Lost, or somewhere near there

Spike flicked through books, scanning for references to anything they could use. But everything was useless. Nobody had found anything and time was growing short.

"How's the spell hunting, Will?" Buffy asked, pausing her reading to check on her best friend, who sat as far away from Spike as possible.

"Just some smaller spells that, if used together, might be able to get me into Glory's head." Willow said, shrugging. "But I don't really want to do it that way."

"Would it work?" Spike asked, frowning at the idea of her dismissing it so easily.

"I could get into her head, but navigating it, finding Xander and Tara and then getting out...that would be near impossible." Willow told him. "I can't even be sure things would be that simple. I'm working on the idea that Tara and Xander's consciousnesses are stuck inside hers. For all I know, they could be stuck in their own minds. Or worse..."

"Worse?" Buffy asked, dreading the next bit of bad news that would only make their struggle harder.

"Well, we can't be sure they're even around anymore. I mean, what if they're gone?" Willow asked, the strength of her voice weakening slightly.

"Not gone." Spike said firmly. "Xander's in his own mind. I know it, alright? That's what we've got to work at. Setting them free."

"Spike, we don't know that." Giles argued. "We have to look at all the possibilities."

"If Xander as we know him wasn't in there, he wouldn't be the way he is. He might be insane, but he's Xander. Just the way Tara's still herself. Just a little lost, is all." Spike explained. "If you went inside their heads..."

"That's extremely dangerous, not to mention difficult." Giles pointed out.

"If it's the only way, I'll do it." Willow said, firmly.

"Show me how and I'll go and get Xander out. In fact, I insist on it." Spike told them.

"That won't be necessary." Giles interrupted. "We'll find anther way."

"We better, because there's less than a day left. Glory's going to be looking harder than ever." Buffy warned them.

"Wait, this..." Willow read over the page quickly. "This I could work with."

"What?" Spike jumped from his seat and was by her side, reading over her shoulder in seconds.

"I can link Glory to me. Bind her consciousness to mine. Then, I can use that link to set Tara and Xander free from the hold she has over them and hopefully that will bring them back." Willow explained.

"That sounds dangerous." Buffy commented.

Giles shook his head. "The risks you would take would be phenomenal. We have no idea what the side effects are. You could gain Glory's personality traits, even to the point of being taken over by her until none of you is left. And if she were to die...I can't let you take that risk."

"Will someone please shut this man up?" Spike grumbled. "Two people have lost their minds and he wants to try getting them back from the evil god with no risks attached? We need them back *now*. Risks are just something we've got to take."

"Spike..."

"No, Giles, he's right." Buffy interrupted. "We don't have time to be careful now. We have to act. And if it means taking risks, we do it."

"Or we could just turn the page over and find a better spell." Willow chipped in.

"A better spell?" Giles leaned over to read it.

"If I can get her to touch one of these..." Willow showed them all a diagram of a specially crafted jewel. "While Xander and Tara hold one too, I can return anything that doesn't belong to its rightful owner."

"It sounds vague." Giles murmured. "Nothing specific?"

"Well, it's under the mind control section of the book, so it'll do the job it's supposed to. Also, if anybody in the triangle is wearing something that doesn't belong to them, it'll go bye bye."

Willow looked at Buffy, noticing the slayer looking off into the distance.

"Like that?" Buffy asked, looking over towards the living room doorway.

Everyone turned their heads to see what she was looking at.

"Jesus Xander!" Spike cried out, jumping up and running over to the naked boy, watching them all.

Willow and Giles quickly averted their eyes, while Buffy stared, her eyes wide with shock. Xander quickly threw his arms around Spike's waist.

Spike noted Buffy watching them and frowned. "What's the matter? Never seen a bloke naked before? Though I suppose with your taste in blokes it may come as a shock to see a real man." He quipped, holding on to the squirming boy that no longer wanted cuddles, but wanted to scare the girls in the room with his rather obvious erection.

Buffy's cheeks flamed red and she looked away. "Will you please dress him again?"

"Planning on it." Spike said, trying to lead Xander out and towards the stairs.

"Too hot, burning. It's all burning in here. You'll burn too, stay away!" Xander yelled at him.

"Spike!" Buffy yelled as an after thought. "Remember what you promised."

"Yeah, yeah, no touching." Spike muttered, before taking Xander out of there and leaving the three humans to their embarrassed silence.

*****

"Spike." Xander smiled, proud with himself for remembering the vampire's name.

