Recombination

“I’m way too old for this,” Xander shook himself as he climbed out of the shower, the warmth from it visible in steam clouds and pink-tinged skin. As steam softly floated from his body, he towel dried his wet hair letting the rest of the steam enfold him. He was grateful to now be able to take hot showers; though both he and Spike loved them, since living with Buffy they’d had to relinquish them to the hormonal-oestrogen filled crowd that outnumbered them. It had got to the point when both he or Spike were ready to kill for some privacy. Luckily Buffy’s immediate neighbours had solved that problem by leaving Sunnydale in the wake of impending doom; the family had even left most of the furniture just loaded up all the could and ran for it.

Not that anyone could blame them; many families were leaving fast after what the First’s creature had done to them and Xander was sure many more would leave when the apocalyptic stuff started happening. Still it worked out well for him and Spike, they now had their own place with plenty of hot water. Tossing the towel to one side, he strolled into their bedroom and collapsed on the bed.

“God this is bliss,” Xander groaned as he laid his head back against the soft mattress, his body easing onto it before going limp. “Pure bliss,”

He sighed again, enjoying the softness against his bruised body. He was glad the week was over, not to mention the night; though Buffy had set a precedent for them all to follow nearly a week ago by destroying the Turok-Han, the Potentials (or the majority of them) still had difficulty believing in Slayer abilities and there own strengths. Which meant whilst they, the Scoobies, drew together as a family secure in the knowledge that they all had something to offer- the Potentials were still fighting amongst themselves and second guessing their own actions.

Xander was definitely going to make it a policy not to go with the Potentials when Buffy and Spike took them patrolling; the majority of them were still too uncoordinated and unappreciative of the Hellmouth, twice he’d had to dive in and help only to get tossed to the ground by mistake. Next time he’d leave it to the professionals. Speaking of which- he twisted his head to one side to look at his lover; Spike was watching him from the doorway, a slight smirk on his lips as his eyes devoured the image of Xander’s naked and damp body against the pristine white duvet cover.

“Like what you see?” Xander rolled to one side, one hand propping him up under his neck as the other trailed along his chest flicking away water beads; he’d learnt not to dry after showering or bathing, he was always back in the shower a few minutes later with his enthusiastic partner.

“Always pet,” Spike grinned, not moving from the doorway, just appreciating and leering over the view Xander presented.

Xander raised an eyebrow in a parody of Spike, “So what are you waiting for? An engraved invitation?”

Spike smirked, “Something like that.” He answered as he moved into the room. He still made no effort to actually go to Xander though neither were too worried by it; Xander knew exactly why Spike was hovering in the doorway, the Vampire was waiting for Annemarie to stop calling for them and fall asleep. The toddler had taken to disliking sleep and the darkness, especially after she saw Buffy remove the head from the Turok-han, she’d started calling for one or both of them the instant she was placed in her bed. Although Spike put on air of nonchalance with Annemarie when the others were around, his actions spoke louder then words-especially to the rest of the Scoobies who knew how committed he truly was to the child.

Right now Spike’s actions were torn; he was wavering between listening out for Annemarie and being distracted by Xander. Luckily for Spike he didn’t have to waver for too long, after a few minutes Annemarie fell into a light sleep and with lighting speed Spike stripped off his clothes, tossing them to the floor quickly. His eyes on Xander he stalked predatorily towards the bed; with a playful growl and a quick, effortless movement Spike straddled Xander, leaning forward to kiss the man deeply.

Xander inclined his head, raising up slightly to deepen the kiss as his hands skirted over the pale, toned flesh beneath them. It had been far too long since they’d had anytime together to just enjoy being with each other; as Spike often said ‘a quickie took the edge off but a long, slow shag was always better’-especially when it was with someone you loved. Though they’d not said the words, their unspoken commitment was evident; loving wasn’t saying or even shagging, loving was knowing.

Xander groaned, thrown from his musings as Spike kissed down his neck. He turned his head slightly, shivering as the blond nipped lightly at his skin, just above the collar bone; some unknown, but seemingly natural compulsion had Xander braced for Spike to bite down, but not braced for the pain- waiting for something else. Xander had to resist the urge to ask Spike to do something that would have repelled him at one time, not only because he wasn’t sure how too but because he knew it would be unfair to tempt his lover when the chip stopped him from biting.

Unbeknown to Xander, Spike was itching to fulfil Xander’s need; to him biting had always been just for sex, not for the before or the after, it was about dominance and making someone yours. Spike wanted all of that and more; at that instant he wanted to hold Xander close and slowly bite down, binding them in ties deeper then simple vows could. He wanted to make Xander his and be only Xander’s, but he couldn’t. Spike couldn’t claim him in sex nor love and so he pushed the need aside and focused on what they could share-pleasure.

