POV: Xander

Glowing blue eyes, flashes of amber and soft kisses. A ridged brow, intense suction on his cock, and sensations of blond silk against his fingers, cool skin against his. Xander shifted and turned over, blinking softly around his darkened bedroom. The dream had been so real this time. He was okay with his erotic dreams of the blonde, but this hadn�t felt the same, there had been such vivid taste, touch, smell even.

~Oh man but it felt good, so real~

He closed his eyes as his hand snaked down his flat belly. Xander shifted on his back and spread his legs, flinging one arm over his head as he fingered his erection lightly.

The images returned � a steamy shower and wet limbs, sliding slowly slick with heat and need. Hands on him, touching, stroking, delving into his secret places; Xander slid his hand lower, bent his knees and cupped his balls. He pulled them up, away from his anus as he let the fingers of his other hand tickle over the crinkled skin. His hand stroked his cock, sliding toward the head before moving to his mouth. Xander sucked on his fingers, covering them with saliva before moving to smear them in the sticky fluid gathering on the dusky head of his stiff cock. A soft moan escaped his parted lips as he pressed the tip of a finger into his tight ring of muscle. His grip tightened on his cock and Xander began to stroke himself, letting his finger rest just inside of his body, just experiencing as the images painted themselves for his enjoyment.

His hand moved faster on his stiffness, working the sensitive skin in cork-screwing up and down motions. The flexing of his hips worked the finger deeper inside and Xander groaned again, panting as he finally allowed the digit to sink deeper. He moved his hips in an easy rhythm now, sliding his cock through his slippery fingers while stroking his prostate with fleeting touches.

Kneeling on the floor and holding on to the smooth white porcelain tub with Spike behind him driving his cock into his hot hole. A cold grip on his burning cock, cool hard muscles against his back and tugging on his balls as Spike took him forcefully. The feeling tore through him, freeing his pent up sexual tension in a sudden burst of orgasmic release.

His finger slowed, stroked his prostate on last time, sending another flare through his body as he eased it free and lowered his legs. Xander stretched in sated languor, his eyes dreamy and half open as he licked his hand clean. Within moments he was drifting back to dreamless sleep with a small smile on his face.

~~~~~
POV: Spike
~~~~~

Spike inhaled deeply, his glowing eyes flickered closed as he squeezed himself to completion. He continued to lean against wall next to the door of Xander�s suite. He had been making his last early morning circuit through the hotel, stopping as he normally did in the hall outside Xander�s door. He did this every night, spent a few moments just standing and staring at the closed door. Listening to his human�s heart beat, his breathing; inhaling his scent.

The smell of sex � Xander, heady chocolate and musky cinnamon. The smell of Xander�s arousal holding Spike captive at the door, filling his mind with memories of their loving, the feel of Xander against him, under him. Xander�s hot body wrapped around him like a glove, his hot weight on Spike�s back as he worked his burning phallus into Spike�s tight pucker. Them together, laughing, groaning, burning and coming together; Spike adjusted his softening member in his sticky jeans and backed down the hall.

~~~~~
POV: Buffy
~~~~~

Buffy looked around her motel room as she stepped from the bathroom. She tossed the thin towel aside and pulled on her underwear. Her jeans were still slightly damp from the hand washing she�d done before passing out the night before. She was going to have to find a drug store and get some deodorant, toothpaste and a toothbrush.

After cleaning her mouth and brushing her hair, the slayer sat down on the edge of the bed trying to decide what to do next. It was almost 9 a.m. and she was pretty sure someone would be in the Investigation offices but decided to get something to eat. She would stop by the hotel later; hopefully her friends had calmed down and would have eaten something too. She felt bad about what had happened but insisted that she was justified because of hunger craze. With that decided Buffy left her motel and found a cheap diner where she had some coffee while waiting on the breakfast special. Today it was some kind of breakfast burrito thingy with hash-browns, eggs, bits of sausage and cheese inside. She didn�t see why people insisted on making a big deal over an omelet, but hey it was only $2.95 so she wasn�t complaining.

By the end of her meal, Buffy still wasn�t ready to deal with facing Xander�s not remembering her. In the clarity of the foggy morning, there was no mistaking the look that had been on his face the night before. He hadn�t recognized her at all; to Xander she was just some stranger who�d attacked his friends.

She remembered what Wesley and Willow had been saying, her phone call had upset Xander, and then he�d had some kind of episode. That�s when her reason seemed to have gone out the window. She didn�t want to be the reason Xander might have suffered any kind of pain. She really did care about him, just as much as she cared about Willow.

There was no small amount of feeling bad and even fear at the thought of facing Wills again. It had taken some effort to work Mr. Pointy out of Angel�s front door. Willow had been really pissed off; Buffy didn�t know how to deal with that. None of it � Willow being mad enough to magically turn the stake against her � that she had been mad, period. And she had been helping Angel protect Spike. Everything had just gotten so mixed up. She hadn�t gone there to start trouble, she�d only wanted to see Xander; she missed him and was worried.

Spike had made her so mad when he�d tried to stop her from going up the stairs. The vampire had slipped ahead of her and positioned himself between her and the staircase. She�d yelled at him to get out of her way, she didn�t care what he thought, he was nobody to Xander. Spike had laughed at that, then he told her she couldn�t see Xander and that she should listen to Red and just go away. Buffy had grabbed him then. Slammed Spike against the wall and finally satisfied that need to pull out her stake, making her feel better, and more in control of things. The slayer.

Things had gone down hill from there.

She wondered if she should just leave now, but somehow couldn�t bring herself to walk away. She couldn�t leave things the way they were, the way she�d made them. Why couldn�t she? It was obvious they were all against her, so why should she care anymore?

