Cosmic Intervention

by
Temari Grace

Part Six

"You mean it?" Xander asked, "You'd really share an apartment with me?"

"In a heart beat," Spike said.

"Oh, well, that isn't going to happen soon." Xander said sounding rejected.

"Don't be a stupid git; your heart beat not mine."

Xander looked into Spikes eyes. He seamed to be searching for something.

"I just want out of the crypt is all," Spike said. "It'll take me some time to save enough for a down payment on an apartment by myself plus there's the whole having to look at night thing. If we go in together we'll both be better off."

"Why now?" Xander asked. "I mean the job, wanting to move, it just all seems kind of sudden."

"Bloody hell, Harris, it's this chip. It's changing me. I can't be the big bad anymore. I don't even want to be. The only thing left is trying to make a place for myself."

'And being with you pet. God you are one gorgeous man,' Spike thought.

"Okay, I'm willing to give it a try but I have to wait and see if I can get another construction job," Xander said.

"When will you know?"

"My boss is starting to talk to people. I should know by the end of the week."

"Then we have a deal?" Spike asked.

"Deal" Xander said.

Two days later Xander came into the Magic Box looking upset. Spike noticed immediately. "What's wrong Harris?" he asked.

"My boss talked to me today."

"What did that bastard say to you?" Spike asked, not quite able to hide his anger at someone hurting his boy.

Suddenly Xander was beaming, "I got a new job and a promotion. He wants to make me a supervisor."

"Bloody hell, Harris, you let me think you got fired."

"Only for a moment; besides the look on your face was priceless. You looked like you were ready to tear the guy's throat out."

Spike's eyes filled with terror at the thought that Xander may figure out how he feels too soon. Xander mistook the look to mean that Spike was repulsed by his vampire instincts.

"I'm sorry Spike," Xander said, "I guess moving out of the crypt means more to you then I thought."

Just then a customer came in and Spike took the opportunity to escape the conversation. "May I help you?" he asked in his upper crust accent as he approached the customer.

Xander walked over to the table and sat down where he could watch Spike work and think about what just happened. A small voice in the back of his head told him the reason Spike wanted to tear a hole in his boss' neck was because Spike thought his boss had been mean to him. But another voice argued that vampires are selfish creatures and Spike thought the boss had ruined his plans to get an apartment. Xander sighed. He had to stop letting these thoughts that Spike felt an attraction for him creep into his head. The sound of Spike calling him a "blither, I wouldn't bother to bite," still echoed in his mind. Not to mention just a few nights ago Spike had called him a whelp.

"Xander?" Xander turned at the sound of Giles' voice. "Is something wrong?"

"No, nothing, in-fact something is right."

"Oh?"

"I got a promotion, English man; I'm going to be a supervisor."

"Well, congratulations!" Giles said.

"Congratulation for what?" Buffy asked as she walked in from the back room.

"I got a promotion to supervisor."

"Ooooo," Buffy said just as Tara and Willow walked in. "We should have a party."

"Did I hear someone mention a party?" Willow asked.

"Xander got a promotion," Buffy said. Spike finished with the customer and walked her to the door. It was closing time so he locked up the front and went to sit on the book loft stairs where he could watch and listen to the conversation.

"Perhaps a party may be more appropriate after we deal with the new vampire pack that is in town," Giles said as he tossed a newspaper onto the table. Seven people were found dead at the bus station this morning. All with 'neck contusions'."

"Well that takes care of this night," Buffy said and then she got up and started for the door.

"Wait," Giles said, "I think you should take Spike with you."

Buffy turned and faced Giles, "What? No way."

"Buffy, this is obviously the work of a pack. I'll feel better if you're not alone.

"It's my job, I'm not passing it off to a vampire."

"Then we'll all go," Giles said.

Buffy turned and stamped her foot, "Why do you suddenly think I'm incompetent?"

"Buffy, I never said that."

"No, not right out to my face, but you sure act that way."

Giles tilted his head and looked into Buffy's eyes. "I'm sending you into an unknown situation. Sending you with backup is hardly an accusation of incompetence."

"Then why is it always Spike?"

