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Part 123 |
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Still lovely and sunny when they got home so no unwelcome surprises in the shape of hefty demons by the gates. “Disappointed?” Spike asked. “Why?” “Thought you might like to flex the pyromaniacal muscles.” “I’m not going to be fooling around with it, Spike, I’m going to talk to Pat, learn how it— Yeah, kinda disappointed, in a relieved way. ‘Cause…I shouldn’t.” Pause. “This is where you agree that I shouldn’t.” Pause. “Aren’t you going to agree that…” “Drive, love.” Xander reversed into the garage to make it a little easier to get the weapon’s chest from the trunk into the house. Or that was the plan. Spike hauled the chest onto his shoulder and squirmed through the doorway, realising too late that he needed more room to manoeuvre but belligerently carrying on until he popped into the hallway like a cork from a bottle. Xander watched the struggle with amusement, and actually laughed at the vampire’s post-struggle attitude that suggested everything had gone exactly as he’d intended it to. “What?” Spike asked, swinging around and bashing the study door with a sharp wooden corner, sending the door banging open as splinters flew. “Spike!” “Wha…?” “Don’t turn—” And there went a lump of plaster. “Go, move. Keep walking. That direction. And don’t—” “What?” “Spike!” Xander gripped the rear of the chest and carefully guided Spike into the living room, helping lower the wooden monstrosity to the floor before more damage could be done. “What did I do?” Xander scowled at the almost convincing display of innocence then left to check the answering machine. Spike eavesdropped – hearing a cryptic message from Moira and the sound of Xander rushing off to the music room – before turning back to the task at hand. The chest was on a par with the Sunnydale boxes when it came to want versus sense. He wanted to go through all the contents and wallow in the memories that were stirred, albeit happy or sad, but Xander was his main consideration, and his partner was so cheerful right now he hated the idea of subjecting him to anything that would cause his mood to plummet. Sense dictated that the past – and Spike had to smile when it occurred to him that until a few days ago they’d considered Sunnydale to be their distant past – should be left to itself while they coped with the present. “We have time,” he
announced to the empty room as he picked up the chest once more and set it down
beside the barely touched storage boxes from Spike sat on their latest acquisition and rubbed his fingers over the grain of the wood… I’ve done this before. …as the strains of a song Xander was listening to drifted through the house, rapidly followed by his boyfriend’s uncontained laughter. The volume increased and Spike groaned as Moira’s cryptic message unravelled: that particular in-law was due for a no-punches-pulled lecture on defiling his mate with the latter-day outpourings of prog rock dinosaurs. “Even the dog’s made a run for it. Or it’s cowering somewhere with its paws over its ears.” Spike stalked to the doorway. “Xander!” “Spike!” came the happy retort as Xander bounded from the music room and down the corridor, into his arms. “You hear this? This is funny.” “Bloody awful.” “Funny,” Xander disagreed, nuzzling Spike and turning the hug into a slow dance. “Funny nice. Nice.” “Nice. This, not that,” Spike conceded, relaxing into Xander’s embrace and letting him control the gentle sway of their bodies. “…all that we seem, “I’m having a word with Moira,” Spike said firmly. “What’s your problem?” “Frankly… I’m shocked, Xander. Seeing as how you are with music, you listening to someone else’s choice…” “God, yes, that’s me being unfaithful in the worst way.” “That’s the worst way? Does that mean I can fool around with Angelus now, providing I don’t listen to Barry Manilow while we’re at it?” Spike teased, deliberately provocative and eager to find out how far he’d need to push Xander to get the kind of impassioned result he wanted. The vampire was a creature after William’s heart, and sod the consequences for the likes of Gavane and Angel. “You want to fool around with Angel? Sure,” Xander smiled a dangerous smile that made Spike tingle. “Be fun to check out just how flammable he is.” Which was quite enough to get Xander fervently kissed. “Didn’t mean it,” Spike swore between kisses. “No Angel.” “I know.” “Just you, just my Xander, my darling.” “There you go again: Big Bad morphs into the schmoop monster.” “Wha…? Schmoop monster?” “Schmoop monster,” Xander grinned, before grr-ing against Spike’s neck and making him squirm impossibly closer. Back to the dance as the track repeated, and Xander’s hand crept up