Ritual, Bonds and Unification

See Chapter 1 for disclaimers and stuff

3b

Buffy regarded Willow curiously as they patrolled the campus Wednesday night. “You mean you haven’t seen Xander in the last couple of days?”

“Well, me and Tara been a little busy lately...” Willow said defensively, hunching her shoulders uncomfortably.

“You know how it is with new relationships and how you have to…uhm…learn stuff about each other.” And she grinned slyly. Shivering with pleasure at all the activities she and Tara had been doing.

“Oh, I’m so sure...” Buffy snorted dryly, spinning around and quickly dusting a fledging trying to creep up on them. “Does 99% of learning stuff involve screaming Tara’s name?” She raised a brow mockingly.

Willow immediately turned red. Not wanting to admit just how many times they had ‘learned about each other’ or how many times Tara screamed *her* name. And she starting to feel anxious to restart the whole back-arching, body-thrusting thing over again with Tara once she got back to the dormroom.

“Hmmm, didn’t Xander leave with Angel the other night?” Buffy remarked thoughtfully, tossing her stake from hand to hand as Willow cut loose with a little magic on several sharpened pieces of wood. Then let them fly at an attacking vampire.

“Yeah....” Willow replied slowly then she gasped. “Omigod! You don’t think Angel’s killed him?” And they looked at each other with horrified eyes before taking off and running.

And reaching the apartment, they hammered on Giles door with frantic fists. Yelling his name until the door was opened by a very, very, VERY irritated and most definitely a hostile ex-Watcher.

“What. Do. You. Want?” He breathed out harshly, angrily tying the belt on his robe. Giles gritted his teeth as the girls rushed past him.

And the two girls came to an abrupt stop at the sight of Emma curled up on the couch, obviously wearing only Giles’ pajama top.

Buffy blinked then slowly a smirk formed on her face as she looked at Emma. Who merely regarded the Slayer with a coolly composed face that quickly froze the smirk right off of the younger girl’s face.

And huffing slightly, Buffy whirled around to Giles. “Giles have you seen Xander lately? We were just…uhm…a little concerned…ya know? Especially, considering that he left with Angel the other night and….uhm…we…we…haven’t seen him…today?” She stammered out under Giles’ slowly hardening glare.

“And you two are just now becoming concerned?” His voice rose in astonishment.

Willow blinked at his tone. “But…we just…we just…got a little busy with patrols…and
…and schoolwork. I don’t think it’s been that long.” she protested uneasily, trying to avoid his eyes. It probably wouldn’t do her any good to mention that most of her time was occupied by Tara and the delightful things they did together.

Emma’s eyes narrowed and a look of disgust flashed on her face as she regarded the red-headed witch. Then she rose smoothly to her feet.

“Giles, obviously this does not concern me and quite frankly I’m getting a little sick of…” she broff off her words with a visible effort before continuing. “I think I’ll go upstairs and read a book or something.”

And giving Giles a brief kiss, she retreated quickly upstairs without a backwards look at the girls. Using every ounce of control she had to reiin in her temper before she blasted out their tiny, insignificant little minds. She hoped Angel took Xander far, far away from the two idiots. Not that he said anything, but before she left, she could feeling his longing for his friends. And the two stupid little girls that hadn’t even noticed he was gone.

BITCHES!

“Ooooh Giles, is there something we should know?” Buffy quickly regained her smirk as she looked at her Watcher.

Giles regarded the two girls with a dark look. “I assure you that you really, REALLY don’t want to know what I am thinking right now.”

Buffy opened her mouth to reply, but at the ugly look in Giles’ eyes she quickly changed her mind.

“About Xander, what is it that you want to know?” He said impatiently wanting only to hurry the girls out and get back to Emma.

“Xander? Oh yeah, Xander! We haven’t seen him and we were worried cause he left with Angel,” Buffy reiterated, turning to Willow, who nodded enthusiastically.

Giles took a deep steadying breath, praying for patience. “You’ve already said that and I’ve replied. What I would like to know is: why are you now becoming so concerned? It’s been almost three weeks!”

The two girls looked at each other, then at Giles before bursting out laughing. “Good one, Giles! But seriously, we were hoping that you’ve seen Xander maybe like yesterday since for some reason it seems he’s been avoiding us. He’s not even helping with patrols, not that he does much anyway,” Buffy said with a pout and Willow sighed sadly in agreement.

Giles leaned back on the arm of a chair and crossed his arms. “Buffy, Willow what did you two do last week?” He questioned them quietly, not giving a hint to his boiling rage.

