Prodigal Son, Returns

Prodigal Son, Returns

Chapter 4

Spike lay with his head on Angel's chest. He was glad that Xander and Little Bit came to check on him. He knew the boy would probably stay and Little Bit would, but the slayer wouldn't allow it. Sadly, the slayer was a little selfish and spoiled. He knew Dawn would be going back to Sunnydale, and that was probably for the best. But the slayer had no control over Xander's decision and he hoped the boy would stay. Mainly because he saw the boy as His, if Angel liked it or not, he had completed a ritual of giving one's pet to another vampire. He had been pissed off of course that his Sire had joined with slayer, yet he had always liked the boy. When it is sire trouble is that gave him to him on purpose or not, he had never again tried to kill or harm the child. His friends, yes they looked tasty, but never the boy himself. He'd talk to his Sire in the morning, about what's they were going to do about him. The hyena in him could be used, they could teach him how to use his abilities that he did not want Buffy or Willow to see. He was a smart boy and stronger than the others gave him credit for. They saw him as an errand boy, and not as the useful fighter that he knew the boy was or could be. Not that the boy could be turned, the hyena in him would mess up any attempt to try to sire him, that and Angel wouldn't allow it; but that didn't mean that he wouldn't allow him to take the boy as his pet.

Pets were funny things, not minions, not by any means, the stupid minions were usually jealous because pets were treated very well and differently from the minions. Angelus had a few pets but not anymore mainly because Dru ate them, she didn't understand their usefulness but she wasn't here are now. That and if allowed him, he would make Xander his pet. The only problem was the chip, to make Xander a pet he had to bite him, unlike making a minions or a fledgling, he didn't drain his pet, they only took a little blood at a time. This process strengthened the pet and bound them to their

"Master." Which meant pets were very hard to kill, even for slayers, but if the vampire "Master" died so did his pets. He wasn't sure if Angel would let him, especially because of his connections with Buffy. A lot of the time if Buffy didn't understand something, she saw it as evil and tried to stop it. Giles might protest, but he at least would understand what was going on and he wouldn't overreact, like Buffy would.

"Spike, Rest!" Angel growled sleepily, annoyed his childe was still awake.

Might as well. "I want my pet." Spike said softly.

"What!" Angel said, now very much awake.

"I want the pet you gave to me." Spike said softly.

Angel rolled his eyes. "You have to ask the boy first." Angel said with a smile, he had nothing against Xander being a part of their family. Though Xander might think of it as demeaning, but he would really be a lot better off. He had noticed for years that the boy was pushed aside by Buffy. She didn't think he was strong enough to fight by her side, but with a little training Xander could be a very strong ally, they would appreciate him more than she did. That and Spike could be kept happy and ways he couldn't help him due to his soul.

"Sire?" Spike said hopefully looking in to his sire's eyes.

"Go easy on him, Spike. Make sure you explain everything to him and don't tell Buffy. Giles might figure it out, but he won't react badly. Buffy overreacts to things she doesn't understand and she wouldn't understand this." Angel said smiling softly as he heard Spike say thank you before drifting off to sleep.

Xander pick up the phone, he had told Willow and Giles that he was coming, but he hadn't thought the Dawn would follow. Though Dawn wouldn't like it, he had to call and tell Giles where she was so Buffy would not freak out.

"Hello." Giles said when he answered the phone.

"Giles, its Xander."

"Xander, Dawn is…"

"She's fine, she got here by bus. I found her outside the Hyperion".

"Oh, thank God! We were so worried, she just disappeared without telling anyone where she was going." Giles said with a sigh of relief.

"She was worried about Spike and didn't know Angel very well, so she came to make sure Spike was OK."

"How is he?" Giles asked Xander was still sounding a little bit worried.

"He's all right. He looked very pale and sleepy but Angel said he's going to be fine." Xander said calmly trying to reassure the watcher.

"Will he be returning to Sunnydale?" Giles asked.

"No, it upset Dawn, but he plans to stay here with Angel. Buffy doesn't realize how much backup we're losing." Xander said softly shaking his head.

"I know, she doesn't understand. He was a great asset to us, at least with the chip, he was. Angel will be glad to get the help, when will you and Dawn be returning?" Giles asked.

"I'll put Dawn on the bus home this Sunday, so she will be back in time for school. I'm going to stay here with Angel and his crew for a while. You know, to see how Angel's crew is doing and be here if they need any help." Xander said trying to keep sadness out of his voice, knowing Giles wouldn't understand the real reason why he wasn't returning.

"Ok, you might get some good training while you're there. Just be careful, don't argue or fight with Angel , Spike, or Cordelia, and stay safe!" Giles said smiling softly. The boy might have finally found a place where he belongs.

"I will, tell the girls I will see them soon. Good night, Giles." Xander said.

"Good night, Xander." Giles said Xander hung up the phone and looked up to see Cordelia standing in the doorway of his room.

"I... I know that we parted on bad terms, but I'm not mad at you, Xander, at least not anymore. I wanted you to know that you're welcome to stay here and help us fight if you like. Spike could probably use the Company." She said she approached him.

"Thanks, Cordy." Xander said, and hard for" I want to stay here for while, if…"

"Then stay and fight with us. It's what Spike wants, I heard him and Angel talking through their door. They want you to stay. Spike said you were his "pet", something about Angel giving him to you? What is a pet, Xander?" Cordy said looking confused.

