*****

He looked at the Ebony box in his hand. He finally had enough power to take his revenge. The Ripper had turned away from him for this: the Slayer and her Slayerettes. Now He would pay by watching everything he loved be destroyed.

Ethan opened the Ebony box and took out the dust from with in it. The last ingredient needed. He had translated the symbols from on top of the box to find the prefect time to carry out his plans. Just as before, All-Hallows Eve.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"Xander, get your butt down here." Willow yelled.

"Yes, Master." Came the reply from up the stairs. The Scooby gang decided that they should all get together before going out to a frat party for Halloween. Considering the history they had with Halloweens, they decided not to chance it by arriving separately. That and they didn't want to leave Xander alone. Anya finally got feed up with Xander not telling any one about their engagement and left, taking the ring with her. No one had heard from her since. Not even the lure of money could keep her in Sunnydale. Xander was heartbroken. He loved her as much he could love any women. Maybe that wasn't enough. Xander frowned at the idea. //Man, my life is too complicated.// Dawn's head popping into the room yanked him out of his thoughts. Dawn was on her way to a party at one of her friend's house and wanted to say bye.

Dawn decided that she wanted to go as a witch. Not like Wills or Tara but the whole green with warts number. She pulled it off with Buffy's black dress. Not that Buffy knew that. Yet. Buffy surprised them by going as a vampire. Well it more like amused Spike who was going as a oh so unique Game face version of himself. Willow and Tara decided they wanted to match for a change and were going as a groom and a bride. Tara looked awesome in her wedding dress. Xander wanted to top them all and he did. After reading ok so more like looking at the picture in one of Giles's books, he decided to go as the headless horsemen. A man who let himself be controlled by a chick just to get his head back. Sounded just like him except instead of getting his head back it was more like getting head but who was he to worry about little details like.

Xander looked at himself one last time. His costume looked pretty cool if he did say so himself. It looked almost exactly how the headless horsemen looked in the sketch complete with sword that he "borrowed" from Giles when he wasn't looking. It was a perfectly horrible costume. It fit his mood completely.

"Xander if you make me come up there." Willow yelled.

"Coming."

Xander put on his sword and went down stairs. Tonight was going to be interesting.

*****
Part 2:

"Wandering Souls of years before,
Send me the man of old lore.
Give his head to me
His master let me be."

A simple spell seemed to be all Ethan needed for his revenge. The head of the Headless Horsemen would be his to control and use for his bidding. Soon after his last words were uttered a light glow came over the room and a women dressed in a grayish gown with a veil come into view.

"You call the power of the Hessian?"

"Yes. Yes I do." Ethan replied to the soul eagerly.

"Here is his power." In the old crone's hands appeared a simple leather bag. "But beware mortal, for true love's keep is stronger then revenge can ever be." As soon as Ethan's hands touched the bag, the wandering soul disappeared. Opening the bag, Ethan found the Horsemen's head staring back.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

In a forgotten woods near a small town of Sleepy Hollow two-day journey up the Hudson from New York by carriage, a man awoke to find his beloved lover missing.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Xander couldn't enjoy himself. Here he was at a college party surrounded by beautiful hotties, who were really diggin' him, and all he could do was think about the G-man witting at home watching AMC's Edgar Allen Poe movie marathon. It was stupid. He had gotten over his crush on Giles years ago. So maybe not but could you really blame a guy? Giles was funny, cute, and looked extremely hot in jeans... //Woah Xander you are not going to fall for Giles again. Do you understand me?//

He really should be having fun. So Giles had been there for him when Anya left him. Maybe he felt a little weird being here with out the guy he had been following around like a puppy dog ever since Giles come back from England. That didn't mean anything. Then why did it hurt more when Giles left then when the women he loved dumped him and pulled a Houdini. //Too much thinking for one night. If I keep this up people might actually think I go to college or something.// He put his usual goofy smile back on and tried to cruise for chicks.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

He was alone. None of the Slayerettes were around. Even Spike went with them to the Halloween party. //How did the Scoobies adopt a vampire, much less William the Bloody I will never know.// Giles chuckled at the cup'a tea remark that Spike had made one night while saving him and how true it really was.

He just dropped Dawn at her friend's party and came back to an empty Summers house. These last few months had been hard on him. He lost a girl who was like a daughter to him, left a town that had become a home and left the people who made it home only to have it all returned to him. And what was he doing with the new? Nothing. He was sitting at home watching Old horror movies on AMC with his faithful "cup'a tea."

//If the Ripper could see me now, he would kill himself to keep this from happening// He smirked. So much had changed since the time he was the Ripper. He had changed. True the Ripper was still a part of him. He no longer felt the need to push the limits, shock and scared everyone, or cause mayhem just for the Hell of it. No he turned into a man his younger self would have jeered at.

