Life (or Unlife) Goes On

A/N: Thankyou to everyone who reads your enthusiasm is infectious
Reveiws:
Bubbysbub: Sorry sweetie but that's all folks when it comes to Thyme unless you want to write something? Yes the eye patch is sad and you'll have to read this chapter to find out about what happens with Willow. Glad you like my insane people ramblings and I'm an energiser bunny now am I?
Pixel: The hard thing about having so many characters is remembering them all. You'll have to read this to find out about Willow and thankyou for all your support, much appreciated
Vampiric Whore_x: Thankyou for reveiwing. thankyou for all the praise (blushes) and no not too much info as this is my first fic its also my first slash/smut fic and its good to know I'm doing something right. Hope you continue to enjoy these last couple of chapters

Chapter Forty-One - Surprises

Angel’s POV

“Alexander LeVelle Harris.” Looks like she’s a little upset.

“I’m sorry, Willow.” Xander’s head is bowed and I can smell the misery coming of him in waves. I pull him against my chest trying to send the message that I support him through our touch. I’m going to let the two of them sort this out and I’ll remain silent unless she starts to lay into Xander.

“Oh sweetie, I’m not mad, not really. I just… you could of told me.” I can hear her sigh and I’m just glad that she is understanding of the boy.

“I know. I’m sorry, its just we didn’t want to hurt you, you know, and then after I was just hurting so bad and I couldn’t tell you that we had lied to you. Plus there was the whole orientation question that I just couldn’t deal with without him, you know what my dad was like.” Tony Harris is lucky he is dead because if he wasn’t I’d make his life a living hell.

“Oh I understand, its just you’re my Xander shaped friend and I would’ve thought in the last eight years, there would be some point in which you could’ve told me. Anyway, its done now and I now know, just promise me you won’t keep something like this from me again.”

“I promise, and in the spirit of this new promise there is something I need to tell you.” Looks like Willow and Xander are still good friends. I gently untangle myself from Xander and silently gesture that I’m going to go downstairs so that he can finish the call in private. He nods his understanding and I sneak out the door I hear him say,

“Wills, I’m in a relationship, a new relationship.” Maybe I should have stayed? No they need to sort this out by themselves and Xander knows where I am if he needs me. Besides, I have work to do and no, not detective work, I know I need to get back into that and soon, end this bloody thing with Drusilla. Oh look, I’m cursing like Spike now. Last night we consummated our relationship, or to talk like Spike again the three of us shagged each other for the first time. I think this milestone deserves a little celebration.

*****

Xander’s POV

“Are you happy?” Willow asks after I’ve told her whom I’m sleeping with.

“Yes or at least happier than I was, I still have a lot of non-relationship stuff to deal with but I’m slowly dealing and they are helping.”

“I’m glad, you looked good on the video better than you have for a long while. You sobering up?”

“Yes, mum. Remind me to have a talk to you about that spell. I had a bit of a relapse but they stopped me just in time, I’m dealing.”

“Good, I’m glad. I’ll have to have the shovel talk with them soon.”

“Speaking of the shovel talk Oz has found someone, is that okay with you?”

“Xander, Oz and I got over each other a long time ago and remember, gay now.”

“Well, he seems to be too.”

“I know, just as long as he’s happy. Listen Xander. I need to get going, I’ve got to meet a local slayers family.”

“Sure Wills, I’ll talk to you soon, take care.”

“You too Xan.” I hang up and smile. She took both pieces of news well. She promised not to tell Buffy, she agrees that that is something the three of us need to do together. I grab my shoes and realise that Angel must have grabbed his and Spike’s before he left, I wonder why? Standing at the top of the stairs I search the foyer for either of my lover’s but I cannot see them. The foyer is practically empty; did Giles and Dawn go without saying goodbye? I make my way down stairs and into Angel’s office where I find the two of them, kissing. Have I mentioned how hot they are together? Both pale skin one blond with the classic Greek statue figure whereas the other is dark haired broader across the shoulders with the strong male body. They break apart and Spike beckons me over.

“Everything go okay with Red?”

“Yeah, she wants to have the shovel talk with both of you but otherwise we’re good, she won’t tell Buffy, she understands its up to us when we’re ready. Did the others go without saying goodbye?”

“They had a flight to catch and they didn’t want to interrupt your call but Giles says he’ll ring you soon and Dawn says that she might be back soon as she’s thinking about studying at UCLA.” I snuggle into Spike who’s closer while I listen to Angel.

“Really. Wow. That would be good.”

“Anyway,” Angel continues, “I’ve got a bit of a surprise for both of you because last night was the start of something special, for me anyway, and I think it should be celebrated.”

“It was special Angel,” I smile at him and he returns it almost shyly. He doesn’t smile nearly enough, it’s a pity because he looks absolutely gorgeous when he does. I then realise what else he said. “You’ve got a surprise for us? What is it?” Spike chuckles and pulls me in front of him so that his head is resting on my shoulder

“It wouldn’t be a surprise if he told us, would it whelp.”

