**London, 1860**
"He's a beauty, isn't he?"
The blonde rubbed against the tall dark man, leaning up to nip at his ear.
"He is, Angelus," Darla murmured in his ear. "Are you going to keep him?"
Angelus turned, his brown eyes flickering with gold. "Of course we are.
Alexander will be a beautiful childe," he replied, smiling at his Sire.
"For the love of Bloody god, just turn him, Angelus," William growled from
the corner, lighting a cigarette. He was leaning against the wall of the
monastery, flicking his ashes on the hardwood floor. He had a look of
boredom on his face.
Angelus turned amber eyes, glaring at his most disobedient, but favorite
childe. "William, this is the moment. . .the moment I will take my
Alexander and give him eternity," he whispered, his voice filled with awe.
"Bloody hell, Angelus, I'm happy for you, but can we get back to the
killing? My fangs itch to sink into some bint's neck."
Angelus closed his eyes, feeling Darla wrap her arm around his waist. "Just
let him go, boy. Let William go hunt while you embrace Alexander."
"You hear that, boy? Go hunt. We'll meet you at home before sunrise,"
Angelus hissed without turning around.
William blinked, his mouth dropping open. He stared at his Sire's back.
Angelus had turned him a decade before and they were inseparable. They
played together, they killed together, they loved together. Darla didn't
like the fact that her attention was pulled away by the cocky brown haired
vampire, so when she saw Alexander and his red head love, she knew that he
would capture Angelus' attention. She made it clear from the beginning that
Alexander belonged to *both* of them so the two of them couldn't shut her
out like Angelus and William did. She hoped that this would finally drive
William away to become his own vampire.
She never did like the cocky childe of Angelus'. He was rude, he *leered*
at her, and he was only good to Angelus. The rest of the world, he didn't
care a damn thing about, and she detested the fact that he didn't respect
her like he should have. Angelus encouraged William's attitude, delighting
in the open defiance the boy contained.
"Bloody *hell*, you *wanker*," William growled. "If you decide to cast me
aside because of this *whelp* - I'll. . .I'll. . ."
Darla turned her head, a smirk on her features. "You'll what, William?
Stake your Sire? No one stakes their Sire." She laughed.
William narrowed angry blue eyes. His hands clenched into fists. He couldn
't *stand* Darla and her 'holier than thou' attitude. He *ached* to pull
her aside and slam her against the wall, informing her that they all had a
demon and she needed to get over herself. "Fine," he hissed. "I'll see you
at the house, Angelus." He stormed out of the monastery.
Darla turned back to her Angelus, her favorite Childe, smiling at the look
of lust on his face. He hadn't turned away from Alexander once, enraptured
by his beautiful face, his big tear filled brown eyes, the dark brown hair
falling in his eyes. His cheeks were gaunt, showing his weight loss over
the last few weeks of his life. He pulled his scratchy brown monk's robe
closer to his body, trying to curl into himself, to escape the scrutiny he
was receiving from the vampires.
Two weeks.
It had been two weeks since Alexander's life dramatically turned upside
down. Darla had spotted him, and she pointed him out to Angelus, who took a
liking to him. The vampire approached him at the beginning, trying to
seduce him, promising eternal life.
As Alexander was a religious man, he didn't want eternal life with Angelus.
He wasn't sure *what* the vampire was, but he could feel the evil rolling
off of him. He fled, leaving the vampire on the street, seething in anger.
Angelus systematically destroyed his entire family, finally killing the one
true joy in Alexander's life. He watched as his beautiful red headed
Willimina struggled against Angelus, crying out for him to save her. He
couldn't move, couldn't push away the sound of William's laughter in his
ear, or his grip almost crushing his arms. He just watched in open mouth
terror as Angelus tortured her, then drained her. He made her suffer before
she died.
The death of his family and of his love made him lose himself in the abyss
of his mind as he gladly plunged into the inky depths, knowing that he was
borderline insane - that half the things he said he was the only one who
understood.
It was that moment, as he realized he had no one to live for, and he was too
mentally gone to rebuild his life, Alexander knew he'd give his life to his
God, that his God would save him from the Devil.
It was the day he joined the monastery, as he waited in the huge hall lined
with pews, that the three vampires stormed in, killing all the clergy,
leaving Alexander a quivering crying mess in the corner.
"Don't worry, Alexander," Angelus cooed, "it won't hurt. Not too much. You
'll enjoy eternity. We will have a great time together." He glanced at
Darla and the blonde nodded. Angelus' smirk grew, and he stepped towards
the sobbing Alexander, enjoying the smell of fear rolling of his soon-to-be
childe.
Alexander's screams echoed through the monastery as Angelus took his life.
**Sunnydale, 1999**
The night was silent, except for the chirping of a few crickets. The stars
twinkled happily in the sky, unaware of any danger on the ground below. The
road leading into Sunnydale, California was clean - the Sunnydale police
force had their orange jumpered prisoners cleaning earlier in the day,
trying to make the landscape look as aesthetically pleasing as possible.
The roar of an approaching car disturbed the peace. An empty, crushed pack
of cigarettes was pitched out of the black spray painted window of a loud
1957 DeSoto.
"Hey, pet, watch this!" Spike grinned at his companion, his lover, the one
being on earth the blonde vampire's sun set to.
Xander watched in wide eye fascination as Spike plowed over the 'Welcome To
Sunnydale' sign. He turned his head, sliding across the seat towards the
older vampire. "Spikey?" he purred, his voice taking the childlike quality
that made Spike feel overprotective.
"Yes, luv?" He wrapped his arm around Xander's shoulders, trying to keep
his mood light. He didn't want to admit to Xander - or himself for that
matter - how worried he was.
Being turned intensified Xander's insanity, causing him to be plagued with
visions of things yet to happen, and to profess that the earth, the stars,
and animals talked to him. Angelus took great joy in his visions; however,
William had thought them boring and a waste of time.
Xander - as William called him - didn't like the fact that his 'brother'
didn't like him. The youngest vampire would often go to William and try to
please him, trying to make the vampire like him. By the time Angelus had
taken off to parts unknown without even a goodbye, William had fallen in
love with the brown-eyed man.
They'd traveled the world together, loving and killing. Xander never wanted
to leave Spike's side.
And then Prague happened.
Xander had been hurt in Prague. A mob attacked him, leaving him for dead -
tied to a pole in the middle of the square, awaiting the rising sun. Spike
rushed out to save his lover, horrified by the torture they'd inflicted on
his pet. *No* one was allowed to hurt Xander, no one but Spike.
The injuries he sustained brought out an alarming change in Xander - the
ones that actually scared Spike. Apparently, as the earth had told the
brown haired man, his soul had never truly left his body, only hid in the
recesses of his mind and body. His injuries brought his soul back out,
coming forth at the most inopportune times: While Xander was feeding, while
he and Spike were making love, while Spike was dealing out the torture
Xander loved to receive.
Even more disturbing than seeing his lover's demon fight with his soul,
Xander was starting to exhibit a third personality - the one of a fearful
religious monk not wanting to be turned - the man Xander was as Angelus sank
his fangs in the younger man's neck some hundred and forty years before.
In one of his visions, Xander saw the cure to his 'illness'. They were to
travel to the land of suns and find the special vampire that lived there. A
simple spell cast on a cup of the vampire's blood would cure Xander of all
his extra 'personalities'.
They'd spent the last four years traveling the States, hitting any town that
had anything to do with the sun, looking for the vampire that would cure
Xander.
"Spikey, both the ground and the sky sing to me here," Xander murmured
softly, his voice filled with awe. "They speak of a nasty blonde human,
and. . ." He frowned softly, sitting up. "D. . .Daddy?"
"Yes, pet?" Spike asked, glancing at Xander. The younger vampire had taken
to calling him 'Daddy' over the years.
Confusion rolled off of Xander and he bolted across the seat, curling up
against the door. Huge tears were streaming down his face. "Please. . ."
he begged, "not that. . ."
Spike growled angrily. It was the blasted monk personality! He hated that
'Holier Than Thou' monk. Listening to his lover spout off about God and
religion was *not* his idea of a good time.
"God won't save you, William," Xander said softly, bowing his head. "He won
't save you, nor will he save *him*. He allowed this to happen to us."
Spike glanced over, seeing his lover's eyes lucid. "Him who, pet?" he
questioned.
"You know who, William. He haunts your dreams and sometimes my nightmares.
He may seek redemption, but God cannot forgive an abomination."
"Xander," Spike growled, not enjoying the tingling in the base of his spine
that signaled something *big* was about to happen. "Shut the hell up."
"I miss Jesse."
"Yea, it was a pretty boring summer without him," Buffy nodded, glancing at
her best friend Willow. She knew the redhead was upset - her best friend in
the whole world had taken a summer vacation to *see* the world, not telling
them when or even *if* he'd return. Her boyfriend Oz had slept with another
werewolf, breaking Willow's heart. "Man, Wills, we *are* pathetic."
