28 August 2004,

With a glance at the brunette seated beside him, Spike drew the car up to the kerb, throwing the gear stick into park. Sitting quietly for a few minutes, the vampire waited for the youth to make some sort of sign that he recognised he was back in Sunnydale. It had take almost seven hours to drive the usual three hour distance from L.A. to Sunnydale and the blond was exhausted. Twice he had turned around and had been almost back at the Hyperion and both times he had given in to the screams of frustration from Xander. It was actually upsetting the vampire that the youth wanted to go to the funeral but the closer he got to Sunnydale, the more terrified he became.

Spike had steeled himself completly the third time the youth had gotten hysterical, ignoring the shuddering gasps and streaming tears, continuing to drive to Sunnydale for the ex-watchers funeral the next afternoon. Once past the welcoming sign to the town, Xander had stopped crying, just gasping and shaking while staring straight ahead. They were parked outside Joyce's house, the slayers mother had indicated that she would more than welcome them both. Spike really didn't mind the older woman, she had been about the only one who had listened to him about Drusilla and it wouldn't hurt the whelp to stay with a friend rather than in a motel.

Another minute of sitting in a car that reeked of cigarette smoke and terror, Spike wound up the window and opened the door. Back door open, he got out both his and the youth's bags, walking to the passenger door, he opened the door. Taking a good look at the brunette, the vampire gently prodded at the still shaking form.

"Come on pet, time to get out and get some sleep. You did good, we're here."

Xander blinked furiously, turning his head to look at the vampire crouched down beside him. With a hard swallow, the youth hesitantly got out of the car and followed the blond to the front door. A few raps on the door saw a sleepy Joyce let them into the quiet house.

"Good to see you again Xander, Spike. Are you two alright? Do you want anything to eat or drink? I made sure that I have some of your usual Spike, just help yourself and that goes for you too Xander, ok?"

Answering the questions, Spike was slightly amazed that his invitation into the house had never been removed. He asked Joyce which rooms they were in, Spike in Buffy's old room and Xander just next door in the guest bedroom. Unable to supress a snicker of amusment at how the Slayer would chuck a hissy fit to know that he was sleeping in her old room, the vampire made a decision to wank off in the room just to spite the bitch. Thankfully the human woman was occupied trying to get an answer out of Xander of if he would like some hot chocolate. The vampire quickly shook his head at Joyce, the kid hated chocolate and sweet things since being rescued from the brothel. A nudge to a still silent Xander and they both climbed the stairs into their allocated bedrooms for the night.

"Right Xan, your room, your bag. Go to sleep and I'll see you in the morning."

Hopefully the whelp would be too emotionally drained to have any nightmares, which had gotten worse since he had been told about Giles. The boy had started to scream in his nightmares, not unlike Christopher. Seeing Xander disappear into his room, Spike waited just outside the doorway until he felt the heartbeat calm down and the smell of fear dissipate. Spike dumped his bag on the bed in his own room and thumped back down the stairs, glancing in at the whelp before continuing to the kitchen. Xander might not want a chocolate but he did, Joyce had made him a few while he had prattled on about Drusilla and he had loved each one. He figured he had about an hour tops before Xander started to twitch in his sleep, indicating a beginning nightmare, providing he went to sleep straightaway. The woman was probably already making him one. Bloody better have those mini marshmellows was the thought as he clumped into the kitchen. Sure enough, Joyce was just adding a handful of green, pink and white fluffy sugar balls to the divine smelling liquid.

"Here you go Spike. I knew that you would want one. How's Xander?"

"Don't know actually. Cried for about two hours after the half breed told him about Crusty. I don't think he has really made the connection though, I mean, he cried but he sort of shrugged it off like he did when that Theo whelp carked it."

Taking a sip from the steaming mug, Spike followed Joyce back into the dimly lit living room, listening as she told him that Xander's room had a small lamp that could be left on all night and that she had stocked up on fruit and had placed a pitcher of water to cool in the fridge. With a nod, Spike reminded himself to take a glass of water up to Xander's room before going to sleep himself, Xander tending to get angsty if there wasn't a glass of water anywhere near him at all times.

"I didn't think you were coming, the others arrived hours ago, I was getting a bit worried."

"Boy got anxious about coming back to Sunnyhell. Had to turn back twice. Stupid fucking therapist is away, whelp was meant to go for a visit to that Christian thing for a few days. Was meant to go yesterday but the funeral sort of took care of that, you know?"