“Uhm…we went to that new store…oooooh Giles, they had some kickass boots there, you remember those boots, Willow? Man, I came so close to buying those boots! But then I remembered Mom told me I had to buy my Biology and Chemistry books with the money,” Buffy shook her head sadly, frowning heavily. God those were some seriously kickass boots! She was still upset 'cause she didn’t get them.

“Yeah, I thought you were going to cry,” Willow replied sympathically to her downcast friend. “But you cheered up when we went the movies the next day. And you were feeling lots better after two nights of quality theater movie going, that and lots of Ben and Jerry’s ice cream.”

Giles brows rose at Willow’s words. “And what did you do the week before that?”

Buffy regarded Giles uneasily, wondering if this was the first sign of old age. “Giles, don’t you remember? We were right here when Angel arri…” her eyes widened in horrified understanding.

“Oh shit!”

“Fuck...” Willow whispered and sat heavily on the couch, her eyes unseeing.

Giles stood up. “I see that you finally understand, now if you don’t mind…I have company that I’m very anxious to rejoin.” And he gestured them towards the door, then sighed heavily when they didn’t budge.

“Omigod, how could I forget one of my best friends,” Willow whispered to herself.

Buffy looked at Giles in sudden hope. “He’s not dead is he,” she whimpered softly. She would never forgive herself if something happened to him. She would kill Angel herself if he hurt her Xanderfriend.

Giles snorted. “Don’t be ridiculous! Of course, he’s not dead. Angel just moved them all into the mansion for the time being.”

Buffy blinked, wondering if the world had gone mad. “Uhm...Xander’s still with Angel?”

“Yes, I just saw him yesterday,” Giles answered testily.

“Okay,” the blonde girl replied slowly, exchanging puzzled looks with Willow.

“Furthermore, we are all invited to a gathering at the mansion tomorrow night at Angel’s request. Apparently he has something special that he wants to say to his clan and us,” Giles added.

“Formal or casual attire,” Buffy quickly wanted to know. Now that she had broken things off with Riley that blond guy, Jesse, looked plenty droolworthy.

“Buffy, you will be essentially surrounded by vampires, what do you think you should wear?” Giles responded with a sigh.

“Good point,” Buffy nodded her head.


Angel left the fine details of the affair to Cordy, knowing that with her impeccable taste and eye for detail that the gathering would be flawless.

Spike ascended the stairs, grumbling to himself why he had to be the messenger boy and pounded on Angel’s bedroom door.

“The gits are here,” he said sparingly when the door opened.

“Now Spike, play nice with your cousins,” Angel responded soothingly to his temperamental grandchilde. He sighed and just hoped that the gathering would not be spoiled by any unpleasantries. This was the first gathering in over two centuries of the Clan Aurelius and he was anxious to introduce Spike’s mates as well as Xander to the clan.

“Oh, by the way, Haledon and Ysela are here,” Spike smirked before turning away, in a much more pleasant mood. Death and violence always had a way of picking up his spirits.

Angel sighed and shut the door, then regarded the beautiful, radiant creature exiting the bathroom.

“Hey,was that Spike? Is everyone here that you wanted?” Xander asked overly casually as he dried off. It was probably their last day together. Yesterday, he had overheard Angel and the rest talking about leaving Sunnydale within the next day or so. It took everything he had not to break down in tears. He should be satisfied with the three weeks he had...but he wasn't.

Angel threw himself in a chair and mused silently on how much Xander had changed over the last couple of weeks. Regular doses of blood, sex and cum, especially cum from a Master Vampire like Angel, had a distinct way of…enhancing the sensual, sexual allure of a vampire's lover. And what it did for human, a human like Xander…

.…oh, he was definitely going to have to beat them off with sharp, pointy sticks to keep them from his boy.

Xander glanced over at Angel, who appeared deep in thought. Blinking, he regarded the vampire, then walked over and knelt in front of his beautiful vampire. Peeking up with a coy look from beneath long lashes, Xander slowly spread Angel's robe apart and raptly regarded the big thick rod with fascinated eyes. He was definitely going to miss having his daily protein drink from Angel.

He blew a soft gust of air over the slowly stirring shaft, then licked experimentally at the huge flaring head. He had grown quite accomplished at taking almost all of the meaty tool deep in his mouth. But today, he was going to take it all the way down his throat.

And casting a slumberous look up into Angel's unreadable eyes, he almost hesitated and looked away. Then he firmed his will and gently spread the vampire's legs, shifting the right leg over the arm of the chair. And slowly he descended on the proud rising shaft.

