Title: That Damn Happiness Clause
Writer: Azure K Mello
Question: has anyone read a slash story wherein Buffy *wasn't* a bitch?
Disclaimer- I don't own the shoes I'm currently dancing in what's the likelihood I own anything in Joss' universe? I own the original novels. . . I bought them in Borders, and I own the DVDs. I don't however make money off of this I just seem to spend a lot on it. I in no way intend to infringe copyrights. I'm just entertaining myself, honestly, I'm shocked that anyone's read it.
Setting: somewhere during the Bachelor Party, some conversation is mangled out of said ep. This has nothing to do with Buff's time line at all.
Warning: SLASH Angel/Doyle. Spike/Xander. Don't like, don't read, don't flame. Also rather heavy mentions of child abuse. Extreme angst.
Thanks to Poison for being the fastest Beta I've ever had!
Section rating: R
Part 7/?
Dedication: to my bf, Isaly, who just joined the group! Chain smoking, throwing stuff at *her* house in the summer, stealing shit from school, Planned P-hood, hating our parents, screaming about intolerance in Friendly's, being scared by the KGB, hot-boxing the apartment with fags. . . and this is only this week.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Who was that on the phone?" asked Angel pulling on a robe. Cordelia was out on a date and Doyle had just had a vision about a nest of vampires.
"Spike. He and Xander are goin' to Sunnydale."
"Sunnyhell isn't safe for Spike! Or Xander, come to that."
Angel's causal use of Spike's slang for the dale attested to his fear. Smiling gently Doyle said. "Spike said they'd be gone three days at the most, would lay low, and avoid that rat-fucking bastard. He seemed to think you would know what that meant."
"He better fucking avoid him."
"Ye gonna share wit' the class?" asked Doyle but regretted it when he saw the remorse in his boyfriends eyes. "Right, this is another secret that makes up the enigma that is Xander Harris."
"This isn't my tale to tell. Xander doesn't even know Spike told me."
"But he tol' Spike?"
"No, Spike just stalked him."
"Oh that's right he tol' ma. What's up with Vampires and stalkin'?"
"It's not Vampires. I mean yeah we all get a kick out of toying with the prey. But actual stalking is something we rarely indulge in. It's more a clan of Aureleus thing."
"Tha's comfortin'." Angel smiled but the fear was in his eyes. "The'll be fine."
"Yeah I know. I just don't like. Buffy's out for blood. Why are they going?" he asked more to himself than to Doyle but an answer was still supplied.
"Xander's ma's in hospital. The boy wanted to see her. She fell down a flight of stairs." He saw the look on Angel's face. For a man with so few expressions he should could express a lot. "Or. . . pushed? Abusive da?"
"Abusive? No. . . he just has the same loving view of childcare that I do when I lack my soul. . . rat-fucking bastard."
"Ah. So that's why everyone tinks he's so strong?" Doyle couldn't keep the slight edge off his voice. Yes, the boy was strong but many had gotten through it.
"No," said Angel his voice angry but not directed at the smaller man. "He's strong because his mother is just the same and so is his uncle and no one's ever noticed. I didn't even notice. There's so much that, God, I wish I could tell you. So you could understand but I just can't. Talk to Xander sometime. Ok?"
Doyle nodded. "Are ye ok?"
"I just, I feel sick when I think about Xander and how I react to his life. And then I think of Penn, and Dru, and Will and I realize that I've done even worse things to them. And it just burns." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Xander, would you stop fidgetin'? You're making me car sick." Said Spike as he drove the 1957 Fire Dome 8 DeSoto back to the place he hated most. He had the one good thing to ever come out of Sunnyhell at his side.
"Maybe we should go back. Maybe I should go on alone. Buffy is not going to be colored happy to see you."
"That's not true. She'd love to see me. . . turned into dust." His joke didn't get a laugh and so he said. "Look, I'll just lay low when you go to see Smutty. It'll be fine."
"I want you there though. That's the scary thing. As much danger as I know you'd be in I still want you there when I see her. It's so fucking selfish and cowardly."
"No, god no. If you want me there, I'm there."
"How?" said Xander looking pale.
"When we got to the motel you call her and tell her that you brought your roommate, Spike, and no, you're not a vampire and she can call Angel if she likes."
"You think it'll work?"
"Sure." They were crossing a big cool gothic bridge and Xander touched his arm.
