Buffy heard the front door open and slam shut a few seconds later. She looked up from the magazine she was reading as Dawn entered the living room.

�Hi Dawn,� Buffy greeted, �How was school?�

�Fine� she replied dryly, as she headed up the stairs.

�Dawnie, we need to talk.�

Dawn stopped halfway up the stairs, sighed, and slowly walked back down.

�If this is about Willow, I don�t want to hear it,� she said as she sat down next to Buffy on the couch.

�It�s not about Willow, it�s about you�and me. Do you remember the Social Worker who was here the other day? She showed up just as Xander was about to take you to school?�

Dawn nodded.

�Yeah, well, I got a letter today, you�um, you might want to read it.� Buffy handed her sister the now well-read letter.

�What does this mean?�

�It means that I could lose guardianship of you.�

�And what would happen to me? Where would I go?�

�I don�t know, Dad maybe or, or a foster home.�

Dawn looked stricken, �But they can�t do that, can they?�

Buffy nodded, �They can. But, but don�t worry, it�s not going to happen.�

�What? You�re going to slay the big, bad, social workers?�

�It�s always a possibility,� she smiled, but it didn�t reach her eyes.

Dawn wasn�t amused, �Buffy.�

�Sorry. Dawn, what would you think of Spike staying here and acting as your male caregiver?�

�You mean he�d be living with us?�

�No, not living,� Buffy answered quickly, �*Staying*. Temporarily. It would only be until Social Services are satisfied that I�m taking good care of you.�

Dawn�s lips had curved into a small smile. �That would be ok. I like Spike�

�Yeah, Willow told me that Spike came over every night before I came back, she said you enjoyed it.�

Dawn frowned at the mention of Willow�s name, but her smile turned into a grin as she considered the prospect of Spike living with them.

*I think that�s the first time she�s smiled since the accident* Buffy thought. �It�s good to see you smiling again, Dawnie.� *Even if it is because of Spike*

�Whatever,� she shrugged. She stood up and began walking to her room. She was at the foot of the stairs when she stopped and turned to Buffy. �What about you? Would you be ok with it? I know Spike�s not your favourite person.�

*No I�m not ok with it, I don�t want Spike living here* Buffy put a fake smile on her face, �Oh yeah, I�m fine with it.�

Without saying anything else, Dawn continued on her way to her room.

�This is just great,� Buffy muttered once Dawn was out of earshot, �Just *great*�

�Gee, Spike, for a vampire you sure do have a lot of crap,� Dawn complained as she helped Spike move his stuff into the Summers� house.

�I do not!� he protested.

�Hey, the important thing is that *you* believe it,� she grinned.

Buffy watched the two with her arms crossed; an involuntary smile crossed her face as she listened to their friendly banter. But when Spike turned to look at her it was immediately replaced with one of boredom.

�So, Buffy, where�s Spike sleeping?� a cheerful Dawn asked. She had warmed up to her sister quite a bit since she�d been told that Spike was going to be staying with them.

�On the couch,� Buffy ground out.

�But Buffy,� Dawn argued.

�No! We don�t have any room,�

�He could have Willow�s room, she doesn�t deserve it,� the teenager muttered.

The two replies came simultaneously and in the same tone.

�Dawn.�

�Lil Bit.�

Buffy glared at Spike then turned to Dawn, �Dawnie, Willow�s going through a tough time, she�s needs our support. I know you�re upset about the accident, but can�t you just *try* and be nice?�

�You always take her side,� Dawn cried exasperatedly before racing up the stairs to her room.

Buffy collapsed onto the sofa and ran a hand through her hair, �She�s been doing that a lot lately,� she sighed.

Spike sat down next to her, �What? Running up to her room?�

�Shouting, scowling, slamming doors,�

�It�s understandable, love. After what she went through with Glory and then with Willow, it�s only natural that she has a lot of anger.�

Buffy stood up, �So, you think she right? That Willow deserves to be treated like this? That she deserves the cold shoulder?� she yelled furiously.

�Pet,� he said gently, �I didn�t mean it like that.�

�Well how did you mean it?�

Spike stood up and rubbed Buffy�s shoulders, �Put yourself in her shoes for a minute. One of her best friends betrayed her trust, took her to a place full of black magic addicts then got her into an accident.�

Buffy�s eyes grew moist and tears threatened to fall, but she wouldn�t give him the satisfaction of seeing her cry, �Look, I know that Willow has a problem, but she�s working on it, and I�m sure she�d feel better if she knew that Dawn didn�t hate her.�

�I know, love, just give her some time,� he caressed her cheek.

For a moment, Buffy revelled in the feeling of his cool hand on her cheek, but then she pushed him away, �Don�t-don�t touch me,� she said softly

�Right, I forgot, I�m just an evil, disgusting thing,� he said, a look of pain on his face.

Buffy felt a twinge of guilt form in the pit of her stomach, but she quickly pushed it away. �I�ll go get you some blankets.�

She returned five minutes later, her arms full of linen, �Here you go.�

�Thanks, pet.�

Buffy didn�t answer; she just went into the kitchen to start making dinner. Spike followed her and watched as she pulled out various cooking utensils.

�Need any help?�

�No�

�Ok then�

Silence.

�I�m going to go over to Willie�s, to get some blood.�

�Spike, I�m not your parole officer, you don�t have to tell me where you�re going.�

�Just being polite.�

�When are you ever polite?�

�Why the Hell do I try?�

*Because I love her*, Spike he thought as her stormed out of the house, *God, I�m so whipped.*