18 Years Before the present

The pain and fear bore down on the woman as the nightmare around her
continued. Just an hour before she had been in her hospital room happily
awaiting the birth of her first child, now she found herself in the
basement of the same hospital surrounded by terrifying strangers. The
pain rippled down her abdomen, and she screamed.

"Shut the bitch up!" demanded the man crouched between her legs. "She'll
bring the whole hospital down on us."

That sounded like a good idea to the woman so she screamed louder.

"Yes Sire." The man at her side grabbed her by her hair and pulled her
face up to his. He morphed into long whit fangs and ugly yellow eyes. 

She whimpered as he stretched her neck back and grazed her jugular with
his fangs.

"Stop that you idiot! She has to be alive to bear the child."

The monster at her throat raised his head slightly, and his victim sobbed
in relief.

"We could just rip her belly open and take the child." He traced along
the jugular vein with his tongue.

"According to the prophecy the birth is natural."

"Come on." Wheedled the minion, "Just one little bite."

I am your Sire. You kill only when I give you leave. You exist for my
pleasure." The demon between her legs growled as his face morphed too. 
"If you have forgotten the rules I'm sure I can find a way to remind
you."

The woman felt the hand in her hair tremble a little, and she allowed the
clenched muscles in her neck the relax just a fraction. Anothe pain
rippled down through her body, this one felt different, and it brought
with it the urge to push. She looked into the face of the being between
her legs and despaired. Somehow she knew that the only thing keeping her
alive was her unborn child. She silently fought the urge to push hoping
to give her searchers more time to find her, but the pain began to build
and her body betrayed her.

"I se the head." The monster between her legs crowed in delight. His
feature again morphed into that inhuman mask.

She felt a tired hopelessness begin to weigh at her limbs. She feared
the death she saw in their alien yellow eyes, but not once did she wonder
what would become of the child nestled within her.

''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

Present

Xander pusher each leg to move forward as he trudged tiredly toward his
house. The day had been one long exercise in frustration and weariness. 
Xander was used to shitty jobs. It seemed like he had been employed in
every shitty job in Sunnydale, but he had serious doubts about whether or
not he would survive this one until he was fired. The worst part about
this job was the acrid smells that clung to him, almost coating the back
of his tongue. The harsh chemical smell of the cleaners, the stale smell
of coffee, combined with the general miasma of food smell seemed to
follow him like some evil afterthought. The smells had so permeated him
that he felt he could never quite escape the place, hours later he could
smell the onions he had chopped even under the flowery smell of soap. 
Idly he wondered if he could market it as a vampire repellant. Since he
had begun work he had not once been approached on his nightly trudge
home. Quite frankly that was a good thing since he wasn't sure he had
the energy to lift a stake let alone dust a vampire. Maybe if one stood
very still but they had this annoying habit of trying to avoid stakes.

Okay his thoughts were starting to sound seriously sleep deprived, here. 
He was beginning to think that he would never be or do anything with his
life. Maybe he had already used up all the excitement allotted to him or
something, and he was destined to be this hanger on grasping at some
measure of old Scooby gang leftovers. It was like for a while in High
school he had been part of something important, and then all the others
had moved onto the next level leaving him behind with the rest of the
garbage. It wasn't a nice feeling. for a few paltry years he had
managed to avoid the loneliness that was his life. Now it was back with
a vengeance, and to top off all these dismal thoughts here he was
celebrating his eighteenth birthday and not one of his friends had
remembered that he even existed.

It wasn't like it was that big of a deal. It was just a day like any
other, but it felt strange not to have anyone even notice. No cards, no
cake, no Happy birthday, almost like there was no Xander anymore. The
sad part was that he did not see anything changing by this time next year
either. Okay that's enough of that. You have no one to blame for this
but yourself. If he had wanted someone to say Happy Birthday he should
have said something. You could have hinted that it was your birthday. 
It wasn't necessary to play games in the hopes that they would remember
on their own. Xander shook his head in self disgust. Was it that bad
though, to hope his friends would remember this was the day he came into
existence? To want them to celebrate this day without prompting from
him. Apparently, it just wasn't going to happen. As usual if he wanted
any attention he had to proclaim it loudly and repeatedly. The really
scary thing was that he wasn't sure that it would have worked this time. 
He had the feeling that even if he had shouted it from the rooftops his
friends would have been to caught up in their own live to even noticed. 
It seemed like the more he talked, lately; the less everyone listened. 

The darkness had a weird affect of masking the shapes around him, almost
making the night world so much more empty then the day world. At times
like these he would almost welcome the appearance of a vampire. There
was a part of him that never felt quite so alive as when he was fighting.
For that brief period of time between the beginning and the end of the
struggle he wouldn't be alone.

Part Two  

Red hot agony laced through the lady's abdomen. She pulled herself up
and instinctively bore down with all her might. She felt something break
through, then it was easier if anything about this could be said to be
easy. She pushed one more time and it was out. She fell limply back
against the pillow. Her head rolled listlessly over on the pillow and
she found herself staring into the glowing yellow eyes of her death.

The vampire between her legs gave a kind of croon of triumph. Her eyes
wandered back to the tableau. The vampire stood holding the infant out
at arms length, staring intently into it's eyes. 

"Um Master."

"What?!" The one holding the infant snapped.

"Um. Uh."

"Spit it out already!"

"Doesn't the prophecy say that the Light is supposed to be a girl, you
know capable of bearing forth the shadows?"

"What of it?"

"Um. That's definitely not a girl, master."

The master vampire's eyes wrenched away from the infant's and dropped
lower. "It can't be. Everything is right. This has to be the Light. It
has to be."

"Um." The vampire looked from side to side to side nervously. "Sorry
it's definitely a boy."

The master vampire glared at his minion. "You got the wrong woman."

"This is the one you told me to get. It's not like there are any other
women having babies right now. This is the right time and the right
place. Kaell is walking. It's not my fault."

The master growled deep in his throat and began to stride back and forth.
"Of all the incompetent, idiotic things. You can't even follow simple
orders. " The vampire was getting more and more worked up. His voice
getting uglier and uglier, but he still cradled the child against him
with the greatest of tenderness.

"Well what should I do, master."

The vampire ground to a halt. "Kill them. Kill them both."

"Um." The minion ventured hesitantly.

"What is it now!?" The master growled.

"It's gonna be kind of hard to kill him with you holding on like that." 
The minion pointed to where the child was cradled against the master's
side.

"Oh." The master said as he glanced down at the infant resting against
his chest. His face was liberally smeared with blood and gore and it was
shivering slightly in the chill. He wondered how something so tiny could
grow up to be something so big. Unconsciously he reached out a finger
and stroked it's cheek.

"Umm, master." The vampire sniggered slightly.

The master's head snapped up and he was fully vamped out. He growled
threateningly. "Did you laugh at me?" He glared at the minion advancing
on him slowly.

"No, sire. I'd never laugh at you." The vampire whimpered slightly as
it backed up. "Do you want me to kill them or what?"

The master stopped for a moment. He glanced at the child and then a
glacial expression covered his face. "Kill them."

The minion advanced extending his arms for the baby.

''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
Present

Xander gave a sigh of relief as he turned the corner and saw his house
looming in the distance. He was almost home, while that thought did not
fill him with any great happiness it did fill him with a certain amount
of relief. Soon. Very soon now he could stumble or maybe crawl into his
bed and tumble down into a much deserved oblivion. Just the thought of
his warm lumpy couch bed spurred him to a faster pace. That meant
instead of a shuffling walk he was now traveling at a stumbling walk. 
Yep bed good walking bad he thought as he almost tripped over the
sidewalk curb. The pleasant haze that surrounded him was broken by a
scrabbling sound off to his right. He started violently snapping to
attention. His heart raced and the saliva drained out of his mouth. His
palms began to sweat as he strained to hear something through the silence
of the night. He clutched nervously at the stake that he had retrieved
from his bag. He stood waiting. The silence of the night pressed down
around him heavily. Nothing moved. His own breath was the only sound
that breached that silence.

He stood there for several tense minutes before backing cautiously away
from the direction of the sound. He paused every little bit to listen
again for any disturbance. In this manner he slowly approached his home.
This was where he would be in the greatest danger. He would have to turn
his back to the street and possible danger while trying to fit his key in
the lock. He tried to peer around looking for potential areas from which
trouble could come. The bushes at the end of the porch were way too
close. Someone could also hide behind the cars parked at the curb side,
that though should give him enough time to react. The roof itself was a
hazard. He had checked it thoroughly before mounting the steps to the
porch, but if something was silent enough it could have gained access
after. From the roof of the porch it would be a simple matter to swing
down on your victim, that attack could come from three sides. The attack
would be most effective from the front of the porch, because the victim
would generally face the door to open it, so they could be attacked from
behind. On his side it would have to be a blind attack. The victims
general location could be ascertained by his heartbeat or smell, but a
visual could not be made while the attacker was on the roof. All this
assumed that the hostile stalking him was intelligent enough not just to
make a run at him. The evidence so far supported that theory. If the
object of the hostile's mission was to take me out then the roof or the
bushes were the best possible points of entry onto the porch. However,
at the moment the mission is unknown. The hostile could only be
reconnoitering at this time period. That would make him more dangerous
in the future, because most of the enemies he had faced jumped first and
thought later.

He continued forward across the porch, standing well to the right of the
door he faced the front of the porch with an eye to the bushes. One hand
held the stake steady as the other fumbled with his door key. The
finally slid into the lock and he dropped the stake swung around twisting
both key and doorknob at the same time. Pulling the door open he slid in
as quickly as possible, shoving the door shut behind him. Instantly he
reached into his bag for his backup stake. He scanned the room silently
looking for any disturbance, anything that might be out of place. It all
looked perfectly normal. He ruthlessly squashed the urge to patrol the
house poking in all corners for any hidden danger. He also squashed the
soldier back down into the depths of his soul. As always the change had
been swift and sudden, and with it had come untold information and
experience. It was all very reassuring but the soldier tended to be very
paranoid, and if he wanted any sleep tonight he had to push it far away
from his consciousness. They couldn't get inside if they weren't
invited. He reminded himself.

Unfortunately with the suppression of his soldier instincts the fear that
had been gibbering at the back of his mind surged to the forefront. Both
soldier and boy knew that something had been out there. Something very
dangerous. He clenched his hand to stop it from trembling.

Outside the Harris Home an elegant hand rested briefly on the outside of
the boy's door. A creature muffled in a cloak leaned forward and inhale
deeply drawing the still present scent into his lungs and mouth. 
Underneath the noisesome odor of mortal food and chemicals was the rich
earthy sweetness that made up the boy. He felt himself grow hard just
from that smell. "Soon my beautiful one. Very, very soon." He caressed
the wood of the door, feeling it's burnished grain beneath his fingers. 
He dropped a long white box onto the porch, and then faded back
disappearing into the darkness of the night.

Part Three  

The master vampire avoided the infants eyes as he watched the clawed
hands of his minion reach for him. It was a human. He told himself. A
tiny human but a human nevertheless. A snack nothing more or less, just
a snack. He would be laughed out of the vampire community if it got out
that he couldn't kill a baby. Human beings were a blight on the face of
the earth, and they deserved to die. They were vermin nothing more. Yes
the child would die, and it would be the simplest kill out of all the
thousands he had made. He could easily place a hand on either side of
the infant's head and with the tiniest of pressure the soft bones would
crumple. The brains would squish wetly out. Very very simple. Still he
made no move toward actual violence. Instead he thrust the baby out
toward his minion.

The minions hands clutched at the infants body, and then disintegrated
settling softly around it in the from of a fine ash. The master stared
for a moment in shock before realizing that it wasn't the infant that had
destroyed his minion but the person who stood in front of him. 
"Angelus." He growled, a strange gleam of excitement in his eye.