Due to this change he had lost a man he had truly cared for. //Ethan// A man who still haunted his dreams. Ethan and he had used the world for their own amusement. //The things we did.// Yet that was not longer his cup of tea in a manner of speaking. That is why he lost Ethan. He lost him to become what he was now: Mr. Rupert Giles, the Watcher to the Slayer, the Owner of the Magic Box, and a "father" to most of the Slayerettes. Yes most of the Slayerettes. Willow and Buffy would always be like daughters to him as would Dawn and now Tara but Xander. He had always been drawn to the boy. He had watched him grow from the smart alec boy to a smart alec young man. Though he had matured and grown quite a bit it was astounding how Xander could keep his child like manner attached. What was even more puzzling to Giles is the type of women Xander ended up with. He watched Xander bounce from one insane young women to another. //Though Miss Chase is arguable sane.// Xander seem to have finally found a mate in Ayna. True the bond between the two was a bit more physical then most but they seemed to love each other. // What more Xander seemed happy. That was important.// It was a truly shocking to all when Ayna seemed to have left breaking both an engagement and Xander's heart. //Never trust a vengeance demon.// Giles naturally tried to console the boy..//man// by trying keep him close and busy. //Maybe too close.// Having the younger man fallowing him around had risen some rather unfatherly feelings in Giles. He had had to keep turning around to make sure no one noticed his reaction to the boy's proximity to him. So far Spike was the only one who seemed to figure out about his little problem and surprisingly all Spike did was smirk at him. Never even said a word about it. Odd mostly due to the fact it was such wonderfully blackmail for the vampire. //Rupert Giles in love with a man half his age.// Yes in love with. He had always cared deeply for him even when the man was doing his best to get on his nerves so falling for Xander was no big jump.

The opening credits to the next movie shook Giles from his thoughts. His mind should be on the film he was watching not a man who was probably trying to get shagged by the first pretty co-ed who looked his way. Irritated at the thought, Giles tried to concentrate on the movie yet what the young man was seemed more the focus of his mind.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"Horsemen, I want you to find the Slayerettes and bring them to me. Alive. You can have their heads later."

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

A soul, who was looking for his other half, was dropped in Sunnydale. He was fighting as hard as he could not to faint.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The party started picking up. The music was jumpin'. The people were loosening up and Xander was having a horrible time. For God's sake, Spike was have a ball and all he could do was think about a tweed wearing Watcher who was sitting at home watching TV and how lonely he must be. Xander was fighting the urge to run out the doors and back to Giles. //When had Giles become the center of the universe.// He didn't know the second that it happened but probably sometime when Giles was in England. Or maybe it just took Giles leaving to wigg him out enough to see it. It didn't really matter as long as Giles didn't leave again and Xander was going to make sure of that right now.

Xander stepped towards the door when a man with pale white skin and brown eyes dressed in 1800's clothings //Hey I didn't sleep through all of history class// stopped him. "Christian is that you?"

"Sorry man. The name's Xander. You've got the wrong headless horsemen."

"You mean there are more of you?" The man sounded freaked. For a guy who seemed to pull out all the stops on Halloween, he even had the accent, he was sure surprised that more then one person would dress up like the headless horsemen.

"Well yeah. I don't know how many but there's me and that guy you were talking about. So thats at least two. Maybe Tony would know. Ton."

Xander's call was stopped by the noise of screams from the front door. //Why can't I ever have a normal Halloween.// He rushed towards the door against all the people who were trying to get out the back then stopped. A man dressed just like him was throwing people around left and right. Spike and Buffy were trying to stop the guy. Trying the main word here. The guy was making his way towards Tara and Wills. What sucked is none of their spells were working on him. When he was pretty darn close to the girls the man in the 1800's clothing jumped between them. "Christian. No." The headless horsemen stopped as if he was looking at the guy. "Christian, please don't do this. You don't have to please don't." Still not bothered by Spike's and Buffy's attacks, the horsemen moved and gentle caressed the other man's cheek before pushing him to the other side as well. The horsemen then caught Wills and Tara and held them both for a second before they just like fainted. He then flung them over his shoulder and walked back to the door.

"Willow." Xander screamed. His best friend was being kidnapped by what seemed to be the really Headless Horsemen. Xander fought to get the costume off so he could help rescue her and her girlfriend but the damned thing wouldn't come off. Spike was now knocked unconscious and Buffy wasn't even making a dent in the Horsemen. He walked right past her and then the man with the accent screamed again from the place he was sprawled. "Christian, let them go." The horsemen paused but then just kept on going. He dumped his bundles on a great black horse before Buffy, who seemed really tired, could attack again and rode off. Xander didn't know what to do. He wanted to run after him but that would to nothing so he just stood there watching his friends be carried off and did nothing out of shock.

"Ah Bugger." A small noise was heard from the blond vampire still on the floor. He looked around confused. "Where's red and her girl?" He looked at Xander's and Buffy's faces. "Bloody hell. Lets get to the watcher and bring the new whelp with. " He got up and spun around just enough to get his duster to flare and walked out the door with now two whelps and the slayer in tow.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Giles fell asleep half way through "The Pit and the Pendulum." He started to dream almost immediately. He was laying on his back in bed next to his lover in the room he owned when he was the Ripper. Then the room started to change. He gripped his bed and hugged his lover close. His room was now the one he had a few months ago but he didn't let go of the near crushing grip he had of his lover. "Shhhhhh!" he heard. "Its okay Rupert. I'm here. The Xan-man won't let anything happen to you. Love ya too much to." His lover moved on top of him. He looked into his lover's chocolate eyes and recognized them as Xander's. "Xander?" he asked almost pleaded when his lips were covered by lips that taunted him so much in the past. His lovers hand were sliding up and down his body, lightly sailing as his lips never left Giles's. "Rupert" came a husky breath of his name. That was the moment Giles couldn't hold out any more. He tried to draw Xander closer only to find his arms empty "Giles!!!" came a cry from his right. He turned to see a cliff right next to his bed. "Giles!!!" He looked down to see Xander holding on for dear life. "Aw, what are you going to do Ripper? I mean Giles. The boy is going to die all because of you." Giles turned to find Ethan next to him. "No Ethan we have to help him."

