Disclaimer: Don't own them, don't want to. Except Spike of course, I'd loooove to own him ;-)



Spike woke the next evening feeling quite disoriented. He sat up slowly and looked around. He was in his crypt, he was dressed, and he was alone. Somehow things seemed off, he couldn't remember what he'd done the night before. He slid down off the stone slab and walked toward the refrigerator to get some blood. He stopped, frozen in shock at the sight before him. On the floor in front of him were two massive piles of cigarettes and liquor.

"Just what in bloody hell did I DO last night?"

Shaking his head and deciding that, hey, as long as he hadn't gotten caught it must be okay, he grabbed a carton of smokes and tore it open. He opened the fridge and pulled out a bag of blood, he tore into it and swallowed it cold. After screwing up his face in disgust at the taste of the cold animal blood he grabbed a random bottle of booze and took a large drink. He sat in his chair, lit cigarette in one hand and open bottle in the other. As soon as it was dark enough he was going to go out and find some answers. Half an hour later, the sun was set and Spike was out the door. He figured he'd go see the Slayer and her gang, if anyone knew what happened last night it was probably one of them.

"Maybe I can find me something to kill on the way over."

Spike was sorely disappointed at the lack of demons or vampires to kill on the way, he only saw one little tree sprite.

"Hardly worth the time to chase it down, not even dangerous or anything."

He kicked a rock and continued on his way to Buffy's. When he got close he could hear yelling.

"Xander Harris I swear if you leave I'll make you regret it!"

Anya was a demon again, and she was yelling at Xander who was getting into his car with a sheepish grin on his face.

"I'm sorry An, but I have to go. It would never work out between us. I'm in love with Deadboy, I'm moving to LA to beg him to give me a chance."

Anya glared at the boy.

"But he's not gay! And neither are you!"

Xander seemed to puzzle over this but then just shrugged and said.

"Yeah well, I must be, I'm in love with him."

Xander started his car and drove away. Anya yelled out into the street behind him.

"Oh yeah? Well I wish that Angel would love you back! For hours on end with his 12 inch long penis!" Her eyes lit up. "Wish granted."

It was good to be a vengeance demon. Spike stood a few feet away and watched in abstract fascination. This was better than Passions!

"Peaches and the idiot? In love? They hate each other!"

He mumbled to himself. He almost wanted to go to LA just to see how things worked out. He wondered if the demon girl had actually given his sire a foot long penis, he knew it wasn't THAT big. As Spike watched the house he saw Willow and Tara leaving the house holding hands. He couldn't remember why that made him smile. He thought they were broken up. They seemed to be giggling about something, he tried to hear what they were saying.

"....not fair. I told her I don't do magic anymore, she didn't have to throw things." "I know honey, but did you see it? I mean it was HUGE!"

There was more giggling followed by.

"But I feel bad for her. Isn't there something you could do?"

"No, a glamour wouldn't cover it, she needs to go to a doctor."

"But Buffy won't leave the house looking that bad......"

Spike couldn't hear anything else as they had walked to far away. He decided if the Slayer looked that bad then he wanted to see it for himself. He made his way to the door and knocked. A beautiful dark haired young woman opened the door and smiled at him.

"Spike! Come in, can I get you anything?"

Spike looked at the girl, no woman, in front of him. She looked familiar, like someone he should know. He considered that maybe he shouldn't have finished that whole bottle before coming over.

"Nah, I'm good. Thanks pet."

The girl just shrugged and went into the living room and sat down. Spike followed her in.

"Dawn? Can you phone Dr. Perkins for me? See if he can squeeze me in first thing tomorrow?"

Buffy yelled from upstairs. Spike was stunned when the dark haired woman answered.

"Sure thing Buff! What should I tell him the problem is?"

She laughed as she heard her sister cursing at her from upstairs.

"You KNOW what the problem is! Just make the appointment."

Dawn grinned at Spike at picked up the phone. She made the appointment for her sister and pressed her finger to her lips to let Spike know to be quiet.

"Hey Buffy? Can you come here for a minute?"

Spike was trying to work out in his brain what his eyes and ears were telling him. That woman sitting across from him was Dawn Summers. A very beautiful, very grown up, Dawn Summers. For some reason he felt that he should know this already. He was still pondering the fact that Dawn was obviously no longer a kid when Buffy walked into the room.

"What is it Dawn? I mean if it's all the same to you I think I'd rather just stay in my room until I see the Doc tomorrow."

Dawn pointed to Spike who was behind the Slayers line of sight, she of course turned to see what her sister was pointing at and...

"GAH! What the bloody hell is that thing on yer face? Are you growing a second bloody head?"

Buffy screamed, covered her face, and then ran back up to her room. Dawn and Spike looked at each other and burst out laughing.

"Well that was entertaining. Though I think you may have damaged her, luv."

Dawn just smiled at him.

"So, are we still on for the beach tomorrow?"

At Spike's blank stare she prompted him.

"You know, swimming, BBQ, frisbee?"

He looked at her like she had grown another head.

"Uh Dawn? Vampire. Sun. Poof?"

Dawn Smiled again.

"No poof, Angel wasn't invited."

This earned her a real smile from the still confused Spike. He knew that there was something he wasn't getting. It was right there, hovering on the borders of his mind. He replayed the day’s events trying to jog his recollection. He didn't realize he was actually talking out loud though.

