Reviews:

Beloved- Thank you! I'm glad you like it.

Layce74- Thanks!

Slayercrazy144- There isn't much going on right now. I'm just trying to establish their relationship. Trust me, it will live up to its rating in a few chapters.

Closet guy- I don't think Buffy's way out of character. I think she's pissed about things. Also, as the end of the series neared, I think she progressively became bitchier.

A/N: Spike was not taken by the Bringers in this fic. This fic pretty much picks up after the events at the end of Potentialthrough First Date.

Disclaimer: I own nothing. Blah blah blah…don't sue.

Chapter 5: Preparing for the Worst

Spike and Xander stood outside the Summers residence readying themselves for what would surely be an onslaught of questions as soon as they walked in the door. Spike gave Xander a reassuring smile and a quick peck on the lips before squatting down to eye level with the children. "Be on your best behaviour, okay? I'm sure everyone will love the two of you." He kissed both of them on the forehead and lifted Nicholas, resting him on his hip. They walked up to the door and Xander hesitantly reached a hand out to open it. He took a deep breath and pushed the door open.

The potentials were all sitting in the lounge watching a movie when Xander entered, followed by the two new additions to the Harris family and Spike behind him. The door closed and the girls all turned to see who had come in. The potentials eyed them with confusion and shock.

"Hey, girls." Xander rocked awkwardly from one foot to the other for a moment then turned to the dining room where he was met with more confused faces. "Hey G-man!"

"I have asked you countless times not to call me G-man." Giles sighed, cleaning his glasses.

Dawn, who was seated at the corner of the table between Buffy and Giles, squealed with delight at seeing the two children. "They're so cute!"

"Ariel, Nicholas, this is your new aunt." He turned to look at Damn. "Do you think you could keep them occupied for a little bit?" He asked, handing her Nicholas' nappie bag. She nodded happily and led them to her room while the two men joined their friends at the dining table. Before anyone could speak, Xander turned to Willow and asked her if she could help him with adopting the children. Willow agreed, stating she would do anything for her best friend. They hugged and then each grabbed a slice of pizza from the boxes on the table.

Once the pizza boxes were cleared, Willow set up her laptop trying to find something on Buffy's date. Nothing was coming up on Principal Wood. The girls crowded around Willow looked up to see Anya placing a stack of papers on the table. The girls went through them, looking at Giles' stick figure drawings that he had used to try to show Chao-Ann how important the situation was.

The heavy pattering of little feet caught the attention of the group in the dining room. Ariel came in running to Xander and Spike. "Look! Auntie Dawn put make-up on me!" She squealed.

"You put make-up on her?" "You put make-up on my daughter?" Spike and Xander shouted in unison.

"It was her idea!" Dawn protested as she walked over to Spike and handed him Nicholas.

"She's six!" Xander exclaimed, picking Ariel up and taking a look at the made up girl. "At least it's not too much." He sighed and apologized to Dawn for yelling at her.

On the other side of the dining room, Anya watched the scene unfold and a puzzled expression crept over her face. She noticed how close her ex-fiancé stood next to the vampire and scowled. The former vengeance demon noted both Spike and Xander's reactions to finding out Dawn had made over the girl and that they hadn't fought once yet. "Oh my God! Spike's shacking up with Xander!" Anya blurted out, drawing everyone's attention to the couple. "Is this why you couldn't marry me? Because you wanted Spike? And where did the kids come from?"

"We'd have to tell them sooner or later." Xander glanced at his boyfriend who was now casually leaning against the wall and ignoring what Anya was saying. He looked down at the girl now standing at his side and gave her a nudge towards Spike. "Why don't you and your brother go into the kitchen with Will." The child nodded and walked into the next room holding her little brother's hand. He turned to face his friends who were all watching him intently now. "Yes, Spike and I are together." He sighed, plopping into the dining room chair.

"Finally!" Willow exclaimed from behind the computer.

"You found something on Principal Wood?" Dawn asked.

"No. It's about time Xander and Spike got together. Spike's been mooning after Xander long enough and besides, it'll be nice to have another gay couple around here." Willow smiled before getting up and tightly embracing her friend. "Wait, so where do the kids come into play?" Willow asked.

"Remember the night Spike and I went on patrol?" She nodded. "Well, we were walking by the cemetery when we saw a group of vamps around a burning station wagon. Nicholas and Ariel were trying to get out the back. In comes Spike to distract the vamps while I took the kids and ran. Their parents were drained. We took them home and they get along really well with Spike. Ariel's always asking him questions and Nicky pretty much only lets Spike change him. And the other day, when I took Ariel shopping for new things, she asked me to adopt her." He explained.

"Wait, so how are you and Spike together?" Dawn asked.

"When we came back from shopping, Spike ad dinner out. It was nice. After he put the kids to sleep in his room, he came ranting and raving in my room and started yelling at me about how oblivious I am then I kissed him." Xander felt himself blushing and looked over to Willow, Dawn, and Kennedy who were gushing about how cute the couple was. "So today, I asked Willow if she would help me with the adoption papers." He paused. "I don't like to talk about their parents' deaths in front of them just yet." He walked over to the kitchen door and told them they could come back in.

Spike placed Nicholas on a chair along with his sister and stood next to his boyfriend. "Xan, it's getting late and Nicky's tired. Wanna go home." Spike discreetly entwined his fingers with Xander's behind the back of the chair.

Xander nodded and turned to his friends, explaining that it was past Nicky and Ariel's bedtimes and that they should be heading home. "Go give your aunties Dawn and Willow a hug." He whispered to Ariel and pushed her in the direction of the two women with outstretched arms. "Giles?" Xander shifted his gaze to the older man, searching for his approval of his relationship. If there was one thing Xander desperately wanted when it came to his relationship with the vampire, it was Giles' approval. The man was the closest thing he had to a real father.

"Xander, if Spike makes you happy then that's all that matters." Giles replied with a warm smile.

Spike carried Nicholas into their flat and dressed him for bed. "Go wash up." He told Ariel who obediently headed to the bathroom to wash up. When she emerged, she found Spike sitting on the bed holding a pair of pyjamas for her. "Change and get into bed, your da and I will be in to say goodnight in a few minutes, 'kay?" He patted her on the head and walked into his new bedroom. "So, some big evil's coming." He said, wrapping his arms around Xander's neck. "Listen, pet, In a few days, when this whole evil goes down, I want you out of here. I want you to take the kids and my car and go to Angel. The last thing we need is me worrying about you during the fight. Pack up whatever you'll need and go. I'll come get you when this is all over and it's safe to come back. There's a small chest in he other room that I want you to bring to LA. If something happens to Sunnydale, I want to know that it's safe." Spike felt comfortable enough around Xander to drop all his walls and be himself. He was planning for the worst. He wanted to know that even if he didn't make it out of this fight safely, something that was part of him would. He had stowed away all sorts of mementos in the chest and he wanted Xander and the kids to have it. The blonde vampire knew that he had just scared his love but it was something he needed the brunette to do for him.

Xander pulled the smaller man to him in a loving embrace and kissed him softly. "Promise to come get us after? I know you can't come with but can't someone else be the hero?" He asked softly, his forehead resting against Spike's.

"Sorry, love, can't do that. You'll be fine with the broody one." He kissed the other man again then pulled out of his embrace. "Let's say goodnight to Ariel and Nicky."

A/N: YAY! Reviews! I hope you guys like this chapter and for those of you who are patiently waiting for Xander and Spike to have sex, you'll have to wait another chapter or two. Sorry, that's just how the story goes. If I get enough reviews I might get the chapter out sooner.