New World, New Life 
by Mihreia

Xander woke up somewhere close to noon. He noticed immediately that 
he was alone in bed. Which was definitely not how he liked to wake 
up. Especially not in the middle of the day, when every decent 
vampire was asleep. Cuddling up in bed with Willow was one of the 
things he didn't think he would miss, being a soulless vampire and 
all, but for some reason he did. 

He had heard Spike and his mortal pet talk after he had pretty much 
gone boneless and tried to perfect his imitation of a corpse. The 
blonde was pretty gaga over Xanny, while Xander had been used as a 
sex-toy. The dark-haired vampire grinned ruefully. Not that he minded 
that part really. 

{Nope. Nothing to complain about there.}

It was just that the vampires Xander had known had not been much for 
the sentimental side of what passed for love. The young vampire 
hadn't known he was missing anything, but seeing with his own eyes 
that Spike actually cared about his mortal double, made him wish the 
older vampire would care as much about him.

{Right. He doesn't even call you by your name. You're one for hugging 
the punishment these days, aren't you?}

And the sad part was that Xander couldn't even blame his double for 
it. When Darla had started hogging up Willow's time, Xander had 
immediately started plotting her death in the most painful way 
possible. He was not good at sharing his lovers.

{Of course, that's why you're stuck in a different dimension, Xan. 
Wills did so not like the attack on her ditzy girlfriend.}

Somehow he didn't have the same problem with Xanny. Maybe it was 
because attacking him would be like attacking himself. He had to 
admit that the mortal had guts. Even if he did look adorable trying 
to be all bad-ass, with that wicked gleam in his eyes, that was 
really less wicked and more mischievous.

Xander blinked. 

{Adorable?}

{This is so not good! Okay, liking the sex-thing with a mortal 
version of me. Not liking the attachment to him. He's... he's...
me! In a 
pathetic still-parents-whipped mortal kind of way. Eventhough he does 
have some redeeming qualities. Like a great body, and a way of 
handling Spike that is just too much fun for words. And those puppy-
dog eyes, and...}

Xander sighed. Okay, this was unexpected. But it would probably be 
better if he and Xanny got along, right? 'Cause he really couldn't 
delude himself into thinking Spike would choose him over 'his Xanpet'.

And when did he decide to stay with Spike anyway? He did not like 
being the lesser vamp in a relationship. He frowned. Okay, Willow had 
been stronger than him, but it was different with women. Not as 
humiliating to have a little dominatrix hanging around than a 
condescending vamp with an attitude. 

Except that Xander didn't know anyone in this dimension anyway. 

{Hey, I'm not even a vampire in this place, so it won't ruin my rep, 
right?}

And he kind of preferred Spike's different approach to vampirism. 
More fun, less tradition sounded good to him. Xander smiled, having 
made that decision. It didn't mean he intended to just roll over for 
the older vampire, but it wouldn't be that bad. He shifted a bit and 
felt the after effects of a great bout of sex. Nope, not bad at all. 

{Where the hell is Spike anyway? 'Cause it's not like he can go 
anywhere what with the sunshine outside.} Xander looked around 
curiously. Xanny's basement didn't look any more inviting in the 
daytime, he concluded. 

{Oh yeah. First thing of business. Get the puppy to move us all out 
of here and into something better. Maybe an apartment. 'Cause, man, 
I've seen mausoleums less depressing than this.}

Now that he was more awake, he finally noticed the running water in 
the shower. He contemplated a wet and naked Spike against having 
something to eat. He grinned.

{Can do both. First eat, then naked Spike.} 

The young vampire stood up, not bothering to dress, because he had 
every intention of losing the clothes in ten minutes anyway, and 
walked into what passed for the kitchen. He blinked at the contents 
of the fridge. 

{Okay. I saw Spike drink blood last night, but this is a little 
much.} This being a nice stacked rack of blood-bags, all with neat 
stickers saying what was in it. 

{Three pig, one cow, four human. One AB, two O pos, one O neg. Ooh, 
what to choose.} Xander picked a nice O negative.

Strangely enough there was something to say for bagged blood. Hunting 
and killing was a lot of fun, but you never knew what taste you'd get 
when all was said and done. Xander was not a fan of drugs. Drugs 
should be forbidden. It made the kids easy to catch, which really 
took the fun out of the hunt, and on top of that the blood tasted 
weak and sluggish. 

Alcohol on the other hand was a good. Xander stopped his mental 
wanderings as Spike stepped outside the bathroom in a mini-towel. The 
young vampire knew he must look ridiculous vamped out, with his mouth 
gaping open two inches from a slightly dripping blood bag, but who 
cared.

Spike. Almost naked Spike. Lean lines, muscles gleaming wetly. Eyes 
that were definitely laughing at him, but who cared? Pale skin 
shimmering wetly in the indirect light. Xander suddenly decided he 
would really like to see the other man in sunlight.

{Yes. Let's do that! Hello, can you get any more stupid, Xander? 
'Cause you'll get to admire him for one second before he's a nice 
pile of dust. Right alongside you.} He squeezed his eyes shut in 
irritation, before he opened them quickly at Spike's next words.

"Can you give me an O positive, Alex? There's a good luv." 

Xander rolled his eyes at the insolent smirk the other vampire gave 
him, but obliged him anyway. That reminded him.

"What's with the blood bags and the sharing a room with a mortal, 
anyway? Not to mention that you fight alongside the slayer." He 
sounded just a bit contemptuous to irritate Spike. And why not? 
Vampires shouldn't work with the slayer, it was absolutely nuts. What 
kind of crazy dimension was this, anyway?

Spike narrowed his eyes at him, clearly trying to decide what to tell 
him. 

{Doesn't bode much for honesty there, Spike.}

Finally the blonde switched to game face and ripped open the plastic 
bag, before draining it violently. Xander's eyebrows almost reached 
his hairline.

{Ouch, not a good subject, apparently.} 

And it turned out it really wasn't.