The Witch, The Warrior, and the Vampire

Chapter 10 - Pride and Prejudice

As ordered, Buffy relieved Giles at the Magic Box at 1:00. She noticed for the first time how much Giles had aged since they had first met. His eyes were red rimmed and bloodshot. His usually perfect posture was slumped and defeated. The lines she had once thought of as laugh lines were now deeply etched wrinkles scoring his handsome face.

"Buffy, you're here." He looked up from the display he was rearranging and managed a small smile.

"As ordered, all present and accounted for. Why don't you go home and get some sleep?" She tried her best not to sound overly concerned or patronizing.

"Yes, Buffy, I think I shall." Giles retrieved his keys from under the counter and with great relief made his way home.

Buffy sat down on the stool behind the counter, not looking forward to the long afternoon. Sighing she rested her elbows on the counter, and propped her chin on her fists and waited.

An hour later the bell tinkled at the door. Looking up, she smiled as her best friend entered the store.

"Any word yet?" The red-haired witch questioned.

"Not a peep." Buffy shook her head for emphasis.

"That's a good thing, right?"

"I don't know." Buffy admitted, not knowing what else to say.

"Is Dawn here?" Willow sensed Buffy’s discomfort and changed the subject for the time being.

Buffy shook her head.

"Morgaine called and wanted to start our training this afternoon." Willow offered to change the conversation.

The bell over the shop door rang again. Both girls looked up expecting Dawn. A couple of girls Willow recognized from the psuedo-wicca group came in and started browsing. Willow rolled her eyes. "They won't buy anything, except maybe candles. Wouldn't know a real witch if they met one."

The best friends looked at each other, exchanging more with their eyes than they could with words. They were both terrified for Xander. If he survived the transformation soul intact, he would be what he'd loathed for so many years. If he didn't he'd be dead. Neither option was appealing. Dead Xander was just that, dead and gone. A surviving Xander would have emotional scarring and be different on a basic fundamental level. There was no way either of them could help him through it either.

The college students finally left, each holding a bag with an earthy-scented candle in it, just as Dawn came in.

"Heard anything?" Dawn looked from her sister to Willow hopefully.

Buffy and Willow both shook their heads, and a troubled quiet settled over the three.

After a few minutes Dawn spoke again, "I wonder what Xander will be like, and what he's going through."

The three girls looked at each other for several long minutes before Buffy finally broke the silence. "Spike told me a long time ago that 'becoming a vampire is a profound and powerful experience.' I guess he'll be different, but he'll still be Xander."

"On the bright side, Dawnie, it's time to start training. Ready?" Willow gathered her books and materials and gestured towards the door.

"Yeah. Call us if you hear anything." Dawn gave her sister an impulsive peck on the cheek; she looked so lost and helpless, standing there with nothing to slay and no way to help.

"You got it." Buffy forced a smile for Dawn’s sake.

The two witches left the shop leaving Buffy to watch over the store. She returned to the stool, resumed her previous posture and waited some more.

**
Spike awoke hungry. He gently extricated himself from the tangle of limbs and, heedless as ever of his nudity, went in search of the blood that remained from the previous night. He found it still in the tub, only a few packs remaining. He grabbed one and quickly drank it down, not bothering to heat it. He found a phone and called the Magic Box, hoping Buffy was there.

"Magic Box, may I help you?" God, he could hear the worry in her voice leeching through the phone lines.

"'S me luv." He tossed the empty blood packet in the garbage and started looking for a light.

"Spike! Oh my god. What's going on over there? Did Xander wake up?" Once Buffy's initial relief was out of the way, she couldn't stop the questions from tumbling forth.

"He woke last night, but 'Xander' never overpowered the demon. We need some more blood, pet. Can you bring some when you close up?" Spike cocked an ear towards the bedroom as he spoke, carefully listening for any indication of his childe waking.

"More blood? Spike, I brought more blood last night than you eat in a week! How can you be out already?"

