Nocturnal Bravura

William watched as all The Scoobies helped Giles clear the dishes well not all.... Anya was explaining to Dawn about the evils of the last sales tax increase. Dawn being Dawn and ever patient sat there quietly listening to the girl ramble on and on. William felt a squeeze on his shoulder. He looked at Willow and smiled.

“You o.k.?” He heard in his mind.

“It’s still weird that you can do this.” William answered in his head.

“Hey if I can’t practice on my best bud than with who?” Willow responded still speaking to him telepathically.

William immediately broke the connection.

“I’m fine Red. I promise. I am just worried about The Bit.” William said looking at Dawn.

Giles walked into the room and cleared his throat.

Everyone looked up.

“Dawn, I know today is very difficult for you. I wanted to give you something that perhaps will help. I mean if that’s what you want.” Rupert said.

William smiled and pulled a large envelope out of his back pocket. He handed it to Dawn. Dawn opened it as tears fell from her cheeks.

“These are adoption papers.” Dawn whispered.

William smiled.
“Yeah Bit we figured we should just go ahead and make it official. Seeing as Da and I already think of you as ours. What do you say?” William said crouching down.

In a flash Will was surrounded by a pair of lanky legs and arms. He laughed nearly landing on the ground. Dawn turned to Rupert and launched herself into his arms. Rupert smiled shyly and hugged the girl back.

William’s eyes could not help but drift to the house across the street. For as happy as he was at that moment his heart still shattered so much had happened to the two families. Rupert had decided not to put The Summers Home up for sale thinking Dawn might still want it. William could not imagine why.

Willow looked at William with concern. She knew he was hiding something. But she respected him enough to not invade his mind. Those were his secrets.

After everyone had left William and Dawn sat on the couch watching The Princess Bride. They had done the same thing last year and vowed that they would every year in honor of Elizabeth’s birthday. It was her favorite movie.....

FLASHBACK

Three and a half years prior..
__________________________________________________________________

William helped Elizabeth put her DVD’s away. He laughed at the way she organized her collection. By genre of course except for a few exceptions. Actors like Johnny Deep and Audrey Hepburn got their own section. Star Wars movie were in a class of their own as well. The funniest section was dance movies from the 1980’s. It made Elizabeth blush furiously. William being kind bit the inside of his cheek to prevent himself from laughing.

Elizabeth pulled out the last movie. The Princess Bride. William frowned.

“There’s no room for it Pet.” William observed looking at her DVD rack.

Elizabeth smiled brightly.

“It does not go there. It goes here.” Elizabeth said placing it on it’s side on top of the DVD player.

“I see. And that would be because??” William teased.

“It’s my favorite movie. I watch it too much to keep walking back and forth. I had to on VHS and it broke Mom had to buy it for me like four times.” Elizabeth laughed.

“Have you seen it?” Elizabeth asked.

“Yeah a long time ago. I like the book better.” William said.

Elizabeth frowned for a moment a bit disappointed

He was lying. He had seen the movie multiple times. His Mum loved it and never liked watching it alone. William use to sit there with her pretending to amuse her but in reality the romantic in him enjoyed it.

“Just tell her you Git” He thought to himself.

He decided to go for a safer subject.

“There are a couple of different versions of the book . The first one by S Morgan Stern is really dry but the William Goldman one reads just like the movie. I could lend it to you if you like.” William said.

Elizabeth smiled.

“I would really love that.” She whispered.

The two youths looked around her room.

“Well it’s done. So is Dawnie’s, thanks for helping us out so much. Mom was just saying she if you weren’t here things would not have gone nearly as quick. Your whole family has been wonderful. But you have been here constantly” Elizabeth said softly.

William smiled.

“I hardly sleep. I have been that way since I was a kid. So I wake up early and am up until the late night hours. It has been nice to have something to do.” William said shrugging his shoulder.

The truth was William would sleep on her bloody porch if he thought he could get away with it and not look like a crazed stalker.

Every night since she moved in he would watch her look at the stars from her window. Their rooms were right across from each other. The second night she caught him. Instead of being repulse she opened her window and begun to hold a rather loud conversation. It made William laugh. Every night since then they would talk for a second and then Elizabeth would close her blinds.