A nod saw Joyce agree with the vampire. Despite what Buffy had always said about Spike, she saw things in the male that a lot of other people would miss. Him talking to her, albeit drunkenly, about Drusilla had made her see that he would lay down his unlife without question for whoever had his full attention at that particular point in time. It obviously took a lot to get his attention but she thought that Xander was blessed to have the vampire looking out for him. Her daughter had ranted and raved for days about what Cordelia had told her about Spike being appointed Xander's 'transition back to society support person' but even after listening to Buffy, she couldn't agree that the vampire would end up hurting Xander. Buffy had never listened to an almost weeping drunk blond in the middle of the night but Joyce had and had sympathised over his situation.

He could be a right arsehole sometimes, the meetings about Xander had proved that and she had been just about to stake him herself at one point. How ironic that he was now taking care of someone he had repeatedly ridiculed.

"Generally though, I mean, how is he? The nightmares still going on?"

"Yep. Regular like clockwork, every night without fail. Gotten worse since the watcher died too. Screams a bit."

"Oh god! The poor boy. How are you coping with it all? Can't be easy on you?"

Spike shrugged at Joyce. She was right, it wasn't easy with the nightmares but who the hell else was going to do it? In some ways the boy was easier to look after than Drusilla, at least he didn't have to worry about Xander dusting himself in an effort to see if there really was a smiley face in the sun like all the children's books indicated or trying to christin dolls with real holy water. It was harder to get the whelp to socialise and some days it was damn near impossible to get a sentence out of him. The vampire was more worried about leaving the boy alone in the presence of other males, he had caught Xander sidling up to both Doyle and Angel on more than one occasion in the past few weeks and if the blond hadn't interrupted straight away, he was sure that the brunette would have been undressed in about two minutes flat. He wished he could at least talk to Fat Barb about it, the boy wasn't getting aggressive, he was getting slutty.

Xander hadn't gotten too far with Angel, the older vampire pretty much frozen in horror at the boy's crude suggestions, leaving the library immediately as he saw Spike come in. The broody vampire was now not letting himself get caught alone in a room with the boy, not wanting to give him any type of encouragement at all. The half Bracchen was another story, he was pretty naive when it came to male come-ones and Spike had stumbled upon them in the middle of a hug. Totally innocent until he noticed Xander's hand slowly going to cup Doyles crotch. A loud cough and snarl had broken that one up, the blond not saying anything about Doyle explaining that Xander had been feeling a little upset and had wanted a hug. He hadn't needed to, the half demon had gone pretty quiet when he realised just what he had said. Doyle was now taking Angel's lead and trying not to be alone with the youth. Xander was yet to acknowledge what the two other men were doing. Wesley was the only one who was yet to be hit on but Spike didn't think he would be due to the fact the other man was a full human.

The vampire was brushing off numerous suggestions and touches himself. He had hoped that the scene in the shower would be the last but unfortunately it wasn't. It was annoying the blond immensly, Spike was hard the instant the boy looked at him shyly before ducking his head and the light brushings against his crotch and backside were driving him to masturbate more than often. Normally he would just take advantage of the situation and shag the brat senseless but he knew that it wouldn't be the best thing for Xander in the long run. It was weird, he finding himself almost following the brunette around the Hyperion, something he had only done with Drusilla. He just *had* to be near the youth, not neccessarily in the same room but close enough to hear and smell the whelp whenever he wanted. More recently his dreams of Drusilla had slowed down, being replaced by ones that featured Xander doing ordinary everyday things.

*****

Spike was jerked out of his thoughts by the Slayer's mother taking his empty mug from his hand, Joyce telling him to go to bed himself. Nodding at the suggestion, he turned an ear towards the stairs, listening for any noise that indicated a nightmare for the youth. Maybe Xander would sleep all the way through that night. The funeral was in the late afternoon, Buffy making all the arrangements. Anya and Gunn were hosting the wake in the Magic Box after the funeral. In the kitchen, he poured a large glass of water to place in the spare bedroom. During the first weeks of being freed from the brothel, all the boys had downed water like it was going out of fashion. Xander had hinted at being thirsty while at Eternal, sometimes carrying a glass of water with him wherever he went in the hotel. Something that he would probably never grow out of, pretty much like the body lotion ritual after each shower the boy had going.

