Xander looked at the closed door, his hand still in Spike's. He turned around and looked at the vampire smiling shyly and tiredly. He leaned his head on Spike's shoulder and closed his eyes, sighing.

"Feels so good here." He whispered yawning.

Spike let go of his lover's hand and wrapped his arms around him. "Red accepted this a little too fast, didn't she?" He asked calmly.

"Yeah." Xander replied. "Don't worry though. She hasn't accepted it yet. When she'll realise it's not a dream, she'll be back here screaming and kicking." The boy yawned.

"Just hope she doesn't go all witchy." Spike added.

Xander laughed lightly, but was interrupted by another yawn.

"You're tired love. Should get in bed now." Spike said sweetly.

"But..."

"No buts Xan. Doc told me to take care o' ya, I gonna take care o' ya." The vampire said firmly. "Now, in bed love." He repeated, untangling himself from Xander's embrace and stepping up. He helped Xander get up and brought him over to the bedroom.

"I need to take a shower..." Xander muttered sleepily.

"Ohhh, you're right love... need to clean these wounds and all that." Spike continued. He helped Xander to sit down on the bed and quickly undressed him, making sure not to touch the wounds on the boy's shoulders.

"How do ya feel Xan? Apart from tired that is... the wounds still hurt?"

Xander looked up at him and smiled. "I feel ok... Pain's still sharp, but... it's ok." He gently caressed Spike's cheek. "Thanks for caring."

Spike leaned in and kissed the boy tenderly. "My pleasure." He whispered hoarsely in Xander's ear.

Xander's breath caught in his throat. He looked into Spike's eyes. What he saw there made his heart melt and scared him at the same time. //How can the Big Bad change so much? Just 'cause he loves me?// He shook his head lightly. //I'm really falling in love with this male-vampire... How scary's that?// He took Spike's hands in his and brought them to his naked chest.

Spike could feel Xander's heartbeat and the heat emanating from him. He started breathing heavily. //Mine!!// His mind screamed. He shook his head trying to ease his demon. //Can't make him mine yet... He's not strong enough.// "Gotta start that shower love." He said breaking the moment reluctantly. "Or you'll fall asleep before you even get in the bathroom."

Xander smiled and nodded. He screamed in surprise as he felt himself being lifted by the vampire's strong arms. "Hey! What're you doing? I can walk you know?"

Spike chuckled. "I know just wanted to wake you up a bit... hehe, it worked." He lowered Xander in the shower and started the water. He washed the wounds carefully, making sure they were healing normally. "They're almost healed love... see, told ya my spit would help." He said proudly.

Xander smiled and finished showering. Back in the bedroom, Spike helped Xander put on his pyjama. Xander got himself under the covers, Spike following quickly.

"No naughty fun tonight love... you had a long day... and have a long one tomorrow... just get some sleep." Spike said, rubbing Xander's back.

Xander yawned again. "Ok... don't think I'd be up to it anyway..." He added, making Spike chuckle.

The vampire massaged Xander's back a little bit more, letting the boy relax. When he felt him slowly drifting off to sleep, he gathered the young man in his arms and listened as his heartbeat slowed down. Just before drifting off to sleep, he whispered. "You're gonna be mine love... gonna claim you, make you my mate... never gonna let you go... you're mine."

"WHAT???" Xander screamed, suddenly totally awake and sitting up in bed.

Spike was shocked. "Huh... huh.. mmmm...."

"What do you mean I'm YOURS?????" Xander yelled at the vampire's face. "I'm nobody's you hear me???? I only belong to myself!!"

Spike looked at Xander, bewildered. "I'm sorry..."

//So that's what it was? A stupid fucking plan to get me into his... well, my... bed?? Dammit! I should've known! That's all everybody fucking wants from me!//

"Your sorrys won't work, you've only been taking care of me so you could own me! I'm not a fucking toy... Get out of here! I'm not going to let you make me your fuck toy!! Now take your things and GET. OUT. OF. HERE.!" Xander yelled, getting on his feet and throwing the vampire's clothes towards the door. It hurt but damn if he was gonna let it show.