to caress the back of Spike’s head. “It’s gone, you don’t have to do the sympathy stroke any more.” “Just thinking.” “Not about that bastard thing?” “When we got back to the attic after Sleat, that pain we felt… Pat said it was the chip firing a last time.” Spike nodded although he couldn’t recall a thing about that moment. “I knew it hurt, but I never imagined…” “You didn’t have to. Think I ever wanted you to share that?” Xander nuzzled Spike’s cheek, making his way back to this mouth. “You’re so strong. Brave. I love that about you.” “You’re right, I’m sodding marvellous, now give us a kiss then go and stop that song.” Spike got the kisses but Xander remained, and they danced until the track ended yet again. “I am…” Xander sighed, “Charlie Bucket.” Leaving a completely bemused Spike behind, Xander went to switch the song off, still sniggering over it, still rejoicing in the way Moira had thought of him, giving him the CD months before and sharing a joke he might not have ever got. Immortal. He wondered if she’d played that track herself today after leaving the message, and he knew he had to see her soon and ask. The shutters were open in the music room and Xander left his shady corner to soak up the warmth of the sunshine, concentrating hard on remembering Sleat, the atmosphere and the scents; if he clenched his fists he could still feel the texture of the grass and… His brain was hijacked as something that had been an unfocused minor niggle suddenly became wide-screen and Technicolor. “Fuck. No. Yes. Oh, God, oh… Oh, oh, ohohohohoh… Spike!” Spike was still standing where he’d been left puzzling out the Charlie Bucket. “Charlie Bucket?” “Come,” Xander demanded, practically vibrating with excitement and anticipation. “Usually require some notice for that.” “With me.” “Less notice, but still…” “Spike!” “Yes, love?” “Come with me.” “Want to tell me what’s wrong now?” “Fuck. Fuck.” Spike let Xander take his hand and rush him into the conservatory, to the back door, and he stopped in the last of the shadows as Xander opened the door and stepped outside. “Xander?” Xander turned back to him, holding out a hand. “Come on, Spike.” An eyebrow predictably kinked; Xander’s smile did nothing to lessen the intense expression as he beckoned. “Sunlight,” Spike pointed out. “Not recommended for the likes of me.” “But you’re going to take a chance for me, aren’t you?” “Xander…” “Aren’t you?” “I can’t.” “You can.” Spike took a step back rather than forward, truly peeved, beginning to give in to a more emotional reaction at the thought of Xander taunting him over this of all things. “C’mon, sweetheart, no one braver than you so…” “Fuck you, Xander! I was only playing around over Angel and you…” “Hey! This isn’t about that.” “Then what the fuck is it about?” “You’re immortal.” “Potentially, remember? Providing I don’t go sunbathing with the boyfriend.” “I saw something that wasn’t right,” Xander gestured back into the house. “And it didn’t properly register at first, beyond it not being right, but I finally figured it out, what I saw.” “Which was?” “You knocked open the study door…” “That again? I’ll fix the bloody…” “Spike. I was in there earlier today and…the shutters were open.” A few seconds to figure out the ramifications of that statement, and Spike sighed a resigned sigh. “No, love, I know what you’re hoping for, but…” “The shutters were open.” “I was shaded.” “The sun comes right into that room, part of you would have been in its direct line.” A few more seconds as Spike tried not to let Xander’s hope infect him. “Patrick told me my body wouldn’t be changed.” “What he actually said…” Xander thought back. “…was that restoration wouldn’t harm the demon and that you wouldn’t be made human.” “Same difference.” “No.” “You really want me to go up in flames to prove the point?” “You’re immortal,” Xander persisted. “I know. Immortal, so…all right,
we’re not looking at dust, just at being burnt to a frazzle and needing months
to recover.” “I don’t believe that will happen.” “Oh, right, what you believe.
And you’ve figured out how to bend the laws of nature to fit in with
your requirements, have you? How did I
miss that?” Spike snarkily enquired. “It’s not right that you came out of the ceremony with nothing, Spike.” “The ceremony wasn’t about what was right or wrong or due, other than
Repossession itself, and I got my fair share of luck with that, didn’t I?” “Did you?” “Yes.” The developing squabble
came to a halt. Spike paused, tilted his
head as he studied Xander, then smiled softly, spoke softly. “You.
Forever.” “Yeah, okay, but… Do I look
better at that angle?” He leant his head
to the side, matching Spike. “You do
this a lot.” “Do I? Maybe it comes from
growing up trying to see round Robbie.”
