Vikings, Sires and Siblings

part 9

Xander woke in the early afternoon and left his lover sleeping as he made his way to the kitchen. He was feeling hungry, and for some reason he had an unbelievable craving for a cup of coffee. He found Cordelia and Buffy in the kitchen, eating cookies and drinking what suspiciously smelled like coffee. Well, now at least his craving made sense; he had probably smelled it in his sleep.

"Morning, ladies."

"It's the middle of the afternoon, Xander; it's hardly morning."

Xander shook his head fondly.

"Yeah, well, considering I'm a vampire now, this is technically my morning, Cordy. In fact, it's very early in the morning for me. You work for Angel; aren't you used to the undead’s hours by now?"

Cordy looked a bit sheepish and lowered her eyes.

"I keep forgetting you're one of them. I mean, you’re still so... you."

"Thanks, Cor."

Xander went about preparing his breakfast and poured himself a cup of coffee. He didn't notice Buffy making "no-no" motions at him. He took a healthy swig from his mug and his face twisted up in disgust. He vamped out; the taste was so horrible.

"Hey, Xan! I need to speak to you for a minute, okay?"

Buffy grabbed his arm and dragged him from the kitchen without waiting for a reply. Once they were out of the room, Xander spat the mouthful of foul liquid into a potted plant - a housewarming gift from the witches - and turned an evil glare on Buffy.

"Hey, tried to warn you. Cordy made the coffee."

"That was not coffee. That was toxic sludge that smelled like coffee. That was the slime trail from a Vortha demon, craftily disguised as coffee. I knew it, Cordy still hasn't forgiven me for kissing Willow in high school, and is planning to kill me by poisoning my coffee."

Buffy giggled.

"Relax, Xan. From what Angel tells me, her coffee is always this bad. But don't say anything, you'll hurt her feelings."

"Okay. Come on, I need to eat ... anything ... to get that taste out of my mouth."

They went back into the kitchen and Xander put his blood into the microwave. He chewed on a cookie while he waited, but could still taste the so-called coffee. Finally, the microwave beeped and he swiftly drank down his mug of blood and then licked his lips. Cordelia giggled.

"What?"

"Nothing."

She looked over at Buffy who was trying not to smile. Xander scowled. They both started laughing.

"What is so funny?"

"It's just..."

Buffy snorted and Cordy laughed harder.

"... we were just talking about the way Angel looks in game face. You know, all cute and kittenish."

Xander blinked.

"Kittenish? Angel?"

He snorted. Oh, he really wanted to tell Angel that the girls thought his scary demon face made him look like a kitten. He giggled, imagining the scourge of Europe meowing.

"Wait a minute. You're not telling me that I look like a kitten are you?"

Both girls studied his face and he bared his teeth at them and growled softly. They shook their heads.

"Nope, not kittenish at all. Maybe... cattish? Like a cougar or something?"

Xander could tell that Buffy was being patronising. He let his game face fall away and stuck his tongue out at her. She smiled.

"I am going back upstairs to wake Spike up and make him assure me that I am in no way kittenish. Have a good afternoon, ladies."

~!~

Hours later found everyone sitting around the large dining room table discussing Drusilla and her possible involvement in what had been going on with Spike and Xander lately.

"I'll dust the bitch!"

Buffy stood, determination written on her face and headed for the door. Angel and Spike both stood as well.

"Wait. Buffy, we need to come up with a plan."

"A plan? This is Dru we’re talking about here, right? As in crazy? Therefore no plan needed. We find, I slay, problem solved."

Spike snorted.

"Except, you seem to be forgetting, Slayer, that Dru can thrall with the best of them. Never had her use it me before, but if she can fool me - and I've known her for a hell of a long time - what do you think she can do to you? Peaches is right. We need a plan."

Angel sighed.

"Do you think, since I am here to help you, that you could maybe, just maybe, think about calling me Angel?"

Spike seemed to think about it and then grinned wickedly.

"Nope."

He seated himself in Xander’s lap and proceeded to kiss his mate silly in front of all and sundry. Not that Xander was putting up any protest to the sudden attack.

