*****

"Well, if I ever want to die, I hope you're the one to do it," as the unexpected words left her mouth, her heart started racing and she took a chance, leaning forward slowly, praying for the chance to press her mouth against those firm, pale lips.

Spike laughed out loud and pushed her back. It didn't take enough to set the chip off considering her current shocked state.

"Sorry Slayer, it won't be me," he sneered, throwing her money back in her face. "You see, you're beneath me."

He gave her a huge grin and then spun around and walked out of the alley, duster flapping behind him.

"B-but, that's what you've been trying to do for years!" Buffy choked out, her voice breaking. "You've always wanted to be the one to kill me! Remember, Slayer blood, major aphrodisiac!"

Spike glanced back over his shoulder and smirked. "Pet, that was when all I saw was your tight little ass. Now that I've spent a great deal of time watching your mouth flap, I'd rather drain the sodding Watcher! It's not worth the bloody bother!" As he turned the corner he spat, "And as *if* I want your yammering to continue for all eternity!"

"You wouldn't have to turn me! You could just bite me! I'm sure I'm moist and-"

Mercifully the screeching faded as he put some distance between himself and the alley. He started to whistle merrily. Who needs bite when you've got the baddest bark in Sunnyhell?"

He wasn't sure why he had agreed to reveal so much about his past to the Slayer.

[Maybe to avoid getting your ass kicked?]

Shut up! Pesky sub-conscious.

It wasn't as if he *wanted* her to keep up this nasty habit of surviving that she had developed. It was starting to get on his nerves.

[If she dies, Xander will be upset.]

Shut up!!

His mind involuntarily turned to Xander, the whelp that he was currently *not* in love with and was *not* having wet dreams about. He was also *not* imagining Xander's tight, smooth ass when he insisted on taking Harmony from behind and he was *not* at this very moment headed towards that house that lay between ‘the place' and ‘the other place' to smoke another pack of cigs.

Bugger.

*****

Xander Harris was almost dancing down the street. He just had to make a quick stop at his parents' house before returning to his apartment for a fun (and sex) filled night with Anya. His Mom had called him earlier and asked him to come and pick up his mail. She said having it lying around was beginning to annoy his father. Never a good thing.

There was a slight skip in his step as he rounded the corner and headed up the front walk. His life had recently taken a turn for the good. He'd gotten another promotion at his construction job, which he actually seemed to be good at! He didn't think that he'd ever find a forte but apparently he had one. Also, despite Buffy's frightening injury, watching Riley's ass stealthily slink around the graveyard had been fun. And he did *not* just think that. Not that Riley wasn't attractive and manly and muscley and-Fuck.

Xander had reached the stairs but had just looked up in time to see the fist flying towards his face. Not having time to prepare himself, he went flying backwards onto the pavement. He lay there trembling, knowing what was coming next. He held a hand over his right cheekbone which stung and was beginning to swell.

"I thought I told you never to come back here!"

His father's voice was low and dangerous.

"But Dad," Xander started weakly but was ignored.

"What did I say?" His father loomed over him. "I said ‘boy, if you think you're too good to live in this house with your own family then I never want to see your ugly face around here again. Didn't I?"

"Yes Dad..."

"Didn't I!!" his father repeated loudly and kicked him sharply in the ribs.

"Yes Dad!" Xander cried out in pain, holding his side.

"Then what the fuck are you doing here?"

"Mom told me to pick up my mail," Xander moaned through clenched teeth.

Mr. Harris gave a short little laugh and then grabbed a package from the step and threw it violently at his son's face.

"There it is you worthless fuck. Now get out and never show your face around here again."

After delivering one more savage kick to Xander's ribs, he walked back to the house and slammed the door.

Xander lay motionless for a minute before painfully pulling himself to his feet and collecting the envelopes which had scattered when they connected with his jaw.

He sat down on the steps and tentatively poked at his side, surprise that nothing seemed to be broken.

He felt the tears welling up in his eyes. How could he ever mean anything to anyone if the man who had brought him into this world only found him useful as a punching bag? Finally, he held his head in his hands and sobbed. He knew there was no more danger, his father would be too disgusted to come back out.

*****

He's crying! The bloody sod is crying! Spike laughed to himself. He strode purposefully towards the young man, a thousand thoughts running through his head.

This is great! I get to ruin two days for the price of one! Time to add humiliation to the whelp's misery. Ooh I'm gonna goad him and torture him and hurt him and comfort him and hold him and kiss him and-Fuck.

"What's wrong?" he demanded sharply.

The boy's head shot up. He stared at the vampire in confusion before muttering, "Fuck you Spike," in a very tired voice.

Spike ignored him. "Is there anything I can do?"

[God tell me I did *not* just say that! Could I possibly get any more out of character?!?]

As Xander continued to stare at him blankly through his tear-stained eyes, Spike walked slowly towards him and sat beside him on the step. The boy didn't react so Spike tentatively reached out and placed a hand on his back.

Xander's eyes widened and Spike took the look of shock and horror on the boy's face to be a bad sign. He removed his hand and placed it in his lap and they sat there in uncomfortable silence for quite some time.

End