Spike tried not to, but cracked a smile back anyway. "You really know how to keep a vamp on his toes."

"It hurts." Xander whined, looking down at his groin. "I'm on fire. Put me out."

Spike raised his eyebrows. "Oh, you want...no. Can't do anything about it, pet. Promised Buffy, I did. And you're gonna be normal again soon. Can't have you thinking I... Don't give me that look, you can do it yourself. I'll go wait outside or something."

Xander grew bored with the conversation and lay back on the bed, looking up at the ceiling. His eyes closed, as if he were in real pain. "Make the noises stop, they're too loud. Talking, talking, talking. My ears, they're...hurting. Everything hurts."

Spike watched him helplessly. "S'alright, be over soon."

Xander started scratching at his chest. "It's okay, I'll get them out, I'll make them stop."

Spike walked over, grabbing Xander's wrists to stop him from hurting himself. "You're a devious little bastard, you are. But there is no way I'm going to do anything to you, understand? Don't care how loud you play the guilt trip song."

Xander kicked out, catching Spike's hip. "The bad man shouldn't play in here anymore because he locks the door and boards the windows and it's his fault everything's so cold."

Spike lay down next to him on the bed. "Yep, that pretty much covers it."

"Did you feed the cats? The cats are trying to get out and they keep crying." Xander whispered. "I have to go..."

Spike sat up quickly as Xander did, watching with confusion as Xander walked away, his face emotionless. "Hey, wait..."

Xander tried to get free, but Spike held on tight. "Gotta get you dressed, then you can run off."

Holding onto the squirming boy with one hand and grabbing at the discarded clothes with the other, Spike attempted to dress Xander.

*****

"Buffy!" Spike shouted, as he walked down the stairs after Xander, who seemed to be on a mission of his very own.

Buffy, Willow and Giles appeared, followed by Dawn from upstairs. They watched as Xander went for the door.

"I think he's being called somewhere." Spike told them.

A door opened upstairs and Tara appeared, pushing past Dawn to walk downstairs, in the same manner as Xander had.

"Should we stop them or follow them?" Willow asked Buffy quickly.

"We're not ready for the spell, we'll have to stop them for now. Dawn, get the rope out of the basement." Buffy instructed. "Spike grab Xander, I'll get Tara. Giles get some chairs and Willow...hurry up with the spell stuff."

"I just need the Ametrine stones, I have everything else. The spell's already started, it just needs to be cast." Willow told them. "I can get the stones at the Magic Shop, they stock loads. They're usually used as spiritual cleansers."

"Go with Giles, and be quick." Buffy told her, holding onto Tara as she followed Spike into the living room.

Both holding onto a crazy person, they waited for Dawn and Giles to get everything in place before tying the two down.

"Sorry, luv." Spike murmured at Xander. "Know you're in a hurry, but you've only got to wait for Red to get back. We've figured it all out. Not long now." He stood, checking the security of the ropes before looking at Buffy.

"You've really got it bad." She sighed. "You're talking to him like he can understand you."

"He does understand me." Spike protested. "You just don't understand *him*."

"I hope Willow and Giles get back soon, this might be our only chance." Buffy said.

"Glory hasn't figured out who the key is, her time's almost up." Spike pointed out.

"Which means if we don't get to her soon, she'll come looking for us. I don't think I can protect everybody. I need to get Dawn out of here."

"Get Giles to take her somewhere. Me, you and the witch have got to help Xander." Spike told her.

"And Tara." Buffy reminded him.

"Right, yeah. Both of 'em." Spike agreed.

"I don't know if we can pull this spell off." Buffy said.

"Sounds easy enough, get Glory to hold a stone, chant a few words. That's it." Spike pointed out.

"What if we don't even have time for that? She might just kill us all and..."

"She doesn't know who Dawn is." Spike reminded her, his hand stroking Xander's hair as the boy began to mutter his annoyance at being tied down.

"I know, but..."

"Don't worry 'bout it, pet." Spike said, softly. "One thing at a time."

Buffy watched him, intently, before nodding. "Yeah."

*****

The front door slammed open and Willow ran inside, Giles close behind. "I've got everything, now we just need Glory. Give me five minutes to imbue the stones and close the spell and we're set to go."

Buffy nodded. "Right, I hope we're ready for this."

"How are you going to distract her?" Spike asked, still standing close to Xander as the young man struggled under the ropes.

"I'm gonna let her kick my ass." Buffy replied. "Or try to kick hers. Both probably."