Willow looked up, brushing away her tears. "Huh? What makes you say that?
We aren't. . .we aren't pathetic! Not too bad, I mean, cause, I mean, we
are in college now. No more Mr. Snyder. . ."
"Even if we were in high school, Wills, I don't think we'd be having anymore
Mr. Snyder anyway," Buffy nodded.
Willow grimaced, trying not to remember the. . .thing her ex-principal had
become during graduation three months before. "Ok, so we are here - "
"Two beautiful women," Buffy interjected.
"One beautiful woman and a really cute girl," Willow muttered softly. "So
we are at the Bronze on a Friday night, two beautiful college freshman babes
and. . ." She faltered.
"We want to cry about our love lives," Buffy nodded, patting Willow's hand.
"Well," Willow sniffed, "at least your boyfriend didn't sleep with another
girl then leave Sunnydale all together!"
"Yea," Buffy said, looking down. "Mine slept with me, turned evil, tried to
suck the world into hell, *went* to hell, then spent an entire year watching
me from afar because we can't touch each other, lest it happen all over
again."
"Ok, that *does* make me feel a *little* better," Willow nodded with a
teasing grin. "At least my ex didn't try to send us to hell."
Buffy chuckled, rubbing her hand across her face. "Wills, can't we ever
meet any normal *human* guys?"
"One normal human guy, coming right up!"
Both women turned, gasping. "JESSE!" they cried, jumping up. They rushed
to him, throwing their arms around him, hugging him tightly.
Jesse chuckled. "Damn! If I would have known I would have had *this*
welcome home, I would have come home like, two and a half months ago!" He
guided the ladies back to the table, joining them. "So. . .where are the
men?"
Both women's bottom lips quivered. "A. . .Angel decided that he and Buffy
couldn't even really be friends anymore, because they want each other too
much, and he wants her to have a good life, not one where she's not
satisfied sexually!" Willow said, wiping the tears away.
Jesse frowned. "God, Buff, I'm sorry. . .I know you were hoping something
would work out. . ." He leaned forward, hugging the Slayer as she cried on
his shoulder.
After a moment, the blonde pulled away and looked up at him. "Oz cheated on
Willow and slept with some wereslut named Veruca."
"Oh! My! God!" Jesse spun to his best friend, pulling her into his arms.
He rocked her gently as she cried, the wound still much too fresh. "Wills,
I am *so* sorry I wasn't here!"
She sniffed, wiping her nose. "It's ok, we are fine. We had each other,
and Giles. Giles was cool. He let me work on my magic - I'm getting
better."
Buffy leaned against Jesse's back, resting her chin on his shoulder. "And I
trained all summer, and even trained with Angel some, and that was fun,
cause I got to beat him up. Except for I'd really want to throw him down
after and. . ."
Jesse's hand flew up. "*Don't* need to know!" He shook his head, sliding
out from between his two best friends. "Listen, guys, you need cheering up,
and I just miss the hell out of the both of you, so let's go back to Will's
place, or Buffy, your place, and watch movies and eat ice cream." He
grinned. "Who's up for it?"
They linked their arms with his, flashing beautiful smiles to him. "Lead
the way, oh fair prince," Buffy bowed slightly.
The three set out on their trek to Willow's house. They decided to go there
since Willow's parents, per usual, weren't home.
Buffy grimaced as the loud roaring sound of a car came up the street. "God,
why do people have to have such *loud* cars?" she said angrily.
Willow looked up, catching the passenger's eyes. His brown eyes widened and
she stopped, wondering who he was, and why he was so familiar to her.
"Spike, stop the car!" Xander exclaimed, turning towards his lover.
"What, pet?"
"Stop. The. Car!"
Spike slammed on the brakes, nearly slamming into a parked car. He chuckled
slightly, then realized with horror that his brunette was jumping *out* of
the car. With a grumble, he climbed out of the car, going to stop the
insane vampire from eating just anyone on the street.
However, eating did have its merits. . .
Xander stopped in front of Willow, his eyes wide. "Willimina," he murmured.
"Alexander," she smiled, reaching up to brush her fingers along his cheek.
She stopped in mid air, frowning. "W. . .who are you?" she asked, stepping
away. "I don't know who you are. . .and my name is *not* Willimina."
Xander looked pained. "Wills, please, don't tell me you don't know me. .
.you loved me. . .you did until *he* took you away from me. . ."
"Cor, luv, *this* is the chit Angelus drained?" Spike asked, crossing his
arms, staring at the three of the humans in front of him. His gaze settled
on Buffy, wondering why she was making the back of his neck tingle.
And then it hit him. "Bloody *fuck*!" he hissed, seeing the Slayer narrow
her eyes and reach for a stake.
He grabbed Xander and pulled the younger vampire behind him. "Xander, it's
a Slayer!"
Xander looked around Spike's body. "That makes sense," he murmured. "My
Willimina would have been friends with a Slayer, had she known who they
were. She was always of pure virtue and innocent heart." He smiled softly,
gazing at her. "Wills, I love you. . .please come home with me."
"*Hey*!" Jesse said, stepping in front of Spike, blocking Xander from
watching Willow. "Stop talking to my best friend like that! You don't even
know who she is!"
Xander's demon came forth and he hissed at Jesse through fangs. "Get out of
my way, little boy, or I'll rip your heart out."
"That's my boy," Spike murmured, his eye on the Slayer. "Tell him who's in
bloody control here." His game face fell into place.
"Uh. . .Buffster. . .vamps here. . .can't you do the Slayage part?" Jesse
said, stepping back.
"Wait!" Willow cried, stepping forward before Buffy could. "Did. . .did you
say that Angelus drained me?" She shivered slightly at the thought.
"Angelus?" Buffy asked, her head snapping to Willow. "What about Angelus?
Angelus is gone, we made sure of that. *You* made sure of that!"
Spike snarled, glaring at Willow. He didn't know *what* was going on, or
how these *children* knew who Angelus was, but it was that moment that he
knew that the redhead would never see the light of day again. It was *her*
fault his Sire was dead. "You bloody bint!" he cried, slamming into her.
Willow screamed and Buffy pushed Jesse aside, her stake in the air, ready to
sink into Spike's back.
"Willimina!" Xander exclaimed. "Spike!" He threw himself over his lover's
body, howling in agony when Buffy's stake entered his lower back, to the
left a little. He turned slightly, clawing at the hand of the Slayer.
She yanked her hand away from him, mentally running through her available
options on killing the two vampires and saving Willow.
Xander pressed his forehead against Spike's back. "Spike," he whispered
weakly. "Leave her alone. . .she didn't know. . .please. . .don't make me
watch her die again. . ."
The soft words of his lover penetrated the violent haze of the blonde. He
loosened his grip on the redhead's throat, rolling amber eyes in disgust as
she breathed deeply, trying to get the oxygen flowing through her veins
again.
"Spike. . .I'm hurt," Xander whispered, softer than before.
Spike turned his head, looking down Xander's back. He growled angrily when
he saw the stake sticking out of his lover. He turned, glaring at the
Slayer. "Take it out of him, or the chit here gets it. Don't think I won't
kill her."
Buffy swallowed, and stepped forward.
"Let me," a deep husky voice said.
Xander howled again when the stake was removed. Tears were streaming down
his face, and he *knew* he needed to feed - his wound was only making his
sickness worse.
Angel stood above them, ready to plunge the stake in the back of the
brunette, ignoring the demon rattling in his cage, screaming for him not to
hurt them.
Spike turned his head, sensing another vampire. Shocked blue eyes met
startled brown. Angel dropped the stake. "W. . .William?" he whispered.
"Angelus!"
Xander turned his head, his eyes widening. His pain was momentarily
forgotten. "Daddy!" he whispered. He stood up, then threw himself in Angel
's arms. He clutched his Sire, crying against him. He was filled with
confusion, all three parts of his personality clamoring to escape. The monk
in him wanted to cringe, then banish him from existence. The vampire within
him wanted to bask in the glory of his Sire, and the soul wanted to run to a
dark room and brood for days on end.
"Oh my god," Angel murmured in shock.
Spike stood up, walking to Angel, a smile on his face. "Bloody *hell*,
Angelus! Where have you been all these years? Why did you leave us?"
Jesse moved to Willow, never taking his eyes off the vampires. He helped
his best friend up. "Are you ok?" he asked softly.
She nodded, her eyes wide, watching the 'reunion'.
Buffy stared at the three of them in shock, rooted to her spot. Her Slayer
sense was yelling, "KILL!" while the rest of her was just staring at them,
wondering what the *hell* was going on.
"What the *hell* is going on?" Willow asked.
