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Choices
 by Sandra D
Part One Part Two Part Three Part Four Part Five

Part One

"Well *shit*!" Xander groaned. It had been a hard night patrolling 
with the scoobies and all he wanted to do was go home, take a long, 
hot shower and climb into bed. 

"Leave it to Xander to be locked out of his home in the middle of the 
night," the young man grumbled as he walked around his parents' home 
hoping to find an unlocked window. Finding none, he sat down on the 
patio outside his basement door to try and figure out what to do 
next. Wishing, for the first time in his life, that his parents were 
home, Xander stood up and started back down the street. 

"Let's see," Xander said to himself. "what are my options? I could 
go over to Buf -no wait. She and Riley are having make up sex after 
that big fight they had." Remembering the argument brought a small 
grin to his face. Xander couldn't help but to get some sort of 
satisfaction out of the fact that Buffy was finally realizing that 
the ex-commando was not perfect. 

Xander continued down the road rather aimlessly while he thought 
about the events earlier that night. When he finally looked around 
he saw that he had wandered into a cemetery. Not a huge surprise 
since there were so many in Sunnydale. As he turned around to get 
back to the road he noticed movement near one of the old crypts. 
Figuring that he should check it out just to make sure a newly risen 
fledgling had not been missed earlier, Xander pulled a stake out of 
his coat pocket and silently made his way over to the crypt. 

Well, almost silently. A few feet from where he had been headed, 
Xander tripped over a tree root and hit the ground with a *thud*. 

"Ooph!" Xander tried to get back up on his feet but when he braced 
his hands on the ground they began to sink into the earth. "What the 
fuck??" He began to struggle in efforts to pull himself out of the 
ground when he saw a shadow cross over his body. Looking up, Xander 
realized a red haired man had come out of the bushes and was coming 
his way. 

"You look like you could use some assistance," the man said as he 
moved closer to Xander. 

"Yeah!! Would you mind helping me? I mean, this is kinda wiggin' me 
out here!" Xander was already up to his elbows in the earth and was 
relieved that someone had come along willing to help. 'Odd 
coincidence? On the Hellmouth? Not likely!' With that thought, 
Xander looked warily at his "hero" and groaned inwardly when he saw 
that the man's hands stretched toward him were glowing bright white. 

"Wh-who are you?" The dark haired boy managed to squeak. 

"My name is Duncan. You are Alexander Harris. Now that we have 
formalities out of the way, you have a choice to make. Do you want 
my help?"

"Is that the choice? To have you get me out of here or to be sucked 
into the ground?? And how do you know my name?"

"Those are the choices you have at the moment, yes. But it will not 
be the last choice you must make. How I know who you are is of no 
consequence right now. Now, do you want my help?"

Realizing that he was not sinking further at the moment, Xander 
thought about what Duncan meant about it not being the last choice 
he'd have to make. 'Guess this really isn't much of a choice to 
make. Either say yes to Mr. Glowing Hands or die.'

"Good. Now stand up," Duncan said to Xander.

Xander's head shot back up when he heard the other man's words. 
Standing up slowly, the younger man wondered if his mind was being 
read.

"Yes, it is. Now you should go home and get some sleep. You have a 
big day ahead of you tomorrow. When you get to your house, you will 
find that the door is unlocked as you left it that way when you went 
out earlier tonight. I will come to you tomorrow for you to make 
your next choice. Don't worry, Alexander. I will find you where 
ever you are so you don't need to look for me."

With that, Duncan turned and walked back toward the edge of the 
cemetary. 

"Wait!!" Xander called out to the man. "What do you mean you'll come 
for me?? And..." But his words were useless. Duncan had 
disappeared from sight. 


Part Two

When Xander arrived back at his house he found the door unlocked just 
as Duncan said it would be. He stumbled down the steps to the 
basement and walked numbly into the bathroom for his shower. 
Stripping out of his clothes and tossing them towards the laundry 
basket, the boy turned on the water and glanced at the mirror.

"What have you gotten yourself into this time?" he asked his own 
reflection. 

Not getting an answer, Xander stepped into the now steaming stream of 
water. Allowing the water to run over his head, he thought about 
everything that Duncan had said. Choices? What kind of choices 
would he have to make? Would they be as easy as whether he would 
live or die like tonight? Somehow Xander doubted he could be that 
lucky. 

Finishing his shower, Xander dried off his body and found a clean 
pair of boxers to wear to bed. He found himself wishing Spike was 
already home from whatever hell he was causing. Xander was glad that 
he and the blonde had become friends lately. Anya leaving town had 
turned out to be a good thing after all, giving the two men time to 
really get to know each other. 

'I just wish I could understand why being with him is starting to 
make me feel all fuzzy inside,' the teen thought as he sat down on 
his bed. 'I really enjoy spending time with him, but I almost feel 
as if... no, that is not even worth considering. Won't set myself up 
to be hurt again.' 

