"Tasty Little Morsel"
Sequel to Working Class Girl

Spoilers: Bargaining Parts 1 & 2; Afterlife; Flooded; & All The Way

Summary: A continuation of "To Me", "Best Laid Plans", "Head Under Water", and "Working Class Girl" Ongoing, week-by-week rewrite of Season 6. My own twisted little universe. :)

Author's Note: The day before Halloween. The episode happens pretty much as it did on TV. Giles still rules. I also ignore the Buffy/Spike interactions. So far, whenever Spike has come to visit Dawn, Buffy is either not there, or she avoids running into him.

*FADE TO: The Magic Box. The gang is hanging Halloween decorations all over the shop. Dawn is sitting down at the table, flipping through a catalog.*

"I think I should get this catwoman suit. This boy, Bobby, from school would go totally ape when he saw it." Tara came over and looked at it. Even her eyes managed to bulge out.
"Dawn, dear..." Xander said, coming over. She stared intently at the catalog, trying desperately to hide the smile he brought to her. He looked at the costume for a moment, "...I'm afraid I just can't see you wearing that on Halloween... Well, I could, but then I'd have to be sent away to jail."
Tara laughed, "I t-think what Xander is trying to s-say is... a fifteen year old girl shouldn't be wearing something like that for Halloween."
Dawn looked up pleadingly, "But I'm such a mature fifteen!"
"Mature, schmature, Dawnie." Xander mocked with a grin, "With our record of Halloween mischief, the last thing we need is for you to turn into a cat from some magic spell. You should have something much more practical. I was army guy that year, and it helped us stay alive."
Dawn smiled, "You looked so good in those fatigues, too. It's no wonder Buffy clinged to you like a life preserver."
Xander looked like a deer caught in a car's headlights. He stole a quick glace to the register where Anya was working. He breathed a sigh of relief when she seemed not to have heard. He'd been on edge about the subject of Buffy ever since he'd had that moment in the shop. The 'almost kissing Buffy memory' moment.
Tara touched him lightly on the arm, seeing his daze. He jumped to attention and let out a comment, "We'll have to leave it up to your sister about the catwoman costume, Dawn... but I'd be picking a back-up or two, cause your sister just doesn't tolerate the 'trashy romance novel woman' costume style."
Dawn looked dejected, but went back to flipping through the catalog. In the meantime, Xander busied himself with decorating again.
After a few minutes, Tara approached him. She had a quiet concern on her face as she spoke in a whisper, "Xander, is something wrong?"
"What? No, no, of course not." She looked at him skeptically, and his facade couldn't hold up for long, "Okay, yeah... but I don't know if I can talk about it out here... it's kinda sensitive material."
Tara watched him for a moment, and nodded, "If you w-want, we can take a walk outside a-and you can tell me everything."
He smiled warmly at her friendly gesture. At first, he was going to turn her down. He just wasn't sure if he could talk to her about it. The more the thought about it, though, the more logical it seemed. She was about the only person he *could* talk to about it all. Anya and Buffy were too close to the issue. Giles and Willow were also a little personally involved, and would probably yell at him for what he'd done. Dawn would have been happy for him, but had no known ability to keep secrets. He wouldn't talk to Spike, because the vampire still didn't know about Buffy's return. Tara was the closest thing he had to impartial in the group. He decided it couldn't hurt to tell her.
"Sure, I suppose it'd be nice to get it out. Let's go have a talk." She showed him that shy smile that made her so endearing, and they headed for the exit.
Before they could leave, though, Anya yelled at him. "Where do you two think you're going? You haven't finished decorating the store. If Tara wasn't such an obvious lesbian, I'd worry you were going off to have an affair." She paused, her face almost breaking, "You aren't, are you?"
Xander sighed, "Anya, no, we're not. Could you please have a little respect for Tara and not treat what she is like it's an affliction?" He got his calm back, "We're just going on a coffee and donut run. We'll be back in a few minutes."
"Oh, all right." She looked at Tara, and unconvincingly said, "I'm sorry for what I said, Tara." She quickly went back to counting money.
Dawn brought her head up, giving a million-dollar smile, "Make sure you bring me my favorite, Xander."
Xander smiled as he helped Tara put her jacket on, "Raspberry Bismark with multi-color sprinkles. I could never forget, Dawn Patrol." He pulled on his own jacket and headed out the door.