Willow smiled at the display and squeezed Tara's hand. They had both been so worried that Spike and Xander wouldn't be able to get past what had happened; they didn't care how much they kissed and touched each other in front of them.

"We need to bind her. Once she can't access her powers she won't be a threat. Well, not as much of a threat; she is a vampire after all."

Willow looked to Angel to see if her plan met his approval. He nodded and she smiled at him.

"Great! Tara and I will get started on the spell; you, Spike, Xander and Buffy can go scout for Dru."

~!~

They had set up the spell in the same cemetery that Angel had sensed Dru in the night before - the same cemetery where Spike’s indiscretion had taken place. The same cemetery that the tall dark-haired vampiress was currently entering, and coming straight for them.

"Everyone get ready."

Willow and Tara clasped hands as Buffy and the vampires took up positions. Dawn and Cordelia had stayed back at the house, to the protestations of both of them. Dru came closer, eyes locked on Spike.

"You've been a naughty boy, my Spike. Mummy shall have to punish you."

The insane vampiress smiled a truly wicked smile and then turned her gaze to Xander. She hissed at him and bared her teeth.

"Nasty little kitten grew claws, he did. Took my pet and made him 'is own. But it doesn't matter, you won't keep him; she comes for you and then my little Spikey will be all alone and he'll need 'is mummy, he will."

Dru smiled and swayed in place. Angel stepped closer toward her and cleared his throat.

"Who's coming, Dru? What does she want with Xander?"

"I don't have to tell you anything. You're not my Daddy."

Dru began to twirl and Angel growled low in his throat and vamped out at her. Dru stopped spinning and looked at Angel with confusion.

"My Angel? Is it you? The stars tell me the little red witch will make you go away; no more Daddy for princess, only the soul. Have you come to play with me before you leave?"

"Yes, princess. Daddy wants to play, but first I want to know what you did to Spike. Then we'll go somewhere else and play."

"Wicked games? Will you make me beg and bleed? It's been ever so long since I had a playmate."

"Whatever you want, Dru. Just tell me what you did to Spike."

Dru grinned and then leaned into Angel and snapped her teeth in his ear.

"I made him take me hard and fast. Against the stone walls where anyone could see. It was wicked fun, but he didn't hurt me."

She pouted.

"Will you hurt me, Daddy? My Spike doesn't play wicked games any more; the kitten has tamed him."

She turned to look at Spike and Xander who stood close together a few feet away.

"But I'll change that when he's mine again. He will bleed rivers for me."

Angel had heard enough. It was obvious that Dru was responsible for what was happening, and she didn't seem to want to tell him anything further. He grabbed her and twirled her around, dancing her towards the two witches who were standing ready to cast their spell.

As soon as Dru was in position, Angel let go of her and the witches began casting. Dru screamed as she realised what was happening. Angel and Buffy stood guard in case the spell didn't work and Spike and Xander just held each other and waited.

Willow and Tara fell silent and then unclasped their hands, Dru fell to her knees and Angel and Buffy stepped closer.

"Wills? Did it work?"

Willow looked from Dru to Tara and then nodded to Buffy.

"Yep. That is one bound vampire witch."

Everyone let out a collective breath and turned to go. Buffy stepped forward with her stake, intent on staking Dru when they were suddenly attacked. Angel put himself between the vampires and the witches, doing his best to protect them. He wasn't aware of just how powerful the two of them together had become.

Xander and Spike tore into the vampires closest to them. Spike was livid; hearing Dru say those things about what he had done a few night ago, right in front of his mate made him angry enough to stake her himself. Xander was just as angry, only for him, it was the threat she had made against Spike - to make him bleed rivers - that fuelled his rage.

By the time the battle was over and the last of the vampire dusted or fled, Drusilla was gone.

"Did anyone actually stake Dru, or was that ambush staged for her benefit?"

Buffy looked less than impressed at the prospect of the crazy vamp still running around her town. Angel cocked his head to the side and then grimaced.

"She's not dust. We won't find her again tonight. Let's go."

They all agreed and headed back to Xander and Spike's place. The two mates walked hand in hand, knowing it wasn't over, but not wanting to think about that.

~!~