I love Pepsi, I like tea, I love C&C and it loves me!

    As Xander's face met the pavement for the fifth time he was developing a serious headache and an even bigger self esteem problem. //'You take the little one' She says. Oh you mean the one that's only eight feet tall? Thank you.//  He jumped onto the creature's back and shoved a stake into it but the wood splintered and crumbled, easily deflected by the demon's rock hard outer shell. The thing swatted him off and he slammed back into the nearest building  before falling to the ground again. //Now this looks familiar.//

    "INCOMING!!!!"

    Everyone stopped and Buffy looked up at the swirly weirdness happening in the sky. "GET OUT OF THE WAY!!!"

    They were ten feet back when Spike looked around him, "Xander?"

    "Spike! I'm stuck!"

    The vampire threw himself toward the boy and covered him with his own body as Five huge. . . robots? Fell from the hole in the air and landed on the demons effectively squishing them.

    Buffy made a face at the gooey sound that created,  "Eew!"

    By the building Spike looked Xander over for wounds, "I'm ok Spike."

    "Like I care?" The vampire huffed but Xander just smiled as they stood up. He knew the vampire counted him as at least a friend. Living with a person does that.

    "Um. . . you come in peace?" Riley called out only half serious.

    They all jumped when the Robots' chests' opened and five boys of about their age jumped the fifteen or so feet to the ground.

    The American looking one with a long braid and a black ball cap snickered, "Maybe we should have taken the right turn at Albuquerque."

    "What did we step in?" The blond who looked slightly arab looked at the green slime with brown crunchies that was oozing from under his robot's foot.

    Giles blinked, "That would be a Volsach demon."

    The Japanese boy in spandex biker shorts and a tank top shot forward and pulled a gun from somewhere, training it on the Scoobies.

    "Um. . . nice alien, good alien. Bullets are a bad thing." Xander backed into Spike and the vampire rolled his eyes.

    "Where are we?"

    "Earth. Welcome."

    "Xander!"

    "Well?!"

    Willow cleared her throat, "You're in Sunnydale, California."

    The American robot boy turned his attention to them, "What year?"

    "2000."

    "Oops."

    "DUO!!!" Four of the five boys rounded on the braided one in slight anger but more annoyance. Like they were used to him getting into trouble.

    "What?! How was I supposed to know J was experimenting with time travel?!"

    "We told you not to touch anything!" The Chinese youth glared.

    "But it was a button!"

    ". . ."

    "And it was green, not red, it's the red ones you aren't supposed to push."

    The small blond sighed and shook his head, "When we get back you can talk to J about color coordination used by scientists on time machines but for now we need to find a place to stay and we need to hide the Gundams."

    The Scoobys all turned to Xander.

    "What? Oh! Ohhhhhh no! I already had a VAMPIRE living with me, now you want me to take in ALIENS?!"

    "Baka." This was from the one with the gun and spandex.

    "Hey! I took Spanish! And I almost passed it too!" Xander accused, "Who're you calling a cow?!"

    The one they'd called Duo, snickered.

    Giles placed a calming hand on Xander's shoulder, "Xander, vaca is cow. Baka is Japanese for idiot or dummy."

    "Oh. . . wait you called me a dummy?"

    Buffy heaved a sigh and shook her head, "Xander, let them stay, just for tonight. I'll call Angel after sunrise and see if they can stay in Angelus' mansion."

    The blond smiled softly and stepped forward, "I am sorry we've been so rude. Our. . . journey, it was very unexpected. None of us feel comfortable when we don't know what is happening. I am Quatre Rabberba Winner. My companions are Trowa, Wufei, Duo and Heero. Thank you for your kindness."

    Buffy blushed and smiled and Riley stepped closer to defend his claim which made the blond boy smile for some reason. "I'm Buffy. This is my watcher Giles and the Scooby gang, Willow, Tara, Riley, Xander and Spike."

    Looking at the mess and then at the team before them, stakes in hand Duo dared to asked 'the question'.  "Uh. . . so why did we step in a demon?"

<Part 2>
 

    Duo finished camo netting his Gundam and then sat beside his metal partner heavily. He ran a hand over the gundamanium caringly and held back a sigh.

