Dedication: For Edibbea…who searched the wilds of her computer until she found that which made me sane.

Poem by ashley mist malachi.

Spike fidgeted as they pulled up in front of the hotel. Xander hid a grin. Whatever it was that Spike was planning had him so worked up that the vampire could hardly sit still. Not that not sitting still was any different than usual, but the worried look in those blue eyes showed Xander just how important it was that Xander approve of Spike’s plans.

Moments later they stood on the sidewalk, bags at their feet, with a flurry of people traipsing in and out of the hotel. Xander people watched while he waited for Spike to tell him their next move. ~Not a lot of couples~ He noted. ~Not really a whole lot of women.~ He raised an eyebrow. ~Gay convention, maybe?~ He eyed the men for handholding. ~Nope. Not gay. Just a lot of tee shirt clad, geeky young men. And…Klingons?~

Xander’s head shot around so fast his neck cracked. His gaze followed a Klingon warrior in full regalia, complete with bat’leth. The man stalked through the crowd, seemingly oblivious to the gazes directed his way. He disappeared through the hotel doors. Xander blinked rapidly. ~I am having a hallucination.~

He opened his mouth to ask Spike if the vampire had seen the Klingon as well when a herd of teenaged boys walked by, jabbering excitedly. They were all dressed in yellow, blue or red shirts with black trousers and small silver triangles on their chests. He heard a snicker.

Turning, he caught Spike just covering his mouth with his hand. “Wh-what the hell is this?” Xander asked, eyes wide.

Spike shrugged, another flash of worry crossing his face. “I…well, you…I remember when I stayed in the basement of doom…well, you…I just…” Xander cut him off with a hug that bordered on painful.

“You sneaky bastard!” He nearly squealed. “You got us into a Sci Fi convention?” Spike nodded sheepishly. Xander took another moment to crush Spike’s ribs before jerking his bag up with one hand and snatching Spike’s hand with his other. The vampire barely had a chance to grab his own bag as Xander drug him through the crowd.

__________________________________________________________

There was no sign of the sleek, sexy stripper who drew crowds by the dozens as Xander slipped the card key into the door lock of their hotel room. The overhyper, babbling teenager that Spike remembered from years before, had replaced that man. Though Spike would never give up the Xander he knew now for anything, he was pleased to have found something that brought back that spark he’d associated with the former Scooby.

Spike thought Xander was amazing. He’d scraped together what was left of his life and begun over again in New Orleans. He found confidence in himself and a kind of internal peace that comes with knowing you’ve hit rock bottom. He grew up emotionally and learned to accept and roll with the punches.

Spike knew that Xander was content in his life as it was. He had a gorgeous home, a dream car, a job he loved, he’d finally accepted who he was and had the undead male vampire boyfriend to prove it. But he still wasn’t complete. He’d lost a part of himself in the transition.

Spike reveled in Xander-the-stripper. Tight leather, silver piercings, that wicked tongue…more than a match for his demon. And Xander-the-Scooby? Well, Spike understood that part of Xander the most, having experienced it for 5 years or so. Even so, Xander and Spike had been avoiding their Sunnydale personas, trying not to bring up any bad memories for the other. Strangely, Spike missed the Scooby.

However, Xander-the-Zeppo…that was a part of Xander the boy didn’t share with just anyone. Spike was sure that Anya only knew enough to make her stop asking questions. Buffy and Giles knew even less. The only one who ever truly saw the Zeppo, who truly knew what formed Xander, was Willow.

Spike knew Xander mourned the loss of his ‘sister’. He could see the sadness fog the boy’s eyes on those rare occasions when Xander would talk about his youth. He knew the boy longed for a time when Xander was just another goofy kid; climbing trees, eating ice cream, reading comics; the days before becoming a Scooby, the things that went bump in the night only happened on TV…when he didn’t have to prove that he could keep up with his other friends.

Spike frowned fiercely at that thought. ~Bloody idiots didn’t know what the hell they had. Now he’s mine.~

“Care to let me in on what the bedspread did to piss you off?” Xander asked from Spike’s side. The vampire blinked in startlement and turned his head to see the brunette grinning at him.

Spike smiled back wryly. “Nothing, luv. Just wallowing in the past.” Xander flung himself onto the bed and held his arms out. Spike gladly moved into them, snuggling his head down on his boy’s chest.

“Well, stop it.” Xander chastised gently. “The only past we’re going to poke around in this weekend is mine.” He squeezed the vampire tightly. “Why did you decide to bring me to this, anyway?”

Spike tilted his head up so he could look into Xander’s eyes. “This is where you come from. Before I met you…before I tried to kill you…you were just a normal kid who liked normal kid things. I know I wasn’t the first, but my kind…we stole that from you.” He reached up to trail a finger across Xander’s lips, smiling as the other man kissed the finger midway through its journey.

“You lost a huge part of what made you who you are. All the spare time you had went into vanquishing bad nasties and saving the world from things no one else believed existed. I just wanted to give some of that back to you.” His voice trailed off, suddenly thinking what a poncey idea this was.

Xander pulled Spike closer to him and rolled them so that the vampire was underneath him. He gazed into the crystal depths looking up at him so uncertainly. How had Spike done this? How had this man crept into his life so stealthfully? How did he see so much when Xander tried so hard to hide it? Xander smiled.

“It scares me sometimes.” He trailed a finger down Spike’s suddenly panicked face. “How much you understand me.” Panic receded. “I tried so hard to be what everyone wanted. I was a great friend to Buffy. Muscle to keep the Slayer safe for Giles. I was the model big brother to Dawnie. I was the perfect boyfriend…” he chuckled. “Well, right up to the part where I couldn’t lie to myself anymore.”

He sighed. “I spent so much time these last few years being what everyone wanted. I’m not even sure who Xander really is anymore. But you…” He leaned over and placed a gentle kiss on Spike’s lips. “Somehow you seem to know exactly who I am. Who I was. Who I want to be.”

Spike smiled back and captured Xander’s lips again, deepening the kiss. He pulled away and Xander whimpered. “And who do you want to be, luv?” he whispered against quivering lips. Xander trembled as the cool breath, flavored with Spike, brushed past his moistened lips and curled around his tongue. He opened heavy eyes and stared up into the face of this vampire, this man who had come to mean so much to him in such a short time.

“Yours.” He whispered back. “I want to be yours.” He watched in wonder as blue bled to golden in the vampire’s eyes. Spike’s lithe body stiffened and froze, his gaze locked on Xander’s. “I love you, Spike.” Xander continued softly. “I love you, and I want to be yours.” The statue stillness melted away and the golden receded back into blue; cool, icy blue filled with hope, fear, longing.

Xander brought a hand up to the vamp’s face and gently cupped Spike’s cheek. “Will you have me?” Spike’s mouth worked soundlessly for a moment, confusion written all over his face. Then he closed his eyes. Xander felt a shudder work its way through the slight body and then Spike nodded slowly.

“Mine.” The vampire whispered, as if testing the sound of it on his tongue. His eyes opened again; golden again. A low rumble reverberated in his chest and he wrapped hard fingers around Xander’s upper arms. “Mine.” He growled again and flipped Xander onto his back against the mattress. Spike climbed his way up the boy’s body and knelt, straddling warm hips.

Xander thrilled at the possessive note in Spike’s voice. It matched the feel of Spike’s hands on his body, fingers gripping almost painfully, holding the brunette in his embrace. Hard lips slammed into unresisting ones. Spike ruthlessly forced Xander’s mouth open, tasting every centimeter of the moist cavern. Xander smiled against the assault and slipped his arms around Spike’s waist.