"Ahh," Xander said, "just a guess here, Buff, super powers, second best fighter in the room."

"Is he second best? He's killed two slayers."

Spike got up and walked out of the Magic shop and into the night; Xander went after him.

"Oh, sorry, did I hurt our pet vampire's feelings?" Buffy asked as Xander went past.

Xander saw Spike a few steps ahead. "Spike, wait up," he called.

"I'm sorry man," Xander said when he caught up to Spike. "I didn't mean to hurt your feelings, it's just that Buffy...."

"I know," Spike said, "she's jealous, thinks her friends like me more than her."

"Giles was right to ask you to go with her."

"Maybe, maybe not, Slayer's have been doing their thing by themselves ever since there were Slayers. They need total confidence; one moment of self doubt could get them killed."

"Never thought of it that way," Xander said.

"You should go back with your friends," Spike said.

"Naa... Hay you want to go to my place and watch a kung fu movie?"

"What about the party?"

"I think Buffy pretty much stamped all over that idea. We can stop at the butchers on the way and pick up some blood."

"Kung fu and blood," Spike said. "Now that sounds like a party."

"Great, It's a date...Oh ahhh... I didn't mean date, date. I ahh...

Spike looked at Xander with his head cocked to the side. He decided to take a chance. "It's okay, Xan, a demon could do a whole lot worse then having a date with you."

Part Seven

Xander froze as Spike's words echoed in his ears, 'a demon could do a whole lot worse than having a date with you.'

"Xan," Spike said softly, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you."

"It's not fear, exactly," Xander said.

Spike tilted his head and looked into Xander's eyes, "Oh?"

"Okay, yeah, I suppose that abject terror qualifies as fear, just not for the reason you think."

"And what is it that I think?" Spike asked.

"That I'm just another demon magnet and you're just another demon."

Spike sighed, "Let's walk, I don't want Buffy coming out here and overhearing this conversation."

The two men walked toward Xander's home as Spike carefully chose his words. " First off, I would never consider myself just another demon."

"Spike, I didn't m..."

"Don't interrupt me, Pet," Spike said in a firm voice; Xander stopped talking and walking.

Spike sighed again, "I wasn't planning of having this conversation this soon," he said as he took Xander's arm and got him moving again. "It's hard enough without being interrupted. So just let me say what I have to say. You, Pet! Are not just another demon magnet; you're special. You don't have any super powers, yet you're willing to fight evil side by side with people who do. You're more than comic relief, Harris, and it's time you stand up and claim the respect you deserve."

"We're friends?"

"Well as the Americans say, Dhaaaa."

"It's just that I thought I was just ...convenient. You know, we both want to move out and well, convenient."

"Harris," Spike said, "you are exasperating, irritating, heroic, insightful and judgmental but you are not convenient. If you want the naked truth you are bloody inconvenient." "So we are friends because you're stuck with me."

"Bollocks," Spike said. He pulled Xander into an alley and shoved him against a brick wall. "Stuck on you would be more accurate. I want a whole lot more from you then friendship and you want it too, I can smell it on you." Spike moved his hand down to gently rub Xander's semi-hard cock."

Xander gave a soft moan, "How long have you known?" he asked.

"Doesn't matter," Spike said. "I'm not willing to take a half boy to my bed. It's the man that I want, Luv.

"You called me Love."

"Yeah, but I know what I want, Pet, I need to be sure you know too. First, you get out of that hellhole you live in and then we'll see how things go. You have some growing up to do. Then you can decide whether you want me to stay or go."

"You'd leave me?"

"See, Pet," Spike said, "this is what I mean about you being half boy. You don't believe you can hold me here. It's not easy getting rid of a vampire, Luv. You would have to get in my face and tell me you bloody well never want to see me again and it's the man that would have to say it not the boy. Now come on, we have a date with a kung-fu movie."

"Ahh...Spike," Xander called as Spike began to move away. "I have a little problem here."

Spike stopped and turned to look at Xander.

"Well, maybe not a little problem," Xander said as he looked down at his crouch.