~Because they�re my friends. They�re all I have. I don�t want to loose them, that�s why I do what I do, trying to keep them safe; from getting hurt. But Xander did get hurt and where was I? Why didn�t I notice they were gone? I don�t even know how long~

Buffy stopped walking as she concentrated, trying to remember exactly when the last time she�d seen Xander had been. She felt even worse when she realized that the last time had been the night Giles had asked if Xander could house Spike. The scene replayed itself in her mind with hateful detail � she saw herself pointing out that Spike couldn�t stay in the dorms and it was the least Xander could do to help out. Now she remembered how funny Xan had acted afterward. He�d hardly spoken to either her or Giles during the short period before he simply walked out

~This can�t be my fault, it can�t be. Shit!~

~~~~~

Devon rolled away from the strong arms and sat up. He stared down into the vampire�s sleeping face with a mixture of profound love and irritation. He was still vexed with Nikolas for dragging him away from home, but agreed that there was something that required his gifts.

He giggled softly as one of the vampire�s braids snaked out to wrap around his wrist. The vampire�s hair seemed to have a life of its own and fascinated him to distraction. Devon eventually freed his wrist and slid out of the bed. He padded across the hotel room and inspected the stuff Nikolas must have gone out for after putting him to bed. Niko always took care of him when they were together, making sure Devon had the things he liked and needed. There was the toothpaste he preferred, along with his favorite shower gel, lotion, deodorant, a couple of toothbrushes and a comb.

Devon made use of the bathroom and then dressed himself in the clean clothing he found neatly folded on the closed toilet seat lid. He was going to have a chat with the vamp regarding his taste in underwear, but Devon pulled them on along with the baggy black jeans and belted them on his slim hips. He pulled on the crimson turtleneck and noted that the shade was a major theme in any clothing Nikolas *procured* for him. He shook out his damp hair and ran the comb through it, parting it down the middle so that the thick lock of sand colored hair at his widow�s peak hung on both sides of his face, just brushing the outer corner of his eyes.

Nikolas eyed him as he pulled on his sneakers. �Y� looks good ch�r, where ya headed?�

�Down to talk t� de knuckle-hed at de desk,� Devon grinned sweetly as he let the door swing shut behind him. He bounced down the stairs and past the front desk. He found a seat near the entrance of the cozy dining room, where he could sit and watch the desk while having his breakfast of pancakes, bacon, and sausage. When he was finished, Devon went to the counter and spoke to the desk clerk.

Devon stood on the sidewalk in the foggy morning air and compared the directions the clerk had given him to the ones he�d seen in Xander�s memories. They were exactly the same. He walked to the bus stop to wait for the first bus and asked the driver if he knew of an art store. He wasn�t surprised to discover there was one located two blocks over as he paid his fare and took his seat. Devon contemplated the night�s fun as the bus pulled away from the curb.

~Just as I thought~

Devon stared out the window at the group of boys lounging in the park as the bus approached his stop. He ducked down in his seat and waited for the bus to continue on its route, satisfied that his suspicions had been accurate. Devon got off the bus at the next stop and doubled back.

The gang was still there and he moved close enough to observe them without being noticed. After three more buses had gone by with no sign of their mark, one of the boys pulled out a cell phone and placed a call.

Devon watched the gang member end the call with his friend at the hotel and finally leave with his gang. He followed them to a hole in the wall game room where they planned to meet up again later that evening. Devon went back to the bus stop and made his way back to the hotel.

~~~~~
POV: Xander
~~~~~

Xander finished the book Willow had given him. A lot of things were clear to him now. He thought he understood the tension between the two vampires. He just didn�t understand what was keeping them from following their natural instincts; it was obvious that they were attracted to each other; he had written proof. He may have been wrong in assuming the two were together, but there was no way he was wrong about them wanting each other. It wasn�t a big deal.

Then why did he feel a slight jealously at the thought of those two together? Flickerings of the same jealously he�d sensed in Spike when Xander and Angel spent time together; or in Angel when Spike paid attention to him?

Determined to get some answers, Xander finished his lunch and left his suite, making his way down to the lobby.

~~~~~

Buffy mulled over her lunch and decided to check out a bookstore. She still wasn�t ready to face the LA team.

~~~~~

Xander questioned Cordelia about the vampire and discovered nothing useful, he met the same result when he spoke with Wes later. Frustrated, he used his training session with Angel to let out the pent up tension and anxiety he was experiencing. Finally he went in search of Spike, determined to find out why he thought there was something between them. He had memories of them doing things; just a few, but enough to indicate they were more than just friends. And Angel hadn�t been forth coming with the information either.

Spike wasn�t in the underground apartment, and no-one seemed to know where he was. Xander concluded that the vampire was avoiding him and this wound him up even more as the day moved into evening.

~~~~~

�Do you think she�ll be back?�

Willow didn�t even think about her answer before saying, �Yes, Xander, she will.�

Xander had nodded and continued working on his indexing project. He could tell Willow had been playing in it, some of the relational tables he�d been toying with had been completed.

�How are you with that?�

Xander thought about everything that had happened, everything he�d been told and what he was starting to remember. He and Willow talked about it for a while, she told him all about their relationship with Buffy. Again, some of the things he heard fit with or unlocked his hazy memories.

What he remembered about Buffy had strong feelings of dislike, indifference or hurt attached, making him more certain than ever that he didn�t like her. Even when he regained his memories of the blonde and their so-called past friendship, Xander felt it was exactly that, past. He didn�t want someone like Buffy in his life.

Willow said she understood and was inclined to agree with him. No matter how much she may like Buffy, and she would always care for the slayer, she just couldn�t see Buffy in the same light of friendship any longer; not after the way she had acted recently.

~~~~~

Later, Xander commented on the fact that Buffy still hadn�t shown yet and Willow shrugged, accepting the book he had come to return. They sat and compared their thoughts and understanding of the bond between Sire and Childe. It was then that Xander found out Angel was Spike�s grand-sire. He wondered if that added another level of complexity to what existed between them.

Once she got started, Willow was happy to chat about their friends and past hi-jinx. She told him how they�d become friends with Angel, skirting the not so good things like when Angel had lost his soul. She gave him enough information to draw the right conclusions about events and relationships without coming right out and telling him.

They talked for a long time, moving their conversation from place to place as they finished up small tasks. They finally settled in Willow�s sitting room where Xander directed the conversation to Spike.

Willow was honest, to a certain point, about their past with the bleached-blonde vampire. When Xander questioned her about his memories of Spike, all Willow would say was that it wasn�t her place to tell and that he should talk to Spike or wait for the memories to come in their own time.

�But he�s been avoiding me all day,� Xander complained childishly.

�Not because you�ve been a man on a mission. Xander, you�ve been prowling around all day, he�s probably scared.�

�What�s he got to be scared of?�

�I think maybe we shouldn�t talk about this, Xan. If you want to know, you�ll have to ask Spike. Just don�t try and rush things, honey.�

Their comfortable moment of thoughtful silence was broken by the sound of Cordelia calling out for Angel.

