Spike the . . . Cuddly?

by
Raihne

Part Five

Spike sat on the edge of the bed watching Xander sleep. The boy'd been through a lot lately. He'd woken up once, his hand was moving over his chest like he was looking for something that should be there. It took a moment for Spike to realize what should've been there was him. Well, kitten him anyway. He'd placed his head on the softly rising and falling chest and let Xander stroke his hair until he was fully asleep again. It had taken a huge effort for Spike to pull away from Xander's warm fingers but he'd done it. Then he resumed his watch over the sleeping scooby.

Xander began to stir again and Spike stood quickly and moved to a chair nearby, closing his eyes as if he hadn't been watching the boy all day. He pushed down the little ache inside him when he realized that he wasn't welcome to curl up into that warmth anymore. Never thought I'd miss bein' a cat.

"Spike." His name was breathed out in a sleepy sigh and Xander rolled closer to where his cool weight had rested, so different from the warmth of the kitten he'd been.

"'m here. In one form or another. Always here."

"Spike." Giles stood in the doorway, watching the vampire carefully.

"Watcher?"

"I should have known that only you could annoy me as much as that blasted kitten was."

"Well, so much fer all that Watcher knowledge." He glarred, "Thought you'd wise up sooner."

"The idea of you being a cute little 'anything' threw off my usual powers of deduction."

"S'at a fact?"

"Indeed. Now about Xander. . ."

"No need ta waste yer breath Rupes." Spike stood and cracked his neck, stiff from leaning over the boy for hours. "'M outta here when the boy comes to. Evil undead an' all."

"I think you have misjudged the situation."

"Might 'ave yeah, but I don't think so."

Giles eyes burned and he backed the startled vamp into the wall, "I never took William the Bloody for a coward. Of course Xander will be upset, he's had a shock. That doesn't mean you get to give up and blame him for your hundred and twenty year old insecurities. If you want him then fight for him, he has just as many fears as you."

"Why're ya rootin' me on ta court yer boy. Would think a Watcher'd be pushing me away fast 'n far."

The human shook his head and smiled indulgently at Spike, "Because I saw how upset he was when he thought you were gone. I've watched him bury a part of himself since high school, and amazingly, I think you will be just what he needs."

"I just get yer approval ta court?"

"I beleive that is what I said."

"Bit hard ta translate Watcher speak."

He shook his head, "I need to get some ingredients to insure that none of you are affected by the Fradglarn's magic when we fight it. Can you stay with Xander and then bring him to the magic shop when he wakes?"

"'Ey! Jus' cause I'm workin' at bein' yer son-in-law don't mean I gotta listen to ya!"

"Actually that is exactly what it means." He smirked and left before Spike could think of how to respond to that.

"Hn. Cheeky git i'nt 'e?"









Xander yawned and stretched his arms in languid peace. He let his eyes slowly drift open to the soft light of . . . wait, light? His brow furrowed in confusion Why did I leave the light on? Spike won't settle down and sleep if. . . Spike?

He sat up so fast that he made himself dizzy, "Oooh, not good." After the room settled again the sable haired boy stood and began searching for the platinum kitten who should have been sleeping on his chest or pillow like always. "Spike? Come on, kitty kitty, where are you? Spike?"

"Thought yeh'd sleep fer ever."

Everything came back to him at the sight of the blond vampire. The Fradglarn, the fight, the iron fence, the vet, and Giles doing a spell to bring back the last of the demon's victims. Then, Spike. His kitten was. . .

"Oi! Doin't go faintin' again!"

"Spike?"

"S'prise." He had the decency to look sheepish at least.

"My Spike is THE Spike?"

"One of a kind I am."

"Where is Giles?"

    "Want 'im ta turn me back?" Spike looked half way between laughing and growling now and Xander's eyes started to look a bit shiney.

"Giles?" He called.

"Oh! Fine! Said 'e had ta go ta the shop. I'm ta take you there after dark."

The human's thoughts were racing, Spike could almost see the gears turning.

"My kitten. . ."

Spike's heart lurched. The kid looked so young, and so lost. 'At's right, 'eard th' witches talkin' while we were healin' up. 'bout Xan's cat getting offed in front o' 'im when 'e was a boy. 'E knows I was the kitten, be 'e's still lost 'is pet again. "Can pet me if you want." Spike spoke quickly, with a lecherous grin to cover his less than big bad thoughts, "I'll even purr fer ya."

/'Huh?" He blushed bright red. "Ah. . . about what I said to you, . . . when you were . . ."

Spike opened his mouth to answer but was cut off by the telephone ringing. The vampire snatched it off the cradle and pulled his arm back but Xander snatched it from him before it could be thrown.