Making sure all the lights were off downstairs, the blond climbed the stairs. Just outside the whelp's bedroom, he listened at the steady heartbeat, waiting to see if there were any signs of a nightmare before entering the softly lit bedroom and placing the glass on the dresser that held the lamp. The boy wasn't asleep but he wasn't far from it either.

"S.s..spike?"

"Yeah, what?"

"I'm s.sorry about b.b.b.before."

"Don't worry Pet. We're here and that's the main thing. You want anything?"

"N.no th.thanks."

Seeing the blond turn to leave, Xander called the vampire back before he disappeared from view and into his own room.

"S.spike?"

"What now?"

"Giles, he..he really is g.g.gone isn't he?"

With a sniff, Spike could smell the tears that were threatening to emerge. Sighing, he sat himself down on the comfy bed and looked down at the sleepy eyed brunette. Honesty, that was the only way to go. It was a good sign, he hoped, that the youth was asking about the deceased man.

"Yeah Whelp, he really is gone."

A pale hand reached out to stroke at the thick dark mass of hair. Slowly, Spike smoothed the silky strands from the forehead, hoping that the youth wouldn't use this as an opportunity to start something. Another sniff and he smelt that doing anything like that was probably the last thing on the boys mind, unhappiness tainting the air of the room. He watched as the first of the tears slid their way down the tanned cheeks, the male's breath starting hitch.

"Are y.y.you going to th.the funeral?"

"Funerals are more for family and friends. Lets face it, I'm bloody well neither. I'll be going to the party afterwards though, you know at Prune Faces shop."

A snort and sniffle later, Xander asked what the vampire had thought of the older watcher. Looking intently at the suprised blue eyes, he was comforted by the almost rhythmic pattern of the cool hand on his brow. It was nice, he couldn't ever remember anyone but his mother doing it.

"Well, I didn't like the prudey sod. Hated him, always in my way and telling Bunney how to kill perfectly reasonable demons. Doesn't mean that I didn't respect the man for being able to do a job that most people would crumble under. Actually, probably a good thing he was Cunty's watcher. Can you imagine what a complete fuckwit the bint would have turned out like if Old Dusty hadn't been around with his stiff upper lip?"

Seeing the boy choke a bit on his few chuckles, the vampire allowed a smirk to adorn his face while he continued with his thoughts of the dead man. Whelp didn't laugh often, nice to see and hear. Still he stroked at the thick hair, pleased that he was allowed to do it even while feeling slightly bitter that it wasn't Dru lying in the bed allowing only him to soothe her fears and provide her with the comfort she was needing.

"Girl would have had to have been classed as retarded if Giles hadn't gotten her past the 'see Dick run' books. Too smart for his own good at times, he was."

"It was him that got everything organised to find you. Put up the flyers, got the notices in the paper. Annoyed the cops each month to see if you had been located. He never stopped looking for you Xander. You were very important to him'.

Spike had no idea why he was telling the crying youth that but he was. So far, no one had broached the subject of how he had been found or what the Scooby gang had done when they had found out he was missing, all prefering to wait until Barbara Neal indicated that it was time to tell all. Xander's tears were at full force, the chuckling gone to be replaced by heaving sobs.

"R..really? He l..looked for m.m.me?"

"For fucks sake! Of course he bloody did. What, did you honestly think that no one was looking for you?"

"Yes"

Skin crawling, Spike halted his petting at the barely whispered word. Bloody hell, the whelp was serious. The pain radiating out of the dark eyes was amazing, the youth was almost screaming the emotion of misery into the softly lit room. With quick shake of his head, the vampire resumed the stroking of Xander's hair. He asked the youth why.

"No one c..c.came for s.so long. I p.prayed at first l.like I was taught in S.s.sunday School b..but it g.got to be just w.w.words after a while. I..I stopped belieiving that someone w.was going to c.c.come."

"Yeah, but we found you, didn't we?"

Nodding, Xander hiccuped while he tried to gather his thoughts. He was tired but he felt unable to go to sleep although the stroking was soothing to him. Silence set in, the brunette staring at the open doorway, his mind on things other than the funeral that afternoon. Spike waited for the boy to say more, he was sure that even with all the visits to the therapist, Xander had just let loose with more information than he had probably given Fat Barb.

"Was h.he ashamed of m.m.me?"