"I don't know, but all asked them in the morning. It's been a long today, I'll see you tomorrow. Night, Cordy." Xander said trying not to show that he wanted her to leave quickly. He knew exactly what she was talking about, he remembered Angel offering his neck to Spike to snack at the high school teacher/ parent meeting. When Spike had first attacked Buffy, he knew Angel had some relationship between them but he wasn't quite sure what that was, then, or even now.

"Good night, Xander." She said kissing him on the cheek and leaving. Xander stripped down to his undershirt and shorts, he didn't usually were clothes to bed, not after moving out on his parent's basement, but he didn't know who might pop up in his room tonight. It was strange for once in his life this place felt like home. For once he felt safe and needed.

Angel smiled as he watched the boy sleep soundly on the bed as he stood in the doorway. He knew the boy had always been thin, but it look like he had finally filled out to normal size. Which only made him think that Xander might have been badly abused, more than he had originally thought. He remembered as Angelus, he had seen Mr. Harris hit Xander a few times, when he had been spying on Spike's pet. He guessed that Angelus as well as himself, saw Xander as a "pet", long before he was willing to accept the boy has part of their family. He was glad that his demon side hadn't taken the boy back then, even though he had stood up to Angelus in the hospital, the poor kid would have been terrified. He knew the boy, would have had no chance fighting back against a soulless vampire. Spike would have saved him from Angelus's rage, and but he would not have understood Spike's vampire ways. Now, he at least would be able to adjust easier to their way of life, than if he had been taken by force.

"Angel?" Xander says weakly as he rubbed his eyes and pushed up to a sitting position looking at the vampire wondering what he was doing there at this hour.

"Come on, boy. Get up and come with me." Angel said sternly not wanting to fight with Xander.

"Uhhh, why?" Xander asked and for some reason he obeyed anyway and got up.

"I know Cordelia was outside our door this evening. Spike wants you as his pet…"

"What's a pet?" Xander interrupted.

"It's kind of hard to explain. Basically it's a human that serves a vampire." Angel said.

"Does he have to bite me?" Xander asked looking scared.

"Not if you don't want him to. Some pet's are mortal and they die of the normal time, the pet's bitten are stronger and live so long as the Masters are alive, basically immortal." Angel said turning to face Xander.

"Do I have to drink blood?" Xander said making a sour face.

"If you want to live with Spike until he dies, then yes a little, but other than that you would eat regular food like you always have. I want you think about this before deciding. We will support you which ever you choose and you're more than welcome to stay here, even if you choose not to become a pet. Do you understand?" Angel asked turning to look back at Xander as he opened the door to his room.

"Yeah, I understand. Ummm…" Xander stopped and looked around the room he didn't see a place to sleep other then the large bed, Angel smiled at the confusion on his face.

"You can sleep on the small bed at the end of mine or with us on the big bed. Which ever you are most comfortable with, I won't push you." Angel said as he gently pushed the boy into the room and closed the door behind them.

"OK, I… I think I will sleep on the small bed for tonight…. Is… this sex a part of this "pet" thing?" Xander asked a little nervous about what he was getting into.

"Yes, but not until you're ready, and only with Spike, unless you feel comfortable enough with me." Angel said as he pulled by the covers on the smaller bed and let Xander crawl under the covers.

Angel watched as Xander roll onto his side and curl up.. He knew it was still very early for him and the boy looked exhausted. Xander tossed for a minute but fell asleep quickly. Angel climbed back in the bed with Spike and they went to sleep as well.

"Hello!" Buffy said loudly as she walked into the Hyperion Hotel, followed closely by Willow, Giles, and Anya.

"Good morning," Wesley said as he came out of his office. "Oh, my, we weren't expecting you. Everyone is still asleep." Wesley said with a smile. "Come on we will go to the kitchen and I'll start breakfast. They should be up soon."

"Sounds good to me" Giles said as he followed the former watcher with Buffy, Anya and Willow behind him.

"So, Dawn is here?" Buffy asked.

"Yes, she and Xander arrived at the same time. She has a room upstairs. Cordelia will get her up, soon. First, she went to wake up the boys. At least she said she was going to get them up." Wesley said uneasily. He and Cordelia knew what was going on with Xander and the vamps. She had come to him last night with a question.

"What is our pet? A vampire "PET"?" He knew Xander being a pet to Spike would probably help the boy a great deal, though Buffy wouldn't see it that way. He would tell Giles and Anya when the others were busy. Giles wouldn't be against it, he hoped and Anya wouldn't care, the former demon would see it as a way to strengthen Xander. He wasn't really sure how the girls were going to react, so he'd left them figure it out on their own or maybe Giles could explain it to them. Maybe it was better that they didn't know at all, but right now he did not want them charging into Angel's room and waking them up. Plus Spike was in his bed and Xander was at the foot of his bed, this fact wouldn't go over very well with either girl. The watcher was so busy thinking that he did not notice the Buffy hadn't follow the rest of them into the kitchen. Instead, she started climbing the staircase, she knew where Angel's room was and she was going to get to the bottom of this. Wesley was hiding something and she didn't like it.

TBC