"Hello?. . . oh. . . . yeah. . . we can, but. . . no. . . why don't you come. . . sure. See you then. Bye." He hung up and spoke without looking at Spike, "They're doing the spells over here, since you can't go out yet and you need to get one done on you."

"Harris. . ."

"Let's clean up a little before they get here okay?"

"Harris. . ."

"Does dust throw off magic cause maybe we should. . ."

"Xander!"

"WHAT?!"

They stood facing each other, Spike not moving an inch and Xander looking like he was hyperventilating. "Jus' ferget it alright?"

"Forget. . ."

"Far as I'm thinkin' it never 'appened."

"Oh." Xander's voice was small but he nodded, "Yeah, sure, uh. . . well. . . I gotta clean up so. . ."

"Sure, right." Spike flopped onto the couch and closed his eyes, "Middle o' my night anyroad."

Xander left the room quickly and Spike opened troubled eyes to the ceiling. S'why I don't do humans. Bloody complicated they are. Vamp's jus' like a cat anyway, jus' more fun s'all. What he didn't let himself think of was the fact that since he was no longer Xanders 'kitten', he no longer had a place in Xander's home. Thoughts like that did not promote sleep, and right then, there was a Fradglarn to worry about.

Part Six

When the scoobies arrived at Xander's apartment, they found Spike perched on the arm of the couch, a pile of smoked cigarettes at his feet. Buffy gave him an odd look but pushed passed, accompanied by Willow, toward Xander's room with Tara following them, more nervous about just barging into someone's space. Spike could hear them talking to him as he finished shaving and brushing his teeth. All those annoying little human sounds that he shouldn't find endearing at all. Giles sat on a nearby armchair and watched his fellow Englishman closely.

Finally the vampire snarled and snubbed out the last cigarette out of the third pack he's opened. It was the last one in his pockets, but he searched anyway and swore when he found no more.

"Should I get the dust bin?"

Spike looked up sharply, thinking he was being threatened by the Watcher, before he noticed the mess his smoking had made. "Odd ta be cold again s'all." He mumbled.

Giles nodded and cleaned the butts up without another word.

"Boy's really upset."

The Watcher smiled saddly, "Xander loved his kitten, he hasn't realized yet that you're still here." He was going to say more but at that moment Xander and the girls emerged from the bedroom.

"So, how do we do this?" Xander rubbed his hands together and tried very hard to look normal and okay while avoiding looking at Spike completely.

Giles gave a thoughtful glance to each of them then took off his glasses to rub the bridge of his nose. "We need to wait until dark and then go hunting. Most likely it will be in a heavily wooden area with no iron for at least a one mile radius. Willow and Tara did some research and came up with two likely locations. One is near the ocean about a five minute drive from the public beach, the other is in the park."

Xander smiled, "Go girls!"

"We will have to split into teams. Xander, you and Spike will take the park and Buffy and I will take the beach. Willow and Tara, I will need you to stay here and keep the spell going to make us immune to the demon's magic, and to cast a curative spell if our sheild fails and one of us is transformed."

Xander blushed but nodded and Spike stared at him, daring him to look up and meet his gaze.

"I seem to have forgotten the iron rail, spike and one of my iron axes, Xander, could you drive the girls to the shop to get them? Willow and Tara I would like you to gather some healing herbs and spell components just in case we need them after the battle."

"No problem G-man!" The boy almost ran out the door.

Spike waited until the door was closed and then slumped down onto the couch. "Subtlety thy name is Rupert. So wha'd ya want to get me alone fer?"

The watcher sniffed at Spike's half arsed insult but then shrugged and met the blond vampire's eyes seriously, "Spike, Xander had a kitten before you, it. . ."

"Got offed by a mutt, heard ya all talking 'bout it."

"So then you know that he has just come close to reliving a very traumatic experience. Then, right after he thought it would all be right again, he found out that he'd been sharing his heart felt secrets with the object of his secret affections. Even for a vampire that must seem traumatic, correct?"

"Yeah."

"Now put it into human terms." Giles waited for Spike to take that in before continuing, "Spike, Xander is a very strong person, but even the strongest of us have our weak times. Don't give up on him for his. You need to. . ."

"You really want yer surrogate son with William the Bloody, Watcher?" Spike interrupted the waves of fatherly advice, "You really want Spike, the Scourge of Europe, as a son in law?"

The watcher thought a moment and then gave a wry smile, "As much as it pains me to say this, I think I could do worst than having you in the family." He placed a solid hand on Spike's shoulder, "And so could Xander."

"Isn' it all too sudden? Don' ya think I'm usin' the boy?" Spike searched the older looking face suspiciously.