"Pull over for a sec? I can't go over this without doing something first." Spike stopped in the dead center of the bridge. Xander climbed out with Spike following his lead. He pulled a bag out of his jacket pocket. "Ever heard of Cutco?"
"The company that sells knifes?"
"Yeah, they make a pair of scissors that can cut a penny in half." He said as he pulled out twelve silver coins that had been halved so there were 24 pieces. "It's kinda a joke. Old, forget what it even was. Something about inflation or something and how Judas only got half of the going price for Jesus' head. I don't really remember." Spike watched as the boy dropped twelve halves into the water and put their matching pieces into another pocket. Having only a slight idea what was going on Spike held his tongue. If Xander didn't want to inform him that this was where he'd dropped Jesse's ashes he wasn't going to ask. And if that were the case than it made it that much more painful to watch. Xander turned back to him. "Ya ready?"
Spike nodded silently. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Angel held the young boy they had just saved. When Doyle had shaken off his demonic visage half way through the fight Angel had been confused. "Doyle, you're stronger when your demon, right? So why did you shake it off?"
Doyle sighed softly, "I just don't like to fight like that."
"This isn't a spelling bee. Nobody expects you to fight fair."
"It's just not my style, that's all." There was a soft desperation in his voice begging his lover to understand. And Angel did, all too well. He put the rescued boy on the floor and slammed Doyle into the wall.
As he kissed him he ran his hands all down his body. "I love you, Doyle. You have nothing to be ashamed of. It's who you are. You're beautiful. Stop blaming yourself for the past. You're too damn good for that so stop." Doyle turned as if to prove a point. Horrified Angel realized the boy expected him to pull back. Instead his hands trailed over the blue skin. The green spikes stopped at his the junction of his neck and shoulders. Angel investigated this side of his lover that he rarely saw. His blue skin was surprisingly cold and smooth it was sweet and slightly acidic under his tongue. Doyle didn't taste of his usual whisky and salt instead he tasted of power and lust. Doyle's lips were hot in comparison to the rest of his skin. And as Angel rested his forehead against Doyle's own he looked into red eyes. "So sexy. Let's get him home and go to bed?"
Doyle smiled. At least he'd gotten Angel's mind off his wayward childe. He nodded and rested his hand on Angel's hip as they walked.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Within an hour they had checked into a motel and were sitting about in the car, the engine idling. "What do you want to do?" asked Spike.
"I want to go to the house and get my stuff while Dad's at work."
Spike nodded and drove out. He went straight to Xander's, not even feigning ignorance as to where it was located. As they pulled into the driveway he turned to the boy. "You sure?"
"It's now or never."
"I can get money. You don't need this stuff."
"I want some of it. Ok?"
"Commo then." He said as he slid out of the driver's side door. "Let's do this quick, yeah?"
"Oh I'm right there with you. Believe me."
Like a well trained swat team the pair grabbed anything of consequence in the basement. Finally when everything Xander wanted was gone he stepped back and looked at the room.
"What is it, pet?" asked Spike standing behind him and putting a comforting hand on Xander's hip.
"It was the way I left it."
"Yeah?" asked Spike confused by the statement.
"I was just wondering if they were hoping I'd come home and didn't want to touch it. Or if they didn't realize I'd gone."
"They were never good enough for you in the first place." Said Spike in a low growl.
"Are you here with me?" asked Xander in a childlike whisper.
"Of course, pet." Xander turned and kissed him full on the lip.
"I don't know how I can thank you." Said Xander as he slipped his hands beneath Spike's waistband.
Spike's smile vanished. After swallowing twice he stopped Xander's hands from their exploration. Shaking his head slowly he pulled Xander's hands away. "You don't need to, Xander."
"You don't want-" There was hurt in Xander's eyes.
"I don't want you doing something you don't want to do. I don't want you doing this because you think you have to in order to keep me as your friend. I want to do it because you want to. And I really don't want to do it here as this place sets me on edge. What I really want, while here, is to kill anything with Harris blood that isn't you." Spike looked around the room. A room he knew damn well had had too much sex in it. Xander studied him and wondered if he knew about all the times he'd been raped here. If the cold sheen in Spike's eyes was anything to go by then the boy would bet he did.
