Xander ambled down the sidewalk with his hands shoved in his pockets and a spring in his step. He almost whistled as he walked, looking distractedly forward, his mind obviously elsewhere. He didn't notice the two girls coming around the corner until he almost ran into them, tripping and spreading his arms wide for balance.

"Buffy! Willow!"

"Hi, Xander," said Buffy. Willow grinned and made a little wave of greeting.

"What brings you two intellectuals to the non-campus?"

"Slight emergency," said Buffy.

Xander quickly turned solemn. "Magic-shop-type emergency? Impending doom percolating in the dilapidated yet still Hellmouthy ol' high school?"

"Well, no," said Buffy, "that was a dud."

"We ran out of peanut butter chocolate chip ice cream," explained Willow.

"Now, _that's_ an emergency," agreed Xander.

They began to walk down the street together.

"So, are you doing the tracking and the stalking?" asked Willow.

Xander frowned. "Huh?"

"The job-hunting," said Buffy.

"Oh, yeah... job. Work. Rent. Food, even. I should be doing that."

"So what are you here for?" asked Willow.

"I just need to go to the drugstore, for more--" Xander's brow creased. "--errands."

"You wanna come to lunch with us?"

Xander hesitated. "No, I'd better shop and run. Gotta get home and make sure Spike hasn't managed to kill anyone."

"You're keeping him during the day now, too?" Buffy asked, surprised.

"Well, we--I mean, I got up too late to take him over to Giles's, so..." Xander shrugged.

"I would have given him a sheet to hold over his head and kicked him out the door," said Buffy.

"But I just _love_ having him around," said Xander, stopping in front a shop. "Well, this is me. Bye, kids. Don't study too hard." He made a quick gesture of farewell, and stepped through the door.

Willow frowned sadly as she and Buffy turned to continue down the street. "Poor Xander," she said. "As if the no college and the chronic unemployment syndrome weren't bad enough, now he's got the permanent demon roomie."

Buffy shook her head. "He definitely needs to get out more."

Xander stepped into the basement and looked up in surprise at Spike, who was balancing on a chair, reaching for the wall. "Spike!"

Spike spun around. "Nummy. You're back early."

"What are you doing?"

Spike stepped down. "Making some executive decisions about your decor. Like getting rid of _that_." He pointed at the poster he had been about to tear down.

"I like that," Xander protested.

"It's ugly."

"This from the guy whose interior decorating usually involves cobwebs and decaying corpses."

"Right. Mood setters. You haven't got a mood here. You've got... tacky."

"Hey, I decorate to express my personality."

"As in, I'm a sodding fairy?"

Xander squinted. "Keep this up and you won't get to sleep in the bed tonight."

"No, not the comfy chair!" exclaimed Spike, with mock horror.

Xander couldn't help but snicker. He stifled it quickly and replied flatly, "You're a vampire. I'm sure you've slept in worse places."

"Hey," said Spike, seriously, "I don't do coffins."

"You should try sometime. Preferably a sealed one. Better yet, go for cremation."

"Sometimes I think you don't like me at all."

Xander grinned. "Got it in one, pal." He stepped forward and puts his arms around Spike, tugging Spike's T-shirt out of his jeans.

"See what I said about soddin' fairy?" Spike asked, as Xander pulled the shirt off over his head.

Xander just pulled Spike back into an embrace and began to run his lips up and down Spike's neck. "I'm getting really sick of your lower-class Limey accent," he murmured.

"Lower class?" exclaimed Spike, offended. "Have I _ever_ dropped an aitch? And I suppose _yours_ is supposed to be music to my ears." Spike's words dripped with sarcasm.

Xander laughed and nipped at Spike's ear before shoving him violently down onto the bed. He tore off his own shirt and then tackled Spike, kissing him fiercely. He reached down to unbutton Spike's jeans, trailing his lips down Spike's jaw and neck.

Spike writhed beneath him as Xander grabbed Spike's cock and tugged it to hardness. Xander continued to pull Spike's member as Spike just rolled his head back and moaned.

Xander, dragging his mouth lower, began to thoroughly explore every inch of Spike's chest. "Spike," he murmured, between kisses.

Spike groaned interrogatively.

"Do something?"

Spike grunted. "I can't. It's this damn chip."

Xander suddenly stopped and lifted himself up to look at Spike, but Spike was frustratedly turned away, staring at the wall. Xander smiled at him wistfully for a moment, then kissed him briefly on the mouth and left the bed to walk over to his dresser.

Spike turned to watch him, confused. Xander returned and knelt beside Spike, handing him a fresh tube of lubricant. He then pulled off his pants and boxers, and lay down on the bed, his back to Spike.

Spike just stared in amazement for a moment before grinning widely, and unscrewing the cap.

Xander didn't shiver or whimper, but rather hummed in pleasure when Spike's fingers entered him this time, pushing back against Spike's hand. Spike, increasingly eager, quickly withdrew his fingers and slowly inserted his slickened cock. Xander moaned and squirmed back against him, at least as eager, if not more so.

In no time at all, Spike was thrusting in and out, probing deeply, but necessarily gently, into Xander. He reached around to grab Xander's cock, already painfully hard, and Xander let out another long, low groan of pleasure.

But his eyes flashed open with fear when he felt something change behind him. He shivered even before Spike began to tenderly drag a sharp fang down his neck, but he forced himself to relax into Spike's tight embrace.