“Anyway, before we go to it, I need to ask you something Xander and you need to be truthful, we will understand if you can’t do what I ask.” Hmm that sounds ominous, I nod at him to continue not knowing if I want to know what the next part will be. “The surprise is outside the hotel and I need to know now if you can go outside without succumbing to temptation and if once outside you feel like you can’t, will you tell us?” I seriously think his question over for a minute. Last time I screwed up they were quite clear that if I pulled another stunt like that then that was it, they wouldn’t go looking for me and I wouldn’t be welcome in the hotel. I am in love with them both and they have been so good to me, I can’t jeopardise that. Yet the question remains, can I go outside the hotel where there is nothing stopping me from buying drugs or alcohol. Nothing to stop me but myself so the real question is, do I trust myself to not go looking for a fix? I sigh and look up to see them both studying me.

“I think I can do it but can at least one of you be with me at all times in case the longing gets too strong and I need to get back here fast?”

“Course pet, anything you need. We’ll support you but it is up to you to not give in, okay?” Spike gives me a squeeze before I address Angel.

“So we gonna go then?” I ask.

“Yeah come on beefcake before theirs some emergency that prevents us from going.” I can’t help but laugh at that nickname and Angel looks exasperated by being called that. I link arms with Angel and we leave after he whispers the words to let me through the unseen barrier. We walk down the street past the trusty convertible.

“We’re not driving?” I ask.

“No it’s not that far besides I like walking.” Spike lights up and I quickly grab the smokes before he can put them away.

“Hey, your quitting remember?”

“Oh come on, you can’t expect me to quit everything all at once and besides cigarettes are the less dangerous of my addictions. I will quit I promise but at the moment I can’t stop these along with everything else and besides its only one every couple of days.” That seems to shut them up and Spike lights the smoke up for me. We turn down an alley and for once I don’t hesitate at its mouth. I feel safe with my two vampire lovers and besides which we’re not looking for evil. This is not Sunnydale where you couldn’t go five steps before running into something supernatural. Suddenly I spot movement out of the corner of my good eye, before I can call out a warning, a person has landed in the alley next to us.

“Drusilla!” I call out, which is stupid because the other two already know and are reacting. With preternatural speed they have whipped around and Angel who was closer has started to trade blows with her. It’s all I can do to try to keep up with the blows they are trading lightening fast. Then Drusilla breaks through Angel’s defence and slams her fist straight into his stomach. He flies back and hits the wall, knocking his head before he falls onto a pile of rubbish unconscious.

“Angel,” I yell

“Sire,” I hear Spike cry and I take a couple of steps forward towards Angel to make sure his okay but Spike is facing off with Drusilla and they are blocking my path. Drusilla starts laughing and it chills my blood, I don’t like where this encounter is heading.

“Oh my poor William, so confused doesn’t know if up is down or if down is cross-eyed. Silly, silly boy. I am your Sire; the burning baby fish choose me to eat you. It was my blood that granted you life effulgent.” Her arm comes up wielding a stake as she advances on Spike, he looks frozen there not moving, shocked. “Now my darling prince Miss Edith said you’d beg for this, don’t disappoint mummy.”

‘No, Dru, this is ending now. I can’t let you destroy lives any more. I’m sorry if I failed you.” I can see how much this confrontation is hurting Spike but at the same time his eyes show how resolved he is to stop her, no matter the cost. Spike lunges at her and they end up on the ground with Spike on top.

“Arrrgh,” Spike practically screams and as he rears back I can see the stake pointing out of his chest, very close to his heart. Drusilla pulls out the stake and they roll over so she is on top. Her arm moves to stake him again while Spike is momentarily distracted. No, she can’t stake my lover, I can’t do this without him. I tackle her and we roll around in the filth but at least we’re away from Spike, in the scuffle she loses her stake but after the initial surprise she easily overpowers me.

“Hello kitten, eager to be a baby again are you? This time there are no nasty girls just you, the stars and I. Say ahh, time for you to become the puppy whipper.” She bends down towards my neck, I struggle but I can’t get out from under her. Shit, I hope they stake me straight off and my lovers find solace in each other. I so don’t want to be a vampire. I feel her bite down and I can’t help but gasp in pain. It is so different to the pleasure bites I’ve had before. I try to struggle, try to stop her from drinking but I can’t its too hard. This is it; I’m going to die, in an alley at the hands of Drusilla. Well I didn’t see this one coming. Suddenly the pressure of her body on top of me and the fangs in my neck are gone. I breathe in dust and can’t help coughing. What the hell just happened? Standing above me is Spike, stake in hand staring at me in horror.

“Spike?” I ask, the uncertainty and confusion clear in my voice.

“I…I couldn’t let her do that…my dark princess is gone.” He falls on his knees next to me and just stares off into the distance. Its really creepy and reminds me of Buffy when Glory took Dawn. I roll over and try to stand up. It takes two attempts to stand and I’m scared I’m going to pass out from blood loss. Spike doesn’t respond when I wave my hand in front of his face. Shit Angel, I go to check on him and he is still unconscious from a nasty looking head wound. I steady myself by leaning against the wall. I can’t pass out yet, I have to get them back to the hotel but how can I, we don’t have the car and I definitely can’t carry them. Wait a minute Angel’s phone.