~~~~~

�Angel!� Cordelia called out as the vision came. It washed through her mind in short, sharp bursts of color.

�Cordy, what is it?� Angel demanded as he entered the lobby.

The young woman braced one hand on the long reception desk and the other was pressed over her closed eyes.

�Breath, Cordy, breath and focus, just the way we practiced,� Wesley encouraged.

Cordelia stopped fighting and tried to focus on her breathing. In through her nose, filling her lungs and not her belly; out through her mouth in a steady count of seven. Xander and Willow stopped at the foot of the staircase at Angel�s hand signal. The boy�s dark gaze flashed toward the pale movement across the room as Spike appeared.

�Boys, a gang? Video games. Fighting and blood.�

She fought against her fear of the visions, tensed against the pain they caused. The expected pain never came, she watched through a haze of blue-green as two dark figures walked into an arcade and approached a gang of Latino boys. Then the vision was over and she opened her eyes.

�Okay, that was definitely different,� Cordelia commented in a dazed voice.

�Cordy?� Angel questioned.

�What was different?� Xander asked curiously.

�When I have these stupid things, they make my head feel like its splitting open. This one was different. I wonder why?�

�Oi, can we discuss the mechanics of your curse later? Tell us what ya saw already,� Spike complained. He was hot for some action, any kind, even if it meant he couldn�t join in fighting humans at least he could get a ring side seat.

�Some freaky vampire,� Cordelia started off.

~Hello, ducks!~

�He had someone with him, they were destroying the arcade, attacking the people.�

�Name, did you happen to notice the name of the arcade?� Angel demanded.

She did. Cordelia gave them the name and then quickly did a google search for the location. While she did that, Angel and Spike ran to the weapons cabinet and flung open the doors. Angel started pulling out weapons, tossing Wes his favorite axe while grabbing his sword.

�Bout time we had a bit o excitement around this bloody mausoleum,� Spike quipped as he inspected the array of weapons. He eyed Xander warily as the mortal crept up beside him and began his own inspection.

�What? I�m going too,� Xander told them as he hefted a sizable machete and stepped back to give it a practice swing.