Xander stretched out on his bed and pulled the covers up to his 
chin. Closing his eyes to finally get some rest, Xander briefly 
thought about going to Giles about Duncan. `If anyone knows about 
this guy, it'd be G-Man.'

----

Spike walked down the stairs to the basement expecting that Xander 
was already in bed sound asleep. Not even looking toward the bed, 
the vampire went into the kitchenette and pulled a bag of blood out 
of the tiny refrigerator and poured it into a mug. Setting the timer 
on the microwave, he finally turned to take a peek at the secret 
object of his affections. 

Chuckling slightly to himself, he wondered if Xander had a clue about 
what appeared to be happening between them. True they had only spent 
the better part of the past month talking and watching movies, but 
Spike was starting to sense an electrical charge between them 
whenever their eyes met. 

The blonde took his heated mug from the microwave and sat down on the 
old chair that he had claimed as his own when he was originally 
forced into staying with Xander. Spike still remembered his first 
night in the boy's basement. After finishing his mug of blood, he 
let himself think back to that night.

~" Like I'd bite you anyway," Spike had said to the boy tying him to 
the chair.

"Oh you would," came Xander's reply.

"Not bloody likely!"

"I happen to be very biteable pal. I'm moist and delicious."

"Alright, yeah fine you're a nummy treat," Spike retorted flatly. ~

Spike smiled at the boy lying so close to him now. "My nummy treat," 
he said quietly. "You just don't realize it yet!" And with that, 
Spike closed his eyes and hoped that he would dream of his Xanpet as 
he had for the past fortnight.


Part Three


Xander awoke with a start the next morning. Flashes of the previous 
night in the graveyard came flooding back into his mind. He jump out 
of bed a little too fast and got caught in the blankets that had 
twisted around his legs while he slept. He tried to catch his 
balance on the closest thing to him. Spike.

"Wha- Hey, watch it, pet! You could get yourself hurt that way!!" 
Spike said sleepily.

"Sorry, Spike. I gotta hurry and get dressed. Didn't mean to wake 
you up. Go back to sleep."

"What's the hurry? You late for work again?"

"Huh? " Xander stopped dressing for a moment to look at the 
clock. "I guess I'll be picking up a newspaper later to sort through 
the want ads again. I don't have time to deal with the "Burger Barn" 
this morning.

Spike sat up and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. "Then why all the 
hurry? Xan, what's wrong?"

The dark haired youth looked at his roommate for a second and 
considered just blowing him off and running to the Magic Box. But 
when he thought twice about it, he knew Spike would pace a hole into 
his already too thin carpet if he didn't say something.

Xander shook his head warily and hoped that Spike wouldn't ridicule 
him too much for getting himself in yet another mess. He began to 
explain what had happened the night before as he sat down on the edge 
of the fold out bed. Since Xander felt time was of the essence, he 
didn't go into too much detail. Just enough to appease Spike for now.

"What did you just say??" Spike interrupted the boy. 

"I said I tripped and my hands started sinking into the ground."

"What happened when you tried to pull them out?" Spike was getting 
increasingly worried.

"I couldn't budge. Just kept sinking." Xander was trying to be 
patient with Spike, but he really needed to get to Giles.

"What happened next? How did you get out?"

"That's the part that has me a little worried." Xander was imagining 
Duncan while he described him to Spike. "He was tall, thin…not thin 
like you. He was *skinny*, all wirey…He had red hair and his hands 
were glowing white. Told me I had to decide whether or not I wanted 
his help."

"Bloody hell!!!" Spike jumped up out of the chair and started 
throwing some clean clothes on. "we've got to get you to the 
watcher. Now!"

"That's what I've been trying to do, Spike. But you wanted to know 
what was going on. Besides, you can't go anywhere. It's 8:30 in the 
morning! You'll be dust before we are out of my yard!!"

"No!" Spike nearly yelled at Xander. "I am going with you! Now, go 
out to the DeSoto and grab the tarp I have in the trunk. That will 
get me from door to door without bursting into flames."

"Wait a minute!! What is going on? You know who Duncan is?"

Spike sucked in an unneeded breath when he heard the name. He walked 
quickly to where Xander stood and grabbed him by the arms. 

"Did you just say, Duncan?? *Bollocks!!!* We have to get you out of 
here!! Please, Xanny, go get the bloody tarp!" 

Spike was nearly pleading at this point so Xander turned and ran out 
to the car for the tarp. Once he was back inside, Spike covered 
himself and they ran for the car. The blonde was obviously worried 
so Xander couldn't help but to do the same. What had started out as 
a weird event in his head seemed to be spiraling out of control and 
he was near panic without really knowing why.

"Spike, tell me who this guy is," Xander said in a falsely calm 
voice as they drove toward the shop.

"He is the head of a group of warlocks known as The Clan. Their 
means of trapping vary, but the favorite is what you explained 
happened to you. You never would have sunk in. It was not a trap 
meant to kill you. It was just to start you out with an easy choice."

"Wha-? You mean I could have avoided this?!"