Angel regarded the dark head slowly bobbing over his cock with hooded eyes. He was captivated by the reverent look on Xander's face as the boy suckled on his shaft. Then Angel’s head fell back with a long drawn out sigh of pleasure. He shifted restlessly in the chair, wanting...needing to plunge his hungry organ deep within those beautiful lush lips that were driving him insane. And his hips lifted involuntarily, gliding wetly in the liquid heat of Xander’s mouth. He whined softly as a hot and horny tongue toyed with the big vein on the underside of his cock and suddenly Xander's head was buried between his legs. Lapping and sucking at his balls, delicately flickering his tongue on the skin just beyond.

“God, Xander,” he finally hissed out, grasping the wet tousled locks as the heated mouth moved hungrily up and down his shaft in a compressing motion. It felt like he was slowly being devoured inch by pleasurable inch. He almost didn't want to move. He just wanted to sit here, reveling in the feeling of Xander's mouth squeezing and nibbling, at his iron length.

He was deep in the wet, sensual heat of Xander's mouth. Thrusting his hips in time with the boy's avid sucking, meeting each pull and draw of his lover's mouth until finally he succumbed to the increasing demands of his body. He stiffened with a harsh groan and erupted in the humid warmth of Xander's mouth. And sighed at the greedy caress of the boy's tongue as it swept over every inch of his tool; prodding gently at the wide slit as if begging for more of the tasty cum.

Finally, Angel had to raise his beautiful lover's head from his sensitive shaft. And when Xander looked up at him, lush wet lips, a trace of cum at the corner of his lips...and a look of sheer hunger still on his face….it made Angel impatient to be buried within the sleek body.

Dragging Xander over to the bed, Angel bent the boy over and slowly eased into opening, thankfully still slightly loosen from their little shower session. And he gritted his teeth to hold in his howl of pleasure from the scorching sensation. This was Xander’s time to scream, not his. He smiled tightly at the high pitched whine that escaped the boy's lips and felt the way Xander involuntarily tightened around him as if to prevent him from leaving the snug channel.

“Shhhh, pretty baby...not going anywhere...” he gasped out as he thrust back into the hot sheath and began an easy, gliding motion within the sweet flexing ass.

Xander spread his legs wider and arched his back as he tried to take more of Angel's thick shaft. Dear God, it felt so good! And a hiss of pleasure escaped his clenched teeth as a cool hand gathered his aching balls in hand. But he was unhappily aware of the gathering crowd of vampires and humans downstairs, and he knew if he screamed they could definitely hear him and know why he was screaming.

“I want to hear you scream, beloved...” Angel bent over the glistening back to whisper in Xander's ear just before ramming his cock hard into the spasming pucker, jolting a stifled moan from his lover.

“Omigod....omigod....omigod....” Xander kept gasping with each lunge of Angel's hips. And by now he was clutching at the bedspread in an effort to maintain his position for the vampire.

“Let it go...” he heard a low whisper. “Scream for me, gra mo anam!” And felt the immortal slam an almost brutal thrust deep into him.

But he stubbornly shook his head, almost sobbing for breath at each lengthy stroke of Angel's huge organ gliding across his prostate. Xander bit his lip savagely to stifled his screams of ecstasy. He didn't give a damn what Angel wanted. There was no freakin' way was he gonna scre....

“ANGEL!....”

And his shattered cry sounded throughout the room and drifted down to the first floor of the mansion. Where everyone was waiting.

Buffy spun around in astonishment, “That sounded like Xander!”

Spike blinked lazily at her, “Could be.” He glanced briefly at Brennan with a tiny smirk.

“Was that Xander?” Buffy demanded angrily, nervously aware of the crowd of vampires. She was still wondering why Angel had asked her and the rest over to the mansion. She cut a cold glance at the blonde vampire. She really, REALLY nasty feeling that it was something that she wasn't going to like.


Xander collapsed to his knees and pressed his screams in the bedspread. He continuously rocked backwards with every lunge of Angel's hard length plunging into him caused lightening sparks of pleasure to set his nerves on fire.

He clawed at the bedspread desperately as the vampire settled him more firmly in his lap while pulling on his aching shaft with lazy movements. Xander twisted his head and mutely begged for a kiss, gratified beyond anything to feel his mouth possessed by the cool tongue that glided languidly within.

And he undulated faster on the thick shaft that stretched him, that filled him so deliciously as his balls begin to draw up and tighten.