"Sorry, Pet, no sex, not yet. Not until you're out of the basement and have a place of your own."

Xander moaned but he pushed off the wall and started walking toward the street.

"Our own, Spike." Xander said with a firmness to his voice that was seldom heard.

Spike smiled, that was the man talking, the part of Xander he wanted to come out and play. "Fair enough, Luv; our own."

An hour later Spike and Xander sat on opposite sides of a sofa watching a kung-fu movie when Xander picked up the remote and turned off the T.V. "Spike," Xander said, "I don't think that I can keep doing this."

"It was your idea to watch a movie, Pet."

"It was my idea to watch a movie with you. I thought that vampires have sex drives that are off the charts; but you're sitting way over there; I may as well be alone."

"So you asked me here to seduce me?"

"That was the fantasy," Xander said. "Then it stopped being a fantasy; only now you're acting like you didn't say any of those things to me."

"I'm not going to take advantage of you, Pet."

"You're not taking advantage of me, Spike; I want this."

"What exactly is it that you want, Pet? Do you want me to claim you as my mate? Because that's what I want."

"You see this is where I get confused, Spike. Are you talking about the British friend, mate or the long term relationship spouse, mate?"

"I want to be in it for the long haul."

"Does it have to be all or nothing, Spike? Can't I just be your boyfriend for now?"

"It's been a long time since I've been human. I'm not sure I know what being a boyfriend means."

"Okay then, we'll set some guidelines. We date each other and only each other. You said no sex but maybe we can say no sex that requires lube. Does that sound reasonable?"

"You sure about that? There are a lot of things you can do without lube, Pet."

Xander smiled, "I'm counting on it."

Spike pulled Xander into a passionate kiss when he stopped he leant his forehead against Xander's. "One more thing," Spike said, "no biting."

"That's not an issue for me, Spike."

"It is for me Xan; it's part of a vampire's sex life, biting and being bitten. If you agree to become my mate, I'll bite you. I just need you to know that's part of it; we drink each other's blood."

"I didn't know that."

"Well now you do. I need you to think about that before you say yes."

"I don't want to be a vampire, Spike."

"I wouldn't do that to you, Pet, It's just a mouth full once and a while, won't be every time."

"How can you bite me with the chip?"

"The chip only activates if I intend to hurt you. This would be for pleasure. Do you still want to be my boyfriend?"

Xander pulled away and looked down at the floor, when he looked back his eyes were full of pain. "I don't know, Spike. I need to think about this."

"I understand," Spike said as he stood up and put on his coat. "Take your time, Pet, I need you to be sure." Spike left Xander's basement and went out into the night.

Part Eight

Spike was in the cemetery heading back to his crypt when he got a whiff of blood on the breeze and heard a vampire taunting. "Ahhh, Slayer, don't you want to play anymore?"

Spike took off running in the direction of the sound. He found them just as the vampire approached Buffy, "My lucky night," it said as it raised the Slayer's bloodied stake to strike at her.

The vamp never saw Spike coming. He hit it from the side and knocked it away from Buffy. In one swift motion he grabbed the stake from the vamp and plunged it into its heart. When Spike turned back to Buffy she was sliding down the side of the crypt nearly unconscious.

Spike went to her and picked her up, "I'll get you to the hospital."

"No!" Buffy said with as much energy as she could muster. "No hospital, help me get home."

"Slayer, that was no toothpick he stabbed you with, you're loosing too much blood, you need to get to the hospital."

"If you won't help me I'll go myself," Buffy pushed herself away from Spike and passed out.

Spike caught her and gently laid her on the grass and then he pulled up her sweater to look at her wound. Blood was continuing to pour out of her. From the smell of it Spike could tell no vital organs were injured. He changed to vamp face and opened his wrist and let his blood drip into the wound. The bleeding stopped almost immediately. Spike licked the Slayer's blood off his hands and then picked her up and carried her toward her home.

Buffy woke up just as they got to Revello Drive. "Put me down," she said.

"If you start walking now you could reopen that wound; I'll put you down when we're a little closer to your house."

"Have I told you lately how much I hate you?"