"Pet, it's not your fault! The trap is designed to be as real as 
possible without actually killing the target. It was supposed to 
make you think you had no other choice than to accept the help of the 
warlock." 

Spike parked the car in front of the shop that would be opening in 
about 10 minutes. Xander left the vampire in the blacked out DeSoto 
to get Giles to unlock the door. After banging on the door, the boy 
waited impatiently for the exwatcher to open the shop. 

"Giles!! Come on, open the door!"

Hearing the lock slide back, Xander ran back to the car to get 
Spike. By the time Giles had the door open, both men were ready to 
run inside.

"What the devil is going on here? Spike, what are you doing out 
during the day?" Giles was sounding slightly annoyed. He had been 
getting ready to open the shop and still needed to finish restocking 
a few shelves.

"The boy's in trouble. So bad this time that I couldn't just stand 
by and do nothing. We've GOT to help him!!!" Spike was already 
pacing the length of the shop.

"Calm down! Whatever the problem is, it will do no good to get 
panicked about it." Giles was trying to ease the tension that had 
already thickened the air. 

Xander walked over to Spike and reached out to grab his arm. The boy 
was surprised when the bleached blond pulled him into a fierce 
embrace. 

"We'll do whatever needs to be done to keep you safe. Do you hear 
me, luv? Everything will be fine." Spike wasn't sure who he was 
trying to convince. Xander or himself.

Giles took in the sight before him and was curious about Spike's 
reaction toward the boy. Needing to know what was going on, the 
shopkeeper decided to file that away for further examination later.

"Now, would you please tell me what is so wrong to have brought you 
both here at this hour?"

Reluctantly pulling away from Xander, the vampire looked at Giles 
with true fear in his eyes and answered the man in two words.

"Duncan Kreibel."

"Oh dear Lord!!" 

Xander watched as the color drained from the exwatcher's face, 
leaving him almost as pale as Spike. Now he was really getting 
worried. It was one thing to have Spike overreact. That was 
practically an everyday occurrence. But to have Giles look like he 
was about to have a coronary was out of the ordinary. Not much 
warranted such a severe reaction from the older man.

Giles looked at his watch then quickly walked over to the counter to 
make out a sign for the door. Xander got a glimpse at what the man 
had written as he walked past. The sign read: Will be closed 
indefinitely due to family emergency . Sorry for the inconvenience.

Although he still was not sure of the exact reason for the intensity 
on the men's faces, Xander knew he was in for a bumpy ride. 


Part Four

Xander, Spike and Giles sat at the table in the shop waiting for the 
gang to arrive. All Giles had told them was that there was immediate 
research needing to be done and would they please hurry over. After 
taking off his glasses and cleaning them for the fifth time in almost 
as many minutes, the ex - Watcher took a deep breath and turned to 
Xander.

"I need you to tell me, in exact detail, what happened last night."

The boy nervously gave a play by play of all the evening's events. He 
explained how he had been locked out of his house and how he 
inadvertently ended up in the cemetery after patrol. Xander told of 
seeing what he thought was a fledgling vampire and, with a slight 
amount of embarrassment, how he had tripped over a tree root.

When Xander got to the part about his hands sinking into the ground, 
Giles leaned forward, obviously intent on hearing every word. 

Finishing his tale by telling his friends that his door had been 
unlocked as the warlock had said, Xander let out a long sigh. Spike 
reached over and took his hand in an effort to pass his strength into 
the boy who had come to mean so much to him. Xander looked up at the 
blonde and gave a half hearted smile. The vampire wondered if his 
friend would be able to make the necessary decisions needed to 
survive the next few days.

"Giles?" Xander's voice was weak, and he didn't really want to know 
what was coming next. "Spike explained to me about The Clan but he 
didn't explain what this is really all about. Am I going to have to 
choose my own horrible death or something?"

"The Clan, as you already know, is a group of powerful warlocks. 
Usually they only approach a potential sacrifice for various rituals."

Xander's eyes grew wide and Spike noticed that the boy had stopped 
breathing momentarily. Leaning closer to the young man, he 
whispered, "Luv? You need to breath. For the moment, you can't really 
die but you can pass out from lack of oxygen."

"Huh? What do you mean I can't die???"

Giles cleared his throat causing Spike to pull quickly away as if he 
just realized the shopkeeper was still there. 

"What Spike means, Xander, is that you have been chosen. Duncan only 
goes in search of someone to….errr…recruit them. If it had been 
anyone else in The Clan, you might already be dead. But since we know 
that it was, indeed, Duncan that came to you we know that you have 
been chosen to become one of them. And since last night, the moment 
you chose to accept his help to be more precise, you have been 
rendered temporarily invincible."

"WHAT???"

"What, what Xan?" Willow had just walked in with Tara, Buffy and 
Riley in tow.

Xander's head shot toward the door and his friends saw the panicked 
look in his eyes. Willow rushed over to her childhood 
playmate. "Xander, what is it?"

Noticing that the boy was not able to speak for the moment, Giles 
advised everyone to have a seat. 