"No no Rupert. He is going die just like I died when you left me Ripper but this time you are going to watch."

The cliff started to started to crack. Giles dived but he was too late. "Giles!!!" was all Xander screamed as he feel down the cliff to the rocky bottom. "Noooooooooooo!!!!"

*****
Part 3:

"Giles? Giles. Giles!! Wake up!" Xander said seeing the older man stuck in a bad nightmare. A screamed "no" greeted the four of them as they entered the Summers house. Instinctively Buffy and Spike checked the surroundings while Xander rushed to Giles.

"Move whelp." Spike snapped as he pushed Xander a little to the side. "We need the watcher up now." Spike then slapped Giles lightly to make sure the chip didn't go off yet hard enough to leave a red mark on the watcher's cheek.

"No, no, Xan..." stuttered Giles as he woke. The first sight he saw was Xander. Instantly Xander was surrounded by Giles. He hesitated for a second before returning the embrace that he so desired.

"Shh, its okay. I am right here. Nothing's gonna happen. Its okay, G-man." The whispered name G-man was what made the older man jump back. Xander was all right but he wasn't his lover. His dream was not real. Not any of it. Nor would any of it be.

"Oooooookay." Said the blond haired slayer and looked at her two friends as if they both grew another head. "Yeah, um Giles, we have a little problem." Still looking at her friends with confused eyes. "Willow and Tara have been kidnapped."

"What? When did this occur?" said Giles, who seemed extremely busy not looking at Xander.

"At the shindig tonight. The thing was unstoppable. Knocked me out he did. Bloody wacker." Spike absently rubbed his head were a bump should have been.

"What did he look like?"

"Like the whelp in his costume except much more convincing."

"Are you saying it was a headless horsemen?" not even looking at Xander to see his costume.

"Yeah, I am."

"So we have to research the Horseman find his weakness, his."

"He has no weakness. At least physically. That I know of and I am sure Christian would have told me otherwise." Spoke the stranger in a meek voice.

"And who would you be sir?

"My apologies for being so rude. My named is Ichabod Crane." Ichabod stepped forward to shake Giles's hand. "I know Christian very well and what he is doing is not by his own will. He might have been a mercenary but this kidnapping is not his workings. His will was content at home protecting Sleepy Hollow and its citizens even when they feared him." Ichabod had a slightly forlorn look on him as if the remarks in the past made of the Hessian hurt him some how. "As long as his bones are undisturbed no one can harm Christian.

"So we have to find the bones and destroy them." Said Buffy as she was getting up ready to go.

"Noooooooo! No you mustn't harm Christian. He is as mush a victim as the two ladies kidnapped. You must find the person in possession of his head and give back the head to alleviate him from his toil." Reasoned Ichabod as he looked from person to person to make sure that no one was going to threaten the Horseman.

"Well, it seems more logical then the five of us tramping around digging up graves but we still have to figure out what spell or ceremony would call the horseman back from his grave. I might have something in one of the books in the basement concerning him." Giles turned towards the kitchen entrance to get to the basement.

Gile's movement startled Xander out of his thoughts. Giles had held him close, near crushing grip but it seemed that Giles didn't know who it was because as soon as G-man left his lips, Giles jumped back. He still refused to look at him. One hug might have destroyed one of the most important friendships he had. Xander couldn't stand it. There was only one thing to do talk to Giles. "Yeah, I'll help ya out."

"Noo! No you stay up here. I'll be just a moment. I'll be just fine." Giles was now backing away from Xander and worry colored the older man's face. Xander's heart was broken but he held it together until Giles left the room then bolted for the front door.

"Xander. Xander!" Buffy cried after her friend. She looked at Spike for help.

"'K. You go after the whelp. I'll have a talkings with the watcher." Spike then turned to the kitchen as Buffy went after Xander leaving a very confused Ichabod Crane in the living room.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Giles saw the hurt in the boy's eyes as he told him not to follow but right now his emotions were too volatile to let Xander near him. He might actually attack the youth. He loved him and if all he could be his friend then damnit he had to try and not attack Xander.

"You effed it up Watcher" came a voice half way down the stairs. Giles turned already knowing whom it was.

"What do you want Spike?" He really did not have the energy to play one of Spike's mind games.

"This has nothing to do with what I want. Its about the boy." Glaring at Giles.

"What about Xander?" Giles said in a voice that was almost calm except the underlining fear.

Spike continued down the stairs to stand right in front of Giles. "That show you did upstairs bloody tore out his heart. Ran clear out of the house like a vamp was on his tail. Now I won't say anything about your little affair but I like the boy. He's nothing special but he gives it his all." Spike lit a cigarette then continued. "Got to like that in a block. Decent too. A good host he was except for the whole tying me to the chair so in exchange I look after him a bit."

"Where is this going, Spike?

"Not far. Look watcher. You like him. He likes you. Talk to him. You bloody humans always seem to need to talk about your feelings. Bloody well could get a decent shag out of it but remember two things. One, don't hurt the boy and two we never had this little talk. I'm evil after all. Don't want anything to happen to my reputation, now would we?" Spike tossed his cigarette to the floor. "Remember don't hurt the boy." Poking the watcher then turned and left.

