"Spike, as much as I hate to say it, we're just trying to help."

Spike glared at the Slayer as she emerged from the shadows to stand beside his wanker of a sire. He growled furiously. "Help?! By doing what, exactly? Clobbering me over the head and chaining me up? How *exactly* is this helping?!" He lunged at the bars, reaching desperately through them to try and get some hold on his captors.

"Spike, just calm down now," Angel advised. This is only temporary. You'll be freed when everything is ready for the wedding. Until then...well, just make yourself comfy."

"I'll show *you* comfy, you spineless, backstabbing, son of a diseased whore!" Eyes sparking with fury, Spike continued to rail against his cage. "And *you*, Slayer. You haven't experienced the kind of pain I'll show you. When I get my hands on you, I'll--bloody hell!" Spike flinched back, clutching at his head.

"Aw, shouldn't think naughty thoughts," Buffy admonished him, not making much of an effort to keep the humor from her voice.

"Buffy," Angel chided, then turned back to his childe. "Spike, just...try to understand, ok? Everything will work out. I'm sure you and your future spouse will eventually be very happy together." With that remark, he turned and left the room, dragging a still gloating Buffy with him.

Spike slumped to the floor. "You don't understand," he whispered brokenly. "Xander..."

~~~~~

Xander ceased his pacing. "That's it," he declared. "I've gotta go find him."

"You said that before." Poe smiled gently.

"But we haven't yet! Dad, I'm scared! When he says he's gonna do something, he does it! Especially if me and sex is involved. Oh....You didn't want to hear that?"

"Not exactly." Poe grimaced. "Where do you think he might be?"

Xander thought for a moment. "The Magic Box! Maybe he went to go annoy Buf-- er, um, Giles. He does that you know."

Poe raised an eyebrow as he rolled his eyes. "Well, let's go check," he said resignedly. Xander hugged him and he sighed slightly. "The things I won't do for you."

"Which makes you the coolest." Xander grinned as they hurried along, soon arriving at their destination. Poe looked in the Magic Box, glancing around and felt a smile split across his face as he witnessed who all was in there. "Is he there? Is he??"

"No, I don't see him anywhere."

"Maybe he's in the back!"

"I doubt it. Giles is out there with Tara and Willow and he looks quite pleased."

Xander frowned. "Giles looks pleased? *That* can't be good..."

"Nonsense. And you shouldn't talk about your guardian like that." Poe gave his son a stern glance.

"Aw, come on Dad!" Xander pouted appealingly.

Poe snorted. "Dasani...after almost a hundred years of being your father, I'd say it's a pretty safe bet that I'm immune to that."

"What!?" Xander protested innocently. Then he sighed. "Oh, fine. Well, let's go in. Maybe one of them has seen Spike around."

Giles glanced toward the door as it opened, admitting Xander and another man. "Xander! Who's your, ah, your friend?"

There was a clatter as Tara jumped to her feet. She took a step forward, bowing slightly. "My liege," she murmured.

Poe grinned. "Ah, Tara, my dear. It's been much too long. How have you been, child?"

Giles' eyes widened. "Oh my. You're...you're..."

"Poe, Mr. Giles, I hope your parents have told you about me?"

"Oh yes, of course, I d-do hope that your son has grown to your standards." Giles nervously polished his glasses, he would most likely die a slow painful death if Poe found out his child had been abused by his parents.

"Hey, my beautiful, beautiful chicks AKA my protectors," Xander smiled, hooking his arms around Tara and Willow's necks. "Have you guys by any chance seen Spike?"

"Spike?" Willow squeaked, "N-no, why would you need to know where Spike is?"

Xander laughed, "I need to harass him! Haven't been able to harass him for a few days." Poe rolled his eyes, realizing his son hadn't even told his guardians of the relationship.

"Well he hasn't been here for some time," Giles offered. "Poe, could I interest in a cup of tea?"

"I would love one, yet the sun is rising and someone needs to get to bed." Poe looked at Xander.

"DA-AD!" Xander whined. "I'm not a little kid anymore and I don't need a bed time!"

"You've been throwing off your sleeping schedule, haven't you?"

"...Mmmmmmmmaybe." Xander wrinkled his nose as he smiled a charming smile. His father shook his head and herded him out.

In the back room, Spike angrily kicked at the bars.