"No! No, he fucking well wasn't. He was upset at you being at Eternal but Xander, no-one is ashamed of you. What those bastards did was not your fault, so you can stop that nasty little thought right now mate"

"I'm s.scared that i.it will happen a..a.again. T.that everything will be g..g.good and then one d.d.day I will w.wake up in a.a.a dark room, not able to s.s.see anything."

Well, that might just explain the fear of the dark then thought the vampire. He kept stroking as the tired youth told him of how he had woken up in a pitch black room, unable to see or hear anything bar his own breathing. Spike felt himself get angry when Xander told of the lack of water, the drugged food he had been given in the small room. A few gibberish sentences followed as the boy gave into sheer mental exhaustion. The anger rolled around in his stomach but what suprised him was the his other feeling of pride that Xander had confided in him. That the whelp felt comfortable enough with him to tell him a tiny sliver of what had helped to reduce the youth into a mere shell of his former self.

Content to sit by Xander for a few minutes more, Spike felt his own eyelids begining to droop. A glance at the guest room clock and he saw that it was almost four in the morning. God, no wonder he felt tired, especially after the torturous drive to the small town. Making a descion, he decided to get his mattress and sleep next to the boy on the floor, an idea he gave up as he remembered that Buffy's old bed was a double and there wasn't enough room on the floor for it. With a swift movement, he gently lifted the slumbering boy into his arms, thankfull for his vampire strength. There was no way he would have been able to lift the larger and heavier male if he had still been a human. He quickly transfered the boy into Buffy's bed, making sure that he was tucked under the blankets comfortably. Another trip back saw him dragging the guest rooms single mattress into the Slayers room, dumping it at the end of the larger bed.

Blankets retrieved from the smaller room, Spike laid out the bed after making sure that he wouldn't be dusted in the morning. Thankfully Joyce had installed some thick curtains on the windows, obviously well aware of how flammable his species was. Checking the whelp again, he was reassured by the soft snoring. He honestly hoped that he would get at least a few hours undisturbed sleep. Spike knew that he wasn't the only one suffering from a lack of sleep. Woosley, Scrag Hag and Prickly Arse were all looking worse for wear with Christopher's screaming at night. The only one who ever looked well rested was the Great Poof. A snort at what it would take for his Sire to wake up at night, the blond had a sudden image of an atomic bomb going off, leaving the world full of cockroaches and one sleeping vampire that had not only slumbered all the way through, but had been protected by his hair.

Yawning, the vampire snuggled under the thick blankets once undressed and with a few tosses and turns, he felt himself drift off.

*****
Part 15:

Rubbing at her temple with one hand, Joyce took another sip of her extra strong coffee. She knew why she had a headache. She was busy keeping her eye on Buffy, making sure that her Headstrong daughter didn't attempt to stake the bleached blond vampire. Joyce was eyeing off Buffy who was watching Spike who had Xander permanently attached to him via the brunettes hand clinging to the back of the vampire�s shirt. Spike was watching Angel who was staring at the two males, Angel being eyed off himself by his partner Wesley who was being elbowed by Cordelia who was holding hands with Doyle. Riley was attempting to hold hands with a fidgety Slayer who was arguing with Willow who was being placated by a barely smiling Tara. Both Gunn and Anya were surveying the scene while trying to soothe two whiney children. Christopher was hanging onto Cordelia's hand, looking at everybody in the room.

The only one not taking any notice of the pointed looks, stares, heated arguing and whispers was Graham. He was too busy picking and eating at the large spread of finger food Anya and Joyce had produced for the little gathering. This was sooo not of the good thought Joyce, mentally slapping at herself for sounding like a spoilt teenager. She had no idea of what to do. The funeral had been fine. Short and quite sweet really. Buffy had known exactly what type of service her mentor had wanted. Unbeknown to Joyce, they had actually discussed the possibility of Giles dying before Buffy on a few occasions. Both Buffy and Giles had ended up telling each other just what type of funeral they had wanted. Buffy wanted to be cremated and spread over a rose bush while the Watcher had wanted a traditional burial with a simple headstone. A few lovely songs from Simon and Garfunkle as well as a humorous version of 'Stairway to heaven' by Rolf Harris. Tears had flowed openly in the private room. Joyce was sure that she had seen Angel wipe at his eyes.

