Author's Notes: Various characters in the Buffyverse react to Spike's presence in Sunnydale, and his love for Buffy. Comments appreciated, flames will be extinguished. Email can be sent to cobalite@yahoo.com.

Encounters on A Grave: Hank
By Cobalite Ice

As they got closer to her grave, Dawn unconsciously entwined her hand with Spike's. He understood, he was one of the few that did. Spike stopped a half dozen meters away. "There's someone here."

"Angel?"

"Someone human."

He read the inscription on her tombstone with great confusion. "She saved the world? She was a college student with ties to some sort of gang! I cannot believe they let Dawn pick the inscription."

"Who is this guy?" Spike was irked over the insulting comments.

Dawn didn't answer, and let go of his hand. "It took you long enough, Daddy."

"This is your father? I thought he was dead." The idea of this man staying away all this time, his wife and eldest daughter dead, was ridiculous. If it weren't for the chip, Dawn would be short one more family member.

"Who told you I was dead?" Hank wondered what kind of lies his deluded wife had been telling.

"No one. But I could tell you what kind of toothpaste Joyce used when I first came here four years ago, or what brand of dye Buffy used in her hair. Can't for the life of me recall ever seeing you."

"I admit, it's been a while....Has it really been so long since I was here?" Where had the time gone?

"The last time you visited was when you brought us back from LA at the start of Buffy's junior year." Dawn's voice sounded very bitter, and suddenly it became clear to Spike why.

At least they had real memories of her, from the time after the monks had created her. She'd never really met her own father. "Welcome to Sunnyhell."

"Who are you?"

"The name's Sp-OW!" Dawn had stomped on his foot. "William. My name is William."

"British. There are more British men in Sunnydale than in England these days." Hank muttered, stood, and shook Spike's hand. "So William, are you related to Mr. Giles?"

"It's possible, I guess." Spike turned a little green at the idea. "No, I'm a free lance writer. Came into town to investigate some historic relics." If you considered the Cross of Dulac a historical relic.

"And you're walking through a cemetery at night with my youngest because?" Something was off about this boy. No one ever trying to get anywhere dressed like that.

"We were coming to see Buffy. Something everyone but you has been doing quite frequently." Dawn pushed past her father, and stared at the stone. "And Buffy wasn't in a gang. She was never in a gang."

"Whatever you say, Sweetheart." Hank decided to humor his little girl. "This is the first time I've been in the country in a month. I think it's time you came home with me."

"And where's home this week, Dad, Prague? Denmark? Venezuela?" Dawn spun around. "God, my mother and sister died! Where the hell were you? You couldn't put of an important deal long enough to send a condolence card?"

"Dawn, companies like mine have been going belly up everyday. I had to reschedule four meetings just to come to the funeral, and I had to leave right after. This was my first chance to come get you."

"I'm not going anywhere with you. You're a worse monster than anyone I've ever met! At least Glory cared about her family, however twisted it was. I'm just another detail for you." An angry Dawn was not to be trifled with.

"You are my daughter, and you're coming home with me! I am not arguing this out in the middle of a cemetery." Hank hadn't planned on dragging her out of town tonight, but the way things were going he'd have to.

A plan sprung to mind. One to get rid of him forever. "I'm not your daughter."

"Dawn." Spike tightened his grip on her arms. "What are you doing?"

"That's right. I'm not your daughter. Mom told me before she died. It's not your blood running through my veins. Your only daughter is in the ground, and I won't go with you. I'll go to court if I have to, if that's what it takes to stay in Sunnydale."

"Is this true?" Hank asked the blond man, hoping this was all some plan she'd concocted to stay in town.

Spike nodded. "Joyce was a wonderful woman, but she was a fool to stay with you for so long. You've never really known Dawn." His irony wasn't lost on the little girl next to him.

"I.. if anyone ever found out.."

"If anyone found out you'd be ridiculed. Everything you worked so hard for destroyed. I don't want any money, any support. Just sign the damned custody papers, and let me stay with my family."

"These people are your family now?"

"The best I've ever had. Go back to LA, and forget you ever had a second daughter."

"And if I fight for you?"

"An acquaintance of ours knows some high profile lawyers. I'm sure Wolfram and Hart would be all to happy to help maintain the balance of power here." Spike gave him a smile that didn't reach his eyes. Drusilla promised him their services if he'd ever needed them, and keeping the Key in California where they could keep an eye on her was high on their priorities.

"Goodbye, Dawn."

"Goodbye. Giles will be sending you the papers." She watched him walk away, and Spike wrapped an arm around her.

"What if he'd pressed it?"

"They made me from Buffy. It would be like trying to prove his grandchild was actually his daughter, at least that's how Giles explains it."

"You really consider me family?"

"Sure. Every Summers girl needs a pet vampire."