Title: School's hard

Name: Joy       

Email: [email protected]

            Life at the Summers household was surprisingly quiet. Gunn had come visit for his birthday after all. Dawn felt like a real idiot for throwing a fit that she couldn't go to LA when Spike was just trying to honor her boyfriend's request to surprise her with his visit.

Dawn was paroled for the spring dance that she was so excited about. Gunn was willing to come for the occasion even though it was a high school dance. Angel had been really cute about the whole thing. He told Gunn all about the one school dance he had gone to with Buffy even though they were broken up. Gunn was subjected to listening to the story in annoyance since there was no real useful information involved. The only good part was watching Wesley and Cordelia squirm over their interactions at the same said dance.

Buffy and Spike were doing relatively good for parents of a teenager. They were managing Dawn and vampires pretty well. Social Services didn't do much digging so the phony marriage was accepted and some of the heat on them lightened up. Willow had moved into the dorm leaving the largest bedroom open again. It became Buffy's for Social Services visits.

On a personal level, Spike was true to his word about taking things slowly. Buffy thought it was slower then snails since she ended up in a cold shower each night they spent too much time together whether that be from patrolling or sitting on the sofa watching TV together. Spike too was living in the land of the cold shower but he needed them to be that way for the time being.

Buffy and he had a few successful dates where he paid, they went out to eat or to a movie. They talked a lot more then they used to and even managed to spar with one another without falling to the ground and screwing each other's brains out, though there were those moments where they both really wanted to.

There had been a lull in all things vampiric which was, of course, an indication that something bad was about to happen. Gunn arrived in Sunnydale with no problem and took Buffy's old room for the weekend. Dawn was convinced she could bypass the whole 'no boy in bedroom rule' by going into the room he was staying in. Gunn, who knew better, quickly nixed the idea.

"DAWN!!!" Buffy yelled up the stairs. "Your date has been sitting here waiting for you for too long now… He drove from LA for this so don't make him wait any longer."

"Come on Bit… Now you're messing with Buffy and my date," Spike shouted. "I want to be sure we get a good seat."

Buffy looked at him confusedly, "There's a good seat at a monster truck race."

"Woman! Of course there is," he snipped back.

"You two sound more and more like an old married couple as the days go by," Dawn said descending the stairs in the cream colored dress Buffy had killed the Master in. What she didn't have in the chest she made up for in the legs causing Gunn to drool.

Spike sidled up to Gunn. "Put your eyes back in their sockets and don't get any ideas about breaking any of the rules tonight. Got it?" he growled in a low whispered.

"Got it…" he murmured and went to Dawn giving her a corsage and everything.

Buffy's eyes teared up. "What pet?" he asked wrapping his arms around her middle from behind.

The slayer slightly smirked, "Perfect teenage moment… I'm glad she gets them."

Spike bit his lip. Buffy didn't get enough of those. He kissed the back of her head. "Go upstairs and put on a dress for the dance."

She flipped around in his arms. "You're kidding right?"

"No, I'm not… You were already set for our date just go change clothes."

"What happened to patrolling before hand?" Buffy asked nervously as Gunn and Dawn tried to figure out what was going on.

"Night off," he kissed the tip of her nose.

"What's going on?" Dawn asked.

"This is becoming a family affair," Spike said simply. "You two run along and I will try to get your sister there for a short time… I promise to leave you alone," he stated when Dawn looked like she would object.

Buffy looked at her sister nervously. Dawn just smirked at her. "What are you waiting for? You're making your date wait," she taunted. Gunn nodded in agreement.

"I can't believe I'm doing this," the slayer muttered trudging up the stairs.

Spike smiled and Dawn. "Thanks Bit… We won't stay long."

"Giving her back some of the things she lost saving this world from beasties… I get it… Just don't dance too close and don't embarrass me," Dawn instructed.

"Not a problem… Now get a move on. I need to change."

"Oh… You know this is like dressy, right?" the teen said.

"No problem."

"I've never seen you dressy," Dawn said queerly.

"Yeah you have," Gunn interjected. "Three piece suit to visit your dad in LA, remember?"

Dawn smiled. "Buffy is going to die… Hurry… And don't slick your hair back. Buffy really likes it when it's curly on top."

"You're kidding?" Spike stared at her.

"Not a bit… Bye… See you soon."

Spike rushed down the stairs to his room and pulled out his suit. "You will have to do for the evening," he commented. "But first…" he walked to the bathroom and ran his hair under the water faucet to get the junk out of it. A quick towel drying of his hair, he hoped Buffy would like it. He slipped into the clothes and rushed back up the stairs.