"Then what, we throw a stone, she catches it and the witch mutters a few words." Spike snorted. "Sounds too easy to me."

"I know, but I trust Willow. She knows what she's doing." Buffy told him. "And you know what you're supposed to do?"

"Hold onto Xander, make sure he holds the stone at the right time." Spike checked. "Then duck as he attacks me for everything that's happened."

Buffy managed a wry smile. "We'll deal with the little problems after the big ones."

"I don't know, he might be a wimp, but when he gets pissed off..." Spike stopped. "I'll go, after this."

"Go?"

"Leave. Make things easier." Spike told her.

"Look at you, calling Xander a wimp when you're the one running away." Buffy commented. "And just as I was beginning to respect you."

Spike raised an eyebrow. "Because I lo...like, your mate? That's what it takes to get respect?"

"No, because you've done all this for nothing." Buffy pointed out. "I didn't expect you to stick around and help after you got used to the chip. But you did. And you've been here for Xander when he needed it the most. Not many soulless people out there would have done that."

"Supposed to be somewhere!" Xander yelled at them

"Be there, now. Going, need to be going." Tara muttered.

Spike remained silent, thinking it over, before frowning. "And for your information, William the Bloody does *not* run away. He walks away. There's a difference."

Buffy shook her head. "Just promise me you'll stay until we know the spell has worked and Glory's dead."

"Can't promise you anything." Spike murmured.

"Then promise me you'll stay until we know Xander's okay?" Buffy asked.

He looked at her. "You know I will."

"Okay, the spells cast." Willow told them, walking in, her eyes now completely black.

"Uh, Will...are they supposed to be that colour?" Buffy asked her, awkwardly.

"What? Oh! Don't worry about it, I've got a lot of magic running through me. It's kinda playing havoc with my body. But I need it right now if I'm going to have the power to pull this off."

Buffy nodded. "Alright. Lets set them free."

"I like how you're sure they'll take us to Glory. For all we know, they could have had a unanimous urge for a Burger King." Spike pointed out.

"It's our best shot, Spike." Buffy said, beginning to untie Tara.

Spike followed cue and started to free Xander. "Right, yeah..."

"Before we go, Willow and I had a few ideas on the way." Giles told Buffy.

Dawn appeared with the Buffybot, smiling at her sister. "Cool, huh?"

"It should keep Glory busy for a while." Willow added.

"No, it can stay here." Buffy told them. "And protect Dawn."

"What? I wanna go." Dawn argued.

"Nibblet, do as your told." Spike warned her. "This isn't a game. Glory wants to cut you open and use your blood to open a very dangerous portal that will eventually destroy the world."

"Well, when you put it like that..." Dawn sighed.

"And this..." Giles dragged a familiar object in with him. "Might do some actual damage."

Buffy looked over the heavy and extremely powerful hammer. "Hope so."

"Feel free to take if off me before it pulls my hands away from my wrists." Giles urged.

Buffy took the hammer off him and laid it down beside her. "Everybody ready?"

Spike looked at Xander. "Ready."

"Me too." Willow told them, holding onto the three stones carefully.

"As ready as we can be." Giles added.

"Spike." Buffy indicated at the ropes, as she pulled the last of hers away from Tara.

Spike did the same, freeing Xander and letting his hand linger on the boy's shoulder until Xander began to walk away.

They began to follow the two, Buffy holding onto the giant hammer, Willow with her stones and Spike and Giles following close behind.

*****

"What are *they* doing here?" Glory demanded as Xander and Tara walked into the enclosed area where a mass of crazy people were beginning construction.

"They're with me." Buffy said, smirking as she came into view. The hammer swung from below, catching Glory on the chin and sending her flying.

Glory stood up and nursed her face with one hand. "You are going to die *so* much." She brought her fist up and smacked Buffy hard, knocking the slayer to the floor.

Spike and Willow quickly thrust a stone into the hands of their partner, before Willow turned to face Glory, waiting for the right moment. "Hey, Glory!"

The stone flew at Glory's face and she caught it effortlessly, laughing at Willow's efforts. "Throwing stones? That's the best you've got?"

//By force of heart and mindful power,
By waning time and waxing hour
I echo Diana when I decree
That they I love must now be free!//

The words seemed to echo through the suddenly silent air. And for a moment, a split moment, everything froze. A blinding white light detonated between Glory, Tara and Xander, spreading like fire until it was drawn into the glowing stones held in their hands. Screams came from the three as their bodies felt as if they were being turned inside out and cleansed of everything that didn't belong to them. The light finally sank into the stones, disappearing into a small fade. And then nothing.