"Yeah. I get that." Said Xander softly suddenly desperate to leave the close, muggy room. "Let's go." He slipped his hand into Spike and squeezed softly as they walked up the stairs abreast each other. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Cordelia had been uneasy around Angel all day. Of course the fact that he was growling, and muttering, and pacing did nothing to help Doyle's claims that the man was fine. After a few hours of her squealing every time Angel let out a growl Doyle sent her home. Her fear was feeding his worry. What the fuck could be going on in Sunnydale to upset the vampire so? For a while he simply sat and watched the other man march about but after a few hours he could bare it no more. Angel did not still when Doyle stepped in front of him. At the last minute Doyle captured the taller man, slipped into his demon form, and bit into his throat. He snarled, shocked at the pain but stilled as Doyle licked the wound gently. A soft purr rose from Angel's chest as Doyle stepped back. The purr disappeared the moment Angel lost physical contact with the man, he whimpered until Doyle took him back into his arms. Sighing Doyle rocked the larger man. He sat down on the desk, Angel stood between his legs growling and keening softly. Doyle hushed him softly while stroking every piece of available skin.
He heard the bell over the door and said without turning. "This is Angel Investigations. But there's a bit o' a situation right now. If ye could come back in ten minutes tha' would be just great."
He heard the woman swallow, "Hey, Francis."
Sighing heavily he turned to his wife, "Harry." He movement made Angel cry out and growl threateningly at the girl. Trying to ignore Angel Doyle said, "Uhm, - where've you been?"
"Around. Uhm -Kiribati - Togo - Uzbekistan - a few spots that were a - little less touristy." She said trying to follow his lead. He could hear in her voice that the scene confused and scared her. "I'm sorry about the surprise. I would've called first but I was afraid.."
"I'd run off? That's not my style, remember?" said Doyle completely fine with the tableau he and Angel presented. He was far more worried about Angel than what Harry was seeing.
"But it's mine?" said Harry sounding hurt, "Is that what you're saying? Do you want me to remind you who fired the starter pistol? - No, let's not, okay? Let's just hug and be happy to see each other."
"I can't hug you. If I let go of him he's likely to rip out your throat." He heard her step back with a gasp. "So why don't you come back in ten minutes?"
Harry sighed unwilling to leave, "You look good."
"Yeah, you, too." Said Doyle still facing Angel.
"You're still living it up? You know that drinking's no good for you."
"Yeah, you know me. I'm a fun-loving guy." He said sarcastically. Did she think he was holding the vampire for his health for Christ's sakes? What did she think was going on here. "So, shall we go on to why you're here exactly?"
"Maybe we could talk alone?"
"Yeah. We could but as I said, I let go and he kills you." He said As Angel rested his head on Doyle's shoulder. The younger man couldn't help but smile at the action. "So you'll either have to say it or come back."
"I should just say it." The door opened and Doyle heard a man walk into the room, a demon of some type, he could tell from the breathing. " Oh, I thought you were going to stay in the car?"
"I know, but I admit it, curiosity got the better of me." He looked at the two on the desk and called "Hey, Richard Straley. I've heard so much about you." He turned to Harry, "Say, why is you're ex growling?."
"He's not." She said looking confused at the scene.
"Oh, no, he is! Really."
"That's not Doyle."
"Oh, - that's more like it." Said Richard taken aback that he had assumed she'd been married to the crazy growling man. "Ah, forgive me, I'm not quite myself. What with the wedding only a few days off now."
Doyle laughed at the ridiculous scene. It was suddenly making sense. "There's a wedding?"
"I'm sorry I- I didn't want you to hear it that way." Doyle just sighed trying not to laugh. Harry misinterpreted it. "I didn't come here for your approval."
Doyle started to laugh, "Then why? To see my face when I found out? To see if it would cut?" he assumed it sounded bitter though really all it was, was that he was tiered, He's lover was having a mental freak- out, and the fact that she'd come to tell him she was getting married just made it all into a bad joke.
"Of course not. I would never.. - I just, I need you to sign these." She said handing him a folder by reaching over angel's form and holding it out to them.
"Divorce papers." He said with an unbelieveing smile.
"It had to happen. I mean one of us.."
"Gimme somethin' to lean on and a pen, yeah?"
He could feel her shock. So what it was ok for her to want this but not for him to be ok with it? She handed him a pen and a book Angel had been reading. Signing it was complicated as he was holding a large Angel upright at the same time. He laughed suddenly. "The funny thing is for all I know, I'm buying an ostrich farm."