"Not out yet, luv, but we will be shortly after he wakes up again. Fledglings need more blood than masters. Got to be human too. Can you get it, or should I send Anya to Willy's?"

"I'll get it. Can I see him?"

"Not yet. Just knock when you get here and leave it outside." Spike lit up a cigarette and took a deep drag.

"Is he gonna be alright?" So many questions that Spike didn't have the answers to. He doubted the others knew it, but he felt just as powerless as everybody else. Maybe more so.

"Won't know 'til 'Xander' takes control. We got ‘im in time. The change hadn't started. He's truly mine. I gave him all the blood he would take when I transferred the bond. When he woke, I let him have all of mine he wanted, and most of the human you brought over. Usually sires are selfish with their blood, to keep their fledges dependent on them as long as possible. I want ‘im independent from me at his own rate. Don't wanna stifle him by withholding what ‘e needs. Physically he's a strong, powerful vampire. He's stronger than any fledgling I've ever seen. Already he's as strong as I was when I killed my first Slayer. Don't know about the rest yet." Spike crushed out his cigarette and blew out the last of the smoke in his dead lungs.

"How's Anya?" Buffy tried to keep the so-called jealousy out of her voice.

"Sleeping. They both are; I just woke up. Gonna go back to sleep though. He's gonna be a handful when he finally comes through."

A roar came from the bedroom; Xander was awake and ready to feed. Spike ran to the bedroom just in time to see his childe sink his fangs into Anya. One short snarl from Spike and Xander was cowering in a corner, shoulders slumped, head down, begging for blood. "No time to talk luv, bye."

"Uh, ok. I'll drop the blood by. Tell him we love him and when he's ready we want to see him." Vaguely she realized he'd hung up on her before she even spoke.

Anya was awake and holding her hand on the wounds on her neck. "Did he drink?" Spike asked. "No,"No, you stopped him in time." She fumbled for a tissue from the nightstand to blot at the minor wound on her neck.

"Go heat up all the blood we've got left. It'll have to do until Buffy gets here with more."

Spike surveyed the scene as Anya quickly got out of bed, not bothering with a robe, following Spike's orders without question. Xander had almost killed her and she knew it. At the core she was a demon. It gave her additional strength and allowed her to heal from injury sooner, but if he drained her, she'd still die.

The naked vampire on the bed was shaking from hunger and fear. Growling softly Spike let Xander know he was angry, as he'd not given permission to feed. Xander's posture became even more submissive, a soft whine escaping his throat. Spike knelt in front of Xander, possessively caressing his ridges.

When Anya entered the bedroom, the sight in front of her flooded her with arousal. Both vampires were in game face. Spike was sitting up, propped against the headboard. Xander was straddling Spike facing him, greedily feeding from his sire's neck, their erections rubbing together. Both of their eyes were closed, expressions of ecstasy on their faces. She felt the wetness of her desire flowing down her naked thighs. Two pair of golden eyes peered at her, fully conscious of her arousal.

Timidly she crawled onto the bed beside the two vampires. Spike growled softly at Xander and he reluctantly stopped feeding from his sire. Looking at his sire for permission he grabbed a bag of blood from Anya and quickly drank it down. At another nod from Spike, Xander devoured the remaining bags of blood. While he fed, Anya crept closer. Spike draped his arms on the back of the headboard and Anya snuggled into his side. Tentatively she reached toward Xander. With a feather light touch she caressed his brow ridges, while he fed. Immediately Xander began to purr. Encouraged by his response she continued her exploration of his new features.

When he'd finished the last of the blood in the apartment, Xander turned his amber eyes to Anya. He happily turned his head from side to side under Anya's gentle touch. ‘Vampires’, she mused, ‘weren't much different from lions, panthers, or any of the great felines.’ They hunted and killed brutally. They took their phyl pll pleasure whenever, wherever, and with whomever they wanted. They purred, licked, bit, nuzzled, and loved being stroked. Dreamily she recalled bits and pieces of the night before. Xander lapping at her pussy, deep rumbling purrs tickling her better than any vibrator ever had while Spike rammed into him at the same time. The memory turned her on even more.