//I can't believe this!! And I let myself fall in love!! Can't I ever just find someone who loves me just like this and not as a toy?? I want to be myself, not someone's else... fucking butt monkey! I was that for Anya, and Cordelia and even Faith...// "I got enough of that crap! Now get out!"

Spike felt tears come to his eyes. Everything was perfect just a few minutes before... how could he have been so stupid? //Never let yourself fall in love... s'what you said after Dru and the stupid slayer... and look where it gets you! Just get the hell away from him and all his bloody stupid friends.// He said to himself, as he got up and put on his pants and shirt. "Sure... if that's what you want... Just don't ask me to bloody come back when you'll realise you were wrong pet... cause I won't! I'm gone... you won't see me anymore... that what you want?" Not even waiting for an answer, he walked to the front door and opened it.

He went out and just before closing the door, he added. "That what you get, pet." And he slammed the door, leaving a bewildered, angry and crying Xander being.

*****
Part 25:

*** Xander's POV

Xander heard the slamming door but the sound didn't register in his head. //Why?// "Why?" His voice echoed in the empty room. "Why can't anyone love me without wanting to own me?" He sobbed, curled into a ball, on the floor. "Why did I let myself fall in love?" //What a fool I was. Everytime, it's always the same. Cordelia used me, Faith... even Anya. And now... him. Stupid Xander... to even think he'd care for you.//

The sun was coming up on the horizon when the tears finally stopped. Exhausted, Xander dragged himself to the bed and curled into a ball, hugging himself tightly. He was in pain, but he didn't care. He fell into a restless sleep.

*** dream...

"Face it Xander!" Willow said fiercely.

"He cares."

"He's not like other vampires."

"You were right Wills..."

"I won't come back." Spike's angry face, not even looking at him.

*Bang* (the door slamming)

"S'what you get!"

*Bang*

*Bang*

*Bang*

***

"Ahhh! Stop!" Xander yelled as he woke up suddenly, panting. He sat straight up in his bed and screamed in pain. "Fuck! That hurts!"

He felt so sore and stiff. "Dammit!" He tried to get up and screamed once more. Finally, he gave up and laid back down on the bed, staring at the ceiling. Tears were streaming down his face. "It hurts so bad." He whispered hoarsely. His eyes swollen and red, his wounds reopened and hurting, Xander looked a lot like he did more than a week ago. Though this time, there were no bleached vampire that would come and save him.

"Why?" He screamed in the empty room, tears flooding. //Couldn't I just talk to him? Instead of yelling and pushing him away? I hurt. Everything hurts. I need him.// The young man was now wide awake, but the sound of the door slamming still lingered in his ears. Memories, woken up by his dream, filled his mind.

(("You're a worthless piece of shit! Should've killed you when you were first born! Stupid kid, will you ever learn?" Mr Harris brought his belt down on his son's back, harder and harder with each blow. "You know why your mom and I don't love you? Because no one can love you! You're useless! You're not worth being loved." Xander moaned in pain, the words hitting him with more force than the blows. "No one will ever love you." The man's laughter echoed in the young boy's room.))

(("Xander, you're the, the *useless* part of the group. You're the Zeppo. 'Cool.' Look it up. It's something that a sub-literate that's repeated twelfth grade three times has, and you don't."))

(("You leave and now expect us to welcome you back? You're really stupid!" Mr Harris laughed loudly. Xander whimpered, he should never have come back. Mr Harris undid his belt and pushed his son down the stairs. "Here! That'll have to do for you. We threw away most of your junk. That's all you have left. Not like anyone cares is it?" Xander was now bare backed, bent over the couch. The first blow hit, but at least his dad was now silent.))

(("You're 'crying'? Hey, Jessica!" Mr Harris drew his wife's attention. "Told you your son was a queer! He's been 'crying'!" He said in a mocking tone.

"Shut up! My best friend just died! And who invited you in here anyway?" Xander growled. He wanted to be left alone.

"Oooh! And you talk to me like that? You fucking son of a bitch! If we were home... But no, you think you're too good for us! No one will ever want to be with you. You know that son. No one will ever love you, or care about you. You're just a fucking faggot." The door slammed behind the yelling man.))

(("S'what you get!"