Angel shook his head. "Come on, I think we *all* should go back to the
apartment. Alexander requires. . .medical attention anyway. I can figure
out why my childer are here, and we can send them on their way."
"It's bloody you," Spike whispered in amazement.
Angel turned to look at his once favorite childe - back when killing was fun
and the demon had control. Even after turning his sweet beautiful
Alexander, William was his favorite. He wasn't at all surprised that they
were still together. Alexander *needed* someone to take care of him,
someone to help him survive. Right before he fled, William was beginning to
fill that void in his life, the void that Angelus eventually didn't have the
time, nor the want, to fill.
"I'm what, William?" Angel asked calmly, the soul fighting his demon back
into submission. It had always been hard for him to keep the demon under
control, but he'd managed. But now, sitting in the same room with the two
most beautiful and *loving* childer he'd ever created, the two that he had
loved more than unlife itself, it was proving to be the most difficult
battle his soul and demon had ever had.
No one in the room knew. No one but the arms of the leather chair he was
currently digging his nails into.
Spike and Xander were on one couch, Xander sitting in the corner, his arms
wrapped around his legs, rocking himself back and forth. Spike was next to
him, eyeing his Sire, trying to figure out why he was letting the *Slayer*
of all people into his home.
Willow, Jesse, and Buffy were on the other side of the living room, on the
couch facing them. Willow couldn't stop watching Xander, Buffy couldn't
take her eyes off of Angel, and Jesse was looking everywhere and anywhere,
*except* for at the two dangerous vampires that could kill him with the
piercing of fangs.
Xander started humming something. He blinked, then turned his head, resting
his cheek on his knees. "Daddy," he purred.
Both Spike and Angel looked at Xander and responded, "What?"
Spike glanced over his shoulder at Angel and growled slightly.
Xander narrowed his eyes at Angel. "Not you. . .you are possessed with the
demon - you will bloody go to hell!" he cried, dropping his feet to the
floor. "You have done many wrongs in your life, and you will be *punished*!
You seek redemption; you won't ever get it, Angelus. You can't possibly
make up for all the lives you've claimed."
Angel blinked back tears, not understanding what Alexander was talking
about. He was acting as if he were the monk, before the change. Once he
was turned, that part of him was *gone*.
"Bloody hell, it's the effin' monk again," Spike said, throwing his arms up
in the air. He turned to Xander and shook him. "Xanpet, come back to me.
Push the soddin' religious spoutin' monk aside and come back to me. And I
don't want to see the bloody soul, either. I want to see *my* Xander, my
companion. I want my lover back, damn it."
Xander shook his head and glanced down. Angel watched in amazement as the
look on his childe's face and in his eyes seemed to change. He was curious
about the 'monk' and the 'soul' Spike referred to.
"Spike," Xander sobbed, throwing his arms around the blonde. "Spike, I'm
scared," he whispered. "Please. . .make me better. Make me new again. I
don't like this, I don't like fighting for the right to be me. . .I don't
*want* the soul there. . .I don't *want* the monk there!" He sniffed,
wiping his tears away. "I'm. . .sorry," he whispered, looking up, knowing
that Spike was probably displeased that he was crying, especially in front
of humans. "I'm so sorry for showing my weaknesses. . ."
"It's alright, luv," Spike murmured, kissing him softly. "I can forgive
you - it's been a horrible night. Is. . .is he the one?"
Xander tilted his head, looking up towards the ceiling. He listened to
nothing intently, a slow smile spreading across his features. "He is,
Daddy," Xander purred, pressing against Spike. "He is the one. The stars
are confused as to why he fights himself, but he is the one I need to be
well again."
Spike nodded his head, and turned back to his Sire. "It's decided then.
Give us a cup of your blood and we'll be on our merry way."
Angel blinked in shock. To have one's childe *ask* for blood from a Sire
was unheard of and the punishment was *many* hours of torture. And his
unruly childe didn't ask, he *demanded*. He stood up with a roar. "You
will *never* demand I give you blood! You have to *earn* it!"
Spike stood, his vampire visage falling in place. "He's bloody *sick*,
Angelus! He was almost *killed* in Prague! I need a cup of a special
vampire's blood to heal him - and guess what? You are that vampire! I will
*not* live my eternity with my mate fighting with the soddin' monk and soul!
So give me some blood and we will leave!"
Angel glared at his child. He could not believe the *audacity* of Spike to
show up in Sunnydale and started *demanding* Sire's blood. He sighed
unnecessarily. "William, I'm one of the good guys here. When I left you, I
'd. . .I'd been cursed with a soul. I help the Slayer now."
Spike stared at his Sire in open mouth shock. Having seen Xander's demon
and soul fight, he *knew* his Sire must have been having a difficult time.
However, to align himself with the *Slayer*. . .it was unheard of in the
vampire world. "Sire. . .please," Spike said softly. "You have my word, we
'll heal Xander, then leave Sunnydale. I don't want to be here anymore than
you want me to be."
Xander moaned softly, clutching Spike's arm. "Spikey," he murmured, fear
rolling off his body. "Spike, if. . .if I don't. . .If Daddy doesn't let me
drink from him, then I will die!"
Spike's eyes widened. He was *not* losing his Xander! With a growl, he
turned back to his Sire. "Angelus, I need your blood! I need to save him!
If you don't, he'll bloody die!"
Angel calmly regarded his childer. Both were dangerous - true products of
Angelus. Angel rubbed his face. He loved both of them, but knew they had
no place in his life of redemption.
With his demon wailing in agony at the thought, Angel's eyes locked with
Xander's. His voice was calm and quiet when he responded.
"Let him die."
Spike stared at Angel in shock. "You are just going to let him *die*?" the
blonde whispered, his voice filled with anguish.
Angel never took his gaze away from Xander, his eyes locked with the deep
brown eyes of his youngest childe. "I would have to dust you anyway," he
murmured.
Xander whimpered, pressing himself against Spike. "Daddy doesn't love his
Alexander any more," he whispered. "Spikey, I need. . ." He turned to the
blonde. "I need to feed."
Spike narrowed his eyes at his Sire, automatically cutting off all ties in
his head to the brunette. "I'll see you in hell," he hissed. He turned to
Xander. "Come on, pet, let's find a place to sleep." He took his lover's
arm. With one last glare at Angel, the two vampires left.
Willow grabbed Jesse's arm and followed, feeling the urge to talk to the odd
vampire who claimed to know her - the one she felt she knew.
Buffy glanced over at her former lover. She knew that she should leave and
hunt Spike and Xander down, but the Slayer was rooted to the couch,
concerned with Angel's mental state. "A. . .Angel?"
The dark-haired vampire was sitting in his chair, his elbows on his knees,
his face covered with his hands. "Go away," he murmured.
Buffy slid across the couch, reaching out to touch his arm. "Angel, I'm
here for you. . ."
Angel looked up, his full game face on. With a roar, he yelled, "Get the
fuck out!" Big pink tears splashed on his cheeks.
Buffy blinked in shock, then stood. She moved to the door. Without even
bothering to turn back to him, she said, "I'll be here if you need me." She
walked out of his apartment.
Angel stood up with a roar, the demon finally pushing through. In anger, he
began to systematically destroy everything he owned. With three simple
words, he'd destroyed two lives: condemning one to death and taking the
love of the other's life away.
He fought back tears as the demon pelted him with memories of his beautiful
Alexander.
~*~
**London, 1863**
"Darla, where is Alexander?" Angelus murmured, brushing his lips across her
cheek. He'd just arrived back to the home the four vampires shared, having
returned from a hunt with William. The younger vampire had found a
delectable brunette he wanted to shag before killing, so Angelus left him to
it.
Darla rolled her eyes, wondering where she lost control when it came to
Angelus' childer. Penn was brutal, stuck in killing the same types of
victims over and over. He couldn't just enjoy the kill for the kill, he had
to mimic his family's death again and again. William was rude and
obnoxious, and she couldn't stand him. Alexander was great, for the first
few minutes. Then his insanity and ability to 'hear the stars sing' got on
her nerves. < Why can't Angelus just create nice, normal vampires? > she
thought. "He's *upstairs* with that damn cat. I don't understand why you
*insist* on letting him keep it."
"It makes him happy," Angelus murmured softly, smiling at his Sire. "When
Alexander is happy, I'm happy."
Darla just rolled her eyes and walked away.
Angelus snickered to himself. He turned on his heel and sprinted upstairs
to Alexander's bedroom. He didn't understand himself why the youngest
vampire of his family wanted to keep the cat that had been Willimina's
before her death, but the cat wasn't afraid of them, and seemed to like
Alexander no matter what he was, so he allowed it.
He pushed open the door to his youngest Childe's room. He leaned against
the doorframe, his eyes running up his Childe's naked body. Long lean legs
covered with dark hair met at the apex of his thighs with his torso. A soft
wide cock and heavy balls were resting comfortably in a nest of dark curls.