The scent of her arousal was driving Xander insane. Somewhere deep within he knew this female was his and his alone. His sire had proved that by not touching her in any sexual way, reaffirming the instinctual knowledge she was his. His sire had vexed him by not forcing his submission earlier. He'd begged, pleaded, and wept before his sire had taken him and asserted his dominion over him.

Remembering the ecstasy of fucking the female while his sire had fucked him, combined with the tang of her arousal, made his already already-erect cock twitch in anticipation. A questioning rumble emitted from his throat. In response Spike pushed Xander's head between Anya's thighs. Without hesitation Xander fastened his mouth on her dripping slit and began to eat her out.

"Xander, oh Xander, god, feel so good," she moaned and spread her legs farther to allow him better access. One of her legs went in between Spike's. His erection pressed against her thigh, heightening her arousal. Anya desperately wanted to be taken by both vampires. She'd not had two male lovers at once since her previous demon days. She knew it was only Spike's love of Buffy and surprising consideration of Xander that held him back. He'd told her as much after Xander had gone to sleep between them. She squirmed under Xander's tongue, unconsciously rubbing Spike's cock with her thigh. Still resting in the crook of Spike's arm, fingers entwined in Xander's hair she began to shake. The leg that wasn't on Spike she wrapped around Xander's shoulder, pulling him closer to her center.

Anya was panting heavily, her heart rate increasing quickly. The pheromones she was pumping out were driving both men insane with need. Just when she thought she would die without release Xander plunged three fingers into her sopping hole and sank one fang into her clit. She screamed, her eyes rolled back in her head; she almost passed out from the pleasure. Xander continued to pump his fingers inside her to draw out her orgasm. Minutes later when her quaking had stopped, he removed his fingers and plunged his tongue inside her, sucking out all of her juices, while he wriggled one finger in her ass; she came again.

Feeling the heat of Anya's body as she writhed against him and watching his childe greedily swallow down her come was severely testing Spike's limits. He desperately wished Buffy were here as only she could truly satisfy his need. He wondered how long it would be before he could have her again, if ever. His cock was rapidly turning red from his own need. Spike lightly brushed his fingertips up and down Anya's arm, wishing he could take both her and his childe. With his other hand he began slowly sliding his closed fist up and down the length of his erection, swiping the head with his thumb on each up stroke.

Fully aware of his sire's needs, Xa sla slammed into Anya. He grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled her body out of Spike's embrace. When her head was level with Spike's hips, Xander began to slowly fuck her. Taking full advantage of his new position, he shifted his upper body away from Anya and took his sire's cock in his mouth.

Spike hissed as his childe began to deep throat him, a one skill among many, he had learned the previous night. Grabbing the hair at the back of Xander's head Spike pulled him away. u dou don't have to do that." His voice was deep and gravely with desire.

Like the night before he gave his childe a chance to overcome the demon, knowing full well 'Xander' would be repulsed by the demon's actions when he took control. The demon snarled at him and took him in his mouth again. Spike remained propped against the headboard and watched while Xander fucked Anya, and simultaneously gave him head.

Spike knew Anya had received more pleasure from Xander in the past 24 hours than she had the entire time they'd been together. Vampires were not necessarily better lovers than humans, but their heightened predatory senses gave them a distinct advantage. Vampires are always in tune with their environment. If that environment happened to be between someone's legs, bully for them. The sounds, tremors, aromas, heart rate, and breathing enticed the demon to wring out any and all responses from their sexual partner until complete satiation was reached. Wryly he wondered if Anya would still brag about their sex life, especially now that she had something to brag about.