Looking up at Xander’s flushed face, Spike’s tongue replaced the man’s finger as he licked and kissed his way along Xander’s chest. Teasing the man's nipples with his tongue, Spike smirked at the hoarse cry he gained in response and made a mental note to encourage Xander to pierce the small nubs as soon as possible. Spike’s tongue flicked teasingly down Xander’s belly and he blew lightly into his belly button, eliciting a slight shudder from the man. Kissing lower, Spike heard Xander’s heartbeat increase and felt his lover’s hands in his hair; just as he opened his mouth to lavish the same treatment on Xander’s lower body, the doorbell rang making them both jump.

Spike shook his head, “Ignore it,” He looked up at Xander knowing neither of them had the luxury of really doing so especially as the ringing had changed to furious pounding. Spike cursed as Xander’s erection wilted slightly with each knock,

“Guess the Slayer’s got some big bad she needs help with,” He rolled off Xander, frustrated by the interloper and pulled on his jeans, adamant that he would give the unlucky person something to be equally as pissed off about

Rolling over to one side to grab his blue robe, Xander shook his head, “No Buffy took Dawn out with her, sister bonding thing at the Bronze. And it can’t be Giles, he’s taken the potentials up to see the hokey kokey first Slayer.” He tied the robe hurriedly as he narrowed it down to Willow, Andrew or Connor. None of which he particularly wanted seeing him half naked, enjoying fellatio with Spike; Willow would squeak and not be able to look either of them in the eyes for a week (as she had the last two times), Connor would be disgusted or freaked out as he stayed in his own world of denial and Andrew…Andrew would enjoy it too much.

Xander sighed, “Guess we’ll have to give up for now,”

“Not give up pet, just put on hold till I sort this bloody bugger out. Best be Red, if it’s the kid or Angel’s brat I might be forced to revoke my ‘no hitting humans’ rule and suffer the headache. Bloody wankers, interrupting us just when we’re getting going-“ Spike broke off and pulled Xander to him, claiming his lips in a hard, fast kiss that had the man panting a little.

Spike smirked, “Put the goods away Xan, my eyes only,” he leered at Xander’s robe which was now gaping at the front courtesy of crafty, preternatural movements and sauntered off to answer the front door leaving Xander to hurriedly and firmly, re-tie his robe.

Quickly pulling on some underwear, just in case Spike tried anything again, slowed Xander down long enough for Spike to answer the door with his customary, “What now?” Only this time instead of the usual sniping that followed, Xander heard his lover roar and slam the hapless visitor against the wall. Almost tripping over the remainder of Spike’s clothes, Xander raced out into the concourse to intervene between the two.

Xander didn’t expect to see Spike in gameface, pinning someone face first against their wall. The Vampire was snarling at the man who struggled in his grip, his eyes flashing an angry amber as he growled at him. “What the fuck are you then?”

As Xander approached Spike swung the man he held around and slammed him back against the wall. As the guy let out a whiny cry Spike gripped harder, one hand moving around his throat. “It’s a fucking trick Xan, the Firsts screwing with us again.” His glower deepened, as did the hand around the man’s throat.

Xander didn’t make a move to help either of them, though had he been able too he would have joined Spike in throttling. He stared at the man Spike gripped, Warren the now deceased Troika leader was struggling in his grip panic on his face.

“The First doesn’t have a form Spike, he’s not it.” Xander frowned as he moved closer, noting but not really caring that Warren’s face was turning a deep red colour. It was the brown haired, usually whiny (though Spike had solved that problem), geek that had caused them no end of problems in the past; except as Xander drew closer he noticed something different about him. It wasn’t the way he looked, he was exactly as he had been before, but something in his eyes-there was something familiar Xander couldn’t quite place.

Not able to work out what it was, Xander’s mind rejected the thought which kept resurfacing, demanding attention and insisting it was true; as Spike squeezed harder, Xander saw something in the figure before him, something fleeting but vivid enough to make his thought ring true. In that instant, beneath Warren’s exterior, Xander saw Willow.

“Let her go, Spike let her go.” Xander leapt forward grabbing the Vampire’s wrist. “It’s not a trick, trust me. Use your senses, it’s Willow under there I know it.”

“Xan, pet, you’re going a bit nutty. This is Warren remember, the wanker who royally screwed us over last year.” Spike glared at the man responsible for so much heartache, yet he loosened his grip letting Warren gulp in some much needed air.

Xander wrapped his arm around Spike’s shoulder, “Trust me Spike, take a step back. It’s Willow under there I know it,” he hesitated, “I just don’t know how I know it.”

