Angel picked Xander up in his arms and carried him over to the bed. He was worried about him, now more than ever. Angel feared no demon, and his concern was for Xander's emotional state of mind. Physically Angel would protect him with all of his might, but he could not control Xander's mind. Only Xander had the strength and the power to do so, but he needed to become aware of that.

Xander's body was cold as Angel carried him, and Angel turned him gently on to his belly as he placed him on the bed. He removed the blanket that he had wrapped around his lover after his dream quest and his hand traced a long line from the nape of Xander's neck all the way to the base of his spine. Angel undressed himself slowly, Xander unmoving as the bed rocked slightly with the movement of the bed beneath him.

Leaning over to the bedside table, Angel opened a small drawer and removed a glass vial filled with an amber oil. He pulled out the stop and poured a stream of the oil into one hand before rubbing them together slowly. He leaned forward and placed his hands around Xander's neck, gently massaging the scented oil into his skin. He heard a soft moan escape Xander's lips, and he continued slowly down his back, pressing deep into the flesh as his fingers reached each pressure point. He worked carefully and diligently, taking as much pleasure from touching him as Xander was experiencing beneath his expert fingers.

Xander's moans increased in number and volume as he felt Angel's hands moving over his body. He was pulled relentlessly back into the present as the powerful physical sensations forced themselves into his awareness. The minefield that he had discovered earlier in the day was now a war zone and his body twitched at each new explosion. His nipples were rubbing against the blanket beneath him as he moved, and his cock, which usually took any opportunity to rise up, was now stiff against his belly. He tried to turn over onto his back so that he could both look at Angel and touch him at the same time, but Angel would not allow him to do so. Angel smiled as he held his lover down with his powerful thighs. He knew exactly what he was doing to Xander, and he wanted to take the boy further than he had ever gone before. He wanted him to experience just what the body was capable of once it opened itself up to feeling. The energy that went into avoiding the sensation was simply being wasted. Once he had achieved an uninterrupted flow between body and mind, he would never be the same again.

Xander lifted his hands with difficulty from beneath Angel's glorious thighs and caressed them as much as he could. He was torn between giving in to the sensations that were rippling through his body, and the desire to reciprocate, to participate, give to Angel as much as he was receiving from him.

'Relax, baby,' Angel leaned over to whisper in his ear. 'Let's take our time tonight.' He stroked Xander's earlobes between his fingers, and once again Xander could smell more herbs on Angel's fingers near his face.

Xander smiled, eyes closed. 'Sure thing, gorgeous man,' he said, relaxing once more beneath Angel, whose hands were slipping lower and lower down his body, massaging his thighs, his calf muscles, the balls of his feet. Xander giggled as Angel's fingers played with his toes. Angel gently raised one foot and Xander felt the coolness as Angel's mouth enveloped his large toe. He giggled and gasped at the same time, shocked at the sensation. The new tingling sensation in his toe spread to his entire foot and traveled up his leg to end in the tender spot just below his balls. He wiggled the toe in Angel's mouth, giggling some more, and moaned when he felt those strong hands grasp his ass cheeks once more, spreading them slowly.

Angel stared at the smooth bubble butt below him and a grin appeared on his face. Removing Xander's toe from his mouth, he licked slowly up the leg, pressing his tongue into the flesh so that Xander would feel his intent. His tongue made its way slowly up to Xander's spread ass and slowly eased itself into the tight hole. Angel felt it contract and relax a few times as he slowly explored the soft, moist opening. His mouth wanted to be everywhere at the same time, but he was more than happy with where it was right then. He massaged Xander's cheeks as he continued to move his tongue in and out of him and he was rewarded with increasing moans of pleasure. He raised his head from Xander's ass and grinned again as Xander pleaded in a husky voice, 'Don't stop, please.'

Instead of indulging the pleading need in Xander's voice, Angel picked up the vial again and poured another long stream into his hands. When he had completely covered his fingers once more with the oil, he placed a cool finger on Xander's cute hole and rubbed it slowly in a circular motion. Xander spread his legs a little wider, a grin on his face pressed into the pillow. Angel slowly inserted the tip of his finger into him and moaned when he felt Xander raising his ass to envelope his finger. Angel worked the finger slowly, pressing on Xander's hot spot, and the boy's body jumped beneath him in shock. Xander had never imagined anything could feel so good. His hard-on increased beneath him and he had to reach a hand beneath him to hold on to it. It felt in serious need of calming down, but the touch of his own fingers only made it pulse harder, and his moaning increased as Angel continued to explore him with his soft fingers.