The group, moving toward the table, saw Spike stand up and put his 
arm around Xander's shoulder. "Come on, pet. Sit back down. Won't do 
you any good to go into shock now, will it?" The blonde ushered the 
boy back to his chair and pulled his own closer so he wouldn't have 
to let go of him.

"Spike, what the hell are you doing here?" Buffy was obviously not 
thrilled to see the blonde menace out during the day. 

"Oi…I am here for the boy so why don't you shut your face and sit 
down like Rupert asked!"

"Why would Xander want you here?? What's with the buddy-buddy thing 
you're trying to pull?"

Xander looked over at Spike and then up at Buffy. "I want him here. 
So just let it go, okay?"

"But Xand-"

"Buffy, do shut up!" Giles was already near his breaking point 
because of the severity of the problem at hand and he certainly 
didn't have the patience to deal with his Slayer's mouth at the 
moment.

With a "humph", Buffy sat down next to Riley. 

"Now," the Watcher began, "Xander met a warlock last night and I was 
just explaining to him the ramifications of that encounter. In short, 
he has been chosen to join a group called The Clan. At this point, 
nothing ill has happened but it is just a matter of time before the 
situation becomes hostile."

"Xan, are you okay?" Willow was worried about her best friend. "I..I 
mean, Giles said `nothing ill' but-"

"You mean, have I had a nervous breakdown yet?" Xander interrupted 
her. "Naw, Wills, I think the shock is just now wearing off. The 
breakdown isn't due for another 10 minutes or so. Then total mental 
collapse sometime tomorrow."

"Xander, this really is not something to make light of." Giles was 
trying not to become more agitated.

"I know that, G Man…I'm just trying to loosen up a bit before you 
tell me the rest of the bad news."

"Err, yes. There is a little more to it. Duncan will come to you 
again at some point."

"Today."

Giles took off his glasses and rubbed a hand down his face. "Are you 
sure?"

"That's what he said. `I will come to you tomorrow.' That would be 
today."

"I don't get it." Buffy had a slightly confused look on her 
face. "Why don't I just stay with Xander and then kill this Duncan 
guy when he shows up?"

"It's not that easy, Slayer." Spike had been quiet for a while 
completely focused on Xander. 

"Why not, oh wise one? What makes this warlock so special?"

"Nothing much. Except the fact that he is a Hell spawned IMMORTAL!!"

"So are you but I could slay you easy enough!" Buffy pulled a stake 
out of her back pocket and started around the table.

"STOP IT!!!"

The Slayer stopped short and, along with everyone else in the shop, 
turned to look at Xander.

"Could you get over it already?" The boy knew he was about to go over 
some mental cliff but he had to do something to diffuse the situation 
in front of him. So he turned on Buffy. "You have worked together for 
more than a year and STILL you insist on threatening Spike every time 
he opens his mouth!! Did it ever occur to you that I might be 
interested in what he has to say??? He risked his life….err…unlife 
for me today. He has been more of a friend to me in the past month 
than you have been since we graduated from high school! So don't you 
DARE pull another stake on him! EVER!!!!" 

Xander dropped back into the chair behind him. Looking over at Spike 
he saw the blonde's mouth opened in awe. The vampire snapped his 
mouth shut and rested his hand on the other man's knee. Spike 
couldn't believe what had just happened. He wanted so badly for all 
this to be over so he could show Xander exactly how close a friend he 
could be.

"Now, we have to finish discussing the problem at hand so if 
everyone," Giles looked directly at Buffy, "would calm down we can 
get to work."

"So? Duncan is an immortal?" Xander finally had his wits about him 
again and knew he needed more information.

"Actually, Spike was correct when he said `hell spawned immortal.' 
There is a vast difference. Any human has the ability to become 
immortal at some point. They can be turned into a vampire, for 
instance. For all intents and purposes, Spike is immortal in the 
sense that he does not age and cannot die of natural causes. Only a 
stake, sunlight or beheading can kill him."

"Thanks for the reminder, mate." Spike smirked at the Watcher then 
turned to Xander. "The warlock you met was never human. He was 
created in Hell and sent to Earth to wreak havoc and what not."

"Quite right." Giles nodded at Spike. "No one knows for sure how long 
Duncan has been on Earth but it is imagined that he could have been 
here from the beginning."

Xander looked like he was about to fall over. "S-so I don't have a 
chance, do I? I am going to be forced to join this clan and be a 
warlock, too."

"Not necessarily." Spike smiled at his friend. "You would not have 
been chosen if you didn't already have the magic in you. The Clan 
does not *give* power to those that join them. They seek the power 
out that will help to build their own strength. So, pet, you have 
been a magic man waiting to happen."

"You've got to be kidding me, right?" Buffy looked like she was about 
to fall off her chair. "Xander with magical power?"

"Wow, Xander!! This is great!" Willow was bouncing in her 
chair. "Tara and I are always finding spells that need a third source 
of power! We could all do magic together."

"NO!!" Xander stood up and started backing away. "It took years, but 
I finally got used to being the one with no special powers! I am NOT 
a warlock and I don't want to do magic!!"