"You may have let it slip once or twice." Spike stopped walking and stood Buffy up on the sidewalk in front of her house. "That wound is in an awkward place; do you want some help with bandaging it?"

Buffy tried to look down at the wound and grimaced, "Okay, but then you leave."

It wasn't until Spike finished bandaging Buffy's wound that she spoke to him again.

"Why are you helping me?"

"I already told you, Slayer, you're my meal ticket."

"Not anymore, you've got a job now."

"Yeah," Spike said with a sigh. "But if anything happens to you, your watcher will go back to England and I'll be off the gravy train."

"I suppose you're going to tell everyone how you saved my life?"

"It's your story, tell it any way you want." Then Spike walked out of Buffy's room down the stairs and into the night.

The next evening, at closing, Buffy came to the Magic Box; she never mentioned Spike's part in what happened the night before, only that it was a minor wound and the vamp that did it was dust.

Xander never showed up that evening or for the 2 evenings after that. Spike was beyond concern and decided to ask Willow and Tara to check on him. They promised they would give Xander a call to make sure he was okay. Spike spent the early part of the evening pacing in his crypt. When he finally couldn't take it any longer he went out and spent the rest of the night watching Xander's house from behind a tree across the street. It was all he could do to keep from rushing in and pulling his boy out of there when he heard Xander's parents start a drunken fight.

Spike returned to his crypt just as dawn broke. He grabbed a whiskey bottle and took one swallow and then he smashed it against the wall and fell to his knees crying. The crying only lasted a minute before the rage set in and Spike stood up and began to scream at The Powers.

"This is all your fault. You sent the witch here with your 'cosmic intervention'. Fine torture me, I deserve it, but leave him out of this. He's never done anything wrong. You made him a demon magnet and stuck him with two drunken sods for parents. He risks his life fighting for good. Do what ever you want to me but get him out of that house. They're sapping his sprit." Tears began to roll down Spikes cheeks as he fell to his knees again, "Please, oh God, please help him."

"Xander has free will, all we can do is give him the opportunity to help himself."

Spike looked up and saw the form of a woman glowing in front of him. "Who are you?"

"I'm your candle; as in; 'It's better to light one candle than to curse the darkness'. I'm with the Cosmic Intervention Department of the Multi-verse."

"Why are you here," Spike asked.

"You said a prayer; you asked for help. I'm your case worker so here I am." She pulled a piece of paper from out of thin air and a pen appeared in her other hand. "You've now completed the number of unselfish acts required to have your soul fully restored. All you have to do is sign here, in blood of course, and I can anchor your soul back in. I can also turn off the chip so that you'll no longer be helpless against humans."

"What about Xander?"

"I told you Xander has free will."

"Are you going to help him?"

"Look, right now in another reality Spike is going through demon trials to get his soul back. He could die and believe me that reality needs him. That Xander will have both his eyes put out by a sociopath priest and an uber-vamp will take Dawn unless that Spike is there to save them. I don't have to tell you what a vampire could do to Dawn. Anyway its not just one reality you have the opportunity of saving by signing this. It's all inter-connected."

Spike stood up and took the paper and pen. "I need to know how to help Xander."

"Let him know how much you love him."

"How?"

"He wrote a poem to you, write one back." she said with a shrug. "That's all I'm going to say; I'm not allowed to interfere with free will."

"That sounds a bit too simplistic," Spike said. "Write a poem and everything will be okay."

"What we have here is a failure to listen," she said.

"You said you came to answer my prayer," Spike said, "so answer it."

"I said I came because you prayed for help, that was the final unselfish act needed to have your soul fully restored. The Powers are very impressed with you helping the Slayer and even offering to bandage her wound when she has been such an unappreciative bitch about things."

"Can we get back to how to help Xander?" Spike asked.

"I didn't come here to give you a lesson in 'How the Cosmos Works 101'."

"Tell me how to help Xander and I'll sign."

"Do you have any idea of how exasperating it is to be your case worker?"

"Don't care, Pet...Xander?"

"Every time I visit questions, questions, questions." She muttered to herself.

Spike waited.