Xander laughed at that, could imagine it. “Inside, eh?” Spike coaxed. “No.” Xander held out his hand
again. “Come on, sweetheart. Look, we’re really near the pool in case I
have to extinguish you,” Xander half-joked. “That’s hardly the most persuasive argument.” “Please. You’ll know soon enough
whether I’m right or wrong.” “Fucking hell, Xander! This
isn’t for me, can’t you see?” Spike demanded, voice tinged with
desperation. “I’m a demon, and… You know it all, I shouldn’t have to spell it
out for you, it’s…it’s… Not
possible. It’s not possible.” Both hands were reaching for him now, and Spike squeezed his eyes
closed for a moment, trying to listen to his own protestations and deny Xander
this show of madness. The show that
began with him opening his eyes once more to stare at the hands that were
attempting to lure him to a horrible fate.
Xander’s fingers twitched, beckoning, and Spike had to deliberately hold
himself back, so natural was it for him to automatically trust and accommodate
his partner. “I wouldn’t risk you, Spike.” No, Xander wouldn’t risk him, Spike knew that. But this… The vampire felt his stance change, body become looser as it gave up
all resistance and took a first step forward, hands lifting toward Xander’s,
edging closer to the shaft of sunlight that separated them. An irrepressible shake set in as Spike
hesitated on the brink of direct light, his body gasping for air as if it was
alive and terrified, because he’d tried, hadn’t he? When they’d got back from Sunnydale and
walking in fire, and he’d thought maybe there was a chance, but…
His skin had smoked, ready to combust, as every law that governed his
kind dictated. He closed his eyes again because, as he’d had confirmed by a bunch of
psychopathic soldiers some time back, he couldn’t cope well with blindness and,
more than that, he didn’t want to feel his eyes popping in the flames as he… “Spike.” That’s it, talk to me, sweet
words, stop this insanity right now. “Spike.” Spike felt Xander’s hands envelop his, and it was impossible to discern
who was shaking harder. “Look at me.” As Spike forced himself to look it took a few mind-blowing seconds to
realise that he’d kept moving, that he had gone to Xander as opposed to Xander
having returned to him. That the
extraordinary sensation on his cool skin was the heat of the sun’s rays. Nothing like Sleat and the sun on his
temporarily human body, but sunshine on undead flesh. Terrifying.
No flames or smoke or pain, but…terrifying. Xander drew his shell-shocked partner further into the garden, and
Spike blinked against the brightness, gazing stiltedly around, this familiar
space strangely unfamiliar without the night’s gloom contrasting with silver-blue
moonlight. “I’m dreaming.” Hoarse words
finally escaped Spike. “Sunshine.” “Not dreaming, sweetheart,” Xander assured, voice breaking with
emotion. Spike slid himself into Xander’s arms and clung to him. “I’m dreaming.” “No.” Back to looking around, although without breaking an inch of contact
with Xander, and the shaking subsided, shudder by lessening shudder, as it
became real, as Spike ditched the denial and accepted what Xander believed was
his right, understood that this vampire would walk in the sun. Xander guided Spike to the bench and sat him down. “You okay?” “Are you?” Xander slid close and put his arm round Spike’s shoulders. “We both are. And…” Xander took a deep breath and giggled out some of the tension. “You let me talk you into this. Which one of us is the more insane?” They watched as Spike held out his hand, palm up, catching the rays and not burning. “Repossession.” “I think…it’s more than Repossession, Spike.” “What else could…” “I think it’s because you’ve been a good man; this is your reward.” Spike gave a highly cynical snort of laughter. “Don’t give me that nonsense. How many people have I killed?” “Probably not as many as you saved during the Srumanteshtak alone. That’s just one instance of who you’ve become.” “I’m a vampire, not a white-hat, I don’t want to be a bloody white-hat! I’m not retro-Angel, I have no wish to…” “It’s like you’ve been…” “Don’t you dare fucking say it, Xander!” “Redeemed.” “You little…!” “Just kidding. No redemption. Wickedly bad demon, full of grr and ouch and sexy wowness.” “Seriously.” “You have your fantasies,” Xander sighed. “I have mine.” “You’re winding me up, aren’t you?” Xander started to laugh and Spike flipped himself around, straddling Xander’s lap and grabbing handfuls of hair to keep the infuriating human in place while he was thoroughly kissed. “Took your mind off the obvious,” Xander explained, and he saw the moment when Spike once again realised he was in the sun. Another fortunate distraction. “Car.” “What? Whose?” Spike listened. “Jake’s.” Xander practically threw Spike aside in his enthusiasm. “You stay here, I’ll let them in.” Doubt swept over Xander’s face. “It is a ‘them’, isn’t it?” More listening, and after a nod from Spike, Xander was rushing into the house; Spike heard a familiar patter of feet on wooden flooring. “Snoopy dance,” he said to himself before peeling a splinter of wood from the bench and working it under the skin on the back of his hand. Thinking about vulnerability. Fallibility. Acceptance. Compassion. Thinking about the unconditional love of a human man, and knowing this demon had found all the redemption he’d ever need. Indoors, Xander had rushed through his private, or so he thought, celebration and dashed to the panel that controlled the shutters, gleefully stabbing buttons and resisting the urge to dance again as the house was flooded with daylight. Then a rush to the front