When Angel slipped another finger into him Xander's yell escaped before he could check it. His asshole was hungry for more of Angel. It was like a starving creature that had suddenly discovered a heavenly source of nourishment, and his muscles relaxed to give Angel's fingers as much room as they needed.

He felt Angel's body lower onto his back and turned his head so that his mouth could intercept Angel's as it aimed at his ear. He stuck his tongue deep into Angel's mouth and shivered at the deep groan that escaped his lover's chest. He felt the hard cock that was pressed against his ass cheeks jump in response, and he spread them just a little wider to offer encouragement to him. Angel, taking his cue, removed his fingers slowly from inside the hot ass beneath him and started to stroke the oil into his lengthening cock. The head was already glistening from the pre-cum that had started leaking out even before he had touched Xander's ass. He moaned again as his fingers continued to excite his throbbing hard-on. He gripped it tightly to force it to calm down before he would even think of placing it in that heavenly spot. He wanted this to last a long time.

He stuck his tongue deeper into Xander's mouth and placed the large head of his cock over his open hole. Slowly he moved forward with his hips and he felt Xander quiver as the cock hovered there, waiting for a final second before slipping gently in. When Xander felt his oiled ass opening for Angel's cock he gasped in amazement. As wonderful as it felt, he was slightly apprehensive. He'd never imagined he would ever find himself in this situation and he didn't know what to expect. He didn't expect to feel his ass respond in the way it did. His hungry hole opened up as Angel's cock continued its slow slide deeper and deeper and Xander moved his arms so that he could force himself onto Angel. He was too far gone now, and he needed to feel all of that massive length stretching him.

Angel grasped his hips and thrust a final centimeter into him and their rhythm speeded up. They could not wait any longer, deep hunger was coursing through both of them and the slow tenderness was forgotten as they both lost themselves in their sensations. Angel increased his thrusts into Xander's ass, pulling out his length before slamming it back as deep as it could go, and Xander took it all willingly. He reached his hand deeper between his legs and grabbed hold of Angel's balls. He squeezed them tightly between his fingers and heard Angel hiss 'Yesss' between gritted teeth. As Angel pulled back for another plunge his balls were caught in Xander's hand and the pain was sweet as he felt the pull and release when he slammed back into him.

Angel lay fully stretched on Xander's back now, his hips moving rhythmically as he continued to fuck the gorgeous guy beneath him. Their lips and tongues still played together and occasionally there were playful bites as one felt a sudden rush of blood to his cock. Xander wanted to grab hold of his own cock and take a little more control of the situation so he calmed Angel's movements with a hand on his thigh and grinned at the crestfallen look that met his eyes.

'What's the matter?' Angel asked gently?

Xander just smiled and eased from beneath his body before rolling him onto his back. 'Nothing is so the matter,' he said, and slipped one leg over Angel's hips to straddle him. A grin replaced the look on Angel's face as he realized what Xander wanted from him. He grasped his ass cheeks again with both hands, and Xander's head rolled back as he felt them spread to their limit and Angel's massive cock nudge suggestively at his hungry hole. He groaned as Angel once more eased into him, still keeping his ass spread wide. Xander rocked on top of him, slowly at first, but when he felt the massive head of Angel's cock rub against his prostate he grabbed Angel's nipples between his fingers and plunged himself down onto his cock. Angel's hips rocked responsively beneath him and beads of sweat formed on Xander's forehead and above his lips as he rocked and squeezed Angel's nipples at the same time. A pleasure-filled grimace was on Angel's face as he stared up into his lover's eyes. He was surprised and pleased as fuck at the way Xander was responding to him. He knew it was his first time and had thought he'd need to persuade him to give in to all the lust that Angel felt whenever he thought of Xander's gorgeous body.

Angel had underestimated the well of desire that was built up in Xander's mind and body. He was a teenage boy whose sexual experience was limited to his hands and a lifetime of head sex, head sex that relied on magazines for inspiration. Xander had never seen anything like this in any magazine, not between two guys anyway, and the experience overwhelmed him. All he knew was that he wanted as much of Angel as he could get.

