PAIRING : Dawn/Spike

RATING : NC17, character death

SPOILERS : general

DISCLAIMER : I do not own these characters.

No one knew how the change would affect the Key.

No one had even *thought* about the key in so very long… we didn't even know if I *was* the key anymore.

But as soon as I started with the magic… I felt my entire being change. My fingertips glowed brightly when I was casting spells. My body tingled on full moon nights. I had a 'spider sense' for when danger was near, demon or human.

As I grew into my own as I got older, I was able to do triple what Willow did on her *best* day. Covens even came to Sunnydale to meet with me and ensure that I was a help, not a threat. They wanted to use me to open up new magical doors. Some thought that I would be the key to opening dimensional walls. Well- *obviously*- since *that's* what I was *meant* to do.

Hell, I was even able to get that damn chip out of Spike's head and secure Angel's soul so Buffy could finally be with him.

No one counted on… the change.

I guess as soon as Buffy walked away from Sunnydale… we should have *known*. And in a way- I *did*.

I felt the change coming long before it ever happened. I felt how his glares at me changed. They got significantly more intense. I noticed how he'd often greet my breasts before greeting *me*.

It should have bothered me. But it didn't. It just felt… right. Good, to finally have his attention.

By my twenty-first birthday, I was pretty damn powerful. Demons didn't even *bother* to approach the Hellmouth, which made Buffy's job so dramatically easier, that she left (to be with Angel permanently).

Once she was gone, I had the house to myself. I decorated with candles and herbs and redid the entire place in an afternoon.

That night, I was busy calling the quarters in the backyard when I heard his voice. "Dawn?"

I was completely nude when he opened the porch door and saw me standing there with my cauldron and candles lit. His eyes were so dark and mysterious. My entire body was tingled, screaming at me to run. But I wanted it.

"Spike, what are you…"

"You *know*," he said as he dropped his duster and removed his shirt.

I cut him a door into the circle and he stalked toward me. "You've *known* for a while now," he said as one arm snaked around my waist. "You've *known* what I want," he whispered against my hardened nipple before biting me gently. His mouth trailed up to my neck and then his tongue was licking my lips. "Which makes me think that you want it," he said before placing his hands on my ass and grinding me against him. "Do you want it, Dawn?"

"Yesssss," I hissed before he finally kissed me, deeply, passionately. I felt his cock hardening under his jeans and my body responded. His hands slid up my back to bury themselves in my long hair.

"Do you know why I'm here?" He whispered against my breast as he began to kneel.

"Yes," I answered. I had really known all along, even before he did.

"Are you afraid?"

"No," I stated. I had no fear.

I *have* no fear.

"I kneel before my goddess," he said. I looked down at him and pull his face to my sex. I cradled him there, near my hot, wet core for some time, until my entire body was screaming and aching. I felt him so close and so far at the same time.

"Lay down, Spike," I whispered and I stretched him out in the center of the circle. "Be gone," I said and his jeans disappeared. He was lying there, naked and beautiful, for my taking, as I was for his.

I kneeled on the ground at his feet and slithered up his body, feeling his skin against mine. My hands slid up his chest to cup his head. "I call to you, Earth, to come and be witness on this my twenty-first birthday. To bring me your strength and glory and ground my lover."

Almost immediately, roots came from the ground to ensure that his arms and legs be spread and open. The fire that took over his eyes was incredible. "Make me your child tonight, Mother Earth," I said. "And make my lover as well."

I turned my head to the right. "I call to you, Air, to come and be witness on this my twenty-first birthday. To bring me your grace and power and cool my lover and I from the fire's within, this night." A mild breeze picked up inside the circle and moved my hair gently. I spread my legs and moaned as the air cooled my sex and made me tingle more.

"I call to you, Fire," I said, leaning back far, so I could look at his feet upside down. "To come and be witness on this my twenty-first birthday. To bring your passion and intensity to our bodies as we attempt to recreate your heat." A crackling fire materialized a few feet away from us.

I turned my head to the left and spoke. "I call to you, Water, to come and be witness on this my twenty-first birthday. To bring me your purity and visions. And to ease my lover's passage and allow him to flow within me, and *me* in *him*."

Just then, a gush of fluid came out of my sex, spilling itself onto him and the ground below. "We want you home," I whispered before opening myself to him. The wind picked up and guided him inside me.

Passion. Love. Glory. Pain. Pleasure. Ecstasy. Elation. Sadness. Anger. Hate. Rage.

*Everything* flowed between us, through my body into his and from his into me. We were complete.

As we were nearing orgasm, I said, "Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. Make it come!"

The roots broke and he was shocked at how quickly his fangs descended, how quick the wind was to help flip us over, how hot the fire burned when his fangs took the skin of my neck and devoured it.

My life ebbed out of me into his mouth as the amazon rushed between my thighs, into my body, out of my body… it was a blur. My fingertips were glowing brightly, burning wherever I touched him.

It was incredible.

Miraculous, even.

No one knew how the change would affect the Key.

No one had even *thought* about the key in so very long… we didn't even know if I *was* the key anymore.

Regardless, I knew what I was.

There was no label. Witch. Key. Vampiress. Slayer's sister. Mate. Childe. Lover. Dark power. Goddess. Bitch.

No label.

I'm just Dawn.

It's all I'll ever be.

~El Fin~