door, throwing it open just as “Xander, you don’t mind, do…” “Look,” he urged, “just…look.” “What am I looking
fo… Oh,” The vampire had wandered off down the garden, basking in the light and the warmth; occasionally his hands would come up to his face, sweep away unseen tears. “Isn’t it great?” Xander said, his own eyes filling again at the sight. “It’s…” The old friends hugged
and sniffled, and Xander looked over “You knew?” “I thought it over and came to this conclusion. Anything else would have been…unjust.” “I tried to tell Spike that!” “Hmm. I imagine you did.” Jake left them, taking a
stroll in pursuit of Spike, and after an extended and not-so-sniffly hug, Xander
and “Hello, Will.” “John,” Spike acknowledged, not Jake, and the past swelled up for a moment, enveloping him in a childhood’s growth alongside this man. “I got you something.” “Yeah?” One last wipe of his face and Spike turned. “What now? Not another of William’s relics?” “No.” Jake brought a small case from his pocket and handed it over. When Spike opened it he stared for a moment before breaking into laughter, removing the sunglasses and slipping them on. “In knowledge?” “In hope.” More hugs: Spike and
Jake, “You look good,” Xander admired. “Still feel a bit…shaky.” “First ever vampire with
sunstroke,” “Want to go inside?” “Sod off,” Spike snapped, to Xander’s delight, before manoeuvring to lay his head in Xander’s lap and holding back a satisfied purr as Xander began to caress his face. “This just a social call?” Xander fished, hoping for a little information regarding his friends’ collective future. “Or are we looking at some serious planning?” “Planning?” “ “ “Pat thought if we waited about a month, shuffled some work commitments…” “You’ve seen Pat?” Xander asked. “I visited him this morning.” Jake paused uncomfortably, picking at the grass. “I’ve made life very difficult for him in recent years. Decades. I had to make my peace.” Xander could imagine the futility of that approach. “He didn’t get it, did he?” “No.” “‘Cause… He loves you, I knew that before I knew…” Xander vaguely waved a hand. “…this.” “Which makes the way I behaved even worse.” “You couldn’t help that,”
Willow quietly reprimanded Jake, and Xander’s heart leapt because it wasn’t an
empty platitude: “The first time I met you,” Spike recalled, “you said something about all of us being Pat’s kids.” “That’s nothing compared to what I wanted to say.” “You knew it was me then?” “I’d know you anywhere. Whatever absurd thing you did to your hair.” “This is not absurd.” “I remember – you must have been about…fourteen – you plaiting a load of grass into your hair and making it stand out like… You looked like a – a dandelion seed head.” “I remember that!” Xander laughed and, shortly afterwards, Spike laughed too. “Upshot is, one month to make sure everything’s running smoothly at the Partnership, and we can all go.” “I went in this morning and they were talking about the Viking.” “I know,” Jake chuckled, “and he says he’s not going to change a thing.” “We’re buying a plane,” Spike told them. “Hiring would make more sense, unless you’re planning on…” “There you go, another one of you thinking like a bloody mortal. Red?” “Buy. Paint it MacDonald plaid.” “Good girl.” “So…” Xander was back to fishing. “Apart from “I spoke to Buffy again, and she said she’d spoken to you.” Deep, deeeeep breath. “Yeah. I can’t imagine how you explained what happened, but she was amazingly calm about this whole thing, happy for us. Dawn came on the phone and made a lot of girly noise, but that was the happy kind too, which I was expecting from her, but… Buffy was…Buffy. The best version of Buffy, the Buffy we had when we were in High School.” “One of the reasons I’m here is to ask you to go back to Sunnydale.” “Ah, you’re not serious, you know how I feel about that place.” “That proves you haven’t changed,” Spike murmured from his lap, and Xander had to grope around in his brain for the reference, but it clicked into place. Human plus Xander was still very much Xander. “Wills, unless it’s for Dawn’s wedding, I… Damn, you know I’ll say yes, don’t you? Whatever this is about.” “What this is about…” “Result!” Spike crowed, throwing his fists into the air and narrowly missing Xander’s gaping jaw. “You – wha… You… Seriously?” “Yes.” “It’s happening?” “Yes.” “She’s going?” “Yes.” “And this is where Xander Harris