His stomach was flat. There was a big ball of white and black fur lying on
his wide muscular chest. The vampire's eyes were closed, long lashes
resting against pale cheeks.
The most comforting thing to Angelus about the scene was that both cat and
vampire were purring so loud it echoed throughout the room.
He chuckled to himself and walked into the room. Alexander opened his eyes
slowly, a grin spreading over his features. "Daddy," he purred. "Did you
and Brother have a good time hunting?"
Angelus sat on the bed, running his fingers through the fur of the cat on
his chest. Cameron, as Alexander called him, stood, kneading his paws in
Alexander's chest. Cameron moved up and banged his head against Alexander's
chin a couple of times, causing the youngest vampire to giggle slightly.
Alexander ran his hand down the back of the cat, finding Angelus' hand. He
curled his fingers around his Sire's, smiling up at him.
"We did, why didn't you want to come with us?"
"I needed rest, Daddy. You are insatiable during the day." Alexander
smiled as his Sire bent down, kissing him. The older man's tongue slipped
into his mouth and Alexander moaned into the kiss, tasting his Sire, small
traces of the blood he'd stolen that night, and the death that surrounded
the beautiful man. When Angelus pulled away, Alexander smiled. "I love
kissing you," he murmured. "You always taste of death and other delicious
things."
Angelus smirked, turning his head as Cameron jumped off the bed and went to
the corner, stretching out on the floor to sleep more. "So. . .did you and
Cameron have a good night?"
Alexander sat up, his face more serious than it had been a moment before.
"If I tell you something, Sire, will you promise not to laugh like Grandmum
did?"
The older vampire ran his fingers down his Childe's cheek. "I promise."
"I can talk to Cameron now," he whispered, as if it were a secret.
"You. . .can? Does he talk back?"
Alexander nodded. "He speaks to me of love and death and other things. He
enjoys living here, but is wary of Darla. She wishes for William, Cameron,
and I to be gone, Sire. She thinks I am not good enough for you, and that
William is arrogant and rude, and that Cameron isn't even good enough for
'dinner'. Sire, she wants my Cameron *dead*." Alexander shook his head.
"Cameron doesn't like that very much."
Angelus was amazed. Alexander had *never* shown any inkling that he had an
idea what the others in the house thought of him, except for William. But
the youngest always asked why Brother didn't like him, nothing more than
that. He never acted like he had a clue how Darla felt about him. "What
does he think of William?"
"He knows William doesn't like us - he doesn't like the time that we take
away from him. He wants you to himself, Sire. Cameron says he thinks you
coddle me, and that you should just let me grow on my own. While you are at
his side, of course. But. . ." Alexander looked down sadly. ". . .Cameron
just wants William to like me. And he doesn't. Brother doesn't like me."
He pouted slightly, making Angelus think of a child.
"And me?"
Alexander looked up, his face lighting the room. "He *loves* you, Angelus.
He thinks you are good to both of us, and you treat us good, better than
anyone *ever* did. . .except for Willimina. . ." Alexander looked away,
trying to hide his tears. "He misses her. A lot."
Angelus never could understand why Alexander *missed* Willimina so much.
The older vampire didn't miss his family - and as a human, he'd been
especially close to his sister.
"But he knows that I will see her again, some day. He won't be here though.
It will be a very long time before it happens. . .Cameron will be long
gone." Alexander tilted his head, thinking. "Daddy," he said, the
childlike sound back to his voice. "Why doesn't Cameron drink blood like
us?"
"He isn't a vampire, sweetling," Angelus murmured, pushing his childe back
and laying next to him. He started running his lips across his childe's
chest, enjoying the taste of his lover.
"Can we make him one?"
Angelus glanced up, looking at the smiling face of his childe. It almost
broke his heart to tell him no. "Alexander. . .you can't *make* an animal a
vampire."
The younger vampire looked over sadly at Cameron, who was watching him with
big green eyes. "I'm sorry, baby," he purred sadly, "Daddy says you can't
be a vampire like me."
Cameron meowed, and Alexander shook his head. "No, we aren't going to try,
because it might *kill* you. I don't want you to die before your time."
*Meow!*
"*No!*" Alexander hissed at the cat. "There will be *no* going to Darla and
making her do it! You know if you *could* be a vampire, she wouldn't turn
you! Now go to sleep, Daddy and I are going to play. I'll pet you later."
The cat hissed slightly, then put his head on his paws, almost pouting.
Angelus stared at the cat in amazement, almost believing that Alexander had
talked to him. He glanced back down at his childe, who was smirking at him.
"You don't believe me, Daddy. You'll see."
All conversation past that ceased as Angelus claimed his childe again and
again.
"Alexander!"
Xander turned at the sound of his name, a smile gracing his features.
Willow and Jesse were running towards him and Spike. "Willimina," he
murmured, reaching out and taking her hands.
"M. . .my name is Willow," she stammered, wondering again why this beautiful
man thought she was someone else.
"You may be Willow in this life, but once you were mine. You were my
Willimina, before Angelus killed you." He smiled sadly. "I wish Cameron
were still here. He would *love* to see you."
"Who's Cameron?" Jesse asked, shifting uncomfortably next to his best
friend.
"My cat," Willow murmured, suddenly seeing a vision of a black and white
ball of fur in her mind. "He was my. . .Willimina's cat." She shivered.
"But. . .I'm not her." She looked up at Xander. "I can't be."
"Stranger things have happened, luv," Spike murmured. < She's a cute chit.
. .wonder if *she'd* like to join the family? >
"No, Spike," Xander said, turning to his lover. "Willimina. . .Willow. .
.she remains untouched. Do not hurt her. I don't want her to have a demon
within her. It makes. . .it makes the monk angry."
Spike's eyebrow rose, but he wasn't surprised that Xander knew his thoughts.
It wasn't the first time, and the blonde was sure it wouldn't be the last.
"So you won't hurt her? Even the vampire?"
"I like her," Xander smiled. "I don't want to turn her, I don't want to
hurt her."
"Good!" Jesse exclaimed. "So you are going to let us live!"
Xander's hand shot out and wrapped around Jesse's neck, squeezing. "I said
I didn't want to hurt *her*. Her is *not* you. I don't care what happens
to you."
"Alexander, that is my *best* friend!" Willow scolded, hitting Xander's arm.
"Stop hurting him!"
Xander blinked once, then twice, then finally let go of Jesse, pushing him
away from them. The youth fell to the ground. "Run home, little boy, and I
'll let you live."
Spike smirked, knowing that this was his *true* lover - the evil, maniacal
vampire that Xander could be.
"I'm. . .I'm not leaving Willow here alone with you!" Jesse exclaimed,
standing up, brushing his clothes off. "You may not want to hurt her, but
that doesn't mean you won't."
Xander growled dangerously, stepping towards Jesse. His game face fell into
place, but he didn't attack, not wanting to hurt his Willimina by hurting
the one she called 'best friend.'
Willow put her hand on Xander's chest, oddly not frightened of the vampire.
"Alexander," she said softly. "He's trying to protect me, you can't blame
him for not wanting me to be hurt."
Xander narrowed his eyes once again, hissing slightly at Jesse. He turned
to Willow, his hand coming to his chest to wrap around hers. He pulled her
hand to his face, kissing her fingers softly, completely forgetting the fact
he was in game face.
Willow tilted her head curiously. "You're purring," she said in amazement.
Xander didn't answer her, rubbing his cheek against her hand, taking a
moment to lick the pulse of her wrist. He inhaled deeply, imprinting the
scent of his Willimina in his mind.
Willow watched in amazement, suddenly reminded of a big purring cat. She
looked at Spike, who was watching his lover with mirth dancing in his eyes.
"He likes you, pet," the blonde chuckled.
"I figured that out," Willow whispered. "I didn't know vampires could
purr."
"Only when they are extremely happy, luv. He hasn't purred much since
Prague. He's been too sick." Spike looked down, a growl echoing off the
trees, much louder than the purring. "I can't *believe* me soddin' Sire won
't let my Xanpet have a bit of his blood!"
Willow turned big green eyes from the catlike vampire in front of her to his
lover. "Maybe I can get him to change his mind."
Spike's eyes widened. "Do you think he would?"
"It's worth a try," Willow shrugged, giggling as Xander started licking the
back of her hand with slow leisurely licks. "He's like. . .a cat."
"Cameron told me when I found your soul again that I needed to mark you, to
make sure that the world knew you belonged to me," Xander murmured.
"So, luv, she's Willimina's soul reincarnated?" Spike asked. He reached
out, running his fingers along the back of Xander's neck. It was comforting
to watch his lover claim the human. Normally, he wouldn't have stood for
something like that to happen, but being around Willow calmed Xander and
made him much closer to the vampire Spike had fallen in love with.
