*****

"Damn lousy job." Xander muttered as he threw his keys at the table.

"Hey, watch it pet." Spike yelled as the keys missed their destination and hit his booted feet on the floor.

"Shut it Fangless." Xander growled. Spike, who was used to growling whined a little from his position tied to the chair, he didn't do sympathy when he was hungry and right now Xander was in the kind of mood that he would let the Vampire starve. Xander obviously sensing Spike's distress loosened his bindings and gave him a bag of blood, Spike ripped at the bag as if it were a human throat and thought nothing of allowing his game face to come through.

Xander sighed and sank into the arm chair and flicked on the TV, he ought to be used to this, he and the Vampire had been living together since Giles needed his life back, it appeared that Xander did not have a life to speak of so he had been lumbered with the blonde. Not that Xander would admit it but he usually didn't mind the company, but tonight the last thing that he needed was Spike's caustic with. Xander was just beginning to doze off, his mind on the last time that he had been with Anya when the doorbell rang. Xander made his way to answer it a stake in one hand and a dollar bill in the other, it would get rid of the two greatest evils anyway, vampires and girl scouts.

Opening the door Xander readied himself for a confrontation that never came, he was about to close the door when he noticed the embossed white envelope that lay on the door mat (a plain one after the effect of a "Welcome" mat had almost caused him to lose his life to Vampires.) It was a plain white heavy-duty paper envelope with no distinguishing features apart from the scripted gothic handwriting that read; "Master Alexander Harris". Living on the Hellmouth had given Xander a sense of curiosity that made him open the envelope carefully but quickly, as he shut the door his eyes widened in surprise.

"What is it Xan?" Spike asked with uncharacteristic concern. Wordlessly Xander handed Spike the letter and Spike read it aloud:

"Dear Mr Harris. Please find enclosed a gift of welcome and acceptance from we at the Alliance. Over the last decade we have watched your progress into the young man that you have become today and feel that now is the time for us to make ourselves known in your life. We wish to invite you to join our ranks. In accepting this offer you will be provided with all that is needed for you to fulfil your destiny." There was no signature on the letter and the enclosed gift held no further clues.

"What is it?" Xander said holding up the pendant of a pentagram surrounded by an uroboros, the alchemists' symbol of a snake biting it's own tail.

"Bloody hell." Spike said finally, apparently not having heard Xander's question. "It looks like you've been chosen."

"By who?"

"The Alliance mate, don't tell me you haven't heard of them. The Watchers and Slayers have been fawning over them for centuries, they control almost everything but nobody knows who they are."

"Why do they want me? I'm just Xander Harris." Xander said. "Maybe they made a mistake, I'm a demon magnet after all."

"I think that we need to call the Watcher, maybe he knows something, in the mean time keep hold of this, it'll watch over you." Spike said slipping the pendant over Xander's head. The Talisman of Rota, the wheel would keep him safe, after all with the right power it made its human wearer immortal.

-----------------------

"Xander? Spike? did we have a meeting that I forgot about?" Giles asked as he saw his least favourite scoobies at his door. Angel had sensed them as they approached, if this was the trouble that Cordelia had foreseen he would not be surprised if his once favourite childe was somehow involved.

"G-man, What's brood boy doing here?" Xander asked as he entered and took a seat as far away from the souled vampire as possible. Giles noticed the talisman around the boy's neck and answered distractedly.

"Some apocalyptic evil....Xander where did you get a rota medallion from?" Spike turned an amused look on the watcher then to his Sire.

"Why, you jealous mate? it appears that little Xander has been invited to join the ranks of the Alliance, the cream of the crop no less."

"Oh my!" Giles exclaimed, the shock evident in his voice.

"We would have noticed his power." Angel answered.

"Should have more like, but you were too wrapped up in your little Slutty to see the things that Angelus knew. Surely the fact that every demon under the sun and those allergic to it wanted him and surviving possession that would have driven most people insane three times would give you a ticket for the clue bus."

"Well, I think that you came to the right place, we really ought to do some research" Giles said, moving back into the realms of the places that he felt safe.