The boy's eyes bounced off each of his friends. When he finally 
looked at Spike and Giles he had a pleading look on his face. "That 
can't be right! Duncan made a mistake!!! Right?"

Giles looked worried. "Xander, calm down. Spike is correct. The Clan 
searches out the power that will add to their own when honed 
properly. And the way Duncan will try and convince you to join is to 
offer you a series of choices. Each choice harder to make and 
potentially more deadly than the last. The final choice is whether or 
not to join The Clan."

"Well, I don't NEED a bunch of choices to make!! I already know I 
don't want to join!! If it's a choice, they can't make me, right?" 
Xander was still moving away from the table.

"Unfortunately it is not that simple. Each time you are given a 
choice to make, the only option is to choose or face dire 
consequences. Not all will be life or death choices but refusing 
could lead to your death anyway. Or the death of someone you love." 
Giles had not made a move toward Xander, but spoke in a soothing 
voice so as not to agitate the boy any further.

Hearing what Giles had said, Xander looked at the faces of his 
friends. The people he loves. When his eyes finally connected with 
Spike's he let out a small gasp. Then one lone tear made its way down 
his cheek. "No," he whispered as he felt the world tip over.

Spike was at his side to catch him before he ever hit the floor. 


Part Five


Oddly enough, however, Xander stood watching as Spike caught his limp 

body.


"Woah!! What the hell is going on?" the bewildered boy asked as he 
watched 
the vampire carry the shell of his body to the couch in the back. 
"Spike! Giles! 
Wills! Buf-"


"They cannot hear you Alexander."


Xander jerked his head toward the familiar voice he’d heard and 
jumped back. 
"ARRGH!!!!"


"Calm down, my boy! There is no cause for alarm. I have no intention 
of 
hurting you…directly, anyway," Duncan said as he walked toward the 
panicking 
youth. 


"C…Calm down? I just watched Spike carry my BODY to the next 
room!! Look in 
there!" Xander pointed in the direction of his friends crowding around 
the 
couch. "They can see that I’ve passed out! Why the HELL 
hasn’t my mind figured 
it out yet?!"


Duncan chuckled lightly. "Haven’t you ever had an ‘out of 
body’ experience? 
No, I suppose you haven’t. That’s all this is, Alexander. 
Nothing serious." 


"I know all about you and your little band of warlocks, Duncan," 
Xander spat 
out with venom. "And I have no intention of joining you!! So why 
don’t you just 
leave now and maybe you’ll survive another day! Do you have ANY 
idea who my 
friends are?!"


The warlock looked at the boy with a bemused smile on his face. 
"Okay, 
Alexander. I’ll leave right now. Are you absolutely SURE you want 
me to?"


"Hell ye- wait… If this is my choice, then I want to know 
what’ll happen if I 
say yes.


"Hmm…I believe I may have underestimated you a little. That was 
a smart move. 
It is always good to know the outcome of a decision… if possible. 
It is also 
against everything this ‘recruiting process’ is built on." 
Duncan raised a hand 
to rub his chin as if in deep thought. "I’ll tell you what, 
Alexander. I will 
answer this for you one time. It is the ONLY time I will allow you any 
leeway 
and it’s only because I see such potential in you."


" Fine," Xander snapped. "What happens if you leave right now?"


"Very simple really. Since I brought your conscience out of your body 
for our 
little chat, I also have to put it back when we are finished. If I were 
to walk 
out that door with you in this state, you would remain outside your 
body. Those 
friends of yours," Duncan gestured to the scoobies, "they would 
eventually have 
to hospitalize you thinking you had gone into a coma. And your body 
would never 
awaken."


Xander knew the choice he had to make if he wanted to rejoin the 
physical 
world.


"Alright," he said forlornly. "Stay. That is my choice. I don’t 
like it and I 
may even end up regretting it, but don’t leave."


"Very wise decision, Alexander." The warlock placed his arm over the 
boy’s 
shoulder. "Now let’s go for a little walk so we can talk."


Duncan guided Xander out the door and into the daylight.





Everyone hovering over Xander’s still form turned toward the 
door as it 
opened and closed. Confused, Giles went back into the front of the shop. 
He 
looked around to make sure no one had entered and saw the place was 
still empty. 
The ex-watcher checked the lock only to find it was still secure.


"How very odd."


"What was it, Giles?" Buffy asked as she caught up with him.


"What? Oh…I’m not sure. The door is still locked even 
though we all just saw 
it open and close. You all did just see that, right?"


"Yeah," Willow answered. "It definitely came open. What do you 
thi-"


"WATCHER!! Get in here!" Spike yelled from his place at 
Xander’s side. "Send 
everyone home. There’s nothing they can do right now, but you need 
to get in 
here!"


Buffy glared at Spike through the door to the back. "Since when do 
YOU call 
the shots? We’re not going anywhere! That’s OUR friend and 
he needs us right 
now. Why don’t you drag your sorry ass back home!"


