The way Dawn sees it, in a world surrounded by superheroes, she's got to do her best and prove that even if she doesn't have the natural niftiness that being a Slayer brings, she can kick ass just because she wants to :D Buffy realised that about her at the end of S6, when they fought together in a crypt. She went through an inadequate phase during S7 with all the Slayers, but now, all is well and she's amused that she can fight better than some of the younger ones, because she has been learning longer and has the cunning and guile, while some of the girls are as dumb as posts.

*grins* I was thinking the same thing - it's like anyone who wants to get it on with Rogue in X-Men. Strategically place some strips of silk and lo, you get a new sensation anyway ;)

Spike knows the private chat wouldn't help. He's presently standing, doing pupp-eyes and groaning that she is totally screwed in every which way (you should see the look on his face when Dawn observes that she'd be pretty useless for virgin sacrifices anymore, so no good eying her like she might be) :D (Plus, Herbert just wants to pin him on the table as distract him)