Giles was bewildered. Did he just get relationship advice from William the Bloody? A "man" whose most stable relationship was with a crazed vampiress and scarier still was he actually thinking about using it. He must have gone totally mad. Yet Spike was right. He needed to talk to Xander at least to make sure he hadn't hurt the boy too much with his reaction. But first he had to find the book. //Ah there it is. Now off to find Xander// Giles took off towards the stairs, leaping them two at a time.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"Xander." Buffy cried as she left the house. She heard a muffled cry from behind the tree. "Xander?" she slowly went towards the noise. She didn't know what was going on but she sure as hell was going to find out and now.

"Xander, what's wrong?"

With a sizable sniffle came a murmured "nothing."

"Nothing? Oh really? You never ran out the door because of nothing. You never cry over nothing. Come on Xander, what's wrong?"

Xander looked at her with defeated eyes. He looked like he had lost everything in the entire world. He wasn't even this bad when Anya left.

"Xander" in a voice usually used for lost little boys and cute little animals. "tell me."

Xander pushed himself off of the tree and waled back to the house. Buffy followed him silently. Xander then sat on the front steps and motioned Buffy to sit down too. She did.

Xander didn't know what to say. Buffy might be one of his best friends but how was he suppose to tell her he was in love with Giles. She freaked when Willow showed up with Tara. What would she do now?

After quite a few minutes and even more a false starts he spoke. "Its kind of complicated.Buff." His voice filled with despair. "When Giles left. it was like there was a hole put into me. Anya was always around so I didn't have to feel anything. She constantly wanted my attention so she got id. It was the perfect way to keep Giles out of my mind. The reason it wasn't so bad when Anya left was because I still had Giles. Everything was fine as long as he stayed. He's the main reason I didn't want to tell anyone about the engagement. Back then I thought it was just ya know because I cared about his opinion but I guess that's wrong. The reason was because announcing the engagement made it real so I couldn't even think about him and me together. That door was closed and a big fat guy with horns would be sitting in front of it. I couldn't do that. Especial since I wanted him ever since high school."

"Wow, you really liked him since then?" Buffy was amazed at the thought that Xander held a crush on a guy who was like a dad to her for that long.

"Yeah." He chuckled. "Ever since I first saw him in the tweed. Can you really blame me? He's smart, funny, at time, got a British accent, always around when you need him, plus he looks really hot in jeans." Xander exploded in laughter at the look Buffy gave him because of the last comment then he sobered up. "Yeah well it doesn't matter what I feel. He hates me." Xander's defeated face came back with a vengance.

"Xander, he doesn't hate you." Buffy said trying to put her hand on his arm to console him only to get it knocked out of the way.

"Save it Buffy." Xander said anger entering his voice. He got up and paced in front of the door never taking his eyes off his friend. "You saw him. Jumping back as soon as he recognized it was me holding him, not looking at me when he was talking. God he found the floor more entertaining then me. Oh and lets not forget the mad dash out of the room after I asked to help/ Of course he doesn't hate me." Vemon and self disgust dripping from his words then he saw the grief on his friend's face from his little trauma. "I'm sorry, Buff" as he sat back down next to her wrapping an arm around her give her a slight squeeze. "I didn't mean to yell at you its just that that's how my life is. The one person who I love more then anyone else won't even let me touch him."

From behind the seated pairs came a question in very shocked British voice asking "You love me?"

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Giles came up to see Ichabod Crane asking Spike about the 21th century. Giles quickly gave Ichabod the book and grabbed his coat to go look for Xander but when he opened the door he saw Buffy and Xander talking. He meant to turn away so they could have their privacy but then he heard "Giles was there." His interests were hooked. They were obviously talking about what happened and listening would only help him find a way to tell the boy something that wouldn't hurt him in any way. Yet the more he heard the more amazed he got. //Xander wants a relationship with me. He's had a crush on me since high school.. He finds me extremely attractive in jeans./ As Xander started to get up Giles drew back to hide yet stayed close enough to hear the brunette's words. He felt his stomach turn from the pain he caused the younger man. Then he heard something so miraculous he needed to question it. He spoke simple, "You love me?"

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Xander jumped at the noise behind him. He turned to see Giles in the doorway coat in hand looking at him with questioning eyes. Xander turned back around and buried his head in his hands. His life couldn't get any worse. He heard some movement. He knew that Buffy had just left and now Giles was sitting next to him. Then he felt strong hands turn him towards Giles yet he still couldn't look. He didn't want to see the disgust in the older man's eyes/ One of the hands left its place on Xander and gently pulled his chin to face Giles. He had two choices: one act like a complete five year old and refuse to budge or two, he could face Giles. It was one of the hardest things he had ever done. Look the older man in the eyes fearing the sight of disgust or anger only to find none. Instead he found no expression at all. He didn't know which was worse. "Xander, do you love me? He tried to turn so Giles couldn't see the tears in his eyes. //damn him for make this so hard.//

"Yes" he finally tore out. "Yes I love you. I'm sorry Giles." Tears were now flowing down his cheeks silently. "I know you don't like me or anything. I'm so sorry. Don't hate ..me. Don't leave me. Please." When he couldn't get any thing else out. He was then enveloped in two strong arms and pulled close to a very British body. Then he heard the owner of those arms whisper softly into his ear as he was held close and rocked. "Shhhhh. Shhhhh. Don't cry, love. I don't hate you. Shhhhh. I love you too. I'll never leave you!" Xander drew himself closer to the man with his love's voice. If this was a dream, he never wanted to wake up.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Willow was waking up. Her head was killing her but she knew she had to get up. She opened her eyes to find a cold gray wall staring back at her. She tried to move. It seemed that she was tied to a bar of some kind and Tara was on the other side of the bar. "Tara? Tara, baby, get up." Willow's only response was a groan from her lover. Willow stood up. Her hands were handcuffed behind her with enough slack that she could get up easily. She got up and started to scan the room to see if there was anything she could use to help her. She then heard a noise coming from the door.