And then there was a tiny pinprick, hardly felt, but Xander hissed from the sudden sting. Spike eagerly sucked at the tiny wound, and Xander's eyes rolled from the wild combination of sensations, as Spike began to pound into him ever harder, ever faster.

Xander cried out as he came... and then everything went black.

*****
Part 5:

Cordelia let out the occasional quiet sigh as she pecked intermittently at the keyboard, hunting for keys, her brow furrowed in concentration as she doggedly made up another invoice. Angel sat in a chair opposite, his feet propped up on the desk, reading the large leather-bound volume resting in his lap. Doyle was eyeing the bottle of Scotch with a vague air of justifying another shot.

Justification complete, Doyle reached forward and quickly poured himself a glass. The instant the draught hit the back of his throat, his entire body convulsed, and he fell to the floor, the shot glass landing with a loud crack and rolling away.

Cordelia looked up in amazement. "That must be some stuff," she said. "I thought you were one of those drink-the-other-man-under-the-table types."

"Vision," said Angel, rising and rushing to Doyle's side, as Doyle lay writhing and gasping for breath on the floor, hands pressed against his temples. Cordelia joined Angel, and after looking Doyle up and down helplessly for a moment, began to enthusiastically fan him with the file she held.

Suddenly, the vision broke, and Doyle immediately tore his hands away from his head and stared up, wide-eyed, at Angel, panting and shivering irregularly.

"It's Spike," Doyle breathed, his eye twitching. "He's--I couldn't understand--he's _draining_ someone... but that's not the problem."

"Hello?" protested Cordelia, with disgust. "I'd say vampires draining people was a problem."

"Are you sure it was Spike?" asked Angel.

Doyle nodded, his head shivering almost arthritically.

Angel frowned. "What was the problem?"

Doyle looked around, exasperated with himself. "I don't _know_. But there's something... bigger... going on."

Angel looked out across the room. "He's up to something."

"It's Spike," said Cordelia. "Of course he's up to something. He's got that evil-vampire complex."

"Paper," mumbled Doyle, clutching his head again. "Address." Cordelia handed him a sheet and a pencil and he quickly scribbled across it.

Angel took the sheet, and when he had deciphered it, looked at Doyle with amazement. "Sunnydale? I know this address."

"Basement," muttered Doyle, still clutching his head and unable to look up.

"I'll call when I've found out what's going on," said Angel, rising and grabbing his coat, instantly out the door.

Cordelia stared at the door as it swung shut behind him, a frown on her face. "He's going back to Sunnydale _again_? Okay, he _really_ needs to get over this Buffy thing," she said, rolling her eyes.

"So," said Doyle, as charmingly as he could as he attempted to collect himself, "I guess it's just you and me, Princess."

Cordelia just raised her eyebrow doubtfully and picked up the paper that Angel had left behind him, squinting as she deciphered Doyle's scrawl. Then she frowned in surprise and said, with utter disbelief but a slight note of concern, "Xander?"

Xander shivered slightly as he felt Spike's fang gently reopen the cut on his neck. Then Spike's mouth was tightly on him, sucking insistently at the wound, pulling harshly on Xander's cock, driving his own cock deep into Xander's ass.

Xander moaned as he came, and then went limp in Spike's arms. Spike came moments later, lifting his mouth from Xander's neck long enough to growl his satisfaction. Then he was immediately back at the wound, lapping at the remaining trails of blood.

When there was nothing more to be had, Spike pulled away from Xander, who rolled onto his back, lifeless but for very shallow respiration. Spike grinned to himself and left the bed to pull on his jeans.

At that moment the door suddenly crashed open, and a large black-clad figure swept into the room. "Spike!"

Spike stumbled backwards, falling to the floor. "Angel?!" he exclaimed with disgust. "What are the hell you doing here? I don't recall you being invited...."

Panic suddenly seized Angel and he turned to look at Xander lying unconscious on the bed.

"Relax, he's still alive."

"What did you do to him?" Angel demanded.

"I just drained him a little, is all."

"And...?"

"Guess," said Spike, rising to his feet and buttoning his jeans. "We weren't playing Tiddly Winks."

"You raped him."

Spike gave a short, scornful bark of a laugh. "The little poofter actually wanted it. Besides, I let him get rough with me once. It was fun." Spike grinned. "I was getting worried I'd never have it rough again."

"It's still rape."

"Spare me your moralism. You think I care?"

"I'll kill you."

"Are you sure? Wouldn't want you to feel guilty about it later. Wimp. Besides, poor Xander'd miss me," Spike added with an annoyingly self-satisfied smile.

Angel glared at Spike and turned back to look at Xander, who still lay unmoving on the bed. His frown deepened further and he turned back to Spike, his head shaking in disbelief. "Why?"

"I was bored," answered Spike, shrugging nonchalantly. "He was easy to manipulate. I figured if I could force the little fruitcake out of his closet, it might be worth a few laughs. You try living like this sometime," he went on, indignantly, "no bite, no kill. It's crazy.... Oh, wait, I forgot, you already do." Spike grinned wickedly. "Voluntarily. Even crazier."

Angel stepped forward and grabbed Spike by the shoulder. "Except I can still hit people," he said darkly, raising a threatening hand.

Spike was defiant. "But you can't fuck 'em."

Angel's hand dropped. His eyes narrowed.

"I can," said Spike, eyes glittering.

Angel shoved Spike violently back and turned away. He walked over to the bed and pulled the covers up over Xander, carefully arranging the pillows under his head. He then gently reached down and brushed a sweaty lock of hair off Xander's forehead.