“Pleaseplease!....Omigod!...Uh...Oh!...Oh!...Oh ANGEL!....Ooooh please Angel!…
Please!” Xander chanted, arching his neck for Angel's bloodkiss.

He needed to feel this special connection between them in this poignant moment before he returned to his life outside the walls of the mansion. Now he was going to have to find the strength to make it on his own again. Within Angel's arms he was special, when they made love he was loved, and nestled in the cool embrace he felt like he had found what he had been searching all his life.

And tears crept down his face as Angel's teeth slid into his neck. No crying now, tears were for sissies, he reminded himself harshly. Besides it was too late to cry and it wouldn’t solve anything. It was over…they were over. He would go on, he would survive this but he felt he would be as souless as Spike. Except with less killing and evilness.

Angel grunt of release was muffled in Xander’s shoulder even as the boy buried his face into the bed to stifle his orgasmic scream. His body convulsing in harsh wrenching ecsta Tig Tightening around Angel in his extreme release, spewing white milky ropes of cum against the bed and floor.

The immortal groaned thickly in pleasure at the increased tightness. But he was confused and he swallowed heavily, smelling the salty reek of tears the young man tried not to shed.

“Ah no, mo gra. Why do you cry?” he whispered as he pulled gently out. “I’m sorry, I thought you…I had imagined you would be pleased to become my consort.”

Xander trembled in disbelief and twisted around to regard Angel with incredulous eyes, “Consort? You never said anything about being your consort! I would have definitely remembered something like that,” he yelled.

Angel blinked, his face looked hurt before it became impassive, “Then you wouldn’t be happy as my consort?”

Xander grabbed him and slammed their lips together passioly, ly, feeling his body stirring back to life under the cool lips.

“What do you think,” he whispered hoarsely pulling away from Angel, smiling as warmth blazed in those beautiful topaz eyes.

“Come, mo gra, we need to get dressed…we have guests to greet,” and helped his consort to his feet.

“Wait, I need to wash up before I go downstairs,” Xr rer replied hastily, turning for the bathroom but was restrained by Angel’s hand on his arm.

Then in horrified disbelief he saw Angel shake his head slowly, “But Angel, I…I…,” ‘reek of sex’ he wanted to say. And furious blush colored his face, knowing that with the sense of smell a bloodhound would envy, every vampire downstairs would know exactly what he had been doing…what they had been doing.

“No. You are my consort and as such they must know that you are off limits to them. That you belong to me and only me,” Angel replied calmly, a glint of laughter in his eyes at the aghast look on his boy’s face.

Xander whimpered softly as he then noticed the clothing laid out for him. Reaching out he raised a silky pair of black thongs in a shaky grip…then dropped them and hurriedly backed away.

“Uh uh! No can do, big guy! I’ve heard about those things and I don’t want any part of them,” he said firmly, digging in his heels as Angel pushed him forward.

“Beloved, I need you to look your best tonight. I thought you would be more…
comfortable with at least something between you and these,” Angel murmured holding up a pair of very thin silk pants, so thin you could practically see right through them.

Xander regarded the skimpy items with wary resignation. “Do I have too?” he pleaded, looking at Angel with wide, puppy dog eyes.

Angel smiled and kissed a flushed cheek. “Yes, my love.”

Xander grumbled as he put on his clothes, absolutely positive that his face was going to remain a permanent shade of red or maybe he would die of embarrassment by the time they got downstairs.

Angel smiled gently at his blushing consort. It still amazed him that no one saw the potential or the beauty in the mortal youth. But their loss was his gain, he mused before pressing a brief kiss to Xander’s lushly swollen lips and slid his hands into the loose pants. He chuckled hoarsely as his baby boy tried to climb his body when he slid a couple of fingers into the decidedly hot and wet entrance...once, twice. Angel twisted his fingers three times in the lush, spasming interior before slowly withdrawing them, slick with their combined secretions. And he held Xander's rapt gaze as he slowly licked his fingers clean, smelling the increase of arousal from his Consort at his actions.

He slid an arm around Xander’s waist and pulled the lithe body against his side as they walked out of the room.

The reigning Master of Aurelius and his Consort.

As they slowly came down the stairs, all Xander wanted to do was run back to their bedroom and hide under the bed. He shot an accusing look at his lover's bland face: Angel should have told him Giles, Buffy and Willow would be downstairs.

Spike’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully as the two paced into view. And the crowd of vampires muttered as they caught the unmistakable scent of sex. Lots and lots of a sex from the alluring well fucked boy.

