When Alex spent time with Wil it was different then it was before. They now had Spike to consider as well and the tension between them was like a third person. Technically it was, it was Spike.

Alex was still very attracted to Wil and he still wanted him. Wil still felt the same way for Alex as well but Spike was not comfortable with the idea of his souled counterpoint having sex with Alex, who thanks to his efforts, looked remarkably like the Xander he remembered. It was a frustrating situation all around.

Wil was almost wishing that Spike was still silent. He wanted to be able to touch Alex, to kiss him, without feeling the demon recoil. He had tried talking to Spike about it but the stubborn demon refused to even admit that there was a problem. Wil was thankful that Alex was being so patient, but if Spike didn't come around soon he was going to go insane.

Wil was laying down in bed, alone, as he did every night after Alex and he had parted ways. He was sick and tired of the tension, the frustration was starting to show up in others areas of his life and it had to stop.

"Look, I know you have no problems having sex with men, or humans for that matter so can you please just get over this already."

Wil could feel Spikes discomfort with where this conversation was going but he pressed on anyway.

"If it bothers you that much, then just go away. Bury your head in the sand or whatever it is you've been doing these last twenty-eight years and give me some time alone with him. For that matter, do that anyway. I don't think I've had a moments peace since I woke up in his bed last week."

Spike growled. It was obvious that he wasn't going to be able to put this off any longer. He knew that it was only a matter of time before Wil and Alex had sex, but he didn't want to discuss this.

"It's not that. Damn it, you don't understand. It's Xander! No matter what he calls himself, no matter what he's been through, no matter where he goes, he's Xander Harris. And Xander Harris belongs to me!"

Now it was Wils' turn to be silent and listen. He never knew the demon had laid any claim to the man. He had gotten nothing but negative thoughts and feelings toward Xander from Spike. He was curious to know what Spike meant by his claim.

"Angelus gave that boy to me. Trick or not, he offered him to me. The boy belongs to me, he just doesn't know it. I always wanted him, was going to turn him sooner or later. I wanted him to want me first. When I got chipped, when I had to live with him in the basement of doom, I got to know him. Straight as an arrow that boy was. He hated me too, hated everything about me. I gave up on ever having him willingly before he was turned."

Spike got up and began searching for a cigarette while he talked.

"I moved on, fell for Buffy. Had her use and reject me, went to Africa, got a soul. Lost meself for the next three decades, only to wake up in Xander Harris' apartment, with him dead on the floor 'cause I killed him. If I'd known it was him, I would have turned him. He. Is. Mine."

The cigarette search continued out into the living room area of the apartment.

"Now I find out he's gay, immortal, and attracted to you. My soul. Not me, you. I want him, but he wants you. What the bloody hell am I supposed to do? Just hand him over? And why in the fuck are there no soddin smokes here?!?"

Spike flopped himself down in the chair and let Wil take over again. He had told his story, made his point and now there was nothing left to say. Alex - Xander, it didn't matter, the man was his. It was now up to Wil to deal with the truth.