"Listen to me, Slayer. There is no way in HELL I am leaving right 
now!" Spike 
paused and took an unneeded breath as if to calm himself down. "Look, 
pet, I 
don’t want to fight with you about this. I am staying right here. 
What can you 
do for him right now? He’s passed out cold. That’s all. Now 
take your boy toy 
and the witches out of here. Let Rupes and I look after him."


Buffy walked back over to where her friend lay on the couch. Looking 
Spike in 
the eye she saw how truly worried he was. At that moment she realized 
everything 
Xander said earlier was true. "Okay. I don’t want to go and as 
much as I HATE to 
say it, you’re right. I can’t do anything for him. I 
don’t understand why you 
are so concerned about him, but I can tell that you are. Just promise me 
you or 
Giles will call as soon as he wakes up."


"Sure, luv. We’ll call. Promise."


"Buffy, you can’t seriously agree with him!!" Riley looked at 
the scene 
before him as if in shock. 


"All I know is that there is obviously a friendship between Spike and 
Xander 
that none of knew about! We have all been so consumed with our own lives 
that we 
didn’t even bother with Xander anymore! I’m glad he had 
SOMEONE to talk to!" 



"That’s not true, Buffy," Willow said, obviously upset by the 
slayer’s words. 
"We always spend time together."


"No we don’t, Wills. I mean, sure, we all patrol. But other 
than that, do you 
remember the last time we just hung out?"


"Oh." Willow looked over at her Tara. "We haven’t been very 
good friends have 
we?"


"Not to worry, Red," Spike said. "Xan isn’t all that upset by 
it. He misses 
you all and it does ‘urt him but he knows you all have your own 
lives to deal 
with."


"B..But we always dealt with our lives together before!!"


"So work on it in the future. Look, pet, it’s clear you all 
feel bad, but it 
won’t do any good just yappin’ about it. When he wakes up, 
if you want him back 
in your lives, then do it. Be there for him like he has always been for 
you. But 
I am warning you right now, if you come back in and then leave again I 
will 
bloody find some way to make you suffer for hurting him again!"


Riley stepped up to Spike. "You’ll do nothing! This has gone on 
long enough. 
Buffy, why don’t we escort this ‘thing’ outside. I 
think he could use a little 
sun."


"We will NOT!!!" Buffy grabbed Riley’s arm and spun him around. 
"I don’t know 
how Xander managed to do it, but Spike really does care about him. And 
from 
Xan’s outburst earlier, we could all see how much he cares about 
Spike! Now, I 
don’t know about you," Buffy poked Riley in the chest. "but I 
intend to be there 
for my friend. And if that means making peace with the one person who 
has stuck 
by him, then that’s what I am going to do!!"


"I can’t believe you are taking his side in this!! It’s 
been bad enough 
having that animal around at all. But now he’s all of a sudden a 
friend? Part of 
the group?" Riley was clearly outraged by this turn of events.


"That’s right! So just deal!!"


"No, Buffy, I won’t. This whole thing with Xander has him 
making a bunch of 
choices, right? Well, time for you to make one. Me or Hostile17 and 
his donut 
boy?"


Buffy looked over at Spike and Xander. When she looked back, Riley 
saw the 
answer in her eyes. And with one word it was over. "Go."


"Fine. Goodbye, Buffy." And with that, Riley Finn walked through the 
door 
that Giles had unlocked and was holding open for him.


The next thing that happened is something Spike will never forget. 
Buffy 
turned to him and pulled the vampire into her arms for a hug. "Thank you 
for 
being there for Xander. We don’t know how this thing with Duncan 
is going to 
turn out but it’s good to know that he has you."


"Aw, pet, he’s got you too," Spike said as he hesitantly 
returned the 
hug.


"Ahem" Giles came up to his Slayer and her former enemy with a smile 
on his 
face. "As nice as all this is, you three should probably go on home. 
We’ll call 
if there is any change."


Pulling out of the tentative embrace, Buffy laughed and slugged Spike 
on his 
shoulder. "You take care of him, okay? If he wakes – when he wakes 
up, let him 
know we have a lot to talk about."


With that Buffy, Willow and Tara left.





Once Giles had once again locked the door, he went back to Xander and 
Spike. 
"So what was it you needed to tell me before all the dramatics 
began?"


"Huh? Oh! Xander isn’t here." Spike was still in shock over the 
events that 
had just taken place. ‘Who would ‘ave thought?! Me and the 
slayer on common 
ground,’ he thought as he lifted Xander to rest the boy’s 
head on his lap.


"Spike, what are you talking about? Of course he is. Look!"


Coming out of his own thoughts, Spike looked down at the brunette. 
"This is 
just his body. I didn’t notice it at first but he isn’t in 
there."


"What do you mean?" Giles sat down. He had a feeling he wasn’t 
going to like 
this.


"Probably ‘appened when he passed out. His body is fine. 
Breathing and 
heartbeat are normal as if he was just sleepin’. But his 
conscience…his soul 
isn’t in there."


