Family Bonds
by
Kimalis
Part Forty-Six
In the end Xander couldn’t have said what the time did, only that there just wasn’t ever going to be enough time when Spike held him, when he whispered reassurances and tried his damnedest to kiss away the unease. That time went too fast and it always would. On the other hand, the wait for the demon seemed interminable and Xander wondered if someone had slowed down time just to torture him. Still, it was too soon that Buffy was ordering everyone into position and Willow and Tara were switching papers, now chanting over the cemetery map.
Buffy’s voice was carrying across to Xander, sounding partly urgent, partly cautious. He ignored her and listened only to Spike’s soft voice in his ear.
“Come on mate, let’s get it all over with yeah?”
Xander squeezed him once more then reluctantly let go. “You don’t touch that thing okay? You let Buffy take care of it and you do not touch it again.”
“Giving me orders Harris?” Spike asked with an amused flick of his eyebrow.
“Yes, so you damn well do what you’re told.”
“You trying to get me all hot and bothered before a fight love? Cause you’re going the right way about it. Love it when you’re all forceful and domineering.”
“Spike now is so not the time.” Xander tried to hold onto his serious face, but the over the top lascivious expression Spike had was wearing him down and he had to smile at the attempt to keep him calm.
Spike laughed, then leaned in and kissed him. “Love you Xander even when you’re crazy.”
“No!” Xander pushed him away. “Mate. Love. Harris. Dickhead. Anything, but Xander.” He pointed at Spike. “You call me Xander now and I know you’re worried and we’re all in trouble.”
Spike sighed. “Now you’re just delaying mate.”
“Spike, Xander we really must be getting along now,” Giles interrupted.
“Yeah okay G-man, we’re coming.” Xander didn’t say anything else to Spike, just looked at him sternly and pointed a warning finger.
Spike snorted. “I won’t touch it. Dickhead.”
~*~*~*~*~
Everyone collected their weapons, Buffy taking a few practise swings and jabs with hers. Willow and Tara were set up on the top of a rather large grave, the cemetery map spread out between them. Giles and Anya moved towards Xander, and Buffy drew back to the centre of the clearing to wait for the Fewoi.
“Off you go Harris, we’ve all got your back.”
“I hope someone’s got yours too Bleachie.”
Spike looked over his shoulder at Buffy and gave a wry smile. “You never know, miracles could happen.”
“It’s just about at the gates guys,” Willow called. “Time to move.”
Without another word, Xander turned and headed back down the path. He was going to be waiting around on the path, halfway between the clearing and the gate. Tara and Willow would monitor the Fewoi’s movements and, if necessary, call out directions to him. Xander’s now sensitive hearing would easily pick them up, certainly not as well as Spike’s would have, but enough to give him a warning should the demon change tack. Giles and Anya would be off the side of the path, concealed by both the trees and the wards, both armed with the wooden weapons.
As they walked, a thought pushed its way into Xander’s mind and refused to leave; he stopped dead. “Anya, what the hell are you doing? You shouldn’t be in this, you’re still hurt.”
Giles sighed. “And we all said that same thing Xander, but Anya is quite a determined woman as I’m sure you well know.”
“Anya?”
“Are you going to make me wait in the car Xander? Or are we going to get in position before this thing sneaks up on us?”
“Um, wait in the car?” he said hopefully.
“Pfft.” Anya turned her back on him and continued to their starting point.
No point arguing with her; though if anything went wrong he would do his best to draw it away from her. Xander tried not to panic as Giles and Anya fell back into the cover of the trees positioning themselves between Xander and the clearing. He stood quietly in the centre of the path, willing his heart to stop pounding in his ears so he would be able to hear Willow’s voice. He peered through the dark and could barely make out the clearing where he knew Spike was waiting.
Xander was to wait on the path until he could hear the Fewoi behind him. It may be a stalker and able to keep out of sight, but if it was anything like the last one it’s sheer size would not allow it to move silently. They were counting on a lot of ‘ifs’. It would all work if the Fewoi didn’t detect Giles and Anya, if it didn’t make a sudden attack, if it still planned to finish Xander’s incomplete claim as opposed to just killing him outright. So many more ‘ifs’ that Xander pushed to the back of his mind. It was crowded enough in there already and he needed to focus on the sounds around him.
Xander faintly heard Tara’s voice. “Sixty feet away, give or take.” He knew that he would hear it soon but was to wait until its steps were clear. Off to his side he could hear Giles’ heavy breathing and Anya’s footsteps as she shuffled nervously. “Forty feet” Willow’s voice was just a vague whisper.
Behind him a loud cracking sound rang out. A snapped branched, but not from Giles or Anya. Xander strained to hear. And there it was, the regular crunching pace of a heavy body moving through the undergrowth off to the side of the path. Xander turned and began walking slowly, putting his feet down carefully so as to be able to hear the Fewoi. He registered the movements of Giles and Anya slightly ahead of him and keeping pace.
Xander kept his steps even and calm. He stopped occasionally and, as expected, the steps behind him also stopped. Willow’s voice, just a tiny bit clearer came to him, “Twenty-five feet and its holding that gap.” Twenty five feet, nothing in it but a few long strides. If that thing started running it could be on him in seconds. Xander hoped to God that it behaved the same as the first demon had done. Nice and predictable, that’s how he liked his bait scenarios.
Along a gentle curve in the path and Xander could clearly see the open space where Spike and Buffy were waiting in the shadows. Not far now. He paused again and after one particularly loud splitting sound, the steps behind him quietened too. Walking again and there it went, good old predictable Fewoi so far.
Nearly at the clearing and the warm feeling that started in the centre of his belly and spread down to the tips of his fingers told him Spike was near. He felt an immediate rush of relief.
As planned, Xander stepped into the clearing and kept his back to the demon. This was a new burial section, the ground covered with smooth green lawn and surrounded on one side by older graves and on the other three by thick trees and low bushes, not yet landscaped. He looked around locating Buffy and Spike off to his sides and heard the Fewoi stop too. Everything was quiet, Xander knew Giles and Anya had stilled, Willow and Tara had packed up their equipment and moved back to a safe distance.
It felt like so much longer but in reality, from start to finish, the whole thing must have happened in no more than half a minute. The demon burst out of the trees and screeched at Xander with its crackling voice that seemed to spark through the air.