Buffy had arranged for the funeral to be the last on the list at the largest funeral directors in Sunnydale. Willy who owned the demon bar had showed up as well as a few occult suppliers, Anya making them leave the wake only ten minutes ago. As they had left, Spike had entered the room and that was when the trouble had begun. Xander had taken one look towards the door and had practically run to the vampire and had clutched at the black shirt covering the usual black t-shirt. The youth was yet to let go, following the vampire around the room before they had settled for standing in a corner, only to be subjected to stares. Since then the rooms temperature had dropped. Nudged out of her thoughts by Graham, she was startled to hear what the taller man told her.

"So, let me get this right. Buffy is trying to get Willow to agree to her staking Spike but Tara is telling her girlfriend no while Riley is sitting on the sidelines. Damned if he agrees and damned if he doesn�t. Angel is convinced that even though the therapist has okayed Spike taking care of Xander, his Childe is using this as an attempt to get down Xander's pants while Angel's boyfriend is ready to leap in front of a vampire who suddenly decides he hasn't had his ration of guilt for the day. Wesley is trying to ignore Cordelia's bitching about his boyfriends� brooding while her fianc� is staying silent because he knows his life just wouldn't be worth living if he opened his mouth. Anya is pissed that no-one else but me has been eating the food she has obviously put so much time into while her husband is just wishing their kids would put a sock in it for once and Christopher is plain confused"

"What about Xander and Spike?"

"Oh, them? Well, Xander is clinging to his support person like his therapist probably doesn't want him to because he is terrified that he will be kidnapped again while Spike is aware of what is going on but is getting frustrated keeping his mouth shut because if he opens it, he will more than likely get himself staked and Xander gets more traumatised than everyone has thought possible"

"Well. You have everything down pat don't you?"

"Nah, just overhead everyone�s arguments while at the food table, guessed the rest. Lets face it, that really isn�t too hard to do either"

Shaking her head, she made the ex-soldier grimace at the thought of two more days of this type of behaviour. The will was being read the next day which meant they would all probably stay again tomorrow night, leaving the next morning/night. The L.A. team, original Scooby Gang, Riley and Anya had been told to attend the reading. A shout from Buffy saw Willow stalk over to Xander and the vampire, standing next to them with arms crossed, glaring at the petite blonde as if just daring her to try and stake Spike. A few more quite words with her daughter�s boyfriend�s best friend and Joyce went to placate her daughter.

It was a soft stuttering voice that had them all quiet and looking in the one direction. Standing on a chair, a handful of Spikes shirt bunched into his white knuckled hand, he stared straight ahead.

"I..I.I teased G-man a.a.about his g.guitar p.playing, I.I remember s.s.s.springing h.him singing in a.a.a cafe when t.that party g.got pos.s.ssessed b.by the l.lust poltergeist"

A pause and Xander was prompted to continue by seeing everyone smile at him. His free hand rubbed through his hair while he gathered a breathe for the next words.

"H.he was o.o.one of my b.best friends. H.he saved m.m.my life"

Helped down off the chair by Spike, Xander hoped he wouldn't be sick. He felt like he was going to vomit up his breakfast. Xander knew that everybody had been staring at both him and the vampire. The brunette hadn't been able to stop himself from going straight to Spike, it just felt better and safer when he was close to the blond. It had been Willow reminding him of Giles' first appearance at Sunnydale High that had prompted his little speech. The older librarian had been horrified when he had been sprung by his three younger friends in the cafe so long ago, it had taken weeks for Xander to stop making references to the embarrassing episode.

"You should have seen his face when he finally figured out that Tara was my girlfriend. I don't think I had ever seen Giles so flustered and embarrassed. He made all these little 'Ahh' noises and of course the polished glasses ritual went on for day's afterwards"

Leaning against Spike�s cool body, Xander lifted his hand to touch at the redhead standing on the chair he had so recently vacated. He gently grasped at the smaller hand, giving the openly crying girl a little smile. The brunette allowed the witch to tighten her grasp almost painfully around his hand. Although Spike could feel the youths trembling, he was surprised at how much courage it had taken Xander to get up in front of everybody. The boy had made a huge step forward just over night and the vampire had to admit that he was proud to share in it. He was a little embarrassed about being clutched at, but he wasn't going to try and shake off the whelp at such an emotionally charged gathering. The vampire was just going to have to stop the over needy grabbing in another situation if and when it arose again.

