Old Enemies... (S/X)

* * * * * * * * *
Part 26

Trevor forgot all about how Elliot had taken control of the situation when he stepped inside the house. There were girls running towards one of the salons on the heels of a loud boom that actually rattled a few windows.

What could he do other than join them?

There was obviously something going on, and the fact that it was happening NOW was just too coincidental. It HAD to have something to do with Harris.

It took a few moments to push his way through the fifteen or so girls crowding the doorway, and when he did, he stopped and stared.

Andrew… naked and standing with a redhead who seemed to be trying to help a blonde to her feet. The fact that he could see small tendrils of glowing mist surrounding the redhead was what had his brow cocked. And the blonde woman… she had to be the Slayer, judging by how much the… witch… was babbling her name.

He didn’t want to do it, but he didn’t really think he had much choice, and once he’d gathered himself, he stepped forward.

“SILENCE!” he bellowed, using the command voice that was one of the few remainders of his previous existence. He smiled a rather sickly smile when Andrew and the witch turned to stare at him. He saw that the redhead’s eyes were entirely black from lid to lid and sighed. It was just his luck. Not only a witch, but THE witch. The Maiden-Crone.

“I thought you were in South America,” he said by way of greeting. “Andrew,” he nodded to the naked man before taking off his coat and tossing it to him. “The girls,” he explained, smiling a little when the Watcher blushed and covered himself up, Trevor’s coat hanging almost to his ankles.

His eyes shifted to the Slayer who stood motionless, staring at him with a curious look in her eyes. “And I’m betting you’re Buffy Summers. The Slayer.”

Buffy smiled, cocking her head towards the tall, tasty hunk of yum. “You’ve heard of me? I’m flattered. Wish I could say the same.”

Trevor sighed softly. “Of course I’ve heard of you, Miss Summers. I’m a Watcher, after all. I think we’ve ALL heard of you. I’ve just never had the pleasure until now. I’m Trevor Arcady. It’s nice to meet you.”

The blonde flipped her hair back and smiled again. “How is it that we’ve never met? I thought I knew all the Watchers on staff. Or are you new?”

Andrew cleared his throat and moved to stand beside Trevor. “He’s on MY staff, Buffy. And he’s been on special assignment for the last few years. By MY authority.”

“I’m stationed in New York,” Trevor added.

For her part, Willow didn’t know what to do. She was glad the guy had shown up before she’d completely disgraced herself. Imagine a little thing like a spatial portal suprising her so much.

But add to that the fact that she’d never known Andrew had secret Watchers, and the VOICE the man had used… she figured maybe she had a right. She’d been forced to submit to the voice, and… that had never happened before. She shifted her vision to the OTHER plane and gazed at him, swallowing a gasp at what she saw.

“Andrew. Andrew, he’s…”

“I know, Willow,” Andrew muttered. “I’ll tell you later. But trust me, he’s on our side.”

Oblivious to what was going on around her, Buffy grinned and sat down on the couch. “Oh, New York? I’ve always wanted to go there. All those stores… it must be Heaven!” She sighed softly, wishing she could find the time to go there some day. “And what exactly do you Watch in New York? I didn’t know there were any potentials there…”

“Like I said, he’s on special assignment,” Andrew said, trying to rescue the situation.

“Spike,” Trevor said at the same time. “I watch Spike.”

Buffy blinked, then blinked again. “Oh… you mean the incubus that LOOKS like Spike. Yeah, he’s a problem. Did you know he somehow made our Xander think he really WAS Spike?” She frowned. “But don’t worry. We took care of that. Xander doesn’t even remember the real Spike now, much less the Spike-ubus.”

“Spike-ubus?” Willow muttered, shaking her head. “Only Buffy.”

“Andrew,” Trevor said dangerously, his eyes narrowing as he stared at the Slayer, “Tell her. Tell her now, because I honestly… can’t stand being in the same room with her for much longer.”

Gods… the bitch! She’d made Harris forget Spike entirely? He wasn’t sure of how that was possible. She was a Slayer, not a… His eyes narrowed more, turning to the redhead. The bright blush the girl wore answered his unspoken question.