"No." He almost laughed at the vampire's suspicions.

"Why do you trust me?"

"Because I have watched Xander grow into a fine young man who is deathly afraid of being himself. I dare say that if I were younger, and not his father figure, I would want him for myself. However I have also seen the way he looks at you. Until this happened, you weren't in a possition to see him without his guard up. Then you did see and I am fully aware of the wonderful person you found beneath our 'zeppo'. You are a vampire and a murderer and a violent bastard. . ."

"Didn't know you cared."

"But you are also a loving mate. You are a natural care giver to those you love. I trust you because I know just how lovable our Xander is. You would never hurt him. He needs that assurance."

Spike closed his eyes solomnly then smiled, "Yer a bit o' alright Rupes, ya know that?"

"I've suspected it." He smiled back and stood, "Now we should most likely order pizza. When the children get back I dare say they will want food."

"Yeah, humans 're funny that way." Spike stood and got the phone.









"Xander? You okay?" Willow asked her freind softly.

"Been better, been worst."

"So that's a no."

He looked down at his feet and hefted the weapons sack onto his shoulder, "Come on, I bet Giles ordered pizza."

"Xan. . ."

"I'm okay Wills just. . . just a little wigged is all."

Buffy took the heavy bag from him and put it in the trunk, "About Spike?"

He avoided looking at them by digging through the bag and grabing the first iron spike he found, slipping it into his waist band as if he had been seriously looking for it. "You're all taking this well."

The slayer smiled and shrugged, "Hey, he's love's bitch and he's in love with you. What more could you want?"

"Whoa! Hold up! In love with me?! What part of unrequited don't you get?"

"X. . . xander?" Tara asked softly.

"Huh?"

"A. . . are you b. . . blind?"

"Nah I don't jack o. . . shutting up now."

Buffy grinned and the witches blushed but smiled, "Xander! You were going to say something dirty weren't you?!"

He cocked his head to the side a little, "Sometimes I just forget you're girls." Then he ran. Fast. And was chased by Buffy and Willow like he was back in kindergarden and afraid to get cooties. A purse smacking him in the back of the head remedied that image though. Cooties never left bruises! "Ouch! Slayer strength! Watch it!"

"Willow threw it you big baby."

Xander walked back and climbed into the car surrounded by giggles at his expense. At least they forgot about. . .

"Spike smoked three packs of cigarettes today."

Shit.

"They were all over the place."

"Spike always smokes."

"X-Xander, why c-c-can't you acc-c-cept th-that he l-likes you?"

"Because he's going to leave." He started the car and headed back toward his apartment. "He's Spike again. And Spike doesn't need me."

"He was always Spike."

"You know what I mean."

Buffy was about to respond when something ran into the road. "Xander!! watch. . . !"

It slammed into the car and rolled over the hood to smash head first through the windshield. Xander swore when he saw it and snatched the iron spike he'd pocketed earlier, ramming it into the things head. It disintegrated.

Xander looked at the girls, the girls looked at Xander. Finally Buffy broke the silence, "That was kind of anti-climatic."

Xander blinked, nodded, and passed out, a stream of blood slipping over his forehead.

"Xander!"









The funeral was held at twilight, the sky overcast and rain threatened to fall. It was a solomn and grief filled moment that refused to let them go.

Spike watched with a stone cold face, only the misty film in his eyes betraying him until a single tear slid over his cheek. The blond bit his lip, but other than that, he didn't move a muscle, enthralled by the chilling scene, unable to move, if he didn't move maybe it would all prove to be a dream and he would wake up and everything would be okay.

Giles finally spoke after watching the vampire holding back his tears for too long. "Spike?"

The eyes flashed golden, "Hush."

"Spike!"

"Show some bloody respect and shut yer gob Rupert!" He snarled and turned back to the funeral.

"Spike I refuse to watch this drivel any longer!"

Spike roared when Giles turned the channel. "Oi! It ain't drivel! Lance just lost his only true love! An' look at that! Blaize is already whorin' up to 'im!"

"Spike it's a soap opera, and not even a good one at that."

"I'll 'ave you know Passions is a masterpiece of modern day time television!"

"That isn't saying much." Giles rose at the knock on the door and turned to Spike, "It's only been thirty minutes. Where did we order from? I must say they. . ." He gasped as Spike jumped up and ran to the door, pushing him aside so hard he almost hit the wall! "Spike! What are you. . . Xander!"

The slayer lay the boy on the couch and then turned to Giles, "No more Fradglarn."

"You went after it alone?! Are you insane?!"

"Didn't go after it, Xander hit it with his car."

Willow nodded, "He stayed conscious long enough to stake it with iron. Then he fainted."