    "Are you sure this area is secure?" Heero was glarring at Riley who looked ready to run.

    "It was part of an initiative facility, they've been disband. No one comes here now."

    "Hn."

    Xander looked at the five boys expectantly, "Um. . . well we should get back to my apartment. It's getting light out."

    "That sounded very backward." Quatre noted softly.

    Duo pointed to Spike, "Sun. Vamp. Poof. Dust."

    "Aa." Heero pulled Duo to his feet and walked toward the desoto they'd followed there. He looked inside and took a step back.

    "Heero?" Quatre hurried forward worriedly.

    "What is it Yuy?!" Wufei growled and followed with the others.

    Heero blinked and opened the door. He pulled out a rotting human head by the ratty hair matted in blood and looked at Spike calmly. "Yours?"

    "That's where Dru left it!" The vampire grinned and Xander made a face.

    "Can I just say, that is the grossest thing I've seen in your car Spike, and that's saying a lot."

    "Aw don' be that way pet, it's Dru's toy."

    Heero tossed it away and wiped his hands on his shorts. "We can walk."

    Duo nodded eagerly, "Oh yeah, does a. . . . body good! Yeah! Um. . . where are we walking?"

    Xander gave them an appologetic smile, "You get used to it. Trust me."

    After a lot of bribes and promises of no more rotting body parts, the five boys squeezed into the back seat. Wufei in the middle, arms crossed. Quatre on Trowa's lap blushing over every visible body part, and Duo on Heero's lap trying not to seem happy to be there. No one but Heero was oblivious enough to buy it.

    "So you and the others we saw you with are demon slayers?" Quatre asked when the silence got ominous.

    Xander nodded, "Yeah. I'm just the runner for them mostly but the others are really great at it."

    Spike's eyes shot up at Xander in annoyance, "You do more than Slutty ever did."

    The human just kept driving and Quatre didn't comment. It was obviously a sore spot for the two.
_______________

    They pulled to a stop outside a graveyard and Spike jumped out and walked into a neer by crypt.

    "Um, tell me he isn't getting a new rotting head please."

    Xander grinned, "He's just getting himself some clothes." He looked at the open crypt, "And hopefully some money because no way am I spotting him another hundred for his blood."

    "Blood?" Quatre blinked, "Is he sick?"

    "You have no idea. . ." The odd boy mumbled, "No, he drinks it."

    "What?!"

    "Vampire." Duo offered.

    "Yeah mate, you have any Weatabix?" Said vampire asked, climbing back into the car.

    "No." Xander glarred.

    "Twinkies?"

    The glare darkened and the human turned on his undead. . .  friend with easily read hostility, "No! You are NOT desecrating my twinkies!"

    "But they're so good with B pos!"

    "No way, twinkies are meant to be reveared. decadently enjoyed."

    "Dipped."

    "Not in blood!"

    The Gundam boys were silent. This was wierder than anything Duo had done before. "You had to push the button." Heero growled.

    Duo pouted on the Japanese pilot's lap.

    "You do know twinkies have a longer shelf life than 'I' do don't you?" Spike rolled his eyes, "You don't revear a geriatric snack food."

    "So does that make you a geriatric?"

    "I'm immortal, I don't GET old."

    "Neither do twinkies."

    "Fine, no twinkies, got any coco puffs?"

    "Blood and Chocolate?!"

    "'s good!"

    "Spiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiike!"

    "What?!"

    Xander shifted into drive and left the cemetary, "Never mind."

    "So have you been a blood sucking fiend long?"

    "Duo!!!"

    "What?!"

    "Hundred an' twenty some years." Spike grinned. "Proud of it too."

    Xander rolled his eyes, "Yeah, scourge of Europe."

    "And you live in a crypt? Isn't that kind of steriotypical?" Duo pressed on much to the horror of his team mates.

    Spike shrugged, "Gotta rep ta keep don't I?"

    "I guess so. . . still. . . so why are you coming with us this time?"

    "Not 'bout ta let nummy stay all alone wit' a bunch' a strangers!"

    Xander smiled softly and blushed a bit.

    "Are you two. . ."

    "NO!"

    Duo jumped and hugged Heero tightly, "Just asking!"