He curled his legs up with Spike’s and pulled the vampire closer. Spike lifted his head at the press of Xander’s hips on his own. He gazed in wonder as a tiny bead of blood welled up on his lovely boy’s lips, and Xander just smiled up at him. Spike slowly leaned in and flicked his tongue out to wipe the smear up. Ecstasy burst over him. Xander tasted of copper, heat, lust; sunshine, peace, joy. He tasted of trust, of honesty…of love.

Xander’s hand came back up to cup Spike’s face. “Yours.” He whispered. “Please, Wil…touch me, taste me. Mark me…bleed me…claim me.”

Tremors ran through Spike’s body again and Xander felt the vampire’s cock swell to press against its leather confinement. “Do you mean that?” Spike’s voice shook nearly as much as his body. “You’d let me bleed you? Mark you as mine?”

Xander nodded, joy shining in his dark brown eyes. “I’d beg you for it, love.” The blue completely disappeared in Spike’s eyes and Xander watched in anticipation as the vampire’s fangs elongated and ridges formed over his eyes.

“Anything I have, Xander, anything you want…it’s yours. You’ll never beg again. Not for possessions, or attention, and never for love.” Spike breathed, freeing Xander’s shoulders to tug at his shirt.

Xander smirked. “Is that a cheap way of getting out of telling me you love me?” Spike bared his fangs, then countered the fierce look with a gentle finger down Xander’s cheek.

“I love you, Xan.” He managed a tender smile, even in game face. “I love Xander Harris.” He announced to the room in general. “William the Bloody is in love with Alexander Lavelle Harris!” Xander half-heartedly punched the goofy vamp in the chest.

“How bout Spike loves Xander?” Spike growled deep in his throat and Xander felt the vamp’s cock jump again.

“Sounds perfect to me, luv.”

Xander lost track of the next few minutes. He only knew that Spike took immediate possession of his mouth, teasing his tongue, nibbling his lips and somehow making their clothes disappear without Xander even noticing. “I wrote about this.” Spike whispered, his breath stirring Xander’s eyelashes.

“About u-us?” Xander stuttered as a cool tongue licked a path from his chin to his temple.

“Mmmm hmmm.”

“T-tell me?” Spike bathed the other side as well.

“Softness. His touch…so light. Like a will-o-wisp, a ball of dandelion fluff.” Spike nuzzled Xander’s temple. “I whisper against the pink shell of his ear. I feel a shudder.” Xander’s actions mirrored his lover’s words and then Spike’s mouth was gone…nibbling around to possess his boy’s lips.

“My heart beats again. To touch his mouth, a little trip to Heaven. A little taste of heaven.” A brief moment to lay gentle, soft kisses on Xander’s swollen lips. “His lips warm against mine. I crave his heat.” Spike moved the torture lower and suckled just below the dip of Xander’s throat. Xander’s back came up off of the bed, seeking more contact. Spike chuckled huskily.

“His firm body arches up against me, taunt like a bowstring. I long to claim him.” A cool hand ran down Xander’s flank, leaving goosebumps in its wake. “But my insecurities dwell deep. So, for now, I shall refrain.” An almost animalistic howl of loss rose from Xander’s throat and Spike crawled up to look into his lover’s eyes. “Alone. Again. Inside. Alone. Again. Hiding.”

He traced the tanned planes of Xander’s face, thrilling as the boy leaned in to his every caress. “Voices from the past, screaming to me…Why would he want you? No one has ever wanted you. Perhaps, I should close the door on this need.” Xander’s head began to shake and he mouthed ‘No, no, no.’ Spike smiled. “Dare I hope once more?” Shaking turned into nodding, followed with a sweet smile that held such promises.

“Waiting. It burns. Yet…I do.” At the conclusion of Spike’s words, Xander reached up and tangled his fingers into soft, blonde hair. He tugged Spike’s head down to rest in the crook of his neck.

“Don’t wait anymore, Wil.” Xander pleaded quietly. Spike suckled on Xander’s neck before he lifted the boy’s hands over his head and locked warm fingers onto the headboard. The look in Spike’s eyes said more clearly than words that Xander wasn’t to move. Xander relaxed into the fluffy pillows and gave himself totally up to his lover.

“Did you know that blood play is a vital part of sex for vampires?” Spike asked, absently running fingertips through the dark curls on Xander’s chest. Xander whimpered in response, somehow understanding that Spike didn’t really want an answer. “Most of the time, we just bite each other during an orgasm.” Xander’s body twitched. “But then there are the special times…when the blood calls to us, a seductive siren’s call.”

Spike crawled up to whisper in Xander’s ear. “It pulls our demon to the forefront. It pushes away every other desire save the one to dominate your lover. Dominate with sex, with blood, with pain.” At that, Spike nipped Xander’s ear, causing a bead of blood to well up, tainting the golden flesh. Xander jerked. His cock began leaking precum into a pool on his belly.

“But fucking humans is different.” Spike licked the tiny wound closed and ventured south again. “You blood still calls to me, Xander. Seductive, full of promises. But…the promises are different. I can hear the sound of the blood in your veins.” He ran his tongue over the boy’s carotid. “I can feel the heat of it pulsing under your skin. I still want to taste it, to own it…to own you. But I want more. I want you to give it to me. Willingly. I don’t want to rip at your flesh, bend you over and fuck you til you scream ‘Master.’”

Tiny whimpers were escaping Xander’s lips. “I want to taste desire in your blood. Desire for me, to belong to me. Can I taste you, love? Can I see if what is in your eyes is also in your blood?” Xander’s head nodded vigorously, his eyes screwed shut, and his chest came up off of the sheets in an offer. Spike grinned, baring his fangs. ‘Thank you, luv.”

Xander felt Spike’s cool mouth take his nipple in. He felt the swirl of the vampire’s masterful tongue, stiffening the nipple into a hard peak. Then, he felt a burning. It caused a low sweet ache that radiated out from his nipple, over his chest and down to his groin. He realized that Spike had just pierced his nipple with a delicate fang.

“Oh, fuck yes, Spike…” He gasped, lifting his legs to wrap around the vampire’s waist. Spike responded with a hip roll and a hard suckle. He then lifted his head with an audible pop. Xander could only lie, motionless, and wonder where the next spot to feel the touch of his lover’s fangs would be. He soon found out as a line of fiery pleasure set up residence from his sternum to his navel. He moaned deep in his throat and begged with his body.

Spike took pity and licked the line of fire into a steady burning ache. He pried Xander’s grip loose and settled into the crook of his boy’s legs. Xander’s body tensed in anticipation. The vampire took tiny licks, tiny tastes of Xander’s salty flesh. Spicy sweat, the musky scent of arousal and the tangy taste of precum blended together to form an exquisite aperitif that made Spike’s mouth water.

Giving into temptation, the blonde dropped his jaw and engulfed the boy’s cock in one smooth motion. The buck of Xander’s hips and keening wail from his throat made Spike smile around his prize. He pulled back, laving every millimeter with his tongue, only to dive back in…to feel the head of Xander’s cock inch down the back of his throat. Hot blood pumping through its length, warming Spike from the inside out.

An idea formed, and he glanced up to see Xander’s eyes squeezed tightly shut, his hands nearly bloodless from their grip on the bed. On his next downstroke, Spike paused, tilted his mouth marginally…and sank fang into the hard shaft.

The rich, hot, salty essence of Xander burst over his tongue. A split second later, Xander was supporting both his own and Spike’s weight by heels and the back of his head alone as his body arched in a perfect curve up off of the bed. Then, Xander screamed his release and blood and cum mixed into an intoxicating mouthful that had Spike whimpering around spasming flesh.