“YOU WILL BE FEWOI.”
Xander spun around to face it. Ah, yes, that was what he’d been hoping for. This was what the first had done. A bit of showy stuff with the power, a bit of yelling then the white light to claim him. The Fewoi’s hand shifted and that was when Xander noticed it was carrying a short staff. Oh this was new and unexpected. This may be a problem.
The Fewoi touched a hand to its chest, triggering the blue electrical charge that this time crawled over its body and channelled into the staff in its hand. The end of the staff glowed blue for a moment before the Fewoi touched it to the ground and a sharp burst of power shot from the end, running along the ground and into the trees near to where Anya stood. Xander heard a short shriek and the unmistakable sound of a body falling. No, this was not the plan. There was no Fewoi weapon in their plan. There was no injured Anya in their plan.
Off to Xander’s right Giles was emerging from the trees, intent on getting across the clearing to check on Anya. The Fewoi jerked its arm around and another blue streak was shooting its way across the ground towards the watcher.
“Giles move!” Buffy’s voice rang out as she charged at Giles knocking him out of the way of the blast and dodging a second burst herself.
~*~*~*~*~
Xander stood frozen, watching the threads of their plan unravelling before him. Their research said the Fewoi wouldn’t attack a protected target, so it was taking out the protection. Anya and Giles down because the Fewoi knew they were there, it would know Buffy and Spike were there; Willow and Tara too. Now he knew someone was messing with him because real time did not run this slowly. Giles was rolling to the ground where Buffy had knocked him and now she was yelling something to Xander while veins of what looked like blue lightening arced towards him from the Fewoi’s weapon.
Useless, their chunks of wood would be useless against this. Xander watched fascinated as the energy seemed to zigzag its way towards him. He could hear people shouting, could feel the air begin to buzz and his skin prickle as it got closer. Beyond the blue light, he saw Buffy holding her weapon like a javelin and charging the Fewoi, saw Giles jump to his feet and run after his slayer, saw Anya also running from the trees, her weapon raised. It was Spike’s sharp yell of his name that snapped him out of the daze and as Xander turned taking a couple of steps to run, he felt a hard body slam into him, an elbow connecting with his jaw, a knee in his gut and he was falling. No, not falling, crashing to the ground, his head hitting the grass hard, all the breath knocked out of him and various body parts sang with the pain of the impacts.
He registered a long loud screeching sound and a bright burst of light as he rolled over the grass. When he came to a stop, all was silent and Xander was lying flat on his back on the grass, Spike half over him. His head was spinning, his jaw felt like it had been hit with the front end of a train and he was sure he would never be able to put food in his stomach again.
“God damn it Xander, you didn’t bloody move.” Spike rolled off him, taking needless heavy breaths. This along with Spike’s use of his name told Xander how close he’d just come to being fried himself this time.
Xander tried to turn over and stand up but groaned with the pain and lay still. When he opened his eyes, Spike was leaning over him and running his hands over Xander’s body.
“You okay love? Did I hurt you?”
Xander grabbed Spike’s hands and stilled them. “Yeah you did, but it’s better than what that thing would have done.”
Spike carefully helped Xander sit up then knelt beside him. “Harris you just stood there. Fuck love, I thought it was going to get you.” Spike gingerly wrapped his arms around Xander, quickly letting go when Xander’s body tensed.
“Spike you’re hurting me, ease up a bit okay?” Xander winced and rubbed at his jaw, then pulled his shirt up to check his stomach. “Damn you have a mean right elbow.”
Xander looked at Spike, fully expecting a cutting remark about his nancyish complaining or his idiotic standing still in the face of danger again, but was not prepared for the look of alarmed comprehension on Spike’s face.
“What is it Spike? What?” Xander looked around, seeing everyone was okay but also watching him and Spike with wary distrust.
Very carefully Spike reached up and gripped Xander’s aching jaw, squeezing gently but with enough pressure to make Xander pull away.
“Ow, what the hell Spike? You’re hur-.”
Spike said nothing but nodded.
“You hurt me,” Xander whispered. “You hurt me and you’re okay.”
Another nod.
“But maybe it’s just cause you were protecting me. Maybe that doesn’t count, cause you didn’t mean to.”
Spike slowly and deliberately reached out and pinched a large fold of skin on Xander’s arm, twisting it for good measure
“Ow,” Xander snatched his arm away and stared at Spike in wonder. “Oh.” No chip. Unchipped vampire. Spike could hurt him, could hit him, knock him to the ground, almost break his body parts and there was no chip reining him in. That meant that Spike could-. A slow dawning smile began on Xander’s face as his mind led him into that next thought.
Spike’s eyes met his then drifted down, his gaze raking over the side of Xander’s throat. Spike’s tongue snaked out and wet his lip and Xander’s hand unconsciously stroked at the pulse point on his neck. This was not a ‘what if’ or an’ if only’ anymore. Xander felt the enormous burst of adrenaline flow though him as he understood exactly what this meant for them both. “We need to go home Spike. Now.”
“Yeah love I think we do. Let me just-.” Spike leaned down, drawn to that spot on Xander’s neck, pressing his lips in a light kiss; a shiver ran through both of them.
The girls’ voices rang out in shouts of warning but Xander ignored them completely. Before he could even take in another breath, there was a scream and a shout and Spike was knocked away from him.
“Xander run,” Buffy shouted.
Xander jumped to his feet, unsure of what he was meant to be running from until he took in the scene in front of him. Buffy had Spike on the ground and a stake raised over her shoulder, Spike was fighting to push her off.
“Buffy. No!” Xander ran, sprinted and dived. One hand grabbed Buffy’s wrist, the other wrapped around her waist and he tackled her to the ground, the stake rolling away. Spike got to his feet, picked up the stake and hurled it away into the trees.
“Get off me.” Buffy twisted and bucked, pulling her arm free and tipping Xander to the ground. She stood over him looking angry and confused. “Xander his chip isn’t working, he was about to bite you.”
“I wasn’t going to bite him, you stupid bint.” Spike reached down to help Xander up but was again knocked away by a flying leap from Buffy.
“You keep away from him Spike.” She landed several solid punches to Spike’s face and head before she herself was thrown viciously away.
Spike leapt to his feet, growling and flashing golden eyes from his demon’s face. He charged her, slamming a fist into her face and sending her stumbling backwards.
