Xander froze, eyes going wide. He took a step back. "Um...Tara." He licked his lips, glancing nervously at Oz.

Oz closed his eyes momentarily, groaning softly. This was just turning out to be a fantastic day! Calmly, he hefted the pile, dumping everything into Xander's arms. "Why don't you take these up to the register? I'll be with you in a sec."

Xander's glance darted between Tara and Oz, then he backed away and moved quickly to the front of the store.

Oz watched him go, then turned back to Tara, who was following Xander's departure with wide eyes. Once he was out of sight, those eyes were directed to Oz again. He lifted an eyebrow, crossing his arms over his chest.

"That was...Xander." Tara looked very confused, with just the barest hint of being upset.

"It was."

"I don't...I don't understand. We've all...Willow and everyone, we've been looking for him."

"Have you?"

"We all thought something...bad...had happened to him."

"Did you now?"

Her forehead crinkled. "Willow's been so worried about him."

"That's Willow for you."

Tara took a deep breath. "Is he...is he ok?"

"You could say that." Oz just continued to stare at her, not even attempting to be helpful.

Shaking her head, Tara once more picked up the discarded dress. She made as if to step around Oz. "I have to go. I have to tell Willow--"

"No!" Oz grabbed her arm, eyes narrowing. He jerked her back, hissing, "You can't say *anything*! Not to anyone."

Tara tried to pull away, but was unable to break his grip. Wincing as fingers dug into her arm, she quit struggling. "But she's his friend," she protested. "She needs to know!"

"She needs to know what *Xander* chooses to tell her! And if he wanted to talk with her, he would have. *You* are going to forget you ever saw him."

"I...I..." Tears welled up in her eyes, and she slumped. "I *can't*," she said weakly. "You don't understand. I *can't* lie to her. You don't know how she's been; I *have* to tell her."

Oz finally released her, and ran a hand through his hair. He sighed heavily. He knew that sooner or later, Willow and the rest were bound to find out where Xander was. It would probably be best if he could figure out a way to get them to meet on Xander's terms. "Look," he told her firmly, "I'll talk to Xander, see if I can convince him to call or something. But..." and his eyes took on a hard glint. "We do this *my* way. You say *nothing*, not until you get the go ahead from him. Am I clear?"

Tara gulped at the menace being directed toward her. "Ok," she whispered, nodding her head shakily.

Oz took a moment to determine the sincerity of her agreement, then nodded back. "Fine." Turning his back, he dismissed her and went looking for Xander.

Xander looked up warily at his approach.

Oz grinned at him reassuringly. "No prob, Xan. Let's check out, ok?"

~~~~~~~~~~

Willow glanced up from her books as the door opened. "Oh, hey Tara. How'd your shopping go?"

'Um, good I guess." Head down, she walked past her girlfriend, heading for the closet where she began to put away the clothes she'd bought.

Willow frowned. "Are you alright? Did something happen?"

"N-no. Wh-why would you think that?" She tried to hide the shaking of her hands as she pulled out some clothes hangers.

"No reason. You just seem, I dunno, upset."

Tara forced a smile. "I'm fine, Willow."

"Oh. Ok then. Because, you know, you could tell me if anything happened. Because if someone was mean to you or something, I could put a whammy on them. Of course, so could you, because you're just as good a witch as I am, and you know I love you, right?"

Her smile genuine now, Tara walked over to Willow and gave her a quick kiss. "I know," she said quietly. "I love you too...babble and all."

"Well, good then." Willow watched her girlfriend for a moment more before returning to her reading.

~~~~~~~~~~

Spike looked from the television. Smiling when he saw Xander coming through the door, he stood. "Pet! You're back! Have fun on your little trip?"

Xander nodded, giving the vampire a tiny grin. "Got lots of new clothes," he told him.

"Good. Your other things were wearing a mite thin." He looked at the tin that Xander was holding. "What's that?"

Xander opened it, offering its contents to Spike. "Cookies. Oz took me...um, to this shop, and the lady there had made them and let me have some."

"Oooh, chocolate. Nummy." He took one, groaning in bliss as the taste exploded across his tongue. "Bloody hell!" he gasped around the mouthful. "These things are fantastic!"

Xander nodded in agreement. "I know. I ate about a dozen myself."

Spike polished off the rest of his cookie, eyeing the tin lustfully. With a chuckle, Xander handed it to him. As he devoured the cookies, Spike watched Xander carry an armful of bags into their bedroom. Oz also had a package, which he quickly stashed in his room before reappearing.