"Spike?" Buffy called down from the upper level hall.

"Yeah luv."

"I'm coming down, but I warn you my zipper is stuck so you'll have to finish it," she said simply.

"Hormones in check… I want to get you to the dance remember?" he said as she slowly descend the stairs. She was wearing a violet colored dress he had never seen before. He swallowed on instinct and coughed. "Parking afterwards is optional." She looked at him with shy eyes as his fingers lightly brushed down her arms to turn her around. Then there were cold fingers on her primarily bare back. "There you go luv," he choked out just barely.

She turned around and faced him. "I like the suit… wasn't sure you owned one."

"Visit with your dad made it necessary," Spike said lightly.

"Right…" Buffy smiled as she noticed his hair. She reached up and fixed a couple pieces sticking up in odd directions. When she leaned away she said, "I like."

"Dawn…" he pointed to his hair. "Said you might."

"I'll have to thank her."

"Why? I'm the one running my head under the bleeding water."

"I hope the water wasn't bleeding. The last time I saw that it was on a dance night… the Master rose… killed me… and got mouth to mouth from Xander. Not an all around good evening," Buffy stated.

"I'd say it was good… You came back and you killed him," Spike said wrapping his arms around her from behind again.

"I also left an opening for you."

"That too… Come on pet… Time to go."

The new Sunnydale High was a little cooler then the one Buffy blew up. Unfortunately she had no idea where anything was which bothered her. Spike held her hand and said, "Relax luv… Here for a good time. Nothing's going to happen."

"Right… That's why several of my school events were interrupted by demons, vampires, hellhounds, and flying monkeys," she said annoyed.

"Come on," he tugged at her.

The gym was set up for the dance beautifully. "Now don't blow the place up," Spike instructed. "That would qualify as embarrassing Bit… Who is where?"

"Look for Gunn's bald head," Buffy stated.

Spike scanned the crowd. "There they are," he said motioning to Buffy.

"They're cute," she said softly.

"They're supposed to be. They're young."

"He's older then me," Buffy reminded him.

"You're young and cute," Spike said kissing the tip of her nose. "Spunky too." She just chuckled into his chest.

"Are Buffy and Spike here yet?" Dawn asked.

"Yeah… Cuddling nicely," Gunn responded. "I'm glad they're doing this… I think stuff like this will help her depression."

"I just have to remember that when I get the inclination to fuss about it being my turn…" Dawn swallowed. "She really didn't get much of a turn."

"Well know for certain she will do anything to make sure you get the most of yours," Gunn said giving his girl a squeeze.

"I'll remember that."

Suddenly the gym lights went off and somebody screamed. Spike and Buffy looked at each other. "Vampires," they said in unison both sensing their presence.

"How many?" Buffy asked.

"I count ten… Bloody Hell those are just the ones guarding those doors."

"We're going to have to split up," the slayer stated.

"Weapons?"

"Find Gunn."

"Right."

Buffy went to the wooden drink table and turned it over breaking off each of its legs. There were some gas lanterns to light the food area. Buffy dismantled one lamp poured the oil on the end of the table leg and lit it on fire. "Now we're talking," she muttered.

Spike looked over to see Buffy handling the flaming stake. "That's my girl," he smiled as she attacked the vampires closest to her.

Gunn and Buffy had forced Dawn to carry a few stakes in her purse in case something odd happened. Dawn, Spike and Gunn met up at the table where her stuff was. "Other weapons?" Gunn asked.

"Other suit," Spike said snidely. "Buffy's handling the back door. Hopefully we can get the people outside."

"Why is this happening?" Dawn fussed.

"Because this is Sunnydale, Bit."

Gunn and Spike each fought well taking out several vampires while Dawn and Buffy handled the other door. They shuffled people out the exit Buffy had cleared with good old-fashioned trial by fire. "Dawn, see how Gunn and Spike are doing," Buffy instructed.

            The teen made her way across the dance floor toward the fighting. Spike had just discovered the fire axe on the wall when Dawn was caught by the throat.

            "What a pretty little thing? You're the slayer's sister aren't you? Let's see if that slayer blood lingers in you," the vampire cooed. Dawn was too shocked and scared to do anything.

            Suddenly the vampire went flying having been hit in the head with the fire axe that Spike wielded. The blond vampire stood over this stupid new vampire master.  "You get the hell away from my daughter!" he yelled as he brought the axe down beheading him.

            Spike froze for a moment and thought, "Well wasn't that ironic!"

The END

Sequel?