She gave an annoyed, "Humph," and then fixed Spike with a determined stare, "You are going to write a poem to open possibilities, some of those possibilities will be total disasters, and some will be opportunities for everything to work out. Xander will exercise his free will and choose a possibility to act on. All you're doing is tipping the scales onto the 'things will work out' side. You can never really help another person, Spike. All you can do is help them to help themselves."

"Is there anything else I can do?"

"In this reality Xander is your soul mate. Have faith and sign the paper."

"If I sign the paper everything will work out?"

"This is absolutely the last question I am answering," she said narrowing her eyes into a glare, "and you won't remember once I am gone. If you don't sign the paper, a Spike in another reality will fail the demon trials and die. He won't be there to save Xander when Caleb puts his eyes out. This Xander will go blind. The doctors won't know why, but it will happen and when Willow tries to end the world Xander won't be there to stop her and this reality will cease to exist. It's all interconnected. So sign the Blessed Paper."

Spike stabbed his wrist with the pen and signed the paper.

Part Nine

Spike stood in his crypt wondering why he had suddenly stabbed his wrist with a pen. The thing was very old and he couldn't write a poem to Xander in blood. It would freak him out. "Where the hell did that old thing come from?" he asked himself as he climbed down the ladder to fetch his poetry notebook and a much more serviceable ballpoint pen. "I wonder why I didn't think of writing this days ago?" he muttered as he sat in his chair and began to write his poem to Xander. When he finished the poem it was time to leave for work so he tore out the page, folded it up and slid it into his pocket.

Spike got to the tunnel opening just as Giles unlocked the hatch. The watcher gave Spike an odd look as he climbed up the ladder and into the Magic Box.

"I know," Spike said, "I probably look a fright, I didn't get much sleep last night. I'll work in the back today, don't want to scare the customers."

"No," Giles said as he continued to appraise the vampire, "it's not that, you look fine. Is there anything you want to tell me, Spike?"

"I didn't steal anything if that's what you're goin on about, Watcher." Spike said trying to figure why Giles was staring at him with such an odd look.

"You're a member of the Scooby's now, Spike," Giles said. "If you need to talk I'm here for you."

"Gee Rupert that's...you do realize I'm older then you?"

Giles took off his glasses and wiped them with his handkerchief. "We need to get that shipment of herbs stocked and Buffy will be coming this morning to work out."

"Just make sure she's careful with that workout," Spike said. "That wound's a lot worse then she lets on."

"How do you know that, Spike?" Giles asked as he returned his glasses to his face.

"Vampire here, I know when someone is weak."

Giles could sense that Spike was avoiding the question but did not want to press the vampire about it. "Yes, well, let's get to work shall we."

An hour later Buffy came into the Magic Box and walked to the back room just as Spike was carrying a box to the to the front to continue restocking. She glared at him as usual and then suddenly grabbed him and slammed him against the wall. "Giles," she yelled, "come here quick."

"Bloody hell, Slayer, what's wrong with you?" Spike asked still holding onto the box.

"Buffy," Giles said as soon as he got within sight of the Slayer, "I know this is a surprise, but I assure you everything is all right."

"All right, Giles? Look at him; he's done something. Get Willow and Tara. I want to know what kind of spell he's using and I want it removed."

"Spell?" Spike said. "I'm not using any spell. What the bloody hell are you two going on about anyway? Just because I missed one night's sleep, it's not like I can look in the mirror and fix myself you know."

"So you admit it, you've used a glamour," Buffy said.

"Don't be a stupid bint, I haven't used any spell.'

"He's telling the truth Buffy," Giles said. "It's not a spell it's real."

"We don't know that for sure." Buffy said.

"What are you two goin on about? What's real?" Spike asked.

"Let go of him Buffy, he's no danger to us," Giles said.

"Did it ever occur to you that that's what he wants you to think?" Buffy asked. "He wants to lull us into a false sense of security and then pounce."

"Buffy, I'm your Watcher, if I thought for a moment that that is what is happening here I'd stake him myself."

"I'll let go of him but I'm not letting him out of my sight," Buffy said.

