As long as he wasn't taking any truly awful verbal shots at the pirate, she could meet his teasing with a mild smile of her own. And a soft reminder of Spike's particular brand of protectiveness for the littlest Summers didn't hurt.

"There were...jokes made to that effect, yeah. But let's just say that, uhm, for once? She started the trend."

In fact, when Dawn had first arrived? Buffy had still been failing to date Spike. And it was likely that the sister's sudden arrival had been one sure-fire way to cool any and all potential romance between the Slayer and the vampire. She didn't want to disappoint her sister by backsliding into the arms of a man who had once hurt her so.

"Trust me. I wasn't expecting it either. But they made a very cute couple. I think...I think he was gonna ask her to marry him -- for whatever that could ever be worth, here."