~~~~~

Xander was officially worried. He'd slept for only a few hours, his father keeping watch from a chair by the bed to make sure he didn't try to sneak out. But he finally managed to persuade Poe that he was fine, he didn't need a lot of sleep, and could they *please* go look for Spike now?

And so the great search had begun. Xander had dragged his father to every haunt that Spike frequented, becoming more and more anxious as he was told repeatedly that no, Spike had never shown up last night. Desperate by this time, he found himself reduced to calling down sewers and peering into crypts, thinking that maybe the vampire had been forced to hole up for the day.

Still nothing. Xander was on the verge of tears by the time Poe forcibly returned him to his apartment when it was nearing dusk.

Xander sat miserably on the couch, sniffling softly. His father had forgone taking a seat beside him, as his sensitive nose could easily detect some rather questionable scents on it that he really didn't want to know any more about.

Poe sighed. "Maybe it's for the best, son."

Xander glared at him through red-rimmed eyes. "The *best*?" he spat out sarcastically. "Spike could be hurt, or-or *dust*! Or--"

"Or he could have simply left."

"No!" Xander pounded the couch with a fist. "He wouldn't just *leave* me! He-he loves me! And...and I love him," he finished dejectedly. "How can his being...*missing* be for the best?"

"Well, it does make it considerably easier for you to marry your chosen consort it you aren't currently involved."

"My...what?" Xander's eyes narrowed, and he sat up straight.

"Your consort." Poe frowned. "All males of our line are betrothed as children, to be wed on their 101st birthday; surely at some point Giles informed you of this?"

Seething, Xander forced himself not to yell. "Actually, no, I believe he must have skipped over that *little* bit of information."

"Ah. I shall have to speak to him about that oversight."

"Father. I am *not* getting married." He really was doing his best to stay calm, but it wasn't working too well.

"Well of course you are. On your birthday, which is in two days, so you'd better get used to the idea." Poe glanced at the clock. "Now, I'm going to go meet your betrothed's father, and have a look at the boy himself. I suggest you stay here and think about acting your age." With a final stern look, he turned and left the apartment.

Xander blinked. Shaking off the shock, he jumped up and raced to the door. Sticking his head out, he shouted at his father's retreating back, "I'm *not* getting *married*!"

~~~~~

Poe nodded at the vampire. "Angelus."

"Z-Zakari." Angel looked over his shoulder. "Um, he's nearby, I'll take you in the back way." He quickly led the older demon through some back alleys, soon arriving at their destination. As he ducked inside the doorway, he looked back. "Um, he...wasn't exactly reasonable about the whole situation," he said in an apologetic tone.

His meaning became obvious when the shadowed cage came into view. Easily visibly was a shock of white-blonde hair, attached to the head of a pale and restlessly slumbering Spike.

Poe quirked an eyebrow, an amused smirk appearing briefly on his face.

This would definitely get him back within the good graces of his son. Maybe, just maybe, he could learn to like the vampire.

~~~~~

"Dasani, you're not convincing me of your age at this moment." Zakari glared at his adopted child. Xander continued to glare angrily out his picture window. "I'm sorry if you're upset, but this has been planned for years."

Xander tried to keep up the silent treatment even as angry tears slide down his face. "It's not fair," he ground out.

"This is very fair," Poe placed a hand on his shoulder. He was pleased to see Xander didn't shake it off. "Your kind need to have a mate, and the safest way is by arranged marriage."

"No we don't," Xander commented. He tucked a foot under himself, then yelped as Poe grabbed his ear roughly. "OW! What are you doing!?"

"I told you when I came I could still take you over my knee. That still stands."

"What!? You can't s-spank me!" He tried to pull away, wincing as fingers pinched his ear. "Ow! Lemme go!"