After staring for a moment in silence, he turned back to Spike and demanded, "Why him?"

"You still on about that? He was convenient," replied Spike. "He's responsive. He's nicely shaped. Plus, he gets these big puppy dogs eyes that make you just want to break his neck," Spike added with glee rather than frustration. "I love that in a victim."

"You sick, twisted bastard."

"That's the second time I've been called that this week," Spike huffed.

"Only the second?" asked Angel, affecting surprise.

"I _know_," said Spike, taking Angel's comment as sympathy. "People used to call me that _all the time_. Funny how you never miss it till it's gone."

Angel glared briefly before turning back to Xander, laying a gentle hand on his shoulder. Spike grinned at them for a moment before his face suddenly fell.

"You want him, don't you?" Spike asked, a combination of amazement and utter disgust in his voice. "I can smell it in the air. That's why you--" Spike hooted derisively. "Going back to your old poofter ways, are you now? What about that slayer you're usually fawning over?"

Angel grimaced and stood up, moving away from the bed. "I had a chance recently to see what a mistake that was."

"_I_ could have told you _that_." Spike laughed. "Women have brought you nothing but trouble, eh, Poof? Darla, Dru, the Slayer bitch. Some track record."

"It was my fault," Angel muttered, more for his own benefit than for Spike's. "I should have seen long ago...."

"She may be a good lay," said Spike, shifting his eyes sideways and upward as if reckoning the odds, "but she's a wet mess."

"Shut up, Spike," said Angel, turning back to Xander.

"Well, this _is_ an interesting turn of events. You want what I've got." Spike laughed. "This makes it even better!"

Angel turned again to glare at Spike.

Spike smirked back. "He murmurs your name in his sleep, you know," he said, raising an eyebrow and carefully watching Angel's reaction. "It's bloody annoying."

Angel's glare dropped into stunned confusion. After a moment, he looked away to stare at the wall, still blank. Spike scoffed silently and rolled his eyes.

Xander suddenly let out a weak groan as he shifted slightly on the bed.

Spike immediately lit up. "He's coming 'round. Wonder what he'll say. Last night he thought he was in hospital. Called me Doc and asked if he was going to make it. He fainted again when I told him no." Spike grinned wickedly.

There was a sharp crack as Angel's hand hit the side of Spike's head, and a dull thud as Spike dropped immediately to the floor. Angel rushed back to Xander's side.

Xander grunted softly and winced before blearily opening his eyes. They were glassy at first, but soon gained some focus. "Angel," Xander murmured, a weak smile spreading across his face, �you came."

Xander reached up and Angel suddenly found himself in a weak, dreamy sort of embrace, and Xander's mouth was on his. Angel was too shocked for a moment to respond, but Xander was insistent, and Angel, hesitantly returning Xander's embrace, quickly began to lose himself in the kiss, yearning, hungry.

Xander suddenly froze.

Angel pulled back, alarmed, cursing himself. "Xander..." he began, nervously.

Xander's eyes widened. "Angel," he exclaimed, weakly. He stared anxiously for a moment, fidgeting with his hands, the corner of his eye twitching slightly. "I--I'm sorry."

"Xander, it's--"

"I--it's just... I kept having this dream where you'd come in and save me and--" Xander suddenly broke off as a look of confusion cross his face. "Say, why are you here anyway?"

"I'm here to save you."

Xander's confusion changed to amazement. Moving very deliberately, he reached across with one hand and pinched himself. "Ow. Okay, so this isn't a dream."

"Are you hurt?"

Xander flushed and looked down, shaking his head slightly. "No. Just a little hazy from the blood loss." He grimaced and brought his hands up to his temples. "Oooh, shaking head good not."

Angel frowned with concern. "What are you doing to yourself?"

Xander looked up at Angel for a moment, his expression a combination of grief and fear. Then his gaze fell back to the bed, defeated. "I'm massaging my temples, what does it look like?"

"You know what I mean."

"It's..." Xander began, then suddenly darkened, "none of your business."

"He's just using you."

"You don't know that."

"He's evil."

Xander shrugged. "So he's not the best boyfriend, but so what? Relationships are about compromise."

"Not about compromising your integrity."

Xander's face darkened instantly. "Well, it's a bit too late, isn't it? So you can stop wasting time with dirty, compromised me." Eyes still frowning, he forced a smile. "Compromised me is having fun!"

"He's draining you."

Xander shrugged. "It doesn't hurt that much. And he enjoys it... so much...." Xander looked down at Spike lying on the floor, with an expression somewhat like tenderness.

Angel frowned darkly. "He's a murderer."

Xander's eyes flashed. "So were you," he spat back.

Simultaneously, Xander looked down and Angel turned away, standing. Angel stood silently still for a moment, the muscles in his jaw clenching and unclenching. Xander simply stared blankly at his lap in utter dejection.

When Angel turned back, Xander was still sullenly staring. Angel opened his mouth, trying to find something to say, but could only manage, "Xander...."

Xander looked up at him instantly, his eyes wet and glistening. His expression was half angry, half--something Angel couldn't read before Xander quickly turned away.

There was a low, pained moan from the floor. Xander turned his head towards Angel, but didn't look up. "He's coming around," he said. "You'd better go."

Angel's expression grew even more pained. "Xander...."

"Please--" Xander choked on his words. "Go."

Angel drew up to his full height and shut his jaw tightly. He stared at Xander for a moment longer, and then suddenly was gone.