*CUT TO: Spike's Crypt. He's watching Passions on a surprisingly new TV.*

When 'Passions' went to commercial, Spike got up to get some more blood. He passed by the small marker placed atop his tomb lid. It was supposed to ward off the spirit that had been possessing the Scoobies in the past few weeks. He could care less whether they were possessed or not, but they had demanded his crypt be protected. They apparently didn't want to see a return from the Big Bad of Sunnydale.
Actually, they didn't want to see a return of him period. He'd gone to visit Dawn several times in the past week, but they'd been kept short. He hadn't spent the night at all. The whelp Xander had made sure he didn't stay any later than midnight. He had the strangest feeling that they were keeping something from him, but he could have cared less about what they thought he shouldn't see.
Ever since Buffy had died, he didn't care about much of anything. Whether or not they cared to accept it, he really felt something for Buffy. Maybe it was love, maybe it wasn't. Whatever it was, he knew it had left a hole in him that wouldn't leave him alone. The only thing he could do to make it feel better was to visit Dawn and watch over her. It felt like he was keeping a promise to the Slayer. Still, he'd have sacrificed any number of things for the Slayer to be back.
He cursed quietly as he came out of his daze. He dashed back to the television to find his show back from commercials. 'Bloody Slayer haunts me even in death.'
The rest of the show passed in silence. When it was over, he went back to looking at the marker. It was another constanct reminder of the life he was leading now. He shook his head and thought about the night coming up. Halloween. The night where most creatures of the night stayed in and relaxed. Not him, however. He remembers the Halloween several years ago fondly. The town running wild from the spell of Ethan Rayne. It had been such a glorious chaos.
He could only hope something equally as hazardous would happen this Halloween. Both from the perspective of watching it, and stopping it. He begrudgingly accepted the fact that he was doomed to helping the Scooby Gang thwart evil.

*CUT TO: Exterior sidewalk, leading to the Magic Box.*

Xander finished detailing what had happened since Buffy came back to Tara. She was quiet, and encouraged him to continue, and he was grateful to finally get it off his chest. She hadn't been all that surprised about the engagement. She had, however, been surprised at his confession to Buffy.
"So that's the creek I'm up. Care to lend me a paddle?" Xander joked, lifting the lid of the donut box, checking over the stock.
"M-most important, you have to tell everyone about the engagement. B-before you totally screw up things with Anya." He nodded, "Then, you have to find out how Buffy feels, cause if you're just reading too much into things, you don't want to go making it all awkward between you."
"Check and check." They stopped in front of the door of the Magic Box, "Tara, have I ever made you feel... like you were an outsider? Like, you didn't belong?"
"Xander, no, no..." She paused as he looked at her skeptically, "Okay, maybe a little. But it's cause I am."
"No, you're not, Tara. Did the whole incident with your family not register? You're part of our family now. I only acted like I did towards you, because... well, it was my best friend Willow, and it was something I'd never expected out of her. It was wrong of me to take out my lack of understanding on you. You were just being yourself, and now that I know you better, I can understand why she loves you so much." He pulled her into an unexpected hug.
She smiled and responded, "All forgiven, Xander. I know you were just looking out for your friend. And yeah, I know she loves me. I love her too." They were quiet for a minute. Tara laughed, "Maybe we should go in, we've been out here so long, Anya is probably formulating a plan to kill me by now."
Xander laughed nervously, "Yeah, she probably is."
He turned the door and it jingled, Anya greeted him with a growl. Tara proceeded into the shop with the donuts while Anya began rambling, "Xander, you took much too long. We finished decorating, everyone went home, and I'm no longer hungry for the sweet-filled baked pastry. Buffy called to ask if you'd come over and help her and Dawn decorate the house. Apparently they're bitter about their cumalative lack of height and want someone with long arms to dangle things from the eves."
"Oh, how I love our procrastinative nature towards decoration and.. y'know, normal things. Why do we always decide to hold off on decorating until the day before holidays?" Xander said as he walked towards the main room.
"Because we're usually slaying the things that go bump in the night every other night?"
"Ahh, I knew there was a reason." He gave Anya a short kiss, "I better head over there before the Slayer gets irritable and slays me. I'll see you at the apartment, Ahn."

*CUT TO: Summers home, after sundown.*

Spike stomped along the sidewalk, leading towards the Summers house. He'd gotten antsy and felt like visiting Dawn. He'd seen a few nasties out on his way there, and done away with him. He was becoming strangely apathetic to the fact he was a turncoat, like Angel. Four years ago, if you'd told him he'd be helping out the friends of the Slayer, he'd have laughed. Well, after he'd torn your head right off your shoulders.
The most unexpected part of it had been his feelings. The fact that they reaared their ugly head again. For the Slayer herself. For centuries it had been him and Dru. He wouldn't get started on THAT subject. Now he was in love with a Slayer. His mortal enemy. If he became any more like Angel, he swore he'd stake himself.
He strutted his way towards the Summers' front door, cradling the box of Halloween candies under his arm. He pulled up his hand to open the door, when he saw it. The head of blonde hair that rushed past the door, going from the living room to the dining room.
The box of candies fell from his arm, and his face went slack. A few short moments before it twisted in anger. His growl was nearly audible through the door.
He swung it open, startling the houses occupants. Xander was up from his seat at the dining table, where he was carving a pumpkin, in time to see who it was. Spike stalked towards him menacingly, "You sodding bastard! You brought her back and didn't see fit to tell me?"
Xander returned his anger, "Why? So you could start stalking her again? We thought we made it clear to you, Spike; thank you, but move the hell on."
Spike got right in his face, despite the headache that was forming merely from his thoughts, "What gives you the right? To decide whether or not I'm allowed to see her? You're not bloody God, mate, despite the fact you lot brought her back."
Xander was level with him, "I may not be God, but I sure as hell aren't a demon. My right is the fact that I'm her friend, and she doesn't need a leech like you in her life."
"Leech?" Spike growled, "I'll show you a bloody leech..." He pulled his arm back to swing, knowing full-well he'd be crouching on the floor before it even hit Xander's face.
His swing was halted by a strong hand grabbing his arm and nearly yanking it from the socket, "STOP!" Buffy yelled.
He was spun around to face her. It immediately melted his insides, and his anger subsided for the moment, "Buffy." His voice was a whisper.
Her reply was emotionless as could be imagined, a rough, "Spike."
He tried not to look hurt, "Do you... want talk?"
She sighed, looking away and sticking her hands in her back pockets, "Not particularly." She walked away to go find Dawn.
Spike's anger flared, but he couldn't turn it on her, so he went back to Xander, "I can't believe what you've done. Do you know the forces you've messed with?"
Xander was momentarily stirred, but shook it off, "Look. You're just covering. Don't tell me you're not happy." Spike scoffed. "Look me in the eyes, and tell me when you saw Buffy alive, that wasn't the happiest moment of your entire existence." The look in Xander's eyes strikes him.
He wants to retort, but the simplicity of Xander's statement can't be countered. He gives up, turning around and walking through the front door. "That's the thing about magic." His pause caused Xander to follow cautiously, only to sloppily catch a box of Halloween candy, "There's always consequences."
He stomped down the walk, screaming back, "ALWAYS!"