It was Angel's turn to calm his lover with one hand on his chest. Xander looked down at him impatiently and Angel could only grin apologetically. 'If you continue like that, just there,' and he thrust once more as he said it, 'I won't be able to continue. But, I have an idea.' And lifting Xander off his cock he rolled the panting boy onto his back. 'Now this,' he said, grinning down at him, 'this should be fun.' And raising Xander's ankles up to above his shoulders he did not hesitate before plunging the full length of his stiffness as far as it would go into him. Xander gasped and he shot out a hand to Angel's chest as the force hit him, but Angel ignored it and pulled back before repeating the action. He was rewarded by a wide smile from Xander who, eyes closed, rolled his head to one side, moaning and grasping his own cock. Angel leaned further over Xander's body, pressing his thighs into his chest as he angled for a deeper thrust. His arm muscles were taut as his rhythm increased and louder moans escaped Xander's throat. Angel leaned forward and bit his lover's lower lip and his tongue eased into his mouth as he fucked him harder and harder.

Xander pushed him back a little so that he could grasp his own cock, which he started to pump furiously, a look of intent concentration on his face. He closed his eyes and muttered in between deep breaths, 'Angel, oh, Angel.' He opened his eyes wide suddenly and grimaced, and before he could say anything only a guttural noise escaped his throat as a thick stream of cum erupted over his chest and onto his face, coating his nose and lips. He gasped as Angel leaned forward to grasp his shoulders and he felt him shiver all over as orgasm racked the vampire's body. He stuffed his face into Xander's neck and muffled groans escaped him as waves of cum flooded out of his cock into Xander's tight ass. He continued to shiver for a while after all the cum had left his cock, but Xander's warm ass still felt too good to leave just yet, and he heard the satisfied moans that were still escaping the boy's lips. Slowly he eased himself up onto his elbows to look into Xander's face, and he couldn't help laughing as he saw the mess of cum there. 'Quite a shower you gave yourself,' he grinned and leaned in to kiss his cum-covered lips.

************

'Nothing?' Buffy could not keep the annoyance out of her voice. She had returned from an uneventful search for the demon that was supposed to be after Xander. She returned to the library where Willow and Giles were still poring over a now larger pile of dusty old books.

'We're trying, Buffy,' said Willow, a hint of hurt in her voice. 'But no-one seemed to know much about this demon, except the different names for him and what we've already told you. He could be returning to hell tonight, or in a month. We just don't know yet,' and she smiled apologetically as she said it.

'You know what?' and Buffy was moving already as she spoke, 'I'm not going to sit around and wait for the books to reveal more of this demon's fascinating history. If I can't find him, then the next best thing is to wait for him.'

'Wait for him?' said Giles. 'Buffy, as you just pointed out, in your own unique manner, you don't know where he is going to be.'

'Oh, yes I do,' said Buffy. 'This demon is after Xander, right? Well, however long he's planning to stay in hiding, eventually he'll have to come out if he actually intends to take him with him to hell. In the meanwhile, you guys continue your reading. If you find anything, let me know.'

'Good plan,' said Giles. 'You head on over to Angel's, and Willow and I will see if we can come up with anything in the meantime.' Buffy looked at him in amazement. Hadn't she just said the exact same thing? Giles always had to have the last word, even if they weren't his.

As Buffy left the library she thought of Angel and Xander. She really did not want to have to face them right now, but there was no other way of trying to deal with... what? She did not have a clue what exactly they were dealing with, she admitted to herself. She did not want to add to Xander's troubles right now, and she wondered if Angel had told him what she had told him already about the demon. She hoped not. But how would she explain just dropping by unannounced? Putting aside the awkwardness of the situation, there was no reason for her to hang around after establishing yet again that, yes, Xander was fine. No, really, he had recovered enough not to need her just at that moment. God!, she thought in exasperation, why did everything always have to happen all at once? Could she not have found out one day that one of her best friends was sleeping with her ex-boyfriend, and then find out another day that there was a demon after said friend?

As she approached the dark mansion, it occurred to Buffy that she could avoid all of this until the crunch moment. The demon would actually have to get into the mansion, right? Well, then he'd have to get past her first. No need to bother Angel and Xander unnecessarily. She was sure they could do without the interruption right now, she reassured herself.

Inside the mansion Angel and Xander were on the edge of sleep, both of them exhausted from the very lengthy love-making they had just shared. They lay close together in the bed, absentmindedly caressing each other now and then with their fingers as they drifted into sleep. Angel's sleeping pattern now matched that of his lover's. He was worn out from the exertion of vigorous sex and the constant worry over Xander's state of mind. Xander had the dream quest to add to his own list off reasons to be completely wiped, and he slipped into a deep sleep, curled against Angel's body.