Anya screamed her release yet again, Xander followed immediately behind her. Turning his complete attention to his sire, Xander, sucked, nibbled, and licked his sire's cock until he happily swallowed the cool come. Spent for the moment, the three demons drifted off to sleep again.

**
Buffy warily approached the apartment. She desperatwantwanted to go inside and see what was going on. She pressed her ear against the door. Hearing nothing, she shrugged, rapped the door a few times, put the cooler full of blood on the floor, and went home to wait some more.

**
Spike sensed Buffy the moment she stepped off the elevator. He smiled as she hesitated and wondered if she would burst through the door and find out why exactly curiosity killed the cat. When she actually followed his directions and left he was stunned. On the other side of Xander Anya woke again. "Blood's outside the door, kitten. Why don't you bring it in and warm it up?"
At the sound of his sire's voice, Xander woke. He watched his female leave the bedroom and pressed his body against Spike. Hungrily he ran his hands down the plane of cool, hard muscles of his sire's chest and abdomen. Fascinated he watched the muscles twitch under his hands. Spike couldn't resist any longer, he had to taste his childe. He'd never known the bliss of a childe's blood before last night. He pulled Xander to him, sank his fangs into his neck and drank greedily. There was nothing in the world like it. The taste, the texture, the scent of his own blood mixed with Xander's was intoxicating. He finally knew why Angelus had drunk from him so often.

Angelus however, had been a bastard of a sire, only allowing Spike to drink from him on rare occasion. Severe injury or a rare and fleeting moment of tenderness for his childe was were the only times he allowed it. Spike had no intentions of treating his only childe in the same manner. Fledglings needed their sire's blood as much as human blood to gain strength and control. With a soft rumble, he granted permission for Xander to drink from him.

Anya found the two vampires feeding hungrily from each other, bodies writhing in ecstasy. She desperately wanted Xander to take her as his mate and bind him to her with her own blood, but she knew it wasn't time. 'Xander' had yet to come through and, until he did, she couldn't risk it. Until he controlled the demon, he wouldn't be able to stop feeding until she was dead.

She sat on the bed with 10 heated bags of human blood and waited for them to notice her. She knew that every time they drank from each other the sire-childe bond was strengthened. She sent a quick prayer to D'Hoffryn that Xander could somehow deal with the bond he would now have forever with Spike. In many ways the sire-childe bond was stronger than the mating bond. As much as Xander hated Spike, it was likely he would stake himself or try to kill his sire when he finally came through.

Spike roughly extracted his fangs from his childe and forcefully pushed him away. Xander protested. The demon residing in him desperately needed contact with his sire. At the sight of the bagged blood on the bed he understood the loss. He needed human blood as well. Receiving permission he fed. Spike quickly drained three bags himself and wondered he hhe hunger in his childe would finally abate long enough for the soul to emerge. When Xander finished the last bag and growled for more, Spike began to wonder exactly how strong the demon inside Xander was. With a warning not to feed from Anya, Spike went to heat up more blood for his childe.

When Spike left the room the remaining vampire turned to Anya and spoke his first English words in game face. "Are you my mate?"

"When we were human, we were married." A feeling of relief coursed through him. This woman was his, and when he was given permission he would take her as his mate again. He roughly drew her into his arms and began scenting her head to toe, memorizing her smell so he would always recognize her as his.

He felt his sire return to the room and was relieved to find more blood. Spike dropped a cooler full of blood on the floor, all heated to 98.6, "Feed, it's all yours." Xander crawled to the cooler and knelt at his sire's feet head bowed in gratitude. Spike ran a hand through Xander's hair. He found his jeans and pulled them on while Xander fed.

Spike lit a cigarette and studied the changes that had taken place in Xander's body. His skin had lightened, but he was young enough to still maintain a human like quality. He noted with satisfaction that the demon's metabolism had drained some of the weight Xander had put on as a human. Spike knew that when Xander started to train with him and Buffy, the boy would quickly regain the physique he'd had in high school. Spike had never understood why Xander had let his body go to fat since his engagement to Anya. Demons and humans alike who didn't take care of their bodies disgusted him on a level he couldn't begin to describe. Perhaps it was because as a human he'd been so weak.