Xander looked up at the empty space where Angel had been, still struggling to hold back tears. There was another moan, this time slightly louder. Xander rolled his eyes around in exasperation for a moment before painfully reaching over to find his boxers and pull them on. This arduous task completed, he slipped off the bed and knelt down beside Spike, lifting Spike's head into his lap. Spike groaned again, rolling his head back and forth for a moment before finally opening his eyes... and wincing at the light.

"It's okay," said Xander, stroking Spike's hair. "Guilt boy is gone."

Spike moaned again and clutched his head. "Bloody wanker."

Xander laughed softly, but did not smile. He slowly helped Spike up from the floor. Spike tried to stand on his own, then swayed, woozy, and clutched at Xander's shoulder with one hand while bringing the other back up to his head.

"Bugger," he muttered.

Xander laughed more genuinely this time. "Well, at least there's no short term memory loss."

Spike smirked, then winced. "I need some blood."

Xander brought his hand up to the wound at his neck, quickly pulling it away when the touch brought pain. "I'm running kinda low myself," he said, a bit weakly, "and there's nothing in the fridge."

"The watcher," Spike mumbled. "He's got the rest of it."

Xander placed a comforting hand over the one with which Spike clung to his shoulder. "Can you walk?"

Spike took a step, and fell woozily back against Xander. "No."

"Great," said Xander, with mirthless cheer, "neither can I. I guess that means we go together. As soon as I find a Band-Aid."

*****
Part 6:

Giles was fruitlessly leafing through yet another rather dusty text when a knock came at the door. He rose to answer it and found a somewhat bedraggled crew on his doorstep.

"This isn't going well," said Buffy, flatly, walking past him and collapsing on the couch.

Willow and Oz followed and Giles closed the door behind them.

"I take it you still haven't found any signs of a... coherent agenda... behind the recent... er, unrest?" asked Giles, returning to stand by his desk.

Buffy just turned to him with an exhausted look.

"If it's any consolation," said Willow, with a tentative smile, "evil's getting its butt kicked."

Oz raised an eyebrow and smiled at her.

"I'm running out of butt-kick to give," said Buffy, falling back on the couch again, covering her face with her hands. "Evil's not taking a breather."

"And none of the demons or vampires have mentioned anything that might--" Giles broke off when he saw Buffy sit up again to give him an even darker look.

"Fights to the death don't normally leave much time for conversation."

Giles looked apologetic but doubtful. "Well, given the witty banter you usually manage to squeeze in..."

"Which none of them seem to appreciate," said Buffy, rolling her eyes. "They haven't said anything. Well, except about the commandos."

"What about the commandos?" asked Giles, interest piqued.

Buffy frowned and thought for a moment. "Nothing specific... although some of them were blaming me for them."

Giles gave a short, weak laugh as he looked around at his home. "If only we were so well funded."

"But I don't see what that has to do with anything," said Buffy.

"If you ask me," said Oz, "they're pretty spooked."

Willow grinned. "They're spooked spooks."

"Technically, the term 'spook' applies only to phantasms and other such--" Giles broke off when he noticed everyone staring at him. "--but... that doesn't really matter. If the Initiative has gotten them riled up...."

"Riled up by Riley?" asked Willow, raising her eyebrows. "Who would--"

"Buffy," answered Oz.

Buffy frowned, thinking. "I wouldn't say riled up, exactly...."

"But," said Giles firmly, retaking control of the conversation, "if the activities of the Initiative have... alarmed them, that might explain what's going on."

"Why be... alarmed... by the Initiative?" asked Buffy. "I've been slaying for years, and they never did this for me."

Giles grimaced. "While I share your odd--and admittedly inappropriate--sense of... envy, I must admit that I am not entirely comfortable with the Initiative myself. There seems to be a considerable amount about them that we do not know. And Spike certainly seems to regard his current situation as a fate worse than death... or dust."

"Fine with me if he wants to stake himself," muttered Buffy.

"And so they're waging a campaign of civil disobedience?" asked Willow. "Why? It doesn't make any sense."

"Well, technically, when they're committing crimes such as... m-mass murder," said Giles, "it's not _civil_ disobedience."

"It's a riot," said Buffy.

"The not funny kind," added Oz.

There was a hesitant knock at the door.

Buffy rose to answer it. "Is it Xander?"

"He already picked up Spike at sundown," said Giles, vaguely.

Buffy opened the door.

"Buffy," said Angel, a bit blankly. He stood frozen on the doorstep, a worried expression on his face.

"Angel," replied Buffy, almost as flatly, not quite able to keep a tinge of anger out of her voice.

After staring for an uncomfortable moment, Angel shifted his gaze past her into the room, nervously surveying the crowd assembled there.

"What are you doing here?" asked Buffy.

Angel's eyes snapped back to her and he hesitated guiltily. "I need to talk to Gi--to all of you."

Buffy just stared back for a moment, then stepped aside. "Come in."

"Thank you." Angel walked in past her.

"Angel," said Giles, reaching hesitantly to shake his hand.

"Giles," Angel replied, returning the handshake briefly but firmly. "Willow. Oz."

Willow gave a nervous half-smile. Oz nodded.

Buffy walked up beside him. "What's going--"

"Xander's in trouble," said Angel, quickly.

"Xander?" repeated Buffy, shocked.

"It's Spike," Angel explained.

Giles frowned. "Xander has been looking after Spike recently... but, as you know, Spike is no longer able to harm humans. I assure you that Xander is fine."

Angel shook his head. "Spike's draining him."