"We need to talk," he informed the vampire.

"'Bout wha'?" Spike mumbled, mouth still crammed full.

"Xander and I ran into someone today. You might know her."

Spike swallowed, a heavy feeling growing in his stomach. "Who?" he asked shortly.

"Oh, blonde, witch, dates Willow. Tara?"

Spike set the remaining cookies down on the coffee table, flopping onto the sofa. "Bloody hell," he muttered darkly.

*****
Part 25:

"No!"

Oz glared at Spike. "We've been having this argument for the last two days. It doesn't matter what you think; it's Xander's decision."

"Bloody hell it is!" Spike paced the room angrily. He reached into his pocket, pulling out a cigarette.

Oz leapt up and snatched it away. "Not inside," he told the vampire firmly.

Spike growled. "Y'know, you ain't human. I *can* hurt you!"

"Try it."

Lunging forward, Spike pulled himself to an abrupt halt at Xander's appearance.

"What's going on?" Xander asked.

"Nothing," Spike gritted out.

Oz rolled his eyes. "Xander, Tara knows about you. I don't think she'll be able to stay quiet for long. I just thought it would be best if maybe you called Willow or something."

"No!" Spike rushed over to Xander. "Don't listen to him, pet. You don't have to talk to the chit if you don't want to."

Xander bit his lip, eyes downcast. He flicked a glance at Oz. "T- Tara said Wills was worried, huh?"

Oz nodded.

"I didn't...I didn't even think about, you know, what they'd do. I guess...they're probably wondering about me, huh?"

"Willow's been your best friend for years, Xander." Oz shrugged, leaving the decision up to him.

Xander gave a tremulous grin. "Yeah. So...I guess I should...call."

Spike threw his hands up, stalking over to the couch. He sank down, glowering. "For the record, not that anyone seems to care, but I think this is a fucking *insane* idea!"

Oz just sighed and picked up the phone, handing it to Xander.

Xander stared at it as if would bite. "Um, could...could you call, Oz?"

With a small grin, Oz dialed the number that Xander gave him.

~~~~~~~~~~

Tara paced, nibbling at her nails. She couldn't do this any longer. She couldn't! //I'm telling her. As soon as she gets out of the shower, I'm telling her about Xander.// Decision made, she sat down at the counter.

The phone ringing startled her, and she jumped. Composing herself, she picked it up. "Hello?"

She straightened. "O-Oz? Wh-Why are you calling?" "Oh!" "No, I h- haven't said anything." "No!" "Oh. Ok." "Uh-huh" "Are...are you sure?" "What time?" "Sure, I'll have her there." "No, I understand." "Ok. Bye."

She hung up the phone, sitting silently until Willow finished her shower and came back out.

"Hey babe, whatcha doing?"

Tara looked up. "Willow? I have something to tell you."

~~~~~~~~~~

"I'm gone." Oz picked up his keys and walked to the door.

Xander's fingers tapped nervously on the table. "Just them, right? No one else is coming, are they?"

"Nope. Just the witchy duo. I'll pick 'em up, be back in a few."

"Right." Xander took a deep breath. "Ok."

Spike lounged against the wall, glaring at the both of them. "This is a stupid idea," he muttered for about the 47th time.

"Spike. Get over it." Oz shook his head at the vampire's stubbornness, then left.

Spike growled, kicking the wall behind him.

"Spike?"

Spike stopped with a sigh, walking over to Xander. "I don't like it, pet. They'll try to take you away from me."

"Spike, Willow's like my bestest friend. I need her to know that I'm ok."

"Are you?"

Xander shrugged. "Gettin' there. Besides, oz said he'd make sure they wouldn't know how to get here so we don't have to worry about them showing up unannounced, or telling anyone else where we are."