Xander nodded, running his tongue over her fingers. "She looks like her
too, big green eyes, long fiery red hair. . .we'd known each other since we
were little - she was my best friend. I used to think that her hair was
fire. She was quiet and shy, unless it was just the two of us. . ." He
chuckled slightly, tears filling his eyes. "I loved her with everything I
was. When Angelus. . ." His voice tapered off, and he looked up at Willow.
"Can we talk? Tomorrow night?"
She nodded, enraptured by the soft tone to his voice, the way he spoke of
something that had happened so very long ago to him and another woman - and
yet she could almost see it in her mind. "I would like that. Just meet me
right here at dusk, we'll go walking around Sunnydale."
Spike wrapped his arm around Xander. "Come on, luv. We need to get you
fed, and then we need to find you a place to rest."
Xander kissed her hand once more, then leaned into Spike's embrace.
"Goodbye, my Willimina," he murmured before the two vampires turned and
walked away.
"Ok, *that* was wiggy," Jesse said. "He. . .he's a freak."
Willow slapped Jesse's chest. "Come on, let's go find Buffy."
As Willow lay down to sleep that night, she ran her thumb over the back of
her hand, where Xander had repeatedly licked her. He was a beautiful man,
big brown eyes, long lashes, a face she wouldn't mind bringing home to mom.
< He's a VAMPIRE! > her mind screamed.
She turned, punching her pillow to get comfortable. She didn't understand
what it was the brunette was doing to her, why she felt so *safe* when he
was around. Buffy thought she was crazy - but decided they should all go to
Giles the next day to see what the Journals had to say about the two.
Perhaps he wasn't a dangerous vampire.
Somehow though, Willow had a feeling that he was. She knew what kind of
vampire Angelus was, and for those two to have been sired by him. . .she
couldn't imagine them being *nice*.
She snuggled to her pillow and closed her eyes, drifting into a dream filled
sleep.
~*~
**London, 1860**
Alexander loosened his tie and glanced around the empty gardens belonging to
the family of the woman he loved, the woman he would spend the rest of his
days with. He ran his hand over his face, still numb from the shock - from
the images of walking into his home, only to see his mother, his father, and
his two younger sisters dead. He could never forget the horror of seeing
their broken, bloody bodies, or the word *Mine* scrawled on the wall in
blood.
He knew who did it, he knew who killed his family. It was the same man that
hunted him every night, the one with long dark hair and dark eyes. He would
come to him in the streets and talk with his soft Irish lilt, trying to
convince him to join his 'family'. He promised eternity, he promised love,
and he promised other. . .things. Things that would shake Alexander to his
very core.
He did *not* want to be a *lover* to the dark haired man. Yet, Alexander
knew that was what the man wanted him for.
He found himself going to church more and more, begging the Priest to help
him get rid of the Devil. He was sure that was who the man was - he was the
Devil in human form, trying to seduce him to a life of evil.
Alexander was strong, his faith in God powerful. He would *not* cross the
line.
He glanced up, a brief smile crossing his lips. Willimina was running
through the lush garden to the stone bench he was sitting on. She clutched
her silk green coat closer to her body, trying to ward off the cold of the
night. "Alexander!" she murmured, dropping to her knees in front of him.
He cupped her face in his hands, leaning down to kiss her chastely on the
lips. "Willimina. . ." he said softly.
"How are you?" she whispered, tears filling her eyes. She reached up and
brushed her fingertips on his cheek. Her heart went out to him, not
understanding why someone would slaughter his whole family.
"Not well," he said softly, looking away. "Willimina, I need to leave
London. I need. . .I need to get away from here."
Her face crumpled, realizing that he was leaving her. "Alexander. . ."
"Come with me, Wills, please," he begged, turning back to her. "I need you
by my side. I won't be able to survive without you."
She smiled, her heart swelling at the thought that he wanted to be with her.
"You know I would follow you to the ends of the earth, Alexander. But why
do we need to move? Why leave London?"
"He's here, Willimina," Alexander hissed. "The Devil is here, and he wants
me to walk with him for eternity! He killed my family. . .I. . .Willimina.
. .he wants me to *be* with him!"
"Be with you?" Willimina asked softly.
"He gives me *looks*, Willimina. . .looks like I give you. He wants me to.
. ." He cleared his throat.
"Oh, my god," she murmured, her hand going to her chest. "He *wants* you?"
"He does," Alexander whispered. He glanced around, sighing. "I only want
to be with you, Willimina. . .we need to leave, run away from him."
She took a deep breath and looked back towards her home, then turned to him.
"I'll go with you, Alexander. I have to gather my clothes. . ."
Alexander nodded. "Hurry," he whispered, glancing around the dark garden.
He looked up, shivering at the full moon. "We need to leave now."
She stood, leaning down to kiss him. However, before her lips touched his,
a hand wound through her long red tresses and *yanked*. A yelp of pain left
her lips.
Alexander jumped up, glaring at Angelus, who was holding Willimina against
his body, his face twisted into his demon's true form. "Leave, Devil! You
have no place here!" Alexander cried. "God doesn't *want* you here!"
"And yet I am, Alexander," Angelus purred. He nodded slightly.
Alexander gasped as strong hands gripped his arms. He turned his head,
seeing the icy blue eyes and light brown hair he recognized as one of the
traveling companions of the Devil. He struggled. "Don't hurt her! I'll go
with you!" he cried.
Willimina's eyes widened. "Alexander, no!" she whimpered. "Don't. . .don't
do it!"
"Sorry, boy, but it doesn't work that way," Angelus said with a low
seductive voice. "You will be mine, but by my terms, *not* yours.
Unfortunately, your little Red here doesn't fit into the plan." His
laughter echoed through the gardens. It wasn't long before her screams
ricocheted off the trees, cutting Alexander to the bone.
"Wills, you ok?"
Willow glanced over at the Slayer, shaking her head no. She looked tired,
and her eyes were puffy, as if she'd cried all night long. After waking up
from the *very* realistic dream of Willimina getting killed, she couldn't
shake the cold feeling of Angelus holding her, torturing her, killing her.
Buffy moved across the couch to sit next to her. "Wills, what is it?" she
asked softly.
Willow shook her head. "Not now," she murmured. "Not yet."
Buffy frowned slightly. "Ok," she said softly.
Giles walked out of the kitchen with a bowl of popcorn, Jesse hot on his
heels. "And then, my car broke down in Oxnard, and I had to wash dishes at
a Ladies' Club to make money. G-Man, it was *so* cool. The women *loved*
me," he grinned cheekily.
Giles glanced over his shoulder at his charge. "And the purpose of you
sharing this information with me?" he asked curiously.
Jesse shrugged. "I've missed you, G-Man."
Giles placed the popcorn on the table in front of the group. "What's going
on today?" He settled into his chair comfortably. "You've all obviously
come to my home early on Saturday for a reason. . ."
"What can you tell us about Spike and Xander?" Buffy blurted out, not
wanting to beat around the bush about the situation at hand.
Buffy's former Watcher paled considerably. He removed his glasses and began
cleaning them. The three young adults exchanged looks of worry. "Why
*exactly* do you want to know?" Giles asked softly. He decided there were
things they didn't need to be aware of - unless it was detrimental to their
health. Spike and Xander fell under that category, for the sheer fact that
they were the Childer to the former vampire their friend Angel used to be. .
.
"They are here," Willow said softly, hugging herself. Jesse wrapped his arm
around her, comforting her. He knew something was wrong with her, but he
wasn't sure what - she'd been fine when he and Buffy dropped her off at her
house the night before.
"And they are *wiggy*!" Jesse added.
"Oh, dear lord," Giles murmured. He stood, moving across the room to his
bookshelf. He pulled a couple of leather bound books off the shelf and
moved back to his chair. He sat down, placing the books on the table in
front of him. He looked up, capturing Buffy's eyes. "Does Angel know?"
Buffy nodded. "He does. . .they are here for him. Apparently, his blood
can heal Xander."
"Xander is sick?" Giles asked nervously.
Willow nodded. "Angel said to let him die," she whispered, looking down.
For some reason, she didn't *want* Xander to die.
Giles gulped, removing his glasses once again. The three knew that whatever
he had to say wasn't good. "I hope for our sake, Angel changes his mind."
Buffy's eyes widened. "You *want* Xander to live? Giles, he's a
*vampire*!"
"Buffy," Giles said gently, leaning forward. "Spike will go on a *rampage*
if he doesn't have his mate. They are *inseparable*. If Xander dies, you'd
better hope you stake Spike, or he'll bring Sunnydale to its knees."
Jesse shivered, then leaned forward and grabbed a handful of popcorn. "Tell
us about Freakboys."