"Draining him?" repeated Buffy, incredulous.

"That's impossible," said Giles.

"That's right," agreed Willow, still with a slightly nervous tinge to her voice. "He tried to bite me... and he couldn't."

Oz put a supportive arm around her.

Angel shook his head. "If he doesn't do it violently, he can still drain someone. I saw it. He's done it before, and if we don't... do something, he'll do it again."

Suddenly there was a knock, and Xander swung open the door and stepped into the room, Spike following close behind.

Everyone except Angel turned to stare at them, still wide-eyed with shock. "Xander!" they chorused.

Angel just looked at Xander with a combination of concern and guilt.

These expressions were not lost on Xander, who froze immediately when he saw Angel, a look of utter betrayal on his face. "Secrets... meant to be kept," he murmured, softly.

Angel's gaze fell to the floor.

Buffy suddenly regained the ability to move. "You're dust," she spat through clenched teeth, grabbing up a stake from Giles's desk. She stalked toward Spike, raising the stake over her head.

"No!" Xander shouted, immediately stepping in front of Buffy, arms wide, blocking her path to Spike, who smirked over Xander's shoulder at the slayer. "He's... my boyfriend."

Oz blinked. Willow gasped. Giles went slack-jawed.

Buffy froze in mid-step and did a complete double take. The hand holding the stake fell to her side.

Spike, looking around at them all, grinned like he might start jumping up and down any second.

"Your _what_?" asked Buffy, sharply.

"My boyfriend," repeated Xander, nervously, lowering his arms as Spike embraced him from behind, snuggling his chin into Xander's shoulder, eyes locked on the slayer's reaction. Xander gratefully clasped the arms wrapped around him.

Everyone else just stared... except for Angel, who grimaced and turned away.

"So he's draining you... and _doing_ you?" asked Willow, timidly.

"That's right," said Spike with a grin, nuzzling Xander's wounded neck.

Xander suddenly looked confused. He turned to Angel and asked quietly, "You didn't tell them...?"

Angel didn't turn to look at Xander, merely shook his head.

"Oh," said Xander, looking down at the floor, then looking up suddenly when he felt Spike's tongue run across his ear.

This display brought Buffy out of her stupor. "I did _not_ need to see that," she growled, raising her stake again. "You are _so_ dust."

"No!" Xander stepped forward out of Spike's embrace and spread his arms wide again. "This is one significant other you _aren't_ going to slay. This whole gay thing is hard enough without you killing off my boyfriend."

Buffy stopped but didn't back down, glaring at Xander and Spike.

"Now," said Xander, stepping aside cautiously and then quickly walking into Giles's kitchen. "I'm going to take the rest of the blood..." He opened the refrigerator and grabbed the remaining packets. "And unless anyone has anything _not_ involving a death threat to say..." he continued as he walked back into the main room, surveying everyone's reactions, except carefully avoiding Angel's. "...we'll be going."

With that, he turned around and led Spike to the door. He cast one brief, furtive glance back at Angel before quickly following Spike out and slamming the door behind them.

The room was deathly silent, as everyone simply stared at the door.

Angel suddenly growled, "Excuse me," and swept out the door himself.

The other four turned to look helplessly at each other. Buffy shook her head. "This is _not_ good."

The music was blaring, but no one paid it any attention. Buffy looked worriedly back and forth at the people around the table, then turned to Willow, her expression a mute appeal. Willow could do nothing but return her hopeless look and turn to Oz. Oz just raised an eyebrow and turned to Xander.

Xander, staring at the table, fidgeted with the bandage on his neck.

Spike, leaning back in his chair with one arm casually thrown across Xander's shoulders, surveyed them all with barely contained glee. He grinned as he sipped his drink.

"So, this is what you humans do for fun, is it?" he asked, looking around at the Bronze. "Pretty tame, if you ask me."

"We didn't," muttered Buffy, bristling with anger which dissipated into guilt when Xander shot her a pleading look. "Sorry."

Spike just laughed. "It's all right," he said, with mocking generosity. "I've got my boy Xander here--" Spike jerked Xander closer with his arm. "--and we don't care what anyone thinks."

Spike's grin immediately dropped into a scowl when two voices came from behind them.

"Check out the homos."

"With the nail polish and the dye job. What a fruit."

Spike shot up and spun around. "Who are you calling a homo, wankstain?" he growled.

The two bigots just laughed. "Does it want to fight?"

Xander's hand tugged at Spike's sleeve. "Let it go, Spike," he said, quietly. "You can't fight them."

Spike clenched his fists, fuming. An idea suddenly struck him and he quickly shifted to game face, baring his fangs and snarling. His tormentors immediately recoiled in fright and beat a hasty retreat, stumbling over each other to get away. Spike grimaced to himself and shifted back before turning back to sit down.

Xander smiled weakly at him and grasped his hand under the table.

The others just stared blankly.

Xander hesitated, darting a glance at Spike, who'd gone back to sipping his drink, before speaking. "So," he said, addressing the table in general, "how's school?"

"What?" asked Buffy, startled and turning to look at Xander as if seeing him for the first time. "Oh, fine. Just fine. Right?"

"Fine," agreed Willow. "Yup. Fine's the word." She turned to Oz, who looked back at her doubtfully.

Xander, somewhat disappointed by the response, nodded slowly. "Figure out the why behind the recent demon festivity?" he asked, attempting a reassuring gesture by clutching Spike's hand more tightly.