"Ah, you are awake child?" Ethan walked towards Willow.

"What do you want?"

"Nothing much. I just want the Ripper to feel what I felt when he left me. The way I figure it, the best way is to kill everyone he holds dear. What do you think?" Smiling diabolically.

"He beat you last time Ethan. He can do it again." Spat Willow as she tried to push her self towards Ethan.

"Oh no my child. I know quite well the Ripper's limits and I assure you I have taken them all into consideration. And don't think I have forgotten your Slayer." He pulled out a leather bag out of what seemed like nowhere and took out a skull. "And this will insure she will be no problem. I am actually looking forward to the encounter between her and my horseman. Should only make my work more pleasant but I shouldn't be tiring you out so. You have a bid day ahead of you once my horseman gets the rest of the Slayerettes so rest up."

Ethan put the horseman's head back in its bag and put is in the cabinet. "Good night, Ladies" and left the room.

Willow knew she had to get the information to the Scoobies so she decided to send it via Spike.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

//Spike!// the Vampire jumped back suddenly.

"Oi, Red don't do that." He scanned the room to find Ichabod looking at him with bewildered eyes. "Where are you?"

//In a basement of a old house with gray walls and .//

"Red, not helpful. Do you know who's got ya?"

//Ethan and he is using .//

"Yeah, yeah. The horseman's head we know. We've got a source." Looking directly at Ichabod who now looked extremely anxious. "I'll get the watcher but you stop getting' n my head. The pillock might trace it."

//Ok, be careful Spike.//

"Always am." He couldn't feel the witch anymore wonderin' around his head and turned to get the watcher when.

"What was that?" Ichabod's voice reached Spike. Ichabod was now standing in front of the sofa that he was sitting on.

"The two girls your boy nicked were witches. Red's very good at what she does." He said with his usual drawl but clearly wanting to go.

"You mean she can contact you through your mind. Fascinating." Ichabod looked like he had a thousand questions at the edge of his tongue.

"Yeah, Red's something." Raising his hand to stop the questions befor ethey started and advanced towards Ichabod. "Need tp get the watcher so we can get the witches and you can get back your bloke." Now close enough to be face to face with the brunette man. "So you have anything else to say whelp." Using the small amount of distance and his aggressive nature to scare the other man.

"No. No. You may be on your way." Trying to step back only to stumble on to the couch.

"Thanks much." Sarcasm covered in his words. He muttered different curses under his breathe as he walked towards the door. //Hope the watcher and the boy are decent.// Smirking at the last thought //Then again might be fun to watch.//

*****
Part 4:

Xander loved him truly loved him. He in turn had told the youth that he loved him as well. It was one of the most wonderful moments of his life. Well had it not been for the pain he had brought to the man in his arms. He pulled slightly back. Just enough to start covering the other man's face with feather-light kisses.

At first, Xander seemed to tense under the ministrations but quickly let him self relax completely and lightly sighed and moaned. Giles continued down Xander's face without once touching his lips. Then slowly he started working down Xander's neck. Xander wiggled and moaned at he was licked. //Must remember how sensitive this lovely neck is.// Giles then backed away and looked at his love's face. The man looked like he was in heaven with his eyes closed and his face flushed. Not to forget those lips that were begging to be kissed. Giles never could say no to Xander and he certainly wasn't going to start now.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Giles was kissing him. On the lips. If the butterfly kisses were amazing. This was a whole 'nother ballpark. An extremely good park but a different one. He had never been kissed like this before. The kiss was consuming. It was like Giles was trying to possess his mouth wanting to every part of it.

Xander gave up control completely. Even when the lack of air was becoming a problem, he didn't want those lips to leave his. He could easily get addicted to Giles's kisses. When Giles finally drew away from him, he gently moaned "Giles." Trying to urge the older man to kiss him again.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

It was like heaven. Ambrosia couldn't taste as good as Xander did to Giles. From the first second, he needed to know every part of the young man's mouth, to possess it as it possessed him. The only problem was horrible fact that he had to break and take his lips away from his love's. When he broke the kiss Xander seemed to be as disappointed as he was. Then his love moaned but it wasn't the name he wanted to hear from his lips. He wanted Xander to sign and moan his name. Slowly moving from his love's lips and licking a trail to the man's ear, causing even more beautiful sounds, he made his way to his love's ear. He whispered in the ear, "Rupert, call me Rupert." There was a slight pause before the whispered name came out of that lovely mouth. "Rupert." in a sigh carried the wind.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Rupert. Cupid. Love stallion. He would call him anything under the sun and sea as long as those wonderful lips came back to his. It wasn't fair that they were torturing him like this. //Time to take your life in your own hands Xan-man.// He detangled himself from Giles.er Rupert. He saw the bewilderment and fear in the older man's eyes at his sudden departure. He smiled. It was kind of nice to know he wasn't the only one nervous about this whole deal.