Well now, seems like Peaches got himself a little toy, he smirked, then his smirked abruptly disappeared at the icy look his Grandsire shot him. And maybe I need t’keep my opinions to myself, he thought uneasily pressing against Brennan and Jesse.

Angel strolled with majestic splendor down the stairs while keeping a firm arm around Xander. He was aware of the envious looks cast his way and smiled, just imagining the uproar his little announcement was going to cause to the gathered mass.

Buffy and Willow’s mouths had dropped opened at their first sight of Xander. A beautiful, radiant…sensuously glowing Xander. When did he become such a major hottie?

And Willow swallowed heavily, feeling her panties becoming soaked…but I’m supposed to be gay!

The wild blush of shy confusion on the mortal’s face was only wetting the appetites of the softly growling vampires as they focused on the enchantingly beautiful young man. Every male, every female wanted to possess the charming youth, to see his eyes dilate in passion, in desire….while writhing in the throes of love.

He was far to alluring to be marked for death.

And finally, Angel reached the landing. He stopped and surveyed the crowd of puzzled humans and coolly, composed vampires. One and all, their eyes rested on his consort. And he gently pulled Xander from behind his back, where the younger man had taken refuge from the staring eyes.

“As Master of Clan Aurelius, I present my consort…Alexander LaVelle Harris!” Angel stated quietly and a low, affectionate growl underscored his words. He raised his blushing consort's hand gently and pressed a kiss on the underside of Xander's wrist.

A Lifeblood Consort.

And the gathered vampires gasped in shock.

It had been well over a thousand years since a Lifeblood Consort had been presented to the clan. The most rare and ancient of Consort rites...and to a human. Giving him nionnion over the clan as if he was Master of the clan.

And a slow, hush fell over the stunned vampires before a beautiful female and a large male vampire pushed their forwforward with angry, demonic faces.

Spike immediately began pushing the humans back against the wall and out of danger.

“NO! I refuse to accept a human consort into our clan...” The female spat out and with a loud growl the male agreed.

Angel regarded them with a placid face while stroking Xander’s shivering back as his boy leaned against his side watching the two angry people with wide eyes.

“It was bad enough that you took a Slayer as a lover!” And the male cast a contemptous look at Buffy. “But now to actually make a human as your consort?! You have clearly lost all reason and perhaps it is time for another Master of Aurelius. One that understands and respects the ways of the nosferatu.” His smile was cold and victorious.

Xander stepped away from Angel with a troubled look as the other nudged him gently away.

“Haledon, are you challenging me?” Angel asked mildly as he sauntered down the four stairs calmly.

“YES! You are a fool no matter which incarnation you claim to be, Angel or Angelus. You are weak and pathetic as the humans that you love to protect! I took Ysela from you and now I’ll take both your consort and your unlife.” Haledon sneered, ripping his coat off revealing a massive frame.

Angel flicked a glance at the smug, vicious smile Ysela wore before turning his attention back to Haledon. “You only took Ysela because I didn’t want her. Her incessant whining had been grating on my nerves for a long time. Unfortunately you disappeared before I could thank you.”

Ysela screamed in rage and tried to attack Angel but was backhanded brutally by Haledon for her trouble. And she lay on the floor with a shattered jaw as well as well as dazed eyes.

Haledon growled and tried to taunt Angel further. “When I’m finished with you, I’ll take both your little fucktoy as well as Spike’s little toys and show them the true face of a vampire!”

Spike growled almoalmost sed fed forward, remembering just in time that this was Angel’s fight.

The humans stood back in horrified dread at the vicious scene taking place before their eyes as the two combatants clawed and ripped at each other. But within five moves it was easy to tell who would win this battle royale.

Haledon narrowed his remaining eye at the coldly composed Angel. “You fight like a human,” he snarled, desperately trying to make the other loose his composure.

Unfortunately for him, it worked far too well as Angel launched a blistering flurry of blows. Proving that he had only been toying, testing the other’s defenses.

“And you fight like a foolish animal...” Angel growled before lashing out at Haledon unprotected chest and punching through it.

Haledon screamed in agony, his eyes rolling up into his head before Angel released him. He dropped to the floor, clutched at his wound and tried to recover his strength.
tilltill weak I see...” he sneered up at Angel unaware of the crowd of vampires narrowing their circle around him.

Angel backed away and smiled coolly. “Oh no, my friend, perhaps you forgotten the basic rule about challengers? Especially those challenges that takes place among five or more vampires.”