*Bang*))

And Xander cried. For hours he cried. His sobbing form wrapped in his warm blanket. He had really thought... Had he thought at all while Spike was there? No he hadn't... but still, there was hope that maybe, just maybe, Spike would have proven his father wrong.

Spike hadn't been around long, but still it felt like Xander had lost something important. Probably the most important thing he had ever had. His chance to really be loved for what he was. But even that had been unreal. Like his father had said so often, he could never be loved.

Slowly, as pain and exhaustion took over, the sobs subsided and Xander slept. Without dreams this time.

***Spike's POV

Spike was pacing around in his crypt. He had been running around town all night, up until the first rays of sunshine had forced him to find shelter. He wanted nothing more than to be with Xander. But the human had pushed him away. And Spike wasn't one to go back crawling on his knees and pleading.

//Bloody idiot I am. Never should've said a thing. Could have had him like he was. S'what I want anyway. Don't want a pet. Just wanna care for him, keep him safe.// Spike shook his head. //S'why I lost him. Keeping him safe means claiming him.// He laughed bitterly. //Never gonna get him back. He'll never want me. Not like he really did before. He just put up with me cause I was taking care o' him.//

The vampire sank on his bed, staring at the ceiling, just like Xander was at the same moment. //Miss him. Wanna know how he is. Ya think he cleans his wounds? Maybe he forgot his pills and he hurts.// Spike shook his head. //What a poof I've become. He bloody owns my thoughts. Wanna know if he's gonna be ok.// Spike lit up his cigarette. //Why 's it I'm acting like this? Never thought I'd be feeling so... sad. M'a bloody vampire, shouldn't feel like this. Not fair.// Tears welled up in his eyes. //Can't think of anything except him... That's sad.//

Give me a reason
Why I'm feeling so blue
Every time I close my eyes
All I see is you
Give me a reason
Why I can't feel my heart
Every time you leave my side
I just fall apart
And when you're fast asleep
I wonder where you go
Can you tell me
I wanna know

"Miss you Xan." The vampire whispered just before he drifted to sleep.

Because I miss you
And this is all I wanna say
I guess I miss you beautiful
These three words have said it all
You know I miss you
I think about you when you're gone
I guess I miss you
Nothing's wrong
I don't mean to carry on

*** Xander's POV (a few days later)

The atmosphere in the Magic Box was tense. Xander was sitting at the table, in pain from the inadequately cleaned wounds. He was doing everything he could, but he just couldn't make it hurt less than it did. //Not like Spike could.// Shaking his head at the thought, the young man tried to concentrate on what Buffy was saying.

The slayer's face was glowing with happiness, and even if they hadn't said anything yet, it was clear that something was going on between Giles and her. Xander couldn't help but smile at the thought. //These two are made for each other. The two halves of a whole. Not like me and...// He shook his head again, earning himself a raised eyebrow from Dawn, who was watching him closely, just as she was Spike.

//She knows...// Xander thought, as he was looking at her. She looked at Spike, then back at him, before shaking her head and looking back at her book. They were researching the latest baddie, some sort of green skinned demon with two red horns on its head. They didn't know yet if it was dangerous, but Buffy had seen one around in one of the cemeteries, so it was better to be prepared.

But give me a reason
Why I can't concentrate
The world is turning upside down
Spinning round and round

Xander tried to concentrate on his reading, but he just couldn't. He kept being distracted by Buffy's light laughter, and Willow's whispers as she leaned over to Tara's ear. He suddenly felt dizzy from all the happiness around him while he was hurting and took a deep breath. He closed his eyes tightly and when he opened them, the first thing he saw was a pair of beautiful, but sad blue eyes, looking at him, as if the owner of those eyes was worried. Something in Spike's eyes made Xander's heart jump. Their eyes locked for a minute and it seemed like the world had stopped.

Now give me a reason
Why I now understand
The beauty and simplicity
In everything surrounding me
You got a way of spreading magic everywhere
Anywhere I go I know you're always there
It sounds ridiculous but when you leave a room
There's a part of me that just wants to follow you too

//Maybe he misses me. Maybe... maybe he misses me like I do him.// Xander thought, just before breaking the eye contact and turning back to Willow, who was asking him a question.