"Actually, that is a little unnecessary." Wesley said appearing from out of the kitchen carrying a tray with tea and blood, the perfect tea party for the mixed society. "You see, Xander is special, the alliance knew that he would come here, that Angel would be drawn to help even though he dislikes the boy, but anything that Xander wants to know he only need ask."

"What?" Giles asked.

"I'm a Allied tutor." Wesley said simply. "A *watcher*of Alliance hopefuls if you will,"he emphasised the term watcher with a snort "I was sent to watch Xander and another that was in the area."

"Wills?" Xander asked. "because she deserves this, I don't, I mean what can I offer you but a whole bunch of tips on how to screw up, which I'm thinking a guy like you doesn't really need help with." Angel's inner demon growled at the humour used to disguise the self-hatred. Spike, who was less controlled, audibly growled.

"No, Willow is too wrapped up in her other studies, the Wiccans need her, a leader perhaps one day. No, the alliance believe that it is not the fastest or brightest that hold the key but the outcasts, after all true strength is not in agility or speed but in experience. Demons can't hurt you when those that you ought most be able to trust have done it so irrevocably." Wes replied, Xander flinched at the mention of his parents, no one but Spike and Anya knew about their betrayal and hurt.

"So, why is Peaches here?" Spike asked, angered that his Sire was not keeping up the bargain that they had to be at least one town away.

"For the same reason that you are. I'm not perfect, Xander needs physical strength as well as mental." Wesley answered, "Also I doubt that the slayer will take this well, a warrior stronger than she is will no doubt threaten her ego."

"A chance to put one over on Bitchy?" Spike asked, "Where do I sign?"

"what if I don't want to be chosen." Xander said finally, still unsure of what his life would be like as a fighter for this Alliance.

"You get to keep the talisman and I'd advise that you wear it, You'll continue to be a target for demons as you get stronger with age but you would a normal human." Wesley answered, Giles was about to protest but then saw the glare that Angel gave him. There was something that made the souled Vampire think of the boy as one of his Childer. Spike was sending his own looks to Xander, pouts and puppy eyes that he had learnt from Dru, Xander sighed, if there was one thing that was sexier than Angel getting all protective it was Spike's pouty lips, god how he'd love to kiss them.

"Okay, but I swear the first sign of homework and I am out of here."

------------------------------

"I can't do this!" Xander cried as he threw the book across the library in frustration. Since beginning his training as a novice of the Alliance a month before Xander, Wesley, Spike and Angel had been living in the Mansion on Crawford Street, so that only one building would need the protection spell that surrounded them. In cultivating Xander's strength they would be increasing his pull to demon's. Both Angel and Spike had appointed themselves protectors to the boy and were themselves learning a little more about the Alliance.

"Xander, you mastered invocation and incantation faster than some of the strongest warlocks that I have trained with, alchemy is no different but you need to find your centre." Wesley chided lightly.

"I'm never going to get this, I don't know why you even bother trying to teach me."

"Descartes said…"

"Cognito ergo sum….I know.." Xander retorted then blushed a little as he saw that Wes had intentionally paused expecting him to finish the sentence, Xander had to admit that he did seem to know a little more now that he spent his time between a well educated watcher and two people who had lived history. God, if only High school had been this interesting maybe he would be in college now. Wesley's words raced through his mind. "Each has his own strength."

"Now, Let's try this again. Silver, Pewter, Iron," Wesley said indicating to the metals…

"No, Xander stopped him, that's a compound, not pure metal." Then smiled as he realised that he was getting a little better at it.

"Okay, that's enough for today, now go do whatever it is that you boys do at night."

Xander carefully avoided the rooms where the Vampires slept, usually the three of them would go out or stay in and talk about the things that Xander had learnt that day, but tonight he had something special to do. It was the one month anniversary of him coming here to stay and he wanted to do something special for the Vampires to thank them for their help. It had all started earlier that week when they had been jumped by a gang of youths and Spike had not been able to defend himself, Angel had gone in to a deep funk the same night not being able to even look at the girls that Xander was eyeing up. Both of the Vampires had their curses in life and yet they both gave up the little freedom that they had left to be with Xander. They were outcasts from their own kind and although they had begun to rebuild their own relationship, their afflictions made it difficult for them to fit in anywhere.

