Anything For You

by
Raihne

Part Five

Xander ushered his children home quickly. He didn't like them being out on the Hellmouth at night. "Come on guys, bath then bedtime okay?"

"Daddy?"

He smiled, "I'm okay. You don't die from . . . disappointment." He refused to say 'broken hearts' his heart was NOT broken. It was cracked is all. The boys kept it from breaking. He'd always have his boys. "Come on, you smell like demons."

Essej giggled, "We are demons."

Xander pretended to look shocked. "Why, so you are!" He pulled the little one's shirt up over his head and herded the three of them into the bathroom. "rub a dub dub, three Garkreshin in the tub."

A pounding on the door startled them all, making them jump.

"Xander!"

The human tensed and clentched his jaw. "Guys, bath time, the water's getting cold."

"Xander, open the bloody door!"

"Daddy?" Ssol looked toward the front door, unsure or what to do.

"Just ignore it. Bath. Now."

The climbed into the bathtub and Xander knelt on the floor beside it.

"Whelp if you don't open this door in ten seconds I'll. . ."

"What do you think you're doing? Leave that nice boy alone. You probably woke up the little ones!"

"Mind you own ya ol' bag. Xander open up!"

Xander lay his head on the cool porcline tub and steeled himself.

"Daddy?" Yrral asked, touching his hair.

"Wash up guys." He choked out, managing not to sob. "I'll go tell him to be quiet."

"But. . ."

Xander ruffled their hair, "Wash. If you're done with your skin in five minutes I'll wash your hair for you."

They began washing and Xander stood up painfully slowly and walked to the front door. Just as Spike kicked it in.

The door slammed into Xander's face and knocked him across the room.

"Shit!" Spike dropped down beside him and helped him sit up, wiping the blood away from his nose. "What the Hell were you doing standing that close to the door?!"

Xander groaned, "Getting ready to open it." He rubbed his injured nose, "Ouch!"

"It isn't broken."

"No thanks to you!"

"Xan I. . ."

"Why can't you just leave us alone? Haven't you done enough?" He stood, swaying a bit before he got his balance again. "The kids can't take this on again off again stuff. I can't take it!"

"I didn't know! You never told me!"

"You're in love with Buffy! What was I supposed to say? 'Hey now that she's dead, wanna get together and make little demonic babies?'"

"Uh. . . don't think that's anatomically possible pet."

"I'm sure Willow would know a spell." He dismissed then realised he'd gone off track, "But that isn't the point!"

"The point is you love me."

"Yeah." He froze, "Wait. . . Damn it. . . Spike!"

The vampire stepped closer, backing Xander up against the wall. "So tell me now."

"Why? So you can know just how low you can crush me?" He whispered.

Spike growled, "Xander. Tell me."

Xander frowned, tears streaking over his face. "Hey, wanna get together and make little demonic babies." It was spoken so softly Spike barely heard it.

The blond reached out and cupped Xander's chin, lifting his face so their eyes met. He grinned softly and breathed, "I'm sure Willow knows a spell."

"Wha. . ."

"I love you pet." Spike's eyes begged for another chance. "I tried to think of life without you and the li'l bits. . . I couldn't."

"You just got used to us."

He shook his head. "I got to know you. I admired you. Then I wanted you, to be near you. . . then, when I hurt you I realised I would have given everything I was to take the pain off of your face. I realised that when I'm around you, I feel safe. It feels like I'm whole."

"You really need to stop listening in on my stories."

Spike's heart fell. This was it. He'd hurt the boy too much this time.

"Next time you can tell the story." Xander gave him a watery smile.

He had never felt so warm inside. "I have a great one. It's about human warrior and his pack, and a silly blind vampire."

"Does it have a happy ending?"

Spike smiled and caught his mouth in their first real kiss. It was awkward and sloppy and broken by laughter, but it was the most passionate thing either of them had ever felt. Spike finally pulled back to let Xander breath. "Whelp?"

"Hm?"

"You promised the kids you'd wash their hair for them."

"Oh."

"Can I lend a hand?"

Xander's smile lit up the whole apartment. "Come on."

Giles ran up the stairs to Xander's apartment followed by Buffy and Willow. He cursed the minions that had held them up with each step. If Spike had done anything to the boy he would. . .

"Giles?" Buffy ran up behind him and stared at the broken door. "Oh no."

The four of them rushed into the apartment. "Oh Goddess what if Spike. . ."

"He wouldn't hurt Xander." Buffy insisted.

"But where. . ."

Giles heard a splash from the bathroom and pushed open the door, ready to see the worst.

What he saw was a bleached blond vampire half in and half out of the tub, fully clothed, while three little demons painted his face with soap crayons while Xander stood to the side giggling too hard to help.

The watcher closed the door quietly and crept back to where the others were trying to work out where Spike might have taken them.

"Giles what. . ."

"They're just fine."

"They're here?! Where?! What happened?" Willow babbled and he pointed to the bathroom.

The witch peeked through the keyhole and stood back up, smiling, "Come on." She ushered them out the door. "Giles' right, we can talk to them later."

"But what. . .?"

"I think they worked it out for themselves."

The night shadows slid across the king sized bed and Spike stared at the three sleeping children and the dark haired angel who slept beside him.

"Spike?" Xander whispered. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

Xander sat up and looked at the blond carefully. "Can't you sleep? I know the boys roll around a lot. . . "

"C'n sleep just fine pet."

"Then what's wrong?"

He smiled in the dark, "Just counting my blessings. One Two Three Four."

Xander blushed and Spike hugged him tighter.

"And I was thinkin'."

"Huh?" Xander asked, not taking his face away from where he was burrowing into Spikes embrace.

"Ya think the Watcher would like to watch the bits fer a few some time?"

That caused Xander to pause, "Why?"

Spike smirked, "Because ah'd like ta get started on those little demonic babies you promised me."

He blushed bright red and Spike chuckled quietly. "Well. . ."

"Yeah pet?"

"Could we try for a girl?"

Spike's heart was flooded with love. "Yeah."

"Spike?" Xander yawned.

"Hm?"

"You are so fixing the door tomorrow."

He chuckled. "Yes pet."

"'kay."

Spike hugged his love closer and smiled as Ssol, Yrral and Essej rolled so they were laying in a snug dog-pile on top of their daddies. As the vampire drifted to sleep one word echod in his mind.

Home.

The End