Because I miss you
And this is all I wanna say
I guess I miss you beautiful
These three words have said it all
You know I miss you
I think about you when you're gone
I guess I miss you
Nothing's wrong
I don't mean to carry on

*** Spike's POV

As their eyes separated, Spike felt a twinge of pain in his undead heart. //So hard it is to be around him like that. With the witches always touching and the slayer and watcher looking at each other like that, wish I could hold him.//

It's a hard life and most of the time
I'm just surviving
That's why I want you to know
In a world where sincerity has lost it's meaning
You fill my world with so much hope

//He's the best of 'em all I'd say. Even the nibblet knows. He has nothing special, not like all of them have. He's the only helpless human here... the only one worthy of being protected.// Spike shook his head, looking back in his book. //Not like he'd let anyone protect him though, he's too proud.// He sighed internally. //Miss him, want to wash him again, to make him feel things he'd never felt before, to tuck him under the covers, to touch his soft skin, to... STOP that! Bloody pillock you are!// Spike yelled in his head.

You know I miss you
This is all I wanna do
I know it doesn't sound so cool
But
Maybe I'm in love with you

//Fallen in love I have. And hard at that. But damned if I'm gonna admit it to any of them... or maybe that'll bring him back. Show him I won't ever hurt him. I won't ever want to hurt him. Will do anything for him, to keep him safe. He hurts, I know he does, I can smell the pain from here. Want to show everyone I can take care of a soddin' human. Wanna take care of him. Only him.//

You know I miss you
And this is all I wanna say
I guess I miss you
Nothing's wrong
I don't mean to carry on

I just miss you

//Yeah. I do. I miss him.// "Bloody soddin' humans." Spike muttered under his breath, not loud enough for anyone to hear. //They grow on you and you can't ever keep 'em out, can you? Nah, would be too easy. To shut them out of your head.//

"I'm leaving." Xander said, closing his book and standing up, startling the vampire at the sound. "I can't concentrate. I just..." The human brushed his hand in his hair. "I think I should go home and try to sleep. I haven't..." Xander stopped suddenly.

//Haven't been sleeping well.// Spike thought, finishing the young man's sentence in his head. He watched, his eyes reflecting the sadness in his heart. //Don't go...// He pleaded inside. It was the only moment he could protect him really. When Xander was here, with them. But now he was gone.

Yeah it's true
I miss you baby
And when you're walking out that door
I know I miss you
You make me wanna ask for more
I just miss you

*****
Epilogue

Angel climbed slowly up the hill. He knew dawn would be coming in a few hours. But this needed to be done. After years of fighting alone in L.A., the dark vampire had finally lost the last tie that still held him there. A few days earlier he had received the news. Gunn and Fred's great granddaughter had died peacefully, in her sleep, at the respectful age of 98. She was the last one. All that was left of the team that had created Angel Investigations. Angel had kept on fighting against Wolfram and Hart as time had passed and friends had gone, but never had he found such good and true friends as the ones he remembered.

Well, there were only two people left from 'that' time. And he was on his way to them.

"I wasn't sure you'd come Peaches." Spike's voice drifted in the still night.

Angel smiled and looked at him. "I'm here." He said simply, sitting down beside Spike and reaching a hand to stroke the head of the old man settled on the younger vampire's lap.

Xander looked up and smiled. "Hey." His face lit up with a smile and he seemed suddenly very young. Just as young as he was when Spike had bonded with him. When Angel had performed the ritual. When he had been the happiest he had ever been in his life. The years had passed and had been slow at showing on his features, but alas they caught up. At two hundred and four years old, he looked like a 60 year old man, still healthy and strong, except that his heart was failing.

"How are you?" The older vampire asked, concerned at the look of weariness the human was sporting.

"It happened again last night. My heart's failing. It's time. I can't. can't fight it. anymore." Xander answered, his voice wavering. His breath was slow and uneven and he had to force himself to breathe.

"Shhh pet." Spike soothed his lover, gently rocking him, the sound of purrs drifting in the air. "Told him he didn't have to fight if he was too tired. I don't want him to hurt." A tear gently rolled down the vampire's face. "I know he's doin' it for me. Can't bear the thought of him hurting."