Xander's gifts would be simple, an anchored soul for Angel and a dampening of the chip's effects for Spike. The simple incantations that Xander had written had taken less than ten minutes to complete and it saddened the boy to see that no one had done it before. All of the preparations were in place, and the spells were ready, all Xander had to do tonight was the recitation.

-----------------------

Bind this soul to the bringer of hope
Bind it here with eternal rope
The bringer of terror has evolved
His demon crushed, his sins absolved
So happiness will not destroy his soul
Make the warrior again whole

~~~

This mix of demon and machine
Unnatural, abnormal and unclean
Remove from him mechanical curse
Lessen the power but weaken the thirst
No longer to pain but just to still
Allow the lust but not the kill.

~~~

As the final words rolled from his tongue Xander felt the energy flow from his body, the only thing that he had underestimated was the power of the spell to drain his own energy supplies. Xander wondered in his last moments why the spell seemed to have taken too much energy from him, but this was lost as he lost consciousness.

Spike and Angel awoke at the same moment as if evening had arrived, they had felt the surge of energy move through the mansion, going to investigate they found the prostrate Xander in the library, surrounded by burning candles, the spell book he had been reading from burning. The talisman of Rota lay on the table, not able to protect the boy from the spells power.

*****
Part 2:

Xander woke to find two very worried vampires pacing the library while Wesley knelt over him checking that he was still alive. It looked almost light outside and breifly Xander wondered how long he had been asleep.

"He's awake." Wesley said needlessly as Xander stood up. Spike ran to him growling and pushed Xander up against the wall.

"What the hell were you doing?" Spike said shaking the boy none to gently. Angel looked at the pair with a slight confused look and then raised an eyebrow to Wes.

"It worked." Xander said in awe. Spike put the boy down and looked at him questionably, in reply Xander tilted his neck to the Vampire. "Drink." Xander ordered. Spike stared at him, "trust me." Xander added. Spike looked helplessly to his Sire who nodded encouragingly, Spike shrugged a little and began to move towards Xander's exposed flesh. As he vamped out and his fangs pierced the skin four gasps echoed around the library, pulling away after only a mere taste Xander saw the unshed tears that shined in the Vampire's eyes.

"You…you…" Spike muttered speechlessly. It was suddenly clear that Xander had given him back his ability to drink.

"Don't get too excited Junior, you might be able to drink but you can't kill anything human, think of it as a safety device, at least this way I know that you won't kill me." Xander looked at Angel who was smiling for his childe but there was a pain in his eyes as if he felt alone. "Do you feel any different?" He asked, Angel's brow furrowed as if he were deep in thought then a feeling of enlightenment came over him, the guilt and pain that was usually there in the back of his mind had eased a little and he felt the need to smile. Spike saw the laughter return to his Sire's eyes, something he had not seen since Angelus' reign of Europe.

"What…?" Angel asked.

"Simple, I absolved you of your sins and made your soul permanent, I guess you could say that the two of you are restored to a little over half your original selves." There was a nervous laugh in Xander's voice but it was covered by a new air of self confidence that was new to him, the spells had not only helped Spike and Angel but also given Xander a belief that he could succeed.

"Well, I think that despite the fact that you broke all of the rules of the Alliance, this calls for a celebration." Wesley said. "After all, it's not everyday that you cast life altering spells. At least I am hoping that this was a one off."

The two vampires agreed but it was decided that they ought to leave the celebration until after they could go out in the sun, Wesley gave Xander the day off to recuperate and then left him alone in the library, only when he was alone did Xander allow his hand to trail up to the now fading marks on his neck. His hardening erection the only other evidence of the bite. Xander took himself off to bed, falling into sweet dreams about his vampires. Wesley stood in front of the fireplace and smiled at the papers that he held in his hand, it was only a matter of time before the prophecies of the triad would come true.

