Homecoming pt. 16
"This is amazin'. I mean, she'll love it, she really will." Spike followed Xander on his tour of the newly refurbished crypt. "Upstairs, looks just like a proper livin' room."
"Yeah, and it was fun setting up the kitchen down here. Lucky you had that generator. And that artesian well. This is a pretty good location, if you want to live in a cemetery, I mean." He walked along the network of tunnels. "Okay, here's her training room. I moved the equipment from the Magic Box, since Anya says they're selling anyway."
"Love the way you padded the walls. Wouldn't want her crackin' her pretty head against the rock." Spike picked up a hand weight and pressed it over his head. "I just hope she can use it. She's still so weak." He dropped the weight by his feet. "This is wonderful, truly is. But I'm startin' to worry, now. It's so dark down here. She's not like me, she needs the sunlight. Am I bein' selfish, bringin' her here?"
"This is a fine time to ask, after I busted my butt of getting this place ready. But I know what you're saying. Follow me." Xander led him through the tunnel to a gate. "I locked this up so you won't get any unexpected visitors." He pulled a key from his pocket and opened the barrier, walking through the tunnel leading outside. They stepped though a hidden exit, into a little grove. "This place is naturally hidden. But look at the flowers, and the grass. It's so peaceful, I can just picture her sitting here reading a book, or, well, maybe a magazine. You should see it in daylight. Sunny, warm and private."
"It's beautiful in the moonlight. How did you find it? Can't believe I never noticed it before."
"Just stumbled on it. Figured it would come in handy as a secret entrance, or exit." He stepped back into the tunnels, Spike following. "Buffy's like a super hero. This is her batcave, or her fortress of solitude."
"Right. So what does that make me, Robin or Lois Lane?" Spike asked.
Xander stopped and stared at the vampire. "I would never have pegged you for a comic book reader."
"Don't forget, I've been around longer than they have." He turned down the corridor, Xander following him now. "Besides, seen them on the telly. Which reminds me, want to take a break and watch?"
"Buffy's colour one upstairs. Not that little black and white antique of yours we put in the bedroom." He stepped into another chamber. "And you have to see this. Found a mineral spring. Instant hot tub. Just the thing for post Slayage muscle pain."
Spike looked at the spring, noting the way Xander had built seats into the side. "You never cease to amaze me. Really. You should be building homes for people, designin' them, I mean."
"Lack of education," he sighed. "But I have to admit, this has been fun. Might not make "House Beautiful", but I think Buffy will like it. And, back to the beginning."
"Grab a few beers from the fridge, and we can take them upstairs." Spike headed up, while Xander went into the kitchen. 'I've been selling the boy short,' he thought. 'Never thought he'd pull it off.'
Xander stepped into the living room and handed Spike a bottle. "So, what'll we watch tonight? Soccer or football?" There was a loud popping noise in the corner. Xander spun around, then froze. His beer fell to the floor, the glass shattering, froth and liquid spilling. He opened his mouth, but the words didn't come.
Spike rose from his chair, warily approaching the intruder. "Red?"
"This is amazin'. I mean, she'll love it, she really will." Spike followed Xander on his tour of the newly refurbished crypt. "Upstairs, looks just like a proper livin' room."
"Yeah, and it was fun setting up the kitchen down here. Lucky you had that generator. And that artesian well. This is a pretty good location, if you want to live in a cemetery, I mean." He walked along the network of tunnels. "Okay, here's her training room. I moved the equipment from the Magic Box, since Anya says they're selling anyway."
"Love the way you padded the walls. Wouldn't want her crackin' her pretty head against the rock." Spike picked up a hand weight and pressed it over his head. "I just hope she can use it. She's still so weak." He dropped the weight by his feet. "This is wonderful, truly is. But I'm startin' to worry, now. It's so dark down here. She's not like me, she needs the sunlight. Am I bein' selfish, bringin' her here?"
"This is a fine time to ask, after I busted my butt of getting this place ready. But I know what you're saying. Follow me." Xander led him through the tunnel to a gate. "I locked this up so you won't get any unexpected visitors." He pulled a key from his pocket and opened the barrier, walking through the tunnel leading outside. They stepped though a hidden exit, into a little grove. "This place is naturally hidden. But look at the flowers, and the grass. It's so peaceful, I can just picture her sitting here reading a book, or, well, maybe a magazine. You should see it in daylight. Sunny, warm and private."
"It's beautiful in the moonlight. How did you find it? Can't believe I never noticed it before."
"Just stumbled on it. Figured it would come in handy as a secret entrance, or exit." He stepped back into the tunnels, Spike following. "Buffy's like a super hero. This is her batcave, or her fortress of solitude."
"Right. So what does that make me, Robin or Lois Lane?" Spike asked.
Xander stopped and stared at the vampire. "I would never have pegged you for a comic book reader."
"Don't forget, I've been around longer than they have." He turned down the corridor, Xander following him now. "Besides, seen them on the telly. Which reminds me, want to take a break and watch?"
"Buffy's colour one upstairs. Not that little black and white antique of yours we put in the bedroom." He stepped into another chamber. "And you have to see this. Found a mineral spring. Instant hot tub. Just the thing for post Slayage muscle pain."
Spike looked at the spring, noting the way Xander had built seats into the side. "You never cease to amaze me. Really. You should be building homes for people, designin' them, I mean."
"Lack of education," he sighed. "But I have to admit, this has been fun. Might not make "House Beautiful", but I think Buffy will like it. And, back to the beginning."
"Grab a few beers from the fridge, and we can take them upstairs." Spike headed up, while Xander went into the kitchen. 'I've been selling the boy short,' he thought. 'Never thought he'd pull it off.'
Xander stepped into the living room and handed Spike a bottle. "So, what'll we watch tonight? Soccer or football?" There was a loud popping noise in the corner. Xander spun around, then froze. His beer fell to the floor, the glass shattering, froth and liquid spilling. He opened his mouth, but the words didn't come.
Spike rose from his chair, warily approaching the intruder. "Red?"