Spike growled and took the crossbow Angel handed him.

~~~~~

Nikolas and Devon entered the arcade and approached the group of thugs crowded around one of the video games. Sensing the interlopers, one of the thugs turned to stare at the two young black guys. He nudged one of his partners.

�Eh esse, cho got a problem man?�

�Yeah, watch cho staring at boy?�

�Ohh dis is bien,� Nikolas breathed as he eyed the group. �Dis dem ch�r?� he asked. Devon stepped into sight, folding his arm across his chest and nodding.

�Oui,� he said flatly as he scanned the group. �Bronze wants dat one,� he tilted his head at the desk clerk. Nikolas shrugged, his silver eyes were gun-metal flat and he went statue-still as another of the gang members spoke.

�Hey ain�t that the fag we was s�pposed to bang out earlier?�

�Yeah, that looks like the guy Rico described,� another said.

�Cool, delivery service. Let�s fuck�em up.�

Nikolas laughed, the sound shimmered like a gong after it�s been struck. He ducked the first swing and countered with a quick jab to the ribs before spinning the thug away. Devon caught the stumbling gang-banger on the side of the head with a round-house kick. He stomped viciously on the downed boy�s back in rising anger.

A blow to his back sent Devon stumbling across the space. He crashed to a halt against a leather coated figure and his face went momentarily blank as his wide-eyed gaze met Angel�s dark eyes.

�Merde,� he breathed and quickly stepped back.

�Ya missin all de fun, ch�r,� Nikolas called as he broke his attacker�s nose with a nice crunchy sound and a bright splash of blood.

Devon tore his violet gaze from Angel and darted quick looks at Wesley, Spike, and Xander. He flashed a bright grin and shrugged.

�Don want dat t� happen,� and he turned and dove into the melee.

�FUCK!� Xander hissed as one of the thugs wheeled in his direction. Recognition jolted through his brain and Xander�s fist was connecting with the guy�s eye. �Ow!� he complained as he uncurled his fist from the machete�s handle and let it drop into his other hand.

Xander shook his smarting hand and glared at the stunned thug. Spike was fighting not to morph into game-face at the perceived threat to his pet while Xander delivered a vicious kick to the guy�s balls.

�Uh, Xander? I believe these are the young men we�re here to rescue,� Wesley finally got out around his momentary shock and Xander�s display of violence.

�No, these are the fuckers who beat me up,� Xander said. He jerked away from Spike�s grip and started forward. Angel stepped into his path and stopped him with a hand to his heaving chest.

�Xander.�

�Get out of the way dead-boy. These fuckers jumped me. They kicked my ass and put me in the hospital. I�m not going to pass up this chance to return the favor,� he ground out, �Are you going to try and stop me?�

Angel held his gaze, searching Xander�s face. Finally he spoke, �Give me the knife.�

Xander blinked. �What?�

"The big sharp pointy object in your hand, the one that kills people. You can do what you feel is necessary, but I won�t allow you to kill anyone. That isn�t you, Xander.� Angel held out his hand for the machete.

Xander stared into the vampire�s eyes, he dropped his gaze to the upturned palm and then nodded as he placed the machete�s handle in Angel�s palm. Then he charged past the tall vampire and entered the fight.

�Are you crazy? Do something!� Spike yelled at his grand-sire. �He could get hurt!�

�I doubt that,� Angel said dryly as Xander slammed another guy�s head into the side of a nearby pinball machine several times.

�Heads up, ch�r,� Niko called as he sent another thug flying through the air. Xander delivered another kick to the guy�s mid-section and then jumped away from the spray of glass as the airborne Latino landed inside the game, setting off the tilt lights and sirens.

�Bronze, catch,� the vampire called as the desk clerk pulled out a nasty looking knife and tossed it from hand to hand.

Devon�s hand flashed out and caught the spinning blade Nikolas pulled out of the air behind his back and tossed his way. He swung down and caught the stabbing knife on the serrated edge of his weapon.

The desk clerk�s eyes widened in fear as Devon twisted the throwing star-like weapon and disarmed him. He stared at the three evil looking blades curving away from the center grip as Devon raised it in front of his face.

�Run fucker,� Devon hissed and the terrified man took off, crashing past a startled Wesley and sending him crashing into Angel as he escaped into the night.

Xander delivered one final kick to a set of broken ribs and then rejoined his friends. The place had emptied out pretty quickly when the fighting began and they could hear the sound of police sirens drawing near.

Nikolas moved to stand possessively close to Devon as Angel and his friends approached.

�Okay, explain what just happened here,� Angel demanded, eyeing the vampire.

Nikolas growled and Devon elbowed him in the ribs. Nikolas glared down at him and blinked at the wicked grin spreading across his future consort�s face.

�Bronze tinks he promised you a hunt, ch�r.�

Nikolas grinned back. He flashed another scowl in Angel�s direction then brushed a kiss on Devon�s head.

�Ya so bien ta Niko. See ya at de hotel?�

�Okay,� Devon agreed as his vampire slipped away. �Oh Niko?� Silver eyes turned back to regard him. �Dat�s de homme who give Bronze de false directions...� Devon told him coldly.

Nikolas scowled darkly, �Dat so? Oui, he did, didn�t he?�

Devon nodded and flashed another bright evil grin. �Kill him for me?� he asked in that six year old voice.

�Anyting ya want ch�r,� Nikolas grinned back, caressing his fangs with the tip of his tongue. Then he was gone in the night.

Devon turned to face Angel and his friends. The vampire looked mildly shocked but satisfied. Wesley looked blank and Spike was grinning. Xander simply nodded.

�He�ll catch up in a minute or two; did you still want that explanation?�

It was the perfect end to another crazy night when the group returned to the hotel. Angel opened the door and entered the lobby; he was saying something over his shoulder to Spike when the voice of the slayer brought them to a halt at the top of the small stair leading down into the room.

�Angel?� Buffy said, looking up from her pacing.

*****
Part 20:

Horns blew, tires screeched as the man raced through the night traffic. �Crazy fucker you!� �Asshole!� �Hey where�s the fire you idiot?� His response, the harsh sounds of his labored breathing, the pounding of his heart, the fall of his shoes on the pavement as he ran on. Only a moment�s respite, barely enough time to find a copse of bushes in the park and squat down, before being harried out of hiding; forced to continue. No breath to spare in utterance of the terrified thoughts turning his brains to mush, or was it the shimmer of gongs? The sound was everywhere, in the air around him, inside of him. He cut through a yard and raced toward the playground. Silence. The shimmer slid away. Something grabbed him and slammed him into a wall as he raced along the side of the elementary school.

�Please,� he panted.

�Please?� Nikolas questioned as he released the desk clerk and stepped closer. He blinked, shuttering the silver of his eyes like a camera flash. �Ya bout ta die an all y� can say is please? Oh dat�s sad,� the vampire told him, shaking his head. The crying began. Babbling followed. Words in Spanish begging for mercy, for a life. �Dose be pretty words m�suier, mais dey don mean a damn ting. Ya gonna die m�suier, slowly.�

�No, please, don�t kill me.�

�Slowly, so y� can tink �bout dose directions y� give t� my lil prince; for being de reason he�s here at all.�

�No, it wasn�t me, I didn�t.�

�Oui, ya did.�

A flash of movement and the vampire held an ear. The desk clerk screamed and the ear was flicked into his mouth. The brown hand shot out to grip the lower half of a warm face, covering the opening. Nikolas grinned into the terrified hazel eyes as the man realized he had an ear inside his mouth, his ear.

�Y� shouldn�t a give dat boy does directions to ya lil party. Ya boys hurt de jeune homme pretty bad m�suier.� Another flash, the other ear and another flow of slick hot blood pouring down the side of his head. Pain as the vampire leaned close, pressing him into the stone. �Y� made holes in dat boy�s mem�ries. Dat�s not a good ting,� the vampire purred. �Bronze don like y� m�suier... so Niko�s gonna make �im happy, oui?� he asked with a fanged grin. �Allors, e�rytime ya scream, whatever Niko�s holdin� goes in ya mouth. D�accord?� He nodded the man�s head �yes� for him. �Bien.�

The desk clerk stared into the bottomless pools of mercury, un-natural eyes that didn�t blink as the hand flashed to an arm pit and tore out the fine hairs in one snatch. The desk clerk let out a muffled scream and the hair was stuffed into his mouth.

�Ya screamed,� the vampire said softly while snatching the other arm pit bald. Tears streamed down the clerk�s face, over the vampire�s hand as he rose up on tip toe and swallowed the scream. An ear lodged in his throat. Nikolas shrugged and dropped the handful of hair.

The struggles began then, as the vampire pinched his nose closed, cutting off his air. His heart labored and he became light-headed from lack of oxygen, and still the un-blinking silver eyes held him pinned. Flashes of his life in his mind�s eye and he knew he was dying. His bladder released itself. The vampire�s head cocked to the side, the grin vanished. Disbelief filled the slanted eyes as the vampire looked down. He finally blinked and shook his head.

�Merde,� he hissed, angry now. �Ya� peed on m� kicks! Don believe dis!� He let go of the nose and stared down at the clerk�s wet crotch. The struggles became desperate as the man fought for air and life. The vampire grinned, a toothy coldness and looked up at the clerk through his dark lashes. �Was savin dat f� last, mais now...�

His movements became slow and deliberate, hand coming to rest on the racing heart, sliding down the heaving chest, a caress that ended at the groin. Long fingers curled, cupping intimately before clenching shut. Nails tore through denim, cotton and flesh. The man screamed behind the hand, his knees buckled and his bowels released. The shimmer returned.

�Niko was just hopin you�d do dat,� the vampire laughed evilly. He pulled slowly, tearing the handful free. Leaving behind a gaping hole where genitals had once been. Blood gushed and the scream spiraled higher, up the register beyond human hearing. The clawed hand rose between them, presenting the cock and balls, no longer recognizable. Fingers crammed into the man�s mouth, pulling down sharply, unhinging the jaw while the other crammed the bloody pulp of flesh and material into the already stuffed orifice.

An upper-cut punch drove the jaw upward, lower teeth over top lip to take up residence in the flesh just below the nose. The nose was torn off as an after thought as the vampire stepped back. Blood streamed from ears, nose, mouth. It ran down from the arm pits and gushed from between the legs. The spurts slowed as the heart struggled and wound down.

�Bleed ta deat, �ready,� the vampire urged. Finally, the flow of blood stopped, it had to, there wasn�t enough left in the body for it to continue beyond a drip-drip-drip. �Bout time,� Nikolas said irritably. He studied the picture for a moment. The desk clerk had been pressed into the stone. It held him like plaster caste, a mold, a hard lover. The ground around him was a shimmering circle of blackness. The moon reflected on the spreading pool of blood, already growing cold and sticky.

�Nother masterpiece,� the vampire purred. He threw a bolt of mage-fire at the still chest. The body exploded into flaming bits that left nothing behind as they burned out. The vampire took a step and his shoes squished. �B�tard,� Nikolas cursed as he kicked the piss-soggy sneakers off and stalked into the night. �Now I gotta find �nother pair of shoes.�

~~~~~
POV: Buffy
~~~~~

�Angel?� The group came to a halt behind Angel as the young blonde�s voice called out in question. Buffy stopped in mid-step. She had arrived five minutes earlier. No-one had been in the hotel lobby so she�d decided to wait. This was her third circuit around the small round couch in the center of the large room.

~They look so... chummy~

She took in the weapons, the energetic conversation as the five men entered. She counted again, yep there were still five hot looking young males staring back at her. Buffy knew four of them but didn�t recognize the fifth. She knew Gunn by sight, this definitely wasn�t him. The young man was too short, just barely Spike�s height, and he was beautiful; Gunn was... handsome. Buffy quickly wondered what idiot had said all black men looked alike.

~~~~~

Angel stood in the hotel foyer for a moment. His dark gaze went un-readable, and the smile slid from his mouth as he stared at his ex-girlfriend. The sudden silence stretched itself out as the slayer stared at the group and they stared aback.

�Buffy,� Angel finally responded. His tone was low and neutral; the tone he�d always used with Xander. Buffy flinched when she recognized it.

�Hi guys?� it came out as an uncertain question.

�Where is everyone?� Wesley questioned as he moved toward the weapons� cabinet. He replaced his axe and stepped aside.

�The lobby was empty when I got here...� Buffy offered as Angel walked over to return his sword and the machete.

�Oh give me that, Spike,� Wesley demanded as he finally managed to pull the crossbow out of the vampire�s hands. Spike frowned at him but didn�t say anything.

~~~~~

Cordelia and Willow returned from the underground apartment. The two had gone down to throw something together for the others. Lately, the group had been returning from their excursions with the intended victim or *hopeless* in tow. It usually fell to Cordelia, who saw herself as the level-headed, normal, team-member, to dole out the re-assurance and doses of sanity to their *hopeless* after their encounter with the demonically inclined.

She let out a small gasp and grabbed Willow�s arm when she spied Buffy.

�Oh hell, she�s back.�

�Hello, Buffy,� Willow said as she walked past the blonde, toward Xander and the stranger.

�Uh, Willow,� Buffy replied, watching Willow approach their friend.

�What happened? You�ve been fighting! Are you okay?� Willow questioned and admonished in the same breath.

Spike started laughing, �Fighting, Xander? Nah, he just helped this bloke and his mate, bash up the asshole�s what jumped him, is all.�

�Really? Oh wow,� Willow breathed as Xander held up his bruised fist. He had a big grin on his face and his eyes danced brightly.

�Xander,� Buffy began.

He looked in the blonde�s direction and scowled. �Why are you here? Didn�t you cause enough trouble yesterday?� he asked her darkly.

�I didn�t come to cause any trouble, Xander, honest. Just... to talk. Please?�

The earnest and pleading look and voice sounded desperate in his ears and Xander softened just the slightest bit. The stubborn look of borderline refusal slid into wary indifference. �I don�t know,� he hedged.

Un-self-consciously, Willow and Xander slipped an arm around the others waist. The witch looked calm and serene as they faced her.

�Please, Xander, Willow. I�m sorry about what happened last time. I know it was wrong of me...�

�Yeah, it was that,� Xander interjected.

Buffy�s gaze darted around, taking in the looks on the faces peering at her. There was pity, amusement, indifference and hostility, and embarrassment.

�Maybe you should speak privately,� Wesley said, flashing a quick glance at Devon who hadn�t spoken or moved beyond the front door. The young man just stood, watching the exchange curiously.

�I think maybe I should go,� he started to say.

�NO,� three voices rang out � Angel, Xander, and Spike.

�Mais, dis looks pretty personal...�

�No, it�s okay. I mean yes, it is sort of personal, but you shouldn�t leave because of me.�

�Well that�s really big of you Buffy,� Cordelia scathed as she moved forward. �Dinner�s almost ready and if you guys are going to talk, Wes and I will just see to our guest. Come along sweetie,� Cordelia gushed at Devon.

�Um thanks, Cordy,� Angel nodded distractedly as the seer and demon-hunter escorted Devon from the room.

�Um, should I set an extra plate?� Cordelia asked, turning back as Wesley continued on. She was speaking to her boss, but looking at Xander.

The young man shrugged, �Well, Nikolas should be here pretty soon, so yeah, an extra plate would be good, thanks Cordy.�

Spike had the decency not to snicker out loud at the look on the slayer�s face. When no-one else spoke, Cordelia turned and left.

~~~~~

Xander and Willow moved further into the lobby, taking seats on the round couch just a few feet from where Buffy had been pacing. Spike strolled past Buffy and took a seat on the other side of Xander. Angel decided to complete the united front they were building and moved to stand near the group. He planted himself near Spike, in a wide-legged stance, and clasped his hands together behind his back.