Angel nodded. "When I received your message, I. didn't know what to do. I've been struggling all week. But. Isabelle died yesterday and I. I can't go on without any of them left. If she had had." He stopped, not able to go on, but Spike and Xander understood. If Isabelle, Gunn and Fred's great granddaughter, had had a descendant, Angel would have stayed in L.A. He had made an oath to his friends, as each of them died, he swore to protect their children and their children's children. But there was no one left. Except Xander and Spike. And even they were leaving.

"How did she die?" Xander asked gently.

"In her sleep. Her heart just stopped. Peacefully." Angel answered, shivering. This was the best way for her to go. She had always been a very patient and peaceful woman, it was only fair that her death had been painless.

Xander nodded and snuggled closer to his mate. He relished the touch and care, especially now. They had had two wonderful centuries together, but Xander couldn't fight against nature anymore. As much as he loved Spike and wanted the vampire to be able to live many more years, he couldn't put it off any longer. The old man had never felt so self absorbed in his very long life.

"Stop thinking about that luv. You hurt, I hurt. And I don't want you to hurt for me. And you know it's not working anyway. With every stroke, you need more of my blood to recover. At least this way, we get to chose our own moment, don't we? Cause there's nothing that says you'll recover from the next one, Xan. I want to be able to leave with you in my arms, want to hold you and comfort you all the way through." By then, Spike was crying freely, tears trailing down his cheeks as he hugged his mate closer. "Xan, I love you."

Angel watched as the two men kissed gently, tenderly. It was so full of sorrow and pain, that Angel couldn't fight the tears that came. He knew both men loved each other more than life itself. Somehow, he also knew that he was part of them. He could feel their love for each other washing over him. He gently wrapped his arms around the two intertwined bodies and closed his eyes. "I'm not leaving." He whispered finally, giving his answer to the silent question he had seen in Spike's eyes when he'd first approached them.

Spike sighed and snuggled closer to his Sire. "You don't have to stay Angel." He said gently.

"I'm bound to you, remember?" The older vampire answered, his hand gently brushing over Spike's heart. He smiled as he remembered that day, so long ago, when they had received their marks.

Xander looked up at him and sadly smiled. "You should have come more often Angel. I. we missed you these last few years."

The dark vampire looked into Xander's eyes and gently cupped his cheek. "And I missed you too, but I figured." He sighed, he had thought the two men needed time together. He had never wanted to intrude into their lives and had felt like a stranger that time.

"You were always welcome into our home and our bed Angel. Ever since we bonded." Spike said gently. "Not like us to let a good shag pass us by is it?" He added with a smirk.

Xander chuckled lightly. "It happened. Remember the guy that used to work with me? Randy. He would have been a good."

Spike rolled his eyes. "Luv, not what I meant." He said with a smile. He knew his lover was only making fun of him.

Angel laughed lightly and then sighed. "I figured you both needed some time alone. But I think now is not the time to think about the past." He continued, looking at the horizon. "We have about two hours left. I don't think I want to spend them arguing about my stupidity."

Spike looked at his Sire. "You're not stupid, Sire. You were lonely is all." He wrapped his left arm around the older vampire's shoulder, holding his mate with the other. "You're not alone now."

Angel nodded. They weren't alone. But it was too late.

"Spike." Xander asked in a little voice.

"What love?" The vampire asked, looking down at his lover.

"It's not too late." The human said, feeling his forces leaving him. He could feel the tightness of another attack starting to spread through his chest, but he would fight against it until the end.

"Too late for what?"

"I." Xander started forcing himself to sit up. He reached his hand forward and gently touched his mate's heart. Turning to Angel, he did the same and kept both his hands on their heart. "I did some research over the years. There's. a way."

Spike looked scared all of sudden. //He can't mean that.// He thought worriedly. //I can't let him go and live after it. Even if there's a way. I just can't.// "A way for what?" He asked, trying to keep his voice from shaking.

"If you and Angel. if you bond tonight, you'll be. free." Xander gulped as he said it. It was hard to think of Spike moving on with Angel, but Xander didn't want to be the cause of Spike's death. They had had such a beautiful life together. They had visited almost every single part of the world, going away for years at a time after all their friends had died. Xander remembered fondly their time in England. It had been wonderful to travel through the country at leisure, admiring the beautiful countryside with Spike telling him tales of when he had been a fledgling.

