C&C will assure more fics happen. Sorry about the long wait this time, Very long wait, life got in the way. ^_^V

    Spike was having a bad day. No, scratch that, he was having the worst day in his unlife! //Of all the bloody demons ta run into I run into a Fradglarn. An' one making with the mojo too. Shit!// "Meow."

    The vampire tried to swear again. "Mrrrow!"

    //A fuckin' kitten! 'e couldn't 'ave turned me inta a lion or a wild tiger or somthin', no. He turned me into a kitten!// "Grrrrrowl." //Can't even growl right. My fuckin' balls 'aven't even dropped yet! Bloody 'ell!//

    "Look mommy a kitty cat!" A chocolate covered hand tried to grab him. Spike lashed out and purred when he drew blood.

    //No chip though.// He gave a kitty cat grin while the boy cried and disappeared into the crowd. //And sunlight isn't 'urtin' me. 'ey! Watch those boots!// "Mrrrowl! Hissssss!"

    "Mangy cat!"

    //'m not mangy.// He pouted and looked around. Where the hell was he anyway? //The magic box! Maybe the slayers minions c'n 'elp!// He waited for someone to walk in and slipped through the door.

    "Giles I understand that knowledge is a good and powerful tool but what does trigonometry have to do with anything if you aren't going into mathematics or advanced astro science?"

    "It doesn't."

    Willow pouted at the evil trig textbook. "So why do I have to take this class again?"

    "Because you would like to graduate."

    "Oh."

    Buffy smirked, "And because there's a cute blond someone in the same class?"

    Tara blushed and buried her nose in her books while all three of them giggled.

    Giles smiled at his children and shook his head before moving toward the door to the basement, "Xander, would you like  something to drink?"

    "Sure, I'll be up in a sec G-man, just let me finish coating this last shelf so it can dry.

    "Why do you insist on calling me that?" The watcher  grimaced at the unwelcome pet name.

    "Because even from way down here I can see you making the 'why me' watcher face."

    This was met by the exact expression and fresh laughter from the girls.

    Before Giles could reply he felt a slight tug on his trouser leg and looked down into a furry platinum face with big blue eyes. "Hello, what's this?"  He lifted the kitten and smiled, "How did you get in here?"

   //Oi! watcher! 'elp me out 'ere!// "Mrrow! Mew! Meow Rowrr!" //Shit.//

    Giles smiled and petted him.

    //Well if yer not gonna 'elp let me go!//

    "Ouch!"

    Willow looked up sharply. "Giles?"

    "It bit me." He looked at the ball of fur sullenly.

    //Yer own fault!//

    It was that moment Xander chose to come into the room, He was covered in the smell of fresh cut wood and clear coat. "It's your own fault."

    Spike looked up at Xander and mewed in agreement. //There, he says so too.//

    The watcher looked at Xander in annoyed curiosity, "I beg your pardon?" 

    He smiled and Spike perked up his ears and moved closer, but stayed out of reach for the time being.

    "Kittens are scared of new people. You held him on his back and scratched his belly. It made him feel subdued and threatened. You can only do that if they trust you."

    "You know the oddest things at the most interesting times."

    "I had a cat once."

    "Had?"

    He nodded and smiled again but it was more forced. "So I know how to take care of them."

    Willow looked at the kitten and smiled softly. "It's so cute!" She held her hand out and waited for the kitten to sniff it.

    Spike glared. //'m not cute!// "Mrrowl!" His ears twitched again as Xander started to laugh.

    "I think he. . ." The boy snickered, "He doesn't like being called cute."

    //Right then I'm sticking with the whelp. 'e speaks kitten 'e does.// Spike climbed into Xander's lap and the boy stroked his back and held lightly making him curl up and purr louder.

    Giles shook his head, "Amazing." He looked around, "Who's do you think it is?"

    Xander shrugged, "It doesn't have a collar."

    Willow picked up the paper, "People write in here if they lose a  pet, we'll just take care of it until someone misses it."

    "Xander." Giles looked at him in question.

    "I didn't see any no pet clause in the lease on my apartment. Shouldn't be a problem."