"Hello, Devril." Angelus stood perfectly still. The stake raised in
defense quivered slightly.

Devril stared at him, letting the weight of his gaze leech the confidence
out of his adversary.

"We don't have to do this." The words tumbled out awkwardly. "Just hand
over the baby." Angelus ended with far more belligerence then he had
started.

One side of Devril's face curled up in a dismissive sneer. "Please. You
are but a babe compared to me. There is nothing you could do to stop me
from taking the child." Angel shifted from side to side in indecision. 
Devril smiled a kind mocking smile. "The joke however, is on both of us.
The babe isn't the one of the prophecy."

Angelus' eyes blanked for one moment then a look of disbelief crossed his
features. Resolution took its place. "Then it won't matter to you
whether you give her to me or not." He stated with a calmness he was far
from feeling.

"Him Angelus. It's a him." Devril returned watching Angelus with a kind
of clinical detachment.

Angelus froze in shock momentarily, then he snorted with a slight
hysterical tinge. "You really messed this one up. Didn't you?" All this
he thought and it isn't even the right child.

"Well we can't all be perfect. If we were you would have never had that
gypsy snack, now would you?"

Angel looked startled, "You know about that?"

"Of course, ANGEL. I always keep track of the pretty ones." He glided
forward the infant cradled in one arm. The other reached out toward
Angel, stroking along the side of his cheek."You know you can't defeat me
don't you?" He ran his thumb over Angel's bottom lip. His gaze dropped
toward the baby. "It would be so easy to kill the little one wouldn't
it? Would your soul cringe in pain if I were to split open its head? Or
maybe I could keep it? I could create my own human monster." He raiised
his gaze to Angel's eyes. "One to do my bidding during the day. What do
you think Angel?"

Angel snorted. "Not a chance. You haven't the patience. The first time
it whimpered, you'd smash him up against the wall and that would be that.
What is it you really want?"

Devril laughed. "What I wanted was the Light. What I want now though is
the same thing you want Angel dear. Admit it. You knew that I would be
here." The same cruel smile twisted his lips. "Your appearance had very
little to do with this child's birth. How long has it been, beautiful."
His hand came up again and caught Angel at the back of the neck pulling
him forward. The baby wailed as it was smashed between them. "How bad
do you want it? How bad do you want anyone? Just to ease the ache." He
whispered under the crying. "There can't be many out there that you could
trust not to stake you or just plain run away screaming."

Angel struggled back releasing the pressure on the child. "What about
you? What the hell were you thinking? Even if this was the light in the
prophecy, what would you have done with a baby?"

Devril looked down at the crying babe the smile still firm on his face. 
"They're so honest in pain children are." He returned his attention to
Angel even as his hand was unconsciously soothing the child. "I wouldn't
have raised it. I have someone and someplace for it to be raised. " His
attention drifted back to the child as if drawn by a magnet. "A place
where the child would have no choice but to become mine." He looked at
Angel and hissed out. "You haven't answered my question though. How
long has it been pretty Angel?"

"Like I could trust you not to stake me?" The statement came out more
question then statement.

Devril laughed, "Oh you can't trust me Angel, but I don't want to stake
you. I want to fuck you." He leaned in close and whispered into Angel's
ear. "Just like you want me to fuck you." He leaned back for a moment
and then smoothly thrust the baby into Angel's arms. "A sign of good
faith. Take the baby and the mother's life as my gift to you. You owe
me nothing. If you want come to me tonight, I give my pledge to allow
you to leave alive."

Angel shook his head baffled, "Aren't you just going to take?"

Devril's lips gave that evil twist again, "That was Angelus' problem he
was so busy taking everything that he missed what was important. It's
just fucking, Angel. If I really wanted you to be mine I would take and,
I would keep on taking until there was nothing left. Nothing you could
do would stop me. Everything you are would belong to me. Remember that
Angel, because maybe some day I will take you." His laughter trailed
after him as he walked out the door of the room.

Angel pulled the baby close to him for comfort. He looked down into its
little face. It blinked up at him muzzily. "I'm very glad he doesn't
really want me. Let's make a pact little one both you and I will avoid
him." He lifted the baby up to his chest and rubbed his hand up and down
its back. "Yes it's definitely not a good idea to give him any
encouragement at all." He looked at the babe and deep brown eyes stared
back at him, suprisingly he felt a kind of recognition, then he shook his
head and swung back to look at the room's other occupant.

''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

Present Watcher's Headquarters

The room was very dark and shadow's covered every part of it except the
spotlight in the center. A lone figure in the center of it raised his
hand to shadow his eyes.

"What do you mean she isn't the one?" Thundered at him from out of one
shadowy corner.

"I mean what I said." He replied. "She isn't the one."

"She fits the prophecy exactly."

"That doesn't make her the right person. The Eye of Kael did not change
at all in her presence."

"Is there any chance that we're interpreting that part of the prophecy
wrong? Is it possible that she is the light but that there is some other
indicator?"

"No. There isn't. Faith is not the light. We had someone smuggle the
eye into her hospital room and there was no change at all."

"Dammit." There was a long pause in which the man in the spotlight began
to shift nervously. "Buffy Summers must be tested then."

"You can't be serious. She's always been loyal to her calling. Yes she
hasn't sided with the council in all matters but she has always done what
she thought was best."

"Do not question my orders. Summers has always had a long and difficult
past. She has done many things that bordered on the demonic. She has
even dated a vampire. She will be tested and if she is the light I will
authorize her termination. We can not take any chances. This prophecy
concerns the fate of the world, and it is not to be taken lightly. If
the light was proven to be the greatest saint this world knows I would
still authorize immediate termination. Do you understand your orders?"

"Yes sir. If it turns out that she is the one, do you wish termination
to take place immediately. " the man in the center stood at attention.

"Is that not what I just told you?"

"I just wanted to be sure, sir."

"Well" The shadow said sarcastically. Just so there is no confusion.
Test Buffy Summers. If she is the light, call and leave a confirmation
then proceed with termination. If successful return immediately to make
your report. If you are not don't bother to come back at all."

"Yes sir."

''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
Present Harris Household

Xander lay in bed contemplating the ease in which he had slipped into the
soldier last night. He was vaguely unsettled by the way it had taken
over so completely, even worse was the barely leashed anger he could feel
throbbing below everything. He shifted around onto his stomach, and
peered at the alarm clock on his bed side. He would have to get up soon
if he wanted to make it to the Scooby meeting. The problem was that he
didn't really want to get up. He didn't want to do much of anything. 
It's not as if he had to go to work today, and the Scooby gang would
probably not even notice his absence.

He jerked his thoughts away from his personal life and back to his well
personal being. For the longest time it had been as if the soldier was
slipping further and further away. It had no longer seemed to really be
a part of him, more as if it were a story that had happened to someone
else. He could remember the facts but he had been slowly losing the mind
set. Now though it was totally different. It was almost as if someone
had renewed the spell or something. Only this time it was if he could
slide in and out of him. There was also that other one, that dark
consciousness. The thing he never really liked to acknowledge. It was
getting stronger too. He shivered under his covers. 

The darkness it was so repellant yet so seductive at the same time. For
a little while he had been a part of something that was much larger then
himself. He had had a family, a clan, a pack. A group that he not only
belonged to but he had also lead. It was more then that though it had
also fit him in some way that his ordinary life did not. He had been
their matriarch, and that scared him more then anything. How twisted was
he that he had gloried in being THAT? He shuddered again burying his
face in his pillow. Clenching his hands into fists. 

NO! He wasn't going to do this. He shoved himself up off of his bed,
and strode over to grab something out of the pile of clothes that he was
supposed to wash sometime today. He held it up to his nose. Not too
bad. He nodded his head. Yep he could get away with it. He pulled the
shirt on over his head and squatted down to root through for the least
offensive pair of pants. 

He would go to the Scooby meeting, at least there he wouldn't have to
think about THAT. He moved silently through the house, not wanting to
have to talk to his parents. He snorted to himself. He could probably
make all the noise he wanted. THEY were probably still passed out. They
wouldn't be up at least until 3 PM even then they would just stumble out
for food or more booze. He only really had to worry when they were on
their way to getting drunk, that was when they were at their worst. He
checked out the refrigerator on his way out. Yep they would definitely
need some food soon. He wasn't getting paid until next week there was no
way he could afford food, and if he didn't get them something they would
end up in his basement looking for something to eat or at least to sell. 
That's not to say they wouldn't end up in the basement anyway but at
least this way there would be food in the house. He spotted his father's
coat lying over the chair. 

Maybe he didn't drink everything up last night. Well if he didn't he'd
definitely do it tonight. Xander stood still and listened hard. No. No
one's stirring. He crept forward and patted down the pockets quickly. 
It was an old familiar past time. At least now that he had his own job
he didn't have to do it as often. He could keep himself full if not his
parents. Bingo. He pulled out two twenty. Just get the basics. Bread.
Milk. Lunchmeat. Maybe some canned junk. Anything else would spoil
anyway. Now he had to get out. He didn't want to get his ass kicked. 
He sprinted to the door, and out. He leaned back against the door, and
breathed a sigh of relief. Xander the daring cat burglar strikes again.

He stepped forward stumbling over something on the porch. He steadied
himself and glanced down. The grey rotten wood of the porch stood in
sharp contrast to the white crisp edges of the long box. It was neatly
bisected by dark red velvet ribbon. He squatted down beside it
curiously. Xander ran one finger down the ribbon. He was surprised to
find that it was real velvet cloth and not that fake plastic stuff. He
wondered how they got it stiff enough to keep the form of a bow. He
looked at the gold foiled card that was cornered under the edge of the
bow. It slid out easily into his hand, and he turned it over before
lifting the front of it. There was a piece of tissue between the fold of
the card. He pulled it out and, instead of print the card was hand
written in a black calligraphy style. He cocked his head and read the
card. 

In celebration of your eighteenth birthday

A large smile spread across his face, and he trembled slightly as he ran
his finger over the print. Someone had remembered. Who though? This was
very classy and he couldn't equate it with any of his friends. Maybe
Giles would buy something like this for his girl friend but not for him. 
He excitedly pulled the ribbon off, and opened the box. Flowers? Why
would someone buy him flowers? He looked down into a box full of red
roses. He counted the buds. Eighteen. Someone had bought him a rose for
every year of his life. This was really weird. Who bought roses for a
guy. Still it gave him a little thrill to think that Being a guy himself
he knew how expensive roses could be, and again he racked his brain
trying to think of who could have bought them. He reached out and
stroked the edge of a petal. They all got together he thought, that was
it. They all got together and decided what to get me. That's why they
didn't say anything to me, it was a surprise. He pulled the box up and
hugged it to him. I can't believe they did this. It's great. The
excitement hummed through him. I don't have anything to put them in, he
thought. A vase. I need a vase. Forgetting his earlier feeling of
unease he turned and dashed into the house in search of a vase.

A figure detached itself from the depths of the shadows in the opposite
house. "They certainly don't treat you well do they Beauty, but don't
worry I will. Soon we'll be together again." He faded back into the
darkness. 

Part Four  

Past Sunnydale general hospital

Angel took a hesitant step toward the baby's mother. "Are you all right?"
He had this sinking feeling that what came next would be more difficult to
deal with then any master vampire. What could he say to this mortal? How
could he comfort her?

"Don't!" She held up her hand up as if it could be a barrier between them.
"Wha ...What are you?" She whimpered.

