*****

Xander's POV

After finding the Moku demon, killing it, and being unceremoniously splashed in, now get this, polka dot demon blood, we all decided to go back to our homes. But, home is where the heart is, right? Hah. Like I have a heart anymore now that Anya left. Turns out that after she realized America was not going to change it's Easter friendly programming of Peter Cottontail and other bunnycentric shows, she ran off to Russia in hopes to get away from the fluffy ones. She asked me to come with but do they even HAVE Twinkies in Russia? I don't think so!

Spike's being forced to walk me home. At least that's what he's mumbling about. He seemed a bit anxious at being assigned to the task. It does make me curious as to why he moved to a crypt in a cemetery across from my cemetery. Oh, look, we're here.

"Well, Fangless, it's been fun. Not really. Anyways, I'll see you-"

"You got any blood bags in your fridge, mate? I been a little dry of late and you lot ain't exactly been the payin' sort."

I sigh. Since Giles left Anya's been a little more stingy with the money and when she left, his cash flow all but stopped. "Yeah, Spike. Sorry about the money."

"'Course you wankers forgot bout poor Spikey needin' his daily O neg. I mean not when you..." The door opened and waved Spike in, inviting him for the first time. He stopped talking and came in, shoving me against the wall with only a grimace of pain flashing over his face.

"Um, Spike? Ow! What's WRONG with you!"

"Don't you realize it, you bloody moron?! Anya's left ya. The other demons you've came 'cross have not been too willing to give you a nice shag neither. But I've been here this whole awful time! You're fallin' apart at the seams and no one else understands! You need to-"

I turned my head away. Something about him being so close. I never did cry about Anya, never had the chance to. I didn't have a shoulder to cry on. I didn't know there was one right across the street waiting for me to cry out. "Spike, just leave me alone! God! I don't need love advice from you! And you're not exactly staying together yourself!" From next door someone began playing their piano. Instead of Mr. Shotmeyer's usual Beethoven I heard music from a time of 'Muskrat Love'. People never know when to let music die.

I was brought out of my thoughts by Spike backing away from me, hugging himself with his arms as the words came out of his mouth. And I could tell that he didn't know why he was singing, but that he meant what he began.

"Love, Love will keep us together..."

All I knew is that if Spike started singing Captain and Tennille yesterday, I would've laughed my head off. As he sang the first line all I could think of, tonight, covered in polka dotted demon blood was that I wanted him to be mine, and nobody else's.

So it shouldn't have surprised me when the words came flowing out of my mouth.

"Think of me babe whenever
some sweet talking guy comes along singing his song
Don't mess around, You got to be strong"

He clapped a hand over my mouth and pulled me by the shirt into the middle of the living room. The furniture had, somehow, been moved against the walls, leaving us plenty of space. He sang to me, in his deep voice...

"Just Stop, 'cause I really love You
Stop, I'll be thinking of you
Look in my heart and let love keep us together"

He turned me around so fast that I almost lost my footing and pulled down the collar of my shirt. That's when I realized that in those 3 seconds he went into game face. I felt his fangs scratch my neck so softly. Yet he continued to sing.

"You, You belong to me now
Ain't gonna set you free now..."

Suddenly, the music stopped, he stopped singing. The phone rang. and rang. and rang. Finally my machine picked up.

"Hi you've reached Xander (Honey, you want to use the purple one or the flesh colored one tonight?) AHN! (What?) I'm trying to record a message! (So?) *sigh* Just leave a message at the beep."

Beep!

"Xander, just checking to make sure you got home alright." Ah, Buffy. Such a nice, kind, caring... "I'm sure Impotent, Blond and Stupid probably got you killed." SKANKY SLUT WHO BETTER STOP TALKING ABOUT SPIKE THAT WAY. Oh my god what am I saying.... "God, I don't even know why we keep him around and not stake him anymore. Anyways, call me later cause I need someone to take care of Dawn and..." The music started up, twice as loud, drowning her out.

Spike continued with his song.

"When those guys start hanging around talking me down
Hear with your heart and You won't hear a sound"

I spun around. Because, for some heavenly and hell-ly reason, I realized that this evil guy is the man for me! I mean, of course I've always had suspicions that that one steamy night in the locker room with Larry wasn't just a 'testing the waters' thing, but Spike.... he's just... (I like my evil like I like my men. Evil....)

So I spun him around, effectively surprising him enough so that I could push him back onto the couch. I landed on top of him and looked straight into his eyes... and I just.... SANG.

"Just Stop, 'cause I really love You
Stop, I'll be thinking of you
Look in my heart and let love keep us together
Whatever"

He was still in game face and I ran my tongue over his ridges. They looked demonic and evil and frightening, but at the same time they didn't scare me. Cause this was Spike. And I knew he wouldn't hurt me.... unless I wanted to. He tilted my head and ran his fangs back over my neck.

"Young and Beautiful
Someday your looks will be gone
When the others turn you off
Who'll be turning You on"

He whispered the words, huskily. And I knew what he was asking. Stay old forever, with people who might never love me half as much as he does or... Yeah, I totally knew my answer.

"I will, I will, I will, I will be there to share forever
Love will keep us together"

And I felt him bite into my jugular. The flow of blood surging into his mouth. And I wondered when his chip stopped working. But I didn't care because I was his, now, and when I wake up part of the bloody fang-y bite-y crowd. So I sang softly, feeling the effects of losing my blood down to my toes...

"Said it before and I'll say it again
while others pretend
I'll need you now and I'll need you then"

And he pulled away from my neck and I felt a little bit at loss. But that could've just been the lack of life fluid I was feeling. He slit a line down his wrist and put it to my lips and grinned evilly.I drank so much so fast. He was even feeling the effects cause he pulled it away from my mouth and kissed me, our tongues going at it like the zebras at the zoo.

"Stop cause I really love Ya
Stop I'll be thinking of Ya
Look in my Heart and let love keep us together
Whatever I will, I will, I will ."

And my heart started slowing.... and slowing... and...then it just...

"Stop cause I really love ya
Stop I'll be thinking of Ya
Look in my Heart and let love keep us together Whatever
I will, I will, I will, I will..."

The End