--------------

"I don't feel any different." Spike grumbled to Angel as the two retired to their separate bedrooms, Angel ran a hand down Spike's chest, ending with his hand at his Childe's crotch.

"No, you feel the same as you did a hundred years ago." He said playfully, Spike vamped out at the obvious show of dominance and the sign that Angelus was back.

"Angelus." Spike spat at the Poof who had for so long not been his Sire.

"Oh, relax Childe, you heard Xander my soul is permanent, I was just playing with you." Angel said, Spike returning to his human form, rose an eyebrow to the statement and then it dawned on Angel what he had said, "I was playing with you." He repeated this time with wonder. "Well, I guess that he was right about absolving my sins too."

"Does that mean…"

"I'm not a broody vampire? I guess so." Angel finished with a shrug. "So, You want to reminisce over old times?"

"We going out to commit mass murder, maybe take over the world?"

"I was thinking more of a shag, less guilt, less bloodshed, it's better all around." Angel said with a shrug. Spike smiled and pushed Angel towards the bedroom.

"Fine, but I get to be on top."

*****
Part 3:

Angel rose against the sensation but was pulled back down by the heavy chains that bound him to the bed. Spike was indeed fulfilling his promise of being on top and was tormenting his former Sire with candle wax and holy water. There had always been a fight for dominance between the two but Spike was not able to win over the conditioning that was involved with a Sire/Childe relationship, until now that was.

Spike carefully blew out the flame and placed the candle at the bedside, he would not make the dame mistake that Angelus had with his other Childe, there had been a nasty accident with a naked flame, the very thought made Spike shiver. Spike leaned down and sucked at the nipples he had just been torturing, this power was turning him on more than any rape or pillaging ever had.

Angel too was enjoying the submission that he was enduring, it felt good to give over control to someone, even if it was his wilful Childe, in a way that made it even more exciting as he was not a hundred percent sure that he could trust Spike. Angel bared his neck to his Childe, giving in to the need for full submission, Spike stared at Angel for a brief moment, seeing the amber flash in his Sire's eyes he knew that this was for real. As Spike moved down to nip at the neck his Game Face took over and he felt his fangs pierce the delicate white neck, Angel groaned against his bonds as Spike drank from him, not too deeply but enough to weaken Angel. The intimacy of the act made both Vampires come hard, without any real sexual contact.

Spike pulled away and lapped at the wound that he had created while undoing the binds of his Sire. It was done, the reunion of Childe and Sire was complete, but the bond was broken. Spike and Angelus, the scourge of Europe in their day, were reunited as the only two Vampires who were crippled by a sense of humanity that allowed their demons to evolve. It was as the Alliance had foretold, Wesley would tell them later:

Light and Dark
Father and Son
Borne to Darkness
In Goodness united as one.

*****
Part 4:

Xander stared at the stone that he held in his hand, a gift from Angel to try and thank him for restoring his soul and spirit. Angel and Spike both felt that they could never thank the boy enough for what he had done but Xander, who had little self belief anyway, shrugged it off. The philosopher's stone, used for transmutation was one of the key tools for an alchemist, the art that Xander was currently studying, it allowed the transfer of power for perhaps the most well-known alchemist spell, turning lead into gold. It had been three days since his spell to restore the Vampires to the state that they were now in and he was only just recovering from the loss of strength he had incurred, while he had broken the Alliance codes of non-intervention with the powers, the lesson that he had learnt about not taking on too much at once was one Wes was sure that he would not forget in a hurry.