He slowly moved back towards Rupert and gentle cupped the other man's face. He drew that face closer inch by inch 'til there lips met in an almost painful gentle and sweet kiss that seemed to feed a fire somewhere inside of Xander. Just as he was getting into it though Spike's voice made him jump back.

"Watcher whelp. Red's gotten in my head again. Almost worse then the bloody chip. At least the chip just gives me a bleedin' headache. Don't know what Red's screwing around with up there. Come one get off your arses, stop mooning, and come on. Red and her girl needs rescuing." Spike then turned back into the house but a muttered "horny bloody gits" could still be heard my Xander.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

It was amazing. The feelings he got from this man were truly amazing. When Xander retreated he felt scared that maybe he was going too fast. Maybe the boy had decided against it but the smile and the kiss he got after made up for the absence of those delicious lips for those brief seconds. //My lord, what I wouldn't do to stay like this forever.// Images of his and Xander doing naughtier things in the bed hit the watcher's mind. Moaning softly at the ideas //Then again, there is always room for improvement.//

Just before anything could happen, he heard that annoying British accent. The first thing Giles felt was the absence of the warm body as Xander jumped back at the intrusion. Then Giles listen to what the blond vampire was saying. They had a lead in the kidnapping. He had to check it out so he got up.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

//Oh, my god. Spike just caught me and Giles .er Rupert making out. I really have to get over that. He's going to freak. Wait what if he doesn't want anyone to know? He's going to be so pissed. He's gonna hate me. Why does Spike love messing up my life? Well there is the chair thing. So he's a bloodsucker, he deserved it. Oh no Rupert's leaving. He's mad.// Xander started to pout. He couldn't believe how badly his life sucked. Rupert was leaving. Mad at what had happened. Regretting one of the top three, who was he kidding, the best moment of his life. Then Rupert offered Xander his had to get up.

"Come on, love. We have to find Willow." Then Rupert pulled Xander up and towards him and didn't let go of the hand in his. He lightly kissed Xander on the cheek and said "Don't worry love. We'll find them." And pulled Xander towards the living room. //God I love it when I'm wrong.// Xander smiled.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"Ok Spike. What did Willow tell you?" Giles said as he carefully keep Xander as close as he could to him. He ignored Spike's smirk and again said "Spike" to with slight exasperation.

"Right Red and her bit are locked in some basement some where. Nothing special. She figured out who has them though. A mate of yours. Ethan."Giles stiffened at that name. //No, it was just a dream. Ethan can't take Xander from me. Not when I just found him. There is no was I am letting anything happen to Xander.//

"I can find Ethan if it is really him." Giles said. "I have an trinket of his that will trance him. I'll just be a moment." Giles went down to the basement again. //How am I going to explain this to Xander? I won't let him get hurt because of something in my past.// He walk towards the boxes that he had sealed many years ago and opened them. They were his past, his memories. Both painful and beautiful.

Giles searched and found the wooden box the amulet was held in. He pushed the latch of the simple box and it opened. The emerald green amulet lay on a violet piece of velvet just like the day Ethan had given it to him for their anniversary. Giles frowned at the memory. He had hurt Ethan so much pain that years later he had come back into his life to exact his revenge on him. What if he also hurt the young man upstairs? Giles couldn't bare the thought and quickly dismissed it. He had to help Willow and Tara. He had to keep them on his thoughts not what if.

Giles reached for the amulet and whispered "Ethan". In front of him a picture of Ethan came to view. He was standing in a living room talking to the Headless Horseman. "Trace him spirits. Lead me to him." Giles said and the picture turned into a ball of light. Giles placed the amulet around his neck and fallowed the ball up the stairs. "Buffy Spike. Fallow me. Xander, you and Mr. Crane stay here."

"No can do watcher. Crane's the only one that can stop old headless. The two of them are mates." Spike started to object before Ichabod or Xander could. Ichabod colored slightly at the words while Xander and Buffy got confused to see him embarrassed.

"Mates?" Xander said. "You don't mean ." Xander blushed as well.

//He looks marvious like that. I wonder if he will still do that after a few years together// then the present meet up with Giles again. //If we both survive what ever Ethan is planning.// "Fine Xander and Mr. Crane may come with." Then he whispered to Xander. "But you stay close to me You understand, love? Hmmmm." Xander blushed even more as he nodded slightly. "Ok, lets go." Giles went to the door and ushered everyone to car so they could quickly fallow the glowing spirits.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

In the end, Buffy, Ichobad, and Spike sat in the back because of they were the smallest, Xander got shot gun, and Rupert drove. It all seemed so unreal to Xander. First his best friend and her girlfriend were kidnapped by a headless horsemen, then he found out the man he loved loved him as well, and now they were driving to find his witch friends with a slayer, a vamp, and the Horseman's boyfriend like it was normal thing to do. No it was an only in Hellmouth thing. Xander looked at the man driving the car almost insanely. //God bless it//

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"I thought I told you to get all of the Slayerettes." Ethan fumed. "Not just the witches."

The Headless Horseman stood still but even without the head anyone could tell he was very close to ripping off his "Master's" head but he couldn't. It needed his head back to the crossroads of earth and the afterlife and back to his lover. Yet once he was freed he would teach this imbecile of a master some respect. He would be so much crueler then he had been to the black witch. No he would show him what being a Hessian was really about. If the Horseman had his head, he would be smiling.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The Spirits stopped in front of a little blue house. It looked like nothing special. It hardly looked livable. //Probably why Ethan picked it. No one would take a second look at this house. Perfect place to hide even though hiding was never really his style.// Giles got out of the car and allowed the other behind him out. "This seems to be the place."

