If Wishes Were Horses

Disclaimer: I own nothing, can't speak for WayWard Childe. Don't know what he owns.

Summary: Spike makes some wishes.

Reviews: I love reviews. I crave reviews. WayWard Childe and I are thrilled over the positive response to this fic. Thanks. Readers Rock but Reviewers RULE!

A/N: I think I forgot to point out that this is going to be AU. Enjoy.

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Spike and his new friend strode into Willie's bar and made their way over to the counter. Spike ordered a bottle of Irish whiskey from the human bartender.

"Now, Spike. You know I can't…" Willie stopped as he noticed Spike's companion. "Why did you bring him here?"

"He's with me and I want a bottle of Irish whiskey. Now." Spike leaned across the counter as he made his demand.

"But your tab. It's getting pretty steep." Willie wiped a glass, not meeting the vampire's gaze.

"I promise I can do more damage to this place than my tab is worth. Want to see?" Spike growled. He was distracted by a small hand on his arm.

"Spike, why do you let a human talk to you that way?" Sean asked.

Willie looked delighted. "He doesn't know? Can I tell him?" He didn't wait for an answer. "Spike here can't hurt humans. He can tear the place up as much as he wants but he can't harm a hair on any human's head. He's got this chip…" The bartender trailed off as he caught sight of Spike's gameface.

"Just give me the bloody bottle while you still have a bar to serve it in. Or maybe you'd like the slayer to come in and 'ask' around for information. She's not in the best of moods right now. A spot of interrogation would be just what she needs, I'd wager." The paling of Willie's face was enough to satisfy Spike and he let his demon fade away. Seconds later a large bottle and two glasses slid across the counter. Spike nodded and turned to find a table.

Within a fraction of a second, Spike had commandeered a table and poured them each a drink, slamming his own down and pouring another in quick succession.

Sean sipped his drink and observed Spike under the rim of his fedora. He had never met a vampire like this one before. Most of the time he just avoided the undead. Few of them had the sense to realize what he was and those that did notice him thought he was a child. In his experience vampires were not the brightest coins in the crock. This one seemed to have a modicum of intelligence underneath the uncouth demeanor. He'd obviously spent time at some point with an Irishman. There was pain lurking in the sapphire gaze of his unlikely companion. He watched as Spike poured yet another glass of the rather mediocre whiskey. Still it was Irish and beggars couldn't be choosers.

"Slow down. It's not the best of brews but it doesn't deserve to be slugged that way" Sean reprimanded the vampire.

Spike started and seemed to surface from some rather painful ruminating. "Sorry, Mate. Got a lot on my mind."

"It's okay. But really, slow down. Getting drunk is not going to solve your problem." Sean set his glass on the table and leaned forward. "Talking might help."

Spike looked at the diminutive man across from him. The hunter green fedora covered what Spike knew to be flaming red hair. Bright green eyes held his blue ones steadily. Spike studied the suit that matched the hat and smiled.

"I think you can help." He murmured.

"I knew you'd get to it. What is it you'd be wishing for?" Sean smiled.

Spike spaced out again, coming back only when Sean tapped him on the arm with his cane. He looked around the bar at the demons occupying the space. More than one of them was giving the blond vampire evil looks.

Spike shook his head. "Not here. Somewhere private. What I want no one can know about. Okay?"

Sean nodded. Taking the bottle with them, they left. Spike led the way to his crypt. Only remembering when they got there that Harmony was waiting for him. She jumped into his unwilling arms as soon as he stepped through the door.

"Blondie Bear! Did you do it? Did you kill her?" She squealed.

Spike shoved her off almost violently. "No. Harm, I need you to move back to your lair. I can't have you here anymore. Buffy knows you're here. She won't look for you at the old place; she's already been there and knows it's empty. You'll be safe there."

The blonde nodded and pouted. "Will you come over later?" She slipped her arms around his neck and kissed him. "I need you to keep me warm." She cooed.

"Harm! Dead remember? No body heat. Now go, I don't know how long it'll be before Buffy gets here." Spike lied. He pushed her out of his arms and gave her an encouraging nod as she turned to leave. She blew him a kiss as she hurried out the door.

Sean shook his head. "What possessed you to…?" He trailed off and raised his hands suggestively. The female vampire hadn't even noticed him.

Spike frowned. "She is an alright shag, I guess. When a bloke's desperate enough…" He let his own thought trail off. He held up the bottle he was still holding.

