The Gift

Chapter Nine

Spike awoke, listening for movement. Ah, there it was. Rodchester was in the kitchen, cooking something for his pet. Speaking of Xander… Spike lifted his head and looked at his boy. Beautiful.

He climbed off the bed, careful not to disturb his mate. Every time Spike gave Xander a massage like last night, Xander ended up sleeping for hours.

Spike pulled on a pair of Xander’s sweats and headed towards the kitchen to tell Rodchester to bugger off. The minion was really getting on his nerves, but he was Xander’s to keep. Spike had given him to Xander as a bribe-slash-gift when he forced the young man to return to Sunnydale.

Rodchester worshiped Xander. The fledgling vampire would walk out into the sun on Xander’s command. Spike wasn’t real sure what he had done, but he was pretty damn sure he had screwed up when he had turned the minion.

“Oi! Knock it off! He’s sleeping in.” Rodchester immediately began cleaning up the kitchen, putting away the food he had been preparing.

Spike pondered what he would do today. He was temped to go out and watch the sunrise, just because he could, but decided that it wasn’t worth the headache that would inevitably develop. He would just go back to bed.

As he passed Angel’s room, he could feel the older vampire’s eyes on him. He slid into game face and growled at his sire. Angel closed his eyes and Spike resumed his trip back to his room.

Spike dropped the sweats to the floor and picked up the phone. He kept his eyes on Xander’s face as he dialed. Gods, his lover was gorgeous. “Hello? Yeah, it’s Will. I wore him out, sorry. Sure, pet, tomorrow would be fine. I’ll let him know.”

Spike slid back under the covers, snuggling in close to Xander. His lover moaned and huddled closer. “Who did you call?”

Spike smiled. “The restaurant, love. You can sleep.” He listened as Xander’s breathing evened out, allowing the thumping of his lover’s heart to pull him back into his dreams.

*****

Angel climbed out of bed and stretched, amazed at how good he felt. His stomach was full and he had slept well throughout the night, even with the interruption by his childe and his lover. He hadn’t felt this well in ages. Suddenly, he remembered.

He’d fed last night.

Now he felt like shit. Healthy shit, but shit nonetheless. How could he have done such a thing? Guilt hit him hard and Angel staggered under its weight.

In the master bedroom, Spike and Xander looked at each other.

“It just hit.” Their voices mingled as they spoke simultaneously.

Spike snorted and Xander laughed. Rolling, they fell off the bed wrapped around each other. As they hit the floor, they both jumped to their feet and raced each other to the kitchen.

Rodchester was waiting for them, an elaborate meal set on the table. He did not seem to notice their nudity as he went about serving his masters.

As Rodchester was refilling Xander’s plate, Angel walked into the kitchen. Spike waved Rodchester away and the minion disappeared silently.

Spike smiled up at his sire and dragged Xander into his lap. Xander reached out and pulled his plate closer so that it was once again in front of him and continued eating. Angel sat at the table opposite the two other men.

Xander shoved a plate towards him and Angel looked at him, puzzled. Xander shook his head. “Sorry, I forgot you don’t eat.” Spike rolled his eyes and pulled Xander closer.

When Xander finished eating, he turned in Spike’s lap, ignoring the silent vampire across the table. He rubbed his cock against Spike’s, hardening them both. Smiling, he tilted his head to the side, seductively.

“Hungry?”

Spike smiled back at his mate, his cock hardening even more. “For you, love? Always.” Angel lost control of his visage when Spike bit into Xander’s neck. He had never had human blood offered to him willingly and desperately craved it from the beautiful creature in his childe’s lap. Spike purred when Xander’s ring sliced his skin and his mate began drinking from him as well.

Angel’s growl caught the lovers’ attention and they released each other’s throats, turning to look at the dark-haired vampire. “What, Peaches? Want some of this?” Spike trailed a finger through the blood that was trickling from Xander’s neck, holding the bloody digit out to his sire.

Angel leapt up from his chair and launched himself at the pair. He fell to his knees beside the pair and sucked on Spike’s finger hard. Spike and Xander smiled down at him, waiting for him to finish.

Angel allowed Spike’s finger to fall from his mouth and whimpered. Xander leaned down and kissed him, allowing Angel to taste Spike on his lips. When Angel reached up to wrap a beefy hand behind Xander’s head, Spike growled and Angel pulled back, apologetic.

Spike smiled and pulled his sire up for a kiss. “He’s mine, Angelus. Hands off.” Angel nodded and Xander watched appreciatively as Spike and Angel began to kiss again.

Suddenly there was banging at the door. Spike looked over at the clock. Four in the afternoon. Who the hell would be here now?

Rodchester stood nervously in the doorway. “Master? The sun…”

Xander waved him off and strode to the door, yelling through it. “Who is it?”

There was silence for a long period before he heard, “Xander?”

Xander turned and looked at the two vampires standing behind him. “Buffy?”

“Xander! Can we come in?”

Xander hollered back through the door, “Hang on! I need to get some clothes!”

Xander, Spike and Angel stood, unmoving, contemplating what was about to happen.

Spike snarled. “I don’t want the Slayer in my house.”

Xander nodded. “Neither do I. Let me get dressed and I’ll go for a walk with them.” Spike followed Xander to their bedroom as Angel stayed where he was, staring at the front door.

“What do you think they want, Spike?” Spike shrugged, he had other concerns.

“How the hell did they find us, pet?” Xander quit tying his shoes and looked up at Spike in shock.