When the last muscle had twitched and the last drop wrung from Xander’s body, the boy dropped like a ton of bricks. He lay back on the pillow, gasping, watching the fireworks behind his eyelids. His hands slowly fell from their place on the headboard to lie limply at his sides. A bead of sweat trickled from his forehead, down his hairline and into the damp curls framing his face.

Spike crawled up and perched on the boy’s thighs. Exhausted, Xander cracked his eyes open to see his vampire grinning wickedly at him. Somehow he summoned the strength to quirk his own lips and then mouth ‘I love you.’ The effect was startling. Spike’s gorgeous eyes softened. A tiny, shy smile and a quavering lip replaced his snarky smirk, and his entire posture went from Big Bad Vampire to Big Goofy Cuddler. He leaned down and rested his head on Xander’s chest and closed his eyes.

“I love you, too, Xan.” He whispered. Xander kissed the blonde head gently and smiled up at the ceiling. ~Oh, yeah. Life is good.~

__________________________________________________________________

Spike blinked.

Then blinked again.

No. It was still there.

He looked to see if Xander had caught sight of it.

Yes, yes he seemed to see it. But was grinning like a madman. Or at least like a Xander hyped up on several cans of Dew and 5-pound bag of Almond M&M’s.

He looked back.

“Xander?”

“Yeah, Spike?”

“Why is there a group of B’Sa demons having sex in the lobby?”

Xander nearly strained a muscle trying to look in a 360-degree circle. “What?”

Spike nudged Xander’s arm and pointed with his chin. “There. Directly in front of us. Four B’Sa demons having group foreplay in front of a hundred humans.”

Xander frowned, searching in vain. Spike sighed and reached up to position Xander’s head. “Right. There.”

Xander started to snicker. Then chuckle. Soon, it had erupted into a belly laugh that caused him to lean against Spike hoping that his legs would hold up when the glaring vamp decided to let him fall. “S-spike…those are just…people dressed up…like Ferengi.” He chortled. The vampire frowned.

“Ferengi?”

Xander nodded, wiping his eyes. “Yeah. The Ferengi are a trade race in the Star Trek universe. They love money and making deals. They also have this rule about their women not wearing clothes and they get off by having their ears rubbed.”

Spike looked puzzled, but amused. “Xander, do you know what a B’Sa demon is?” A shake in the negative. “The B’Sa live in communal dwellings, run by the richest male in the surrounding area. They firmly believe in never giving anything away unless you get something, preferably more valuable, in compensation.” He smirked a bit as Xander’s eyes widened. “B’Sa women are beaten with sticks if they dare wear clothing in the presence of a male and the most valuable commodity a B’Sa male can possess is a female skilled in the art of oova s’a.”

Xander stared wide-eyed at the vamp. “Which means?”

A huge grin appeared. “Stimulation of the sexual organs located around their ears.”

“You’re shitting me.”

Spike shook his head.

“Holy crap.” Xander breathed, his gaze moving back to the ‘Ferengi.’ “So, those are actually…?”

Spike nodded. “Those are actually four B’Sa…men…giving each other hand jobs in the lobby of a science fiction convention surrounded by…”

“Hundreds of humans who just think they have really cool costumes.” Xander finished in a squeaky voice. Spike covered his mouth with his hand to keep from laughing at the horrified teen. “You know what this means, don’t you, Spike?” Xander turned back to his lover. Spike raised an eyebrow. “This means that Gene Roddenberry wasn’t a fucking genius. He was just another schmuck who knew a few demons and decided to capitalize on it!”

Spike sighed and mentally prepared himself for the marathon of Star Trek episodes he knew he’d face as soon as they got home; complete with a thorough questioning of every alien species to show up from the original series to Enterprise. And wasn’t it scary that he knew that?

Chapter Two

Summary: A trip to L.A.

 

 

Mogur nodded at the two men as they took their usual place at the bar. “Evening, boys.” He continued to wipe down beer glasses, huge hands surprisingly gentle with the fragile things. “Glad you’re in early tonight.”

 

Spike and Xander exchanged grins. “What’d you need, Boss man?” Xander asked.

 

Mogur shrugged. “I was wondering if you’d be interested in a little vacation.”

 

Grins turned to frowns. “Why? What’s wrong?” Spike demanded.

 

“Nothing is wrong.” The huge Hartuan assured them. “I got a call from a friend in L.A. earlier this evening. He’s been working out some business deals and has recently come into ownership of a strip club.” He set down the glass he’d finished polishing and slung the towel over his shoulder. “It’s a demon strip club and it caters to nearly anything you can imagine. Problem is…it’s been under some poor management who’s been staffing it with the dregs of society.”

 

Spike grinned at that. “Dregs of society. That’s sweet.” Mogur returned the grin.

 

“Actually, it’s not. A Lanasai demon owned it. He rounded up addicts and street whores to do the entertaining so he could keep his profits in his pocket. They worked for drugs or food or just a place to crash for the night.” Xander winced; having grown up on the Hellmouth didn’t always prepare him for the ugliness out there.

 

“So where do we come in?” Spike asked, snaking a supportive arm around his boy’s waist.

 

Mogur took a moment to smile at the picture the two of them made. “Well, Lorne…that’s my friend…wants to class the joint up a bit. He’s looking to hire all new staff and remodel the whole thing. I told him about you two bringing in the big bucks and he’s interested in the couple angle. I thought you two might be interested in taking a trip out there to help him scout dancers.”

 

Xander blinked.

 

Mogur sighed. “I owe the man a helluva lot. He did my family a favor back in the day. Not to mention that I’ve been singing your praises for weeks to anyone who’d listen. He just got wind of it and is really eager to see what you two have to offer.” The Hartuan leaned on the bar. “He’s a good guy. And he’s willing to pay for your time, your trip, your lodging and your upkeep while you’re there. So… you interested?”

 

He watched as Spike and Xander spent a moment searching each other’s faces. ~I wonder if they can actually see what the other is thinking?~ Then grinned and turned as one. “Yeah. We’re interested.” ~Guess so.~

 

________________________________________________________________________

 

“Is this it?” Spike asked, a hint of horror in his voice. Xander checked the map against the directions Mogur scribbled down for them, and then glanced up at the monstrosity of a building.

 

“Unfortunately…. yes.” He replied.

 

The edifice stretched two stories plus a horrible tower jutting up from the center. The whole structure was a dirty gray and boasted barred cell windows at 15-foot intervals. Garbage fluttered around, getting caught in the wrought iron fence surrounding the lot and a pile of trash in the back corner reached nearly the bottom of the windows. Xander let the hand holding the map fall to his side.

 

“Dear God, Spike. Are those…?”

 

Spike followed his gaze upwards and sadly shook his head. “Yes, luv. Those are bloody great stone gargoyles perched up on the tower.”

 

The front door flew open and Spike shoved Xander behind him, ready to defend his mate. What came flouncing out of the entrance, though, nearly made him jump behind Xander. A tall, green skinned demon, complete with horns and red eyes sashayed towards them. His polyester leisure suit reminded Spike of some of the horrible Hawaiian shirts Xander used to wear.

 

“Welcome, gentlemen!” the demon called jovially. “Would you two be my saviors from the great land of Cajun Queens?”

 

“Spike?” Xander squeaked. “What is that?”

 

The green skinned man came to a halt directly in front of Xander. “Well, hello stud-muffin of my dreams,” he waggled his brows as he took in Xander’s form. “Aren’t you just the tastiest thing I’ve seen all day.”? He turned to Spike and his eyes opened wide. “And aren’t you the long, cool drink of water I’ve been dying for?” He whistled through his teeth and eyed Spike’s ass appreciatively.