Outside, Buffy patrolled the grounds of the mansion, alert for any unusual sounds, such as, say, crazy vampire footsteps. The moon was nearing its peak in the clear sky. Full moon, she thought, and felt a chill run through her. Somehow, the silence and the bright moon seemed too much of a coincidence and she knew, with her Slayer's sense, that tonight would be the night. She moved into the shadows of the large mansion, listening even more intently for any sound.

**************

Xander opened his eyes, but he could not see. He had a sense of familiarity with this emptiness. He had been here before. Like before, there was utter stillness and greyness surrounding him. He tried to move but he could not tell whether or not he had actually done so. There was nothing to measure movement by, and he stopped trying. He remained still for what seemed like a long time, but he could not tell if this was so. There was no sense of time passing either. He seemed suspended in space and time. Slowly, almost imperceptibly, he became aware of a presence, a presence he also remembered from the last time he was there.

'Back again?' he asked, no emotion in his voice. There was no echoing reply this time. The presence increased around him. It did not seem to have a centre but was diffused around him and he tried to pinpoint exactly where it was.

'I don't know what you want from me,' he said. There was no fear in his voice, but the feeling of uncertainty would not go away. He did not know what was expected of him. What was he supposed to do now?

************

Buffy heard a rush of wind as the pack descended on her. She was caught off guard. Where the hell did they come from? She had not heard even the tiniest sound as she continued her walk around the mansion. She was knocked heavily to the ground before she had time to register what was happening but bounced straight back up, a stake in her raised hand. She took in the scene in front of her. An unusual look crossed her face, possibly fear, shock, a mixture of both, but the large gang of vampires facing her did not wait for her to decide. They separated into groups of three and four and started to move around her in an attempt to surround her. There were at least twenty of them, Buffy surmised, and she looked around trying to decide on the best plan of attack. From the corner of her eyes she saw two vampires break away from a group and rush at her. Without moving she caught them both full on, one with the stake through the forehead, the other with a single strike from her powerful fist, and she finished him off with the stake before he hit the ground.

'Next,' she looked up, eyebrows arched. She paused as behind the group she saw the front door of the mansion wide open. The darkness behind the door sent a chill through her and she spun around as the vampires broke away from their groups to attack her from all sides, trying to confuse her movements.

While Buffy raged war with the demon's retinue outside, a shadow crossed the sleeping forms of Angel and Xander in the bed. Xander's lips were moving silently in fitful sleep as though he too were involved in his own silent battle. The demon stood at the foot of the bed and looked down at the sleeping figures. He stood over nearly seven feet tall and was dressed totally in black leather. He glanced at the two vampires who stood guard at the door and motioned them away, and they closed the door as they withdrew. He could see this would be easy. The vampire in the bed was still asleep, and the demon glared at him mockingly. He had heard of Angel's reputation, how much he was feared by the vampires, but here the dog lay in bed with a human! His human. The demon could smell the scent of sex in the air and his disgust showed on his face. He needed to get back his powers, get back to hell. The world was falling to pieces. Vampires were killing their own, cavorting with humans. They lacked leadership. The time was nigh, and then he would resume his control of the underworld. Then all hell would break loose.

***********

'Show yourself to me,' Xander spoke with authority he did not really feel, but it was there in his voice all the same. He could sense the presence moving as he spoke. It was getting smaller, drawing itself together. He stilled the rising fear inside him, sensing that there was a new possibility here. The world he had known was no longer the same. The change had happened within him, opening his vision to possibilities. He focused his senses and jolted suddenly as he again attempted to move and felt himself move through this emptiness. He was bodiless but felt a powerful awareness of himself and his capabilities.

He turned to face the thing that was slowly taking shape before his eyes and stared impassively as it grew into a human form. He stared intently at the figure, and in spite of the new strength he felt in himself, he shivered as it finally lifted its head to look at him.

They stared at each other outside of time. When he was ready, Xander said to the silent figure, 'What do you want with me?'

The figure continued to stare at him. 'You are mine,' it said eventually. Xander conveyed his disagreement to the figure and felt a wave of anger flow over him. He did not know whether it belonged to him, or whether it had come from the dark figure in front of him.

'You have always been mine. You will always be mine. Without me you are nothing.'

This time the anger was definitely Xander's as he replied forcefully, 'You do not own me. You want me to believe you, but I don't. You can't own me.' His anger increased as he continued, 'I gave myself to you because I had no power. You made me believe I had no power. I tried to get away from you, but you were too strong. My eyes have been opened. There is another path for me now.'

The figure moved towards Xander.

