Chapter Ten: Discoveries

Severus looked at the newcomers and eyed the mixed group suspiciously.

The young woman clad in leather trousers felt similar, like the Slayer they meet before but that was impossible cause there was only one slayer!

The other dark haired woman felt like she was touched by the light. 'Maybe she has been blessed?'

Then there was a man that felt like a wizard and a black man who was apparently a muggle.

Sev couldn't tell what the two last men were, they felt different but he couldn't identify it.

Just then Remus began to growl.

That alone was a shock to Severus who hadn't known that the wolf was that near under the surface.

"Moony? What is it?" asked Sirius from his position between his two mates. He stepped forward to stand before Moony and was shocked when his friend grabbed him hard and shoved him at Severus who caught him and held him tight.

Severus knew that the wolf must be protective right now so there was a danger among the people in the room.

He didn't dare move one fraction even seeing the approval in the amber coloured eyes and tightened his hold on their lover.

Angel and Spike were shocked. There, in the same room with their Xander, was a werewolf and growled at them. 'Why haven't we detected him before now?' Angel questioned his senses.

They would do everything to protect their friends but Xander in particular.

The two strange men behind the wolf seemed to be shocked by their friend's actions.

Angel and Spike could smell the protectiveness rolling from the wolf and knew that he would protect his friends from any danger.

Just then it became clear to them that he saw them as a danger to the others. 'He is trying to protect them from us.' Both vampires locked gazes and nodded before changing back.

Moony looked on with narrowed eyes as the two vampires changed to their human faces.

Relieved that he could feel himself calm down Remus looked at his mates and saw understanding in Severus eyes, but also relief that he was acting normal again.

Then he looked to Siri and saw hurt and pain in his mates beautiful eyes.

'Did I hurt him? Shove him to hard?' Suddenly he knew what was wrong and he went to his mates and hugged them so that Siri was in the middle. Remus kissed Severus shortly and after a quick nod from his lover he attacked Sirius' mouth, kissing him passionately until he had to break the kiss to breath.

"I am sorry, Padfood! The wolf was waking up because of the two vampires and wanted to protect his pack, his mates. I will never allow you to get hurt. Not when I can protect you. I love you two so much."

Sirius was hurt when Remus shoved him away. He had just tried to help and the gesture told him that he was in the way.

'You see now that they could never possibly love you. You are just a burden and part of the prophecy. Without it they wouldn't even look at you. You are ugly and weak...' sounded his mother's voice in his head. His parents had always told him that he would never be good for anything and it was deeply ingrained inside him that maybe they were right.

Before he could finish his own thoughts Moony was there holding him with Sev behind him, he had never felt more safe than in his lovers embrace his entire life.

And Remus told him that he was loved, but what about Severus? Would he admit in front of other people that they were together and in love or would he be something akin to a dirty secret?

His doubts were blown away as Severus drew him back against his chest and talked in a clear voice, "I love you two more than anything ever before!"

Then he kissed first Siri and then Moony.

To say that the people in the room were shocked would be the understatement of the century.

First they had tensed as the wolf had begun to growl, but somehow the tension had vanished when Angel and Spike changed back to their normal faces.

Then the moment the wolf looked at his friends. The pride as he looked at the Snape and the worry that turned to sorrow as he looked at Black.

In this moment they understood that the three were not just friends but mates. And that Lupin had unintentionally hurt one of them when he shoved him away.

They could see the pain and fear in the man's eyes.

And how it turned to wonder and love as they both reassured him that they loved him.

Xander thought that it must be wonderful to be loved by two people you love equally.

It was just what he longed for.

'But you will never have that, boy. They could never love you back,' he thought with a sideway glance to the vampires.

Wesley could see the magical lines flowing around them as they held each other.

He just wished that Gunn would love him and hold him like that.

Gunn glanced at Wesley and their eyes meet.

The warrior could see the longing and decided then and there he would show Wesley now what he felt.

The others were shocked as Gunn walked towards Wesley and just took his face in his hands.

Then he claimed the man's mouth in a gentle but insistent kiss.

Wesley seemed to be too shocked to react because at first he didn't do anything but stand there. Then without any indication what went wrong he pushed the man away.