With a snort, he watched as the whelps� smile got bigger when Willow confessed to having had a crush on the older human for some years before she had met her first boyfriend. A round of snickers went around the room at Cordelia's loud statement of "Well, who didn't!� prompting a few odd looks her way. The next one to get up was Anya, telling the room that she had never worked for such a kind boss as Giles. A few more laughs went around at Gunn's comment that his wife didn't work, she dictated to everyone. Husband silenced with a glare, she went on to say that she was glad that all her attempts to get her powers back had failed. If she had been successful, she would never had gotten the chance to find out what a good friend the storeowner had turned out to be.

The reminiscing went on into the early hours of the following morning. Some were sad, a few stories had been almost too painful to hear but most were full of humour. Laughter had rung out in the shop, only a few times had various people lapsed into a crying fit. Xander had still clung to the vampire all through the night. Buffy had eventually come over to tell her story, bursting into tears when the brunette had grasped at her hand while she stood on the chair. Once again Spike had been truly shocked at how far the boy had progressed. After a nudge from the youth, he had reluctantly gotten up on the chair himself after Buffy, telling the room the same thing he had told Xander when asked what he had thought of the Watcher. A few gasps had gone around the room at his first words, only to have a Slayer give him a watery smile at his confession that he had ultimately respected the older human.

For once he played with tact, leaving out the insults to Buffy and only calling the deceased man the pretty tame Crusty. The last person to speak had been Joyce, horrified when her daughter had interrupted the clean version of the bewitched candy incident to tell the real story, including the boffing on the police car. The room had erupted into laughter at the older humans spluttering and vows of revenge.

Various yawns echoed around the shop, Buffy and Graham handing their bundles of sleeping girl back to their parents. Joyce waved her car keys in front of Spike and Xander, telling them that she would drive them back to the house in a few minutes. Angel and Wesley made their good byes first, Spike just knew that he would be getting a talking to about the clutching from Xander in the next day or so. With a snort, he decided that he really didn't give a toss what his Sire thought. Cordelia and Doyle were searching the shop for Christopher, the boy having wandered off behind a bookshelf halfway into Riley�s story about Giles organisation of Gunn's bucks party. A question of if the vampire would be sleeping on the floor again prompted the blond to think back to that morning.

Spike had told Xander why he had woken up in a bed he hadn't gone to sleep in. He had had to. The brunette had woken up, taken one look around the strange room and had almost had a heart attack. The vampire was sure that if the human had been twenty years older, he would be residing in a morgue by now. He hadn't realised that he couldn't be seen from the double bed when lying on the floor. The blond had just assumed the youth would take a look around, see Spike on the mattress on the floor and be ok with everything. Once calmed down, the brunette had been fine with it. So fine in fact, the vampire had had to duck an unwanted kissing attempt from the boy.

Xander was disappointed when Spike shook his head. It would make things so much harder. He had hoped that with them both being away from the Hyperion, the vampire would lower his resolve to keep Xander away just a little. Angel and Doyle didn't want him either, that didn't really bother him as much as Spikes constant rejection did. It wasn't right. The vampire was only taking the time to look out for Xander because Spike was attracted to him, which confused the boy each time he was pushed away. Spike may be being paid but Xander knew the real reason.

Turning to say goodbye to Cordelia and Doyle as they came back into the main shop, he felt his knees go weak as Cordelia shrieked that she couldn't find Christopher.

*****
Part 16:

Gently running a finger down the soft cheeks, the digit ending up between warm lips, Angel bent his head down to suck at Wesley's adams apple. The humans pulse rate soared as he tugged on the cuffs holding his wrists close to the solid bedhead.

"Jesus Angel! Please?"

"Please what?"

With a gasp, the lean man arced up into the hard twist of his erect nipple, bottom lip caught between his lips as the waves of pain rolled through his body. A small slap across the face made the male moan with sheer pleasure.

"Please what?"

The strong white fingers clenched around the smaller man's jaw in a grip that was firm but carefully applied as to not leave bruises. There never was bruising that showed, just applied pressure in certain points most times. Wesley wanted bruises tonight, a souviner from Sunnydale.