 

“I don’t know.” Spike answered Xander’s earlier question, feeling rather like a haunch of beef on display.

 

“Allow me to introduce myself, lovely ones.” The demon bowed. “My name is Lorne. I am the new proprietor of this…” He turned, his arm sweeping across the building behind him. “Well, at this point, the only safe word is ‘dump’, but that’s what you two are here to help with!” He turned back with a grin. “To change this rat’s nest into the hottest, sexiest, most sought after club in L.A. Gentlemen? Welcome to Diabolico.”

________________________________________________________________________

 

“C’mon, Willow…It’ll be fun!” Buffy begged. “We’ve been here a week and you haven’t set foot out of this hotel for a fun time.” Willow shook her head, trying to keep her panic from showing.

 

“Buff, no.” She repeated. “I’m up for a movie, o-or ice cream, or a trip to the mall, but this is…just way too much ‘fun’ for me.”

 

“Quit being a baby, Willow.” Cordelia said briskly, standing up and smoothing her linen pantsuit. “You’re going and that’s it.”

 

“Cordy, if she really doesn’t want to go…” Angel began, then his jaw snapped shut at the icy glare from Queen C. “You, ah…should go find something to wear now, Willow.” He finished lamely. Buffy smothered a giggle while the L.A. crew, Fred, Wes and Gunn rolled their eyes almost simultaneously.

 

“C’mon, Willow,” Fred smiled understandingly. “I’ll help you find something.” She took the redhead’s arm and gently led her away, chattering on about how wonderful Lorne was and how they had the best appetizers at his opening galas. Willow followed numbly along, clearly not even listening.

 

“That was mean, Cordy.” Buffy admonished.

 

Cordelia just cocked her head and smirked. “Your point?”

 

Buffy held her hands up in surrender. “No point. None. I’m pointless girl.”

 

Cordy turned her eye on Angel. “You go get changed too, Brood boy.”

 

Angel frowned. “If you girls are going, I really don’t need to…” He caught her eye. “Yes, Cordy. I’m going.” He sighed and moved dejectedly up the stairs.

 

Gunn burst into laughter. “I gotta tell ya, Cordy. You’ve got that vamp wrapped around your little finger.”

 

Cordelia smiled sweetly. “I just have a way with men, I guess. Now, as for you, Gunn. What will you be wearing tonight?”

 

Gunn blinked. “I…I, uh…” He looked wildly around the room in search of an exit. What his gaze lit upon was something other than that. “If I gotta go, then so does English!” Wes gaped at the panicked Gunn.

 

“You bloody Benedict Arnold!” His voice rose.

 

“Oh, hell no, English. I ain’t goin down alone.” Gunn crossed his arms. Cordelia just pointed to the stairs. Glaring at her and at each other, the two men stomped up the stairs muttering the whole way.

 

Cordy turned and beamed at Buffy. “And that, Slayergal, is how it’s done.”

___________________________________________________________________________________

 

“Welcome, one and all,” Lorne led the L.A and SunnyD crew to a reserved table up near the stage. “You’re looking fabulous tonight, Cordy.” He kissed the brunette’s hand. She smiled and let him hold her chair out for her. “And Winifred…you positively sparkle.”

 

Fred blushed. “Oh, Lorne, you big flatterer, you.” She giggled as he seated her too.

 

He turned his startling red eyes on Buffy and Willow and maneuvered himself in-between them. “What treasure trove of gorgeousness do we have here? Angelcakes…intro these lovely ladies before I faint dead away.”

 

Angel pulled out a chair and settled into it. “Lorne…Buffy and Willow. Buff and Will…Lorne, the owner of Diabolico.”

 

Lorne kissed each of their hands, “Enchante, my loves. I do hope you will have a fantabulous time this evening. Let me know if you need…anything.” He stood with a flourish and sailed away through the crowd after a quick handshake with Gunn and Wes.

 

Buffy and Willow looked at each other and then at Angel. “What the hell was that?” Buffy asked, shell-shocked.

 

Cordy grinned. “Lorne is a born host. He loves to make people feel welcome and he can’t help but flirt with everyone. Every gender, every species. Its like an addiction.”

 

“So, I hear there is a special performance by these two guys from New Orleans.” Cordy said conspiritally. “Rumor has it, that Lorne flew them all the way out here to handpick the entertainers.”

 

“A-are all the…entertainers men?” Fred asked nervously.

 

Cordelia flashed her a 100-watt smile. “Nope. Word is, these guys hired men, women, demons and everything in-between. They trained them how, not only to dance, but how to put on a show. These aren’t just run of the mill strippers.”

 

Buffy rolled her eyes. “You make them sound like the gay Barnum and Bailey.”

 

Gunn snickered and quickly found somewhere else to look as Cordy turned her glare on him.

 

“Fine. Doubt me if you will, Buffy.” Cordy fluffed her hair. “But I hope you packed a spare pair of panties in that purse of yours.”

___________________________________________________________________________________

 

For all her original panic, Willow was pleasantly surprised at how tasteful it all was. She blushed the color of her hair with the first act, sneaking peeks from between her fingers and glaring at Buffy and Cordy for laughing at her. But, as the acts progressed, she found herself mesmerized by the smooth and seductive movements of some species she’d never even realized could dance. Multiple limbs really can make a difference, she thought.

 

Soon, she and Fred were giggling and whispering between acts and clapping and whistling after them. The LA gang grinned at Fred’s obvious interest in the redheaded witch and Buffy sighed in relief at the first sign of flirty happiness Will had shown in months.

 

“And now, ladies, gentlemen and those of indeterminate gender,” Lorne’s voice rang out through the microphone, “I have the piece de resistance. The pair you’ve been waiting for…the sexy and ever-so-delicious…Spike and Xander!”

 

Applause roared through the room at a deafening level. But, not one set of hands were placed together at the table in the front row. Instead, an intense silence fell and one set of eyes searched out another and another until everyone at the table turned as one to the stage.

 

~No way in hell~ Buffy unconsciously shook her head.

 

~Could it really be him?~ Willow watched the stage, perching on the edge of her seat.

 

~Isn’t Spike the name of Angel’s childe?~ Fred frowned, but continued to wait for their entrance.

 

~Dear Lord. This is not going to be good.~ Wes sighed and fought the urge to reach for the glasses and handkerchief he no longer carried.

 

~There’s no way this could be a coincidence. I’m going to kill him.~ Angel growled audibly.

 

~Why is Angel growling?~ Gunn wondered.

 

~Hell yeah! Shake it Xan!~

 

“Hell yeah! Shake it Xan!” Cordy shouted, then glared at the others. “What? Xander has a very nice ass as I’m sure you remember Buffy and Willow.” The girls blushed and Cordy rolled her eyes. “From the swim team? Honestly…why do we bring you out in public?”

 

A low beat began to thrum through the room and the lights dimmed. A single spotlight flared up, illuminating a dark-haired young man standing onstage. Xander let his eyes flutter closed for this part…he was dancing alone anyway. His leather-covered hips began to roll to the pulse of the music. His arms slid up his stomach, over his white tank, pausing a moment to outline the hoops piercing his nipples, and moved up his neck. He lolled his head back and stretched his arms up over his head.

 

So focused on the magnetism rolling off of Xander in waves, no one noticed the slight shadow slip up behind him until pale arms snuck around his torso and drew invisible lines down Xander’s body. Spike swung around him and pressed his own black clad body against his lover’s. Columns of ashen flesh traced their way from bare feet to writhing hips, broken only by the leather laces holding the vampire’s leathers up.