"Okay, woke up in crypt, had blood, big bloody piles of fags and booze on the floor. Smoked a fag, drank a bit. Walked here, saw the git and demon girl fighting. Git's moving to LA, he's in love with Peaches. Anya curses him. Red and her witchy friend were laughing at Buffy. Dawn's all grown up, bloody gorgeous she is too, and the Slayer has a wart on her nose. Did I miss anything?"

"Hmm, sounds like you had an interesting day so far. Why the crypt and not the apartment?"

Spike was shocked and slightly embarrassed. He hadn't realized he was talking out loud.

"Er... apartment?"

Dawn got up and crouched in front of him.

"Spike? Are you okay? You're acting kinda strange. Did you get in a fight last night? Bump your head?"

Spike tried to remember, he could recall bits and pieces, being dumped by Buffy, sitting on the roof, making wishes....'Dumped? By Buffy? I don't even like the bint! What the fu...' He didn't finish his thought because he suddenly got total recall. He remembered everything he had done the previous night. Spike sat back and laughed. He laughed and laughed and laughed. He got everything he wished for! He wasn't in love with Buffy, Xander was gone to pursue his Sire, Anya was a demon again, hell she played into the plan beautifully. Poor Xander wouldn't sit for a week! Spike laughed even harder at that thought. He'd seen the witches together earlier all hand holding and happy, the slayer had a wart and he got a lifetimes supply of smokes and drink. Dawn was all grown up and sitting in front of him with a look of worry and love on her face. Yep, somebody somewhere was looking out for him.

"Er... sorry little bit. I had a nightmare that I was involved with yer sis. I woke up screamin' an everything's been sorta screwed up since then."

Dawn shook her head and smiled.

"Serves you right! I know what you did to Mr. Giles. It's a good thing I stopped by there this morning to pick up a couple of books. That poor man would've been stuck there all day!"

Spike thought about the watcher being chained in the bath all day, nope still funny as far as he was concerned.

"So...beach tomorrow? Sunlight, swimming, maybe even get some color on your skin?"

Dawn was still concerned about him but she was used to his weirdness from time to time. Spike suddenly shot up out of the chair and ran to the hallway mirror. He was there! Really there. He stood staring at himself for a few minutes.

"I can really see myself."

He studied his reflection, fascinated when Dawn's image joined his own.

"Spike? I'm worried about you. You've been able to see yourself for over a year now. Remember? That night of the earthquake, we got stuck in the basement of the Magic Box, we were there for four days. You fed from me. My blood, because of me being the key, it changed you. Your chip shorted out, you were screaming and yelling. Spike do you remember any of this?"

The weird thing was, as Dawn spoke the images of that night flooded his brain. He could actually remember all of it.

"Yeah, I remember. By the time the Slayer found us I had bitten you twice, she tried to stake me. You stuck up for me, she pushed me outside into the sun. I remember the look on her face when I didn't go up in flames."

Dawn smiled.

"I remember the look on yours. I've never seen anyone look so dumbstruck! That was when we learned that you were sun-proof. I've been trying to get you to the beach at least twice a week ever since. Still can't get any color in that skin though."

Spike wanted to ask her about them, but he didn't want to make her angry that he couldn't remember.

"You said apartment before? I have an apartment?"

Dawn took Spike's hand and led him back to the sofa. She sat down beside him and cuddled into his side. He instinctively put his arm around her and gave her a reassuring squeeze. Dawn looked up at him.

"You have a nice place, it's in the same building as Xander and Anya. We picked it out after Angel set up that bank account for you. He said he wanted you to enjoy the gift you'd been given and set you up with an identity and a bank account. He visits every other weekend. Are you sure you didn't hurt your head?"

Now Spike knew that something was definitely going on between them. She helped him pick out his apartment, he could remember that now. He remembered Angel's visits for the past year. That was how Harris had fallen for him.

"Naw, I'm fine. Just a little fuzzy. I must have tied one on last night. Probably went to the crypt on reflex."

She grinned.

"You usually do when you’re drunk. You realize that that'll have to stop when I move in. I refuse to go lurking around a cemetery in the middle of the night to drag my drunken vampire boyfriend back home. Now, have you fed this week?"

"This week? Yeah I had a bag this evening when I woke. Why?"

Spike was trying to figure out what she meant by this week.

"Good. I must say, it is easier kissing you now that I only have to worry blood breath once a week, well except when you bite me that is. Although I rather enjoy that."

Spike barely heard her say kissing before he was hit with memories of doing just that. That and a fair bit more. By the time she finished speaking he had pulled her closer, he leaned down and took her lips in a soft lingering kiss. He could definitely see himself in love with this girl. Eternity wouldn't be long enough to spend with her.

"Can we go to the apartment? I don't fancy kissing you here with the Slayer upstairs, puts a dampener on the mood eh."

Dawn and Spike left the house and headed towards Spike's apartment. Everything was perfect. Well almost perfect, he wasn't there to see the soldiers reactions to having syphilis, or farm-boy’s reaction to having his knackers shrunk.

"Damn!"

"What is it Spike?"

He smiled.

"I should have wished for a magic mirror."

Dawn looked at him as if he were crazy, Spike just laughed and laughed.

"Long story pet. Maybe someday I'll explain it to you."

Dawn smiled at him and gave him a quick kiss.

"Sure, whatever. Let's just go home huh?"

Spike picked up the pace.

"Home sounds good."