Chapter 7.01
Friday, May 10th, 2002

The rest of the night was just so many hours to go through until they could be alone. In the end Spike disregarded all the bookings he'd made and drove them to an out of the way roadhouse that did bar meals and was mostly patronised by bikers. And if Xander felt out of place, then it was a good bet none of Riley's cohorts could walk in unnoticed either. The food was good and for those who partook the beer was better.

The gang took it much as expected when they found out that they could be under surveillance. Willow and Tara volunteered to research all means magical and electronic to find any listening devices or cameras that might be hidden too subtly for the human or vampire eye. Xander floundered in denial and Anya said that if she found they were selling any tapes she wanted royalties. Dawn was distressed but stoically brave when she found out the government could be aware of her secret identity. She promised that if anything key-related occurred Buffy and Spike would be first to know, away from the house and any potential listening devices. Just in case, the group agreed, no more Key comments, monk comments or anything that could lead them to investigate Dawn's background, if somehow they didn't already know.

Spike got volunteered to drive Buffy, Dawn and the witches to LA the following morning, so that they could choose the bridesmaid's dresses, and he booked rooms for them all at the same motel again, so they could leave it till Sunday night to drive back. Xander announced that he'd finished the plans for the basement and submitted them to city hall for planning permission. Willow said Spike's computer was up and running and just needed to be moved to the flat.

Funnily enough, once they found out about Dawn's date, the rest of the gang also decided to swing by the Bronze, just for a drink or two. This, reasoned Buffy, meant she and Spike could swing a quick patrol while Dawn was under the watchful gaze of the other adults, giving Dawn the illusion of more privacy and her and Spike more time alone later. Even more surprisingly, Spike agreed without protest, though he insisted if they weren't back by the time the others left Dawn and Janice had to leave with them.

It was latish by the time they arrived at the Bronze. From her black looks, so like her sister's, Spike judged that the guy in the corner talking to the two girls, was the gentleman Dawn had been hoping to see. Spike eavesdropped on enough of the conversation to be able to tell it was the girls who were on the hunt, not the guy and he decided to let her know before she caused a scene.

"Better go rescue him, Bit, before he has to resort to harsh language. Those two don't seem to take the hint. We'll be up on the balcony when you're ready to do the introductions. Don't make us wait too long."

So, while the others headed for the bar and Dawn went to get her man, Buffy found herself back on that familiar balcony.

Buffy wasn't angry at him per se, but she was ready to be if he didn't have a good reason for bringing her here. "Why here? We're not—"

"No, pet, we're not. I'm just hoping we're going to be in and out too quick for it to be worth getting a drink. We're too late to get a table without threatening someone. I didn't want to say we'd be on the dance-floor, 'cause then we'd be stuck there whatever crap they play. And from up here we can play spot the vamp, and keep an unobtrusive eye on Bit till we leave. And maybe I can get you to tell me what was causing all the frown lines back at Lily's."

"Am I that easy to read?" Buffy asked.

"Only to me," answered her peroxided paramour, as he drew her into his arms for a gentle kiss, deliberately keeping both hands on her back above the waist in case teenaged eyes were watching.

"Tonight, back at your place, we'll open that bottle of champagne and I'll tell all," Buffy promised. "Of course it could just be indigestion, which I notice you managed to completely avoid."

"Not my fault if everybody knows vampires don't eat." Spike's eyes narrowed as he looked at something over Buffy's shoulder.

"What's with the look. We got business?" Buffy asked.

"No, just that Bit's bloke moves like he knows how to fight, and until I know he's going to be using that to look after her, I'm not sure I like it. I'd rather be sure if it came to a fight she'd win."

"I'll buy her some pepper spray or mace, whatever. She can look after herself better than most kids her age anyway. She'll be fine. Just try to be nice." Taking Spike's arm she turned him to face the stairs as her sister's head came into view.

Dawn chatted as she came upstairs, hand in hand with the new man in her life. "Spike's cool, most of the time, but he can be a bit over-protective. He'll probably act like a jackass until he trusts you, but as long as you aren't looking to use me and then dump me, you should live." That should do it, Dawn thought, knowing her ploy could work one of two ways. Either Spike would go into total asshole mode, in which case Brandon had been warned, or he'd do the opposite and try to prove her wrong, which would suit her just fine. Judging by the smirk on his face it was going to be the former.