"Yeah. But I *still* don't like it!"

~~~~~~~~~~

Xander was hiding in his room when Oz returned, two witches in tow. The second Willow got inside the apartment, she began looking around frantically.

"Where is he?" she demanded, close to tears.

Spike sauntered into the room, sneering at her. "Red. Fancy meetin' you here."

"You." The word was laced with venom. "What did you do to him?"

"Me? Saved his life most like."

"Wills?"

Willow's head snapped around, and she stared at Xander. "Xan," she breathed. She stood for a moment, frozen, then flung herself toward him. "Xander! You here! And ok! And alive!" She pulled back a bit. "You are alive, aren't you? You look alive. And you're breathing and have the whole warm skin thing, so you're not a vampire. And why aren't you a vampire? Not that I *want* you to be one, but we saw you with the bitemark and the blood and see, you still have a scar from it. And I'm so happy to see you!" She hugged him tight, gulping in air. Then she lightly smacked his shoulder. "Don't you *ever* worry me like that again!"

Xander endured all this with a smile. "Missed you to, Willow," he said softly. "Guess we need to talk, huh?"

And so they talked. Xander made a few confessions about his former home life. Not everything, nowhere near everything, but enough. He explained that Spike had saved his life, and the vampire was helping him, and no, he *hadn't* been turned so stop checking for a pulse, thank you. He then attempted to convince Willow that none of it was her fault, and she *wasn't* a horrible, rotten friend for not noticing what was happening, because Xander hadn't *wanted* anyone to know.

He let her know that he was happy (well, mostly) where he was, and extracted her solemn vow not to tell another soul about any of this. Or un-souled person, for that matter. He also promised to call, and caved in to her demands that she and Tara be allowed to visit again. He managed not to burst out laughing at Spike's background commentary on the stupidity of humans in general, and a certain whelp in particular. He was used to the vampire's insulting complaints, knowing that he didn't mean half of what he said.

Once Xander found out about the search for him, he also requested that Willow see if she could tone things down a bit. He didn't want Buffy to stumble on to their hideout, especially after the redhead admitted that the Slayer was hell-bent on dusting Spike, dragging her boyfriend along with her on her quest for vengeance. And so it went. The Willow-surround sound went a long way toward making Xander feel more at home than he had in a while. It was almost as if things were back to the way they were when they were kids. But with a vampire added. And a werewolf. And some witchiness.

After hours of talking, though, Spike finally lost patience and practically herded the witches out, practically shoving Oz after them. He could see that Xander was tiring, a side effect of one of the prescriptions he was still on, and didn't want anything to go wrong with the boy. Especially not with his follow-up appointment at the clinic the next night. And then...there was silence.

"Damn, that Red can chatter! How does she manage to say so much without breathing?"

Xander shrugged. "It's a Willow talent."

"Yeah, I guess. Now you -- sleep!"

"Mmmm." Xander yawned sleepily. "Wow, didn't know we were talking that long."

"Whatever pet. Bed. Now." He fondly watched the boy shuffle away, then made himself comfortable on the sofa.

He was still there when Oz returned from dropping the girls off. He fixed the werewolf with yet another glare. "So help me, if those two spill the beans, *you* are gonna be the one I come after. Got it?" He tried to sound as threatening as possible.

"Yeah, yeah." Oz rolled his eyes, not in the least bit intimidated. With a shake of his head, he walked past Spike. "Oh, while I'm remembering. I'm going out of town for a few days next week. You handle the place while I'm gone?"

"Sure. Can do."

"Cool." With a yawn of his own, he headed for his own room. "Full moon tomorrow night," he reminded Spike. "You know what to do if I loose control."

"Right. Tranq gun in the closet. Just like last time. I'm not stupid, y'know."

"Right." Oz smirked, then quickly ducked into his bedroom.

*****
Part 26:

Oz and Xander made it back to the apartment just before sundown, only to be met with an anxious vampire.

"What took so bloody long?!" Spike demanded. "It was only s'posed to be a check up, you barely made it back before the moon came up!"

Oz raised an eyebrow. "Nice to know you're so concerned," he remarked. He quirked a grin at the two, then headed for his room. "Don't forget--"

"Yeah, tranq's in the flamin' closet, I know!"

"Right. Well, I'll just go meditate then." The door clicked shut behind him.

Spike snorted, then helped Xander over to the couch. "Well? How'd it go?"

Xander tried not to laugh as he was fussed over. "Doc said I'm doing great. Ev-Everything's healed fine, and I only have to keep taking a couple of the medications until they run out. Then I'm free." He yawned. "Good thing, too, I hate being so tired!"

"Yeah, well, a bit of rest ain't gonna kill you, pet. Do you good." He pulled Xander close to him, stroking the mostly-healed scars on his neck. "That all he say?"

"Well, he asked if I'd thought about going down there with Oz sometimes, help out with the clinic."

"And?"

"Told him I'd think about it." He looked up at Spike. "Would you come with me?"

Spike gave a noncommittal grunt. "Might do, luv."

"Mmm, 'kay." He yawned again.

"You wanna rest up some?"

Xander shook his head. "Not yet. Um, wait here." He got up and hurried to the closet to retrieve the package Oz had snuck him earlier. He walked hesitantly back to Spike, holding it out awkwardly.

Spike frowned. "What's this then?"

"Um, well, O-Oz said it was your birthday coming up, and so I got you a p-present." He shoved the package at Spike, then backed off.

"Oh." //So that's how he got 'im to go out. Wondered how he managed.// He studied the package, then carefully set about unwrapping it. Tossing the paper aside, he looked at the leather casings. //Nice work.// Curiously, he opened them. Pulling out their contents, he grinned, looking up at Xander delightedly.

Xander smiled back somewhat timidly. "D-Do you like them?"

"Like 'em? Love 'em, pet! Bloody perfect they are." He brandished one of the spikes, chuckling to himself.

"They have your initial and everything," Xander explained, coming closer.

"They do at that, don't they?" Carefully, Spike set the weapons aside. He pulled Xander down to the sofa, hugging him. "Thanks, luv. Best present I ever got."

"Really?" Xander's eyes were shining with happiness.

"Really." //An' I know just the bloke I can try 'em out on...bloody fucking little rapist, like to rip 'is--ow!//

"Spike? What's wrong?"

Spike gave a rather sickly smile, covering up the pain. "Nothin', pet. Guess I got a bit overexcited, had a bit of a chip incident."

"Oh. Sorry."

"Not your fault. Don't worry 'bout it."

Xander nodded, and yawned yet again.

"All right, that's enough. Sleepy time." Spike stood, dragging Xander with him. "Into bed with you. I'll keep watch for the mutt."

"Sure. Night, Spike."

"Night, Xander."