    "Duo."

    "Nani Heero?"

    "Let go of me. Now."

    Duo did as told and caught back his bitter disappointment. Once again visible to everyone but the one he wished would notice.

    Xander reached back and put his hand on the saddened pilot's shoulder, "Hey, why don't we talk a while when we get home? I think we have a lot in common."

    "Ya think?"

    "Yeah."

    "Ok."

    Heero's eyes narrowed but he didn't object.

    Duo wilted silently.
_________________

    Spike glarred at the American traveler. //Why would nummy want ta talk ta him?!//

    /Maybe he likes him./

    //No way! Harris would never. . . 'e's straight!//

    /Sure, as a politition./

    //Shut up.//

    /You're jealous./

    //Am not!//

    /You want Xander for yourself, you wanna hold him tight and press him back into the bed, you want to drive into him and taste him on your lips you want. . ./

    //Shut up!!!//

    /You know you want him. Tell him. Before it's too late./

    //It's already to late for me.// Spike thought looking over at the brown eyed boy driving his car. //It was too late the first time I killed. No way would the whelp want anything ta do with me.//

    "Spike? You ok?"

    Spike nodded slowly, "Yeah pet. 'm good."

    The human looked unsure but he returned to his driving. Spike looked back at the beauty dosing on the Japanese boy's lap. He wasn't a stunning beauty, but his eyes were exquisite and his skin and hair was perfectly kept. He was skinny, but his face wasn't gaunt at all. He was just male enough to pull the hair off. No way the vampire could compete. The boy was human, warm, alive. The whelp needed that.

    /Don't play the marter, it doesn't suit you./

    //Just shut up.//

    Xander pulled out blankets and sleeping bags and anything lying around and made a large nest of them on the living room floor. "Uh. . . you guys hungry or anything?"

    Spike grinned, "Got my cup o' Joe."

    Duo looked in the mug and frowned, "That isn't. . . is that. . . what is that?"

    The blond vampire grinned and held the cup up in a mock toast, "Joe."

    Duo blinked, "Nope, not hungry, I'm good."

    Xander groaned, "Spike that was the worst joke you've ever told, and that's saying a lot!"

    "Who said I was joking?"

    "Duo," Xander reasured, "It's just pigs blood."

    Duo look slightly less green and Spike pouted, "Well the pig could 'ave been named Joe."

    The other pilots ignored him and went to sleep.

    "Well? Aren't you sleeping too?"

    Duo looked at all of the places which were completely full and sighed. "Na, 'm good."

    "So what's up with you and commander keen over there?"

    "Heero?"

    "Yeah."

    Duo shook his head, "Less than what's going on between you and the fanged wonder."

    Spike blinked, "Did I miss somethin'?"

    The scoobie took Duo's hand, "Come on. You can sleep in my room. I have some PJs you can borrow and it's not like either of us wants to 'do' anything."

    "At least not with each other." Duo sighed then nodded, "Yeah. Thanks."

    Spike growled, "No way I'm lettin' a stranger robot boy inta yer room with you alone!"

    Xander smiled sweetly, "The chair's still in there."

    He had thought the vampire would go all huffy and refuse but Spike actually sat in the armchair and lay it back.

    Duo and Xander stretched out beside eachother and Xander whispered, "So you like Heero?"

    The American pilot tried to hide his tear. "I love him. Not that he notices or anything, but I do."

    Xander stole a glance at Spike who looked like he was asleep. "I know how you feel."

    "At least Spike 'cares'."

    "Heero cares about you."

    Duo closed his eyes, "I'm really tired."

    The other boy knew a stop sign when he saw it. He smiled saddly, "Night Duo."

    "Night Xander."

    Spike cracked his eyes a bit and glanced at the two boys curled around eachother for comfort. He clicked his tongue and whispered, "Curiouser and curiouser."

_______________________

    Heero woke up first the next morning. He looked carefully aroun the room for signs of a trap or anything out of place. He  found one vital iteam was lost. Duo.

