CHAPTER TWO

Dru knew the sun was up without looking. Vampires almost always knew, except maybe the stupidest of them. She tapped the rounded shoulders of the man lying next to her in bed. He snored softly, something she was decidedly unused to. Vampires simply did not snore and she preferred no snoring but this was interesting

Her kitten had been uncomfortably warm to nestle with. Dru could fix that, make him hers. That was the game, after all. A Slayer's boy for the ones the Slayer had captured from her. But the chess game would be over too quickly. Dru had captured the king in one move. The Slayer hadn't even played a turn yet. It was too boring.

And Dru could hear Miss Edith behind her gag mumbling about 'what if turning him stops all the poetry in his face?' Turning Spike hadn't taken away the poetry. It had made it darker, more delicious, something she could savor. Even Daddy had liked Spike's poetry but he pretended not to. Dru could tell, though. She could read his shriveled heart. But her kitten was more delicate than Spike. His poetry was shy, more ephemeral, hiding inside him without an outlet.

Besides, there was something subtly exciting about hearing his heart thundering as he moved on top of her. Her kitten turned into a lion between the sheets, delighting Dru endlessly. For now he would live. She hadn't tired of the newness yet.

"You must go, my kitten. Drops of lemons color the sky and the naughty Slayer will be looking for you."

Xander snuggled further down in the soiled sheets. "Don't wanna move."

Dru slid out of bed, tapping the tightly pinned-shut curtains. "You have to go for now. Tonight I'll come for you where I found you last night."

Xander shook his head. "I don't work tonight. I can meet you here if you want."

Dru mulled that for a moment, weighing it as butterflies surrounded them, planting little bloody kisses on their skin, each one whispering sweet nothings to her. She needed to take time to read them. "Be very careful so none of the little bad girls follow you." Dru's eyes followed the butterflies, marking their words.

Xander dragged out of the bed, taking her by the shoulders, kissing Dru's cool, porcelain skin. "Giles said you can make people see stuff and make them think things aren't what they really are, like a Jedi Knight. Can you really do that?"

Hearing the excitement in his voice, Dru turned to face him, wrapping her willowy arms around his neck. She knew Jedi Knights. Her Spike had loved Star Wars. She remembered seeing it at least a dozen times when it first danced on the silver screen. Spike had liked it - at least for a brief while - when she'd call him 'Han' in bed. "I can do that."

"Good if they find out about us, you just make them forget it," he said, cheerily.

Dru smiled and nodded. She didn't know if she actually could make a group of people forget but she could try. Xander kissed her and dressed. He went out carefully to make sure no light accidently got in. With him gone, she stripped the bed, listening to the butterflies again. They whispered about something ugly coming in from the West. Dru couldn't make them sit still so she could read them better. Something was going to try and ruin her fun. She wasn't about to let it.

* * *

"Hey Xander, you look beat," Dawn said, bopping into the kitchen just after he had dragged in.

He looked over his shoulder, summoning up a weary smile. "I am."

Her nose wrinkled up. "Stinky, too."

"Sorry." Xander snagged a box of cereal out of the cabinet.

"So what brings you to Chez Summers?" Dawn waved her hands at the kitchen as he shook some cereal into a bowl.

"No food at my place." Xander sloshed some milk in the bowl. "I'll pay you guys back." Xander regretted having to use his house key to Buffy and Dawn's apartment. The sad truth was he had a half empty jar of mayo, a lonely beer and something green and furry in his fridge. He wanted to go back to his apartment, shower then crash. If he hadn't been starving, he would have done just that.

"I was just up at your place," Dawn said, flopping on a chair.

Xander sighed, swallowing a glob of cereal. "What's up?"

"Group meeting. We must have just passed each other in the hallways." She gave him a suspicious look.

For a moment, he was afraid she knew exactly what he had done and then his love wouldn't stand a chance. Only Buffy got to break the rules and sleep with demons. All the proof he needed of that he already had. No one was allowed to criticize her and Angel or Spike but when Anya stumbled, she was slated for death. Riley turned to vampire women and out he went on his ass.

At the time, Xander had been furious at Riley for hurting Buffy. After all, he loved her still. He had given his life to her service, no matter the price. But now being with Dru, Xander understood why Riley had done it. It was an amazing thrill to be with a woman with such power. The sheer eroticism of being suckled was incredible. Now he understood Buffy's undead preference and regretted every harsh thing he had ever said to her in regards to her lovers.

Xander unconsciously tugged at his collar, hoping the bite marks were hidden so he wouldn't have to explain them. "Tell them I'll be there in a minute, okay, Dawn? Just as soon as I finish breakfast."

"Sure." Dawn gave him another lingering look then headed out.

Xander bolted his cereal before it got soggy then headed to the laundry room in the basement. It was their defacto Batcave. Everyone was already there when he squeezed in the back. He listened to all the Slayer reports, falling asleep against a dryer.

"Xander!"

The whip crack of Buffy's voice jerked Xander awake. He blinked rapidly, trying to discreetly wipe drool off his chin while all amused eyes were on him. "Sorry," he mumbled.

"Rough night?" Faith's smile was so wide Xander thought he could fall into it.

"Kinda. What did I miss?"

"Nothing that directly concerns you," Giles assured him.

"We're waiting on your report," Buffy added, swinging her legs, her heels thumping the dryer she sat on.

"Nothing to report. It was a slow night. Plenty of human weirdos, no demons," Xander lied. Well, it was mostly the truth. Barring, Dru, he had seen no demons.

"Just as well. We have enough to worry about with the murders here in Cleveland Heights," Buffy said and for a moment Xander panicked.

How had he forgotten that? Dru most likely was the cause of all those deaths. He knew he should tell Buffy but he couldn't betray the woman he loved.

"Guess that's it then." Buffy jumped off the dryer. "We all know where we need to be."

"Buffy, can I talk to you for a minute?" Xander asked as the group dispersed.

"Sure. You girls go on and I'll join you in the work out room in a minute," she said to the junior Slayers. When they were alone, she turned back to Xander. "What's up?'

Xander looked around at the grey dingy laundry room, which doggedly remained unchanged from the 70's. The air was close with lint dust and the smells of soap and Downy. It was a poor choice for a meeting room but it was more private than the gym being underground and all. He should take Buffy out to a nice dinner to offset what he was about to say. This wasn't the right place for a confessional but he was moved to make it one. "I just wanted to say I'm sorry."

Buffy's brow furrowed. "For what?"

He buried his hands in his pockets, hanging his head. "For all those terrible things I've said over the years, about Angel and Spike, about you being with them. I wanted to protect you...didn't want to see you get hurt. But I did it all wrong. I'm not sure why...guess I learned yelling as a way of communication from my parents." Xander swallowed hard. He so did not need remembrances of his parents at this point. "I meant well but I wasn't being a very good friend and I'm sorry."

Buffy stared at him for several long moments. "What brought this on?"

He shrugged. "Nothing...just that I've been meaning to say it for a long time now and I never did. It was time to stop putting it off."

She leaned in and gave his cheek a peck. "Thank you. I've been waiting a long time to hear that."

"I know and I'm sorry it took so long."

"It's okay." Buffy glanced at the stairwell. "I should get to the training session."

He flashed her a nervous smile. "Go on. I need to get some sleep."

"You are looking a bit ragged," she agreed.

Xander watched her go, feeling infinitely better for having gotten that off his chest. He just hadn't wanted his life to radically change again and that to continue to go unsaid. He couldn't escape the feeling his life was about to evolve and this time for the better.