Buffy turned to face them. She felt more alone than she could remember feeling in along time. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Suddenly afraid in a way she couldn�t recall having ever felt. Her hands were damp with nervous perspiration and she wiped her palms on jean clad thighs and started speaking.

�Angel, I owe you an apology. I�m sorry for hitting you, I know you were only trying to help Xander and Spike and I shouldn�t have lost my temper that way.�

The vampire nodded his acceptance as Buffy continued on; saying how badly she felt for upsetting Xander with her phone call. She hadn�t meant to do that. She�d only called to find out how he was doing and when they thought she might be able to visit. When she heard his voice over the line, she realized how much she missed him. She knew she should have listened to Giles when he�d advised phoning back and speaking to either Willow or Angel. She was sorry she hadn�t done that now, but the thought of him all beaten and bruised and not remembering her was more than she could handle. She�d gotten this terrible mental picture and she just wanted to see that he was okay. She missed them both and she only wanted to reassure herself with her own eyes that they were both fine.

�Xander, you and Willow are my best friends. But you two are so close, and you shut me out and that hurts.�

�Buffy, no-one shuts you out but you,� Willow told her. �Xander and I have the relationship we have because we trust and except each other. We support each other, Buffy, not try and hold each other back.�

�I don�t try and hold you back,� the blonde interjected.

�Yes, Buffy, you do. From the minute you arrived in Sunnydale, you were all � I�m Buffy, I�m the Slayer. Just let me handle it, you guys stay here.� Willow studied her intently. �Buffy, you treated us like we couldn�t take care of ourselves. We were doing that just fine before you came.�

�Yeah, that�s why Jesse wound up getting turned.�

�That happened *after* you came to Sunnydale,� Xander said hotly. He stopped at his words; more memories were unlocked, more things he hadn�t remembered returned. He remembered Buffy. It was in his eyes.

�You remember?� both girls asked.

�Yeah, some things but not all of it, there�s still a fog but I remember you,� he told the slayer.

�That�s a good thing... right?� Buffy asked hopefully. She really wanted the answer to be yes, but the face told her differently. There were a lot of emotions at war in the brown gaze. They communicated themselves along his limbs and Buffy couldn�t believe her eyes when Xander leaned into Spike. Her blue orbs filled with disbelief as she watched Spike�s arm come up around Xander in a hug of comfort and support. Spike was holding Xander the way Angel had held her when they were together. She blinked at Angel then shot a look in Willow�s direction to see what their reactions might be.

~~~~~
POV: Spike
~~~~~

~Looks like the cat�s out of the bag~

Spike returned Buffy�s stare with a false nonchalance. Only Angel could tell how nervous he was as Spike decided he had nothing to hide. Xander was his. He would remember that at some point, just like they would have had to deal with the slayer at some point. Now was just as good a time as any.

�What�s going on here?� Buffy asked Spike, �Why are you holding Xander like that?�

Angel let his hand rest on Spike�s lean shoulder and the vampire looked up into his grand-sire�s face. He looked over at Willow; sitting on Xander�s other side. What he saw reassured him.

�Always hold me pet like this when we cuddle,� Spike tossed off coolly.

Buffy�s mouth fell open and she blinked several times. Xander wanted to smile at the sense of *rightness* he experienced but something quickly pushed the feeling away.

�When you cuddle,� Buffy repeated stupidly. It was priceless. Angel and Willow fought not to laugh at the look on Buffy�s face.

�Yeh, cuddle, you know, that thing you used to do with Peaches and Iowa? Cuddle.� Spike smirked as the color drained from Buffy�s face.

~Oh this is just too fucking rich, innit?~

She stared back and forth between the two men, dumbstruck. �Xan-Xander is this true?� she stammered.

Xander was thoughtful as he turned to Spike. He was both mildly excited and frightened. Spike held his breath. Xander cocked his head.

�I�m not sure, is it, Spike?� Xander asked. Not trusting himself to speak, the vampire simply nodded. Xander turned back and shrugged at Buffy. �Guess it is,� he said as he relaxed back against Spike�s tensed frame. Willow took his hand and smiled.

�But... But... that�s not possible,� Buffy insisted.

�Why not,� Spike challenged.

�Well for one thing, Xander isn�t g- he isn�t like *that* and plus he likes me,� she stated without conviction as he looked into Xander�s brown eyes.

�No, Buffy, I don�t really,� Xander corrected.

�Well, sure, maybe not like *that* anymore but.�

�No not at all. I. Don�t. Like. You. Period.�

�And here come the water-works,� Spike snarked sarcastically, �women.� He shook his head in disgust.

~~~~~
POV: Buffy
~~~~~

Now she was on the verge of tears. Her lower lip and chin trembled with effort and emotions and her head was pounding and if she could just get some air it would be alright.

�I don�t understand?� Buffy floundered. It felt like someone had hit her in the chest and she felt light headed. She struggled for breath, feeling as if she were going to pass out as the pressure in her kept building. �But... But we�re friends,� she whined.

~~~~~
POV: Xander
~~~~~

�No, Buffy, we�re not. At least not from where I�m looking. I don�t think I was ever your *friend*. I was just Xander. The stupid guy who thought he liked you because he was *supposed* to � not supposed to like guys, oh no, not Nathan Harris� boy, never that. Just Xander, the Zeppo. Always in trouble Xander, getting in the way Xander or getting hurt Xander, doughnut-boy Xander. I was a lot of things to you, Buffy, everything, except your friend.�

�That isn�t tr-true,� the blonde wailed. She was crying freely now because he was right. Everything he�s said was true � she had seen him as all of those things. But he was still her friend. She told him this but he didn�t seem to care.

His mind was made up. She should be happy, she got what she wanted. Buffy always got her way. Being selfish had given her what she wanted � forcing Xander to remember her, it also took away what she wanted � Xander�s friendship. She�d come to make him remember, well she�d succeeded, he did. Now she could go away with the knowledge that he was fine.