“Buffy stop it!” Xander found his feet again and ran to Spike, grabbing his arm and stopping another blow. “No Spike, please don’t.”
Spike snarled and shook him off. “Let go of me Xander, the slayer has had it coming.”
“It’s just the spell affecting her Spike, please stop.”
“Xander it is not the spell, I haven’t been near you until now.” Buffy took hold of Xander and tried to push him away. “You need to get away from him, he’s unchipped.”
“Get your hands off him slayer.”
At Spike’s possessive and infuriated growl, Xander summoned as much of his new strength as he was able. He was never going to be a match for Buffy but he had to get her off him before this went too far. He slapped her arms and shoved her shoulders, not managing to knock her down but she lost her grip on him and staggered a few steps back.
Xander chanced a look at the rest of his friends. They stood anxiously watching but none were willing to get between a slayer and a now unchipped vampire. “Giles help me out here will you? Please?” he called.
Buffy and Spike were staring daggers at each other over and around Xander, neither, however was prepared to just toss him out of the way.
~*~*~*~*~
Giles stood unmoving, debating with himself. If he did nothing Xander would most likely be hurt, trying to separate them. Stepping in would appear that he was condoning the preservation of an unrestrained vampire. It was Xander’s dogged determination at this moment, and the images Giles now had of a mature, confident, well-liked Xander, an as-good-as-consort Xander, that made up his mind. They would find a way to sort this out, he would not let Xander down again.
“Buffy that’s quite enough,” Giles shouted, running for his slayer and pulling her back.
“Giles, his chip.” Buffy stared at her watcher, not understanding what was going on. “We can’t let him-.”
“We can and we will Buffy. We have to trust Xander.”
“Giles, you hate Spike, he’s a fully operational vampire, he was going to bite Xander and you’re protecting him.”
“No, I’m protecting Xander. He is very close to being Spike’s full consort. If you hurt Spike you have no idea what that will do to Xander, you may well kill him too.” Giles also knew that at some point, Xander would welcome Spike’s bite, but thought it best not to raise that issue until Buffy had calmed. She was only doing what a slayer was expected to do, but now she needed to push that aside and do as a friend should. With a last glance at Xander and Spike, Giles led his slayer away.
~*~*~*~*~
Xander, satisfied and surprisingly impressed with Giles' action, turned to Spike and gripped his arms. “Spike, please calm down.” Spike continued to snarl in Buffy’s direction until Xander shook him. “Damn it Spike, look at me.”
Spike turned his yellow eyes on Xander and he immediately felt a lurch in his stomach; a combination of intense arousal and, not so much fear, but more appreciation for the demon’s power. “Spike you promised me you wouldn’t hurt them.”
“Bloody hell, Harris. You have to remember that now?”
“Hey, a promise is a promise. Unless that chip was the only thing stopping you from breaking it?”
Spike looked from Xander to his friends. The witches were standing behind the watcher, guarded expressions on their faces. The slayer had her arms folded and was working on that pursed up, self-righteous mouth she did. Xander’s ex was standing there bold as brass with a huge grin on her face. Back to his boy again and Spike saw the love and trust, tinged with a touch of fear, and underneath all that, pure lust.
Spike gave a low growl of frustration. “No love. I meant it. I won’t hurt them.”
Before Spike could stop him, Xander was slamming his mouth against Spike’s, his tongue running over and down the long fangs, his hands exploring the demon face. Spike felt the hard bulge against his own and let Xander have his way. It was a show of trust to his friends that he could never have had enough words to explain quite as well.
~*~*~*~*~
Giles gathered the girls together, calling Anya several times and walked them back to the car. There would be considerable fallout to deal with, but now was certainly not the time.
Part Forty-Seven
When Xander finally came up for air they were completely alone; Giles and the girls were long gone. “I guess they weren’t gonna stick around to find out if you keep your promises huh?”
“Love, I don’t think you understand quite what you just did.” Spike held Xander’s face. “Look at me.”
“I have been,” Xander smiled. “Why do you think I’m so hard?”
“Look again, but through their eyes.”
Xander stared into the face that he loved as much as the human one. “They saw me kissing the man I am in love with. They need to get used to it sometime.”
“No, that’s what it was to you. What they saw was you fighting off your best friend to protect a vampire. They saw you side with, and put complete trust in an evil, soulless, unchipped demon rather than them. They’re going to be a mite confused and upset love.”
“I guess you’re right. But you know what? As selfish as it might sound, I just don’t care right now. In fact that’s the last thing on my mind at this moment.”
“And enlighten me love. What exactly is on your mind?” Spike smirked at him.
The combination of the typically Spike expression coming from his demon’s face sent a jolt through Xander, who groaned. “Can we just go home now? Cause judging by that expression, the exact same thing is on your mind.”
“I think that’d be best. I have a plan and this isn’t the place for it.” Spike located and picked up his weapon, handed Xander’s back and together they made for the path back to the gate.
~*~*~*~*~
Before they left the area, Xander stopped; the Fewoi’s carcass lay not too far away, just near the edge of the clearing. He waved a hand at it. “Should we maybe do something with that?”
“No love. The scavengers’ll come in as soon as we leave, and if they don’t want it, the groundskeeper’ll take care of it. Come on love, just leave it be.”
Spike tried to drag Xander away but he held his ground.
“It was the Fewoi wasn’t it? Last week?” Xander ran his hands through Spike’s hair and stared hard as though he could see inside Spike’s head.
Spike’s demon face slipped away. “Had to be, mate. That thing fried out everything it touched.”
“I don’t know whether I want to kick it or thank it. This one tried to kill us all, but the other one made you whole again, took away that god-awful thing.”
“Yeah love that is a hell of a dilemma alright.” Spike snatched at his hand and tugged him away from the demon. “But it’s not going to get any deader if you kick it and it’s not going to appreciate your thanks. Meanwhile there is somewhere else we need to be and something else we need to be doing.”
Xander turned a bright smile on Spike and grabbed his hips, pulling them him closer. “You need to be doing me.” He kissed Spike slowly and gently circled their hips together. “You’re gonna take me home, tear off my clothes and have your evil, chip-free way with me.”
Spike pressed his face into Xander’s neck, licking and sucking at the soft skin that lay over the pulsing vein. “Just here love. This is where I’m going to bite you.” His blunt teeth nipped at the site. “When I’m coming inside you, I’ll be in you here too.”