When he was first turned, Angelus had forced him to train with weapons, hand-to-hand fighting, and weights. Drusilla's compliments about his new muscles had driven him to develop them faster. He'd begun to do sit ups, push-ups, among other exercises to make himself more physically appealing to his family. The results had been well worth it, he mused, as he ran his hand over his eight-pack abs. Women and men, vampire, demon, and human alike had desired and pursued him for over a century. Before he realized he was in love with Buffy, he'd reveled in his various lovers. The celibacy he'd experienced after proclaiming his love for Buffy went against every vampiric instinct he had.

Whether or not Buffy loved him, he knew she loved his body. These days he was leaner, more defined and stronger than he had ever been. Part of that was from training with Buffy. She challenged him to be stronger, faster, better, because she WAS stronger, faster and better than he was. He chuckled to himself as he recalled increasing his 100 sit ups and push ups a day to 500 so he could keep up with her. The results though had been worth it. Buffy did worship his body. Crushing out his cigarette, he tossed Anya her robe and they both sat at the end of the bed and watched Xander feed
.
With each bag of blood he drank, his skin became perceptibly lighter. As the empty bags started to outnumber the full Spike worried even more. Where was Xander? Was the demon within him so strong that even his magickally reinforced soul couldn't come through?

Mid-bag, Spike and Anya heard the familiar bone crunching sounds indicating the demon withdrew. A look of pure horror crossed Xander's face as he realized he was drinking blood. Why was he naked? What was Spike doing here? Suddenly the sound of Anya's beating heart pierced his consciousness and he knew.

'I'm a vampire, Spike's my sire, and I, he, we, the three of us, oh God! Oh God Oh God Oh God Oh God Oh God...' Tears streamed down his face and he sobbed brokenly. He remembered every sordid, disgusting detail from the night before. How he had begged for Spike's touch, his blood. With growing horror he remembered trying to feed from Anya, his wife! He'd almost killed her, would have if Spike hadn't stopped him. He was shaking uncontrollably from his tears, his horror, revulsion at himself, and fear. He didn't notice Anya's warm arms holding him, or the cool muscular body of his sire holding both of them. He was lost in despair and self-loathing.

Anya met Spike's eyes over Xander's head. She noticed Spike's rumbling purr designed to comfort his childe and started murmuring soothingly to him herself. She held Xander to her breast and comforted him as best she could. She was grateful to lean into Spike's embrace as he held them both. After what felt like hours Xander's sobs started to subside. "W-wh-what h- h-h-happened?"

After a nod from Spike, Anya relayed the events to Xander. He was taken, turned, recovered. He hadn't killed anyone, he had his soul, the 'power returned' in the prophecy was him becoming a vampire. Everyone still loved him and wanted to see him. It wasn't his fault and she loved him more than life itself and would stay with him forever.

With her affirmation that she still loved him and wanted to be with him forever, Xander started crying again. He was dead. He would never see the sun again. He and Anya could never have children. He would never have his own construction company if he couldn't go out in the sun. Everything he had lost was racing through his mind; he was overcome with grief and wallowing in self-pity.

Eventually his crying slowed down again and he realized he was in Spike's arms. His human persona ignored the demon screaming inside of him that this was his sire and he loved him. With Anya still in his arms, he jumped out of the embrace and screamed at Spike, "Get the fuck away from us, you perverted, depraved, filthy beast. Don't ever touch me or my wife again."

"Xander, stop it!" Anya yelled at him, pushing him away from her, infuriated Xander would treat Spike that way after everything he had done for both of them.