Glory sank to her knees, feeling as if she hadn't eaten in decades. She no longer held the minds of her victims. Her eyes rolled back and she collapsed, transforming back into the human male she'd shared a body with her entire existence in this dimension.

Spike ran to Xander's side as he stumbled and fell, his eyes clenched shut from the light and his ears ringing with the sheer power of the silent force that had ripped him apart and put him back together. Piece by piece.

"Xander? You okay?" Spike called out, his practiced cool failing and worry controlling his voice.

It hurt to think, hurt to exist, but the voice still soothed when it should have made things worse. "Sp...ike..."

Spike glanced over at Willow, who was near exhausted from the spell, but still managed to cradle a shocked Tara in her arms. He felt Xander trying to stand and helped him up.

Xander tried to catch his breath but there was no oxygen to catch. Everything stopped spinning and suddenly...there was Spike. Worried look, hand outstretched in a hesitant help offering. It hit Xander like a tidal wave, and without warning, he bolted.

Spike watched him run, making great effort not to chase after him. It was what he'd expected, but it still hurt to watch it.

Buffy stood above Ben, trying to figure out what it all meant. Had Ben been Glory all this time? Was he an alter ego of the Hell God? She raised the hammer and closed her eyes, before bringing it down.

*****

Xander stood by the living room doorway, watching Willow hold Tara and whisper things they wanted no one else to hear. He looked across and saw Buffy, who stared out of the window, both happy and afraid of what had happened. Giles was trying to keep it all together, cleaning the house and ensuring everybody ate on time. But Xander saw the pain in his eyes. Giles wouldn't stay with them much longer. That Xander was sure of. Dawn sat by herself, pondering what she was now...what it all meant. Xander wanted so badly to comfort them all. So lost in their own losses and pains that they failed to see what was happening to any one else. No one offered him comfort. But no one saw what he'd been through. Not even Tara.

He walked out, none of them even noticing.

*****

He couldn't sleep. Hadn't expected to be able to. Couldn't even watch TV. He was going to leave, wanted to. But he'd made a promise. One he wanted to keep as much as he wanted to break. So he told himself he'd wait a day. One day more. He'd go back to England for a while, find some old friends that hadn't heard about his chip. Pretend he was back to normal for five minutes.

He sat in silence, waiting for the sun to set so he could go out and find the nearest bar. Drinking always was his way.

He heard the door open hesitantly and laughed quietly to himself. "Haven't left yet, slayer. Told ya to leave me in peace."

"Spike."

The smile faded as the sound of the voice sunk in. Quick decision and he knew that a lot could count on the one he made. Act cool or be honest.

It was no competition.

"Harris, what you doing all the way out here?" Spike asked, not moving from his seat.

Xander went to leave, but stopped, taking a deep breath before walking back over and into Spike's view. "I want to talk."

"Thought you were Buffy." Spike smirked. "She was here before you know."

"I know." Xander answered. "When I asked her where she'd been, she stuttered so much I thought I was talking to a broken Buffybot. Wasn't too hard to figure out she'd been here. None of them will talk about you. And also Dawn keeps going on about 'Will and Grace' and how cool it is to be gay these days. I think they're waiting for me to tell them something."

Spike lost his cool and smiled. "Yeah, well, we all act weird when we lose our minds. It's the whole point of losing your mind. Get to do whatever it is you wouldn't do when you're sane. Not that you'd want to...when you're, now you're sane. You probably didn't want to...uh, hang on, I'll get it right in a minute."

"Now you're doing it." Xander chastised. "Is no one going to be normal around me anymore?"

"Well, you did flash everybody." Spike pointed out. "Disturbed them all, no doubt."

"Thank you." Xander said, suddenly.

"What I do?" Spike asked.

"Well, you stopped me from doing some pretty insane things." Xander told him. "And you were civil to me."

"Civil?"

"Okay, you were nice. Nicer than everybody if I recall." Xander looked away nervously. "Just...that was more than I would have expected from you."

"Well, only did it because..."

Xander looked up, waiting for Spike to finish.

"Because...I...wanted the money. Giles paid me." Spike said, quickly.

"Oh."

"Wasn't so bad anyway. We had some fun, right?" Spike asked.

Xander snorted. "Fun? Spike, I stripped in front of Buffy, Willow and Giles. I hit Willow, I said some really weird things and I practically attacked you."