*********

The demon reached his hand down towards Angel as he lay sleeping in the bed. He grimaced in anticipation at the pleasure he was going to take in ripping out his filthy throat. This would be too easy.

Angel reached out and grasped the hand as it neared his throat.

'Hi,' he smiled, and his other fist whistled as it slammed into the demon's face hovering above him. The demon rocked backwards, stunned from the blow, and Angel was out of the bed before he had time to recover himself. He planted another blow to the demon's head as he straightened up and sent him flying into the table which collapsed beneath the force. The demon struggled to his feet and Angel took a long look at him. He had heard the door open even as he slept, had felt the demon staring down at him in the bed, had felt the disgust that poured out of him as he had stared at the two lovers wrapped around each other.

The demon was now back on his feet and advancing towards Angel where he stood blocking the bed. 'Out of my way, weak dog!' the demon practically spat at Angel. Angel stood straighter and raised his arms as the demon closed in. He dropped suddenly into a crouch and lunged at the demon, who stepped back suddenly and with a heavy kick to Angel's ribs sent him sprawling into the cold fireplace. Angel's head slammed into the marble surround and he collapsed against it. The demon walked over to him and stood looking down at him.

'You don't know who I am!' he bellowed. Angel looked up at him groggily. 'I don't care,' he said, and slammed the metal poker he held in one hand into the demon's knees. He lifted a foot and kicked the demon square in the face as he collapsed on top of him, and he flew backwards under the blow. Angel raised himself, rubbing the side of his head.

'I know who you are,' he said to the stunned demon. 'You are a fool. You have spent too long relying on brute strength, and what have you done with it? Plotted even more evil. I know how you have tormented the boy. Breaking him at every turn. Whenever life awakened in him you were always there to strike it out of him. You need a soul to take to hell. Well, you soulless fuck, you aren't taking his.' He rushed again at the demon who caught him in a grapple hold and they fell to the floor, furniture splintering beneath them at every fall.

********

Outside the mansion Buffy was steadily working her way through the pack of vampires. They were still trying to confuse her by attacking from all sides, but eventually she had worked out their strategy. Now it was just a matter of keeping on top of them. She had no idea what was going on inside the mansion but she had tried to get closer to the door so that she could get inside to find out. However, there were demons inside, and she had groaned as four more come outside to join in the fist fest. So much for that plan. She could only hope that Angel was taking care of whatever was inside the house.

********

The tall dark figure growled at Xander. 'You are nothing. It is time.'

The longer Xander stared at the figure in front of him the more he was aware that despite the instinctive fear he had felt at first, in this place the figure had no real power at all. There was nothing physical by which he could judge strength, it was entirely internal. The figure could not touch him, literally could not touch him. He seemed to be trying to will Xander into believing that he was nothing.

As realization dawned on Xander he stared intently at the figure and smiled. 'You are nothing,' he said simply. 'You have no power.'

As Xander said this there was a sound like approaching thunder and he stared as the figure in front of him started to whirl and twist in rage, shouting indistinct words at him. In the room Angel stared as the cold fireplace was suddenly lit by a large fire, the flames reaching beyond it and into the room. The demon howled and made one more charge at the bed but Angel interrupted him by leaping into the air and landing a solid kick to the side of his head, sending him stumbling across the room towards the fire. The flames increased in intensity and the demon looked at him in horror as it started to engulf him. On the bed Xander sat up, still in his dream and said in a loud voice, 'No, YOU go to hell, Dad.' The demon howled, arms outstretched as he was pulled mercilessly back into the fire. Immediately the demon disappeared the fire died down, and Angel ran to the bed and held Xander in his arms, the boy still, deep in sleep.

Buffy stood at the door, looking into the room. She saw the broken furniture and the burn marks on the walls. She saw Angel on the bed, Xander in his arms, and just as she moved to rush to the bed to see if he was hurt, she saw his arm lift to caress Angel's face. She saw the vampire lean down to kiss him on the lips, and she withdrew slowly into the shadows and turned away before they saw her. The few remaining vampires that were still fighting her had all run off as soon as they heard the demon howl inside the mansion and saw the burst of light that had flared in the room.

They would be safe now together. Buffy felt intensely lonely and worn out, but she knew Angel and Xander were not the solution to her problems. Not right now. She would explain the rest to them another time. As for Giles and Willow, well, perhaps Giles might actually give her a break now that she had actually achieved something with no help from him, or his dusty old books. She closed the large door behind her as she left the mansion, the moon now low on the horizon.

*end*