"Christian's in there. I can feel him." Ichabod said in an excited tone. Spike looked at Giles with a satisfied smile, "Told you they were mates."

"Yes you did." as he "accidentally" slammed the door on Spike's fingers.

"Awwwwwww, bloody watcher. Whatcha do that for?" Spike exclaimed.

"Sorry thought you were already out." Giles said as he winked at Xander, who was chuckling at the exchange.

"Come on Spike. We have to find Willow." Buffy said from the other side of the car.

"Isn't it a bad showing when the slayer is more mature then the watcher?" Spike said as he walked past the car and fallowed Buffy into the house.

"Wait don't we need a plan?" Xander asked as he watched Spike and Buffy enter the house. "Guess not." He started for the door when an arm encircled his waist.

"I thought the plan was you stick close to me." Whispered the voice of his hopefully-soon-to-be-lover and then he was pulled back to meet the older man's broad chest. //Better be very-soon-to-be-lover or otherwise one of us is going to have a serious problem with his pants.// then he felt Rupert's lover body bump into him. //Ok maybe both of us// he smiled.

"Gentlemen, shall we?" interrupted his train of thought.

Rupert let go of Xander with a sighed "Yes lets go." He kissed the nape of Xander's neck and started towards the door.

"Tease." Xander whispered under his breathe at the retreating form.

"You'll play for that later, love. Come on." Rupert yelled. //I wonder what he meant by that// with a smirk on his face and fallowed Rupert and Ichabod in.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The house was much better on the inside then the out. It looked much better yet it was still an eerie sight. //It doesn't look like what Ethan would live but the Spirits had brought us here.//

"Watcher over here." He turned to see Spike holding the door open to the basement. "Come on no dillie dallying. Cor did I just say that. Too much time with you bleedin' Slayerettes." Spike stated disgusted as he went down the stairs still cursing. The basement was much more elaborate. //Much more like Ethan's style.//

"Willow? Tara? Willow? Willow?" Xander started to say behind him.

"Bloody hell boy. Give it some voice. RED!!!! RED!!!! WHERE ARE YA?!!!" Spike bellowed.

"Spike? Is that you?" came a muffled reply behind a door.

"See." Spike smirked walking to the door a few feet away.

"Spike, be careful." Giles started to say as Spike reached for the door.

"I bloody know how to open a door." He opened the door then was flung by an explosion across the room to the hard cement, which he hit with a thug.

"Hey Spike, are you okay?" Xander asked.

Spike moaned in pain from the floor and shaking his head said "Yeah, I'm bloody peachy."

Xander pushed ahead of Giles and walked through the doorway fallowed quickly by Ichabod. Giles walked over to Spike with a small smirk and offered his hand to the vampire. Spike looked at it then to Giles's face "Don't you bloody say it." Spike said as he used Giles's hand to get up.

"Say what?" Giles replied innocently.

"Bloody I 'told you so's. That what." Spike stomped into the room.

*****
Part 5:

"Wills." Xander rushed to her. "You okay? Whoa, great handcuffs. You wouldn't be chance know where he put the keys would ya Wills?" He looked up at the red head's face. "Didn't think so."

"Do you know where he put the head, malady?" Ichabod chimed.

"Ahh. I think he put it in the cabinet over there." She motioned with her nose. "It was in a leather bag." She watched the man go to the cabinet then asked Xander, who was fiddling with her cuffs, "Who's he?"

"Sorry. Wills. Ichabod Crane. Ichabod Wilow Rosenberg." Xander said.

From the cabinet "Pleased to meet you?"

"Eer, like wise." Then whispered to Xander. "Like in the story?"

"Yeah, kind of weird huh? God damn, I can't get these to open." He yelled at the cuffs.

Spike pushed him aside. "Here let me do it whelp." Spike took the sword still hanging on Xander's waist and smashed it into the chain and freed Willow. He then moved and did the same to Tara's cuffs.

When Tara was free she whispered, "Thanks Spike."

"It's nothing, pet." And gave the weapon back to Xander. "Nice sword. Careful not to cut yourself with it." He then pulled out a cigarette to smoke.

"Where's Buffy?" Willow asked.

"Right over here." Said a voice from the doorway. The Scoobies turned to see an unconscious Buffy being carried by the Headless Horseman with Ethan at his side. "Now that the whole lot is here, let the fun begin." Ethan said grinning widely.

"Ethan let them go. I am the one that hurt you. They're innocent." Giles pleaded looking at his ex-lover.

"That's the best part. You and your holier then thou attitude are the reasons for their deaths. Just like you killed me by leaving." Ethan spoke looking directly into Giles's eyes the whole time. "Yes Rupert you will feel exactly what I did." He reached out and petted Buffy's hair.

Xander started to advance towards Ethan but Giles grabbed his arm and forced him to stop. "Don't." Giles looked at him.

Xander stopped and looked at Giles's pleading eyes. He backed off. He had no idea what scared the older man to make him give anyone that look. Xander automatically fell next to Giles to take and give comfort by being as close as he could to the older man. Maybe he was too close.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ethan watched the exchanged. It was orchestrated and known to him. //The boy is his lover. The bastard has moved on. Well won't this be fun.// "Well, well, well. Rupert, you didn't think of telling me about your new beau. It's such bloody good news." Ethan advanced towards Xander. He stopped a few steps away from them. "Killing you, boy, is going to be a pure pleasure."