With little effort, Poe hoisted his son under an arm, carrying the struggling boy over to a chair. He sat, arranging Xander face-down over his lap.

Xander froze, unable to believe that his father would actually *spank* him like he was some...child! He sniffled.

Poe held one hand firmly across Xander's back to keep him in place, raising the other over his head. He stopped, however, when Xander gave a weak shudder, sobbing quietly against his leg. With a sigh, he flipped the boy over, pulling him up and tucking him against his chest. "Dasani," he said quietly, "what am I going to do with you?" He stroked the shuddering boy's back comfortingly.

Xander buried his face against Poe, sobbing brokenly. "Daddy," he gasped out in a small, sad voice, "I...I love him so much. And it...it *hurts* inside. Like a knife digging around. I-I can't lose him. I *can't*."

Poe rocked his distraught child, stroking him soothingly. "Dasani, listen to me. Everything will turn out fine. I promise. Have I ever lied to you?"

Xander snuffled, wiping at his nose, then shook his head.

"And I'm not going to start now. Have a bit of faith in your father, all right?"

~~~~~

And so the final days of freedom for Xander came and went. His birthday arrived and there was still no sign of Spike. The young demon had pretty much had to give up hope on him. Odds were Spike really didn't love him, or...Spike was dust. He prayed it wasn't the last one; he'd rather have Spike alive and disliking him than dead.

His father was directing the setup for the wedding and reception. Giles and the girls were helping him too, while Buffy stood there looking confused. Xander shuffled over to Poe and leaned heavily against him, wanting some attention and comfort.

Poe stopped his working and looked down at Xander. The boy's eyes were red-rimmed, clearly telling a tale of their own. Willow looked at Poe in concern but he waved her off. "It's going to be okay, Dasani." He wrapped his arms around Xander. "I think you'll like this boy."

"How?" Xander's voice was muffled by Poe's white shirt.

"Didn't we agree a few nights ago you would have faith in me?" Poe chuckled, "But you have to get ready. Go on now, we'll talk in a little while."

Heaving a last, beleaguered sigh, Xander trudged off to prepare for his impending doom--er, his wedding.

~~~~~

Spike curled in a forlorn ball in the corner of his cage, not even acknowledging his sire. Likewise, he ignored the packet of blood that Angel had tossed in moments before.

Angel crouched beside the cage, shaking his head sadly. "Spike, you have to eat. Come on now...it's human." He smiled, nudging the heated packet temptingly closer.

Spike growled weakly, lashing out with his foot to kick the plastic baggie away from him. He edged further away from Angel, pressing up against the bars on the opposite side of the cage.

"Damn it Spike!" Angel scooped up the packet, once more thrusting it toward the vampire who had to be starving by now. "You're *not* going to do this. You *will* eat, understand? I order you to." He folded his arms over his chest in warning, glaring at his recalcitrant childe.

Spike sniffled. He slowly uncurled, creeping toward the baggie which held the delicious substance his body craved. His hand trembled with hunger as he reached out and carefully picked it up.

Satisfied, Angel watched as Spike weakly tore away the corner of the packet with his fangs. Exhausted yellow eyes gleamed faintly as Spike pulled the baggie away from his mouth and...

With a snarl, Spike flung the opened baggie across the cage, and it smacked into Angel's chest, spraying its contents all over the older vampire and the floor. "I bloody hate you, you bastard," Spike hissed. "Do us all a favor an' take a walk in the sun."

Angel growled in impotent fury, slamming his hand against the top of the cage. "Fine! You want to starve? Then starve. But you *are* getting married tonight, so I suggest you *deal with it*!"

But Spike didn't deal with it. He was too weak to even fight as Angel dragged him out of the cage. He couldn't even voice his distaste for the white outfit he was forced to wear. He did work up the energy to snag a bag of blood from Angel when the blood-hunger was getting to be too much. He wanted to tell this idiot who forced him through all of this off.

"Everything is so friggin' white," he snarled to no one particular but he got an answer anyway.