 

A button up sheer black shirt couldn’t hide the luminous skin that lay beneath it, nor the piece of barbed wire wrapped around Spike’s neck above it. Spike spun them around again and slid his hands up to Xander’s shoulders. In a quick movement, he shoved the human to his knees. Xander slid bonelessly to the ground, bowing his head in submission.

 

Gasps were heard all over the room at the promise of what was to come. Buffy frowned at Angel as one of the gasps issued from his lips. Wes shook his head wryly and adjusted his pants slightly, knowing he’d need it in a moment.

 

As the music throbbed through the speakers, Spike snatched a handful of Xander’s hair. He jerked it back and thrust his hips into Xander’s face. With a lazy grin, Xander extended his tongue and slowly licked the slick leather around the prominent bulge in Spike’s pants. Spike transferred his grasp to a handful of Xander’s wife beater tank, wrenching the boy to his feet.

 

Willow eeped. Buffy glared at Angel. That was definitely a moan this time. Yes, Wes thought. I was right. More room was needed.

 

Spike rotated Xander to face their audience and let his other hand crawl up Xander’s chest slowly until it met its mate. In a quick movement, he ripped the material down the middle and divested Xander of it. Nonchalantly, he threw it into the crowd. Bringing his hands back to the human, he raked nails down Xander’s tanned chest, leaving reddened welts. Xander let his head drop back onto Spike’s shoulders as his own hands reached back to pull Spike’s ass tighter against his own.

 

Spike stepped back from Xander’s clutching hands and placed a stranglehold on the bulge in Xander’s trousers. Immediately, Xander became subdued again. He stood, feet spread, hips gyrating sensuously to the rhythm pulsing through him. Spike circled him, pausing to lick here, nibble there, and run a lingering finger across his pierced nipples until Xander shuddered visibly.

 

He stopped behind his boy again and eased his fingers beneath the waistband of Xander’s pants. A beat and a half later and Spike wrenched the velcroed trousers completely from Xander’s body. Once again, he threw the offending garment into the crowd, leaving his boy clad only in a leather thong and a sheath strapped to his ankle.

 

“Fucking hell.” Angel breathed, squeezing his eyes closed briefly. Wes had to concur. He also had to stifle a chuckle at the infuriated look Buffy wore.

 

Xander shimmied up against Spike and rolled his body against the vampire’s as he circled his way around him. Spike held his arms out to the side as he rocked his hips into Xander’s crotch to the beat of the song. He was clearly giving Xander permission to unclothe him now.

 

Grinning ferally, Xander dropped to his knees again and freed the blade nestled in his ankle sheath. He traced the length of his lover’s leg from foot to hip with his hand and followed it back down gently with the knife. Then gentle left the lithe form and he hooked the tip of the blade under the first leather X. With a smooth motion, he pulled the blade up Spike’s leg, parting the laces one by one.

 

The knife was obviously razor sharp, as it didn’t hang up once. And those with sharp eyes caught the first beads of red appearing all the way up Spike’s limb. Xander eased his hand to the other side and performed his trick again. He gave a final tug and the two pieces of Spike’s trousers fell apart at his feet leaving the vampire clad similarly to his human.

 

Xander shoved the pants offstage…

 

Right into Angel’s lap.

 

A low growl issued from the brunette vampire’s throat as he snatched at the mangled leather. His eyes shot through yellow as he lifted them to his face and inhaled the familiar scent of his childe’s arousal.

 

Xander bent to the floor and placed his tongue at the beginning of the cut on Spike’s ankle. In one long swipe, he dragged his tongue up the score mark, swathing away the line of blood. Groans issued from all sides of the audience, but especially from the table in the front row. Spike lolled his head forward and then back at the feeling of his mate’s tongue on him.

 

The barbed wire dug into his pale flesh, causing rivulets of blood to trickle down his chest and disappear into the sheer shirt below. Xander got to his feet and slid his arms around the blonde. They ground into each other in time to the drums and Xander took the opportunity to wrench Spike’s shirt apart. The blood had made a crimson trail from Spike’s throat to his navel

 

Spike shrugged out of the silky shirt and purred blissfully as Xander smeared the rich blood into Spike’s chest. The boy wriggled around Spike’s side and adorned Spike’s flesh with the vermilion liquid. He painted a vivid slash down his chest with the blood and then raised his hand to Spike’s lips. The blonde flicked out his tongue and tasted his own essence on the silver platter of his love’s fingers.

 

With an audible growl, his eyes bled yellow and his face melted into ridges. He snatched the knife out of Xander’s hand and flung it to the ground. Spinning the boy around again, he jerked him to his chest and splayed his fingers, sharp with vampiric nails, over the vulnerable skin of Xander’s belly. Intakes of breath were heard all over the room and there was no sound save the pulsing rhythm of the music.

 

Xander smiled beatifically and submissively bent his head to the side, baring his neck. His hands came up to cover Spike’s possessive grasp and he closed his eyes as needle like fangs pierced his flesh. As the music cresendoed to it’s finale, a single, heavy drop of blood escaped Spike’s lips and marred the perfection of Xander’s chest.

 

They stood stock still as the last note echoed through the room…and then the spotlight went off and the room was dropped into darkness.

 

A moment later, the lights came back up to reveal an empty stage and the crowd exploded. Screams, thunderous applause and sounds, which couldn’t have possibly been made by human vocal chords, filled the room.

Chapter Two

Summary: The Aftermath.

 

 

“Well….Buff, do you happen to have that spare pair of panties I mentioned earlier? I’ll buy them from you.” Cordy fanned her flushed face and then took a huge gulp of her icy drink.

 

Willow blushed. Then giggled. Then blushed at being caught giggling. “So, umm…are we sure that was them?” She asked softly.

 

“Yes.” Angel bit out.

 

Willow started at the dark note in Angel’s voice. “How do you know?” She managed without a squeak.

 

“Smell.”

 

Willow waited a moment longer, but when no further words were offered; she nodded and gazed at the condensation sliding down her glass.

 

“They sure looked, er…comfortable with each other.” Gunn offered.

 

“What the hell was with all the blood?” Buffy demanded, her hand clasped white on her own glass.

 

“Blood and sex tend to go hand in hand for vampires.” Wes offered, shifting in his seat, trying to find a less confining position. “For most demons, actually, as you can see by the response of the audience.”

 

“Yeah,” Fred added dreamily. “It was probably like watching porn for vampires, just without penetration.” A dark red flush rose over her face and she sat up straight. “I said that out loud didn’t I?” She whispered in mortification. Willow giggled again.

 

“He bit him!” Buffy snapped angrily. “He rubbed all over him, he made him lick his…his…him! And then he sunk his dirty fangs into him!” Her grip tightened on her glass and Willow scooted closer to Fred in anticipation of shards of glass shooting in her direction. “I ought to stake him. I will stake him! What are we waiting around for? Spike’s probably draining him dry right now!” Her voice rose to a shriek, drawing attention from the surrounding tables.

 

Wes snorted in derision. Buffy’s head shot around to glare at him, but he didn’t look concerned. “Let’s be realistic, please. Obviously they were both willing participants. Obviously, they’d planned this out. It was quite clear that it was a carefully choreographed dance. And they certainly looked very familiar with how each other’s bodies worked.”

 

Angel growled. Buffy released her death grip on the glass and slammed forward in her chair. “What exactly is with all the growling, Angel?” She hissed.