"Well," Giles said, his voice going to lecture mode, "I'm sure there is much
more to their story. I'm only telling you what the Watchers knew." Giles
leaned forward, pulling one of the books into his lap. He flipped through
it, finally finding a page in the middle. "William the Bloody was the
Favored Childe of Angelus. The two of them were known throughout the world
as the 'Scourge of Europe'. William later took the name of 'Spike' as a
railroad spike became his killing weapon of choice."
The group shivered at the thought. "You mean he. . ." Jesse started.
"Prefers to eviscerate his victims with a spike," Giles nodded.
"Oh my god," Buffy murmured.
"He's killed two Slayers in his lifetime - once in 1900 during the Boxer
Rebellion, and the other in 1977. His age is not known. . .falling
somewhere between a hundred and thirty to two hundred. How old *exactly*,
we aren't sure. You saw him? Did he try to kill you?" Giles asked
curiously.
Buffy shook her head. "We just sat in Angel's apartment -"
"You were *in* Angel's apartment with Spike and Xander? Are you *daft*?"
Giles exploded, shocked his Slayer was still alive.
Buffy bristled, glaring at Giles. She opened her mouth with a retort, but
Willow beat her to it.
"Giles, what about Xander?" she asked softly, not able to push the image of
his face out of her mind.
"Not much is known about Xander," Giles murmured. "Not much without Spike.
However, he *is* Angelus' Childe. . ."
A new voice broke into Giles' commentary on the vampire. "Darla hated both
of them," Angel's deep voice came from the hallway.
Everyone turned, not surprised by Angel being there. He always managed to
show up and surprise everyone to the point where it didn't faze them
anymore.
Everyone except for Willow.
The redhead 'eeped' and moved against the arm of the couch, the image of him
killing her replaying in her mind again and again. He frowned slightly,
smelling the fear *radiating* off of her. "Willow?" he asked.
"You. . .you *killed* me!" she cried.
Buffy blinked, looking at her best friend. "What? Wills, you are still
alive."
"What are you talking about?" Angel asked, moving into the living room. He
went to Willow, kneeling before her, his demon *bucking* in the cage,
wanting to surround himself in the intoxicating smell that was Willow's
fear.
"Willimina," she said softly. "I dreamed about it last night. I think. .
.I think Xander is right. I think that I am her soul reincarnated. . .I see
too much in my mind, things I shouldn't. I *knew* he was Alexander, I
*knew* who Cameron was. . ."
Angel frowned, glancing away, trying to remember the redhead that had been
the love of Alexander's life. He frowned, glancing down. "I. . .I don't
remember, Willow. I never looked at her face. . .I was too consumed with
Alexander to notice anything else around me."
Willow glanced down, frowning. Her former life had ended in vain, all
because a crazy vampire wanted Alexander.
Giles cleared his throat. "Is there. . .is there anything else you can tell
us, Angel? About Xander or Spike?"
"William was my favorite childe - even after Alexander was turned." Angel
stood, moving to the couch. He sat down, leaning forward. He had his
elbows resting on his knees. He stared at the wall in front of them,
looking past them, staring at nothing. "I loved both of them. Darla hated
William, hated the fact that he took me away from her. Alexander was her
revenge. She figured that I would turn him, and he would be *ours* and it
would force William to leave."
"But it didn't work that way," Giles murmured.
"Angelus'. . .*courtship* caused Alexander to go insane. He has visions,
talks to the earth and the sky. . .animals. . .it bored Darla intensely. I
*loved* him though." Angel looked down.
"Angel, Xander wants to spend time with me tonight. . .should I not go? I
really would like to talk to him. . ." Willow asked softly.
Angel turned, focusing dark eyes on the redhead. "You will be the safest
person in Sunnydale around him. I'm sure that even now, he would die for
you. For some reason, his feelings for Willimina were never extinguished. .
."
~*~
~Whales, 1867~
"Pet, what are you doing?"
Xander turned towards his brother, who had recently started coming around to
his 'affections'. William still couldn't say he *liked* the youngest
vampire, but there was something beautiful about him when he turned those
beautiful brown eyes towards him, when he stuck that full bottom lip out and
pouted. . .
The brunette reached down, running his fingers along Cameron's spine. The
cat was content, curled at Xander's feet, purring loudly. In the eight
years Cameron had been alive, the vampire had spoiled him rotten. He was
now a fat happy cat, satisfied to be anywhere the demon he 'owned' was. He
looked out over the group of people walking through the night, unaware of
the danger that lurked in the dark. They were on the balcony of Alexander's
room in the house Angelus had obtained for the family. "Just watching
dinner stroll by."
"Do you want to hunt, luv?"
Alexander pondered the question, then shook his head. "No. It saddens me,
William. . ."
William reached out, brushing his fingers along the back of Alexander's
neck. "Why's that, Xander?"
Alexander looked at him curiously. "You've been calling me that for a
fortnight now. Why?"
William shrugged. "I like it. It's better than Alexander. Your name is
too long, luv. So I shortened it."
"Why not Alex? My parents used to call me that as not to confuse me with my
father."
"Alex is trite. Xander is special."
Alexander smiled. "You think I'm special?"
William scowled, hating how the brunette calmed him, how he tricked the
demon into submission, how those big brown eyes drew him into the eye of the
storm - everything around them was whirling with a fierceness that could
take him down in an instant, but in that moment, that second - things around
him were calm and still. "No, you bloody wanker," he growled. "I don't
like you at all."
Cameron glanced up at that moment and meowed, causing Alexander to glance
down. He chuckled slightly, nodding. "Yes, Cameron, I know that William
really likes me, even though he fights it," he whispered loudly. "But we
can't tell *him* we know that."
William growled, but found himself enjoying the playfulness of the vampire.
The personality of the younger vampire did have its merits - he found he
enjoyed mischievous antics Alexander brought to the bedroom. "Xander, you
said you were sad. . .why are you sad, pet? Angelus got your knickers in a
wad? Are you upset that he's been so dedicated to Darla lately and not
paying attention to you?"
Alexander laughed. "No, I'm not. I know I won't belong to Angelus forever.
The stars have said that a blonde devil will be the one my world revolves
around eventually."
William growled again, not liking the fact that some *blonde* would take
Alexander away from them - he only hoped that it wasn't Darla. "Then why
are you sad, pet?"
"I saw red tonight. She was beautiful, William, her long red hair piled
high on her head, ringlets around her face. I wanted to kill her, wanted to
drink her life, but I couldn't. Her red hair was too much like my Willimina
's."
William knew that Alexander had a particular oddity about him - he couldn't
bring himself to kill anyone with red hair. Angelus humored him - it
angered Darla. She just wanted him to kill, to enjoy the taking of a life,
and didn't see why he would let one live because of the *color* of her
*hair*.
"You love her still, don't you?" William asked softly.
Alexander nodded, looking back at the passing humans. "I do. I don't know
why, I know that I shouldn't," he said quietly, "but I do. I can't forget
the way her hair shined in the sunlight, the way her emerald eyes sparkled
when she looked at me. Angelus doesn't even love me as much as Wills did.
The stars told me though, that the blonde, the one that will steal my heart,
the blonde will love me as much as Willimina, the blonde will complete me."
"And do you know who this blonde is?" William asked, truly curious of the
one who would take his brother away.
Alexander shook his head no. "The stars didn't tell me, only that it was a
blonde, and the devil, and that I would fall so in love. . .we would be
together forever, until we were ashes blowing in the wind."
William glanced down, then cleared his throat. "Well, luv, I'm going to
hunt. Sure you won't join me?"
In the seven years Alexander had been a part of the family, he'd never once
hunted alone with William. He stood, shooing Cameron back into the room.
"I think I'd like that," he said softly, knowing that to watch William fight
was a beautiful experience. He was sleek and graceful, and dirty and
dangerous - all at once. Alexander often stepped away from the fight just
to watch both his Sire and his Brother fight. They were different, yet both
so very beautiful.
Little did the two know that night would be the beginning of a lasting
relationship - one that would last longer than either of them could ever
imagine.
William wrapped his arm around Alexander's shoulders. "I'll even spare all
the redheads for ya, luv."
Alexander threw him a beautiful smile of thanks. He always did *hate* it
when Darla would turn and kill the redhead he'd been trying so hard to save.
"So. . ."
Xander smiled, reaching up to run his fingertips along Willow's cheek. "You
are so beautiful, Willimin. . .Willow." He smiled. "I'll always have a
hard time remembering that you are her, but you aren't."
Willow looked around the campus of UC Sunnydale, where they'd finally sat.
They were in the quad, sitting on a bench against a huge oak tree. She
turned back to Xander. "You really aren't going to hurt me, are you?"