" 'S'allright, kitten, let him get it out." Spike said without a single hint of the pain he felt at the words. Although Xander's hatred of him was not unexpected, he was still his sire, and surprisingly enough he found that he loved his childe. More than he had ever loved another vampire, including his own sires Angelus and Drusilla. ‘Must be the bond,’ he mused. Confidently he lit a cigarette and took a deep drag. "Let him have his say."

Xander found a pair of pants on the bedroom floor and quickly pulled them on. In the back of his mind he registered the once too tight jeans now fit loosely. "You did this to me, you made me like you because you hate me. You, You, You, raped me! You forced me to, to, I can't even say it! How dare you touch my wife? Did you fuck her while I was asleep? I’m going to killyou!" Looking around frantically for a weapon and not finding any he broke off the leg of a nearby chair, and leapt at Spike, ready to stake him.

Smirking around his cigarette, Spike growled and his eyes flashed yellow. Xander's body reacted without his control. His body twisted mid leap like a cat falling out of a tree. He landed on his feet, crouching submissively at Spike's feet. A low whine escaped his throat before he could stop it. He was appalled at his reaction to Spike and didn't understand it. Another growl from Spike and Xander flung the stake across the room. Disobeying every instinct in his new body he looked Spike right in the eye. "What in the fucking hell did you to me?"

Spike crushed out his cigarette and lit a new one. He casually stood up and stretched, flexing every muscle in his perfect body. With sadistic delight he watched Xander's reaction. The boy was definitely fighting the demon inside him. A mixture of hatred and painful desire was coming off the boy.

"What in the fucking hell did you do to me?" Xander yelled again. He couldn't get his body to move no matter how hard he tried.

"Well, boy, I'm controlling you. Didn't want to do it like this but you're forcing me to."

Xander whimpered helplessly at his feet as Spike slowly circled him. Roughly Spike grabbed him by his hair and forced Xander to look at him. With less than a quarter inch between their faces Spike began to speak.

"I did NOT do this to you." Xander started to protest but a rumble from Spike effectively shut him up. "The Master's right hand kidnapped you and turned you. Name was Maverick if you're interested. I challenged him for you and killed him. You don't ever have to worry about ‘im again. The Wiccas re-souled you, and I transferred the sire-childe bond to myself on order from Buffy, Giles, and hell everybody. I did not rape you, you bloody buggerin' ass. I didnob touch your wife. In fact I kept you from killing her, you fucking imbecile.

"I tried like hell to stop any sexual relations between us because I knew how you would react. Unfortunately the demon inside you had other ideas. If you would use what little brain you had in your thick fucking skull, you would remember that." Spike's voice softened slightly and a far away look entered his eyes. "I don't want to be forced to control you, Xander. I don't want to treat you the way Angelus treated me, but if you disrespect and disobey me I'll make your unlife bleedin' hell. You'll find out first hand why the Order of Aurelius is feared throughout the world. Torture is what we do best." Instinctively Spike knew a part of Xander's reaction was a form of homophobia and he tried to placate him as well as he could.

"The demon inside you needs blood from me as well as physical intimacy. It doesn't have anything to do with being human or being gay and everything to do with being a vampire. No one but us knows what happened here last night or today and no one ever will. I swear that to you. I asked Anya to stay hoping that sex with your wife would satisfy your demon and you wouldn't need me. Your demon is strong, Harris, and it would still be in control right now if I had taken you the way you begged me to." When Spike finished he released his hold on Xander and stepped away from him, waiting for his words to penetrate the boys fogged brain.

Xander listened intently to everything Spike was saying even though he was trying like hell to ignore him. He searched inside himself and knew everything he was hearing was true. The demon inside him forced itself forward again, his true face emerging. "I'm sorry, sire." The voice was Xander's but it was deepened by the demon within. Suddenly the demon withdrew, leaving a shaken Xander crying at Spike's feet.