Spike shook his head. "M'not doing it love. Nothing against you Peaches, but not gonna want to live after you're gone."

"Neither would I." Angel whispered, startling them both. They looked at him and he shrugged. "After you're gone Xander, there's no one left to protect. No one I care about enough to protect anyway. I mean, it's nice saving lives and fighting the good fight, but if there is no one to stand by my side, what good does it do?"

Xander and Spike nodded, Xander returning to Spike's lap. For a long time they just stayed there, silent, listening to the night's comforting noises.

Xander struggled more and more as the time passed. Spike felt him shiver and quickly shed his duster, wrapping it over his mate's body. "You ok love?" He asked, concerned.

"It's coming."

Spike gently laid Xander down on the ground and joined him. He ran his hands down the old man's side, soothing him. "Want a nip love? Just enough to keep it at bay until sun comes up." He asked, hopeful. Xander nodded, feeling the first wave of pain coming.

Quickly, Spike retrieved a dagger from his duster and cut the tip of his finger. He brought it to his mate's lips and repressed a moan as he felt the warm lips fasten around his digit. Angel sat aside, watching them. Something stirred in his belly and he couldn't help but lay down beside them.

"Will you be all right?" He asked.

"Yeah. For an hour maybe." Xander replied, his voice wavering, as he felt the pain slowly leaving him. "Just enough time to watch the sun."

Angel smiled and passed his arm around the human's stomach. "Since we only have a few hours left to live."

"We?" Xander interrupted the dark vampire.

"Yeah. Told you earlier, I can't stay on this Earth alone. And I do want to see the sun one last time."

Xander and Spike smiled sadly at each other and sighed. "Go on then. You were gonna say something." Spike urged Angel on.

"Well," The vampire took an unneeded breath and looked at the other two men at his side. "Isn't it sort of a tradition before you die to remember the best time of your life? I was wondering if you wanted to." He trailed off, not sure about how to voice his thought.

Xander smiled dreamily. "My first Twinkie."

At that, the two vampires looked at each other and burst out laughing.

"What?" The old man looked hurt. "I was four at the time, I remember perfectly. The way it tasted. My grandma had given it to me." His eyes turned sad. "She died that summer."

Spike smiled back encouragingly. If ya say your first Twinkie, then I'd have to say my first poem."

Angel looked at him in horror.

"Oi, Peaches, I know it was crap, but still, felt good 'bout writing it. T'was nice at the time." He finished, muttering to himself. "For me anyway."

Angel squeezed Spike's hand. "As long as you liked writing, I guess it was important for you. I never. never had time to apologize for turning you. And I'm not going to," He added as Spike glared at him. "In fact," He took a deep breath. "I'd have to say that most of the memories I have that I still like to think about from back. then, are ones of you." Angel smiled tenderly at his Childe. "If I did regret killing you when I first got my soul, I sure as hell do not regret turning you."

Spike felt tears forming. "Thank you Sire."

Feeling the moment was becoming a bit too emotional, Xander interrupted them. "When I saved Buffy's life that first time. After the Master drowned her."

Angel smiled at that and growled at the same time. "I was so jealous of you at that time." He said. "You were alive and young and you could revive her, which I would never have been able to."

Xander looked shocked, but smiled. "Hard to think about how much I hated you back then. People change they say."

"They sure do, love." Spike chimed in. "Remember during the fight with Glory? I remember fondly when I whacked you in the back of the head when you finally FINALLY got that Ben WAS Glory." He smiled dreamily.

"What? Ben was Glory?" Xander exclaimed looking shocked.

Spike rolled his eyes and smacked his mate's thigh.

"Ow! I was kidding!" The old man yelled into the night as Spike proceeded to tickle him. "I'm too old to be tickled."

Spike smirked. "You were saying Pet?"

Xander smiled and kissed Spike's lips quickly. "I love you."

"Love you too mon amour." The vampire replied, using the French endearment they had learnt during their years in Paris and Montreal.