would have died from shock four days ago,” Xander narrated as he collapsed back into the grass, remaining there for only seconds before propping himself up on his elbows. “She didn’t tell me.” “Like you didn’t tell her.” “But…she could have, she knows…” “Does she?” “Two of a kind,” Spike interrupted. “Pussy-footing around one another…” “We’re not, we’re…” “I think I preferred it when you were at each other’s throats, at least it was entertaining.” “This is ridiculous. I’ll call her later. I will, and we’ll discuss everything. Like we used to.” Xander dropped flat and, once again, was up in seconds. “What about Dawn?” “She’s staying in Sunnydale with Craig until he finishes work, and then they’re moving to LA.” “Why not here? It’s safer here.” “Because she wants to be
near her sister,” “Of course you can.” Xander poked Spike and he mmmed his agreement. “We’re packing up the
house,” “Wedding date. We have a wedding date?” “You should ask Dawn. Or try talking to Craig without growling.” “Spike hasn’t…” “Who said anything about Spike?” Xander gave Spike another prod. “Did Angel mention any of this?” “Call got cut short, remember?” “No wonder they’re happy for us, they’re too preoccupied to be pissed!” Clouds masked the sun and Spike’s eyes flicked open beneath the smoky lenses; Xander chuckled at the disapproval and the pouting. “What’s funny?” “They pass. Clouds.” “I know that, I’m not thick.” “Just saying,” Xander said airily, chuckling again when the clouds passed and Spike sat up momentarily to tear off his t-shirt and expose more flesh to the sun’s rays, but putting a quick stop to the vampire as his hands went to his flies. “Aren’t you at all
concerned about the impervious to sunlight?” “Can you not do that?” Xander whinged and shifted. “New bits,” he explained to Willow. “You have new bits?” “Restored body, figure it out,” Xander grinned. “Wow. If I’d’ve known I’d’ve bought you a card. Many preputial returns,” was just about audible though the giggles. “Many? You want me tiered? Layered? Blooming like a flower every time I get horny?” Spike rubbed his head in Xander’s lap again and got thrown aside. “Hey!” “Drink?” Xander asked as he stood and stretched. Two nods and Xander began to walk back to the house; Jake caught him up. “You’re quiet,” Xander observed. “Am I?” “You’re… You are happy, aren’t you?” Jake smiled a soft, besotted smile. “I don’t think I’ve ever been happier.” Xander threw an arm around his brother and hugged. “That’s a relief. But not a surprise.” “We’re all invited to Pat and Beth’s on Sunday, will you and Spike…?” “Absolutely. And you and “I’m in love,” Jake admitted without hesitation. “Too soon perhaps, or helped along by what we went through, but… I’m afraid, Xander, but when something feels right, this right…” He shrugged within the hold. “Do you know how Jake turned, grabbing Xander’s hand as his arm dropped, keeping a hold as he called… “ Xander panicked for the
split second before he heard “Tell him that I do,” she shouted, bouncing ecstatically. “I think she likes me,” Jake grinned at Xander and, seeing the patented Harris laser stare, knew that if he got past the pool without being thrown in it would be yet one more miracle in a miraculous week. Spike had stopped “Who or what the hell is Charlie Bucket?” “Aw, Xander loved that
movie. Don’t you remember Willy Wonka
and the Chocolate Factory?” Spike shook
his head, and “What was Xander’s favourite bit of it?” “The songs, obviously. And…favourite favourite moment had to be right at the end, we all loved the end. Charlie Bucket comes from a poverty-stricken family, and after Willy Wonka has given Charlie the factory and a whole new wonderful life, Wonka says, ‘Charlie, don't forget what happened to the man who suddenly got everything he'd ever wished for.’ Charlie says, ‘What happened?’, and Willy Wonka tells him…” “He lived happily ever after,” Spike guessed, smiling at the last glimpse of Xander as he disappeared into the house. “See. You do know the movie. Of course, we know now that it’s semi-factual, and the Oompa Loompas were actually displaced Tusmosian demons…” … “Is Jay okay?” Xander
asked “He seems to be. I know he was a bit fragile when he got back from seeing Pat, but he’s been fine this afternoon.” “I, umm… Kinda fell to pieces last night, Pat already had, maybe we’re all due for it.” “That was me this
morning, I just looked at the picture I have of “I don’t want to sound like I’m prying…” “Pry.” “Are you okay together in a…comforting way? When you’re both wrung out like that…” “You want to know if we fell into one another’s arms and did nothing but cuddle for a whole hour?” “No, I don’t mean…” “’Cause we did.” “Oh.” A wide smile lit Xander’s face. “That’s all I want to know. Other than the rest of the stuff I want to know.” “What else?” “Did you mean it? About loving him? ‘Cause I don’t think he’s up to being fooled around with.” “I think he should be the first to hear the serious answer to that.” “Okay.” “But – ‘how the hell!’