“Oh, shit. I have no idea.” Xander dug through the bags that they had yet to unpack and pulled out Spike’s cell phone. “Keep this close, Spike. I’ll call you no matter what happens, ok?” Spike pulled him in for a kiss, tasting himself and his sire in his boy’s mouth.

“Hang on, love.” Spike went into their bathroom and came back out with a damp washcloth. He wiped down Xander’s face and neck, removing all traces of blood. Leaning in, he laved at his almost healed bite, helping it heal completely.

“There you go. Be careful, pet. These are not the same people you knew four years ago.” Spike held Xander in his arms, reluctant to let go.

“I will, Spike. Be back soon.” He kissed his mate a final time and walked away, combing his hair with his fingers, snagging his sunglasses off of the dresser before leaving the room.

He blew past Angel, shoving the vampire back so that he couldn’t be seen from the front porch and opened the door. Buffy and Giles stood leaning against the railing he had installed the last time they were in town. Willow was sitting on the porch swing, slowly rocking, her toes dragging the ground.

Buffy stood up straight and walked towards Xander as he pulled the front door shut behind him. “Xander?” She looked into the eyes of a man. This was not the boy that she once knew.

“Hey Buff. Giles, Willow.” Xander studied the group. Giles looked old. There was no other way to describe it. His hair was too long and poorly combed and his clothes were worn and uncomfortable looking.

Willow looked good; her hair was a bit shorter than it had been when he left Sunnydale, styled attractively, rather than all one length. Her eyes sparkled as she smiled at him. Willow was the same. He could sense it.

Buffy disturbed him. He knew it had something to do with his bond with Spike, but she sent shivers up and down his spine and not in a good way. She was thinner, the attractive roundness of youth was gone and hardness stood in its place. It looked like it would hurt if you hugged her.

Buffy was still studying Xander. Finally, she spoke. “Where’s Angel?”

Xander was taken aback. “Angel?” Willow held up some type of device. Xander looked closer and saw that it had digital numbers moving across its face.

“What the hell is that?” Xander frowned.

Willow spoke softly. “Buffy discovered that something happened to Angel and found this. We followed his tracer out here. It shows that he is in this house.” Willow looked down at her feet.

Giles spoke next. “Why are you here, Xander?”

“Because this is my home. Look, I’m tired. Go check into a hotel and I’ll meet you somewhere tonight. There’s a restaurant on Main Street…”

Willow nodded. “I saw that. German food, right? What time should we be there?”

“Around eight. If you don’t see me, tell the seating hostess that you are there to meet Mr. Harris. She’ll seat you immediately.” He leaned against the door as the trio walked down the sidewalk. When they turned the corner, he dropped his hand to the doorknob and let himself inside.

Immediately, cool arms wrapped around him. “You stink of the Slayer. Go take a shower, pet.” Spike pushed him towards the bedroom.

“Only if you come too.” Spike followed Xander down the hall, once again leaving Angel alone with his thoughts.

*****

Spike and Xander sat at their regular booth as their waitress pulled together two tables to prepare for the rest of their group. Spike fingered a cigarette as Xander stared off into space. Angel paced the room, anxious to see Buffy again.

All three stiffened when they felt the Slayer arrive. Spike kissed Xander, holding him close and reassuring him with his touch. Angel looked on with jealousy. The kisses that were shared this morning had made his blood boil. He wanted more, and from Spike and Xander’s reactions, he just might get it.

A gasp brought their attention to the doorway. The seating hostess was smiling at Spike and Xander, unaware of the tension in the people behind her. “Mr. Harris, Mr. Bradley, the rest of your party is here. If I can do anything else for you, please let me know.” She smiled and motioned towards the table as she left the room.

Spike reached out and poked the waitress. “Leave off, pet. We’ll call you when we’re ready.” She grinned at the handsome blond and danced out of the room, happy that she had won the drawing tonight and got to serve the sexy duo and their guests.

As soon as the waitress stepped out of the room, Buffy pulled out a stake and launched herself at Spike. He sat calmly as Xander stood up and blocked her path. “Stay away from my mate, Buffy.” He frowned at her, the threat in his tone obvious.

“Xander! That’s Spike! Move!” Buffy moved as if to pass him and he shoved her back. She flew across the room, landing at Giles’ feet. Angel struggled to control himself, he knew that Xander and Buffy needed to work this out on their own.

“Mine!” Xander all but growled at his former friend. She had attacked his mate and was now the enemy.

Spike stood and walked to Xander, wrapping his arms around his consort. “Unless you can sit and eat like civilized people, we will have to ask you to leave.” Giles looked at Spike in shock. Shaking, he sat down at the table, wishing that he had something to drink.

Angel still stood against the wall, warring with himself. Buffy had been the love of his life, but he had given her up years ago to protect his childe. He had no idea how to address the situation. Fortunately Willow spoke up.

“Buffy, let’s sit down and talk, ok?” She pulled out a chair and sat down opposite Giles, motioning for Buffy to join her. Spike waited until the three were seated then poked his head out the door, calling for their waitress. He took Xander’s hand and led him around the table, sitting as far from Buffy as he could.

Angel silently walked towards the table, choosing to sit beside his childe, smiling at the other vampire when Spike reached out and patted his hand.

Willow looked at Xander through misty eyes. “Why are you here with Spike?”

Angel cleared his throat, drawing everyone’s attention to him. “He belongs to Spike. I gave him to him.”

TBC