Spike couldn't stop his smile. "You didn't *attack* me, exactly. Nothing I couldn't have stopped."

"Did you mean any of it?" Xander asked.

"Of what?"

"The things you said. I remember them. Most of them." Xander looked down at his feet. "You said you...liked me."

Spike said nothing.

"It's okay if you didn't mean it. Or if you did. I just need to know."

"Why?"

"Because it matters."

"Does it?" Spike asked, walking away.

"Haven't you learnt anything? Jesus Spike, I was all over you the whole time and you really think I did that because I was crazy. Okay, so I did do it because I was crazy, but there was a reason I chose that particular crazy behaviour, you know."

"Listen, everything that's gone on is way over my head. I don't help slayers, I don't fight Hell Gods and I don't love..."

"Me." Xander finished.

Spike stared at him, wishing for once he had the power to say what he wanted to. "I promised her I'd stay until you turned out to be okay. So I guess I can leave now."

"But I'm not okay." Xander argued. "Far from it."

"You're alive and sane." Spike replied.

"But not okay." Xander said. "You know, I'd go out and get my brain messed with again if it would make this easier. I want you to stay."

Spike raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

"Because I love it when you insult me, why do you think?" Xander sighed. "Stay. With me."

"You don't really..."

"Oh, I do." Xander interrupted. "I really really do."

"Really want me to stay?" Spike asked him.

"Want me to prove it?" Xander asked. "Name it. I'll do it."

"Xander..."

"No, come on. You need proof. I'm gonna prove it. Tell me what you want." Xander demanded.

Spike smiled. "Just you."

"You got me." Xander said, softly.

"Do I?" Spike asked. "Do you even know what that means?"

"Want to stay here, with you. Want you to be the one I wake up to. God, even want everyone to know about us."

"They know." Spike told him. "Knew before we did."

"That's typical. How am I supposed to shock and traumatise those I love with a coming out speech if they already know I'm out?" Xander joked.

"You really want to stay tonight?"

"You know I do." Xander answered.

"Want to tell your friends first?" He asked.

Xander shook his head. "They're all somewhere else at the moment. Leave it a few days. Then we can tell them what they already know."

Spike smiled. "Got you to myself for a few days?"

Xander laughed. "This is the real test, whether we can stand each other for forty eight hours straight."

"I think I'll mange. I had to baby-sit you while you were a loony nymphomaniac, I'm sure I can handle you like this." Spike pointed out.

"We'll see." Xander smiled, leaning forward and kissing Spike gently.

Getting over the surprise quickly, Spike pulled Xander's body to his and kissed him back, a surge of relief and excitement filling his mind.

And that's when he knew. Spike, big bad vampire, was in love with a human.

*****

"Was scary, you know? Like I was there, but I was locked away in this room. And it was just so dark and cold. And the noise, it was so bad, Spike. I thought I was dead. She took me out of myself and made me suffer like that. Why? I mean, it doesn't make sense."

"She fed on your sanity, pet." Spike told him. "But we found you."

"You found me." Xander said, quietly.

"Witch did all the work, I was just there to hold your hand." Spike corrected.

He sat on the edge of the armchair, next to Spike, every so often moving a little closer. He was now practically on the vampire's lap. And neither of them seemed to mind.

"You must be so tired, you can have my bed." Spike offered.

"With you in it?" Xander asked, playfully.

Spike snorted. "Well, I wasn't gonna sleep on the floor, was I?"

Xander smiled mischievously. "I'm not really tired, but I wouldn't mind going to bed now."

Spike raised his eyebrows. "Now? We have two whole days together and you want to do it now?"

"We can do it later too. And after that. And pretty much..."

"Alright, I get the picture." Spike shook his head in confusion. "I was expecting you to want to wait, be friends first and all that."

"Okay, you met me while I was insane, right?" Xander teased. "Seriously, I don't want to wait. I've really waited long enough. And maybe it's rushing, but I don't want to have to sleep in the same bed as you and *not* touch you."

Spike held up his hands in protest. "Don't have to convince me, I was with you at 'now'."

*****

Spike was sure he'd lost his mind. He was letting his guard down and letting this human in and technically, they'd only really admitted to liking each other a few hours before. But he wanted Xander more than he could express, and the idea that Xander wanted him just as much was enough to make it all worth it.

He made the first move that night, kissing Xander softly, as if he was afraid Xander would change his mind.