Xander was supposed to be resting but he had found a book of Angel's in the library about how to use the stone and wanted to see if he had gotten it right, there seemed only one problem that he did not understand. The archaic language spoke of accepting one's androgyny but this was not something that Xander understood fully. His lack of energy made him frustrated easily and his mind wandered to Spike and the rapidly fading marks on his neck. It had felt so right to have him drink from him, he wished that there was a way that he could let the Vampire know how he felt. Xander had come to terms over the last week with his bisexuality...the thoughts were cut short by the glowing of the stone, it appeared that whatever Xander had done he had activated the stone. Touching the first metal that he could find Xander channelled his power into the Talisman that he had kept close to him since it arrived on his doormat all those weeks ago. There was a small flash as the pentagram on the middle of the stone turned from it's dull black to a brilliant gold. Xander smiled sleepily as he felt the magic subside, he had proved another of his high school teachers wrong, alchemy took more than science and even more than power, it took an inner acceptance that many feared, accepting that we are all by nature bisexual.

------------

The cell phone that rang pulled Angel from his deep sleep, he grunted as he woke up and answered it.

"Angel?" Cordelia's voice asked across the line.

"Delia? It's 3 O'Clock in the afternoon, What's the matter?" He asked angrily.

"I...I had a vision, I'm sorry but I think that Buffy is going up against something stronger than her and she might lose." Cordelia sounded anxious, but Angel knew that it was him and not the slayer that she was worried about. Up to a week ago this sort of thing would have sent him into a brood, but now he had the power not to worry over trivial things.

"I'll deal with it." Angel said curtly and hung up. He went to warn the others, he had translated the idea that Buffy was in danger with guarded concern, knowing that Xander would want to help but not knowing if the boy was ready.

--------------

Wesley smiled as he saw the pendant that Xander wore proudly around his neck, it appeared that Xander was stronger than he had first appeared, the ex-watcher had not expected him to activate the Talisman's power for at least another few months, maybe they would move on to telekinesis and mental cognisance next.

"So, the slayer is facing yet another demon, Yippee for her." Spike said sarcastically.

"Delia said that it was something stronger than her." Angel reported, "but I don't know if there is anything we can do to help."

"We can go and kick some demon ass." Xander said a little too excitedly, Spike and Angel stared at him perturbed by the statement, "No offence."

"Much as it pains me to admit it, I am inclined to agree with Spike." Wesley said as if it actually caused him physical pain, Spike grinned widely. "Buffy is the Slayer, it is her job to deal with such things, there is no need for Xander to needlessly endanger himself by being there."

"Wuss." Xander jibed. "And you just don't want her to see that you are back in Sunnydale, don't think that I don't remember the way that you hid last time that you were in town." He directed towards Angel. Angel growled in anger and shifted to game face, ready to lash out at the boy had Spike not interfered. The three older men all stared at Xander and sighed, there was no way that they were going to win an argument with him, unfortunately giving him an education had also given him an ability to argue his way out of any logical argument put forward, whatever they said they would end up seeing the slayer and fighting with her.

*****
Part 5:

Xander shifted the stake from his right to left hand and sighed frustratedly, this was the fifth night that they had patrolled on the old school site and still they came up with nothing, the opponent that Cordy had seen Buffy fighting appeared to be a serpent which led them to believe that someone was to try and open the Hellmouth.

Across town Buffy, Riley and Willow were planning to check out the old high school site too, there had been signs of someone suspicious in the area and in Sunnydale suspicious was usually synonymous with evil. As the three prepared to 'move out' as Riley so eloquently put it Willow briefly suggested that they tell Giles what they were up to.

"No" Buffy answered, "He's been in a funk about something for weeks now and he would only spoil our fun." Willow flinched a little at Buffy's definition of the term fun, but said nothing, after all no one stood up to Buffy, not anymore anyway.

-------------

"Remind me again why we are here instead of sitting in a nice warm mansion." Spike groaned to Angel.

"You know that Xander feels that we need to protect Buffy." Angel replied, Spike raised an eyebrow at the statement and Angel returned the stare. "What? I'm supposed to get choked up over the Slayer?" There was a playful tone but deep down Spike revelled in the fact that Angel really was over Slutty, it would make killing her all that much easier.

-----------------

Riley swept the area with his "Sub-T Scanner" and located two distinct "cold-critters" or Vampires as they were officially called. Buffy pulled out a loaded crossbow and got ready to fight, she was not prepared for the sight that she found.

