Spike the. . . Cuddly???

The funeral was held at twilight, the sky overcast and rain threatened to fall. It was a solomn and grief filled moment that refused to let them go.

Spike watched with a stone cold face, only the misty film in his eyes betraying him until a single tear slid over his cheek. The blond bit his lip, but other than that, he didn't move a muscle, inthralled by the chilling scene, unable to move, if he didn't move maybe it would all prove to be a dream and he would wake up and everything would be okay.

Giles finally spoke after watching the vampire holding back his tears for too long. "Spike?"

The eyes flashed golden, "Hush."

"Spike!"

"Show some bloody respect and shut yer gob Rupert!" He snarrled and turned back to the funeral.

"Spike I refuse to watch this drivel any longer!"

Spike roared when Giles turned the channel. "Oi! It ain't drivel! Lance just lost his only true love! An' look at that! Blaize is already whorin' up to 'im!"

"Spike it's a soap opera, and not even a good one at that."

"I'll 'ave you know Passions is a masterpiece of modern day time television!"

"That isn't saying much." Giles rose at the knock on the door and turned to Spike, "It's only been thirty minuets. Where did we order from? I must say they. . ." He gasped as Spike jumped up and ran to the door, pushing him aside so hard he almost hit the wall! "Spike! What are you. . . Xander!"

The slayer lay the boy on the couch and then turned to Giles, "No more Fradglarn."

"You went after it alone?! Are you insane?!"

"Didn't go after it, Xander hit it with his car."

Willow nodded, "He stayed conscious long enough to stake it with iron. Then he fainted."

"Is he. . ." The watcher ran a hand through the boy's hair and almost got it bitten off by a very protective master vampire in full game face.

"I did a quick spell to check that he's not concussed, just unconscious. When he wakes up he'll be fine."

Spike clentched his jaw and stood, "Well then, I'm off."

"Spike!" They all yelled at once.

"Listen, I'm outta fags an' outta patience. Ta." He slammed the door and went as far as the nearest alley before dropping to the ground and riding out the shock of thinking Xander was dying. If he'd stayed there another minute. . ."Gah! What's 'e done ta me?!"

"Mew."

Spike looked down at the little brownish kitten in his lap and blinked, "wot?" He picked it up and it latched onto his shirt tightly with its little claws. "Better be careful bit, or some demon'll use you as poker chips."

The tiny thing mewed again and Spike found himself craddling it close and heading back to the apartment. If he couldn't be Xander's kitten maybe the boy would take the little brown stray. Kid always had a thing for taking things no one else wanted. Vampires included. He caught himself standing at the door and instead, hid in the shadows and waited for the other humans to leave. What he needed to say was personal.

Xander answered the door, still abit off balance. "Hey guys did you forget som. . . Spike!"

The vampire looked . . . adorable. Standing in the doorway, head down, holding a kitten in front of him like a sheild.

"Spike?"

"I lied" He finally spoke. "Don't wanna go pet. Don't wanna ferget."

The chocolate haired boy with whiskey eyes stepped aside and let Spike in, closing the door quietly, "You don't even like me, Spike."

"Didn't before. 's one o' those 'True Colors' things."

"Huh?"

"Y'know, 'I see yer true colors shinin through, true colors 'at's why I love you.'" Spike spoke the works quickly and tonelessly, refusing to actually sing the lyrics. He did have a tiny bit of self respect left.

"Say the last line."

The vampire smirked, "Sorry, that whole 'beautiful like a rainbow' scene isn' fer me ya know? Not with the whole gay pride bit." He smirked as Xander's mind trying to follow that jump of logic. Spike saw the boy's lost look and the smirk slipped a bit, to a real and honest smile. He sang softly, leaning in and whispering the words into the beautiful human's ear. The little brown kitten was squished between them comfortably warm and watching with interested eyes. "That's why I love you."

The private serenade caused Xander's cheeks to blush prettily, and caused his heart to race. "Spike, I don't. . ."

"Xan, I think I'm fallin' pet. Never 'appened before."

"You'll leave."

"I don't leave. M' loved ones leave me."

"I don't leave."

"Perfect then." He held up the kitten, "Brought you something didn't I." He smiled when Xander took the little thing with the soft care he'd held Spike with when he was a kitten. The vampire knew that this furball would have a wonderful life in this house. "Sorry ya lost yer kitten again."

"I didn't. You're right here."

"Xan." Spike stepped forward and hugged the human close. They stayed that way for a long time, still as statues. Until Xander asked, "Spike?"

"Yeah luv?"

"You sure this time it's a real kitten?"

"Never know on the Hellmouth."


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The apartment was dark and warm. It smelled of leather and chocolate, just like the two who lived there.

The bed dipped as Xander slid in beside Spike and the vampire grinned and rolled into his embrace. "Xaaaaaaandeeeeeerrrrr." He sing-songed.

"Hi."

"Hi." Spike smirked and let his hands slide down over the smooth hips and strong legs. He pushed forward to meet the treat awaiting him and both men groaned helplessly.

"Oh God Spike. Need you!"

"Got me Xan, Cor! You've got me long as I exist !"

"Ooooooh! Spike!"

The apartment sounded of moans and cries, heavy breathing and two voices crying out in passion and whispering declarations of eternal love.

On the couch, a little brown kitten curled up tighter into the dip between the cusions, trying to block out the horrifying sounds and the images those sounds conjurred.

//Oh shut up already!// "Mrrrroowl!"

He mewed miserably, //This is what I get for being worried about my childe! Doyle's vision didn't say anything about this!//

"Oh! Oh god oh God Oh God! Spike! Spike I'm gonna. . . Aaaaaaaaaaaah!"

"Xaaaaaaaan! Ooooooooooh!"

Angel growled a pitiful little growl. //Somebody had better come looking fo rme soon or I'll. . .//

"Spike?"

"Yeah luv?"

"What should we name it?"

"Huh?"

"The kitten."

"Princess."

"It's a boy."

"Don' matter, S'got sentimental value doesn't it. S'what you were gonna name me."

Xander giggled. "Okay, It's princess."

Angel cried.

The apartment was home and hell but either way it was full of love.

~End~