"Please *Master*, fuck me hard"

"Silly little bitch, you aren't in the position to make demands"

Fingers stroking the throbbing vien in his lovers neck, Angel felt himself get harder as Wesley moaned out the magic word. Master, it was a word that worked a treat each time. The word was power in itself. Who would have guessed that the shy ex-librarian would be such a slut in the bedroom, certainly not Angel. The vampire had been shocked when Wes had cum without being touched sexually the very instant Angel had gripped both wrists in a hard grasp one night. Two long legs had clenched themselves around his waist only seconds after Wes had cum, coarse swearing and taunts filling the quietness of Angels bedroom. From that night on, they had both dived into consensual bondage with a passion.

Wesley had been ecstatic when Angel had accepted his preference for being submissive. He had honestly thought that the vampire would be too guilt filled to partcipate in the bedroom games, no matter how consensual it might be. Angel, however, had leaped into the role playing with as much gusto as the formerly virginial ex-watcher had.

"Master, I want a bruise, please?"

"Ahhh, my darling little whore, you ask for such lovely deeds"

A harder twist to the right nipple and Wesley panted in pain/pleasure, begging his Master not to stop until he was in tears. Leaving the just reddening flesh for a moment, the larger male reached down beside the bed, grappling with the two tubes lying on the floor. Finally, Angel held up the items, prompting Wes to choose one.

"Left or right Whore?"

"Oh Master, left please?"

With a smile, the tube held in the left hand was tossed to the floor. Squirming as much as he could with Angel straddling his hips, Wes was sure he was about to cum from sheer anticipation of what was about to happen. Slowly the brunette vampire pulled a latex glove from the box residing on the bedside table, making sure to snap the glove a few times as he pulled it on, encouraging the lovely squirming going on underneath him. Once done, he waved the tube of cream underneath his lovers nose, delighting in the muttered curses emerging from the usually timid man.

"Ready slut?"

"Yes Master. Oh god yes please!"

Slowly unscrewing the cap, Angel squeezed a small amount onto his gloved fingers, being careful not to get any of the cream onto his unprotected skin. Wes bucked his hips up as hard as he could in an attempt to get Angel to hurry. He wanted the cream right away and not a second later.

A slap echoed through the room, Angel hitting hard enough with his ungloved hand to cause discomfort but not enough to produce a lasting mark. The red handprint would be gone in an hour. If Wes pleaded some more, he might just slap him a few more times.

"Thank you Master!"

"I think I'm too soft on you"

Eyes rolled in delight at just what that statement promised, Wes started to pant as the cream was applied to his left nipple. Only a few seconds later, the Sunnydale Motel room was playing host to whimpers of pain intermingled with curses and a human begging for the pain not to stop.

"Good Bitch?"

"Mmmm. Ooohh, ahhhh. Yes Master"

Angel watched as the normally light beige nipple burned into a bright red shade, the heat from the abused flesh radiating through the latex glove on the hand hovering only centimetres above. The older male had no idea where Wesley had gotten the craving for pain but Angel was sure as hell happy about it. He was glad that Wes had chosen the Deep Heat tube and not the pain reliving cream tonight. They both needed something fairly quick to take their mind off the generally upsetting day. Neither of them were really in the mood to take it slowly tonight. If Wes had chosen the numbing cream, they would both be waiting for the cream to take effect on the ex-watchers firm buttocks before Angel belted Wesleys arse into a shade of red that only fire engines were allowed to display. Both men waiting for the cream to slowly allow the pain to begin as it wore off. The only advantage of that was that Wesley was forced to remain standing for almost the whole following day, Angel taking a quiet delight in his handiwork while watching the younger human walk carefully around the office.

Whenever they decided to take it slowly, Angel made sure that he pinched and slapped at Wesleys sore buttocks as much as possible the next day, getting hard with each moan and almost hidden sob of pain that Wes managed to choke out.

"Ready for a sore arse Whore?"

"Hssss, y..yes Maaaster?"

The vampire stared down at the vision of painful beauty below him. It was obvious that Wesley was having difficulty talking as the heat in his sensitive nipple threatened to blister the skin. Licking at the beginning tears in his lovers eyes, Angel carefully peeled off the latex glove, throwing it onto the floor. Large hand wrapped around his drooling cock, he pumped his hand a few times as he ground himself down onto the other mans rock hard penis. Delighting in the moans of pain intermingled with pleasure, Angel slid off his lover's abdomen, only just avoiding a foot in the face as Wesley threw his legs open in readiness for the vampire.

"Wider, open them wider, you Slut!"

