Alex was trying to figure out how to get Wil to stay with them. The idea that he may want a normal life now was something that wouldn't go away. As Spike had said, all they could do was tell Wil that they loved him and wanted him to stay. The rest was up to him. Perhaps it would be best if they didn't tell him that they had spent the last half hour making love in the shower, and the bed before that. It might make him feel insecure.

"Spike?"

"Yeah mate?"

"I've been thinking."

"Ah, thought I smelled rubber burning."

Spike grinned at Alex when he turned annoyed eyes on him.

"Ha ha. Any way, I was thinking that maybe we should keep what happened between us to ourselves. I don't know how it would make Wil feel and I don't want him to feel unwanted."

Spike scowled a bit at the secrecy, but nodded his head.

"If that's what you want."

It was a little too reminiscent of the last relationship he'd been in for his tastes. All secrecy and sneaking around. But if Alex didn't want to tell Wil about it, then so be it.

Alex knew he had hurt the vampire’s feelings. He didn't mean to, he just didn't want to hurt Wil. He threw his arms up in the air and growled. How did he get into these messes? Only he could become involved with an emotionally insecure vampire and his human counterpoint.

"You alright pet?"

"No. I'm not."

Alex pulled Spike in the direction of the park. When they got there, he sat him down on a picnic table and then ran his hands through his hair. He scowled at Spike when he realized - again - that he didn't have all that much hair to run his hands through anymore.

"I am not ashamed of you. I love you."

He held up a hand to silence the vampire.

"I know about Buffy and you, how she wanted to keep it a secret, I don't want that for us. Wil knows about us, hells he was there, inside you, at the time. It's just, since the split, we've been all awkward and weird with each other. I just don't want him to feel left out. Like we don't need him. Do you understand?"

Spike sighed but he nodded his head.

"M'sorry. I just don't like secrets. Not about us anyway. We need to deal with this luv, soon, cause I'm not sneaking around just so I can bloody well see you. It's ridiculous."

"I know. We'll talk to him tonight. Tell him that we love him, that we want him to be with us for as long as he can. After that? Well I guess it's up to him."

"Fair enough. Come on then. Lets go talk to him."

Spike took Alex’s hand as they left the park and continued to hold it all the way to Wils shop.

Wil had just gotten out of the shower and finished dressing when he heard Spike come home. It was strange living with the vampire now that they were separated. Wil worked during the day and slept at night, and Spike slept during the day and prowled at night so only having the one bed wasn't a problem at least. He was pretty sure that Spike wouldn't bite him or turn him without his permission so he wasn't afraid of him either. It was just strange, living with him, like this.

Alex took Wil into his arms and gave him a chaste kiss on the mouth. Wil smiled at him and stepped back from him. Alex frowned but didn't say anything.

"How was work?"

"Good. I closed up early and took a walk. It was such a lovely day, it seemed a shame to spend it cooped up indoors."

"Yeah, it was a nice day."

Suddenly Alex felt nervous and uncomfortable. He knew that they all needed to sit down and talk, but he was afraid to say anything. The way Wil had greeted him, or rather the way he hadn't greeted him, had him worried.

Wil wanted to talk to Alex. They had so many things to discuss, but he didn't know where to begin. He took off his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose. Spike and Alex looked at each other, Spike raised one eyebrow. They both knew that look.

Spike took out his cigarettes and lit one. Alex plucked it from his mouth and watched amused as Spike scowled and lit another. They both drew on their cigarettes and waited for Wil to speak. Neither were surprised when he put his glasses back on and said ...

"Alex, Spike. We need to talk."