"Stand up, Xander." Xander stood and wiped at the tears coursing down his face. "Be your own man, vampire, whatever. But you will obey me. Until I am sure you can control the demon in you, you're not leaving my sight. I've got a lot to teach you. Now if you would like to call the Scoobies and let them know you're all right you can. BUT," Spike pointed a finger at Xander. "Until I give permission you can NOT see them."

"Why the hell not?" Xander defiantly asked.

Spike chuckled at the boy's disobedience; it reminded him of himself. "You would go insane with the need to feed with that many heartbeats surrounding you. Can you hear Anya's heart thundering?" Xander almost imperceptibly nodded.

"Imagine all the Scoobies here and what that would sound like. And don't forget the Slayer. The scent of her alone will bring the demon out of you. I don't want to control you and bend you to my will in front of your mates, or at all, really. Can you get that through your thick bloody skull?"

Again a slight nod from Xander was all the confirmation he received. "When you leave the comfort of your home, your senses are going to assault you. I want you in complete control before we ‘ave any contact with anyone at all other than Anya. There's a reason her presence innit distracting you more than it already is."

Confused, Xander looked at Anya and realized she was wearing her pendant and the implications. "When?"

"Our wedding night. Morgaine told me what was going to happen to you." She shrugged, "I knew I needed my powers back if we were going to be together. Don't worry, though, I'm not really a Vengeance Demon again. I only got back some of my powers. No wish granting here." Anya cheerfully smiled at him and embraced him. "You'd break me during sex if I hadn't gotten some of my strength back. Your strength is amazing. You're almost as strong as Spike now."

A smile of pride flitted across Spike's face. "'S'true. I've never encountered a fledgling as strong as you before. I need to teach you how to control and use your new strength and powers, do you think you can bloody well listen to me?"


"I'm the strongest fledgling you've ever seen?" This time the prideful smile stayed on Spike's face as he nodded. Xander sighed deeply. This was his life now. He needed to make the most of it and god knew he'd rather have Spike as his sire than Angel. "I'll obey, I'll listen, and I'll learn, but respect will come slowly." He acquiesced. Surprising himself, his wife and his sire, he stuck his hand out to Spike.


Spike gripped his hand in return and pulled Xander into an embrace. "You do all that, my childe, and I swear I'll never let Angel fuck you." Spike smirked when he felt Xander tense in his arms, realizing Angel was his sire's sire and could do whatever he wanted to with him. "I'll keep you safe forever, I swear." Spike nuzzled into Xander's neck, and with a short growl the two vampires fed from each other again.

"Spike, when can I bind Xander to me? I don't like him drinking blood that's not yours or mine." Anya held a strange combination of worry and arousal in her face as she looked at the two males locked together every bit as intimately as if they were having sex.

Releasing Xander, Spike looked back and forth between his childe and Anya. "Sooner than I thought, Anya, sooner than I thought. Go call your mates, Xander. They're worried about you. If you really need to see them Willow and Giles can come, but no one else."

Relief coursed through Xander. He desperately needed Willow. If anyone, Willow would be the one who could help him more than Anya and Spike. He knew he wasn't ready to face anyone else and he shakily dialed the phone. It was picked up on the first ring.

"Hello?" The sound of Willow's voice was music to his ears.

“Wills? It's Xander, can you come over by yourself?"

"Xander! Oh Goddess, I've been so worried, are you ok?" Relief started to wash over her like a giant tidal wave.

"Wills! I'm fine, or as fine as I can be. Spike said I could see you, but not anyone else. Will you come here?" It was evident from Xander’s tone that he had missed Willow every bit as much as she had missed him.

"Why can't you see anyone else?" Willow asked curiously.

"Something about heartbeats, slayer scent, and the need to feed. I don't really know but I need you. And can you pick up some more human blood?"

"I'm on my way, Xander. I'll bring as much blood as I can find. I don't know if Willy's got anymore or not." Willow was so excited that she hung up the phone before she finished her sentence.

"Thanks, Wills." Xander hung up the phone and decided to go take a shower. He didn't want to smell like sex when Willow got there.