 

Angel clutched the mangled leather pants, unconsciously taking in a deep breath, his nostrils flaring. “Spike is my childe.”

 

Buffy rolled her eyes. “So?”

 

“So, he’s mine.” Angel rumbled angrily.

 

“What the hell does that mean, Angel?” She demanded.

 

Wes sighed. “Did you ever read about vampire behavior when Mr. Giles was attempting to pound your calling through your thick head, Miss Summers? Or did you really spend all of your spare time doing your hair?” Another giggle from Willow followed by an apologetic look as Buffy turned shocked eyes on her. Cordy wasn’t so polite. Her snicker turned into a full-blown laugh as Buffy’s hand inched surreptitiously towards her hair.

 

“Vampires have a very special relationship with their Childer. A Sire provides leadership, a firm and dominant hand and protection. In return, the childe is a willing vessel, complacently offering of self be it for food, punishment or sex.” Wes looked almost bored. “So, as Spike is Angel’s Sire, I’m sure if you attempt to connect the dots, you can easily see how he might be feeling a tad bit jealous at this moment.”

 

Buffy paused for a moment, the confusion evident in her eyes. Then, it became very clear that she did indeed connect the dots. Her face paled and her mouth worked in a silent denial. She turned a horrified look on Angel and her gaze flitted from Angel’s face to the pants in his lap with such rapidity that Willow had to look away, slightly queasy from the movement.

 

“Tell. Me. You. Didn’t.” She breathed.

 

Angel actually smirked. “Didn’t what, Buffy? Didn’t sire him? Didn’t protect him? Or didn’t fuck him?” His smirk turned bitter.

 

Buffy winced at his last question. “You…had sex with Spike?” Her face twisted as though she’d bitten into something sour.

 

Willow frowned, far too drunk to realize she should just shut up at this point. “And you have room to complain, Buffy?” She snorted. “You practically rape him for months and then as soon as you’re caught you’re a virgin again?”

 

Buffy looked humiliated and betrayed...and angry. Fred put her arm around Willow’s waist and glared at Buffy. Cordy began laughing again, and after a moment of dead silence, Gunn joined her with quiet chuckles.

 

Wes grinned and shook his head. “My, my, my, Miss Summers. You do indeed seem to get around.”

 

Buffy had her hand in the air, whistling towards Wes’s face when her wrist was caught in a strong grip. She followed the arm up to smoldering brown eyes. “You slept with my Childe?” He asked icily.

 

Buffy jerked her hand out of Angel’s grasp. “Your Childe?” She laughed, near hysterics. “Your Childe? You hate Spike! You’ve tried to kill him! He’s tried to kill you! You haven’t had a kind word for him in the entire time I’ve known you. And now you’re all ‘Oh, my poor baby boy, he’s been violated by the nasty Slayer and her friend’!”

 

Wes took a sip of his scotch and gently set the glass back onto the coaster. “Miss Summers…Buffy,” he intervened softly, “You’ve dealt with vampires enough to know that there are just some things that make no sense. Some things for which vampires rely totally on instinct. It’s the same as if you, yourself, were to bear a child who then grew to hate you. Would you stop loving the child?”

 

Buffy eased back down into her chair and tried to focus on Wes’s now-kind voice. She knew she needed to calm down. “No.” She forced.

 

“Nor will Angel ever truly stop loving his childe. And just as any father, no matter how annoying their offspring, no one in the world will ever be good enough for his childe.”

 

Buffy gritted her teeth. “But all fathers do not have sex with their sons.”

 

Angel sighed and deliberately placed the mangled leather on the table. “All vampire fathers do, Buffy.” He whispered. “Creating a childe is an erotic experience. Knowing you own another sentient thing…knowing that you have the power of life or death over someone else…it’s a heady thing for our demons.”

 

Buffy looked at him with pained eyes. “So, you’re in love with him?”

 

Angel shook his head gently. “No. I love him. I’ll always love him. But I’m not in love with him. I never have been. No matter how much he wanted me to be.” Buffy was surprised to see her pain reflected and multiplied in his eyes. “I wanted to be in love with him. Because he needed it so badly. But I couldn’t. So, I did the next best thing. I gave him to Drusilla, hoping she could love him like I couldn’t.”

 

“Didn’t quite work out that way, mate.” A husky, accented voice answered. Angel’s eyes rose hesitantly and came to a halt on his Childe, once again clad in leather. “She was hopelessly in love with you.” Spike smiled, a hint of sadness in his voice. “She’s been in love with you from the moment you turned her. Even loved you during that stint of yours in hell.”

 

Angel just nodded and scooted his chair over. Wes did the same, and another spot opened up at the front table. Spike snagged a chair from an adjoining table and flipped it backwards. He straddled it and sank down. “So, how’ve you all been?” He raised an inquisitive eyebrow.

 

No one spoke. The silence was like a living shroud hovering over the table.

 

“Tara died.” Willow broke the quiet. “And Buffy got shot. And I lost my mind, and flayed Warren alive and then tried to create a magical world-sized nuke using the life force of everyone on the planet.”

 

Her statement fell into the oppressive hush with all the force of a freight train. She giggled. Knowing it was inappropriate after a statement like that, but finding it ridiculously funny that the words had just kind of fallen out of her mouth. Fred tried valiantly to remain poker faced, but wound up smothering her snickers with her hand and a cocktail napkin. Cordelia fell into hysterical giggles for the third time in five minutes. In a moment, Wes and Gunn followed and even Angel managed a quirked lip.

 

Heaving a sigh, Buffy rolled her eyes and the rest of her anger melted away. “Okay, fine.” She grumbled. “So I knew he wasn’t going to drain Xander. I was just squicked about seeing my best friend and my ex-whatever-the-hell-he-was licking each other.” Willow reached over and patted Buffy’s arm.

 

“The first step to solving a problem is admitting you have one.” She intoned solemnly, and then dissolved into giggles again.

 

Buffy grinned wryly and shook her head fondly.

 

“Well, no maimings, no copious amounts of blood and do I detect the melodious tones of laughter?” Xander materialized from out of the darkened club, a drink in either hand. His grin encompassed everyone at the table and then he slid into the empty few inches of chair behind Spike. “Hi, sweetheart.” He tenderly brushed his lips across Spike’s before handing him his glass.

 

“Hi, luv.” Spike’s smirk melted into an adoring smile and his free hand dropped to cover the arm Xander snaked around his waist.

Chapter Eleven

Summary: The Finale.

 

 

Willow sighed and rested her chin in her hands. “They are just so adorable together,” she murmured to Fred. The LA Scooby leaned against Willow and watched the two newest additions to their table. Xander hadn’t once removed his arm from around Spike’s waist; as a matter of fact, he had hooked his thumb in the waistband of Spike’s leather trousers.

 

For his part, Spike dropped his head backwards onto Xander’s shoulder and was unconsciously nuzzling his lover’s cheek with his forehead. As Xander began to speak, Spike gazed up at him adoringly at him. Neither woman had a clue what Xander was saying as they stared at the loving couple in front of them. But they read the body language quite nicely.

 

Something about a BDSM store elicited sadness in Spike and a protective embrace from Xander. Spike curled into Xander and the sadness turned into lust when Xander started talking about Nine Inch Nails. Lust melted back into adoration at the retelling of Spike’s first invite and Xander began playing with Spike’s golden curls as he told of forgiving Spike for everything.

 

Xander let Spike take over for a bit and traced loving paths around the vampire’s hairline, pausing to smile and nuzzle the pale neck when Spike replayed his apology for all he’d done to the Scooby gang. Xander wiggled seductively against Spike’s back at the description of Spike’s first dance. Spike caught his breath and gazed backwards into Xander’s deep brown eyes, ignoring the impatiently waiting crowd for a chance to lock eyes with his lover.