Xander felt that promise shoot straight to his groin. He knew that the wave of lust surging through him would be an almost tangible thing to Spike’s enhanced senses.
“Come on love we’ve got to get out of here. The way you smell now, you’ll attract every bloody demon in the town.”
They raced back through the cemetery to the car. Xander was still a little tender but both his jaw and his stomach were definitely improving by the minute and he was easily able to keep up with Spike. The atmosphere in the car was heated to say the least. Spike left his seat belt dangling in favour of attaching himself to Xander’s neck, one hand resting over the bulge in his jeans. Xander resisted the urge to pull the car over several times on the way home and did his damnedest to concentrate on the road. No mean feat when Spike was apparently trying to lick and kiss his way through Xander’s throat.
~*~*~*~*~
Xander was half dragged up the stairs, laughing as Spike impatiently shoved his hands into Xander’s pockets to pull out the keys. Inside, Spike slammed the door, dropped the keys to the floor and threw his coat in the general direction of somewhere. Xander was pulling his own jacket off and dropped it where he stood. Before it had even hit the floor Spike had slammed himself against Xander, his hands and mouth everywhere at once as he walked them both back into the bedroom.
At the edge of the bed, Spike stopped and seemingly without removing his lips from Xander’s body for any length of time, quickly removed Xander’s shoes and clothes. Just as deftly, Xander stripped Spike and without knowing exactly who pushed who, or whether they had fallen together, both were laying across the mattress arms, legs and tongues tangled.
Several twists and rolls later, Xander found himself pinned under Spike. His hands were lifted above his head and held tight in Spike’s firm grip. Cool wet lips and tongue were at his mouth, his neck, across his chest, at his nipples. Xander panted and pushed himself up against Spike, locking his legs around the slim waist and rocking their bodies together. He tipped his head back and arched his body up to Spike, their hard cocks sliding against each other.
There was no time for gentle seduction, exploring caresses or tender moments. There was the one single thought that they both shared- bite and claim. The desperation and need flowed easily through their bond and neither could tell whose thoughts were foremost. It urged them on and heightened the lust, their heads filled with the scents and tastes, the textures and sounds but they could not distinguish one from the other and it became like a delicious but frantic white noise.
Spike pulled away and Xander found himself flipped over and up on his knees, his hands gripping the headboard. His knuckles whitened and he dropped his forehead to his arms and Spike fell in behind him and a cold wet finger forced its way inside. Xander arched his back and spread his legs, his ass opened wide for Spike but he wanted more and pushed himself back, fucking himself on Spike’s finger. He heard Spike’s other hand locating and squeezing out the lube and a second finger worked its way inside him.
Xander’s cock throbbed and leaked and he could smell the sex in the air. He ached for relief but knew if he touched himself he would come before he even got a firm grip. There were sounds of pleasure, moaning, grunts, almost whimpers but Xander couldn’t have said who they came from. He could scent Spike’s arousal and it mixed with his own creating an aphrodisiac like no other.
Spike licked and nipped his way up Xander’s side. His other hand wrapped around Xander’s throat and pulled his head back and Xander found his mouth full of his vampire. He panted and groaned into Spike’s rough kisses, his hips thrusting back and his tongue thrusting forward. He could feel the hard, wet slide of Spike’s cock against his side and reached down with one hand to swipe the trickles from first Spike’s and then his own erection. He wrenched his mouth away, shoved his wet fingers into Spike’s mouth, letting Spike lick and suck the fluids away, then slammed their lips back together, the combined tastes sliding over his tongue from Spike’s. He felt the renewed pulsing of Spike’s cock and the rush of passion through the bond.
Their connection was humming with the feelings shooting between them. No longer separate arousal but the feelings of one shared by the other. Sensing how ready they both were, Spike withdrew his fingers and plunged his cock in with one swift movement. Xander cried out and tightened his grip on the headboard, shoving himself backwards and meeting Spike’s rhythm. A low growl and a crackling sound told Xander he finally had what he wanted; his demon was fucking him and soon his demon would claim him. Xander fought against the almost immediate orgasm that was threatening to overwhelm him.
Strong arms gripped his hips pulling Xander hard back against Spike’s thrusts. Both were breathing harsh panting breaths, Xander’s grunts and Spike’s snarls almost indistinguishable. As the pace quickened, Xander thought he would never hold out but then Spike dropped down on his back, hips still frantically pumping and reached around, taking Xander’s cock in his hand. He held firm and Xander’s cock slid easily through his palm. A few more hard thrusts and Xander knew they were both there. Spike let go of his hip with one hand, then seconds later, Xander found a bloody wrist shoved against his mouth. There was a tiny moment of fear, no more, as he drew Spike’s blood into his mouth, then Spike’s fangs pierced his neck with a muffled howl and Xander screamed, coming harder than he ever thought he could. He pumped his hot come into Spike’s hand and felt his head spin as his blood gushed into Spike’s mouth.
There was pain, but more than that was the ecstasy. Spike’s blood tingled through his system, his orgasm raged through their bond, merged with Spike’s, amplified and went on and on until a sudden urge hit him and Xander acted without thought. He pulled himself off Spike, spun and knocked him down onto the bed. He climbed onto Spike’s lap and impaled himself on the still hard cock, starting up a furious pace.
It took only a few strokes and they were both coming again, or still, and Xander fell down against Spike’s neck. Taking a fold of skin, he bit down hard drawing another yell from Spike. With his forearm pressed to Spike’s fangs he broke through the skin over Spike’s still vein and drew as much of his blood as he was able. Spike’s sharp teeth cut into the soft flesh of his arm, but he didn’t draw as much as he had before, merely sucked and licked at it as his orgasm ripped through him again.
His vampire’s blood, now his master’s blood, zinged through Xander like electric shocks. He felt it burning its way around his system and it was as good as a full-body orgasm. As he felt Spike’s skin closing over, Xander pushed himself up, locked his eyes with those of the demon beneath and rode Spike’s cock. Spike wrapped his hands around Xander’s cock, both of them were still hard and Xander twisted, bounced and ground his way to yet another shattering release, more of Spike’s cool seed pouring into him simultaneously as the sensations were shared, his cock spilling warm fluids over Spike’s hand and stomach.