Angel's eyes dropped before her and that overwhelming sense of guilt rose up
within him again. it seemed as if he was only allowed to forget who he was
for a little while before it caught up with him again. He had been able to
push it aside in favor of trying to help someone else. Now with one
sentence it was back pressing against his soul. "We're vampires. They won't
come after you again." He continued hurriedly trying to offer what comfort
he could. "They thought the baby was one that had been prophesied to help
the demons conquer the world, but he's not. The prophecy is about a girl
not a boy." Angel stumbled through the words, knowing that he wasn't making
sense, but unable to bridge the gap he felt between himself and the woman.
He had somehow gotten out of practice when it came to talking to humans. He
found he could no longer predict how they would react. He cuddled the baby
closer unsure if he was offering or asking for comfort.

The woman just stared at him with this look of revulsion and fear.

Angel cringed at that look. It seemed that Devril was correct, even saving
the life of a human did little to endear them to him. She won't want me
holding her son he thought. He found himself oddly reluctant to give the
child up though. He looked down at the baby who was rooting at his shirt in
search of milk. What am I thinking? Angel wondered. There's no way I can
take care of a child. Angel shook his head in bemusement. I can't be that
lonely. He took a step toward the woman.

She cringed back against the gurney.

Angel halted in consternation. "I'm not going to hurt you. I'm just trying
to give your baby back." He said as soothingly as possible. He edged
forward slightly, trying to figure out how to give the child to her without
terrorizing her.

"Don't!" She shouted. "Don't come near me you monster. Just leave me
alone." She was whimpering at the end, trying to put some distance between
Angel and herself.

Angel stopped again in confusion. What was he going to do? He had to give
the child back to her but she kept getting hysterical every time he moved
closer. He sighed in frustration. If there was one thing he didn't know
how to handle it was a crying woman. He shifted from side to side
nervously. "I'm not coming any closer. I just want to give you the child
then I'll go away." He promised, easing back as she began to whimper
louder. The child was beginning to whimper also, probably sensing the
tension in the room. Angel reached back into his memory and remembered
mothers bouncing babies to get them to calm down. He awkwardly tried to
bounce at his feet instead of just bouncing his arms. The baby began to cry
louder.

At this point the mother began to have serious hysterics, because Angel's
movements had taken him closer to her. " I don't want to do this. Just
leave me alone." She began yelling at the top of her lungs. The baby's
cries escalated at the mother's screams. "Can't you just make him stop?"
she yelled. "Make him stop. Make him stop. Make him stop. Please just make
the brat shut up. I never wanted him anyway. Just keep it."

Angel felt a wave of shock run through him. He found himself lunging toward
with his game face on before he brought himself up short forcing himself
into a calmness he was far from feeling. He took great big breath and told
himself. She doesn't mean it. She just been through a very traumatic
experience. She just gave birth. He wondered what had made him so mad. Why
did he feel so protective toward the child?

He'd worry about that later. Now he had to take control of the situation.
There was no way that the baby would calm down until the mother did, and she
would not accept comfort from him but she did fear him. The crying and
screaming continued to escalate, and Angel found his patience dwindling to
an all time low. The anger that always seemed to shimmer below the surface
began to exploded outward.

He felt his game face morph his features. He advanced on the woman and
hissed at her. "I want silence and I want it now." He roared the end.

The woman eyes grew wide, and she trembled slightly. She whimpered once and
then snapped her mouth shut.

"Very good. Now I have no intention of hurting you or your child, if your
infernal wailings don't drive me to it." Angel felt sick at the way she
looked at him, but he honestly felt he couldn't take any more of this. "Now
I'm going to come over there and hand you your child. You are going to hold
him while I wheel you back to part of the hospital where there are more
people. Do you understand what I've told you?" He found himself growling
at her slightly without meaning to.

She nodded her head quickly.

He strode over ignoring the way she flinched away from him. He held the
baby out to her and she took it, and then deliberately held it over the edge
of the gurney dropping it. She looked him defiantly in the eyes as she did
it.

For an instant Angel froze in shock, but then he launched himself over the
gurney and snatched the child before it hit the ground. Only his vampirism
reflexes prevented the seemingly fatal fall. He gasped slightly as his
hands cupped the tiny infant's body.

He could have died he thought. His hands clenched slightly holding that
small warmth. I almost didn't catch him in time. The words ran numbly
through his head like a broken record. "What the HELL did you do that for!"
He found himself shouting at the top of his lungs with his fully vamped face
right next to the woman's.

He almost shook with rage as he looked into her defiant face. She blinked
and for the briefest moment he saw an almost calculating look enter her eyes
but it left so fast that he thought it his imagination. Her brown eyes
widened and her lip trembled. She blinked rapidly and brought her hand up
to cover her mouth.

She shook her head. "I.. I don't know." She wailed. "I just thought I would
die and then you were there and the baby and it was all not supposed to be
like this." She started sobbing again. "I just want to go home."

Angel leaned over and patted her shoulder awkwardly. "It'll be all right.
Everything's over now. You'll be all right."

The woman slowly got herself under control, though she still shuddered
slightly.

Angel looked her up and down. "Do you want to hold him now? If you don't I
can hold him till you're ready."

She looked up at him her eyes blurring with tears again. "I didn't mean to
do that. I'm so sorry."

"Of course you are. It's all right. You were just in shock. Here. This
time it will be better."

He held the baby out to the woman.

He missed completely the brief look of disgust that flickered across her
face. She reached for the child and held him awkwardly away from herself,
not wanting to get the body fluids on herself.

"See," Angel cooed as he ran his finger down the child's face. "Everything
is perfectly fine now." He moved to the back pushing the gurney out into
the hallway.



Present

Xander felt a huge grin stretching his face, as he banged on the door. It
was jerked out from under his knuckles and Buffy's scowling face thrust out
toward him.

"You're late!" She growled at him.

The smile started to slip off his face. "Um... I'm sorry...I didn't get off
till late."

"Whatever. Hurry up Giles has news."

"Um....Okay." He followed her in feeling a little lost. She hadn't even
commented on the rose pinned conspicuously to his t-shirt. His fingers
crept up to check on it. Yep still there. They lingered unconsciously
caressing a petal. His hand dropped guiltily when he realized what he was
doing. He lagged behind Buffy, his feet shuffling as he followed her. He
felt tears blur his eyes but he angrily refused to let them fall. Nope it
didn't look as if Buffy knew anything at all about the roses, which by
reason of deduction meant that the rest of them probably didn't have
anything to do with it either. He knew Buffy and if she had bought him the
roses then she would have wanted the credit for it. You should have known
that all along. Returned a nasty little voice in his mind. The others might
though, maybe they knew something about it. He moved forward a little
faster.

They entered Giles' living room with Buffy in the lead. Xander glanced
around. Pretty much everyone was there, even Spike, and that was unusual.
Xander knew for a fact that ever since Spike had found out that he could
protect himself from demons, he had to be bribed to attend the Scooby
meetings. Xander wondered how much it had cost Giles this time. He
sniggered to himself slightly. Spike had a good scam going there. Really he
was so gung ho about killing that he'd do it for free but if he could get
Giles to pay him, well knowing Spike that would make it a hundred times
better for him.

Xander wasn't surprised when Spike glanced up and caught his gaze. He
refused to look away this time. Spike had been driving him nuts lately.
Anytime Xander looked at him he found Spike's eyes already on him. It was
rather disconcerting. Xander didn't quite understand what was going on. It
wasn't as if Spike was threatening him. After all the time spent in the
Scooby gang Xander knew when someone was threatening him.

At first Xander thought it might be some sort of dominance thing but again
he didn't feel any threat and the other in him didn't rise up in any way.
For the longest time after Oz had became a werewolf they had sidled around
each with this almost silent game of dominance controlling almost all their
actions. Even that fiasco with Willow had been prompted in part by the
Other in him, that was one of the reasons that the conscious Oz had forgiven
him so quickly. However, they never really had much in the way of a
relationship. It had taken a long to work out the difficulties with
dominance and to this day they couldn't really connect with each other or
even be in the same place for long periods of time without it starting up
again. They went out of their way to be polite but male bonding was
definitely impossible. There was always this very thin veneer of
civilization over all their actions. They couldn't relax around each other.
When Oz had left, Willow had been devastated but all Xander had felt was
relief.

This was nothing like that uncomfortable situation. Spike seemed to want to
be in Xander's company. When they were in a room together, Spike was always
within touching distance. Even now he was perched on the edge of the chair
in a really unSpikelike manner. Spike was an artist when it came to the
uninterested sprawl. He always seemed to take up at least three times his
own space. Xander cocked his head wondering how that worked. Even more
important why had he spent so much time watching Spike's movements. This was
Not Good.

Xander shook his head returning to the present situation. Spike was, of
course, still watching him only this time his expression had changed. He
had this smug self satisfied look, and his nervous edge of the chair look
had mutated into a totally unknown predatory sprawl. Xander couldn't
understand the dynamics of a body spread out and totally relaxed but coiled
in such a way that at any moment he could spring into action, but then
Spike's body always seemed to defy the laws of physics. He was definitely
all welcome to my web, and Xander didn't enjoy feeling like the fly.

He wrenched his eyes away from Spike's and forced himself to study the rest
of the room's occupants. His eyes had other ideas though. They kept
darting back to Spike and then would slide away as the smirk on Spike's face
grew to almost epic proportions. Okay ignore the obnoxious vampire, Xander.
He thought to himself. He firmly turned his full attention to the people in
the room.

"What's with the flower luv? I didn't know that this was a formal
occasion." Spike smirked.

Xander cringed. Leave to Spike to be the only one who actually noticed the
stupid flower. Xander felt a wave of embarrassment wash through him, and
sighed in resignation. Everyone was looking at him now. He almost flinched
under the weight of their curiosity. They did not know where the flowers
had come from. Xander felt a sharp pain in his chest and he rubbed at it
absently. They were all waiting for his answer.

"Well, someone kinda sent me flowers for my birthday yesterday and I thought
it might be one of you guys."

Buffy snorted, "Sorry Xander girl don't give flowers they get them. Thought
Cordy would've taught you that one."

Xander blinked once. She didn't even say it. I practically point out to
her that she forgot my birthday and she doesn't even say Happy Birthday.

"Um well, Happy belated birthday Xander. Now we must get on with the
meeting. Get settled, while I get my tea, then we'll discuss what has
happened lately and I'll tell you my news. would anyone else like anything."
Giles stated as he walked toward the kitchen.

The others chimed in with what they wanted, but for once Spike was strangely
silent.

Xander who felt a kind of numbness settle over him, noted the exception and
found his eyes drawn toward Spike's. He was surprised to see an almost
mindless fury in them. When Spike realized he was watching the look
softened and faded into something Xander couldn't really place. He couldn't
recall anyone ever looking at him like that before, and strangely enough the
pain in his chest began to fade.

"Xander."

He glanced to the side to find willow and Tara there.

"I'm sorry I didn't remember about your birthday." Xander felt that ache
ease even more. "Tara and I have been sorta lost in our own world lately.
We'd like to take you out later to make up for it."

Xander ducked his head and felt his lips quirking upward. "Thanks, Will.
It's not that big of a deal but it means a lot what you said." He finished
almost tumbling over his words, unable to quite meet Willow's eye.

"Is Tuesday good or are you working?"

"Tuesday's fine, Will." Xander said as he finally met Willow's gaze.

They moved toward the sofa and sat together. Xander's eyes followed them for
a moment before it was pulled almost unwillingly back to Spike's. The
vampire was still staring at him. This time with yet a different
expression. This one was as disturbing as any of the others. The closest
description he could think of was that of hunger, and it made Xander shiver.
He wrenched his gaze away from spike determined to not look at him again.