"I've left a message on voice mail for both Willow and Tara," Giles said. "I expect we'll hear from them as soon as classes are over."

"Rupert," Spike asked, "what is this about?"

"I prefer not to muddy the water with speculation," Giles said. "We'll know for sure soon enough."

"Well I haven't used any bloody spell on myself," Spike said, "and if someone has used one on me I want it removed as much as you do." Then he went back to work. He knew Tara would tell him the truth when she got here.

It was 1:30 when Willow called to let Giles know they'd gotten his message and just after 2 o'clock when she and Tara came through the Magic Box's door. Buffy was sat at the table with her arms crossed stubbornly glaring at Spike's back while he worked. Spike turned when he heard the bell ring and walked out from behind the counter when he saw that the witches had finally arrived.

The pair walked up to Spike, Tara had a huge smile; that made Spike feel a little better. If Tara was smiling it couldn't be bad. "Oh my God, Baby, you were right," Willow said as she grabbed Tara's arm and gave it a shake.

Buffy stood up, her anger was now directed at Tara, "You knew about this and didn't say anything?" Buffy half growled.

Tara looked at Buffy her eyes as big as saucers and nodded her head yes and then she turned back and threw both her arms around Spike in a giant hug. Spike froze for a moment and then gently put his arms around Tara while he looked first into Willow's eyes and then Giles' eyes pleading silently for an explanation.

"Hey," Willow said as she touched Tara's shoulder, "don't make me fight for you."

Tara backed off. "Congratulations," she said to Spike.

"Thanks, Pet," Spike said but it would be nice if I knew what you were congratulating me for. Can we talk alone?"

"No!" Buffy said. "I'm still not satisfied that this is real."

Tara turned to Buffy, "It is real, and I will talk to him alone."

Buffy was taken back by the firm tone in Tara's voice, "Okay," she said, "but I am waiting right outside the door."

"Come on, Spike," Tara said. "We'll talk in the back room."

As soon as they closed the door to the back room Spike turned to Tara, "What the bloody hell is everyone goin' on about?" he asked.

"You have your soul back." Tara said.

"You think someone has cursed me with my soul?" Spike asked.

"Not cursed, blessed," Tara said, "and not someone, you."

"I'm a vampire, Pet, I don't do blessings."

"What I mean is you've called your soul back to you, unselfish act by unselfish act; it all ads up. Now your soul has fully returned. You must have done something unselfish yesterday."

"All I did was say a prayer for Xander this morning," Spike said.

"Don't you know what that means, Spike. You've turned your back on the dark and acknowledged the power of the light. No wonder your soul came back to you."

"You're serious?" Spike asked.

"We all see it Spike, It's there."

"Will Xander be able to see it?" Spike asked.

"I don't think so. Willow and I are witches, Giles is a wizard and Buffy's the slayer. Xander doesn't have any special powers."

"I need your help Tara," Spike said. He pulled the folded paper from his pocket and handed it to Tara. "Can you see that Xander gets this?"

"Why don't you give it to him yourself?"

"He's trying to make a decision about us. I think it's best if I wait for him to come to me."

"Okay," Tara said. "I'll give it to him. Do you want me to tell him about your soul?"

"I'll let you decide, but I think he may be pissed if someone doesn't tell him. He's sensitive about being kept out of the loop."

"I'll make sure it's taken care of," Tara said and then they turned and left the room.

Part Ten

Spike was behind a tree across the street from Xander's place when Tara came and knocked on the door.

"Hi, Tara, come on in," Xander said. "What's this all about; you'll have to be quick. I have an appointment at eight o'clock. I don't want to be late."

Spike moved across the street and blended into the shadows near a basement window where he could hear the conversation between Tara and Xander.

"This will only take a couple of minutes," Tara said. "Spike asked me to come; he wants me to give you this." She took a folded paper out of her purse. "But before I give this to you, you should know Spike has his soul back."

"When did that happen?"

"This morning."

"Why didn't he come and tell me himself. It's been dark for half an hour? Oh, God, no he's left hasn't he. That's a Dear John letter. I should have... I thought...Oh Tara what am I going to do? I love him... Can you do a locater spell?"