Spike’s eyes narrowed, not trusting Warren an inch, but trusting Xander enough to let the geek go and take a good, hard look at him. After a few seconds he shrugged, not seeing anything different in the geek who slumped against the wall, panting as he regained his breath. Inhaling deeply, Spike started to turn towards Xander and froze scenting something different, something that he’d not noticed in his fury. Barely noticeable but teasing on the edge of his mind, Spike sensed the unmistakable presence of Willow. The Vampire stared down Warren and in one fluid movement pulled him upright.

Xander moved to intercept; sure that Warren was actually Willow, he didn’t want his long-time best friend hurt because Spike couldn’t sense what Xander could. He paused suddenly as Spike stared suspiciously into Warren’s face before leaning closer and inhaling deeply at his neck. Xander locked eyes with Warren and nodded to the man letting him know it was fine and to remain still until Spike finished.

“It’s her Xan, your right.” Spike released Warren, staring at the man, “Sorry luv, but what the hell happened? You keep batting for the same team an you turn into one of the opposite?”

Warren looked warily at him for a moment, massaging his throat. “It-it’s okay, I sorta had that reaction myself except I killed the mirror giving me seven years bad luck.” He looked down at himself, “Not that I need it trapped in this nightmare.” He shuddered, “Bad enough being a guy but why him? Why his face?” He looked pleadingly from Xander to Spike as if they knew the answer.

Xander shook his head helplessly but Spike seemed sure of his answer, “Mojo Red, It’s gotta be the magic.” Spike paused, his gaze thoughtful, “What made you turn from your witchiness to the great geek?”

Xander was mildly amused to note that even in Warren’s body Willow’s blushes were still extremely obvious, as Warren was now a nice shade of red.

“Kennedy.” Warren went a mahogany colour as the blush deepened, “I kissed her for the first time..” he paused, “Then she hit me with a lamp.”

“Not the greatest of first kisses then but good on the getting to first base Willow,” Xander smiled genuinely glad she was starting to get back into the dating game, although still worried about the turn of events. “Hey I thought she was sick?”

“She faked it.” Warren sighed, “She wanted to seduce me, which worked but then…manliness and not the greatest specimen either.” He looked so downcast Xander put his arm around him, which was definitely more uncomfortable for him, since Willow relaxed resting Warren’s head on Xander shoulder. Given the face Xander wanted to cringe away but he knew it was Willow underneath and so he stayed still.

“Least I didn’t have to use the kindergarten stories,” Warren sighed as he straightened up, managing a timorous smile, “I was ready to talk Aquaman underoos-long story.” He added hastily, noting Spike’s interest and looming smirk. “I just don’t understand why my magic’s going all wacky and …oh my goddess Kennedy! I left her in the house, I knew I could get you guys to believe me but we have to get back before she goes out looking for me.” A horrified look came over his face, as Waren considered the potential badness that situation could lead them too.

“You want us to come with, luv?” Spike crossed his arms over his bare chest, “might be a bit draughty especially for Xander but we can manage.”

“No I’ll handle it, I did this..” Warren paused his skin returning to its familiar pink colour, “oh Goddess you were doing it again weren’t you? Umm okay, clothes, clothes would be good and I should go find who did this and-“

“And we are coming with you,” Xander stated firmly, holding up his hand to cut her off again “You don’t know why this happened to you and you need to let Kennedy know your you.”

“Don’t what the kid going off the deep end worryin.” Spike agreed adding a little guilt to the mix as Warren hesitated, “Besides you interrupted us pet, which means I’m all frustrated now, an seeing as Xan won’t rest till your back to normal,” he smirked, “We’d better help you pound the demon that’s doin this or get it sorted, so I can pound Xan.” His smirk grew as Warren’s eyes went wide and Xander groaned, tossing him the phone.

“Get Andrew over here to watch Annemarie, Connor too.” Xander didn’t trust either of them completely yet but together they each had enough trust to warrant taking care of the toddler, “I’m going to get dressed, Willow you’d better go to the kitchen; last thing we need is Andrew to see you after everything the First did to him, Spike can you keep them out of there when they come over? I’ll take over and you can grab some clothes, you’re too much of a distraction like that.” His grinned as his eyes skimmed over the half-naked Vampire, definitely a big distraction and hopefully enough of one to keep Andrew and Connor’s minds off going to the kitchen.

Spike smirked, “Anything you say pet, anything you say.” He flipped open the phone, pausing briefly to watch Xander’s rear as he walked back to the bedroom, “Ow!” He glared at Warren, rubbing his head where the man had just flicked him. “What was that for?”

“No perving, no touching and no sex stuff in front of the best-friend, house rule.” Warren offered him up a stern glare, which though it looked good on Willow’s face only served to make the man look like he was constipated.

“Whatever you say luv,” Spike hid a grin as he dialed Buffy’s number, intent of waking Andrew and Connor from their slumber.