    "Cool." Willow smiled, "What are you going to call it."

    The boy shrugged, "I'll ask uh. . ." He lifted the kitten up and looked at it's private parts, "Him later."

    //Oi whelp, you wanna look at my kitty bit do it in private! 'm not inta public displays.// "Grrr Mew."

    "Sorry li'l guy, but you didn't want me to accidentally name you princess or something did you?"

    Spike shivered. //Ok Yer forgiven.//

    "I'd better get going." Xander stood and lifted the kitten into his arms. "It's a weekend and I want to finish moving in before I have to be on site Monday."

    Willow giggled, "Maybe Tara and I will drop by and see how your new roommate is doing."

    He grinned, "We'll get a movie and order out. It'll be fun. Like a slumber party. Except for the slumber part. . . and the girls only part. A multi-sex slumber party minus the squishy noisy sex part. And I can't believe I actually SAID that! Call Buffy, see if her and commando boy want to come too. I'm going to go drown myself to save me from future embarrassments."

    //Right, thanks for nothing watcher!// Spike snarled and as the door closed he heard Giles mutter. "I could have sworn that beast was glaring at me."
______________________

    Xander juggled Spike and his groceries and opened the door of the apartment then much the the vampire/kitten's dismay, he placed the litter box he'd purchased beside the toilet and filled it with Fresh Steps litter. "This is where you do your thing ok?" He rubbed the kittens nose in it and Spike growled. "No disrespect just pointing it out."

    Spike walked around it a little and looked up at Xander, //Bloody 'ell you can't be serious.// But along with immunity to sunlight and the chip, came the living bodies need to relieve itself and feed itself normal food. //Well give us some privacy then!//

    Xander grinned and turned around. "Sorry. Tell me when you're through."

    //Can you really hear what I'm saying? Oi whelp! It's me! Spike!// "Mrrowl mew! Purrrowl! Hisss!"

    "Nope, I'm not leaving, I still need to show you where your food will go. I'm not looking, go ahead."

    //Fuck it all. Damn!// He did the deed and covered it quickly then stepped into Xander's line of site. "Mrrow."

    Xander looked at the litter and smiled.

    //'ey! Why'r y lookin' at it then? It's embarrassin' enough that I 'ave ta do it at all!//

    "Good job."

    //'e's praisin' me fer using the litter. 'm never livin' this down.//

    Xander lifted the kitten into his arms and took him to the kitchen. Two bowls were placed on the table and filled one with food one with water. "I figured I'd spring for the good stuff since your a growing boy, There might even be real meat in there. Yum!"

    //You're kidding right whelp?//

    "You can eat up here with me. I don't have company often so. . . man, pathetic much? Sorry. Go ahead, find your way down so you'll know how to get back here."

    Spike looked at Xander like he was stupid.

    "Hey it looks different from the floor."

    The vampire/kitten gave up and jumped from the table to a chair to the ground then back up and began to eat.

    "Cool. Looks like you're all set, I'm going into the living room, right on the other side of the island here and relax a while. Come sit with me when you're done? If you want to of course."

    //Whelp's good with cats.// Spike admitted as he watched the boy leave the room. //Gives me enough respect I feel at least a little like myself. Hmm. Talks right to me too. None o' tha' baby talk either. This'll be fine 'till the mojo wears off. Most mojo wont stick ta vamps fer long. I hope.//

    In the living room Xander was already half asleep on the couch with the TV playing in the background. //Least 'm not a dog. C'n still see color an' watch the telly.// He leapt up onto Xander's chest and curled up to watch.

    "Mmm. Hey li'l bit."

    //Am NOT little! Oh 'ell.//

    "I haven' named you yet." The boy smiled sleepily and stroked the short fluffy fur.

    Spike purred in spite of himself. //Better not be somthin' stupid.//

    "How about. . . Hm. . . How about Spike."

    The kitten blinked. //Well that works doesn't it. Why are you namin' yer ca' after me?//

    "Your fur's about the color of Spike's hair." He yawned and his hand slowly stopped moving as sleep snuck up on him. "an' I like . . . Mmm. . . Spike."