When the last of the fluids had pumped from him, Xander slid his hands through the splashes on Spike’s stomach, rubbing his scent into the cool skin. He lifted himself off Spike and collapsed against his chest, his face buried in Spike’s neck.
“That was-,” Xander sighed. “I haven’t got words for that.”
“That was you becoming my consort.” Spike rolled them over and took Xander in his arms, kissing him long and deep and holding him close. “You’re my consort and that could not have been any better. I love you Xander.”
“Love you Spike.” Xander kissed him again, then pulled back. “Do I have to call you master now?”
Spike laughed and held him tighter. “Only when you want to be well and truly fucked love. That will do it every time.”
“I’ll try it out sometime, but not right now okay? My ass is kinda sore.”
“Give it five minutes love. You’re a full consort now.”
“It was-, your blood was- Wow. I’ve never been worried that I could die from coming before.”
“Told you it was special love. Yours was the same for me. It was bloody amazing.”
“Are you okay? The chip is really dead?” Xander’s face showed his concern.
Spike nodded. “Really dead.”
Xander stroked a hand over Spike’s hair. “So, I guess you can bite me whenever you like now huh?”
“Only if you bite back love.”
Xander’s mouth went to the now healed bite on Spike’s neck and he lightly scraped his teeth over it. Spike clutched at his back and Xander felt a cold spurt against his stomach.
“Oh fuck,” Spike panted. “Harris you are going to be one hell of a consort.”
“I didn’t do anything? What did I do?”
Spike smirked. “This.” Spike leaned in and sucked at the bite mark on Xander’s neck, laughing softly as Xander came in a sudden burst.
“Oh god, Spike.”
“Nice trick isn’t it?”
“That’s all its going to take now?” Xander tried not to look disappointed.
“No love, that’s only because the claim marks are so new. Give it half and hour and all you’ll get is a bit of a tingle.”
“So there’s no fancy words, no chanting or weird rituals?”
Spike shrugged. “Yeah, but they’re all for show. I’m not big on the ritual side of things when a good fuck and a bite get the same result.”
“Can’t argue with you there Bleachie. Is it always going to be like that?”
“Nah, shame isn’t it? But the claiming’s got to be special yeah?”
“Yeah.” Xander lay quietly winding his fingers in Spike’s hair, thinking. “I’m claimed. I’m a consort.”
“You’re my claimed, my consort. We’re family love.” Spike kissed him.
“My own family.” Xander started to smile then stopped and looked at Spike trying to control the horror on his face. “Angel is my family now too? Oh god, I’m related to Angel?”
Spike laughed, a deep throated sound. “Oh you really will make me proud love. Yes you are, and for want of a better term, the big poof is your Grandsire-in-law.”
“Wait, grandsire? No! Drusilla too? Oh god, I’m related to Dru as well?” Xander caught himself. “Oh, sorry, they’re your family, I shouldn’t-.”
“No, fair point love. They’ve both tried to kill you at some stage. And Dru was nuttier than a Christmas cake; probably still is wherever she may be. But its okay mate, you don’t see me popping the cork over your family either do you?”
“No, but you know what they’re like.”
“Angelus isn’t really that bad love. I just like to give him a hard time cause he’s so uptight and he always takes the bait. Can’t believe he’s my Grandpa sometimes. One of these days, we’ve gotta get him to loosen up a bit.”
“Dunno, Spike, he’s wound pretty tight.”
“Never mind love, we’ve got all the time in the world.”
A slow smile spread over Xander’s face. “We do don’t we? And you know what? I’m okay with that. Really am now.”
Spike brushed their lips together gently. “Good for you love.”
They lay together lazily kissing and caressing, waves of love and contentment passing between them until when Xander’s stomach rumbled he tried to move and realised they were at risk of sticking together.
After a long hot shower, a plate full of food and several bags of blood for Spike, they headed for bed, completely spent and satisfied. Xander rested his head on Spike’s chest as Spike lightly ran his fingers over the claim scar on Xander’s throat. As Spike had said, all he now felt was a pleasant and comforting tickle. Xander fell asleep with a happy smile playing over his lips
~*~*~*~*~
A sinfully cheerful ringtone woke Xander from a sound sleep. He was lying in the centre of the bed, Spike wrapped tightly around him. He tried to roll over and grab his cell quickly before it woke him but he was so entangled in vampire and sheets he couldn’t move close enough. He lay still and willed the phone to stop. No good, apparently consorts had no mental powers over electric appliances. The phone carried on ringing; Xander tried throwing a pillow at it. Not an especially helpful move but one that added the delightful tinkle of a shattering water glass to the shrill tones of the phone.
Spike shifted a little. “Answer the bloody thing and tell them to fuck off,” he grumbled sleepily. “And stop trying to be quiet, you’re crap at it.”
“And good morning to you too sunshine,” he kissed Spike on the shoulder that was jutting into his jaw. “I can’t tell them till you let me go.”
Spike grunted and lifted one arm a fraction so Xander could worm his way to the edge of the bed. He had just enough leeway to snag the phone with his fingers. As soon as it was in his hand, Spike latched back onto him, entwining him in arms, legs and sheets.
“Spike, I love you and I’m not complaining, but I can’t breathe or lift my arm, so this thing will just keep ringing and I’ll turn blue and cold.”
Xander wiggled his arm as far as he could until Spike loosened his grip just enough for him to get it out; Xander flipped the phone open noting Giles’ number on the screen.
“Spike says fuck off, and I say good morning G-Man, what’s up?” Xander tried hard to focus on the voice coming through the phone but was distracted by the tongue and teeth licking and scraping over his neck.
“Good afternoon Xander, its just gone three o’clock. And how many times must I ask you not to call me that?” Giles asked with a resigned sigh.
“Always one more. And when you’re on vampire hours, this is the middle of the night.” Xander propped the phone under his ear and used his free hand to stroke Spike’s face, tilting his own head to give Spike better access to his neck. It was an unconsciously submissive gesture and one that quickly brought Spike fully awake.
“We need to discuss last night’s events Xander, I’d like you to come down to the Magic Box as soon as you can.”
“Ah, daylight still an issue Giles, unless you found a cure for that?”
Spike was, at that moment, in Xander’s other ear, tracing the shell with a cool tongue and nibbling gently on the lobe. One of his hands had found its way to Xander’s navel and was scratching and tickling the indent. Xander could feel Spike’s hard length pressing into his side and fidgeted as he felt himself swelling; uncomfortably swelling though, as he was pinned against Spike’s thighs.