 

Xander took up the reins again and shared their first dance, but neither Willow nor Fred heard a word. They saw the whole thing in their minds, though; as they watched Xander and Spike relive it in tiny touches and secret smiles.

 

They each fought back tears as they witnessed the boys’ pain and desperation to be loved for all they were and clasped hands under the table in an imitation of Xander and Spike during the retelling of a poetry reading and a picnic dinner. They caught something about Spike’s poetry and then Willow burst into tears.

 

The others at the table stared at her in bewilderment. “That was your first time together, wasn’t it?” she whispered. Xander nodded and pulled Spike to him in a tighter embrace.

 

“What the hell, Willow?” Buffy gaped. “They’ve been talking about stripping and sleeping together for the last ten minutes. How’d you get that they just now had sex?” Willow covered her mouth to hold in a giggle.

 

Fred rolled her eyes. “Haven’t you been watching them?” she snorted. Buffy still looked confused. Fred shrugged. “Never mind. Please, continue touching,” she instructed the boys.

 

Touching? Buffy mouthed at Cordelia. Cordy shrugged and leaned forward again. “More of the nasty, sweaty, groping descriptions please.”

 

Spike took over, blathering on about some Ferengi something-or-other, but Willow saw a tiny boy, dark haired and sad eyed, watching as her parents gave her extra spending money for their convention trip. Blah blah blah…sex…hotel room…oh! Tears filled her eyes again. Love. Oh, Goddess, they told each other they were in love!

 

As if it were happening all over again, Spike and Xander became one person, closing their eyes and melting into each other. Long moments later, Buffy cleared her throat and the boys started, glancing back around the table sheepishly.

 

“And when we got back, Mogur asked up to come over to LA and do a favor for Lorne,” Spike finished.

 

“That was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,” Willow breathed. Fred nodded in agreement. Xander and Spike just preened at the sighs.

 

Buffy leaned over to Cordelia and whispered, “Do you think you have to be gay to get it?”

 

Cordy nodded. “I’m thinking it would help.”

 

“Well, Xander,” Wes set his drink back on the table carefully. “That is indeed an amazing story. How long do you plan on being together?”

 

Xander tensed and tightened his arms around Spike. “What exactly do you mean by that, Wes?” he asked coldly.

 

Wes inclined his head thoughtfully. “I see that you know exactly what I mean by that, Xander,” he said with a hint of reproach.

 

Xander glared at him, which he simply took in stride. “I am in love with Spike,” he stated. “Love, Wes. I’ll do anything I can to be with him…to stay with him.” His chin went up and his entire body screamed defiance.

 

Buffy eyed the Watcher and her friend carefully and then her own gaze widened. “Oh my God, Xander,” she eeped. “You cannot possibly be considering letting him turn you? That’s just insane! It’s suicide! What are you thinking?”

 

“I’m thinking that I love him, Buffy,” Xander snarled coldly. “I’m also thinking that it’s my life, therefore my decision. In addition, I’m thinking that after tonight you don’t ever have to see me again so it’s really none of your fucking business.”

 

Buffy stared goggle eyed at her former loyal Slayerette, her mouth gaping. Willow and Fred huddled into a single entity, trying to escape the invisible daggers shooting across the table. Wes and Cordy sat stone faced, letting nothing of their thoughts show on their faces. Angel had developed a tic above his eyebrow and he stared straight at the table, lips pinched tightly together. Poor Gunn just sat in confusion.

 

Surprisingly enough, the voice of reason came from Spike. He turned slightly in his lover’s arms. “Pet, she’s just worried about you,” he said quietly. Xander turned his glare on Spike, who just shrugged it off. “I’m a vampire. She’s a Slayer. You’re her friend. It’s her job to be scared for you and suspicious of me. And, you know, even we’ve never discussed the whole turning issue.” He took a deep breath. “Maybe I don’t want to turn you.”

 

Xander looked as though Spike had slapped him. His head visibly rocked back. “Y-you don’t…want me?” his voice quavered a bit.

 

Spike tried to grasp Xander’s hands but the horrified human kept them out of his reach. Spike sighed. “Love, you know I want you. That I want to be with you for as long as possible. But at the cost of your soul? At the cost of who Xander is?” he shook his head. “I can’t say that that appeals to me in the slightest.”

 

Xander shot up off of the chair. “I can’t believe you’re saying this, Spike.”

 

Spike stood as well, holding out a hand to his agitated lover. “Please, love. Let’s not talk about this now. We can discuss it later, just the two of us,” he pleaded.

 

Xander snorted and backed away. “No, Spike. I don’t think so. For some reason I can’t seem to deny you anything when we’re alone together. You can talk me into anything.” He smiled humorlessly. “I wonder why that is? Oh, that’s right…” he slapped an open palm to his forehead. “I can’t deny you anything because I fucking love you!” he screamed. The room went silent. The thrum of the music continued in the background, but no one was listening to it anymore.

 

“I love you, too.” Spike whispered. “You know I do.”

 

“Just fucking not enough to keep me,” Xander retorted.

 

Spike twitched and clenched his fists. “Did you hear nothing I just said to you, idiot?” he growled. “I will not sacrifice your soul just to keep your body with me.”

 

Xander glared. “My soul. My soul. Did you catch that, idiot? It belongs to me and I’ll fucking well trade it in on whatever the hell I want!”

 

“So, this is all about what you want, is it whelp?” Xander flinched at the re-emergence of the hated nickname. “Oh, well far be it for me to attempt to interfere, then,” Spike snapped sarcastically. “I’ll just be over here, ignoring the fact that while vampires do tend to live a long time, we eventually turn to dust. And what happens to us then, you ask? Oh, that’s right…we burn in hell for all of eternity!” Spike was building up a good head of steam, his arms stiff at his sides and spittle forming at the corners of his mouth.

 

Xander’s eyes teared up, the light glinting off of the moisture in them. He seemed to melt in on himself. “I guess I wasn’t clear,” he whispered. “When I told you I’d love you forever, and that I’d do anything to be with you…that meant spending an eternity in hell if necessary. As long as I’m with you, there is no hell.” He spun on his heel and shoved his way through the crowd blindly, tears finally rolling down his cheeks.

 

Spike stared after him, speechless. Every eye in the room swung from Xander’s retreating back to the vampire’s pained expression. He slowly turned back to the table in the front. “Am I wrong?” he whispered. “Am I wrong to want better for him?”

 

Silence.

 

“No,” came the quiet voice of the Slayer. Heads swiveled to her. “No, you’re not wrong for wanting better for him. And neither am I,” she sighed. “The problem is that we aren’t wanting better for him, Spike. We’re wanting what we want for him.” She leaned back in her chair, feeling suddenly tired. “I want to wrap him in a bubble and keep him safe like I’ve been doing since we were fifteen. I want to protect him from the evils of the world and the darkness that might hurt him.”

 

She shut her eyes briefly. “But I can’t do that anymore. Hell, I don’t think I ever really could. When Xander loves, he loves with everything that’s in him. Self-preservation be damned.” She and Spike traded wry smiles. “Not to mention that he seems to be in love with one of those evils.” A look of pain crossed over Spike’s face. “And,” Buffy continued, watching Spike carefully, “that evil doesn’t seem so dark anymore.”

 

Spike nearly collapsed into the chair. “I’m not, Buffy,” he shook his head. “Not evil, not dark. At least not when it comes to Xander. I’d never hurt him,” he winced. “Well, other than what I’ve just done.”