At this point, everyone had settled down onto the various level surfaces.
Willow and Tara had cuddled up together. They had been getting bolder and
bolder about public displayed of attention. Most of the time when he
thought of two women together he got an almost instant hard on but with the
two of them it was just cute. Even though he felt left out of the group he
found himself envying the warmth they wrapped themselves in. It made him
feel more alone. He could look but not touch, and even in those rare
instances when he did touch or they touched him he felt as if he didn't
deserve their warmth. He felt the uneasy need to make jokes and distance
himself from them. The warmth drew him yet scared him away at the same
time. It was something that he had never experienced before the Scooby
gang, and he had this dark fear in him that they would be the only ones who
ever offered it to him. That was the reason he continued to sit on the
outskirts of their little group in the hopes that some of that warmth would
blow his way.

Xander looked around the room and found to his dismay that there was no
where left to sit unless he chose the floor. Oh well it wasn't like he
hadn't sat there before. It made him feel a little better that Giles didn't
have a place to sit either. He crouched down by the two witches at the foot
of the sofa and gingerly stretched out his legs, careful to put a healthy
distance between him and a certain vampire he was currently doing his best
to ignore.

Giles walked back into the room carrying a cup of tea. He looked around
briefly at the room's occupants then moved decisively toward Spike. He
looked down at the vampire who was ignoring him in favor of watching Xander.
"Move." He ordered.

Spike looked up at him innocently, "As the Yanks like to say, first come
first serve."

"This isn't a democracy Spike. It's my house. I get to sit down. Now
move."

Xander ducked his head and grinned. It was like watching an episode of the
Odd Couple. He didn't know what was funnier. Spike's calculated insolence
or Giles' vanishing politeness. The girls and Riley pretty much ignore the
byplay as they chatted between themselves.

Spike had returned his attention to Xander and was grinning at his attempts
to stifle his giggles. "I said to move Spike, and I meant it. I'm quite
sure that Buffy would lend me one of her stakes." The watcher glared down
at the master vampire while tapping his foot.

Spike sighed heavily.

Giles raised one eyebrow.

"I'm moving. I'm moving already." Spike got up slowly with a much abused
air, then a mischievous glint appeared in his eye. He moved across the room
with an cat-like grace, capturing Xander's gaze with a fierce intentness.
He quite deliberately settled down so close to Xander that the boy was
trapped between the foot of the sofa and Spike.

The girls just ignored them and Giles was only too pleased to have Spike
tormenting someone else for a change. Xander meanwhile was wondering what
the hell spike was up to this time. Now that Spike was sitting next to him
the vampire was ignoring him completely, but that didn't change the fact
that their bodies were pressed together from hip to shoulder. The cool
weight of Spike's body was doing funny things to the pit of Xander's
stomach. He could almost feel his throat closing around something.

Xander inhaled. The clean musty smell filled his nostrils, as he tried to
drag his mind back to what Buffy was saying. She was prattling on about the
latest demon she had slain. It didn't sound as if it was any different then
the thousands of others, but apparently Buffy didn't feel that way. Xander
found it increasingly difficult to concentrate on anything that was going on
in the room. Anything that did not include that cool heavy weight against
his side. Xander felt his neck arch and his head come up as he scented the
vampire again. Yes, this one would make a good mate. He would sire strong
daughters and help with the defense of the pack.

She would claim this one.

Xander shuddered. It crawled down the length of his spine and spread out
through his body until his hands themselves trembled.

Spike was watching him with a look of concern on his face. "Are you alright
pet?"

Xander shook his head.

Spike's hand came up and soothed down his back.

Xander glanced up and found that everyone was engrossed in what Buffy was
saying, and no one saw the little melodrama that was playing out right in
front of them. He didn't like it when the Other came out like that, and he
shuddered at what the hyena wanted. He found his eyes drawn up to Spike's
concerned ones, and a traitorous little voice in the back of his head
whispered Isn't that what you want too.

Xander took shallow gasping breaths. Somehow it was so much scarier when
the hyena said it. The hyena was bad. Look at all it had done and all it
had wanted to do. These feeling he had for spike, this unformed wanting it
must be bad too. Isn't it?

Spike had risen up slightly. He was blocking Xander from the rest of the
room's view. "He's protecting my privacy." Thought Xander with a sort of
wonder. "He's protecting me. Yeah right. Why would he do something like
that? This is Spike we're talking about." A nasty voice challenged.

He looked up at Spike his big eyes brimming with the need.

Spike met his gaze head on his hands framing Xander's biceps then soothing
up to his shoulders. "Better pet."

Xander gave a shaky nod. His eyes and body language remaining cautious.

More then anything spike looked frustrated. "Not here, pet. We'll talk
about it later."

Xander gave another nod this one a little firmer. He understood. Spike had
an almost pathological need to avoid showing any kind of weakness. Xander
had found this out when they had been rooming together.

Spike settled back down against Xander. His arm firmly wrapped around the
boy's back.

Spike was, well he was, hugging him, that was the only way it could be
described. He was being hugged by Spike, and it was a firm if one armed
hug. It left no room for Xander to wiggle away, even if he wanted to. To
Xander's surprise he found that he didn't.

The boy leaned back and relaxed. For the first time in a long while that
constant tension that always seemed to underlie his life seemed to drift
away. He felt secure and protected by the barrier of Spike's body. He
rested there marveling at that feeling of peace and let the screeching voice
of the slayer wash over him not really interfering with the moment.

Then Giles stood up and cleared his throat. Xander startled being brought
back to the present with a jarring thud. What was he doing? This was Spike
he was resting against so trustingly. You know the Big Bad, the blood
sucker, dead boy JR. Xander shifted restlessly under the now heavy arm. It
tightened around him for one brief moment then it released him entirely.
Xander shivered sadly at his freedom, a big part of him wanted to crawl
right back under that arm.

He looked up at Spike and found a small sad smile twisting the vampire's
lips. Xander started to reach his hand toward that smile then quickly
aborted the gesture. Not before Spike saw it though. His hand reached out
and caught Xander's fluttering fingers and held them firmly. He raised one
eyebrow at the boy in question. Xander's fingers tightened briefly before
the boy turned his attention back to the watcher. The hand however remained
firmly within Spike's grasp.

"Yes well, that was all very interesting Buffy, but I'm afraid we have a
rather more important problem to address." The watcher pulled off his
glasses and polished them briefly before returning them to his nose. "It
seems that the council has become rather alarmed at one of the older
prophecies on the books, so alarmed in fact that they might do something
rather rash."

"Rash? How rash? What prophecy are we talking about?" Buffy demanded.

"Does it have something to do with the Hellmouth?" Questioned Willow.

"Let me guess. It involves the end of the world right." cracked Xander.

Giles looked from youngster to youngster still somewhat confused by the way
American children just shouted out questions. "Ummm. Very Rash I'm afraid.
Yes it has something to do with the Hellmouth, and yes I'm afraid it might
include the possible end of the earth as we know it."

"That's just great." Xander said as he rolled his eyes. "So what is the
prophecy."

"I'm not quite sure."

"You're not sure!" exploded Buffy.

"Yes." Giles continued on unperturbed by Buffy's characteristic outburst.
"One of my contacts in the inner circle is trying to smuggle it out to me.
The biggest problem at the current time is that the council thinks that one
of you will be instrumental in the successful conclusion of the prophecy. I
wanted to alert you to be on guard. It might even be better if everyone
stayed here for the time being."

"Let me get this straight. You are volunteering your house for invasion by
the Scooby gang. Oh hell this must be bad. This must be real bad." Xander
was shaking his head as he talked. "What does the council plan on doing?"

Giles polished his glasses again. ""I believe they plan on sending a
elimination team." He finished solemnly not quite meeting the eyes of any
of his charges.

Xander's felt a pain spread through his hand as Spike almost crushed his
fingers. "Easy Spike. those are attached." He murmured sotto voice.

Spike looked down at their clasped hands and then back up at Xander.

Xander almost drew back in shock at the misery he saw in those eyes.
"What's wrong spike?"

Spike shook his head and looked away, almost like he was ashamed.

"Spike?"

"I can't even bloody well protect you." The words had no heat and as they
ended Spike curled away from Xander.

He does want to protect me. Xander thought the wonder returned to his face.
I've never had someone who wanted to protect me before. His hand reached to
tentatively touch the vampire's back.

"Spike, I can take care of myself."

Spike uncurled slightly and snorted.

"Hey!" Xander grinned to show he wasn't really offended, then he poked the
vampire in the side. "No laughing at the Xandman."

Spike way over reacted to the little poke. He jumped away as much as he
could sitting anyway and covered his side, looking at Xander warily.

Xander was confused for one moment before it dawned on him, then an almost
evil smile spread across his face. Spike, the big Bad, the terror of
Europe, was ticklish.

Xander scooted forward.

Spike threw a desperate look at the room's other occupants.

Xander looked at him seriously, then moved back over. "Later Spike." Xander
smirked at him.

Spike threw him a look that was a strange mixture of unease and relief.

"It's all settled then." Giles said.

"Oh shit" thought Xander the teacher's been talking and we haven't been
paying attention. "I hope I haven't been elected to act as bait or
something while I wasn't listening."

Xander leaned over to Willow and asked quietly. "Um Willow." She cocked an
eyebrow at him. "Xander's been bad. I was goofing off in class and need your
notes."

She looked at him confused for a moment and then laughed. "We just agreed
to gather up what ever we need and spend the week here."

"But what about class and work? I can't lose my job again."

"Well it's the weekend right now and we have two days off college. Is there
anyway you can trade with someone at least for tomorrow?"

Xander shook his head, "There have been too many times I've taken off for
scooby stuff, Willow."

"Xander this is really important. These people are professionals and they
won't take pity on you or allow you to talk your way out of this. Is this
job worth your life?" Giles hovered over him as he spoke.

Xander looked up at him. "Of course it's not, but if I do live I need to
pay the rent, and I need a job to do that." Xander finished with
frustration.

"Surely your parents would...."

"No. They wouldn't." Xander finished flatly.

"Alright." Giles answered "then I'll loan you the money for your rent until
you can get a new job." He said decisively.

"I... I can't..." Xander felt his throat clog again.

"Yes you can, and you will. Xander you do mean a lot to us. It might not
seem like it all the time. We sometimes allow every day life to override
the feelings we have for other people. Why don't you call your place of
employment and find out if you can get a leave of absence for two weeks."

"Do you think that they might do that?" Xander was desperately trying not
to cry. This was what he had wanted last night, what he had missed in the
Scooby gang for so long. Even if they missed the small things at least they
were there when the big things came around.


"They might if they are desperate for workers."

"It's a pretty crappy job." Xander replied.

"Since we're all agreed then, go home and pack. We will meet back here in
an hour."

The group started to break up and gathered their stuff to go home. Giles
stayed near Spike and Xander. "Spike I would like to speak with you."

Xander started to walk away but Spike caught his arm. "I'm walking Xander
home." Spike glared at the watcher, daring him to make anything out of it.

"Um, quite right." Stammered Giles totally unsure of what to make of
Spike's protective stance. His eyes slid down to the possessive hold Spike
had on Xander's arm. "So you'll be back later then?"

Spike snorted derisively, "Course I'm staying. You poufs wouldn't know how
to find your back ends with a bloody map to tell ya how. You'd probably all
end up dead, and then I'd be out a source of blood. I expect our usual
arrangement though."

"We are going up against human's this time Spike." Giles reminded him.

"The humans'll be here to prevent the prophecy. Now I don't see any of you
blokes turning to evil on purpose so I'd lay a fiver on there being
something demonic out there trying to use you to fulfill some ancient's
bloody ramblings."

"My thoughts exactly." Giles nodded. "We'll know much more about the
ramifications of the prophecy when we have a copy of our own to study."

