Might Have Been: Hush
Dancing
Dawn frowned at the white board Spike was holding up and shook her head. Rolling his eyes the vampire rubbed the word off the board as Dawn continued moving her arms.
Rock, rocking…
Dawn shook her head again and started to move her arms back and forth more emphatically. Spike continued to watch her with narrowed eyes and then proceeded to write,
I don't know what that is Dawn. Stop doing the same thing over and over, when it's obvious I haven't got a clue what you're going on about. Do it another way!
The teenager merely rolled her eyes and Spike was furious that not only had some of the menace been lost from that statement by his having to write it down instead of growl it at her, but also that he had to play this stupid game in the first place. He'd been reduced to babysitting the Nibblet just because Buffy had to go out a play the hero.
Dawn stamped her foot and Spike returned his attention to her, sighing as he gestured for her to continue. She moved her hands over her stomach and then acted out a swollen stomach of pregnancy.
Fat?
He was really glad right then that Dawn couldn't actually shriek the things she was mouthing furiously at him. He shrank back a little and watched as she pulled one of the cushions from the armchair and pushed it up under her shirt.
Hey! No props!
Dawn scowled at him.
Baby?
Dawn put her finger to her nose and pointed at him.
Don't get all excited sweetheart. That's only the first word. And for the future, you don't want to rock babies like that. Unless you want them to throw up all over you.
The young girl stuck her tongue out at him and held up two fingers. Spike nodded. She held up her index finger.
One?
Dawn clapped excitedly and held up four fingers.
Wait, wait! What happened to the third word?
Dawn shook her head and waved the four fingers at him.
Ok
She pointed at the watch on her wrist.
Watch?
Clock?
Wrist?
Dawn grabbed the white board from him.
You suck at this game
Spike resisted the urge to put himself out of his misery by fighting the pain and bleeding her dry, and instead stuck his tongue out at her and grabbed his board back.
Time?
Dawn smiled prettily and moved back to the other side of the coffee table. Spike wrote Baby One ____ Time on the top of the board and stared at it. He twisted his face.
And this is a song?
'Yes,' Dawn mouthed.
I've never heard of it.
Dawn flounced back over to him and grabbed the pen.
I haven't finished yet.
I've still never heard of it. Who's it by?
I'm not telling you. That's cheating.
Fine. Then I give up. You win.
Dawn frowned as she wrote Baby One More Time by Britney Spears on the board. She looked up at Spike, her expression clearly saying 'duh!' Spike merely shrugged.
Who's she then?
He smiled as Dawn mouthed 'Whatever,' but his grin quickly vanished when she took the board and pen away from him and wrote Your turn.
Oh no! Spike wrote snatching the board back. It's bad enough having to be the guesser in this poncy game. I'm not swanning around like some complete prat just to keep you amused princess.
Dawn batted her eyelashes at him. Spike turned away.
I'll tell Buffy you were mean to me.
Spike glowered at her. I don't care.
They sat unmoving for a moment before Dawn tapped her friend on the shoulder. Turning back to her Spike was surprised to see tears in her eyes. 'What's wrong?' he mouthed.
What if we're stuck like this?
Spike felt his heart go out to the young girl and wrapped his arms around her. We won't be nibblet. Buffy'll fix it.
You really believe that?
Of course. I have complete faith in her.
Dawn raised her eyebrows slightly but didn't comment, snuggling deeper against his chest.
You'll protect us won't you? From them?
Spike didn't need to ask who 'they' were. He knew Dawn would be having nightmares for weeks after she'd found Giles' slides.
I promise.
Til the end of the world right?
Dawn felt Spike smile and nod against the top of her head and relaxed against him, knowing in her heart everything would be alright.