*CUT TO: The Magic Box. Halloween day.*

Anya rolled around, talking to customers and encouraging them to buy things. A young boy is looking over some items on the research table, when from behind him, a voice booms, "What do you think you're doing?"
He spins around, scared. He lets out a little squeak, then his eyebrow lifts, "What the heck are you supposed to be? Why's your hair so spikey?"
Xander smiled faintly, throwing back the tail of his duster and resting his hands in his pockets, "I'm Angel, and it's called the miracle of hair gel. Now, is there anything I can help you with?"
"How much for this?" The kid pointed to a jar of slimey stuff.
Xander looked at the name tag, recalling the item, "Hograth Mucus? Pretty powerful stuff, what do you need it for?"
The kid scrunched his face, "My sister's boyfriend is bullying me. I wanna make him forget how to go to the bathroom."
Xander chuckled, eerily like Angel himself, and shook his head, "A noble effort, young man, but far too drastic. A much simpler trick is to catch him napping, and put his hand in a bowl of warm water. He'll wake up with a wonderful, embarrassing surprise. Do that a few times, and your sister will probably dump him."
The kid looked a little doubtful, but finally nodded and headed out of the store. Anya rolled up, "Xander! You chased away a sale!"
"Ahn, I really hate to see kids that young practicing magic. I'm just trying to keep things safer." She shook her head and rolled off.
"Xander, I could use some help over here!" Giles declared.
"On my way, Giles." He made a flourish with his duster, and swooped over to help Giles with bagging.
Buffy came up from the store room, only to be greeted by Anya, "You need to go get me some Eye of Newt. We're all out of Eye of Newt!" Anya grabbed her shoulders exaggeratively, "We need more Eye of Newt!"
Buffy looked alarmed, "Calm down, Anya, I'll go..."
"Buffy, a bit of help over here..." Giles called from behind the counter, next to Xander.
Buffy looked relieved, prying herself from Anya's hands, "Well, lookitthat, Giles needs me. Why don't you get Willow to go down and get it for you? Buhbye!" She dashed down the stairs to where Giles is. She sees Xander's costume, and rolls her eyes, "Xander, the costume, sooo not funny."
Xander just smiled as he stuffed bags, "Awww, c'mon. I was trying to coordinate with Ahn... she's an angel, I'm an Angel. It just worked out."
Buffy just shook her head, but her eyes were lingering on Xander. He did pull off the Angel look well. She went back to stuffing items in the bag she was holding open. She smiled faintly, sneaking a glance at Xander as she remembered the tone of his voice when he spoke to her on the tower. She then remembered how he looked the night he was possessed, unconscious and looking peaceful. She just wasn't sure why she was becoming so comfortable with those thoughts. Thoughts about Xander, in a more-than-friendly way.

*CUT TO: Graveyard near Spike's Crypt, evening. Spike is seen punching something against the crypt wall, out of sight.*

Spike growled repeatedly, "This is for bringing her back without telling me." He smacked it again, "This is for keeping it from me for so long." Another hard smack, "And this... is for being so damned smarmy!" He delivered a spinning fist, and the attackee came spinning off the back of the tomb.
The vampire, who looked scraggly and dirty, had his face severely beaten. He stumbled away from Spike, but didn't get very far before he started again. A spinning kick sent him flying over a headstone with a crunch.
He was about to continue the punishment, when a blur flew past and the vampire burst into dust. He growled in frustration and spun on the attacker, "How dare you kill my..." His face fell, "Buffy." He almost dribbled for a few moments, "What is... did you want to talk now?"
Buffy's brow furrowed, "No. It's Dawn."
"Nibblet?"
"We need to go, NOW. She lied to me. Giles and Xander are looking for her, we are too." Spike didn't need any more prompting. As upset as he felt, Dawn always came first with him.
"Lead the way."