"How?" Giles took his glasses off for the ‘ritual bad situation 
cleaning.’ 
"Duncan."


"That’s what I thought too. But like I told the slayer, until 
he wakes up 
there isn’t anything we can do. Right?"


"Oh…right. I just hope nothing happens to him. I wish there 
were some way to 
know what Duncan is saying to him. God! What if he convinces Xander to 
join The 
Clan?"


"Come on, mate! You know him better than that. Besides the fact that 
it would 
go against everything he has learned and done while fighting ‘what 
goes bump in 
the night’, he won’t do anything to disappoint you."


Giles studied the blonde intently. "Why do you say that? Th-th-the 
part about 
not disappointing me?"


"He may put a bloody cross in me bed for tellin’ you this," 
Spike cringed at 
the thought. "Look, watcher, the boy thinks of you as a father. ‘e 
loves you and 
wouldn’t want you to disapprove of ‘im."


"Has he actually said this to you?" Giles was a bit stunned but he 
hoped in 
his heart it was true. 


"Yeah. ‘e doesn’t ‘ave much of a family. Always 
drunk and fightin’. Said you 
were who he wished was his father."


The glasses came off again. But this time the handkerchief was used 
to blot 
his eyes which had somehow started to accumulate large amounts of dust. 
Or so he 
told Spike.





Xander and Duncan walked through the park while they talked. 
Sometimes they 
would sit down and watch the children playing on the swings and slide. 
The 
entire time, Xander was learning about the power he had inside.


"So, you’re saying that I’ve always had this?" Xander was 
still 

skeptical.


"Of course, boy. All you had to do was envision what you want to 
happen and 
then make it so. I suppose it would have help if you had known about it. 
Quite 
frankly, I’m rather surprised that the witches in that shop 
didn’t pick up on 
it. If they looked close enough since your 18th birthday, it 
would 
have been undeniable. That’s when you reached your full 
strength."


"Oh…um, I guess they didn’t have the time to look." 
Xander remembered the 
last couple years and was saddened that his best friend has been too 
busy to see 
something so important. 


Duncan watched silently as Xander’s face took on a tired and 
worn look. 
‘This’ll be easier than I thought. I don’t even have 
to TRY to get him away from 
his loved ones. They’ve already done it for me! ‘ The 
warlock had to control the 
urge to smile.


"Come along, Alexander. It’s time to make your next choice. You 
may even find 
this a nice one." Duncan started walking out of the park with Xander at 
his 
side.


Before he knew it, Xander was standing outside Buffy’s house on 
Revello 
Drive. "What are we doing here?" He wasn’t sure he would like the 
answer.


"You have to choose what to do with the slayer, Alexander. You can do 

anything. Wipe her out of existence or give her complete joy. Your 
choice."


Xander remembered back to his high school years and learning about 
the other 
world’s Sunnydale without Buffy. He shuttered at the thought of 
becoming a 
vampire and living under the Master’s rule. Then it hit him. He 
already knew the 
outcome of that decision if it were made. ‘I wonder if old Duncan 
here knows 
about that? Surely he wouldn’t have given me such an obvious way 
out if he had 
known.’


"Have you made your decision? What shall it be?" Duncan was almost 
excited at 
the prospect of getting rid of one of the boy’s friends. He was 
sure that is 
what Xander would do so he hadn’t bothered to search his mind for 
the 
answer.


"What do I have to do?" Xander still wasn’t sure how to use 
this power.


"Just imagine it in your mind. See what you want to happen and it 
will."


Xander thought a little longer, wondering if he was doing the right 
thing. He 
thought about a conversation he’d had with Riley not too long ago. 
They had been 
talking about their relationships with Anya and Buffy.


~" Still, I do envy you sometimes," Xander says 
rather 
wistfully. "I mean for the sanity. Not that I'm still into Buffy… 
Not that I 
ever was!"


"Hey, I'm well aware of how lucky I am. Like, lottery lucky. Buffy's 
like 
nobody else in the world. When I'm with her it's like ... it's like I'm 
split in 
two. Half of me is just ... on fire, going crazy if I'm not touching 
her. The 
other half ... is so still and peaceful ... just perfectly content. Just 
knows: 
this is the one.". Riley smiled a little, then looked up at Xander. "But 
she 
doesn't love me."~


Xander knew Riley’s words to be true before the ex-commando 
even said it. He 
was just surprised to find out the older man had figured it 
out…


The choice he made would definitely change everything. He just hoped 
Buffy 
would appreciate what he was doing for her.


"Okay. I have made my choice. But I want to do it later. I have to 
get a few 
things arranged first."


"I’ll give you that. When you are ready you can take care of 
it." Duncan 
clapped his hands together with glee. "Now, what will it be, boy? Tell 
me!"


"Well," Xander drew out the moment a little longer. "This is what I 
would 
like to do…" and he explained his plan in detail to the 
warlock.


"WHAT?! Why on earth would you want to do that?? You have the chance 
to rid 
yourself of the person who has cause you so much pain and instead you 
choose to 
give her HAPPINESS?!"