“Ah, so you’ll be bringing Spike then?”
“Package deal Giles, we’ll be there after sundown.” He snapped the phone shut and tossed it down on the floor where it made a satisfying thud and jingle as it landed in the broken glass.
“Giles wants-”
“Heard him. Don’t care. Busy” Spike was diligently working his tongue into every part of Xander’s ear. He let loose his one-armed grip on Xander and shifted himself around until he was laying completely over Xander.
“Spike, we have to-”
Spike pulled away from his work at Xander’s ear and looked him in the eye. “I love you too, and I’m not complaining either, but shut up consort and let’s fuck.”
Xander groaned, “You’re pulling rank on me already?”
“You could say that.” Spike pushed with his knees, working his way between Xander’s legs. “Now, about that sex?”
“You want me to call you master now?” Xander threw one of Spike’s own smirks back at him and prepared for Spike to keep his promise. He wasn’t disappointed.
Part Forty-Eight
“Did that feel even better to you Bleachie?” Xander rolled off Spike and lay panting beside him. “Cause I’ve gotta say, damn, and wow, and -.”
“Oh fuck me, that was bloody brilliant.”
“Just did, that’s the thing,” Xander gave an exhausted laugh.
“Don’t suppose you want to do that again?”
“Giles,” Xander sighed but felt his cock twitch regardless.
“What? Giles? You want to do some kinky role playing?”
He snorted. “No, idiot.”
“Oi! A little respect from the consort wouldn’t go astray love.”
Xander turned and nuzzled at the scar he’d given Spike. “They’re all waiting for us. Well, Giles is anyway, I’m just assuming the others are all there too.”
“Bloody hell.” Spike’s fingers raked through Xander’s hair and held him against him neck. “You do understand this is like the vampire equivalent of a honeymoon right?”
“Yeah I kinda got that. What with the sex in the kitchen, and the sex in the shower, and then there was the sex on the dining table, and the sex in the closet.”
“Over the laundry hamper was fun till it broke.”
Xander laughed, snorting warm air over Spike’s throat. “Yeah, we can pick up a stronger one tomorrow.”
“And after all that, you still want to go to that bloody shop? There’s a whole lot of sex in other places that needs to be had and you want to go to some little research party.”
“Spike in the last two weeks I think we covered a fair portion of the apartment. And in the last twelve hours we even christened some places that we probably shouldn’t have. And it’s not research.”
“Yeah even worse, it’s going to be a bloody intervention. What is it with you people? You can never leave well enough alone, always got to be analysing this or deconstructing that.”
Xander felt his irritation and ran a hand over Spike’s wet stomach. “You sure are a whiny master aren’t you?”
Spike’s eyes narrowed. “What did you call me?”
Xander grinned, his teeth scraping the scar on Spike’s neck. “Master,” he whispered.
Spike growled and taking advantage of his strength and speed, flipped them over pinning Xander face down. Before he could draw breath, Xander found himself hoisted up by the hips with his ass full of horny vampire. Again. He both groaned and laughed; it was like shooting fish in a barrel.
~*~*~*~*~
Xander’s cell phone rang several times while they were in the car, but he ignored each call. He knew it would just be either Giles or the girls asking where he was and he knew damn well they wouldn’t like his answer. Each time it rang, he could feel Spike’s anger and could not blame him one bit. This was a confrontation that had to happen but neither were looking forward to it.
When the phone rang again, Spike snatched it from the console and would have crushed it had the car not been stopped for a red light and Xander was able to rescue it. He checked the number and sighed in surrender before he answered.
“Giles?”
“Xander where have you been? We were expecting you two hours ago.”
“Yeah I’m sorry, but do you really want to know or are you just telling me you’re getting tired of waiting?”
“I imagine I don’t want to know why you’re late. How long will you be?”
“Five minutes, give or take. We’re almost there Giles.” He shut the phone then quickly shoved it in his pocket when he saw Spike scowl at it.
“We can turn around love. Go back home. We don’t have to do this now if you don’t want to.”
“I don’t want it hanging over us. We go now, get it done, then you can take me home and I’ll call you names.” Xander laughed at the lustful expression on Spike’s face. “Don’t look at me like that Bleachie, time and place, all wrong.”
“I can wait.” Spike reached out a hand and lightly stroked the back of Xander’s neck. “How do you want to do this love?” He let his thumb scrape over the claim scar. “You want to tell them about this?”
“Do you?”
“I’m so proud to have you love, I want to tell everyone. So help me, I even want to call Angelus and tell him.” Spike shook his head and laughed at that. “But these are your people, I’ll follow your lead. Whatever you want.”
“Can we just see where it’s gonna go first? I have no idea how they’ll react to you being chip-free. Buffy especially.” Xander rested his hand on Spike’s leg. “If she tries anything again-.”
“You’ll get right out of the way love. You may have all the bells and whistles but she’s the slayer. By definition she is a mite stronger than me and I’m still stronger than you.”
“I’m not going to stand by and let her attack you. It’s never going to happen so forget telling me to stay out of it. I’m right in it. I’m immersion guy. And what bells and whistles?”
“Full consort love.”
Xander shifted in his seat. His jeans suddenly very uncomfortable. “Already?”
“Since I bit you. You’ve got it all. You probably didn’t notice the bond so much, it just settles into the background, becomes a part of you.”
“Spike what else is there? I don’t want to get there and have Giles know more about me than I do.”
“It’s okay love there’s nothing new to it. Everything you had brewing because of that bloody spell is complete now. Most consorts would get it all in a rush after the bite, but you’ve been collecting my bits and pieces over the last few weeks so it’s not as noticeable for you. Only other thing is that demons will know you’re mine now that you haven’t got that flashing neon ‘claim me’ sign over your head.”
“The spell’s gone?”
“I don’t know love, but it should be. You’ll have to ask the witches to check on that. From what they said it was only a temporary bonding spell and last night you got yourself well and truly bonded.” Spike smirked. “Several times in fact.”
“No more looking over my shoulder? No more friends getting hurt because I’m attracting the demons?”
“Only attracting me now mate.”
“Buffy!” Xander swerved the car slightly as he jerked around to look at Spike. “If that spell is gone, then no more insane Buffy?”