"And when will that be." growled Spike.

"Some time tomorrow. He's going to fax me a copy, but it will take some
time for him to secure it from the archives."

"Ya mean it will take him a while to nick it."

"Um... Well... Yes."

"We're going to stop by the crypt. I have some stuff to get too." Spike
turned and practically dragged Xander out behind him.

Part Five  

Past
"Hey Nurse!" A rather slovenly man addressed the nurse at the hospital desk.

"Yes sir, may I help you with something?"

"My wife was brought in here. She's having a baby. I want to know where she
is." The man was slurring some of his words.

"Of course sir. Could you give me your last name please?"

"It's Harris, H.. A.. double R.. I.. S."

"Here it is Sir. I'm afraid that there was a slight problem. She had to be
placed in a more secure location. I'll need to see some I. D. before I can
release anymore information."

"What the hell are you talking about? What the fuck happened?" The man
yelled as he fumbled through his pockets for his wallet.

After checking his ID. the nurse replied. "Someone will be down in a moment
to explain things to you and to take you to your wife."

"Fuck that I demand to know if my wife's alright." The man exploded.

"Really sir it would be better if you heard that information from someone
who is better qualified to give it to you. There are a lot of patients in
this hospital and all I know about those patients is what is found in my
paperwork, to get additional information you will have to wait for the
doctor."

"Listen lady, I don't know what the hell you are trying to pull here but I'm
not going to stand for this run around. I want to know how my wife is doing
and I want to know what happened. I want to know it now."

"Mr. Harris.... Mr. Harris." A white clad man with a clip board had come
through the swinging doors while the Harris had been trying to browbeat the
nurse.

Mr. Harris swung around to greet the newcomer with a growl. "What do you
want?!"

"I'm here to talk to you about your wife."

"Good because this nurse is worse then useless. She rude and discourteous
and she isn't worth the wages you pay her."

The doctor ignored the belligerent comments and concentrated on the task at
hand. "Yes, well I'm afraid that the delivery did not go as planned."

"Don't tell me the bitch lost the baby?!"

"Mr. Harris if you cannot control these outbursts then I will not be able to
tell you what happened. The baby and Mrs. Harris are both fine. You now
have a son, sir, but there were some problems. While Mrs. Harris was in
labor a group of hooligans invaded the hospital and killed the nurse that
was attending her. They then took Mrs. Harris to one of the hospitals
sub-basements and delivered your child there. We think that it was an
attempted kidnapping. Statements that your wife and the man that saved them
provided lead us to believe that the objective of the abduction was the
child itself."

"But they're alright aren't they."

"Yes sir. They were rescued by a person who was in the hospital visiting a
friend. We don't think that the perpetrators will be back but we're taking
precautions anyway."

"So let me get this straight you allowed my wife and my unborn child to be
abducted and then some stranger saves them. On top of all that who knows
who this child is that you are trying to foist off on me. It probably isn't
even mine."

"I can assure you Mr. Harris. The child is yours. If you want we can run
blood tests and determine if you are the father or not."

"Yeah right. Blood tests run by the same hospital that oversaw this debacle
in the first place." Mr. Harris snorted in disgust.

"Why don't you talk to Mrs. Harris. She was present the whole time and she
can vouch that the baby was not switched at any time."

"I'll just do that." Mr. Harris muttered as he followed the doctor through
the halls to his wife.

------------

"What the hell happened?!" Mr. Harris towered over his wife's bed.

"I had your stinking child that's what happened."

"From what I hear you almost managed to screw that up too."

"Fuck you. All I did was come to this stupid hospital and all hell broke
loose. I didn't have any choice about what happened. I just knew I shoulda
had an abortion."

"If you had an abortion I woulda thrown you out on your ass. Makin' babies
is all your good for anyway."

The woman snorted at him. "Hell the only reason you want a child is to get
your hands on my father's money. What? Did ya think I didn't know what was
in his will?"

"If you know about the money why the hell are you so against having a
child?"

"Because I don't want a child. I hate the little brats. No money in the
world is worth putting up with that crap. Do you realize we won't even get
anything until the brat turns twenty, and that's only if the brat decides to
stay with us? He gets his money at eighteen and he can do whatever the hell
he wants."

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"My fucking father put it in to make sure we're good parents. If at
eighteen the child decides to leave we get nothing at all. How much you
wanna bet the brat just ups and leaves taking our money with him."

"Hell with that, we just don't tell the kid that he has that option, and we
don't give him a fucking way out. He doesn't have to know about the money
at all until he's over twenty."

"Then we'll finally get something out of the fucker."

"Who?"

"My dad. He's a fucking asshole. He bends over backwards for my sisters
but won't give me squat."

"That's not what I hear. I heard he gave you as much as any of the others
you just wasted it all. How you managed to waste that much money is beyond
me. You wait till I get my hands on that money I'll make something out of
it."

"You! Ha! You might make liquor out of but that's about all. Why I ever
married you is mystery to me. You're a shit head whose lucky to find his ass
with a roadmap."

"Well, at least with my blood the kid has a chance of not ending up a whiny
little weakling like you."

"What you want him to be a stinkin' drunk instead? I'm surprised you were
sober enough to make it to the hospital at all. Who the hell do you think
will be raising the brat? It certainly won't be you."

"Well it's not like you've ever done a lick of work in your life. Maybe if
you at least kept the house decent, instead of livin' in a fucking pigsty.
You can't even keep the fucking coffee table in order. You certainly won't
be able to raise a kid. As usual I'll end up doing every fucking thing."

"When?! Before or after you pass out drunk. I mean, how long did you
actually manage to keep your job this time?! Two maybe three weeks?"

"Just shut your fucking mouth!! You slut!! The brat probably isn't mine
anyway. You fat cow. I swear if you weren't already in the fucking hospital
I'd put you there myself, you whore."

The door burst open, and the doctor charged into the room. "Mr. Harris!
I'm going to have to ask you to leave. You're disturbing my patient and the
other patients in the ward."

Mr. Harris sneered at the doctor. "Yeah you and what army?"

"Mr. Harris, if you will not leave voluntarily then I will have to ask
security to remove you."

"This isn't the last you'll hear from me. I'll sue the pants off this
hospital, see if I don't." Mr. Harris shouted as he left the room.

Past

Angel is pacing back and forth angrily. "I could've been there. Maybe I
could've kept this from happening. Instead I was on some wild goose chase
of your doing. This could have been the slayer that I've been dreaming
about and now she's dead and I wasn't even there."

"If you weren't there then you weren't supposed to help."

"It wasn't even the right child!"

"You saved the child's life and that's what you were supposed to do. I
don't know if it was the child of the prophecy or not but it was the child
you were supposed to save. And what makes you think it wasn't the right
child?"

"It was a boy, you fool. A boy can't bear forth a child."

Whistler snorted at the vampire. "So. It's a prophecy. Just because
that's what you think it means doesn't mean that's what it does mean. All I
know is that the powers that be wanted you to save the life of this child.
Fuck. Every child is important, Angel and you more then anybody should know
that."

"So this child is more important then the life of the slayer?!"

"One dies and one is called Angel. That's how it's always been and how it
always will be. There have been thousands of slayers through the ages. The
light is unique."

"But that wasn't the light."

"Maybe. Maybe not. Whoever or whatever it will be, it is still unique
enough that the powers wanted it saved."

"And because of this child I wasn't there to stop Kaell, and the slayer died
doing it."

"Who's to say you would have been able to stop the Darkness anyway? This
way the child was saved and so were you. No matter how much you want to you
can't save everyone Angel. Yes Kaell walked the earth. The father of all
vampires had his night, and now it is over. What makes you think you could
have opposed him?"

Angel remained silent, when Whistler paused.

"Just accept that you couldn't 'ave done anything about this, and that
there's nothing to feel guilty about. It was the slayer's fault, and it was
her time to die. You did what you were supposed to do, and if she was any
kind of slayer at all she would've wanted you to save the child."

"I know but the whole thing left a bad taste in my mouth."

"What did?"

"The child's parents."

"What's wrong?"

"I'm not sure I should've left him with them. The whole situation seems
wrong somehow. I feel like I failed the child by leaving him there."

"There isn't much you could've done differently. You can't raise a child.
First of all, you don't know what a baby needs or how to take care of one.
Then there's the danger your life would put him in. You're in a battle here
against the forces of evil. They would use the child against you. There is
every possibility that he would end up dead."

"I know that! You think I don't know that! I just wanted to protect him. I
wanted him to have a chance at a normal life."

"If the Powers that Be have chosen him then there is very little chance of
him having a 'normal' life. Those chosen usually end up living a short
painful life. You know that as well as I."

"Yes. I know." Angel wrapped his arms around himself and shuddered. "I
might deserve this fate because of all the things that I have done but how
does an innocent child deserve this."

Whistler walked up to Angel and hit him upside the head. Angel started to
growl at him, but Whistler's words stopped him. "This is not about your
punishment, Angel. It is about your redemption. As for the child I don't
know what it will mean for him. I am not a prophet, but it will mean
something. If you don't have faith Angel why do you still strive against the
darkness?"

"Because I must be punished. It's what I deserve." Angel swung around his
coat swirling out behind him. He stalked off into the darkness.


Present

Xander dug in his heels when Spike dragged him to Giles' door.

"What is it now?!" Spike yelled in frustration.

"You can't go out there Spike. It's still daylight."

Spike looked at him a perplexed look on his face. He flung open the door to
a deep velvety blackness. "No it's not luv. The sun set about an hour
ago."

Xander shook his head in confusion. "But I left home in the morning?"
Xander looked up at Spike.

"Maybe you did luv, but you didn't get to Giles' until pretty late."

"I just went shopping. I don't remember going anywhere else."

Spike gently pulled the boy through the door, and away from any spying eyes.
"Are you sure you just didn't get up later then you thought?"

The corners of Xander's mouth turned down, and his brow puckered in thought.
"I don't know. The parents were still asleep but that doesn't mean much
over the weekend."

A growl rumbling up through Spike's chest when Xander mentioned his parents,
and with it came the beginning of a pain searing through his brain. He
clamped down savagely on the thought that had been forming. It had gotten
to the point where he only had to think of Xander's parents for the chip to
react violently. It had long since passed the point of the love of violence
and it had entered the realm of obsessive vengeance. He wanted them dead.
At this point he didn't even care how they died he just wanted them dead.
The biggest problem was that he wasn't sure how Xander would take their
deaths. He remembered his own sadistic relationship with Angelus and what
he had felt like when his Sire had disappeared. He needed to get Xander to
leave his parents. The choice had to be his. Spike forced himself away from
his thoughts and concentrated on what the boy was saying.

"What about when you found the flowers? You went back in the house then
right?"

"Yeah, but I don't know how I could have taken that long." Xander's voice
quivered as he wondered what exactly he had been doing. Had one of them
taken over? It couldn't be that. He always remembered when they took
control, and it was always only a couple moments. This had been going on
long enough that he knew what circumstances brought them out and also what
sent them away.

"We'll think about it later pet. Now we should get our stuff so we can get
back here before anything happens."

Xander shook his head, disturbed, but he followed meekly after the vampire.
He seriously wondered how many more mind altering revelations he could take
tonight, and he still didn't know who had given him the roses.

His gaze skittered down the narrow back in front of him. The vampire turned
slightly and smiled back at him offering his hand. "Are you coming pet?"

Xander felt dizzy as he saw his hand reach out to Spike's almost of its own
volition. He braced himself knowing that it was coming, knowing that at
this moment when he was vulnerable that was when IT would happen. It was
after all when Ampata had disappeared into dust, when his teacher the
preying mantis had tried to eat him, when Cordelia had dumped him, when
Willow had chosen Oz over him and when Faith had tried to kill him. They
always seemed to strike when he actually reached out like this leaving
himself open for the blow. The problem was that no matter how many times he
had been hurt in the past he just couldn't stop himself from reaching out.