As Andrew moved closer to the blonde, Trevor twitched his fingers slightly placing a tight web around the woman. If she tried to attack his friend, she’d be restrained, and with no chance of escaping until HE willed it. He wasn’t entirely sure of how the Slayer would react to the news, after all, and… better safe.

He closed in on the smallish redhead, his face stern.

“Maiden-Crone Rosenberg… you have been a VERY bad wiccan.”

* * * * *

“That would be me, luv,” Harris heard, something about that voice making him shiver. He almost thought it sounded familiar, but… no. He would remember anyone who sounded so… perfectly Spark-ish.

Harris turned slowly, his eye widening even as his heart skipped a beat. “S-s-sp…”

“Spike, luv,” the vampire said gently, closing the small distance between them. “You can’t tell me you don’t know me. I’m your luv, pet… yours. More yours than I am my own… an’ you’re mine.” He leaned in, his nose skimming lightly down then up the side of his beloved’s neck. “You know me, Xan,” he whispered into the man’s ear, “Intimately…”

Harris shivered again, something within him begging for the man’s touch. He’d never felt anything like the need he felt right then. This guy… he was exactly the way he’d pictured his character Spark and he was more than halfway in love with the character. He groaned loudly, doing his damnedest to keep his hands from touching the body almost pressed against him.

“I… I wish you were right,” he whispered sadly, “But I… I don’t… know… you… at all…” He groaned again as the man pulled back slightly. “I… I wish I… did…”

Spike shook his head and lifted one hand, touching the collar of Xander’s shirt. “You’ve got a scar under there, luv… can’t see it with the shirt on, but it’s there.” His fingers pressed gently against the spot he remembered biting twice.

“You got that scar from me, pet… an’ I’ve got a matchin’ one from you.” He took Xander’s hand in his free one and raised the fingers to the mark on his own neck, gasping softly as the warm fingers pressed his skin. “You feel that, beloved? ‘s a sign of luv… not just lust an’ wantin’…”

Spike sighed, seeing how confused his Xan was. “Believe me, luv… you know me very well indeed. Better than anyone else walkin’ this spinnin’ ball of mud.” His fingers pressed harder against the scar he knew was beneath the shirt and he sighed. “Please, luv… TRY ta remember…” He was going to KILL the Slayer for whatever she’d done to his claimed.

* * * * *

Elliot chuckled silently at the look on Harris’s face. His friend was besotted, which really didn’t surprise him considering it was Will making him feel that way.

He was still worried about what the strange form of amnesia might mean—and it WAS definitely strange. His friend seemed to remember everything but the blond who loved him, but… at least Harris was back where he belonged. With Will. In Will’s arms. They’d deal with the man’s memory issues later.

If anyone had ever told him even a month earlier that he’d be in London right then, hoping a vampire would finish claiming his friend, he would have died laughing. Hell, a month ago vampires were fictional to him. But he’d seen how Harris was when he was with Will. He’d seen how… happy his friend had been. And while a small part of him still regretted that HE hadn’t been the one to make Harris feel that fulfilled, it was just as well. His best friend needed things he’d never be able to give him. But Will could and would give Harris everything he needed. And that made Elliot happy, as well.

Besides, the blond realized, there was Trevor. He wasn’t sure of what the young man would make of his abrupt change in attitude. He’d always been a good bit submissive with him, but with Harris missing he’d called on some of his earlier training and stepped in. Hopefully Trevor wouldn’t mind once he explained. He didn’t want to lose whatever it was they’d started.

A loud groan forced his attention back to Harris and Will and he grinned as he saw the blond’s face buried in the crook of his friend’s neck. Good. At least they were moving in the right direction. Then his eyes were drawn to the very young blond man standing in the doorway of the club watching the couple with confused eyes.

“Robert, right?” Elliot said softly, approaching the man. “This… well, it’s complicated, but…”

He took the young man’s arm and led him back inside, buying him a very strong Jack and Coke at the bar as he explained what little he knew.