Spike snorted and whispered under his breath. “No more than usual anyway. Crazy bitch.”
“Hey, consort ears here mister.” Xander pulled the car into the curb and switched it off. “And I just got a big dose of vampire antagonism from you too. Ease up on that a bit okay?”
“Can’t promise anything love. And you know as soon as we walk in there I’m going to be soaking in your bloody Scooby love vibes, so you can put up with a bit of anti-slayer sentiment from me.”
“Maybe not so much with the Scooby love.”
“Wait and see. You know I have your back. Not a chance I would let my consort face up to this alone. And be warned love- I’ll pull no punches with those people.”
“Spike you promised.”
“I’m not going to eat them Harris, although I bet those witches would go down a treat.” He laughed at the horrified face Xander gave him. “What? I promised you and I meant it. Doesn’t mean I can’t imagine what it would be like.”
“Stop imagining eating my friends and we’ll get on just fine.”
“You know you’re a tad bossy considering I’m the bloody master in this family.”
“Don’t try to trick me into saying it Bleachie, there’s no time and not enough space in the car.”
Spike leaned far across to Xander’s side of the car and his face held one of those dirty leers that Xander loved. “You’re getting all forceful.” His voice was low and husky, the cool breath rolling in waves against Xander’s mouth. “Go on Harris, tell me what to do.”
He was so close, Xander didn’t even need to shift. His tongue came out and gently licked across Spike’s mouth before he sucked the bottom lip in and teased it with his teeth. When Spike tried to kiss him, Xander pulled back. “Stop trying to distract me. We’re going inside now and I will not go in there with a hard on.” Spike drew a breath to speak but Xander shut him down. “And before you say it, you’re not going in there with one either and no, you can’t take care of things before we go.”
“Forceful, see?” Spike smirked. “Now I know you’re trying to get me all worked up.”
“Out! Out!” Xander pushed the laughing vampire away and climbed out of the car. He relented outside the door to the shop when he felt Spike’s mood change from teasing light heartedness to sincere concern.
Spike wrapped his arms around Xander and kissed him, no lust or passion this time, just the love and reassurance that Xander knew was Spike’s promise of support.
Xander didn’t need to hear or say the words of love, he could feel it. When he deliberately tuned into it the bond was like a broadcast of their emotions and he could feel it working both ways. With a smile of thanks, he took Spike’s hand and pushed the door open.
~*~*~*~*~
Xander wasn’t sure of the kind of reception he would get, nevertheless he was unprepared for the wall of silence that greeted him as he stopped just inside the door. The single crack in that wall, Anya, came over and hugged him. As she leaned in, Xander saw her eyes flick to his neck, then to Spike’s. She gave a small smile, twitched her eyebrows and whispered as she hugged an extremely nervous Xander.
“I won’t say a word to them. Oh, I’m so happy for you. But not a word.”
Spike gave her a small nod of thanks.
“Well, this is going to be extremely awkward and I don’t have an issue with either of you, so I’m going to meet Simon. You have your fangs back so you don’t need me standing up for you,” Anya told Spike, then turned back to the others. “Whatever happens here you can take it as given that I’m on their side.” She kissed Xander’s cheek, then despite the warning growl, kissed Spike as well.
The bell over the door jingled as she left, leaving the quiet room ringing with false cheer. Xander looked around at his friends. Willow and Tara stood close to Giles; Willow looked very apprehensive, Tara seemed calm and Giles was surprisingly neutral. Buffy however, very slowly pulled a stake from her pocket and placed it carefully on the table in front of her.
Xander took a deep breath, opened himself up to Spike and let the sense of devotion warm and bolster him. He met Buffy’s hard stare and spoke steadily. “The stake goes or we do.”
Buffy shook her head. “The stake stays.”
Without a word, Xander turned and walked out the door, Spike right beside him. They’d only gotten as far as the curb when Giles caught up to them.
“Xander wait.”
“Not a chance Giles. She had a weapon. How do we sit and talk with that there? It doesn’t really scream open mindedness and acceptance does it?”
“Spike, Xander, I am sorry. I didn’t know she had it. I have told her to get rid of it. Please. Come back inside.”
Xander looked at Spike and felt his indifference. Great. No help there. “Fine. But Giles, you make sure it’s gone. One more hint of weapons and we leave.”
Giles nodded and went back inside while Xander turned back to Spike. “Why aren’t you mad about this? Why is it just me?”
“Because she’s a slayer and slayers like to stick it to the vamps. It’s the way of things. You’re upset because she’s your friend and she’s making threats against me. The whole protective consort thing is a little sexy you know.”
“Damn it Spike it’s so not the time. Again.”
Spike pulled Xander against his chest. “I know love, just trying to help you calm down.”
“This is a better way you know?” Xander said as he relaxed into the arms that stroked at his back. “Come on, let’s get back in before I really change my mind.”
~*~*~*~*~
Spike walked in ahead of Xander and took up his regular position on the stairs. Xander considered the empty seats at the table but instead, decided on the step one below Spike. He sat between Spike’s legs, leaned back and rested his elbows on Spike’s thighs. Spike let his hands drop casually onto Xander’s shoulders. To the others, Xander knew it would present a united front. But was it Spike watching over Xander or was Xander shielding Spike? Both, neither. Xander wanted the proximity for support, he wanted to be able to detect Spike’s mood, knowing that Spike was often a better gauge of situations than he was. He also wanted a buffer between Spike and the others. Just in case.
“So.” Xander offered a smile to Willow and Tara. “Guess we have some issues to iron out then.”
“Xander, are you safe?” Willow tried to avoid meeting Spike’s eyes, which was difficult as he was so close to Xander.
Xander increased his grip on Spike’s legs as he felt rather than heard the growl of displeasure. “Perfectly safe Willow. We all are.”
“You trust him?”
“This is going to be a soddin’ laugh riot if you people keep talking like I’m not even here.” Spike spoke in his normal tone but Willow jumped nonetheless. “Oh bloody hell, Red. I am not going to bite you. Any of you. I made a promise and I intend to keep it.”
“Spike, the fact that you are an evil vampire, a now unleashed evil vampire kinda takes the edge off the whole promise thing you know?” Buffy said.
“And what about the fact that I believe him? I trust him? Isn’t that good enough for you?” Xander asked her.