"Does it matter, Duncan? You said it was my choice. And this is what 
I 
want."


"Just tell me why you don’t want her removed from your life. 
For curiosity’s 
sake. Indulge an old man, hmm?"


"I’ve already seen what that would be like. Not of the good. 
Trust me!!"


"So, you’re saying that I somehow gave you am unfair advantage 
and you used 
it to influence your decision?"


"Yup," Xander gave a smirk that Spike would have been proud of. "But, 
as you 
said, it was my choice."


"Actually, Alexander, I am pleasantly surprised at this turn of 
events." 
Duncan once again lead Xander down the road. "Once this process is 
complete, you 
will stand at my right hand. I can not see wasting your power and mind 
for brain 
numbing spells and rituals."


"Don’t count on it, Dunc," Xander said as they reached the door 
to the Magic 
Box. "I still have no intention of joining you. And I intend to find a 
way to 
make sure you never come back. But no hard feelings, huh? So why 
don’t you put 
me back in my body and let me live in peace."


"You are so sure of yourself, aren’t you? I see this is going 
to be such 
fun!" Duncan was always up for a challenge and he knew he could win the 
boy over 
to his side. "I’ll leave you for now, Alexander. But don’t 
think I won’t be 
back."


With a wave of his hand, the warlock returned Xander to his sleeping 
body 
inside the shop. 





Spike was still sitting on the couch cradling Xander’s body 
when the boy 
began to stir.


"Xanpet?" The vampire gently touched Xander’s face as he opened 
his eyes. 
"Luv, are you back with me?"


"Spike?" Xander slowly sat up and looked into the blonde’s 
eyes. "How long 
was I out?"


"A couple hours. Are you okay? I was starting to get worried."


"Yeah, I’m fine. I…I was with Duncan." Xander 
wasn’t sure if anyone would 
believe that he had actually left his body. 


"I know, luv. I figured out that you weren’t in your body not 
too long after 
you passed out. Did he do anything to you?" The concern in Spike’s 
eyes touched 
Xander and he wanted nothing more than to just hold the vampire and 
reassure him 
that he was really okay.


Spike reached out and pulled the boy to him wrapping his arms around 
him like 
he would never let go. Running his fingers through Xander’s hair 
he looked into 
his eyes. Spike saw the same emotions that had been there when Xander 
had looked 
at him right before he passed out.


"Pet…"


"Shhh," Xander placed a finger across Spike’s lips to silence 
him. 


Taking his hand away, the boy leaned closer to the blonde and slowly 
let his 
lips graze over Spike’s. Melting at the feel of the cool touch to 
his lips, 
Xander let out a small moan. 


The vampire was dazed for a moment. Then, slowly, he deepened the 
kiss. 
Tentatively, he let his tongue touch Xander’s lips and was at once 
given access 
to the hot recesses of the mouth he so desired.


Xander was without thought as the two friends shared the most tender 
kiss 
he’d ever had. He simply reached up and ran his hands though the 
blond hair and 
closed any space left between them. 


Spike groaned in disappointment when Xander pulled back for some much 
needed 
air.


Laughing softly, Xander runs his fingers down Spike’s cheek. 
"We’ll have more 
time for this later. I promise. But right now we need to get everyone 
together. 
You and Giles call the scoobies… I have my own phone call to 
make."


Reluctantly, Spike loosened his grip on the brunette and sighed. 
"Alright, 
but I expect you to keep that promise, luv."


"Oh I fully intend to."





Xander, having left Spike and Giles to gather the gang, walked into 
his house 
and headed straight for his phone. Picking it up, he dialed a number 
that he had 
memorized from frequent use.


"Angel Investigations. We help the hopeless." Cordelia’s voice 
was a chipper 
as always.


"Cordy, I need to talk to Angel."


"Oh, hey Xan. Hold on a sec." The ex-cheerleader put the phone to her 
chest. 
"ANGEL!!! XANDER’S ON THE PHONE FOR YOU!!!"


Laughing at Cordelia’s summons for her boss, Xander heard Angel 
pick up the 
phone.


"GOT IT, DELIA… YOU CAN HANG UP NOW!!" Apparently the souled 
vampire had 
picked up a few of her bad habits. "Xander, what can I do for you?"


"I need you to come to Sunnydale. Don’t ask why. Just meet me 
at the old high 
school and we’ll talk there."


"What’s going on? Is Buffy okay?"


"She’s fine, but… look, I don’t want to get into it 
right now. Buffy’s not in 
danger but I need you here. The sun just set so come on out. Please, 
Deadboy. 
It’s important."


"Relax, Xander…I’ll be there in 2 hours."


"Thanks, Angel."


Xander hung up the phone and laid down on his bed. ‘I know just 
the thing 
Buffy needs.’ He thought with a grin. ‘I just hope it 
isn’t too hard to get rid 
of Captain America.’


And, with that thought, Xander closed his eyes for a short nap.

TBC