Xander felt his knees go weak when instead of laughing or hurting or even
trying to kill him Spike drew him close, wrapping an arm around his waist to
support him. For one instant Xander allowed his head to fall forward onto
Spike's shoulder. All he could do was think that was there would be another
moment when he reached out, and he wondered how or if Spike would reach
back.

But, he reminded himself, Spike reached for me this time. He reached out
first and all I had to do was to meet his hand. He took all the risk.

Xander's pace quickened to match Spike's. The streets were very dark most
of the lights in this area had been broken by the different vampire gangs.
The city workers just couldn't keep up. The first thing the vamps did in
the evening was to move through the streets taking out the lights. It made
it much easier for them to stalk victims, but it also made it easier for
Buffy to find out which streets had active vampires. Of course Buffy only
figured that out after Xander had mentioned it to her.

Generally it made Xander very anxious to walk through streets such as these,
but not tonight, he thought as Spike's arm tightened around his waist.
Xander found himself watching Spike instead of watching the shadows as he
would normally. He couldn't seem to tear his eyes from Spike's face.

For the most part Spike's attention was focused outward, he was constantly
scanning their surroundings, as if he expected an attack. Every once in a
while his eyes would stray back to Xander's and their gazes would meet, with
an almost explosive force, and then they would stare at each other until one
of them couldn't stand the intensity and would shy away.

They were almost at Xander's house when Spike's gaze met his again, and he
broke. "What?! You keep looking at me?"

Xander felt his lips twist upward. "I like looking at you." His tone was
soft and shy in direct contrast to his smug smile.

Spike raised one of his eyebrows. The motion drew Xander's eyes to the scar
and he felt his hand twitch. He could reach up and run his fingers down
that scar.

Spike had cocked his head at him curiously. Their forward motion had
stopped entirely as Spike waited to see what would happen next.

Xander looked him deeply in the eyes, and wondered if he dared.

Spike looked back at him steadily, and all that Xander could find in his
eyes was a calm acceptance and assurance.

Those eyes gave him the courage to reach up and run his fingers lightly over
that scar. They continued of their own accord down the side of Spikes face
to brush softly over his lips.

Spike froze into stillness at the soft exploratory touch. When the hesitant
fingers traced his lower lip his lips parted and his tongue snuck out,
meeting that blood hot warmth. He slowly drew that finger between his lips
and suckled at it. Xander's eyes grew big and his pupils dilate. A musty
scent rose up off the boy and Spike felt his nostrils flare as he tasted the
boy's heat.

Xander's lips parted and his tongue darted out to moisten his lips, and
Spike smiled around the finger.

Xander blinked once wondering how he had gone from walking beside Spike to
full blown 'throw you down on the pavement and fuck you through the ground
lust' in a matter of seconds.

Spike opened his mouth and the captured finger slid out. His hands reached
out and he grasped Xander's shoulders pulling him close. The muscled bodies
collided with a barely contained hunger. Hardness pushing against hardness.

Xander found his arms wrapped around Spike's neck, and Spike's hands had
slid down to mould his hips. Their mouths were smashed together, and Xander
found himself desperately devouring the cool lips pressed against his.
Xander wondered fleetingly how it had come to this before the hunger rose
again and he deepened the kiss.

Finally they broke apart for Xander to gasp in oxygen. Then they stood for
a moment staring at each other. Spike raised one hand to cup the side of
Xander's face, and then cuddled the boy close. "Later." Spike spoke with a
promise in his words. He stared at Xander intently touching his face softly.
"I have to see to your safety first, luv. It's too open out here." Spike
turned and pulled Xander after him toward the basement door.

Across the street a figure detached itself from the shadows of a house. The
figure was literally trembling with rage. "I won't lose you again Beauty."
He snarled hoarsely "No one will take you from me. I will destroy any one
who stands in my way." 

Part Six  

Past

The room was dark and the shadows within the room seemed to close inward as
the hour grew later. Mrs. Harris sat in the far corner of the room on the
silly rocking chair that her husband had insisted on buying. The dolt had
mumbled something about his mother rocking him to sleep when he had been
young. What the hell made him think that she would ever use the freaking
thing.

It squeaked incessantly as she obsessively rocked back and forth back and
forth clutching at the pillow perched on her lap. Her almost vacant gaze
wandered across the room taking in but not quite seeing the figure of her
drunken husband crashed half on and half off the sofa, and the dresser
drawer on the table that held her infant son. The chair squeaked alarmingly
as she gave it a sudden push backward with her legs. It teetered for a
moment on the edge of it's long rockers then it swung forward and she
propelled herself up out of the chair and stalked over to the table.

Her hand worked the pillow with an almost compulsive movement she crushed it
then pulled it straight. Crushed it then pulled it straight. She hovered
over the drawer crib/ drawer and watch ed the baby kick it's little limbs.
It was waving one arm around aimlessly trying to shove it's fist in it's
mouth. She absently noticed that it was a lot more coordinated then most
newborns. She felt herself raising the pillow. The baby cooed at her
focusing on her directly, waving his fist at her. she moved the pillow
closer to him.

"I've thought about it brat." She snarled low as her eyes began to glow
with a pale green light. "I've weighed the idea of the money against having
to listen to your whimpering and I've come to the conclusion that you're a
perfect candidate for sudden infant death syndrome." Her lips twisted into
this evil smile and she started to lower the pillow.

A spark leapt up from around the baby and struck her square into the chest
throwing her across the room. She leapt up and her face twisted and
morphed. Horns looped out from her temples and curled down and back around
her head like rams horns, except that they were a pale green in color. Her
face had become twisted and misshapen, and yet much remained of her human
features. Her eyes and cheekbones had stayed the same but her lips and nose
had enlarged and swelled giving her a rather grotesque appearance. she
panted harshly for a second and then charged the table again.

And again a green glow arose around the child and she struck this shield
head on. It threw her back again this time she clambered slowly and
painfully to her feet. She shook her head and her features slowly changed
back into normal. Her large lips and nose were the last feature to fade
away. "A protection spell." She muttered to herself. "FATHER!" She
screamed gnashing her teeth. Nothing answered her.

She cautiously approached the baby. The shield flared brightly then faded
away. She walked around the perimeter of the absent shield and then stepped
across the threshold. "How is this possible? He shouldn't even know you
exist." She walked back over to where the child lay. she moved her hands
around the child sticking her tongue out to taste the air. Her tongue
lengthened and split at the end moving over and around the child just as her
hands had done. Not quite touching the child itself.

Her hands then floated back toward her own body. She ran her hands up and
down her own abdomen. "The mother fucking asshole." She spit out. "He put
the spell on me. It activated when I gave birth." She hissed out the words.
"Hmmm." She hummed a sweet smile curved her lips. "It only stops me from
hurting the brat." Her eyes glowed green again. "Then I'll just have to
make sure someone else kills it." She sauntered over to her sleeping
husband, and pulled the coverlet off the back of the couch and down over his
somnolent body. She threw back her head and laughed. "Oh yes father. We'll
see who wins this one. I'll have twenty-one years in which to make one
father kill his child."


Present

Xander pulled Spike eagerly down the steps of his basement trying to stifle
his laughter. He just felt so wonderful. It was like there was this golden
bubble of happiness inside of him, and he wanted to stand out on the street
and shout that Spike liked him. It was so different then he had felt just
yesterday. As soon as they hit the bottom of the steps he steps he swung
the vampire around in a giddy circle. He felt hard arms go around his body
and lift him slightly off the floor. He looked up into Spike's golden eyes
and couldn't quite believe that this was happening.

One moment at the Scooby meeting he had felt this almost overwhelming urge
to squirm out from under Spike's gaze and now he wanted nothing more then
take complete and utter possession of those chiseled lips. It was this
burning hot need deep inside his body, so much so that he felt himself
quivering with it. He leaned his weight against Spike and snuggled his head
down into Spike's shoulder, feeling only this overwhelming heaviness
throughout his body.

Spike was moving him backward through the room and he felt the bed against
his knees and then he was falling and Spike was coming to rest on top of
him. this incredible fragrance rose up around then and Xander was dragged
out of his mating haze by a painful pinpricks all over his back. He
forcibly lifted each of his eyelids and found himself lying on a bed of
roses.

He shoved hard at Spike who had been licking at his neck. Spike tumbled
backward off the bed and Xander sat up looking around with a growing horror.

"What the hell did you do that for?" Spike asked irritably.

"Spike?" Xander's voice quivered as he looked around the room. Almost every
level surface was covered with roses, all of them red except for the ones on
his pillow which were a dead black. "Please tell me you have developed this
overwhelming obsessive need to give me roses. I'll understand Spike.
Really I will. Everyone needs a hobby after all. This could just be
yours." The boy sat on the bed trembling. Spike move quickly to his side
and wrapped his arms around the boy.

"I wish I could say that I had love." Spike tightened his grip on the boy.
He looked around in a daze at the sheer amount of the flowers.

"Someone's been in my room Spike." His fingers curled deep into Spike's
shirt. "They could come in at anytime."

Spike lurched up off of the bed and pulled open one of Xander drawers. He
swept out all of the contents into a duffle bag that he had grabbed with his
other hand, then he dragged open a second drawer.

"Spike! My stuff!"

Spike ignored him and swept that drawer into the bag also, the outside door
of the basement squealed as it was slowly pushed open. Spike felt the
incredible age and power of the being that opened the door and they both saw
the silhouette of the shadowy figure that stepped inside.

Part Seven  

Past

Far to the east of Sunnydale, across an ocean an ancient demon raised his
head and scented the wind. The pale moonlight glinted off the full curving
horns that grew out of that massive head reaching down past the crook of his
elbow. He tasted the power that had been drawn from him in the west. A
spell that he had implanted years before had suddenly become active, and for
a second he quavered in indecision. Should he go now or should he wait.

He would wait. The laws of his kind had been written for a reason. He would
make that journey in eighteen years at the time of transition. Right now he
would rejoice a grandson had been born to him, and the prophecy would be
fulfilled.

'''''''''''''''''''
Present

Spike grabbed Xander and pushed him up the inside basement steps as the
figure swooped down the outside steps. By the time the person had crossed
the room Spike had shoved himself and Xander through the door at the top of
the basement steps and slid the deadbolt home. The door shuddered briefly
as someone hit it full force. It shuddered but held.

"Spike?!" Xander whimpered.

"Shhhhh! I need to listen."

Xander quieted. He strained his ears trying to understand what Spike was
listening to.

With a quick movement Spike grabbed the door bolt and slid it open. The
fingers that were wrapped around Xander's upper arm tightened briefly, and
then he jerked the door open.

"Spike!" Xander hissed in fear.

Spike's other hand came up and covered Xander's mouth. "Quiet." Spike moved
silently back down the steps dragging Xander with him.

Xander looked around wildly and found that the room was vacant. He looked
up at Spike imploringly.

Spike's jaw was white and he was scanning the room intently. He moved
Xander across the room swiftly pausing only briefly to pick up the bag he
had dropped earlier. Before Xander could even gather his wits they were at
the outside door. Spike froze briefly and listened intently. "He's
upstairs. When we get out we have to run as quickly as possible, we're
going to make for my house. He doesn't have permission to came in."

Xander's eyes widened. Spike didn't have a house. He thought. The only
houses near them were in the opposite direction of Spike's crypt.

Spike rose one eyebrow at Xander.

Comprehension dawned and Xander nodded quickly.

Spike burst through the door and pelted down the street.