"Sorry Master"

"You will be if you're not careful"

SLAP.....SLAP

The cracks of flesh on flesh echoed around the rented room as did Wesley's cry of delight/pain as Angel slapped hard at each pale inner thigh. Placing himself inbetween, cock still being slowly pumped with his left hand. Once in a steady kneeling position, Angel shrieked in sudden fright as his cell phone rang on the bedside table.

"Jesus..Fuck!!"

"No, no. Don't answer it, just fuck me till I cry"

"Shut up Wesley...Oh, god! It's Cordelia"

Phone snatched from the table by an angry vampire, Wesley struggled with the cuffs around his wrists. He usually came from only a few minutes of feeling the metal tight around his wrists, the more he pulled and tugged at them, the more erotic it became. Something that Angel really appreciated watching at times. Wes was pissed off that his one time object of affection was harassing her boss at such an inconvenient time. Taking no notice of the conversation between Angel and Cordelia, he could feel himself just about ready to come when he was startled by Angel roaring down the phone at the agencys secretary, something that had never happened before.

"WHAT? What do you mean you can't find Christopher?"

Standing in the middle of the room, cock still grasped in his free hand, Angel felt small chills creep up his spine. Christopher would never just go missing, the boy was clingy with both Cordelia and Doyle. If they were out, then he clung to Wesley and Xander, both vampires coming in at last place. Spike being the last choice out of them all.

"Cordelia, please. I'm sorry for yelling, just calm down, ok? Now tell me where you have looked"

A glance at Wesley still handcuffed to the bed and then down at his shrivelling cock grasped in his left hand, he mouthed apologies at his disgruntled lover. He could feel the large vein in his forehead start to throb. God, why now of all times? Angel prayed that Cordelia had a huge baby when she finally fell pregnant, just a little karma for disturbing her employer at a critical moment. Maybe twins the size of a double decker bus each? Grinning slightly as he listened to the former cheerleader reel off each place they had looked, his smile quickly disappeared as it was revealed that there was no place left to look.

"Ok, ok. Cordelia, please just take a breath and calm down. You're starting to babble like Willow. Yes. No really, you are! Wes and I will be there soon ok?"

With a sigh, Angel disconnected from the distressed girl. Unlocking Wesley from the handcuffs, quickly filling in the former watcher about the situation as they both got dressed.

"Everybody is still at the Magic Box, apparantly Christopher wandered off during Riley's little speech about Gunn's bucks party"

"I know that, didn't he go to sleep behind a book shelf?"

"Well, thats what everybody thought but they have looked all through the shop. Every cupboard and behind everything, even checked out the surrounding streets but he isn't there"

"What? Are you sure, I mean Cordel...aahhh, ooohhh!"

"Wes? Bit much?"

Eyes half closed as his abused nipple sent waves of pain through his chest, Wesley shook his head at his lovers question, just enjoying the friction of a coarse cotton singlet on his overheated flesh. Snapping his eyes open, he licked his lips, waggling his eyebrows at the older vampire.

"Mmmmm. No, not enough actually"

"Oh, really? Well, we'll just have to fix that won't we?"

"Promises, promises"

"Jesus Wes, one day I'm stick a finger full of Deep Heat right up you, just to see your reaction"

Slightly horrified from the wave of arousal flooding off the still dressing male, Angel snapped open his cell phone as it rang again.

"Yes Cordelia, what now? Oh shit! Are you sure?"

"No..no. hold on, just stay there and I'll call from the shop. Don't worry, we *will* be there soon"

Curious as to what could make the vampire look paler than he already was, Wesley enquired to what Cordelia had wanted this time.

"Wes, I think were in trouble. Actually Xander is really"

"Angel, whats wrong?"

"Cordelia just got a phone call from Robin's sister to say that her brother is missing again. Apparantly Todd's mother thought that Todd was visiting Robin for dinner when he didn't come home. She called Robins house to get Todd sent home before it got too dark. *She* was told that Robin had just been discovered missing only a few minutes before hand and that Taylor, Robin's sister was just about to call Todd's place to see if Robin had gone over for a visit. It doesn't make sense because Robin is still house bound with the agoraphobia"

"What the hell is going on. Christ Angel, If they are all gone then its really only Xander and Jason that are left"

Both men pushed and shoved their way through the Motel door at the same time, a little embarassed at being caught during such an arousing playtime. Car thrown into drive without waiting for it to warm up for once, the classic car thundered down the road towards the Magic Box and Sunnydales main shopping strip.

*****