    //You like me?// The slit eyes strayed then to the whelp's face. //'e's a good lookin' guy when 'es not bein' an idiot. 'e's a real . . . yawn. . . nummy treat.// He stretched and nuzzled into the curve of the human's warm neck to sleep.  The cat gig was annoying the hell out of him. But it had it's moments.

<Part 2>

    Xander woke up the next morning to a warm weight on his chest and smiled at the little ball of fur resting there. The sun was up and he knew he should be too, but instead the dark eyed boy lay still and watched the little body on his chest raise up and down with each breath.  It was nice to wake up warm, even if it was just a tiny warmth.

    Finally  the call of nature forced him to lift the sleeping kitten carefully and place it on a pillow while he took care of his protesting bladder and got to unpacking. The kitchen was almost  finished with when a groggy platinum fluff ball climbed onto the table and stared at his empty bowl.

    "You know, that's a good idea. Mind if I join you?" He laughed at the odd look he was given, "Don't worry, I'll fix my own food, you can have yours." The can opener buzzed and he tossed the top the read the label, "Besides, I don't think chicken and gravy counts as people food for breakfast." 

    He placed the bowl on the table, full now and then got his own food. When he sat down he noticed, Spike had waited for him to come back to the table before he started eating. "You know, you act almost human sometimes." Xander grinned widely, "You know what I'm saying when I talk, but cats are really smart right? So why do I get the feeling you don't just know what I'm saying, but you understand me too."

    Spike kept eating.

    The young man laughed, "Alright I can take a hint. Oh, if Spike, the other spike I mean, shows of for his blood or something, don't be offended if I don't call you by name, it's just. . . it could be awkward. And he doesn't actually know. . ." Those blue eyes were watching his carefully now, "You're a really creepy cat. Cool," he amended quickly, "But creepy."

 
  He'd been at the whelps for going on two days when things took another turn. There he was just minding his own, taking a cat nap, when the slayer's pet walks in all gloomy like and sits on the floor in front of the couch. //Ey, what's th' matter?// "Prrrow?"

    Xander picked him up and rubbed his fur gently but his mind wasn't on the kitten. Tears slipped down his face and Spike shook his head comically when one splashed him on the nose.

    //Oi!// "Rrrow"

    "He's gone." The human sniffled and shook his head, "I mean it's not like he had any reason to stay around but . . . I didn't tell him. He didn't say good bye. I don't know if he left town or got dusted or is laying in some alley dying again and I can't find him."

    //Oh bloody 'ell.// Spike blinked up at the large human holding him. //'E's talkin' about me. The whelp thinks I made a run fer it. Shit.//

    "I know, he's probably fine, off on his way to get Drusilla back or something. It shouldn't bother me, he's evil right? I just thought we were friends. Maybe. Kind of. Well we were roomies for a while. That counts as something doesn't it?"

    //Yeah it does pet.// "Mrowl."

    "It's funny. I told Anya I couldn't marry her because she wasn't the one. Now the one left without even knowing. God I'm getting pathetic huh. Come on, lets get some comfort food. Want some chocolate, I'll give you a nibble."

    Spike licked Xander's face, trying to offer what comfort he could. //When this spell wears off yer gonna hate yerself fer talkin' to 'me' about this.// He let the whelp lift him onto the table and watched him wipe off his face and root through the cupboards. //But 'm glad you told me.//

    "You know what? I'm lucky to have you around." He sat down and offered a bit of a hershey bar to the kitten. "It's nice to have someone to talk to."

    Spike nodded and took the treat carefully.

    "You really do remind me of him." Xander smiled, "You have his attitude."

    //Damn right I do! Just cause I'm bit sized doesn't mean I'm not still the big bad!//

    He choked back another sob. "Yeah, you're the big bad."

    A shock of hope went through the little body before he realized Xander was just reacting to his stance. //Damn.//

    "You want to come to the scooby meeting with me? It's research but you wouldn't be left alone when I leave right?"