"Would you rather it be hot pink?" the person serving as priest asked. "We can still do that if you'd prefer it!" Any reply from Spike was caught off by the entrance of his 'husband'. And his eyes nearly bugged out.

The demon was nothing what Spike expected. Fangs that could be as sharp and dangerous as a wild cat or a cute fuzzy kitten. Long claws arched from his hands and feet, aided with dewclaws on the back of his ankles. Sharp silver and gold eyes gazed out from under dark locks.

Spike's mouth worked for a moment before he mentally smacked himself. He had to remember Xander! Not some gorgeous...deadly...demon...

~~~~~

"Well," Poe commented with satisfaction, "I do believe everything is ready. Guests are here, grooms are here...I'm missing something. What am I missing?" He frowned thoughtfully, pacing a track in front of Buffy and the rest of the Scooby gang.

Buffy primped in front of a mirror. Not that she cared what Spike thought of how she looked at his wedding, but who was she to argue with the opportunity to get all fancied up? "Hey, where's Xander? You think he'd show up today if only to make fun of the bleached wonder tying the knot." She snickered, still highly amused by the thought of *Spike* being forced to marry some demon, and probably a slimy, nasty smelling one at that.

Everyone turned toward the side door as Xander slipped resignedly inside. Xander sighed, avoiding the curious stares as he made his way over to his father. "Dad, please," he whispered, trying desperately one last time to talk some sense into him.

"No. Don't even start. Now, it's almost time. You should change." He placed his hands on his hips, giving Xander a warning stare.

"Oh, don't be such a baby, Xander. This will be fun!" Buffy punched him on the arm, trying to cheer him up. She took a quick step back, though, when he turned an icy glare on her.

"Am I late?"

Again, every head in the room twisted to stare at the newcomer. Oz gave a little half-grin as he straightened his collar. "What?"

Buffy threw her hands up in the air. "Ok, this is getting weird. No offense, Oz, but why are you here?"

"You kidding? Wouldn't miss this for the world." He walked over to Xander, pulling him into a hug. "Hey man, congratulations."

Xander mumbled a half-hearted thanks, while Buffy grew ever more confused.

"Hope you don't mind, I brought a date." Oz walked back over to the door, guiding his companion inside.

Xander's eyes flew wide and a huge grin spread over his face. "Lindsey!"

Lindsey's face lit up. "Dad!" The two men were soon locked in an embrace, laughter sounding in the room.

Poe quirked an eyebrow. "Oh, Dasani. Would you care to explain this?"

"Um," Xander said, "You see...and then...and that was after...but this was...LOOK! A BUTTERFLY!" Xander released his hold on Lindsey and ran from the room.

"You won't be getting away that easy!" Poe called, glaring after his son. Then he turned to he's son's 'son'. "You want to explain for me?"

"I feel loved," Lindsey commented to Oz, then said to Zakari "Um, he met a girl a while ago, and when two people love each other they..."

"What is this?" the old vampire threw his hands in the air, "The family of vague answers?!"

The lawyer paused for a moment before nodding. "Yeah, pretty much. Actually my mom died giving birth to me and he took care of me for a while." Lindsey smiled, "He's a really great guy."

"And now I have a son-in-law AND a grandson," Poe sighed.

"Look what I found!" Xander squealed in delight as he returned, dragging in the half demon, Francis Doyle. "He was in the car!"

Doyle blushed slightly, "You weren't supposed to find me yet."

"Whhhhhy?" Xander looked confused.

"Because he was my wedding gift!" Lindsey pouted, "I figured you'd want to see your mortal brother."

"Ah, not that mortal," Doyle commented, grinning at Xander before wrapping him in a hug.

"Doyle..." Angel flowed in silently.

"No angst!" Willow scolded angrily.

"Wait..." Suddenly, the light bulb went on over Buffy's head. "*Xander* is getting married to -" She was cut off by Willow trying to silence her. "OH WIGGY!" She glared at Poe, "You're *Xander's* father?!"

"Um, duh?" Doyle offered.

"But...but that means...Eeeeewwwww!!! Spike's marrying *Xander*!!!"

*****