aside – yes. You don’t know that,” Xander swerved and went back to preparing their drinks. “I know nothing. Nada. Zilch. And I feel like my heart is going to burst with what I don’t know.” “Xander…” “Hmmm?” “Will you be really mad if I tell you that I told Giles about this? Giles, in confidence, not the Council. ‘Cause if you’re going to be really mad I won’t tell you.” Xander considered that
and, surprisingly, the huffy, puffy, mad and touchy, over-protective Xander he
and “Goes two ways: firstly, I wouldn’t mind because this is Giles, and Giles is…well…Giles; secondly, I wouldn’t mind, because…what can he do about it?” “What makes you think he’d want to do anything?” “I, uh… Have no logical answer. The illogical ones don’t bear thinking about.” “He’s coming over to see us all.” “Not because of what happened to us?” “Some. He wants to see for himself that we’re okay; it’ll be quite painless, all very much stuffy Englishman not making a fuss, you’ll see. But he can also use it as an excuse to not make a fuss over Buffy and Angel, and not make a fuss over Dawn and Craig.” “He met our folks when I
was in hospital, didn’t he?” “Very well. They had a common concern right then, but even without the son-figure in a coma I can see them being friends.” “I don’t know why I should feel so anxious about them hitting it off. Though I do know I’d hate it if there were any old family versus new family issues. Because…” “No.” “No?” “No,” “Do.” “Guess what I remembered.” “This isn’t one of those ‘how to kill people without leaving a mark’ things, is it?” Xander asked warily. “No,” Spike smirked. He moved a little closer to Xander and spoke confidentially. “The first person I ever kissed was your little brother.” “Jake?” “John,” Spike automatically corrected. “You two-timing bastard,” Xander grinned. “I was all of thirteen, and he made the mistake of standing still long enough for this curious little sod to grab him.” “What happened?” “My test subject kneed me in the nuts and told me if I tried it again he’d remove them.” Xander’s grin broke into a laugh. “He was always kinda…” “Straight.” “Straight, yes.” The giggles continued until Xander found himself distracted by the barely visible flush of colour on Spike’s skin. “Wonder if you’ll tan,” he said as his fingers trailed over Spike’s arm. “Wonder,” he added leadingly, “if it’ll be all over.” “Not planning on grilling the tackle. Going to be the first vampire with tan lines.” “Tan lines are sexy.” “Mmm.” “Think I’ll buy you a thong. No point in disguising all your assets.” “You mean you want me accessible: tug that scrap of material aside and you’re in.” “That wasn’t… Of course, now you’ve said that…” “Going to make sunbathing on my front a lot more hazardous.” “Or a lot more fun.” “Lovely thought, isn’t it, Xan? You fucking me in the sunshine.” “You fucking me in the sunshine.” “No, you’ll fuck me, then I don’t have to make any effort. I’ll just lie there, taking your prick, taking the sun. Not having to lift a finger ‘cause I know I’ll come as soon as I feel your spunk warming my innards and getting me as hot inside as out.” Out of the corner of his eye, Spike saw Xander adjust himself, and he reached out to lay an unmoving but proprietary hand over the growing erection. “Heaven.” … “That’s exactly how I
remember her,” he told “Me too. Funny, seeing a feeling as a person. But she’s…”
“She’ll always be inside us.” “You, I understand. Not me. I thought she’d be there for the ceremony, then go to her family.” “You are family.” “Not directly, not like…” “You’re family.” Jake turned and looped his arms around “And that’s a completely unbiased opinion. Wonder what you’ll be saying when you really know me.” “I’ll be saying… Fancy a gaudy, glitzy, overblown, public – human – declaration of forever?” With a giggle, “I meant it,” she admitted, dipping her head shyly. “You know, you don’t have to ask.” He went with her, bowing to press kisses into her hair, onto her temple, cheek, persuading her head to turn so their lips could meet. “You’re going to say yes,” he murmured. “Uh-huh.” “No. It’ll only give them ideas and…loud, have you heard…” “I’ve heard. My bedroom in Sunnydale: next to theirs.” The two eloquently grimaced at one another. More kisses. “We tell them about the yes, and we go.” “Go because we’re imposing, not…” “No, not… Because we’re imposing, yes. So…” “Let’s…” “It would be easier if you took your hand…” “Ah, sorry. Sorry.” “Don’t be sorry, remember where it goes for later.” … Spike casually removed
his hand as he heard footsteps approaching, ceding to Xander’s ridiculous human
sensibilities about being publicly groped.