"Don't you dare touch him Ethan or by God you'll be sorry." The Ripper tried to block Xander from Ethan.

"What will you do? Glare me to death? There was a time when you would have killed someone for the slightest glance at someone you loved." Ethan spat out.

"Don't tempt me." The Ripper's voice was cold as he glared at Ethan.

"I'm shaking in my boots. Really I am." Ethan said in a drawl. "Don't worry I won't hurt the boy. Yet. Save the best for last they say. It's so hard to choice which should go first." He looked at the group measuring them up. //Which will I try the Horseman with. // He heard a noise from cabinet and looked to see a scared young man starting back. //He's perfect.// "Horsemen, take the head of that man." as he pointed to Ichabod.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The Horseman laid Buffy down on the floor before following his "master's" instructions. He turned towards the cabinet and his next victim. He pulled out his sword ready to strike but stopped short. //Ichabod. It's Ichabod. I can't kill him. How dare he try to make me kill Ichabod.// The Horseman stood still and everyone stood still waiting. Ethan was the first to get his wits back.

"What the bloody hell are you doing, you damned Hessian?" He screamed. The Horseman turned back towards his "master" again starting to raise his sword. "Christian, stop. Don't kill him." And the Horseman stopped again. "He's the only one who knows where your head it."

"Who's your master? Me or that sniveling child?" Ethan called to the Horseman.

Spike looked intently at the three hoping something would happen. He was getting bloody bored of the verbal threats that lead to nothing. He wanted the blood and guts to fly. Hey, he was evil. Then he saw that Ethan was carrying a knapsack on him. //Very unusual for his sort.// "Hey whelp, check what he has in the sac."

Ichabod advanced on Ethan. "Sir, if you would give me your knapsack"

"Over my dead body." Ethan started backing away from the rest of them. As long as he still had the head he could still have his revenge, alas he didn't factor in the Horseman's lover. Ichabod attacked Ethan and quickly got his lover's head out of the sac without truly hurting the other man. He blindly threw the head towards his lover. The horseman shot out one of his large hands and grabbed his head as it flew through the air. He placed the skull on this shoulder where is should reside. The skin from the neck seemed to grab the skull. Muscles and tendons started sprouting from nowhere to cover the skull of the Hessian and slowly changed the skull to its fleshed form.

As the transformation occurred, the room stood still. Everyone was enthralled by the changes happening due to fear, awe, or, in Spike' case, glee. Then the Hessian stood still in his "human" glory and slowly smiled. His filled teeth fully showing as he attacked Ethan, who had foolishly frozen on top of Ichobad. He grabbed Ethan by the throat and threw him across the room. "No one touches my boy" he said glaring at Ethan, who was losing the fight to stay conscious after meeting the wall headfirst. Christian hunched over and slowly brought his lover to his feet. "Are you all right, my little one?"

Ichabod wrapped his self around Christian. "Only you would be kidnapped and ask me if I was alright." Smiling at how gentle his warrior love was.

"You saved me again, my little one." Christian said softly to the man whom he pulled even closer.

"I guess I should be rewarded." Ichabod said impishly.

"Yes you shall." Christian bent his head and kissed his lover. Ichabod, never being passive, took his arms from his lover's waist to his lover's head to pull the glorious mouth closer.

A woman, who was wearing an old wedding dress, suddenly appeared. She turned and spoke to the kissing pair. "It's time to go, Hessian. You and Ichabod much go back to the crossroads. It misses its protector."

Ichabod and Christian finally broke the kiss and stood with their foreheads touching together. "No rest for the wicked they say." Ichabod told his lover.

Christian smirked at his lover and said, "You think me wicked?"

Ichabod looked directly into his lover's eyes a smile over running his face. "Entirely" and he kissed his lover then let go to stand next to the Crone. The horseman straightened and looked at the body he flung at the wall. "May I bring him with us?" He asked the pale-faced woman.

"Yes, I believe there are some interesting things we can do to him." She then took a finger and made a portal with it and walked through to the crossroads. The Hessian grabbed Ethan and flung him over one shoulder then fallowed the Crone. Ichabod watched him leave then turn to the Scoobies.

"Thank you. My love and I are in you debt. If you even need us use Ethan's amulet and we will come as quickly as possible. Gentlemen, ladies." He bowed slightly then walked through the portal that closed behind him.

The Scoobies were silent. They didn't know what to do. It was the first time a problem solved itself without their help. All they really did was watch. A moan from the slayer brought them out of their thoughts. Spike and Willow were instantly at her side.

"Owwwww. My head is killing me." Buffy looked around. "What happened?" Spike said, "The long and short is Ethan, Headless, and other whelp are gone. Come on lets get out of here." Spike pulled her to her feet while she moaned "not so fast."

Xander turned from watching his friends to look at Giles. "Another crisis averted huh G-ma..Rupert. Damn it. I swear I'll get it one of there days. Xander said blushing from embarrassment.

Giles placed a hand on his chin and raised it up. "Well, I'll just have to monitor your progress" he said with a twinkle in his eyes.

"Well, I happen to be a slow learner.." Xander's eyes now had the same glint in them. "so it might take a really, really long time." He smiled mischievously.

"I think I can handle that." Giles said as he cupped Xander's face to show how much he liked the idea of handling Xander.

Willow watched the exchange and then looked at Buffy. "When did this happen?"

~fin~