He didn't. And held Spike closer to him, pouring all that desperate want into it until he was left breathless and had to break away.

Xander pulled his sweater over his head and threw it aside, leaning in to start on Spike's shirt buttons. He looked up at Spike as he undid them one by one, their eyes locked on each other.

Xander pulled Spike's shirt back for him and it fell to the floor. His hands immediately rose to the bare chest, captivated by the look and feel of Spike so close to him. Spike tilted Xander's head back up to kiss him, their bodies now pressed together. Spike could feel Xander's erection through his pants and broke away, cocky smile on his face. His hand went for Xander's zipper, quickly pushing the pants down along with Xander' boxers.

Xander closed his eyes as Spike's hand wrapped around his cock, moving slowly across the hard length. He began to breathe harder, his grip on Spike's arm tightening.

Spike stopped suddenly, before lowering to his knees. Xander watched in awe as Spike brought the tip of the cock to his lips, his tongue extending to taste it before he took the head into his mouth. Xander almost gasped at the feeling of Spike's tongue teasing and playing mercilessly before he took the length deep down his throat.

"Fuck, Spike, don't stop..." He cried out, his eyes clenched shut with the sheer pleasure it was sending through his body.

Xander didn't last long under the practiced technique and he came with a sated groan, his hand running through Spike's hair in appreciation.

Spike stood, taking his own pants off and releasing his hard dick. He began stroking himself as he looked at Xander. "Get on the bed."

Xander couldn't contain his excitement and bounded onto the bed, the last of his clothes being removed quickly.

As soon as Spike was completely naked, he moved closer, climbing on and over Xander before reaching under his pillow for his lube.

Xander watched with interest as Spike ran his coated hand across his cock, covering himself before looking back at Xander. "Turn over, it'll be easier for you this way."

Xander turned onto his stomach, waiting for Spike to carry on.

Spike moved over until he kneeled between Xander's legs. His hands rested on Xander's legs, as he looked Xander's amazing body over. He was so hard, he was afraid he wouldn't last two seconds once he was inside.

Xander shivered at the feeling of Spike's hands on his legs, so cold against heated skin. They travelled up his thighs with slow deliberation, resting softly on his ass, caressing the tense muscles into relaxing. Spike uttered a few words of encouragement to quell Xander's fears before he used a lubed finger to push inside Xander's ass, gently. It moved slowly, easing Xander's muscles into a relaxed state.

As a second finger eased inside, his other hand slid up Xander's back, sending shivers up his spine. A third finger was inserted and Xander allowed himself to moan in appreciation.

"Oh God, Spike, feels so good..."

Spike smiled, his spare hand rubbing in a circular motion across Xander's back, both relaxing and stimulating the rest of his body. "Gonna fuck you now, pet, just relax. I'll try not to hurt you."

Xander nodded, too busy biting his lip to answer back. He felt the fingers being pulled away and they were soon replaced with something much larger. Xander clenched his fists as Spike eased his cock inside, stretching Xander until he groaned loudly.

"You alright, Pet?" Spike asked, stopping quickly before the chip could fry his brain.

"It's okay." Xander whispered. "Just feels weird."

Spike nodded, cautiously continuing until he was all the way in. He began to move slowly, his hands now clasping Xander's hips. "So tight...fuck, Xan, you don't know how good this feels."

Xander soon got used to the feeling and as the discomfort faded, the pleasure began to set in. He moved his ass with every movement Spike made, groaning as Spike began to pick up speed.

Spike's hands held onto Xander hips, occasionally running up to his waist, shaking with the movements of his pelvis as he thrust back and forth with rising speed.

Spike's own moans pierced the silent crypt, filling Xander's ears with his pleasure, which only served to heighten his own. Just one touch was creating orgasmic vibrations under the skin that teased every inch of his body.

Spike felt the orgasm hit and he thrust deep inside, coming hard and fast.

*****

Xander lay, exhausted, over Spike's chest, his ear against Spike's dead heart. They sat in comfortable silence, enjoying the afterglow in their own special way.

Spike was the first to break the silence, his hand skimming against Xander's cheek to bring him out of a daydream.

"Gotta tell your mates soon."

There was a hesitant nod from the human. "Until then, can we just be us?" Xander asked him, his arms still wrapped protectively across Spike's chest.

"We can be 'us' for as long as you like." Spike told him, his hand brushing across Xander's hair playfully. "M'not going anywhere."

Xander smiled up at the vampire. "Good, 'cause I kinda like you right here."

*****

The End