Xander jumped up and started to fetch garden chairs but “We won’t stop, Xander, I…” “Don’t feel you have to go.” “We’re imposing,” “Proving that spontaneity doesn’t just happen,” Spike said with an absolutely straight face. Jake laughed and “Okay, we’re leaving to avoid watching you two paw one another.” “We’re not…!” “…as subtle as you think,” Willow finished with a flourish, not actually having witnessed a moment’s pawing but knowing with these two it was a safe bet. Xander gave up on further protestations and nodded sheepishly. “We’ll see you before you go back to Sunnydale?” “Sunday,” Jake reminded him, ruining that particular line of fishing. “Ah, yeah. Yeah. Sunday. All together on Sunday, one big happy family. All together.” “So, Sunnydale, two weeks time.” “We’ll get there for the Friday night.” “Thank you. And then again, two weeks after that.” “I didn’t agree to… Okay. But what is the two weeks after that for?” “Didn’t I mention
it? You’re helping me move here. Not here precisely, as in…” With a squeak that was
the air being crushed out of her, “How d’you manage that?” Spike asked Jake. “I said, ‘ “Yes, yes, yes!” “You’re going to be fifteen minutes away.” Xander was back to sniffling. “Fucking hell, I am so happy today, I’m going to…” “Pull yourself together and shag me senseless?” Spike suggested. Xander laughed and
finally released “Easy decision?” Spike asked
as “From this – our – side of it, very. I thought twice about leaving Sunnydale but… Sunnydale has a new slayer, a new watcher, and we…” She smiled over at Jake. “We all have new lives.” “The demon community in this place is growing all the time, and the newcomers are invariably trouble,” Spike said, heading in a very obvious direction. “The next beastie on the way is allegedly the size of an elephant and, however much I’m looking forward to beating the living daylights out of the bugger, I could do with some decent intelligence rather than the rambling twaddle I usually have to work with.” “I’d love to help, it’ll be…just like the old days.” “Hey, I’m no bloody slayer, and… Conditions, Red: no long blonde wig, no implants…” “Scoobies reunited!” And all Jake could do was comfortingly pat Xander’s back as he let out a heartfelt groan. … Xander saw their friends out, but it was a while before he rejoined Spike outside; the vampire did a double-take when he saw the young man’s face: Xander looked as if he’d been hit by a metaphorical ton of bricks. “Are you all right, love?” “Uh…think so. I’ve just spoken to Buffy, and… I’m probably in shock,” Xander admitted. Spike slapped the bench beside him and Xander dropped onto it. “Good gossip, I take it?” “I, um… Yeah.” “What made up her mind about the move?” “Spike… You are so not going to believe this.” “The old man finally getting something right? True enough.” Xander fell into thought. Spike sighed and waited. “I can’t… And you will never believe this.” “You might have mentioned that. Any chance we can skip the entrée and move onto the main course?” “Yeah, sorry, I
just…” Xander was grinning now, even as he incredulously shook his head. “She couldn’t say this stuff to “Am I going to have to beat it out of you?” “She thanked us,” Xander said simply, turning in his seat to face Spike. “She thanked us and was very specific about me passing that on to you. She thanked us.” “For…?” “Okay. She said she’d thought about what I said to her – about keeping herself on the outside – and she thought about what you said to her when you were there last, although she didn’t tell me what that was and…going by your expression you’re not going to either. She said she’d got to the point where she was doubting not only her trust in Angel, but her trust in her own judgement, so…she decided to trust us instead.” Spike finally understood the stunned look: he felt pretty stunned himself. “She said that? Trusted us over them?” “When we were there on my birthday she saw something she wanted. She envied us and wanted what we had.” “Ah.” Spike