Maybe Buffy spotted the warning signs because she stepped in front of the vamp ensuring she would be first to greet the newcomer. "Hi. I'm Dawn's sister, Buffy, and this is my fiancé, Spike. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Mentally, Buffy was berating herself for Spike's influence on her sister. The look was more Goth than Billy Idol, and the black T-shirt had a design printed on in white, a cartoon of a goth looking girl in a vest wearing an ankh against a checkerboard background. However, the tight black jeans, the boots (in this case New Rocks) and the black nail polish were pure Spike, even if he only had a biker's leather jacket, currently carried not worn, rather than a full length duster. His hair was short and she thought it was naturally dark, but spiked with coloured gel that made it reflect ultramarine when the light caught it. The difference in their respective heel sizes made him look only an inch or so taller than Dawn, but they were probably both still growing. He wasn't broad or imposing like some football players Buffy remembered from high school, but from what she could see of his arms Buffy would bet Spike was right. He was muscled like a dancer or a martial artist and she didn't know many fifteen-year-old boys (wait, he drove, must be sixteen) that keen on dancing. He certainly didn't look like he'd be auditioning for any boy bands soon. Though, Dawn was right. The guy was definitely a cutie, green eyes and a sweet smile.

"Hi, it's nice to meet you, too." He held his hand out toward Buffy and after shaking hands with her to Spike. To Dawn's surprise Spike didn't make a point of crushing his hand. He didn't make any obnoxious comments or anything, just said, "pleasure," and then lit up one of his illegal cigarettes.

"Did Dawn mention we'd like you to come over for dinner on Tuesday?" Buffy asked.

"Give me a chance. We only got here five minutes ago," Dawn protested.

"Don't worry, mate. 'S just Buffy's responsible for Dawn, so we like to know the people she hangs around with. That's all. We're not going to tie you to a chair and force you to eat Buffy's cooking." Spike dodged the half-hearted slap that accompanied Buffy's, "Hey."

"And these are meant to be my role-models," said Dawn. "Can we go now?"

"Where's Janice? I thought she was joining you this evening," Spike queried.

"Her mom's dropping her off at half past. She didn't want to get here early and have to hang round on her own. Now can we go?"

"Yeah. Don't do anything you've been told not to do. If you need anything before we get back, see one of the guys or call Spike's mobile, and we'll see you nearer curfew," Buffy replied, following the pair downstairs, with Spike on her heels. They had a quick word with the others before they left and then headed for the cemeteries.

Buffy was the first to break the silence as they walked. "You were remarkably civil, there."

"And what?" Spike pouted. "You thought I was going to threaten to kill him if he hurt her or something. Contrary to popular belief those words do not come out of everyone's mouth any time a Summers starts dating someone. 'S not like I could lay a finger on him anyway. You would be the one beatin' him up, pet. Or not, since you didn't even give that Parker git the hidin' he deserved."

"Just thought you might have felt compelled to say something as the man of the house," Buffy retorted.

"You made it perfectly clear that I shouldn't overstep the big-brother mark. Besides, you think I'm stupid enough to do the warning in front of Bit. He'll get it at least twice tonight off Harris and Red anyway. I thought since she won't actually be leaving with him tonight I'd cut him some slack." Spike smirked. "At least until Tuesday."

"So, you're all chummy and I get to look like the evil one. Gee thanks, Spikey."

"You said to try to be nice. I was nice."

"My point exactly. Since when do you do what I ask you to do?"

Spike's gaze turned into a leer, and he practically purred his response. "I can think of quite a few times in the not too dim and distant, sweetness."

"Pig," retorted the slayer as her cheeks flushed bright red despite the rush of blood to other areas, lengthening her stride to leave Spike behind.

Spike just grinned and appreciated the view she presented to him, adjusting his own pace to stay a few yards behind her. At this speed they would do the rounds and be back at the Bronze in less than an hour, which suited him just fine.

Without the three stooges sticking their oar in or summoning up weird and unusual demons for them to play with, patrol was actually verging on boring. As far as the demon population went it was only the freshly risen and terminally stupid who didn't know better than to cross paths with the two blondes these days. Spike's guess was that it would stay that way until some out of towner showed up and tried to crown himself the new Big Bad. Somehow, that always seemed to be about autumn. No one seemed to want to move to Sunnydale in the summer, not that he could blame them. If it wasn't for the whole lack of circulation thing Spike knew he'd find it too damn hot. So maybe they would get a couple of months peace and quiet to get Bit half-way trained up before the next crisis hit, if they were lucky, assuming the tin soldier stayed away.

At the Bronze, they seemed to have made progress over the last week. Xander didn't let his mouth hang open when they snogged or danced any more, and they went the whole night without anyone having to jump down his throat and tell him to get over himself. Bit and her beau behaved themselves in a nervously cute, teenage kind of way, though Spike suddenly found himself almost rooting for Angel's son. At least he was one hundred percent certain that he didn't have any connection with the Initiative. Hard as it was though, he'd give the boy a chance... but if Niblet shed a single unhappy tear over him, somehow the boy would be history.

Finally, it was time for them to go, and their elders watched with varying degrees of approval as the kid tentatively kissed Dawn on the cheek, only to have her plant an open-mouthed smacker on his lips, that had Spike all but growling. He scowled his disapproval all the way to Janice's house, warning Dawn to be ready early for the trip to LA.

And then they were on their own, just Spike and Buffy.