�Go away, Buffy. Go away and stay away, you�re not a part of my life anymore.� Xander got up then, and walked away, not looking back as he left the lobby for the comforting friendship below.

~~~~~
POV: Buffy
~~~~~

~okaywaitthiscannotbehappeningitjustcantbe~

�Ho-how did this happen?� Buffy cried miserably. She wrung her hands and pulled at her pants, beating her hands sharply against her sides. Her eyes were squeezed shut but the tears still flowed un-checked as she continued to sob.

�Because you were too stupid to see what was right under your pointy little nose; I pity you, slayer. I really do,� Spike told her without rancor as he rose and followed the path Xander had taken.

Buffy turned her tearful gaze on the witch. �Willow,� she pleaded weakly.

The calm finally left the witch�s face, replaced by profound sorrow and pity. �I think Xan, pretty much said it all. He�s right. I really do wish you the best, Buffy,� Willow said quietly and walked out without looking back as Buffy broke down completely.

She was beyond words now as she stumbled across the short space to where Angel stood and hid her face against his chest. Angel did nothing. He said nothing and gave nothing, beyond the hard coldness of his chest and eventually Buffy let go. Her fingers smoothed the leather of his coat and she sniffed. She couldn�t meet his gaze, not after his silent and unmoving rejection. Without looking up Buffy turned and trudged away. She felt utterly lost and alone. Drained and hopeless she dragged her feet across the marble floor, up one-two steps and across the foyer. She stopped with her hand on the door and spoke without turning.

�Angel...�

�Good-bye, Buffy, take care of yourself.�

She turned the knob and pulled the door open, not bothering to close it behind her as she stepped out into the night. The stars were glaringly bright in her watery sight as she stared up into the velvety darkness. Her mind didn�t seem to be functioning properly, and she stared blankly at the silver eyed young man calmly regarding her from several steps away. The slayer experienced a discordant jangle along her nerves as the two held gazes across the distance. Then Angel was there, shaking the man�s hand and telling him to come inside and Buffy turned and walked away slowly, sobbing in loss with every step.

~~~~~

Devon�s face lit up when the two vampires entered the room. He smiled as Nikolas sidled up next to the chair he was sitting in. Introductions were made as Cordelia and Wesley set out plates of food.

There was a strange expression on Angel�s face and he kept swiping his hand across what was obviously a damp place on the black shirt he was wearing. He excused himself and went to his bedroom for a clean dry shirt. His distracted thoughts flittered with intrigue as he considered the two strangers in the other room, Devon Dexter and Nikolas R�, a strange couple; an even stranger vampire. Angel didn�t sense the resident *demon* in the younger immortal. He guessed at younger because of the creature�s youthful looks. The glaring contradiction was the aura of ancient power the young immortal projected, as if he were full of ancient blood. There was no doubt the sire of the young vampire had been extremely old, and strong. It wasn�t easy to determine age among their kind but there were ways if one was inclined to employ them. The problem here was that Nikolas didn�t *feel* like any other vampire Angel had encountered before, so none of the methods he would have used would have worked anyway. There were a lot of questions bouncing around in his head as he pulled on a clean shirt and rejoined the others.

Spike wondered if the new-comers declining to have anything to eat was a result from the creature�s *hunt*. Sensing a kindred spirit, Spike grinned and winked as Nikolas graciously declined.

A quick simple meal ensued, more of the frozen pasta with sauce, from the expanded stores in the vampire�s kitchen. There were tasty dinner-rolls, fresh tossed salad and various beverages. Appetites were hardy and conversation small � quick updates on open and closed cases from Wesley and Cordelia. Xander reported on the library project. Gunn called, they did the speaker phone thing, making the group as complete as possible.

Nikolas joined them for desert and after dinner coffees. Willow talked about her on-line courses and the classes she was considering taking at UCLA. Angel gave a brief bio on the investigations firm, what they did and why. He talked about how it had all gotten started, the ups and downs and the progress. Eventually Cordelia and Willow took their leave, Cordy to head home so she could prepare for the next day�s array of beauty appointments. It was her day off and she convinced Willow to spend the day with her.

�Girls need to stick together, spend time bonding, just like guys.�

�Plotting is more like it,� Spike observed.

�Girl-power rules,� Willow told him sticking out her tongue. Nikolas thought she was cute. Willow glowed and told him so was he.

�Don�t tell him dat,� Devon admonished as the group moved away from the table. �De homme got a swelled head �ready, don make tings worse.�

The vampire popped him on the back of the head then tumbled them down into one of the deep armchairs. Willow and Cordelia stopped in the doorway to watch, laughing along with the others at the antics as Devon tried to scramble away.

�Be still,� Nikolas said, as if talking to a small child.

�Den stop tickling me,� Devon squirmed. He was sitting across the vampire�s lap and twisted his torso so they were facing. The vampire�s glittery-dark head darted forward and stopped the boy�s giggles with a quick kiss; followed by another and another, until Devon stilled and kissed him back.

�Boy, um, that was hot,� Willow murmured.

�I�ll say,� Cordelia agreed.

Nikolas groaned and hid his face behind his hair as the two women moved away laughing softly.

�Niko shouldn�t a done dat, sorry,� he muttered.

�Hey, it�s okay by me, mate,�� Spike stated.

�Non,� but Devon cupped his chin and raised the vampire�s head. He brushed the braids aside and gazed into Nikolas� eyes.

�Just get so wrapped up in ya ch�r, forget where I am,� Nikolas breathed.

�It�s okay,� Devon told him. The vampire nodded, his lips curved and he pulled Devon against his chest, tucking the boy�s head under his chin.

~~~~~

Spike had been waiting for a chance to question the vampire about his hunting.