A look of horror passed over Xander's face. "I would never. . .could
*never* hurt you!" He frowned slightly, looking around. "Willow. . ." He
turned to her, wanting to tell her everything he'd been through the last
hundred and forty years without her, all the things that he and Angelus had
done, everything that he and Spike had done. . .all the sights he'd seen. .
.
He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her to him. Her eyes
widened, and her hands splayed across his chest. "Alexander?" she asked
softly.
"I was going to kiss you right before Angelus took you away. I. . .want to
taste you," he purred.
She shivered slightly, her eyes falling shut at the thought of feeling his
lips against hers. "Xander. . ." she murmured, her lips brushing softly
against his.
He could feel the warmth, he could feel her hot breath, he could feel the
softness, smell the scent that *was* *his* Willimina. . .
Before their lips touched, he tilted his head with a frown, then looked up
quickly. It took Willow a moment to realize that Xander wasn't with her
anymore. "Xander, what. . ."
He silenced her, putting a finger on her lips. "The stars are speaking,
Willow. As beautiful as you are, they don't like to be interrupted."
She turned her head, looking up towards the sky. The stars twinkled happily
at her. She closed her eyes, not hearing a *damn* thing out of the
ordinary. Xander, however, was frowning deeply, almost looking paler than
usual.
Abruptly, he stood, pulling Willow up. "Spike. I need to find my Spike,"
he said, spinning around. He stopped, Willow slamming into his back. He
held her there behind him, protecting her. "What do you want?" he asked.
The three men standing there in the shadows wore camouflage outfits and
black masks over their faces. They held gold guns, something that Xander
instinctively knew didn't hold bullets. He *knew* they wouldn't hurt
Willow, that they were there for him. The stars had warned him, *screamed*
at him to run, to find Spike, but he was *so* enraptured with Willow and her
beauty. . .her lips. . .he didn't listen to the stars as he should have.
"Hostile, don't hurt the girl!" the leader of the three said.
Willow stepped out from behind Xander. "Hurt me? He could *never* hurt
me."
"Ma'am, I think there are some things about your friend that you just don't
know about," the second man said, stepping forward slightly.
"Who *are* you? Why did you call Xander 'hostile'? Why do you have those
guns, and the masks?" Willow asked, frowning.
The leader turned his head, nodding at the second man. They both turned to
the third man, both nodding. "Go!" the leader exclaimed.
The second guy, who was directly in front of Willow, rushed towards the
girl. She yelped, trying to get behind Xander. Xander turned, his game
face falling in place, ready to protect Willow. However, electricity
*surrounded* him, causing the voices in his head to *cry* out in agony. He
fell to the ground, his body *twitching* violently from the electricity
coursing through his body. He closed his eyes, just repeating one word in
his head over and over, his personal mantra: < Spike, Spike, Spike. . . >
Willow turned, shoving at the second guy who'd gotten her out of the way of
the lead Commando's tazer blast. "NO!" she screamed. "You can't *do* that!
He's my *friend*!"
"He was going to *bite* you, honey!" the guy grunted.
Willow shook her head, tears streaming down his face. "No, he wasn't," she
whispered, suddenly scared. Who *were* these people? Why did they subdue
Xander? What were they going to do with him? What were they going to do
with *her*? Fear flooded her system and she started struggling. "Let me
*go*!" she exclaimed.
The guy reached glanced at the leader of the three, who stepped forward. He
'd pulled out a soft rag doused in something that would knock Willow out
*fast*. Her eyes widened and she started screaming, thrashing against the
one holding her. The leader placed it over her mouth and nose, and it was
only a moment before Willow slumped in her captor's arms.
Forrest Gates ripped his mask off, holding up Willow. "Damn, she's a
spitfire!"
Riley Finn pulled his own mask off, frowning. "Why was Willow with a
Hostile?"
Graham Miller's mask came off last. "You know her? Who is she?"
Riley turned to Graham. "She's in Walsh's class, friends with that cute
blonde I was telling you about the other day." He turned, glancing at
Forrest. "Ok, we've got to get this Hostile back to the compound before he
comes out of his daze. We can't leave Rosenberg out here alone." He
carefully tilted Willow's head, making sure that she hadn't been bitten on
her neck. "She looks untouched. . ."
"Sure we shouldn't take her back to the Initiative?" Graham asked. He
picked up Xander, slinging him over his shoulder in a Fireman's Carry.
"No," Riley said. "I'll try to keep an eye on her. . .she's in my class
tomorrow, shouldn't be too hard." He picked Willow up, smiling softly at
the unconscious redhead.
"You just wanna keep an eye on her 'cause *someone* has a crush on her
friend," Forrest teased his best friend.
Riley grinned. "They are *roommates*," he said, smirking. He started off
towards Stevenson Hall.
Forrest and Graham chuckled, going the other way.
For two such stealthy Commandos who prided themselves on 'security' and
'covertness', Forrest and Graham never once noticed the dark angry shadow
following them through the campus of UC Sunnydale.
Spike had been happily feeding, stalking his prey through Sunnydale,
avoiding his Sire and the Slayer at all costs. He was staying close to
where he knew Xander would be. He knew the brunette wanted to be alone with
Willow, and for reasons he couldn't understand, his demon didn't mind. He
knew that Xander could take care of himself, but they hadn't been apart much
in the time they'd been together, and the blonde felt better knowing that he
was close enough to help if something happened.
And then he felt fear.
The bond Spike shared with his lover was *flooded* with fear. He threw
aside the person he'd been feeding on, the blood suddenly tasting stale. He
turned and started running towards where Xander was. He could hear the man'
s voice in his head: 'Spike, Spike, Spike'.
And then there was *pain*.
He finally reached the area, his demon *crying* out at the scene before him.
Xander was lying on the ground, motionless. Willow was struggling against
the tallest of the three men there. One of them leaned forward, pressing a
rag against her face. She passed out. Masks were removed and the men
laughed about something.
Two of them walked off with his lover while the other man left with Willow.
Spike momentarily thought of following the man with Willow, but Xander was
much more important to him. He proceeded to follow the men through campus,
managing not to be seen.
He watched in anger as they took him into a hidden entrance. He waited for
a moment, then ran to the camouflaged door, trying to open it. It didn't
budge. He grabbed the doorknob and shook it, then banged on the door with
his fist. When nothing happened, he turned with a roar. His gameface fell
into place and he stalked the night.
~*~
Buffy glanced up at the knock on her door. She put her book down, tucking
the bookmark between the pages she was reading. She went to the door and
opened it, blinking. "Riley Finn?" she asked with a frown. "What. . ."
Her eyes widened as she realized who the girl in his arms was. "Willow! Oh
my god, is she ok?"
"Can I come in?" Riley asked softly.
"Yea," Buffy said, pulling him in. She ushered him to Willow's bed where
the Commando gently laid her down. "What happened to her, Riley?"
"I'm. . .not sure," Riley said slowly, turning back to her. He had to be
careful with his story, assuming that Willow would tell her the story when
she woke up. But then, what could Buffy Summers *really* do? There's no
way she'd start looking for the Commandos. . .he assumed she'd turn the
other way just as ever other citizen of Sunnydale did. "I was walking back
to Lowell and I found her. . .she was unconscious. I didn't want her to be
left alone."
"Has she been hurt?" Buffy asked, her eyes widening. She rushed to Willow,
looking over her body, trying to make sure she hadn't been bitten.
"I. . .I didn't see any visible marks on her," Riley said. "Did she. . .did
she go out with anyone tonight, or was she alone?" < Maybe I can find out
*what* she was doing with that vampire! >
"She. . .was with an old friend," Buffy said frowning. She knew something
was wrong - she believed that even though Xander was dangerous, she believed
Angel when he said that he wouldn't hurt her. "Where. . .where is he?"
Riley frowned slightly. "I don't know, Buffy, she was alone. Do. . .do you
think he might have done this to her?"
Buffy's eyes widened. "I. . .don't think so. He *really* cares about her."
She crossed her arms, turning away with a frown. She *knew* that as soon as
Spike found out that Xander was gone, if he was, then he was going to go on
a rampage. She *had* to see Angel. "I. . .gotta go."
Riley blinked slightly at her abrupt change in conversation. "Uh, yea. Ok.
So I'll see ya in class?"
She nodded absentmindedly, gathering her things. "Yea, class. I'll be
there tomorrow." She turned, smiling. "Me and Willow will be there, all
ready to learn!"
"Yea, ok," Riley said with a frown. He was *definitely* being dismissed.
"I'll see you tomorrow." With a soft sigh, he turned and left Buffy and
Willow's room.
~*~
"Willow's ok?" Angel murmured, walking quickly, trying to catch up to Buffy.
"Huh?" Buffy asked, turning back to her ex-boyfriend. "Yea, Wills is fine.
Jesse's at the dorm room, making sure she's ok when she wakes up."
"And this. . .Riley. . .said that she was alone? I wonder where Alexander
is," he said softly.