Angel smiled at the sweet words and snuggled closer. "When we first set up the business in L.A. Cordelia and Doyle kept fighting all the time." He chuckled lightly and continued, almost whispering. "And then, just before he died, he told me he finally understood what fighting the good fight meant." The vampire shook his head sadly, trying to keep the tears at bay. "Had only known him for a few months, but he made a big impression. More so than some people I've known years."

Spike smiled at his Sire. "Some people are like that."

"Dawn." Xander said softly.

"Yeah." Spike replied simply. Dawn had died soon after their bonding. Her body not fit for all the energy it carried. The doctors had said her heart couldn't stand the pressure. Sure, they hadn't known about her supernatural existence, but they said the organ had aged prematurely. She died from a heart attack at the age of 17. She had been the first one to leave.

Buffy had been devastated, just as all of them had. A couple of months after her sister's death, she was about to collapse when she learned she was pregnant. Sure that it was her sister coming back, she had carried on and lived to be the oldest slayer in history. Just as everyone had predicted.

"I remember how much I laughed when I learned Giles and Buffy were going to be parents. It seemed like such a joke at the time." Angel remembered.

"Yeah, imagine my surprise when I learned they were together." Xander added.

"You were both blind." Spike smirked. "Always knew they were good for each other, they took their sweet time realising it though."

"Yeah," Angel replied. "They sure were great for each other."

Xander smiled. "We had some pretty amazing friends."

The two vampires just nodded, lost in memories.

"I must be selfish though, because what I remember the most fondly is those two years we spent in Montreal. The three of us."

Spike looked over at Angel. Those two years had been the only ones Angel had passed with them, REALLY with them, as in living in the same house, sleeping in the same bed. "That was a sweet time, love, I'm with you on that."

Angel smiled and looked down, almost blushing. "Yes, it was a nice time. But just to remember exactly why I was there with you. it puts a little shadow on the memories."

It was back in 2038. Wesley had died the year before, killed by a devastating lung cancer that had plagued him for years. And in a matter of a couple of months, both Connor and Cordelia had died. Angel hadn't been over Wesley's death yet, as they had been involved for a few years when it happened, and losing both his son and Cordelia had been completely devastating. He had gone to Spike and Xander in hope that they could help him overcome the pain. And they had.

"I like to remember the ritual too." Spike added. "T'was a nice time. And the shock when the tattoos appeared." He trailed off.

Angel and Xander both smiled at that. "Oh Yeah." They both said in unison.

A comfortable silence settled upon them as they delved into memories, thinking about all the things they had lived through. As time passed, light started to appear over the horizon. Xander sat up and tugged on the vampires ' arms, beckoning them to do the same. "This is it guys, anything you want to say before time's up?"

Angel looked around, then settled his eyes on the two men beside him. "I had a good unlife. I saved a lot of innocents and I think I fulfilled my destiny, in a way." He smiled and went on. "But what I really want to say is, you've both been wonderful to me, you've both accepted me and I love you. Both of you." He cupped Spike and Xander's cheeks. "In all my lifetime, I've never come across a love as pure and beautiful as the one you have for each other and I feel truly blessed to have been a part of your life."

Xander hugged the dark vampire to his chest. "And we've been blessed to have you as a part of our lives. We love you too Angel." He pressed his lips to Angel's and kissed him gently. As the kiss grew longer, Xander felt his mate tugging on his arms. He broke the kiss and watched as Spike lovingly kissed his Sire's lips.

"Xan said it all Peaches." The younger vampire said, his voice wavering. "And love?" He continued, turning to Xander. "I love you more I've ever loved anyone. I love you." He repeated, as their lips came together in a centuries old habit.

Things said, they snuggled together and waited. Xander could feel the tightness of the last attack starting, the pain spreading through his chest just as the first rays of sunshine shone through the horizon. "Love you." He repeated one last time before welcoming the pain, he let the burning feeling sweep through him and suddenly, there was no more pain.

The sun rose up in the sky as the wind blew over the empty hill, scattering the three piles of ashes away over the awakening city.

Peace and happiness reigned in the higher realms, as three new souls were welcomed and their friends' souls came back together in an eternal dance.

The End.