it wouldn’t be a good idea. You know just what I’m capable of,” he said, trailing a finger down Dawn’s thigh and making her squirm in the process.

Buffy rolled her eyes. “Who would have thought the manwhore could actually be tamed?” She yanked her sister away from the horny vampire, handing her a small box and hoping she liked what was inside. “I have something for you.”

Dawn’s eyes widened, pulling out the charm bracelet. “It’s beautiful; I’ve always wanted one of these.”

Buffy nodded. “I remember. It was the best I could find on such short notice. I can’t believe you’re seventeen now.”

The Slayer accepted her sister’s hug, releasing her after a few seconds. Seeing as how Dawn never even thought she would be alive for her next birthday, she was finding that hard to believe as well.

Buffy noticed something shiny on Dawn’s finger, snatching her hand to inspect it, and turning a glare on Charles. “Did you propose to my sister?”

It was his turn to roll his eyes now. “No, you stupid bint, it’s just a promise ring. I’ve had it with me for years, never quite knew what to do with it. I wanted to give her something special for her birthday, and that seemed to be the most logical choice.”

“And I love it,” Dawn chimed in, flashing Buffy a pointed look.

“Are you two having sex? I know I have no right to make any judgments. You’re growing up, but you’ll still always be my baby sister. Maybe it would be best if you came to live with me and Spike for a while, I think it’s safer.”

Dawn shook her head. “I like it here, and I would rather not be around you and your boyfriend, who probably go at it like bunnies more than we do.”

“I knew it!” Buffy exclaimed. “You’ve only been together a few weeks.”

“It’s not like I could get pregnant or a disease, being with him is perfectly safe. For the first real time in my life, I’m actually happy. I was hoping you of all people would understand that.”

Buffy nodded. “You’re right, and I do trust you more with him than I probably would have with anyone else. I just worry about you.”

Charles placed an arm around Dawn’s waist. “You don’t have to worry so much, love. I would never let anything happen to her, you have my word on that.”

Dawn agreed. “Believe me; he’s even more overprotective than you are. It can get a bit annoying.”

“Oh, is that a fact?” Charles remarked, picking her up and tickling her with his fingers, pleased with the sounds of her laughter.

“Okay, I give, stop torturing me already!”

Buffy smiled at their antics, finally realizing that her little sister was in good hands.


* * * * *


“Hey, pet, you got a second?”

Buffy was confused at Spike’s serious tone. “Sure, what’s up? You were supposed to be here over an hour ago.”

He nodded, moving back to let the man inside that was waiting behind him. “We have a visitor. This is Rupert Giles, apparently he’s Dawn’s Watcher. I wasn’t sure I believed him at first, but the story checks out.”

Buffy gasped when she got a good look at him. “Giles?”

His eyes widened, clearly not expecting to see her there. “Buffy? My God, you’re alive.” He wrapped his arms around her, feeling the slight chill in her body, and immediately pulling away.

She gave a small smile at his retreat. “Only partly alive, I guess you should say.”

“Yes, I see, a lot has changed since I saw you last.”

“I’m assuming you two know each other,” Spike commented.

Buffy nodded. “Giles was the librarian at our high school; he was always a good friend to me. And now you’re Dawn’s Watcher?”

He took his glasses off to clean them, before placing them back on his face. “She went missing before I was able to notify her of her calling, I have been searching for her ever since. I heard about Ethan, the bloody wanker, I’m glad you saved her from him. That is all we really need to say about it, and then when your mother went missing as well, I suspected there was something more going on. I contacted a powerful seer to help me find Dawn, and it finally led me here. I know that you are all vampires, but I am not like the rest of the Council. I know this world is not only black and white. In fact, I have come across several demons in my time that have never caused me harm. I would imagine Dawn feels safe here after everything she has been through, and if she wishes to stay, I won’t do anything to jeopardize that. I would just like to be involved in her life, that way I can report back to the Council that nothing is amiss, and there would be no reason for them to send someone else.”

Buffy let out a sigh, beyond relieved that her sister wouldn’t be taken from her. “Thank you, I know Dawn would appreciate that. It’s really good to see you again,” she said, giving him another hug.

Giles patted her back, letting her go after a moment. “It’s good to see you as well, my dear.”


* * * * *


“I’m so glad that everything worked out, and Dawn is willing to let Giles train her. I just keep thinking about how things could have been if he found her first, instead of Ethan. It still pains me when I think of what she had to go through with that pervert, but if Giles was there first, I might not have ever found her again. I guess everything happens for a reason.”

Spike agreed, kissing her temple. “Did you know I wasn’t even planning on going to the hospital that first night I saw you? For some reason, I was drawn there, like something was telling me it was where I belonged. I know it sounds crazy, but I’m not usually one to ignore my instincts. They brought me to you, and I’ve never looked back once.”

Buffy smiled, snuggling up at his side. “We were meant to be, you know that? It wasn’t just a feeling you had. When I was sick and basically delirious, I used to dream of you. It was before I ever saw you, so I had no idea who you were. And when you showed up, I didn’t even know if you were real, but I never once doubted that you were there to save me. You’ve been saving me every day since.”

He teared up a bit at her declaration, touching his lips to hers in a tender caress. “I love you so much.”

“I love you, too, always and forever.”

The End