"Angel?" She asked as she saw the familiar face smile as Spike cracked a joke, those two were not meant to be friends and Angel never smiled, or laughed. He was not supposed to be happy, at least not without her. It must be the demon she reasoned, he would not show her up this time. The Crossbow fired but Angel turned swiftly and caught it just as it was about to enter his heart through his back, why did Slayer's always choose this method to try and kill him?

"Buffy." Xander said "Angel is fine, just back off." He moved to intervene, standing between the pair.

"That is Angelus, Angel, *my* Angel is never like that." She replied not noticing that her ex-boyfriend and current boyfriend both seemed outraged by the comment.

"Buffy..." Angel said cautiously. Spike pushed his way forward.

"Oh, for pity's sake. Look Slutty, Can I call you Slutty? The Poof's soul is permanent, we're here to fight some evil and there is nothing that you can do."

"How...?" She asked, apparently only having heard the first half of Spike's statement. Xander blushed and Buffy turned her crossbow so that it pointed at him. "You? You did this? Little Xander, everyone's favourite screw-up, donut boy. You expect me to believe that you did this?" She laughed bitterly and Xander cringed at the statements, all of which he believed to be true. The Slayer moved to strike him but her fist was stopped by an angry and overly protective Angel in full game face, Buffy kept her attention on Xander and moved to give him a right hook, a fire burned deep inside the boy and an inner rage pushed out from within him, Buffy was thrown hundreds of metres in to the air and landed on Riley who had moved to the background to avoid confrontation, as Xander fell from the use of the power that he had barely managed to harness Spike caught him. The Vampire carried his body to safety, away from the witch that stared at them in disbelief, later when Willow found the will to move to where Xander had fallen she saw the amulet that he had worn, a pentigram surrounded by a golden serpent.

-----------------------

Willow felt the force field as she approached the mansion and found the appropriate incantation to create a door, she was met at the door by an angry and half asleep Wesley wielding an axe with his eyes glazed over with a look that showed he had every intention of using it.

"Willow." He said abruptly. "I suppose you want to come in." She nodded thankfully and came to a halt in the lounge area of the mansion seeing Spike and Angel pacing alternately around the room while Xander lay asleep on the couch. "Oh, ignore those two, they are like mother hens over an injured chick." he said.

"I..erm...I brought this back, I think that Xander dropped it when he, What did he do?" She asked.

"I think that you had better sit down." Wesley said before explaining without giving away too many details exactly what it was that the Alliance were.

"So, There is a secret group that runs around saving the world." Willow summed up. "Pretty much like the Watcher's council."

"Except we know what we are doing, at least we are supposed to." Xander said with a groan as he came to. "Hey Wills."

Willow stared at her friend with a look Xander had never seen before, the girl that had bested him at everything and had always been his superior was looking at him with awe. Angel smiled at Willow encouragingly, knowing that acceptance from his friends was important to Xander, even if Angel had had to physically restrain Spike from going after Buffy once they knew that Xander was safe. Willow moved quietly to her friend and took him in a friendly embrace, Xander felt the fire that had boiled inside him subside a little, the anger dissipating thanks to the love that he felt. There was a question at the back of his mind about what they could do about Buffy but that could wait, all he wanted to do now was sleep for a month, the last week beginning with spells and ending with a display of his telekinetic strength had drained him almost completely. Exhaustion swept through his system like a storm and he was again asleep, this time in Willow's arms, he stayed there for a few moments until Spike lifted him up and carried him to his room. The last thing that Xander felt before unconsciousness claimed him completely was the feather light touch of cold lips on his own, the gesture was not so much a passionate question but a loving promise, it was enough to tell Xander that he was safe and loved and he fell into a deep sleep.

*****
Part 6:

"I don't know *how* he did it." Wesley said to Angel as Spike returned to the room having made sure that Xander was comfortable. "But you taught him to harness that power." Angel said.

"Yes I did, but I had not expected him to have so much, the process is basic, it rechannels the strength of internal anger and externalises it as a shock wave. In truth I did not know that a blast could be *that* powerful."

