“What’s up?” Buffy asked.
“We gotta talk about Dawn,” Hank said, sitting on the swing.
“Why?” Buffy asked, crossing her arms. “She’s fine.”
Hank pulled out and envelop and handed it to her.
Buffy carefully opened it for her and pulled out the papers. She glanced at them and dropped them. “Oh, god,” she whispered.
Hank picked up the fallen papers. “I know you’re upset, but she needs a substantial home,” Hank said.
“She has one. Right here,” Buffy said, going inside.
Hank followed. “Buffy, this isn’t a discussion,” he said.
Spike came into the living room with Dawn. “What’s going on?”
“I’m not signing those so forget it,” Buffy said.
“What’s going on?” Dawn asked.
Hank looked at his youngest daughter. “I’m here to take you home with me,” he said, smiling.
“Why?” Dawn asked, moving closer to Spike.
“Cause you need a good home,” Hank said.
“She has one,” Spike growled.
Dawn looked up at him and smiled a little. “Yeah, dad. I’m perfectly happy right here,” she said.
Hank held up the custody papers. “According to these, you belong to me. Now lets go,” he demanded.
“No,” Buffy said, softly.
Hank looked over at her. “I’m her father, Buffy. You can’t get in the way of that,” he said.
Buffy walked over and stood next to Spike and Dawn. “By blood yeah. But we,” she said pointing to her and Spike. “Are her family. We have raised her, we have given everything she needs for a good home. Not you,” she said.
Spike raised an eyebrow at her. ‘We?’
Dawn frowned at her dad and moved closer to Spike. “Dad, I don’t wanna leave,” she said.
Tentatively, Spike put his arm around Dawn and pulled her close to him.
“Dawn, this isn’t a discussion. You have to leave with me,” Hank said.
Spike growled. “Dawn is staying here,” he said.
Hank glanced at Spike. “Who are you?” He asked.
“He’s family,” Dawn said, leaning in to Spike’s side.
“Dawn cannot stay here, Buffy,” Hank said. “She needs a good home where she can go to school.”
“With you? When you bring a different woman home every night? What kind of life do you want her to have?” Buffy flared.
Hank slapped his daughter across the face. “How dare you?”
Spike stepped in front of Buffy. “Don’t you ever touch her again,” he growled, dangerously.
Buffy rested a hand on Spike’s back. “It’s okay, Spike,” she said, softly. “Dad, I think you need to leave.”
“Not without Dawn,” Hank said.
“Yes, without Dawn,” Buffy said.
“Buffy, the court says I’m her legal guardian,” Hank said.
“I don’t care, Get out,” Buffy said.
Hank scowled. “Buffy, Karen wants to meet her and I want her safe.”
“She is safe,” Spike growled.
“Who’s Karen?” Buffy asked.
“My wife. She’s dieing to meet you two. We wanted full custody of Dawn because she need a mother,” Hank said.
Dawn buried her face in Spike’s chest. Spike pulled he close to him. “It’s okay, Nibblet,” he whispered, guiding her to the couch.
Dawn curled in Spike’s lap and silent tears ran down her face.
Buffy glared at her dad. “Look at what you did! Dad, you need to leave,” Buffy said, softly.
Hank growled. “Not without Dawn.”
Then Giles came in the door. “Buffy, we’re… Oh, hello Mr. Summers.”
Buffy looked at Giles. “You’re back earlier,” she said. “Dad was just leaving.”
Hank looked at Giles. “Came for Dawn.”
Giles raised an eyebrow and frowned at Dawn who was still crying in Spike’s lap. “She’s fine,” he said, firmly.
Hank rolled his eyes. “She needs a good home.”
Giles stepped forward. “Dawn has a good home here. Unless you want me to rip your head off, I suggest you leave.”
Hank raised an eyebrow at his town. “This isn’t over,” he said, leaving.
Buffy sighed. “Thanks, Giles,” she said, going over to Dawn and Spike. “Dawnie?”
Dawn opened her eyes wearily. “I’m okay.”
Buffy smiled. “You sure?”
Dawn nodded and pulled her knees up to her chest. “As long as he doesn’t show up for a while.”
Spike kissed her forehead. “Doesn’t matter. He’s not gunna win,” he said.
Buffy smiled at them and pushed a strand of Dawn’s hair behind her ear. “Things will be okay, Dawn. Spike and I won’t let anything to you. Promise.”
Dawn exhaled slowly. “Spike?”
“Hm?” Spike asked, looking down at her.
“I really meant what I said. About you being family. You are. Or in my eyes you are,” she said, smiling up at him.
Spike looked over at Buffy who was smile as well. “I meant was I said, too.”
Dawn climbed out of Spike’s lap. “You guys are having another one of your mushy moments. That means I should be somewhere that’s else,” she said, leaving the room with a smile.
Spike watched as she left before looking over at Buffy.
Buffy looked at him. “We gotta talk,” she said.
Spike sighed. “I figured,” he muttered.
“Why’s you push me away?” She asked.
“Because we can’t go through that again Buffy. It’s better not to start it. That what it doesn’t get finished,” he said, softly.
“That’s not what I was trying to do,” Buffy said.
Spike stood up and sighed. “It doesn’t matter, Buffy. I cannot hurt you over and over again. I’m not Angel or Riley. I don’t know what you want, but I don’t think I can give it to you.”
“Well, I think you’re feeling sorry for yourself. Spike, if I thought you would do something to hurt me or anyone, I wouldn’t have brought you home,” Buffy said. “If I hadn’t forgiven you, I would’ve staked you.”
Spike ran a hand through his hair. “Buffy, I love you more than anything that god can give. You said being with me was killing you and I cannot put you through that again,” he said, softly.
Buffy stood up and went towards him. “It was killing me only because I didn’t understand. I was not supposed to love you but I did anyways. Then you left and it was like I couldn’t breathe,” she whimpered, tears in her eyes.
“Well, I couldn’t stay,” Spike said.
“Why?” Buffy cried, tears streaming down her face.
“Because I couldn’t live with myself, Buffy! I went to try and fix it. I thought you wouldn’t forgive me and then you’d stake me. I was ok with that because you would’ve been the last thing I saw,” Spike said, tears streaming down his face as well.
Dawn, Willow, and Giles had come to see what the screaming was about. They watched as Buffy fell to her knees sobbing her heart out.
Spike sniffled and went over to her. He knelt in front of her. “I’m sorry, Buffy.”
Buffy leaned into him. “Oh god Spike. I’m so sorry. I just want you to hold me,” she whimpered.
Spike wrapped his arms around Buffy. “Shhh,” he whispered, rocking her back and forth.
Buffy sobbed in his arms but lifted her head after awhile. “Are you gunna give me another chance?” She asked, wiping his tears.
“Are you gunna give me one?” Spike asked, softly.
Buffy smiled and sniffled. “I’m gunna give you a whole lot more than that,” she said, kissing him softly.
This time Spike kissed her back.
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