reached out and took Xander’s hand, bringing it up to kiss the knuckles. “Can’t blame her for that.” “Anyhow, she did some thinking, decided she seriously wanted to make a go of things with Angel, and…went for it.” “‘It’ being?” “The bite,” Xander said with awe. “Buffy went for the bite.” Spike’s jaw dropped open. Xander nodded. “The slayer? Went for the bite?” “Yuh.” “The slayer? The slayer?” Xander nodded again. “The slayer went for— Well, bugger me.” “She said she felt a connection that she’d been looking for since… Angel bit her once before, a long time ago, when he was ill and only a slayer’s blood would save his life. That was as good as him claiming her, wasn’t it? No wonder she couldn’t get past him.” “Bugger, bugger, bugger.” “I kept that thought to
myself you’ll be pleased to know, ‘cause she was telling me how she’d figured
it all out, that the bite didn’t have to be about addiction and corruption,
but…connection. If you’re with a vampire
it’s the purest connection.” Xander’s
eyes misted over. “She knew I’d
understand, that’s why she wanted to tell me herself rather than pass a message
through “Must’ve been hard for her to tell you nevertheless.” “I know, I know that. God, Spike, you should have heard her, she’s so happy, I can’t remember the last time I heard her like that.” Xander mopped up and laughed at himself. “I am going to cry buckets at Dawnie’s wedding y’know. There was a time I couldn’t start and now I can’t stop. Today I’m a frikkin’ waterfall.” Spike caught the last escaping tear on this thumb and licked it off. “You think I’m okay? The person I’ve become?” “Wonderful person,” Spike told him sincerely. “Do I embarrass you?” “No. But it might be quite jolly if you tried.” They leant in and kissed. “You’re warm, Spike. Your lips.” He pressed his nose against Spike’s. “That’s different.” “Cooling now: sun’s going down. There’s always tomorrow, love, and it’ll be a nice challenge to see just how hot I can get.” “Er…yeah…let’s do that. Get you hot. Really hot.” Kisses. “Umm…where was I?” Xander asked distractedly. “Bite.” Lust flared in the brown eyes. “Yeah. Can we finish this conversation…” “Now.” “You hate me.” “I love every inch of you.” Xander took a deep breath that did nothing to quell his growing desire. “She was the one who initiated the bite, obviously, because he would have been like you just then, with ‘the slayer, the slayer, nuh-uh’, never thinking that she’d want to go there, so when she did, and he refused, she felt so much better.” “They’re solid, how could she – they – doubt it?” “Maybe it’s been easier for us to see that, being on the outside.” “So…?” “She’s saying ‘bite me’, and he’s saying ‘no’, and then she uses the Spike and Xander argument, and even if he’d never admit to it in a million years we know he envies us.” “She got her way.” “Then – this is great, you’ll love this – then he did something, the ultimate show of reciprocal trust from a big, broody, macho vamp like Angel.” Xander waited expectantly for Spike to figure it out, and enjoyed the cartoon blink when Spike got there. “He purred, Angelus purred?” “He purred. For Buffy. And the whole sex/bite/purr was enough. Connection made, trust restored, LA here she comes!” “That’s incredible.” “I may have missed forty-eight hours of intense discussion out of the story ‘cause my version is better, but it is, isn’t it?” “Incredible.” “Angel must have been ecstatic and you didn’t let him tell you, you jerk.” “You didn’t let me stay on the phone long enough, you were more concerned with…” “Us, yeah, I know. Okay, not so much a jerk.” Xander gave Spike a few harmless kisses by way of an apology, and in seconds they were a tangle of limbs and hardening parts, and the bench was proving incredibly uncomfortable. “You fancy a little sex/bite/purr of your own, sexy, bitey, purry guy?” Spike made a show of great thought. “I really think sexy, bitey, purry guy could handle some of that.”
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