"It's the Slayer, the bint brings out the worst in everyone." Spike said, ignoring Willow who sat in stunned silence at his statement. If Red was going to stay around she would have to accept a few home truths, Spike reasoned then returned up to Xander's room with the things he had retrieved. He didn't really care where the power had come from, or why it was that Xander had protected two of the people that he hated the most in high school, all he knew was that Xander needed protecting right now and he was quite happy to do the job.

-------------------

Xander woke sixteen hours later from a beautiful dream about his two favourite fantasies and found Spike curled up asleep in the chair by his bed. The Vampire looked almost innocent, not the vicious killer but perhaps the lost boy that Angelus had corrupted. William Bradley had been 26 and a petty criminal about to hang for a robbery that had gone wrong when Angelus found him. Xander felt the strings of his heart pull as he wondered about the early life that Spike had led, he reached out to caress the face of the sleeping Vamp, wanting to feel the cool skin against his hands while he had the chance, as he reached the cold lips a smile spread across Spike's face and he looked directly at Xander.

"Spike...I ...er..." Xander began.

"It's all right pet. If you want to touch you just have to ask." Spike said with a leer, he wanted the boy and could smell Xander's arousal but was not above a small amount of teasing. Xander blushed a little and Spike knew that the boy would not ask so he took the hand that now hung midway between them and raised it back up to his face where he nuzzled it gently. Xander let out a groan as the assault on his hand became more erotic and he felt Spike's teeth graze the soft flesh of his wrist. Spike felt the blood that thrummed through Xander's veins and felt the tell tale sign of the change and pulled away, he did not want to hurt the boy but the taste of his sweet innocent blood was still on his lips. Despite having dropped Xander's hand he could not stop his game face coming through, he turned away on shame and was just in time to see his Sire enter the room.

As Angel entered the room he saw Xander's prone body laying in the bed and his Childe in game face leering over him, his demon thought the worst and before Xander or Spike could stop him he had his Childe pinned up against the wall, stake to his heart.

"He's mine." Angelus roared as he threatened his Childe. Xander trembled with both fear and arousal at the dominance, but knew that this was no time to get turned on, he had to save Spike from the demon, after all it was his fault that the demon was closer to the surface.

"Angel. I'm fine, Spike wasn't hurting me." Xander said, Spike watched as his Sire's face twitched and he slipped out of game face and back to his human guise.

"Xander?" Angel asked, letting his grip on his Childe wane a little. "He...he vamped out." Angel pointed out.

"We were getting it on you Poof." Spike said, finding his throat squeezed again as his Sire returned him to the choke hold that he had before but this time staying in human form. Angel did not respond this time when Xander called his name but the feeling if the warm hand on his arm made him let Spike go and turn to see the mortal standing next to him a look of understanding and compassion on his face. Xander threw a look of disdain to the younger vampire as he glared directly at his Sire, in answer Angel turned and left in silence, not wanting to disturb the two any more than he had.

"What did I do Pet?" Spike asked with a pout.

"You know what you did, Angel wants you, I don't need him attacking me in the same way that he went for you." Xander said, Spike laughed out loud.

"It's not me he wants you nonce, it's you. Angelus has lusted after you since before he fucked the damn slayer." Spike spat at him, the jealous rage clear in his voice, "He ordered me not to touch you even when he was screwing Dru, as far as the demon is concerned you belong to him." Xander watched the warring emotions that crossed Spike's face, not one, but both of his fantasies were about to come true, both the vampires wanted him and Xander was more scared than anything else. He had wanted the Vampires to get on together, expected that they would then not be alone once the Scoobies were gone, but he had not expected to come between them.

"Angel wants me?" Xander asked, needing to be sure.

"Doesn't everyone?" Spike retorted as he turned away and left the boy alone. Xander fell back on his bed deep in thought about where they could go from here and cursed the day that he had ever fallen for the Vampires, either of them.