�Oi, mate, have fun did ya?�

�It was invigoratin�, mais de connard ruined m� kicks, had ta go change before headin� dis way.�

�Wondered about dat,� Devon teased as he toyed the hem of the vampire�s shirt. Nikolas had traded his jeans and sneakers for dark grey leather pants and squared toe black shoes. He was wearing a blue shirt of raw Italian silk, with a picture of a golden pyramid emblazoned on the front and back. There was a beautiful young woman floating in the air before the Egyptian construct and she looked exactly like Nikolas, except for her brilliantly penetrating emerald eyes.

~~~~~

Angel asked for and received his explanation. The two had come to LA on business, well the vampire had, and he�d dragged Devon away from college for the company of his sparkling personality.

The desk clerk had given Devon directions to some place the young man wanted to go. He missed his stop, got of the bus and walked back. He had been lucky. When he arrived, he happened to notice the gang of boys and over hear them talking about the guy they were going to rob and beat up when he arrived. The description fit Devon, so the young man had quickly gotten out of there. The vampire wasn�t well with that, so he �addressed de problem. No more all gone bye-bye.� They didn�t know how long they would be in town, but the vampire promised to curtail his hunting.

Nikolas then waxed eloquent on his favorite topic � Devon. The twenty year old attended classes at New Orleans State, sat on the board of a growing company, and drove the besotted vampire to distraction. For himself, Nikolas would only say he was unique among his kind. There were abilities inherent among true-vampires, which developed with age. The circumstances and details were unclear, but Nikolas had been born with many of the abilities lying dormant within him.

He went on to reveal that as a human, he had been born into a family of mages. At nineteen, he had become a pawn in the struggle between factions residing in New Orleans and had been stolen from his guardian by a vampire. When the creature turned him, the vampiric blood acted as a catalyst, awakening all of his mage-potentials. Nikolas explained that although he occasionally drank human blood, he didn�t need it to survive because of the mage-energies constantly moving through his being.

�And how old are you?� Angel interrupted.

The vampire had scowled at the older vampire. �Nineteen.�

�And you�ve been a vampire... for how long?�

Nikolas didn�t like what the other vampire was getting at. He wasn�t a kid. �Hunnert years �ready.�

�Soo, that would make you, what? About 119 years old?� Xander had questioned.

�Nineteen, period,� Nikolas had growled.

Xander did the owl-eye thing. �Okay, you�re nineteen.�

The vampire smiled at him, �Niko likes y� homme. Ya� bien in my book.�

�Delusional much?� Devon scorned his vampire. Nikolas just smiled boyishly and went on with his tale.

�Dis plane is full of energy, it be in de very substance o� de earth, de air, de stone. Dere be rules, like wit ev�ryting, flows in pat�ways, like lil roads, oui. Dere be pockets, aussi, naturel pockets, in existence dat de energy flow into creatin� reservoirs. LA be such a place, New Orleans as well as others.� There were brief bios on the different types of mage and their abilities to manipulate those energies. The various methods used, which had been the basis of each Tradition�s foundation of vision; how they were brought together by the first Ascension-Mage � one mage with the potential for all of the different paths.

~~~~~

Willow was enchanted with the talk of energies and magic, the things Nikolas revealed spoke to something deep within her. Awakening her inner awareness of a connection between herself and the vampire; his words also woke a fear within the young witch, reminding her of a time when she had fallen. The description of Euthanatos mages rang a bell of familiarity, a kinship with the period in her life when she had embraced the darkness.

Willow wanted to learn more about this, sensing the possibilities of having found the direction and guide she needed in her search for a worthy teacher.

~~~~~

During the exchange of information and easy conversation Xander had covertly watched the interaction between Devon and his vampire. The way Devon seemed to be so comfortable with everything he knew about his companion, especially the fact that the vampire had long-term plans for the two of them. He may not have come right out and said it, but it was obvious in everything Nikolas didn�t say.

Xander thought it was totally cute the way Devon wound several of the long shiny braids around his hand and absently caress them with his thumb. At one point, Xander thought he saw one of the ash-tinged, ropes of jet snake up the boy�s sleeve, and another time he thought one snaked down the ribbed collar of the turtleneck, to slide across Devon�s defined chest.

The brown eyed young man was glad he�d met them; they�d given him something back � something that had been stolen from him when he�d been jumped. Xander was also hoping the two would be in LA for a while because he wanted to talk with Devon. He thought Devon might be able to understand some of the things he was feeling and thinking in relation to his returning memories and knowledge his *relationship* with Spike. These were not things he would consider discussing with his social worker.

Xander knew he was also going to have to deal with facing Angel at some point during the next day; they did have a one-on-one training session. With the return of his memories of Buffy, there had been glimpses of Angel as well, filling in the blanks and clarifying the things Willow had hinted at but wouldn�t say out right. Xander had seen the flickers in the vampire�s dark gaze both times he�d called him *dead-boy*, a name that hadn�t crossed his lips during the month-plus he�d been living in the hotel with the dark, broody one.

He went to bed with the image of Devon leaning into Nikolas as the vampire walked them out of the hotel. �Y� gon let Niko bite ya tonite ch�r?� the vampire had purred as they walked into the night. Xander decided he liked the sound of Devon�s boyish giggles at the question. He liked the way Nikolas snickered when Devon said, �nope,� sounding like he couldn�t wait. Xander closed his eyes with the knowledge that he had just made two new friends.

~~~~~

Spike made his nightly prowl through the hotel with a smile on his handsome face. *Soon*, was all he could think as he lingered outside of Xander�s door, listening to him sleep.

In his own room, the bleached-blonde pulled off his clothes and climbed into his bed. He fell asleep with the promise of hope. His pet had asked him about them and Spike had finally spoken on the subject that had been eating away at him. He had more hope and excitement now, with the fact that in a very short time Xander would be his again. Spike thought about the jar of cherries and chocolate sauce, as well as the fine-tip paint brush he�d gotten Xander � sterling silver with his name engraved on it; soft silky bristles that sent shivers through him when Spike had brushed it against his skin � resting on a bed of dark blue crushed velvet, inside of a slim black case. There was possessive and proud grin as he fell into dreams of his pet, kicking ass in the arcade.

~~~~~

With the seeds planted, the vampire and his human left the investigation team with a promise to return in a day or so. They watched as the blonde boarded the bus bound for Sunnydale.

�Dat�s sad,� Nikolas shook he head as he watched the pitiful slayer. Her movements were permeated with dejection, sorrow and loss.

�She got zactly what she deserved,� Devon said flatly from his place in front of Nikolas. The vampire held him in the circle of his arms as they stood in the shadows near the boarding area. The vampire turned the young man around and stared into the violet eyes.

�Y� can be so cruel, Bronze,� Nikolas purred.

�Hmm, oui,� Devon murmured as the vampire claimed his lips.

*****