    Silent and carefull he crept over his sleeping team mates and peared into the kitchen. Not there. Bathroom? No. Hallway? No. He cautiously opened the bedroom door and froze. //No.// He blinked. Duo lay there wrapped up in the arms of the dark haired slayer boy and smiling in his sleep. //No!// He closed the door again and blankly walked back to his blankets.

    //I was too late.// He blinked and jumped at a wetness on hsi cheek. //What is. . . tears? I'm crying? I can't cry. I don't. Ever. . . but I was too late. Duo.// He curled back up in the makeshift bed and wished Oz had killed him when they had the chance. It would have hurt less than this. //Duo!// "I will kill him!"

_____________________

    Xander yawned and stretched as morning forced him to wake up again. He didn't want to leave the bed. Duo was warm. And He needed hugs once in a while. Wasn't like he had anything else to do since job number whatever was history anyway. Still it was hard to settle back in to sleep when eyes seem glued to your back. Finally, even knowing he shouldn't, the dark haired boy turned around. And found himself starring strait into angry japanese eyes and a loaded gun barrel. "Uh. . . morning Heero. What's up?"

    "Get up."

    "Wha. . ." He looked over at a sprawled out and very mussed looking Duo and blanched //Shit! I am so dead!// "Whoa! What! This is soooo not what it looks like!"

    "Now!"

    "Hm?" Duo rolled over and blinked sleepily, trying to get what he saw to conect with his brain. "Heero?" Wait. . . Heero. . . death glare. . . gun. . . SHIT! "Heero! Wait!"

    The enraged eyes turned to him and Duo felt a part of him die at the anger in their depths. "You should not be a gundam pilot. You sleep with a man in a place we don't even know and you don't seem to realize it's wrong. You could have jepordized all of us." He lowered the gun and glarred through eyes that seamed just a little too liquid.

    "Heero. . ."

    "Do not call me by my name Maxwell." He turned and stalked out of the room and Duo gasped at the pain in his chest.

    Spike, who had seen it all felt everything click into place. He watched Xander hug the shaking boy and sat on the other side of him to offer another set o farms. "Get it now, I do." He said softly. "'e didn't mean it ya know. 'is 'eart was beatin' too fast."

    Duo looked up and sniffled, "Really?"

    "'m a vamp aren't I? Sensitive ears right? And 'si scent was misery, not anger."

    Xander smiled at Spike over Duo's heard and nodded, "He was just upset that you apparently choose to sleep with me. Even if we didn't do anything like he was thinking. He wanted you with him. He was jealous."

    Spike blushed and mumbled, "know the feeling."

    Chocolate eyes met the vampire's in question, "What?"

    "Thought you wanted the robo-whelp." He let out a forced breath and carried on. "I didn't like that pet. Didn't like it at all."

    "Spike."

    "Sorry."

    "No. Don't. . . I . . . Duo could you. . ."

    The American smiled saddly and left the room. At least those two found eachother. He shut the door quietly and froze. Each pilot was looking at his with dissapointment, anger, and disbelief. "Wait a minuet! I did NOT do what you think I . . . who you think I . . . I didn't!"

    "Duo?" Quatre asked quietly and Duo shook his head.

    "Him and Spike are. . . you know? I didn't do anything! Spike was watching to make sure even! I just needed a spot to sleep!"

    Heero turned away and Duo's face fell.

    "Heero. . ."

    "Not now Duo." He warned and walked into the kitchen to be alone.
 
    Duo sat on the floor and tried to keep the pitying eyes of his team mates out of his site. //Heero I love you!//

_____________________

    Xander bit his lip and looked at Spike hopefully, "You really were. . ."

    "Green as the watcher in a demon strip joint pet. Jealous. But I won't admit it again." He growled and Xander smiled a little.

    "Over me?"

    Spike looked away and mumbled something.

    "What?"

    "Said yer my nummy! ok?!"

    The human smiled and moved in closer, "Delicious?"

    Spike grinned, "Moist too pet."

    "And you swear it's me you want. Not just a quick fuck."

    Spike growled, "If I wanted a quick fuck I could do better than the slayers lackey boy couldn't I? I'm risking my neck here Xan."

    "Why?"

    "'Cause."

    "Oh." Xander smiled as he was gently pressed back into the bed. and all doubts were pushed away by something much more urgent.
 

~tbc~