--------------

Wesley had overheard the shouting from the next room but was certain that his student was able to work this out for himself, it was one of the final tests of his true mettle as to whether or not he could fulfil the prophecy of his destiny, to reunite two of the greatest killers and bring them into the light so that they could atone for their sins. Yes, if there was a little bloodshed so be it, as long as the end result went as planned.

-----------

When Xander left his room two hours after the initial argument he found both of his suitors in the library, Spike was cleaning his nails with a stake and Angel was polishing his favourite sword, it was clear that the two were goading each other into starting a fight.

"Hi." Xander said tentatively as they both looked up at him, their scowls falling away and being replaced by compassion. "Look, this is ridiculous, last week the two of you were shagging, now you are arguing over some stupid little mortal that you could snap like a twig." He said with a selfdepracating laugh.

"Xan..." Spike began but Xander held up a hand to silence him.

"If you both want me that much, which I highly doubt, then you can have me, but you boys have to learn to share." Angel and Spike stared at him as if he were dressed in the pink bunny suit that Anya had chosen for Halloween. "What?"

"You want a threesome with us?" Angel said.

"Do you have a better suggestion? Alternate days perhaps?" Xander questioned. Spike smiled before moving to kiss his lover on the mouth.

"I think that it's a great idea Pet." Spike said. "but you need to get a bigger bed."

"The one in the basement will suffice." Angel said with a straight face, his way of telling them that he was in without losing face. Xander smiled widely and wondered what he had done to deserve such a dream come true, if he had more self-esteem he would have known that it was because he suffered as a child. The Powers looked kindly on those that had survived the hardships of the world and still believed in good.

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Xander moved around the large Gothic bed and sat on the edge as far away from Spike and Angel as he could, he had thought that when he suggested this that they would laugh at him in disgust or pity but now they wanted him. It was something that would be laughable if it wasn't downright scary, nobody really wanted him, not Xander Harris. Except he wasn't donut boy anymore, he wasn't useless and he wasn't *just* Buffy's bait to draw out demons. The Alliance wanted him, he could work powerful majicks and rather than being bait he could kick Buffy's ass. Maybe they really did want him after all.

"Xan?" Spike asked gently, something so unlike the Vampire Xander had to smile. "If you don't want this say now." There was concern and apprehension that were not characteristic of a demon, but then as most Vamps would tell you Spike was not normal, he was undefinable.

"No, it's just..."

"hard to believe?" Angel asked, Xander nodded and closed his eyes as he expected a torrent of abuse about how useless he was, instead Angel growled lightly and pulled him across the bed and into an embrace.

This loving from both the Vampires shocked Xander, who had expected raw animal passion, it was unexpected but nice. Spike joined Angel in his barrage of playful nibbling of their mortal, and gradually it grew to a more passionate romp. Clothes were disposed of and soon Xander lay in his boxers with two naked Vampires sucking, kissing and licking all of his exposed flesh. Spike lapped at his ribs and nipples while Angel slid a hand inside Xander's boxers and freed his now engorged penis. Angel kissed it's head tentatively and when he received a gasp of pleasure took the entire member in his mouth and deep throated the already leaking cock. Spike began to nuzzle Xander's neck and Xander's breathe began to come in shorter pants, he felt the eroticness of the fact that Spike could drink from him and tilted his neck to give the Vampire better access, Spike looked into the eyes of his lover and saw love and trust there that made his body tremble and his cock stiffen, desperate to reassure him, to reassure both of them Xander tried to tell them what he wanted.

"It's okay...I mean...if...you want to drink." he said the words grunted through the pleasure from Angel's continued oral assault on his dick. Pulling away both Spike and Angel looked up at Xander and their demons howled as their game faces came out, Spike latched on to Xander's neck while Angel buried his fangs deep in to Xander's inner thigh, Xander came from the experience, and was followed shortly after by the pair that now lay back, the blood of their lover pumping through their veins. As they lay sated, a tangle of demon and human limbs Xander's talisman glowed and his wounds began to heal, not only the bites but those long seated in his spirit too.

*****