Xander tried to keep up as well as he could but he found himself no match
for vampiric speed. His lungs were beginning to ache as they became more
and more starved for oxygen. Finally, he stumbled and almost fell. Spike's
arms can around him and he was hoisted up over Spike's shoulder and then
they moved at a much faster speed.

Xander spent the first few seconds gasping for air between the running and
having Spike's shoulder driven into his abdomen oxygen became a highly
sought after commodity. When he started to regain an understanding of his
position. He found his movements were rather restricted and he felt a bit
like the string that someone was dangling in front of the cat. The only
direction he could see was directly behind them, and that wasn't good for
Xander's peace of mind, because their pursuit was gaining on them.

The creature who pursued them had lost the top part of his cloak and Xander
could see the vampiric ridges that outlined the creatures forehead. The
moonlight gleamed off of unusually long and evil looking fangs. Xander
forced his gaze from the fangs and found to his horror that the vampire had
a red rose stuck in his lapel.

Xander clenched his eyes and tightened his fists in Spike's duster. He
found himself whispering almost inaudibly. "Faster Spike."

Spike responded with an inhuman surge forward and he hit something hard
jarring both Xander and himself and then they were both engulfed in a cool
earthy darkness. Xander felt himself almost unceremoniously dropped and
then the whole crypt shuddered under the impact of their pursuer slamming
into the heavy oak door.

Xander struggled to stand up. "He can't come in can he?"

The door shuddered under another blow.

"No, he can't luv. He has to be invited."

Xander watched the door that Spike was holding shut with and almost morbid
fear. It shuddered again and the wood started to crack and split under the
abuse it was taking. "Then why does he keep doing that?" Their was an
almost hysterical edge to Xander's voice.

"He's playing with us luv. He's trying to get us to do something stupid."

"Who is he?" Xander asked a little more calmly.

"I don't know luv. All I know is that he is old. Very very old."

Xander found himself stealing closer to Spike, almost cuddling into the
vampire. Spike stepped back from the door as the attacks stopped. Both of
his arms came up around Xander's body.

"How old?" Xander trembled slightly.

"As old as or older than the Master." Spike's hands soothed down Xander's
back.

"He had a rose in his buttonhole." Even Xander's voice trembled.

Spike's arms tightened around Xander convulsively. "I was afraid of that."
He didn't say any more. He just stood there holding Xander.

"I suppose he's way to powerful to fight."

Spike pushed Xander back far enough so that he could look into his eyes. "I
can't beat him one on one, but he bloody hell isn't going to win." Spike
was hissing the last part. His face had morphed into his game face.

Xander looked deep into Spike's eyes and made a decision. "I don't want you
to get hurt. He only wants me. If I go out there then he'll leave you
alone."

"No."

"Listen to me Spike it's the only way. It's like willow said I'm a demon
magnet, and I always end up dragging my friends and the people I care about
into trouble. If I give him what he wants then there won't be a problem."

"No."

"You can't just tell me no. I'll do what I want." Xander shoved away from
Spike, and lunged toward the door.

Spike tackled Xander to the ground, then howled in agony as the chip was
triggered. The agony rolled up through him in waves but still Spike held on
to the wiggling mortal.

Xander froze as he realized that he was triggering the chip. He tried to
use his hands to soothe the vampire as much as possible. Xander crooned and
petted the vampire as he rode out the wave of pain, but still Spike held him
in an uncompromising grip.

Finally Spike gave one last shudder and stilled. He slowly opened his eyes
and blearily focused on the boy lying under him.

Xander looked up at him with eyes that were swimming with tears. "I didn't
mean to hurt you, Spike. I was trying to prevent you from getting hurt."

Spike lowered his head and gently brushed his lips against Xander's. "First
of all I bleeding well knew it would hurt before I did it." Spike snorted
sardonically. "All you're guilty of is being a stupid little git, which
brings me to the second problem. Don't you think it's a little suspicious
that right when some blooming prophecy about one of your lot destroying the
world comes down the tubes this Master vampires up and starts stalking you."

"So the prophecy is about me." the boy's lip quivered.

Spike snorted again, "It's probably about that blooming idiot out there. I,
however do not give a bleeding fuck about what the prophecy has to say."
Spike looked uneasy for a moment then a look of absolute determination
crossed his face. "I love you, and if I ever hear spouting such drivel
again I will chain you to my bleeding bed. You hear me!" Spike roared into
Xander face.

Xander blinked for a moment and then this look of wonder widened his eyes.
"You love me!"

Spike rolled his eyes. "Figures the blooming idiot would fixate on that."
he muttered. "Get with the program ducks. If you ever do something that
stupid again I will chain you to MY BED. Do you understand?"

Xander's eyes twinkled. "That might be kinda fun." He pushed himself up
closer to Spike.

Spike looked down at him sternly. "It's not going to work, luv. I want you
promise that you'll give up any idea of going to him."

Xander stilled. "It would work Spike. He would leave everyone alone."

Spike sighed. "No it wouldn't luv. He saw me kiss you, to his mind that's
as good as a challenge. He won't let me live, and together we have a better
chance of beating him." Spike kissed the tip of Xander's nose. "I want
your promise luv."

Xander's jaw tightened and he tested the hold that Spike had on him.

Spike just glared at him.

Xander pouted.

Spike brushed a kiss on his lips. "Very tempting luv, but not until I get
that promise."

Xander looked into Spike's eye and saw nothing there but steely
determination. "I promise." He said softly.

Spike sighed again, and rested his head on Xander's shoulder. "Everything
I've ever loved has been either taken from me or left me. I could handle
it, but I don't think I could handle losing you, and if ever tell anyone I
bleeding said that..."

Xander reached up and wrapped his arms around Spike. "I know the Big Bad."

"You got it luv."

"Big Bad marshmallow." Xander muttered.

"What was that?!" Spike yelled in outrage.

"Um. What was what?" Xander tried to look cute.

Spike pounced on him and started tickling.

"I give. I give." Xander panted between laughter. "You're really very
horrible. The worst vampire on the planet."

Spike paused and kissed Xander on the lips. "And don't you forget it."

Part Eight

Xander lay weakly on his back. The laughter had died completely and he was
feeling rather awkward. Spike had said that he loved him and that made a
part of him so happy he could hardly bear it but another part didn't quite
know what to do next. Did he love Spike?

It was all happening so fast. How could he tell Spike about his ambivalence
without hurting him? He felt a finger trailing down the worry wrinkle in
the middle of his forehead.

"What are you worrying about now pet? I swear sometimes you angst as much
as the pouf." Spike had propped himself up on one arm and he was staring
down at Xander.

Xander's eyes just swam with all his worries.

"I know you don't love me pet."

Xander gasped.

"It's alright. In fact, I'm kinda used to it." Spike's voice had a
self-mocking twist.

Xander shook his head in negation. "That's just it Spike. I don't know
what I feel. I don't know if I can even love anybody. My track record isn't
that good. Cordelia, Willow, and Ampata I thought I was in love with all of
them but each time it got so messed up. Either by something I did or just
because of life in general." Xander paused sobbing in a breath. "I just
don't know. I know I like you. I like you a lot. Maybe even better then
anyone else but I don't know if it's love, yet."

"Shhh, pet. It'll be alright." Spike sat up pulling Xander up on his lap.
"I didn't tell you to make you feel bad, pet. At the very least you should
be 'appy that you won't be on my list when I get me bite back. Might decide
to kidnap you but I won' kill you." He continued more seriously, "The words
are a gift pet. Doesn't mean you have to give 'em back." Spike had an
almost alien look of tenderness in his eyes.

"I guess this means shagging is out?" Xander asked wistfully.

"What the 'ell gave you that idea?!" Spike raised his scared eyebrow.

"Well, I thought... I mean because you love me and I don't know how I feel
and I wouldn't want to lead you on or anything ..."

Spike leaned over and covered Xander's babbling lips with his own, then
leaned back.

"and I definitely wouldn't want to hurt you..."

Spike kissed him again.

"and I don't want to use you or anything..." The words kept bubbling but
Xander clung to each of the kisses he received.

Spike had moved down Xander's throat and was nibbling on his Adam's apple.

Xander's hands wandered up to Spike's hair intending to tug him away but
somehow they managed to get tangled up. "Um... Are you listening... oh..."
Xander's voice wandered off into oblivion.

"Yes, I'm listening." Spike's hands wandered up to unbutton Xander's top
two buttons then he gentled his lips into Xander's collarbone. "You like
me." Another kiss in the notch of the collarbone. "You like me a lot. Maybe
more then anyone else." Spike sucked on the collarbone. "But you're
afraid."

Xander clutched Spike's hair convulsively.

Spike brought his head up and looked into Xander's wide fearful eyes. "I
was mistaken before. I thought that you were avoiding me because you didn't
feel the same way. But that's not true." Spike leaned forward again
brushing his lips softly against Xander's. His hands came up to grasp the
sides of Xander's shirt, then he pulled hard sending buttons flying in all
directions. Spike grinned at him evilly as Xander just blinked in shock.
Spike pushed Xander down onto his back. "Now that I know you don't know how
you feel, I have a chance. I get to woo you."

Xander's mouth dropped open. "Wo...woo me." Xander stuttered, then did a
doubletake. "You know how to woo someone?!"

Spike looked at him with an injured air. "I'll have you know that I'm very
good at wooing." Spike settled his body down over Xander's.

Xander snorted. "This is wooing. A dark creepy crypt floor."

"Yes." Spike answered complacently. "Nice atmosphere eh?" His head dipped
down and he ran his tongue around the outside of Xander's left nipple.

Xander felt a moan escaping his lips as Spike scraped one fang gently over
the outlined nipple. It puckered in response and Xander tried to drag his
mind back to the discussion at hand. "Umm. It's cold." That made no sense.

Spike's tongue poked out to touch the tip of his nipple, and his cool breath
whispered out over it. Then that cold mouth descended and suckled harshly.

Xander arched up into that mouth, and the thought wandered through his
brain, 'It's only my nipple. What if he did that to my cock?' He felt Spike
smile against his chest almost as if he had heard that thought. Those
delightfully cool hands were soothing down his abdomen to his waist. He
gasped when he felt those hands wrap around his waist. He felt the heat
pooling at his groin and his head and limbs felt heavy, while his thought
processes whirled dizzily.

Spike stroked his hands up and down Xander's sides touching a hot spot there
that Xander never knew he had. His sides who'd have thought.

Xander couldn't stop the moan from escaping as those cool fingers wrapped
around his sides, lifting him.

Lifting him? Xander blinked as part of the sensual fog lifted briefly. Oh
the bed. Beds were good.

The sheet under him was shockingly cool against his overheated flesh, and
then those wonderful lips were on his again driving coherent thought from
his brain.

Those hands were sliding down from his ribcage, caressing his waist. A
liquid fire followed the movements of those hands and Xander found himself
panting into Spike's mouth. Hungry little cries, which Spike quickly
swallowed. His lips and tongue taking everything Xander had to give and
demanding more.

Xander felt the constriction of his jeans give way as they were tugged down
his hips. He lifted up to allow Spike to pull them off. His own hands were
making a fumbled attempt at removing Spike's. He needed to feel Spike
against him. He had to know what it felt like to have the vampire in him.
It was a hunger that was beginning to gnaw at his every thought.

Spike tried to help him but Xander was much too impatient to allow it. He
freed the infernal button and yanked the front of the jeans apart without
ever touching the zipper.

Spike's mouth left his and he felt the vampire drawing away from him. He
mindlessly tried to follow and cool hands caught his shoulders pinning him
to the mattress. He found himself focusing in on Spike.

The vampire smirked down at him.

"What?!" Xander growled as his gaze locked in on those tempting lips.