Buffy shrugged. "I don't know, but somehow I don't get the feeling he'd
leave her alone by choice. Something's wrong, and we have *got* to find
Spike. If he realizes that something is wrong. . ."
"Yea, Sunnydale's going to be in big trouble," Angel agreed.
It wasn't long before the two found Spike, bending over the latest of his
victims. He looked up with a growl. "They took him," he hissed, shoving
the body aside. He stood up, kicking at the body angrily. "The blokes
*took* him! I don't know whom the bloody hell they were, but they took him.
Knocked Red out and *took* my Xander!"
Angel growled softly, not liking the idea of someone messing with his
childer. "Who, William?" he asked.
Spike shrugged. "Some Commando blokes."
"Why didn't you stop them?" Buffy asked, tucking her stake away. "You are a
strong badass vampire. You could have taken them out to save Xander."
Spike shook his head, pushing past them. He started walking down the
street. "I couldn't. They had. . .they had weapons. They *knocked* Xander
*out*. I couldn't help him if they captured me too, now could I?"
Angel and Buffy caught up to him. "Why didn't you come get me?" Angel
asked. "Why didn't you ask me to help you?" Angel grabbed his arm to stop
him from storming off.
Spike spun around with a roar. "Because I asked you *last night*, you
soddin' Poof! If you were so anxious to let him die then, why the hell
would you help him now!?" He jerked his arm away, turning away. He crossed
his arms, yet didn't walk away. He just stood there, waiting to see what
his Sire would say.
"How can we help you?" Buffy asked softly.
Spike sighed unnecessarily. "I don't know who the blokes are, but I know
where they took him. I couldn't get in. . .I tried."
Angel growled. "Come on, let's see if we can figure out how to save
Alexander."
******
Part ThirteenXander woke up with a dull throbbing in his head. He blinked, groaning.
His body *ached* and that wasn't something he was that used to - unless he
and Spike had just had a romp through the bedroom, playing with the chains
and whips the two owned. *However*, Xander knew that his aches and pains
were caused by something completely different.
He sat up and looked around, the stark whiteness of the room he was in
blinding him slightly. He closed his eyes, trying to swallow the feeling of
dizziness that overtook him. Whatever it was that happened to him now had
him locked up in a small room, and he didn't take too kindly to that.
He stood, his game face sliding into place. He stared at the glass wall,
keeping him from escape. It wouldn't be too hard for him to slam through
it. . .
He slammed into the glass, his body *arching* in pain as the electricity
traveled through his body, electrifying him for trying to escape. He
*howled* in agony, tears filling his eyes. He wanted. . .*needed* Spike,
needed to get away from that bright white room with it's electrical door,
needed to feed, needed to make sure Willow was ok.
He blinked, leaning against the wall, holding his side. "Psst. . ."
Xander looked up, trying to get rid of the lingering feeling of the
electricity. "Who's there?"
"New to the joint, eh?" a cocky sounding demon on the other side of the wall
asked. Xander followed the wall up, seeing a tiny gap between rooms.
"Yea," he murmured, shaking his head. He could feel the monk and the soul
clamoring to get out, to escape the prison he was in.
"What's your name, kid?"
Xander's eyebrow rose and he chuckled. "Kid?" A slow smile spread on his
face. Sometimes insanity had its advantages. "Um, my name is Alex," he
murmured, moving around the room, looking for escape. He didn't *like* the
fact that he couldn't feel Spike anymore, that he was *shielded* from his
mate.
"Word of advice. Don't drink the blood."
Xander turned slightly, blinking. "Don't drink the blood?"
"It's drugged," the other vampire whispered softly, keeping the secret from
getting out. "It's drugged and you pass out and then they come and take you
away."
Xander frowned. "Thanks." He went to the other side of the room, pressing
his hand against the wall. He closed his eyes and leaned against it, his
ear pressed against the bright white wall. He could *hear* and *feel* the
electricity traveling through the wall, swirling underneath the barrier,
powering the building.
He felt a twinge at the back of his neck, causing him to growl angrily. The
swirling of the electricity, the energy his body was picking up from the
wall, made something *foreign* in the back of his neck tingle. There was
something there that wasn't supposed to be. He had no clue what it was, or
what it did to him.
He clawed at the back of his neck, wanting it *out* of his body right
*then*. However, he was unable to find anything, even after breaking the
skin. He dropped to his knees in the middle of his new prison, his hands
curled into fists in anger, bits of skin under his fingernails. There was a
hole in the back of his neck where he'd dug his nails in, trying to get the
piece of whatever it was out from under his skin - but even then, even as he
tried not to lose control and cry because he *couldn't* feel his Spike,
because he *knew* whatever it was in the back of his neck was bad, and
because he was, for the first time in a very, *very* long time, scared -
even then, he could feel the tears behind his eyes.
~*~
~Romania, 1898~
Alexander glanced around warily, leaning back against William. It was his
Sire's Anniversary, and Darla wanted him to herself, not wanting to share
him with his childer. William was eager for them to go, wanting to spend
some time alone with Alexander anyway. The impetuous Childe of Angelus, one
fourth of The Scourge of Europe, had finally made his Grand-Sire happy - he'
d all but claimed Alexander as his own, leaving Angelus free for Darla to do
with what she would.
Angelus would watch the two of them, knowing there was love between them,
feeling slightly left out. He ached to be with them, ached to step in and
claim the two as his Childer once again, but he knew it would only serve to
fuel Darla's anger, and he didn't want to face her wrath. The oldest male
of the group stood by and watched as his youngest Childe fell in love more
and more with the unruly Childe of his that never left his side.
"William," Alexander said softly, "I'm scared."
"Scared, pet?" William asked, capturing Alexander's chin and turning his
head slightly. Alexander wasn't scared of much, so whatever it was that
frightened his lover worried him. He leaned down and placed a soft
reassuring kiss on his lover's lips.
"Daddy won't be coming home, William," he said softly, tears filling the
corner of his eyes.
William blinked in shock. "Won't be. . .won't be coming home? What do you
*mean* he won't be coming home?"
"Grand mum is going to get him dinner, something delicious, and forbidden.
It will cause him to run away, to leave us. The stars told me earlier, but
I couldn't stop them from leaving, couldn't warn them, they were already
gone." He looked down, the look of a sad, lost puppy on his face.
William's non-beating heart constricted in his chest. He was *losing* his
Sire? He wanted to push his Xander-pet away, wanted to run into the night,
wanted to save that which he'd grown to love over the decades together. He
didn't want the stupid blonde to ruin their family, even though she was
constantly trying to do just that.
He knew Darla wouldn't come back for them, knew that the blonde would rather
live alone, live her existence out killing by herself, than come to them,
ask them to join her in her travels around the world.
He glanced back down at Alexander, his heart almost bursting in his chest at
the sadness in those dark chocolate eyes he could spend an eternity staring
into. "What are you scared of, Xander?" he asked softly.
Alexander's eyes rose to meet comforting blue orbs. "Scared you will leave
me, so you can search for Daddy."
William considered his life without his Sire, then considered life without
his Xander. He was quick to realize that it would hurt *far* worse to be
without Alexander. He leaned down and kissed his full pouty lips once
again, then pushed him up. "Come on, pet, I hate Romania. Let's get out of
here, while we still have time before sunup."
Alexander looked mildly confused. "What? We are leaving Darla? What if. .
.what if she needs us?"
"Darla's a bitch, pet, in case you haven't noticed. She doesn't like either
of us." He started stuffing things into his bag. "So hurry the bloody hell
up, pet, get packed. We have a new life ahead of us, just *me* and *you*.
No Angelus, no Darla. Just the two of us."
Alexander's face lit up, causing William to smile. He didn't care about
never seeing the sun again, as long as he could see *that* look on his pet's
face for eternity. "And blood and sex and killing and love?"
William snickered softly. "And blood and sex and killing and love, pet. I'
ll give it all to you. All you have to do is ask, and it's yours."
Alexander smiled. "*Anything* I want?"
"Anything at all, pet."
Alexander's soft giggle filled the room as the younger man stalked his
lover, moving towards him like he was prey. William shuddered slightly,
*loving* the way he moved in on his victim, whether it was someone he was
going to eat, or him right before. . .
Alexander *pounced*, knocking the two of them over into a sprawling heap on
the ground. William laughed slightly, the chuckles dying in his throat as
he saw the seriousness on Alexander's face. "Xander?" he asked softly.
"The stars and the earth *sing* to me, William. They say this is right,
that you and I are going to be together. They whisper of love and death,
life and blood, long days filled with passion and pain. The stars say that
we will have *such* a grand time!"
William's lips curled into a sneer. "Come on, pet, let's get the hell out
of this soddin' place," he murmured, kissing his lover softly, vowing never
to let him be scared again.
TBC