“Xander I believe that you trust him. But your trust doesn’t automatically mean he's going to keep his word. How do we trust him? He’s going to have to pull out something spectacular for that to happen.”
Spike’s voice was clearly conveying his contempt for her. “Slayer, there are only two people I have to prove or justify myself to. You are not one of them.”
“Actually Spike, being all chosen sort means I am.”
“No. You get to protect the world from the real bad guys. Not just the ones who piss you off.”
“Spike you are one of the real bad guys.”
Xander held up a hand to stop her. “Buff, Spike hasn’t done anything to deserve the pointy end of your stake.”
“Yet,” she said menacingly.
“So what?” Xander asked. “You’re advocating a pre-emptive strike?”
Buffy sighed. “No Xander. I just don’t know how we trust him now. We never did before and we’ve only let him hang around because of the chip. He was harmless.”
“Actually Buffy, Spike was never harmless. Sure he couldn’t bite you or hit you, but in a split second he could have had any number of minions here to attack. He chose not to. Instead he decided to stay and help.”
“Um, Buffy?” Willow moved to sit beside her at the table. “He has been big with the helping and not so much with the killing, and if Xander thinks we can trust him then maybe we should give him the benefit of the doubt.”
Spike’s hands tightened on Xander’s shoulders and he felt the mild amusement from Spike at Willow’s words. He gave Willow a smile and was pleased to get one back.
“Buffy perhaps it would be an opportune moment to remind you of the information about Spike in the Watcher’s Journals,” Giles said.
“Oh bloody brilliant. Just make me into a case study Rupert.”
“Spike, do shut up I am trying to help you. Though God knows why, you are the most irritating vampire I have ever met.”
Xander looked up at Spike with some concern, then at Giles. “What information would that be Giles? Just how much do the Journals say about Spike.”
“We can discount a large portion as being rather erroneous, but the general summation of Spike’s character is quite accurate. And I would like to draw all of your attention to the fact that every account of Spike from a variety of sources describes him as an atypical vampire. They all have corresponding entries discussing his loyalty and fidelity to those with whom he forms an attachment; Drusilla is a case in point. Spike is often described as having more human than vampiric qualities-.”
“Oi, take that back!”
“-faithfulness and devotion being the most notable. Obviously there is also some consensus on his violent nature but that is not what we are here to discuss.”
Xander turned around and smiled at Spike. “God Bleachie, they make you sound like some romantic legend.”
“Yeah, embarrassing isn’t it?”
Xander laughed and stretched up to kiss Spike’s cheek. “I won’t tell anyone.”
“Giles that is all well and good but seriously, what has it got to do with this?” Buffy asked impatiently. “Spike has no chip. We are all in danger. We need to work out how to handle this. The fact that he is a fool for love is completely beside the point.”
Tara, joined Willow at the table. “Actually no Buffy, it really is the point. When I saw their auras that time, Spike’s was genuine. He cares for Xander. More than I think you know. Probably more than any of us really understand. That’s why what Giles told you is so important. He said Spike was loyal, devoted and faithful to the ones he loves. He loves Xander; I know that because I’ve seen it. I honestly believe him when he says he won’t hurt any of us.” Tara blushed furiously at having spoken so bluntly. “That’s just my opinion of course.”
“Thankyou pet,” Spike said with rare softness in his voice.
Xander nodded his thanks as well then looked at Buffy with raised eyebrows. “Looks like its just you Buff. You going to give us a chance?”
Buffy frowned. “Us?”
Xander shrugged. “Well yeah. If you say no to Spike then it’s no to both of us. Like I told Giles, we’re a package deal.”
“Are you giving me an ultimatum Xander?” she asked.
“Hell no. I’m just saying if you can’t trust Spike and you don’t want him here, then I can’t be around. Spike and I are together, so it’s one out, both out. Or I hope its one in, both in.”
Buffy glanced around at everyone, a defeated look on her face. “You all seem to be okay with this and again it’s just me.”
Willow patted her shoulder. “Buffy at some stage we have to believe in Xander. We’ve let him down so much lately that its time we tried to think outside the box. Of course I’m worried about Spike, but if Xan is okay with it then we should be too. We’re his friends, we need to support him.”
“Thankyou Will.” Xander got up from the stairs and stood behind Willow to hug her. He also squeezed Tara then stepped aside so he was not too close to Buffy. “Really not looking for your approval here Buffy. We just need to know Spike is safe.”
“Spike is safe?” Buffy laughed. “Oh that’s good. Is the evil vampire safe from us?”
“No Buffy. Is my lover safe from you? Are you going to kill the person I love just because you don’t like or believe him; or me for that matter?”
The smile quickly faded from her face. “Xander that wouldn’t be why. If he hurt anyone-.”
“If and when Buffy. Not just because you think he might.”
Giles stepped up to Buffy and laid a hand on her shoulder. “Buffy I think you would do well to make an exception in this case. Personal feeling about him aside, we know Spike is not the stock standard vampire. He is so much more. We know he cares deeply for Xander and that will almost guarantee the safety of his loved ones. He has been helpful to us and has given Xander nothing but the best of care and attention. I now need several large glasses of alcohol and I will deny ever having said those words, so I hope you listened carefully.
Buffy sat and stared at Spike then Xander. “Pour me a glass too Giles. No, you know what? Just pour yourself a glass and bring me the bottle.”
Xander immediately tensed as Buffy stood and took a deep breath, walking determinedly over to Spike. She stuck out a hand. “Truce then? For Xander’s sake?”
Spike gave her a sharp nod and shook her hand. “Truce it is then slayer.”
She dropped her hand. “But if you hurt Xander-.”
“Yeah save your threats, that’s not going to happen,” Spike said with a disinterested shake of his head.
Buffy turned to Xander and he could see she was about to hug him. A quick glance to Spike and Xander received a tiny shake of the head and Spike’s fingers discreetly indicated the scar on his own neck.
“Ah, better not Buffy. You know, with the spell and everything.” Xander backed away with his hands up.
Buffy looked disappointed but nodded and smiled anyway. As she sat down, Willow jumped out of her seat and with a huge smile headed for Xander, throwing her arms around his neck.
“I’m not spelled, I can have as many hugs as I want.” Willow pulled her head away from Xander and looked at him with shock. “Xander what is that on your neck?”
| Back | Index | Next |
| Feed the Author |