"Is he. . ." The watcher ran a hand through the boy's hair and almost got it bitten off by a very protective master vampire in full game face.

"I did a quick spell to check that he's not concussed, just unconscious. When he wakes up he'll be fine."

Spike clentched his jaw and stood, "Well then, I'm off."

"Spike!" They all yelled at once.

"Listen, I'm outta fags an' outta patience. Ta." He slammed the door and went as far as the nearest alley before dropping to the ground and riding out the shock of thinking Xander was dying. If he'd stayed there another minute. . ."Gah! What's 'e done ta me?!"

"Mew."

Spike looked down at the little brownish kitten in his lap and blinked, "wot?" He picked it up and it latched onto his shirt tightly with its little claws. "Better be careful bit, or some demon'll use you as poker chips."

The tiny thing mewed again and Spike found himself craddling it close and heading back to the apartment. If he couldn't be Xander's kitten maybe the boy would take the little brown stray. Kid always had a thing for taking things no one else wanted. Vampires included. He caught himself standing at the door and instead, hid in the shadows and waited for the other humans to leave. What he needed to say was personal.

Xander answered the door, still a bit off balance. "Hey guys did you forget som. . . Spike!"

The vampire looked . . . adorable. Standing in the doorway, head down, holding a kitten in front of him like a sheild.

"Spike?"

"I lied" He finally spoke. "Don't wanna go pet. Don't wanna ferget."

The chocolate haired boy with whiskey eyes stepped aside and let Spike in, closing the door quietly, "You don't even like me, Spike."

"Didn't before. 's one o' those 'True Colors' things."

"Huh?"

"Y'know, 'I see yer true colors shinin through, true colors 'at's why I love you.'" Spike spoke the works quickly and tonelessly, refusing to actually sing the lyrics. He did have a tiny bit of self respect left.

"Say the last line."

The vampire smirked, "Sorry, that whole 'beautiful like a rainbow' scene isn' fer me ya know? Not with the whole gay pride bit." He smirked as Xander's mind trying to follow that jump of logic. Spike saw the boy's lost look and the smirk slipped a bit, to a real and honest smile. He sang softly, leaning in and whispering the words into the beautiful human's ear. The little brown kitten was squished between them comfortably warm and watching with interested eyes. "That's why I love you."

The private serenade caused Xander's cheeks to blush prettily, and caused his heart to race. "Spike, I don't. . ."

"Xan, I think I'm fallin' pet. Never 'appened before."

"You'll leave."

"I don't leave. M' loved ones leave me."

"I don't leave."

"Perfect then." He held up the kitten, "Brought you something didn't I." He smiled when Xander took the little thing with the soft care he'd held Spike with when he was a kitten. The vampire knew that this furball would have a wonderful life in this house. "Sorry ya lost yer kitten again."

"I didn't. You're right here."

"Xan." Spike stepped forward and hugged the human close. They stayed that way for a long time, still as statues. Until Xander asked, "Spike?"

"Yeah luv?"

"You sure this time it's a real kitten?"

"Never know on the Hellmouth."

Epilogue

The apartment was dark and warm. It smelled of leather and chocolate, just like the two who lived there.

The bed dipped as Xander slid in beside Spike and the vampire grinned and rolled into his embrace. "Xaaaaaaandeeeeeerrrrr." He sing-songed.

"Hi."

"Hi." Spike smirked and let his hands slide down over the smooth hips and strong legs. He pushed forward to meet the treat awaiting him and both men groaned helplessly.

"Oh God Spike. Need you!"

"Got me Xan, Cor! You've got me long as I exist !"

"Ooooooh! Spike!"

The apartment sounded of moans and cries, heavy breathing and two voices crying out in passion and whispering declarations of eternal love.

On the couch, a little brown kitten curled up tighter into the dip between the cusions, trying to block out the horrifying sounds and the images those sounds conjured.

Oh shut up already! "Mrrrroowl!"

He mewed miserably, This is what I get for being worried about my childe! Doyle's vision didn't say anything about this!

"Oh! Oh god oh God Oh God! Spike! Spike I'm gonna. . . Aaaaaaaaaaaah!"

"Xaaaaaaaan! Ooooooooooh!"

Angel growled a pitiful little growl. Somebody had better come looking for me soon or I'll. . .

"Spike?"

"Yeah luv?"

"What should we name it?"

"Huh?"

"The kitten."

"Princess."

"It's a boy."

"Don' matter, S'got sentimental value doesn't it. S'what you were gonna name me."

Xander giggled. "Okay, It's Princess."

Angel cried.

The apartment was home and hell but either way it was full of love.

The End