~~~~~~~~~~

"Spike, where'd you put my spare set of chains?" Oz crept back out from under his bed.

"Hall closet, why? Ain't that time of the month again, that was just last week." Spike walked out of the kitchen, observing Oz curiously.

"Going away for a while, remember?"

"Uh-huh. And you need chains why?"

Oz gave him a grin that was positively wolfish, and waggled his eyebrows for emphasis.

"Oh, *that* kind of vacation, is it? Gotcha." Spike smirked as he watched Oz root through the closet.

"Hey Spike, this yours?" Oz emerged with a rusty lockbox.

"Oh, yeah. Picked that up when we ditched Xander's old place. Thought it might have money inside, but when I finally got it opened, there was nothin' but a bunch of legal paper or somethin' like that."

"Oh. Lock's broken."

"Yeah, said I opened it, didn't I? Not like I had a spare key."

Oz shrugged and set the broken lockbox back on a shelf. He shoved a box aside and came up with the chains he was looking for. "Right, that's it." He stuffed them into his duffel bag. "I'm off them. Say bye to Xander for me when he wakes up."

"Right. Hey Oz!"

Oz paused in the doorway, looking back

"Don't do anything I wouldn't."

Oz gave a snort. "Just let me know when you think of something for that list, and I'll make sure I don't." With that retort, he left.

Spike chuckled. "Have fun mate. At least one of us is gettin' his leg over."

~~~~~~~~~~

Four days later, Oz returned, wide grin plastered firmly on his face, practically reeking of sex.

"Damn, man must be an animal!" Spike whistled as he circled Oz, taking in the man's ragged appearance. "Didn't he let you sleep none?"

"Spike, we hardly see each other. Why would we waste time sleeping?" He dropped his bag, and it made a clunking sound on the floor. "Where's Xander?"

"Just got out of the shower."

"Good. I call it, because *man* do I need one!"

"You're tellin' me. You reek, dogboy!"

Oz shot a bird at the vampire, then disappeared into the bathroom.

"Lucky dog," Spike muttered.

Xander came out into the living room, toweling his hair dry. He noticed the bag. "Oz is back?"

"Yeah, he's showerin'."

"Cool. I'm gonna make a sandwich or something. You want one?"

"Nah, just ate."

"Hey, when Oz comes out, ask him he'd mind picking up the girls again tomorrow. Willow wants to visit again."

Spike grimaced, but knew he'd do what Xander asked. //Can we way whipped?//

"And Spikie?" he added in a singsong voice.

"Yes, Xannie?" Spike answered with oozing sweetness.

Xander laughed. "Be nice to them, ok? Willow's my friend. Besides, I know you really like her. Otherwise you wouldn't deny it so much."

"I bloody *don't* like her!" Spike protested weakly.

"Uh-huh. Sure."

"Oh, sod off!"

*****