He jumped high and out of the way as Haledon looked around in horror at the snarling circle of vampires.

Haledon had time for a quick scream, “No!”

And like sharks scenting blood, he was overwhelmed ae vae vampires descended on him in a violent feeding frenzy.

Only the strong survive.

Ysela desperately crawled away and fetched up against an unyielding barrier. She hissed and slowly glanced up into Angel's frozen face. Then she unfortunately tried to scramble back, away from an extremely dangerous Clan Master...and right into the waiting crowd of vampires. And her despairing scream was soon lost in the growling, snarling mass of predators.

Xander eyes were alarmed as he touched Angel’s bruised and bloody body. The uproar behind him wasn’t even registering, only Angel…only the bruised body of his mate matterednd And Angel regarded Xander steadily, wondering about the vague look that descended on his consort.

And following some unknown instinct, Xander began laving wetly at each bruise and bloody wound. He ignored the low growling of the other vampires watching them. He concentrated only on soothing his lover’s wounds.

And Angel hissed slightly, as his bruises and aches seemed to lessen, fade away under his consort’s liquid caressing tongue.

Spike stood calmly before Angel, facing his clan cousins. His eyes narrowed and cold as he watched the tentative advances of the vampires towards his position.

All were in gamefaces.

Only the strong survived.

And Angel was clearly injured.

Then Spike felt a solid presence on his left and an electrifying presence on his right even as Emma took Bren’s flank while Shal’s eyes glowed a feral yellowshe she stood on Jesse’s left.

And with a quick exchange of glances between them, Willow and Buffy separated, taking part of the line of defense, magic and stakes at hand. And Giles, Adam, Wesley and Cordy also spread apart, two on the right, two on the left.

Bren and Willow’s hands were crackling with energy, one with electricity…the other with magic.

Shal was in a semi-crouch, her hands crooked into deadly claws while Buffy readied her trusty Mr. Pointy.

Jesse flickered between solid and intangible, while Spike’s gameface dropped down and Cordy pulled a stake from behind her back.

And Emma simply stood watching the vampires, her forehead glowing with a bright light. Though she looked the most innocuous of the group, she somehow gave the unnerving impression that one wrong move on the part of the vampires would result in their final termination.

Angel stroked Xander’s face gently, pulling his beloved head up and kissing the soft bloody lips gently before reluctantly pulling away with an unhappy sigh. He touched Jesse’s shoulder tentatively, then simply walked through the molecular, drawing a slight gasp from the stunned vampires watching them.

“I have given my protection to the humans you see before you. As you can see, they are rather…unique individuals. They are our human members of Clan Aurelius. You will welcome them.” Angel stated quietly as he coolly scanned the crowd of vampires.

While clearly outnumbered by the hundreds of vampires, Angel and his humans left them no doubt that wounded or not, he and they were all still extremely volatile and highly dangerous.

And one by one, the vampires inclined their proud hewelcwelcoming their most unlikely new clanmates.


Later during the very tense meet and greet session of the party, amid the snarls and baring of fangs in fearsome greeting, Bren found himself beside an extremely quiet Slayer.

Buffy was still finding it difficult to believe that Xander and Angel were together. Oh sure, it didn’t take much for Xander to forgive her and Willow for their behavior.

But she was still was bug-eyed over Angel’s air of intense satisfaction every time he looked at Xander. Though it was wonderful to see that Xander was happy and seemingly in love with the vampire. But it was still just plain WEIRD in a very Hellmouthy kinda way, she thought.

Bren cast a thoughtful sidelong look down at the diminutive blonde. “You know, both you and Xander were wrong.”

“Wrong? And what ‘him’ are you talking about?” Buffy continued to stap thp the stairs where Xander and Angel disappeared, wondering if maybe she would ever find whatder der and even Spike of all vampires, apparently had found.

“Xander. You remember when you both said that ad nad no special powers...” Brennan replied quietly.

Buffy frowned and looked up at the elemental. “But he doesn’t have any special powers,” she protested, looking bewildered.

“Yes, he does. Maybe its because you're so use to him or something; I don’t even think he realizes what his special power is,” Brennan around for Spike and Jesse. He smiled at the sight of his two beloveds, dreaming of their coming pleasure upstairs.

“Obviously you know what his special power is,” Buffy sneered, then looked ashamed of herself.

“His special power is Love….” And Brennan’s voice was quietly sincere.

And Buffy laughed even though she felt like crying for some odd reason. “You know you might be right about that.”