    Spike thought a moment then climbed up onto Xander's shoulder and mewed.

    "I guess that's a yes." He smiled, the sadness being beaten back for the time being. "We should get going then, think you can hang on while I walk?"

    //No sweat luv.// "mrow."

____________________________

    When Xander walked into the magic shop Willow and Tara giggled and Giles looked up from his books and flinched a bit. "Did you have to bring that beast with you?"

    //Ha! Fear me watcher. I am William the. . .// "Rrrrow Mew rrr" //. . .cuddly. Blood 'ell.//

    "He's not a beast G-man. He's a kitten." Xander sat down and lifted a book. "So what are we looking for?"

    "A demon that can force people in animal shapes."

    //Fradglarn! Why're you hunting it down now?//

    "What did it do?" Xander asked and Spike purred. He liked the whelp's uncanny ability to read kitty thoughts.

    "There's a prophecy. . ."

    Xander groaned and opened a book. "So where's her Buffyness?"

    "She's gone to look for the thing while we look for any clue as to what it is. If we can find out what it looks like it would help immensely. Did you locate Spike last night, he would be most helpful."

    Xander clenched his jaw and buried his head in the book he was reading, "Spike's gone."

    "Oh. Well in that case We will have to rely on the books."

    Spike jumped onto the book Xander held and looked up at him, //S'ok pet. I'm here.//

    "Xander! Please take that creature off of my book. It is very old."

    The boy sighed and lifted the kitten placing the ball of fluff onto his lap while he flipped through the book in front of him. "So any ideas what this demon is called? It might make this easier."

    "That was the reason I asked you to bring Spike." Giles' patience was obviously running thin and Xander knew better than to push him into Ripper mode.

    Spike was lazily watching the pages in front of him flip by until he caught a very familiar illustration. //There!// He pounced on the page and bent it over and Xander had to think fast to keep Giles from snatching him up and throwing him out.

    "Giles!" Willow was on her feet in an instant, "It's just a kitten!"

    "It has attacked me, growled at me and defaced my boo. . ."

    "Wait! G-man!"

    "Xander I have asked you n. . ."

    "Look at this!" He pointed to the page the kitten had bent with a triumphant smile.

    "A Fradglarn." Willow's eyes widened as she read. "Oh wow! Xander your kitten is a genius!"

    Spike purred under the praise and tried his best to grin mockingly at the flustered watcher as he read the information the book gave. "Dear God. This is exactly what we are looking for! Xander how. . ."

    He shrugged, "Spike was playing with the pages. He likes pouncing on. . ."

    "Spike?!" All of them demanded at once and Xander winced, "Uh. . . did I say Spike? I meant uh. . ."

    "Xander." Willow giggled knowingly, "You named you kitten Spike?"

    "Just kill me now." He moaned.

    "Why?" Buffy walked inside and flopped into a chair.

    "He. . ." Willow giggled, "He named his new kitten Spike."

    "Um. . . obvious much?"
   
    "What?!"

    "Oh come on Xander." Buffy shook her head and looked at him carefully, "Do you really think none of us noticed you making goo-goo eyes at our resident Big Sad?"

    "Uh. . . yeah?"

    //The whelp made eyes at me?! When was this?//

    Tara blushed, "Y-you looked so c-c-cute when you d-did it."

    Xander's face went beet red, "Spike didn't. . ."

    "No." Willow assured him, "Spike didn't notice."

    "Why are we talking about Spike in past tense?" Buffy , "He's not. . ."

    Giles took off his glasses, "No, he isn't dusted, but he has decided to vanish without a trace." He put the glasses back on and glared at all of them, "And just when was I going to find out about Xander's interests?"

    Xander buried his face in his hands, "I had hoped when Hell froze over." He muttered and the kitten licked his chin helpfully. "Thanks."

    The girls giggled and Giles lifted the book again. "Right then, Fradglarn. Look up all you can find. Especially how to help their victims and defeat them. I'll go over the prophesy."

    //Yeah, you do that watcher, and change me back while you're at it!// "Rrwol, hissss mrrrr mrow."

<Part 3>