 

“You haven’t hurt him, Spike,” Angel spoke up softly, raising his eyes up from the table. “You’ve just denied him something he thinks he wants. That’s not hurt, that’s just pissing him off.”

 

“Angel is quite correct,” Wes nodded. “Xander sees only, as do most people in love, the short term. He believes that, while he may have a lifetime with you, that won’t be enough. But really, how long is one lifetime? How does he know that in 30 years, he won’t have decided that you and he are no longer compatible?”

 

Spike fought the urge to growl. “I’m not choosing to keep him human so that he can change his mind about us in 30 years, watcher,” he snarled. “I’m refusing to turn him because I don’t want him to spend an eternity in hell for me.” He stood quickly. “You know what? Never mind. This is between Xander and me.” He nodded to Willow, Cordy, Gunn and Fred. “Nice seeing you again Red, Cheerleader. Nice meeting you, Gunn, Fred. If you’ll excuse me, I have a boyfriend to find.”

 

With that, he disappeared into the darkness of the room.

 

“ Well now…aren’t you all just so concerned about Xander,” Willow slammed her tiny fist down onto the table. Buffy jumped, her eyes shooting from Spike’s back over to Willow’s angry green eyes. Willow turned her glare from Buffy to Angel and then to Wes. “Not one of you has realized, apparently, that we do not have sole ownership of the only two vampires in LA!”

 

Eyes widened as Willow stood. “Xander is quite possibly the most important person in my life. I’d like to keep him in my life. And all of you are not helping to keep him there!” She waved a hand imperiously at the exit. “My best friend just walked out that door thinking that all of his friends are against him and his lover doesn’t want him enough to turn him. What do you think Xander will do?” she asked mockingly wide-eyed.

 

“Will he…A) Go back to his room, think about it and finally realize that everyone just wants the best for him and he should listen to reason? B) Take his stuff and run away again, leaving with no notice again and consigning himself to a life of loneliness because he ran from his one true love? Or C) Think, hey! Spike and Angel aren’t the only two vampires in LA! I bet that somewhere, there’s got to be a vampire that will turn me since the ones I know won’t do it!”

 

She finished by flinging her arms into the air and staggering backwards as the alcohol played havoc with her equilibrium. Fred reached out to catch her and she pulled Willow into her lap. Looking helplessly at the others, she nodded. “I really don’t know Xander, but if I were in his situation, that’s the one I’d pick.”

 

Buffy groaned and slammed her head onto the table. Cordy just nodded. “Yeah, that’s Xander. Impetuous and air headed.” She looked apologetically at Angel. “I know you don’t really like him, Angel, but he was my boyfriend once upon a time. And I’d really rather he not get himself killed going to just anyone.”

 

Angel looked up in astonishment. “Am I hearing this right? Willow, Fred and Cordelia all want me or Spike to turn Harris?” He looked around the table incredulously. “Can this get any weirder?”

 

Gunn raised his hand hesitantly. “Well, if he’s gonna get turned no matter what anyone has to say about it, the least you could do…caring about him and all…is to do it yourself.”

Angel’s jaw dropped.

 

Wes cleared his throat and looked slightly embarrassed. “I suppose that between Ms. Rosenberg and myself, we could curse him with a soul. That would at least give him a fighting chance to redeem himself for allowing a demon to take possession of his body.”

 

Angel couldn’t even form a sentence.

 

“So, what about the happiness clause?” Cordy asked.

 

“Oh, hmmm, yes,” Wes nodded, sitting forward. “When Ms. Rosenberg cast the original curse on Angelus, she was only working with the tools she had available. And she was working in a bit of a time crunch. In the years since, I have been perusing several tomes of curse magic and believe that I might have found a way to modify the curse enough that the happiness clause can be left out.”

 

Buffy perked up. “So, why can’t you do that for Angel?”

 

Wes smiled excitedly, a rare expression on his face these days. “Technically, I can. The only problem is that he would have to lose his soul so that he could be recursed. I can’t modify the curse while he’s under it. It would be the equivalent of trying to change a belt in a car engine while it was on and running. Very messy.”

 

“That’s great!” Buffy squealed. “So we just need to find Xander, kill him, turn him and curse him. Once we see how well that works, we can make Angel lose his soul again, recast this curse and…poof! No more Angelus!”

 

Angel sat, blinking slowly, looking from one member of the table to another. “Is there no one here who thinks that turning Xander is a bad idea?” he practically begged. When silence met his question, he sighed and stood. “Fine. But I reserve the right to tell you ‘I told you so’ as many times as I like.”

 

Buffy stood with him, grinning. “Fine, whatever,” she beamed. “Let’s go kill Xander.”

 

Angel followed his former girlfriend through the bar, watching her bouncing curls and wondered for the nth time…is Shanshu really worth it?

______________________________________________________________________________________

 

Spike burst out of Diabolique, sucking in a breath of fresh air. As he did so, he caught a whiff of his lovely boy. Following the scent like a bloodhound, he found Xander sitting on a bench not too far from the club, head in his hands. He could smell the salt of Xander’s tears and his heart wrenched at having caused sadness in this beautiful creature.

 

Silently, he sat next to Xander and waited for the boy to acknowledge him. Minutes later, Xander turned to him in annoyance. “What the hell do you want, Spike?”

 

“I want to talk to you,” came the gentle response.

 

Xander snorted. “What is there to talk about? You won’t turn me. Fine. I get it. Now, piss off.”

 

Spike grinned. “I love you, Xander.”

 

Xander looked up, miffed at the humorous note in Spike’s voice. “What are you smiling about?” he demanded.

 

Spike shrugged. “Nothing. I just love you. Now. In the future. Forever.”

 

Xander looked pained. “But not enough to turn me.”

 

Spike shook his head. “Not now. Maybe not 10 years from now. But in 10 years, we can do a helluva lot of searching for an alternative to burning in hell. I’d like to give us that chance. If, in 10 years, we aren’t any closer to an answer, then I’ll turn you.”

 

Xander’s eyes lit in hope. “Are you serious?”

 

Spike nodded. “I don’t want to be. I don’t want to risk you at all, but I know that you’ll just run off and do something fucking stupid if I don’t at least give you another option.” Xander looked guilty. How the hell had Spike known he was planning on finding a vamp for just that purpose? Spike smiled knowingly. “I love you. And I know because I’d do it for you,” he added softly, reading through Xander’s guilt.

 

“So, will you give me 10 years, love?”

 

Xander nodded, a smile creeping over his lips. “Yes, Spike. I’ll give you 10 years.”

 

Spike leaned forward to capture his love’s lips, sliding his arms around the supple warmth, relishing it and knowing that it would be just one of the things about Alexander Harris he would miss when he turned the boy. And he would. He knew it. He’d do anything Xander asked at this moment. He couldn’t imagine the hold that the dark haired beauty would have over him in 10 years. He sighed inwardly. ~Cross that bridge when you get to it, mate. When you get to it.~

 

Buffy and Angel watched from behind a hedge, maybe 30 feet away. She sighed and he plucked her hand from its place at her side. “Think we should interrupt them?” he whispered.

 

She shook her head. “No. We have 10 years, remember.”

 

Angel looked startled. “You’re not going to tell them?”

 

Buffy grinned. “I was joking, doofus. Of course I’m going to tell them.” She turned her gaze back on the passionately kissing men. “But I’m not about to interrupt the greatest show on earth to do it.”

 

Angel rolled his eyes and settled in for a long wait. ~All I can say is that frickin shanshu better be worth all of this.~

The End

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