"Impending apocalypse?" Spike asked with mild curiosity.

"No," said Buffy.

Spike shrugged and returned to his drink.

"We think the evil's just spooked by the Ini--" Willow was cut off by a shrill scream.

Everyone at the table turned towards the entrance, frowning, except Spike, who instantly perked up and began to jerk his head back and forth, trying to see past the crowd by the stairs.

"Gate crashers," said Buffy, rising and brandishing a stake. "The demon kind."

Willow and Oz followed her as she left the table and found a strategic position in the middle of the room.

Xander rose as well, laying a reassuring hand on Spike's shoulder. "Be careful," he said. Spike was too busy trying to catch a glimpse of the entering demons to reply. Xander smiled wistfully, gave Spike's shoulder a squeeze, and went to join the others.

The way to the entrance quickly opened up as the crowd, in an anything but orderly fashion, made for the rear exit. Buffy held up her stake and planted her feet shoulder width apart, beckoning to the demons at the foot of the stairs, who had trapped several terrified youths. "Hey, ugly, if you wanna harass the customers, I'm gonna need to see some ID."

They spun about, and their prey quickly ran off to join the escaping crowd. "Slayer," the lead demon sneered. And then they charged.

Spike watched the developing chaos with quiet amusement, hands folded behind his head, feet propped up on the table, when suddenly the table splintered into pieces. Spike stumbled to his feet and found himself face to face with a raging demon. He was barely able to duck the swipe the creature made at him.

Clenching his fists and resisting the urge to hit back, he twisted and dodged, backing away as the demon continued to stalk towards him. He quickly found himself being driven into a corner.

Spike hesitated angrily for a moment, then, "Xander?" he called with frustrated impatience. "A little _help_ here?" Dodging another blow from his opponent, he turned and saw Xander cornered by another demon.

"Spike!" Xander called back, and desperately began pummeling his attacker, to no effect whatsoever. The demon just picked Xander up by the shoulder and tossed him casually away.

"Bloody poof," Spike muttered, rolling his eyes, and was immediately knocked to the floor.

"Tha's i'!" he exclaimed, losing control of his t's. He bounced back up. "I don't care how much this hurts!" He raised a fist and slammed it--hard--across the demon's face.

The demon fell. Spike didn't.

Spike stared in amazement, first at the fallen demon, then at his fist. "I can hit demons," he muttered, with growing delight. He gave his erstwhile opponent a rough, careless kick. "I can hit demons," he repeated more loudly, the delight spreading across his face and creeping into his voice. His eyes glinted and he sneered gleefully.

"I..." he shouted, dragging the demon up from the floor. "...can..." He gave the demon another bone-crushing blow across the jaw. "..._hit_..." He grabbed the thing by its horns. "...demons!" With a deft and powerful twist and snap, it fell to the floor, lifeless.

Spike, supremely self-satisfied, casually dusted off his hands. "Now," he called, looking around, "who's next?"

The demon about to slaughter Xander was convenient.

Xander was cowering in a corner, head down, arms instinctively but pointlessly raised against the raking claws that were poised to swing down on him. But instead of raking claws, there was a sharp crack and a grunt. Xander peeked up to see what was going on.

His jaw dropped in amazement and his arms slowly fell as he saw Spike beating the demon senseless. Spike gave an impressive roundhouse kick to the demon's side, easily dodged a wildly aimed swipe, and then delivered an uppercut that sent the demon flying. Xander's eyes followed it as it flew through the air and crashed to the floor, lifeless. He stared at it blankly for a moment, before turning to look up at Spike, a growing smile on his face. He gave Spike a weak but enthusiastic thumbs up.

Spike returned a leering grin before running off to join the rest of the action, leaving Xander groaning as he tried and failed to get up from the floor.

The next few minutes were a rather pleasant blur for Spike, as he leisurely but decisively worked his way through the crowd of demons that had assembled in the Bronze. One moment found him fighting back-to-back with the slayer, but Buffy recoiled in disgust, and Spike, no less disgusted, quickly drew his fight to a different part of the room.

Not much later, the few remaining demons were on the run. Buffy, exhausted, leaned back against a table, letting out a weary sigh as Willow came up and gave her a supportive smile and pat on the shoulder.

Spike adopted a different attitude. "C'mon," he shouted, almost jumping up and down as he headed towards the exit, "they're getting away!" Xander, finally on his own two feet again, smiled with amused fondness.

"What do you care?" asked Buffy.

Spike stared back incredulously for a moment. "It's demon-fighting," he said, struggling to explain what he felt needed no explanation. "It's bang..." He gestured with a punch. "...grr..." He made clawing motions. "...fun!" He held out his hands, exasperated.

Oz raised an eyebrow. "Coherent much?"

"Eh," Spike grunted, flicking his hand dismissively. "Forget it. Leaves more for me." He quickly bounded up the stairs.

Xander looked nervously around at his friends with an apologetic smile before dashing up the stairs after him.

Buffy, Willow, and Oz could do nothing but look at each other in helpless confusion.

*****
Part 7:

Xander opened the door and Spike bounded after him into the basement room.

"Ooh, that was great!" exclaimed Spike, growling a bit on the last word.

Xander laughed. "All right, Tony."

Spike wasn't paying attention. "I am back in the game!" He shrugged off his jacket. "Back in the hunt!" He quickly stripped off his shirts. "I need some blood!"