"Now, I don't want to be drunk when I do this. I've heard stories about how it wasn't done just right and things got mucked up completely. What I want is so personal I can't mess it up." Spike began to pace in agitation trying to figure out the best way to word his wishes. He was beginning to feel a little overwhelmed by the enormity of what he was about to do. How many times in a person's life or unlife did they have the chance to fix something for someone else this way? Then again, how many times did one save the life of a Leprechaun and earn himself three wishes?

Spike noticed that Sean sat down in the easy chair so he took a seat on a sarcophagus not too far away.

"What was it Angelus told me about leprechauns and wishes? It was a rhyme…" Spike thought for a moment.

"Three wishes I'll grant you, big wishes or small but wish the fourth wish and you lose them all." Sean chanted softly.

Spike smiled with fond remembrance. "That was it."

Sean gazed at Spike thoughtfully. "I'm guessing your first wish would be to get rid of that chip." He remarked. He was stunned when Spike shook his head vehemently.

"No. My first wish is for someone else. I'm just trying to figure out how to word it that it won't bollocks anything up." Spike fell silent for a moment.

"Why don't you tell me a little about who it's for and maybe I can help you do it right?" Sean suggested.

"There's this lady, name of Joyce Summers. She reminds me of my own mum. Really nice, you know? She treats me like a person, not a monster. She's going in for tests tomorrow. It's bad. I can feel it." Spike jumped down to pace. He turned his back to the leprechaun and paused for a moment to blink back tears.

"So what you want is for her tests to show nothing wrong with her?" Sean asked quietly. He was impressed. He'd never seen a vampire do something so unselfish.

Spike cleared his throat and nodded. "Can you do it?"

"What's your real name?" Sean asked.

The blond swung around incredulously. "Why?"

Sean smiled. "Because I don't grant wishes for people with puppy names."

"It's William." Spike answered reluctantly.

An odd expression crossed Sean's face. "Would that be William the Bloody, Childe of Angelus?"

Spike nodded slowly. "Yeah, why?"

"You are nothing like I was told you were." Sean commented.

"I've changed." The vampire muttered resentfully.

"Well, William, wish granted. Ms. Summers will receive a clean bill of health. Do you know what your second wish would be?" Sean watched the relief spread across Spike's pale face.

"I have to admit my other two wishes are a bit on the selfish side." He admitted sheepishly. His thoughts turned to Buffy and his newly discovered feelings for the Slayer. He hadn't had the nerve to tell her how he felt except for the almost kiss he'd nearly attempted after telling her about the slayers he'd killed. What she'd said as she was leaving hit him again and the pain in his chest expanded again. Anger tightened his throat as he turned to Sean.

"After the first wish, I think you're entitled to a little selfishness. What is it you're wanting?" The leprechaun was immensely curious to find out what the next wish would be.

"I wish for someone to love me unreservedly, just as I am. I want them to choose to love me without obligations or shame. Some one I can love in return. Is that too much to ask?" Spike stated quietly with his head bowed almost in embarrassment.

Sean tilted his head. A vampire who wanted to be loved? Now he was even more intrigued by this amazing creature. He decided to stick around Sunnydale a bit longer than he'd originally planned just to see how things developed. The leprechaun had been in town for almost a week and had seen quite a bit in that time. He'd seen the slayer and her mates. He'd seen this vampire on the perimeter of the slayer's little circle and he'd seen Spike's confusion over his growing feelings for the slayer. He knew how the group treated Spike. No one deserved that kind of behavior. A wicked smile crossed his tiny face. He knew just what to do.

"Granted." He said staggered by the brilliant smile that lit Spike's face. "Do you know what your third wish would be?"

Spike tensed. This was the most difficult wish. He knew what he wanted. He just didn't want there to be any misunderstanding about why he wanted it.

"It's not that I want to hunt again. It's just that if something happened to…someone. If humans were to…I couldn't protect… No one can know. The slayer would kill me without even talking about it. Do you know what I'm saying?" Spike knew he was babbling but couldn't seem to stop.

Sean was speechless. The one thing he'd thought Spike would want first was actually the last wish and he didn't want it so he could kill again. He wanted it so he could protect the humans who treated as if he were less than the dirt under their feet. Sean left the armchair and jumped up onto the sarcophagus.

"William, come here." He directed.

Spike hesitantly returned to his seat.

"Look at me." Sean stared into Spike's startling dark blue eyes. Long moments passed and Spike became a little uncomfortable under the leprechaun's scrutiny. Sean seemed pleased at what he found. He was elated to see the complete sincerity in Spike's gaze. Sean made his decision.

"Granted."