Spike closed his eyes tight and tried to force back tears, his boy was in pain he had to go to him. He got up and started toward Xander's door.

"He hasn't left," Tara said.

"He hasn't?" Xander said with a voice full of hope.

Spike stopped a moment before bursting through the door and continued to listen.

"He loves you very much," Tara said.

"Then why didn't he come?"

"He said you need to decide about your relationship," Tara said. " He doesn't want to put pressure on you. It takes a lot of love to do that, Xander. You're a very lucky man. Here take this," she said as she handed Xander the folded paper. "I'll be going."

Spike moved back into the shadows.

Tara gave Xander a quick hug and then left.

Xander stared at the paper for a few moments; his emotions seesawed between hope and dread. Then he sat down and opened the paper.

I've walked the night, not alone
Protecting him,
My love my own

He didn't know he didn't see
How love unexpressed
Walked with me

His brown eyes shown in the night
I heard him laugh
I felt his plight

The others saw him as a clown
They never saw the pain filled frown
I see a man that does his best
And puts himself to the test.

I want to hold him close to me
And keep him safe eternally
I'll send the pain filled boy away
In his place a man will stay

Can this be my simple fate?
To have and hold him as my mate
A dance of love, a dance that's true
My beautiful Xander, only with you.

"All those nights, you were there for me and I never knew," Xander whispered.

Spike walked back to keep watch behind the tree across the street.

Xander re-read the poem and made a decision. He would stop by Spike's crypt tonight, with a surprise of his own, after he kept his appointment.

Xander grabbed his jacket and left the basement, he couldn't see his cosmic caseworker making him turn the wrong way; Spike following at a distance. Xander suddenly realized he was going in the wrong direction and turned to see Spike fifteen feet away.

"Hi," Xander said, "you're here," as he walked toward Spike.

"Yeah, I'm here, Pet."

"You were listening?"

"Yeah."

"Well come on, I have a surprise for you." Xander said as if everything was settled and there were no questions between them.

"What kind of surprise?" Spike asked.

"The kind you don't know about until it happens." Xander said.

"You seem to be taking all of this pretty well."

"I've done a lot of thinking the last few days. I'm a supervisor now at work. The guys respect me and I like it. You're right about the Scooby's not respecting me and you're right about me needing to stand up and claim their respect. I guess I finally saw what you meant about me being a half boy."

"Sounds like I'm talking to a full man right now."

"Thanks for the poem. It helped me to know that you really do care for me. You're not just a demon wanting to get into a demon magnet's pants. I want others to see me the way you do, as a man not a clown. I can't promises that the boy won't pop up now and then. I'm only human and I think I'll need my mate to comfort me sometimes. Will that bother you?"

"Your mate, Pet? Are you saying yes?"

"I'm saying yes; if you still want me with all my human flaws."

"It's all those human flaws that make you so bloody lovable."

"Good because I don't want to be late, two blocks down one block to the right number 276. Go!" Xander took off running and Spike took off after him.

"You let me win," Xander said when they stopped in front of the apartment building.

"You're apartment hunting," Spike said and grabbed Xander and kissed him.

Xander pulled away, "I promise we will pursue this later. Right now there is a lady waiting for me." They went into the hallway and Xander rang a bell.

"May I help you?" a woman's voice asked.

"This is Alexander Harris, I have an appointment."

The security buzzer rang and the two soul mates walked through the door and up the stairs. The woman was waiting in an apartment doorway.

"Thank you for being so prompt," she said. "As I told you on the phone everything has checked out. I just need you to sign the lease and the apartment is yours." The woman had the papers ready for signing on the kitchen counter.

"It's furnished," Spike said.

"Yup," Xander said. "I figured we could move in faster that way. And the bedroom is on the west side, no morning sunlight."

"We have to get drapes for the front room windows before we move in."

"Not a problem; tomorrow is Saturday. I'll buy them in the morning and put them up. We can be in here by tomorrow night." Xander turned to the woman. "That's okay isn't it?"

"Of course Mr. Harris, sign the papers and you can move in tonight if you want."

Xander signed.

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