Xander chuckled and went over to his dresser as Spike sauntered over to the fridge, ripped out a packet of blood, and tore into it, guzzling it down. He tossed the empty packet aside and dragged his hand across his mouth carelessly, smearing blood across his chin. "Ace," he said, satisfied.

He sat down on the edge of the bed, unlaced and kicked off his boots, and then fell back, bouncing, arms folded behind his head, grin plastered on his face. "This is gonna be great!"

Xander, smiling fondly, slid into bed beside him and reached over to lay a hand on Spike's chest, caressing it lightly. Spike ignored him.

"I can't wait to get back out there. Pow! Grrr!"

Xander laughed softly and moved over to begin kissing Spike's chest.

Spike remained inattentive. "Tomorrow, watch out! I've got some serious demon arse-kicking to do. The big bad is back!"

Xander broke off from his ministrations and looked up. "Uh, Spike, in the meantime, don't you wanna..."

Spike suddenly looked down as if noticing Xander for the first time. "Oh, you can suck me off, if you feel like it."

Xander frowned, confused, but hesitated only a moment before opening Spike's jeans and pulling out his cock, already half-hard. Xander took the shaft in his hand and began to lick teasingly at the head.

"Oh, yeah," Spike hissed, reaching down with one hand to thread his fingers through Xander's hair, forcing his head down. Xander took Spike's cock into his mouth, rolling his head around, slathering it with his tongue.

Spike grunted approval and gripped Xander's hair tighter as he lay back and enjoyed the ride. Xander sucked with enthusiasm, moving his head up and down, pulling his cheeks in to tightly grip the shaft, and taking the occasional moment to pull back and caress the head with his tongue.

In no time at all, Spike was coming, and Xander hungrily swallowed everything Spike had to give, continuing to suck and lick at Spike's cock as it gradually returned to softness.

Once finished, he lifted himself up and smiled down at Spike. Spike gave him a quick grin in return and then settled back into his pillow, letting his eyes fall closed.

Xander stared at him lying peacefully there for a while, a confused frown developing on his face, before asking, tentatively, "Um, Spike?"

"Nummy?" Spike mumbled, not opening his eyes.

"Aren't you... forgetting something?"

Spike snapped one eye open and stared at Xander for a moment before realization hit. "Oh, right." He shut the eye again, and laid back deeper into the pillow. "You'll have to take care of yourself tonight. I've got to rest up for the demon fighting tomorrow," he said, smiling to himself in satisfaction.

"Oh, okay." Xander tried to smile, but a frown won out. He looked around for a moment, trying to decide what to do, before simply turning onto his side and pulling the covers over himself. He watched Spike lying there for a moment, and opened his mouth to speak... but then shut it, and his eyes, and tried to fall asleep.

"So..." began Willow, looking nervously at Xander.

"So," replied Xander, looking anywhere but at Willow. He took a bite from his sandwich and stared at his plate.

Willow twisted her mouth anxiously and looked down as well, absently rearranging the contents of her salad bowl.

Eventually Xander looked up at Willow with a determined air. "So," he repeated, "how'd that paper go?"

"Paper?" asked Willow, at a loss.

"The anti-party paper. The other day...?"

"Oh, the paper. Um, fine. I think."

"What was it about?"

"Transitional Cogitative Modes in Early Childhood Devel--but you don't really care, 'cause you're gay."

"What?"

"I mean, we're not here to talk about the homework."

"Right," said Xander, somewhat hopelessly. "We're here to talk about my gaiety." He looked down again at his sandwich.

"But you like women."

Xander rolled his eyes. "Well, maybe it was Misconception of Sexual Identity Due to Enforced Traditional Gender Roles."

"What?"

"I was confused."

"Oh. Okay." An even more confused look crossed Willow's face. "But... Spike?"

Xander sighed. "Yes, Spike."

"Shouldn't you try a normal, not-evil guy first?"

Xander looked down and fiddled with his sandwich. "I'm not allowed to have normal relationships. It's in my contract."

"But..." Willow began, then restarted. "I mean, Buffy already proved that dating and vampires don't mix."

Xander grimaced in pain. "Spike's different."

Willow didn't say anything, but her mouth twisted in reluctant concession of the point. She looked around nervously, trying to think. "But what if he's just... using you?"

Xander rolled his eyes. "Thank you, Angel."

"What?"

Xander shook his head. "Look, we have fun together. We help each other out. What more could you ask for?"

"Well... love?"

Xander inhaled sharply and looked down at the table. "I do love him." He looked up at her defiantly. "I don't expect you to understand, but I do."

"But he doesn't--"

"How do you know?" Xander demanded, defensively. "He rescued me last night at the Bronze. He hangs out with me all the time. He's... nice to me."

"Really?" asked Willow, doubtfully.

Xander hesitated. "Yes, really," he said, attempting to sound convincing. "Yes."

"But he..." began Willow, her eyes locking onto the bandage on Xander's neck.

Xander's hand immediately clasped over it. "We help each other out," he said, firmly. Xander looked down again, glancing at his watch. "You'd better get to class."

Willow suddenly took a glance at her own watch, and began to frantically gather her books. She stood up, then turned back to Xander and paused. "I just want to make sure you're okay."

Xander hung his head in frustration for a moment, then looked back up with a weak smile. "I'm fine. I'm having fun. For once."

Willow just looked at him sadly for a moment longer before turning and walking out to join the rush of students moving between classes.

Xander put his elbows up on the table and buried his head in his hands.

Xander stepped through the door and immediately noticed that something was wrong. He looked around the room and saw that various items had disappeared or shifted position, as Spike collected a large pile of them in the middle of the room.