"What was that, Gunn? You are with Cordy!" He couldn't continue because Gunn's lips were on his again. This time he couldn't resist as he felt the warm gentle lips on his own.

So he did the only thing he could...

...return the kiss.

Suddenly Gunn broke the kiss and Wesley followed as if to kiss him again.

"I love Cordy, Wesley, but as a sister. What you saw a few weeks ago was just a friendly kiss on the cheek. She gave me an advice and trusted me with a secret. So we were just saying Goodbye so that I could go and talk to you when you entered the room. Then you stormed away and every time I tried to talk to you, you would leave. Damn it, Wesley, I love you!" With that he leaned back down to kiss the speechless man.

If he had let Gunn explain it would have been alright.

"I love you too, Gunn!" he replied when they broke the kiss. They stood in the middle of the entrance in the magic box, embracing each other.

Cordy was happy that her two friends were finally together.

She just had to get Xander to notice that the vampires loved him.

Then they would all be happy...

...with the exception of herself.

She knew that she loved the dark slayer. Just as she thought she would begin to cry due to the emotions all over the place she felt a hand on her shoulder as she saw who it was there was a strange feeling in her body, like electricity.

Faith stood in a stupor.

Gunn and Cordy weren't lovers?

Then she just had to try to make the other woman notice her.

She had been in love with the beautiful woman since she had arrived at the hotel.

But then she had thought that she was with Gunn. Faith just wanted her to be happy so she hadn't told her, but now... 'Now you can make you move! Come on, girl!' With that in mind she walked over to Cordelia and touched her shoulder.

Suddenly there was something akin to electricity between them and they looked into each others eyes.

Without conscious mind they leaned towards each other and their lips meet.

Giles looked in shock from Wesley, who was leaning against the man introduced as Gunn, to Cordelia who was kissing Faith.

Just then he felt arms come around him, pulling him against a hard chest he immediately recognized. "Ethan!"

Whirling around without pulling out of the arms he saw his lover's face right in front of him. The crazy warlock that had tried to hurt the people he cared about was gone and his old lover was back!

Giles grabbed Ethan's face and crushed their mouths together in a desperate attempt to stop the tears of happiness to spill over. They kissed with a passion none of them had thought possible.

Ethan could just stand there and accept the passion as well as the happiness spreading inside him.

Xander was happy that everyone else was happy.

But he couldn't stand to see them this happy while he himself was so miserable. So he went to the kitchen to make tea and coffee for the others.

He was leaning against the counter when he heard the door open and suddenly he felt two sets of arms around him.

Angel and Spike had seen Xander's dejected look as he went to the kitchen. Knowing that the young man probably felt lonely they gave him a few minutes to compose himself before following him.

As they saw him leaning dejectedly on the counter, lost in his own thoughts, they couldn't hold back and embraced him. Something seemed to snap into place because this felt as if it had been destined to be.

"Xander are you all right?" Angel asked.

"No. I'm happy that they all have somebody to love. I just wish that somebody could love me. But I'm just a freak and useless." Xander knew he was babbling, but it seemed he couldn't stop. He trusted them and felt safe. As long as they didn't know that he was in love with them everything would be alright.

"How can you say that nobody loves you? Giles loves you like a son. Oz and Tara love you like a brother. And what about Peaches and me? We love you, you stupid git!" Spike shouted overcome by hurt and anger. 'He didn't even notice we're in love with him!'

The young man was stunned, 'They love me?'

Angel saw that Xander had difficulties believing them and leaned down to kiss Xander's lips tenderly. It was hard to pull away from that tempting mouth, but he traded places with Spike as it was Spike's turn. Where Angel's kiss had been tender and loving, Spike's was fierce and full of passion.

Xander opened his eyes when Spike pulled away and sucked in a startled breath when he saw the most beautiful sight ever, right in front of him. Spike and Angel kissed to show Xander that they were all equal.

"I love you, too, have for a long time. But I didn't think you would love me back so I didn't say anything..." Xander would have continued but Angel and Spike embraced him.

And for the first time in their lives they felt safe and complete.

tbc