William would sit there waiting for the light to go out making sure she went to sleep without needing anything else. He had woke up before the sun rose the last three nights getting frustrated that the sun was not rising fast enough so he could race over there and see his girls. But she did not need to know that.

Elizabeth smiled.

“Yeah but most guys would have had serious issues being told to do things by a girl especially me I know I can be bossy.” Elizabeth confessed.

William smiled again.

“As You Wish.” He thought in his head.

They heard a knock on the door. Elizabeth and William turned around and saw Spike standing there.

“Hey little brother up with the sunrise again.” Spike said stretching his arms.

“It’s 1:00 in the afternoon Spike.” William answered trying not to sound annoyed.

Elizabeth giggled sending both brothers into a trance for a moment.

“So Spike what do you think?” Elizabeth asked.

Spike looked around the room. He was impressed it was not your typical 15 year old’s room. The walls did not have boy band posters and were not obnoxious colors or over girlie pastels. It was a nice simple room. There was a Renoir on her wall a young blonde girl that reminded Spike of Elizabeth. A lot of pictures of her mom, Dawn and herself. Her computer with few clippings of famous quotes pinned to the desk and a very vast collection of DVD and CD’s.

Spike smiled.

“It’s really nice Pet.” He said.

Spike looked at the movie sitting on top of the DVD player.

“Getting ready to watch a movie?” He asked.

Elizabeth blushed.

“Um no just...”

“Hey aren’t you playing at The Bronze tonight?” William asked saving Elizabeth embarrassment.

Spike nodded. He looked at Elizabeth and smiled shyly.

“Can you come and watch Pet?” He asked.

Elizabeth nodded then her eyes got wide.

“Can Dawnie come?” Elizabeth asked.

“Well she can be there until 9:00 but then they make the younger set leave. Our band does not go on until 8:30.” Spike explained.

Elizabeth looked down.

“Well I guess I can hear you for a minute right? I mean maybe I can catch a whole set some other time. It’s just that we are both so new here that I don’t want Dawnie to feel excluded you know?” Elizabeth said.

William leaned against her desk. Did he actually feel lightheaded? Elizabeth had done two things that absolutely floored William. The first refusing to exclude her kid sister from her first outing. That alone was too precious for words. The second was she did not fall all over herself to please his twin something that rarely happened. Girls were putty in Spike’s hands. Everyone knew it.

Spike looked at her surprised. Elizabeth Summers was indeed something else. His thoughts mirrored his brothers. It only made Spike want her even more. He was tired for knowing exactly what words to say to get women on there backs with their legs spread open. Not that Elizabeth was just a challenge there was something about her that made Spike feel like he had to consume her. He wanted her more than he wanted anything in his life.

“Sounds good Pet.” Spike said calmly.

Elizabeth smiled.

“I’ll just make sure it’s o.k. with mom.” Elizabeth replied.

Spike looked back at the direction of her DVD player. He bowed slightly.

William tried not to react.

“Don’t do it Wanker! That’s what I said! I mean That’s what I should have said.” William thought.

Spike stared in Elizabeth’s eyes making her cheeks go flush.

“As you wish.” He said smiling.

Elizabeth’s face broke out in a blinding smile.

Spike walked out of the room quickly knowing it would add it the effect.

William sighed.

“Damn it, he did it again!” He thought.

End of FLASH BACK

__________________________________________________________________

“As you wish.” William heard.

He looked at the T.V. screen as the man playing the grandfather left the young boy’s room signaling the end of the movie.

William looked down mussing Dawn’s hair.

“Time for bed Bit.” William announced.

Dawn did not move.

“Will, can I ask you a question?” Dawn asked.

“Sure bit what is it?” He replied.

“Do you think they are together in heaven?” Dawn asked.

“Yes Bit I am sure they are.” William answered.

Dawn looked up at William.

“Even Lizzie and Spike?” Dawn asked.

It took every ounce of self control to not break down right there. His secret ate him up but he knew he could not tell her what he knew. He could not tell anyone. He knew he could not lie to Dawnie as well so he looked in Dawn’s eyes and gave her his answer.

“Yes Bit I am sure Lizzie and Spike are together.”