Xander was stunned for a moment, but then suddenly laughed out loud. "I told you, _no_ redecorating."

"I'm not redecorating," said Spike, not turning around as he walked over to sift through Xander's collection of CDs. A scowl quickly appeared on his face. "Don't you have anything worth listening to?" He shoved a pile of discs carelessly aside and moved on.

Xander frowned, confused. "What are you doing?"

"I've found a nice little crypt... no view, bad neighborhood. Just what I'm looking for."

Xander's expression quickly became worried. "You... you're moving out?" he asked, quietly.

"Finally," agreed Spike, not looking up.

Xander watched him rummage a while longer before offering, in a voice still quiet and strained, "You can redecorate if you want to."

"No," said Spike. He looked up at the small windows. "Well, sun's gone down. Time to move." We walked over and picked up a large box, crammed with a jumble of random items, from the floor.

"That's my boom box," Xander protested.

Spike smirked. "Don't you mean _our_ boom box, lover?"

Xander frowned and his brow furrowed, as he watched Spike saunter to the door.

"Don't touch the rest of that stuff," Spike said, as he opened the door. "I'll be back for it, and the fridge, later."

"Why are you... I thought we..."

Spike paused in the doorway and turned back with a leering grin. "Of course, you can come over any time you want to give me another blow job. You're getting pretty good at that. And you'll always be my _nummy treat_," Spike added, with a mocking emphasis that did nothing for Xander's self-confidence. Then he turned and was gone.

The door slammed behind him and Xander stared at it for only a second before dropping onto the bed, sitting on the edge, looking down blankly at the floor.

"Moist and delicious only get you so far, I guess." He cringed in pain and his head fell into his hands.

And there, in silent despair, he sat, waiting for Spike's return.

Xander hesitated, biting his lip, before reaching up to knock on the crypt door. There was a hollow echo from inside, but no other sound... except for a small movement behind him.

Xander spun around. "Angel!" he exclaimed, in complete surprise. His tone turned angry and defensive. "What are you doing here?"

"Looking for you."

"Why?"

"To tell you--"

"Can it, Deadboy."

"I'm leaving."

"Wh-what?"

"You're right, it's none of my business. As long as you're safe...." Angel hesitated, then added, nervously watching Xander's reaction, "And happy."

Xander just stared.

Angel, giving up, began to turn away.

"Angel, wait," Xander said, suddenly, desperately. "I--"

Angel turned back but Xander was staring at the ground.

"You were right," Xander said, tiredly. "Spike was just... being Spike."

"I'm sorry."

Xander scoffed. "My stupid fault."

"You can't blame yoursel--"

"Oh, spare me the canned comfort, Deadboy."

Angel had no answer for this, and they both simply stood, facing each other, staring at the ground.

Angel suddenly stiffened and looked up. Moments later, Spike sauntered into view, a grocery bag casually tucked under one arm.

Spike gave Angel a brief look of annoyance, then turned to Xander. "So, Nummy, here to give your boyfriend that blowjob you promised?" he asked, pushing on the door to the crypt.

Xander flushed and turned away. Spike grinned.

A cloud of dust billowed up as the door swung open, turning Spike's grin into a grimace. "And while you're here, maybe you could clean the place up a bit." Spike looked over to check for Xander's acquiescence. Seeing Xander turned away and Angel glaring, he rolled his eyes. "I suppose Angel here has been confessing his everlasting love to you." Spike sneered and shook his head. "Disgusting."

Xander looked up in surprise. Angel closed his eyes in frustration. "No...."

"So you've just been standing here angsting about it. As usual." Spike shook his head. "You are the most tedious bloke I know. And that includes that blasted watcher." Spike turned to Xander. "Whatever he tries to tell you, you're better off with me. Great sex and no boring sentimental crap."

Angel turned away from Spike and gently placed a hand on Xander's shoulder. "Come on," he said, quietly, and began to lead Xander away. Xander, lost in a stupor, offered no resistance.

"On second thought," Spike called after them, "why don't you go on and give that blowjob to Angel. Bring Angelus back." Angel winced. "Then we can have some real fun."

Xander shuddered, but continued to follow Angel away. Spike chuckled to himself as he watched them walk away, and then, still grinning, turned and disappeared inside.

When they had retreated a safe distance from the crypt, Xander pulled away from Angel's guiding hand and stopped, staring at the ground. He shoved his hands in his pockets, kicked absently at the dirt, then suddenly turned to Angel, an unspoken question in his eyes.

Angel, suddenly defenseless, could do nothing but stare back, unsure what answer Xander might find.

The seconds ticked by in silence.

Suddenly afraid, Xander turned away again, back to staring at the ground. He was about to walk away, but he stopped his foot and planted it again where it started, shaking his head slightly.

"What do you do now?" asked Angel, quietly.

Xander exhaled in frustration. "I don't know.... I don't know if I can face them again... after this." He hung his head.

Angel took a careful step towards him. "I'll take you--"

Xander stiffened and drew back, frowning darkly. "I don't want your pity."

Angel hung his head and paused, trying to find words. Finally, he turned to meet Xander's eyes and extended his hand. "It would make me very happy if you would come with me."

Xander squinted slightly and stared for a moment.

Then he reached out and gently took Angel's hand. Angel returned the grasp with a firm assurance. They stood for a long while, just staring at each other, neither smiling nor frowning.

And then Xander nodded, and together they turned and walked off into the night.

~ end ~