"Well, luv. You might not know if you love me but you certainly know that
you want me."

A brief expression of exasperation crossed Xander's face. "Spike, dear."
Xander said sweetly.

"Yes pet?" Spike copied his tone.

"We can do this one of two ways. You can be all witty and I can be all
witty and we can talk all night, or you can take your fucking pants off and
then fuck me silly." Xander found that his sweet voice had somehow morphed
into and hungry growl.

Spike's eyes glinted yellow and he ducked his head and inhaled the sweet
scent of lust that was pouring off of the youth. "My, my. Decisions.
Decisions."

Xander lifted his lip and snarled at Spike as he tugged at the pants. "Jeans
off now!" He demanded. How dare her mate not give her satisfaction? Xander
shivered as he realized the Other had been controlling his actions. He
couldn't allow the hyena to force the vampire into anything he did not want
to do, even though there was this almost overwhelming urge to toss the
impudent male off of him and ride him into submission.

Spike totally oblivious to the battle that waged in his mind.

The corners of Spike's lips turned up at his demand and he slid up so he was
kneeling astride Xander's body. Only the insides of Spike's knees were
actually touching him but Xander felt himself harden further at Spike
predatory movements. Spike's right shoulder was cocked in front of his left
and his left hand was hooked into his waistband by his thumb.

His parted jeans framed his pale erection in a sea of black denim. He
slowly slid the waistband of his jeans down thrusting his hip just a bit.

Xander whimpered in response. His eyes were glued to the man above him.

Spike brought the other hand languidly up his thigh and hooked it too into
the waistband shimmying his pants down until they became trapped by his
spread thighs. He pulled his legs in tight against the boy smiling as his
eye's grew round and his face flushed. Spike shifted forward resting one
fist on either side of the boy's head. He pressed his hips forward and down
until his penis brushed gently against Xander's midriff.

One side of his mouth smirked upwards. "I 'ear patience is a virtue among
your lot. It's in the good guys creed of somthin'."

Xander lunged upward the last of his store of patience exhausted good guy or
not. At the same time Spike lunged downward and their lips collided in a
passionate kiss. Spike pulled away slightly to murmur against Xander's
lips, "Lucky for you I'M not a good guy." He let his full weight rest and
rub against Xander as he wiggled lowering his pants.

Xander's hands grabbed the waistband helping until Spike could kick them
free, and so with only a couple of misplaced elbows Xander finally had a
cool naked Spike pressed up against his warm flesh.

Spike pulled himself away from Xander's clinging lips and started nibbling
down his jaw line and out onto his neck.

Xander arched his head back to allow Spike better access to his neck. The
icy tongue trace down his jugular and the mouth clamped down on his
collarbone. Spike felt the heat begin to rise in the piece of flesh that he
had trapped in his mouth. The blood was so close to the surface now that he
could almost suck it out. He couldn't believe how much he coveted just one
little taste of the mortal that lay beneath him. Fucking solider boys.
Xander thrust his hips up drawing Spike's attention away from his impotent
rage and back to the scrumptious mortal under him.

Xander's chocolate brown hair was tousled and clung in hot sweaty strands to
his forehead. His face was flushed and his eyes had fallen shut. Every
iota of attention seemed to be concentrated on pushing himself into the hard
body above him. Spike hissed his attention divided between watching and
participating. He found himself pulling back just to study every nuance of
the boy's movement.

Spike's eyes were drawn again to the bright red bruise that was forming on
the boy's collar bone. Not quite the bite that he wanted but it would do
for now. A temporary mark of sorts. Soon though he knew he would find a way
to mark the boy as his permanently. Spike tangled his hand in Xander's
sweaty hair and watched as the curls wrapped around his fingers.

Xander lunged upward snapping playfully at the air in front of Spike's nose.
He grinned at Spike's bemused smile. "Fucking now. Admire the scenery
later."

Spike grinned in return, and then bore down on Xander's erection causing the
grin on the boy's face to change into a needy gasp.

Spike growled low in the back of his throat. "Do you want that, Alexander
Harris? Do you want my hard cock filling you up? Completing you? Making
you mine?"

The gasp turned into a low moan.

Spike froze holding both of their bodies still.

Xander groaned forcing his eyes open.

"Is that what you want?"

Spike was hovering over him very still and serious. Xander looked deep into
his eyes. For a moment he wondered what Spike was asking, then everything
seemed to break loose inside of Xander. Hyena or not this was what Xander
wanted. Just because the Hyena wanted it too did not make it wrong. "Fuck
me Spike." Xander almost howled. "Fuck me hard and Fuck me deep. Make me
yours." Something the Hyena would never have been able to ask for, she
owned her mates there was no give and take. Xander wanted it both. He
wanted Spike to have him and for him to have Spike.

Spike had this almost maniacal gleam to his eye. "Oh yes pet" came his
guttural response. He leaned over and his mouth began to worry at Xander's
nipple, then he worked his way lower still with occasional little catching
mouthfuls of flesh that never quite broke the surface and never quite caused
actual pain. When he reached the boy's abdomen he shoved his tongue roughly
into the boy's navel drawing a broken hiss in response. Spike grinned as he
painted the ridges of the boy's belly with his tongue either hand resting on
the boy's thighs tantalizingly close to what Xander actually wanted him to
touch.

Xander whimpered trying to push his hot flesh up into some kind of contact.

Spike drew back and exhaled allowing a cool draft of air to ghost across the
boy's erection which bobbed in response. Spike drifted closer lapping at
the tip, while holding Xander's eyes with his own. He brought his wrist up
to his mouth. His fangs descended and with shocking swiftness he ripped open
a vein.

Xander gasped and his eyes went wide.

Spike turned his hand down allowing the blood to run down his fingers and
drip onto the boy's thigh and groin. The blood glowed scarlet and the boy's
skin, and Spike followed each drop licking and lapping at the flesh that it
covered.

Xander trembled with need at the sight of that pink tongue and blood stained
lips. Xander found himself wanting those bright white fangs, wanting them
to bury in him as much as he wanted Spike himself in him. He shuddered for
a moment, then he felt a soft stroking on both of his thighs. He looked
down and found Spike peering up at him from human colored eyes. All the
bumps and ridges from a moment before had disappeared under Spike concern.

"Are you okay pet? I just didn't think. Stupid git." Spike muttered the
last to himself.

Xander shook his head as his hands came up to sooth over Spike's shoulders
and arms. "No Spike. It's alright."

Spike shook his head. "No you see. Vampire's like that sort of thing. They
think it's sexy. I just didn't think about you being human and all."

"Spike!" Xander shouted a little to break through the vampire's litany of
self guilt. "It is okay. I liked it."

"I mean, I wouldn't do anything that you don't want. You don't have to
worry or anything..." Spike stumbled to a halt then he looked at Xander
hopefully. "You liked it?"

Xander's lips curved up into a quirky smile. "Yeah Spike I liked it. I
think I'd probably like just about anything you did." Xander looked at him
shyly. "I might even like it if you bit me. Not turned, but maybe just a
taste."

Spike's eyes flashed bright yellow for a moment before subsiding. Spike
dropped his head and nuzzled Xander's thigh, then he shuddered. His head
lifted and he looked into Xander's eyes. "I can't luv, not with this
bleeding chip in my head!"

Xander sat up and wrapped his arms around Spike. "It's not going to be in
there forever, Spike. I know you and you'll find a way to get rid of it."
Xander pulled Spike's hand up to his face. He hesitated for a moment then he
sucked Spike's finger into his mouth licking at the dripping blood. The
flavor exploded across his tastebuds. He blinked startled by the way he
could actually taste both power and age in it.

Spike smirked at him. "See I'm a nummy treat too."

Xander looked at him blankly for a second before recognition kicked in. He
groaned and hid his face against Spike's neck.

Spike chuckled. "None of that luv." He pulled the boy's head up, and
watched fascinated by the flush of red color that had spread across the
boy's cheeks and chest.

Xander gave a slight shake of his head, and then asked in a low purr, "Well
if you didn't want me to taste what were you planning on doing with that
blood?"

Spike responded with a purr of his own. "Why don't you lay back down and
I'll show you." He gave an exaggerated leer, and Xander giggled in
response.

Xander flopped back down and Spike squirmed into position between his legs.
"Let's see where were we? Oh yes." He brought his wrist back up to his
lips and reopened the wound. Blood dribbled out onto Xander who wriggled
with each drop. Spike's head dipped so that he was hovering over one of the
drops, with Xander watching him intently. His tongue came out and he lapped
up the drop moving his whole head instead of his tongue, and then he peered
slyly up at Xander who was again breathing heavily.

Spike moved his hand so it dribbled blood further up Xander's thigh and then
chased down that droplet also. This time he scraped the skin slightly with
his teeth and Xander moaned in response. He turned his hand down again so
that blood ran down covering his fingers, and then he traced those finger up
over Xander's thighs and around his balls. When his tongue followed Xander
gasped and his erection jumped. Spike paid particular attention to each
sucking first one and then the other into his mouth by this time Xander was
shuddering. The delayed passion seemed to be driving him quickly over the
edge.

Spike moved his hand lower and one finger circled his anus coating it
liberally with blood, then that tongue again followed the finger circling
and then pushing hard into the boy. Xander found himself spreading his legs
and tilting his hips up as Spike's tongue began plunging and then
retreating. Then it was gone and something cool and wet splashed against
him. Xander eyes flew open to find Spike kneeling up between his legs. He
felt something harder press against his entrance. A finger. It felt weird
moving around inside of him, and then it brushed up against something and
Xander felt his sensation roll out over his body and then every muscle
clenched and pleasure exploded out over his body.

Xander came back to find himself cuddled up around a thin cool body and a
hot heavy weight digging into his thigh. He blinked trying to get his
bearings. What the hell had happened? He had cum he thought vaguely, but
it was different. It was like he had exploded inward instead of outward and
the pleasure hadn't been centered in his groin rather it had involved almost
every part of his body. It had been weird, but good. Really, really good.

He looked up at Spike as he ran his hands down his flanks. "You back with
me luv?"

Xander's head gave a undetermined shake.

"Not really then." Spike smirked down at him. "Just go to sleep, pet."

Xander gave a stronger shake this time it was a definite negative. His
wandering had found Spike erection and his fingers wrapped around it.

Spike gasped. "You don't have to." Spike protested insincerely.

Xander soothed Spike's precum down around his erection and then added some
of the blood Spike had smeared all over him. "I want this in me."

Spike shuddered as his game face surface then disappeared. Xander lazily
stroked Spike as his other hand reached up and touched the vampire's
forehead. "It's alright Spike. I want you and I want you in me."

Spike growled slightly and Xander found himself shoved onto his back with
those fingers back inside him. This time the first one was quickly followed
by a second which scissored back and forth inside him. The blood began to
pool at Xander's groin again, and then there was a third finger. Just as
quickly they were gone, and something larger was pressing against his
opening.

Xander braced himself expecting pain but there was none just a slow steady
pressure. It's supposed to hurt the first time as the heat began rising in
his body. Everything I've read says that it's supposed to hurt at least a
little, but instead I'm taking him easily. Weird again. Still good though.
He thought as he began to lose himself in the sensation.

And then Spike was in him the whole way and thought was no longer possible,
because Spike began to move again. At first it was little tiny thrusts that
created little sparks behind his eyelids then it was long hard lunges that
pushed him up the bed and ignited a wildfire in his veins. Xander tilted
his hips up shoving himself against Spike as hard as spike was pushing
against him. Then Spike stilled and shook and cool wetness exploded inside
Xander spreading out and igniting another one of those full body
conflagrations, and for the second time that night Xander passed out.

******

Part Nine-Fourteen