As he handed them back to her she said, "It's good to see you again, Francis. I'm sorry it was so inconvenient." She went to touch his arm but Angel grabbed her hand with lightening fast reflexes.
"Come another time and we'll talk, yeah? It's jus' now's not such a good time." Said Doyle. He sensed her nod and turn to leave. He turned back to Angel and laughed at the new husband "Can I get a side of *bland* with that bland?" he asked and captured Angel's lips, hushing him with silent comfort. "So that was Harry, the woman you were so anxious to meet. Will you remember this, I wonder." He led the vampire to the elevator. "Let's get you into bed where ye can sleep this off."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Xander sighed outside the shut door. Worried Spike studied the boy's face. "Do ya want me to come in with you?" he asked softly.
"No, I better do this myself." He said giving Spike a sad smile.
"If you want me I'll be listening with vampiric hearing. So just ask your mother if she's heard from Charlie recently."
"I don't know a Charlie."
"Exactly, pet. I'll be in like a shot." Xander nodded. He pulled Spike to him for a desperate kiss. "You'll be fine, luv, just think tha' this time 'morrow we'll be in LA." Xander nodded again and ventured into the hospital room where his mother was currently residing.
Upon turning back Spike was met with the scene of a confused red head. "Xander needs a minute with his mum. Leave it a sec." He said sitting on a broken plastic chair.
"You're! You're."
"Spit it out, Red. I'm what?"
"You're using Xander to get to Buffy!"
The laughter could not be contained. Lighting a cigarette he gave an orderly a frightening glare. "I have absolutely no interest in even seeing the slayer. Xander didn't want to come alone, I didn't want him to come alone."
"So what the-"
"He's my roommate." He cocked his head. "And I just got called so excuse me." He got up and walked into the room closing the door behind him. Weakly he smiled at Xander. "Willow's outside. Hey, Mrs. Harris, how are you?" said Spike coldly. He laid a hand on Xander's arm. A casual gesture but he felt Xander melt into the touch.
"Who are you?" she asked.
"I'm Xander's roommate in LA."
"You're living in LA? For how long have you been living in LA?"
"Three weeks. Where did you think I was?"
"I thought you were with your little friend Willow."
"No, Mom."
"I'm sorry, Mrs. Harris, we have to go in a minute. We need to go back to LA. We have work in the morning."
"You work."
"For a detective agency." Said Xander sounding proud that he had a good job for once.
She started to laugh, "Who the hell would hire you?"
Spike growled and grabbed Xander's arm. "Goodbye, Mrs. Harris." Xander nearly fell when Spike let go of him outside the door. "You ok?" Xander nodded mutely but could not stand under his own steam. "Hey, it's all ok. We'll go see Buffy tonight and be in LA by first light. Ok? Sound good?" Xander nodded and captured Spike's lips. "It's all gonna be fine, Pet. I promise." Xander rested his forehead against Spike's.
A cough sounded from behind them and Spike wheeled around. There stood Buffy and Willow. Xander instantly stepped in front of the slighter man, protecting him from the slayer's wrath. "Hey, Willow. Spike said you were here nice to see you called reinforcements. Buffy." He said nodding to the blond carrying the stake. "Would you kindly put that away?"
"What's going on Xander."
"My mother's in hospital, and I brought my roommate with me."
"Spike's your roommate now?" said Buffy sarcastically. "So what He's on a leash?"
"Hey!"
"Spike, shut up."
"Yeah, he is. And we're both working for Angel."
"What?" she asked angrily.
"What, "what" are you asking about?"
"You're working for Angel? Why?"
"Because the pay is good and it's something I know. Would you please put the stake away?" she gave him a look. "I have a pulse. I'm wearing a cross." He threw her his cell. "Angel's number two on speed dial. Cordy put herself first because she programmed it."
"Cordy? Cordelia is working there too?"
"No, she's whoring herself out on the pavement outside." Said Spike sarcastically. "Not that I don't enjoy a public row but could we take this elsewhere? Only Mrs. Harris is only next-door."
"Buffy, why don't Spike and I meet you and Willow at your house? Where we can talk calmly."
"No I think I'd like to settle this now, Xander." Said Buffy coldly. "It's a very simple issue really. It's all about loyalty and where yours lays."
"Buffy-" said Willow from behind her knowing this was a bad idea.
"You can't be serious?" asked Spike his jaw dropped. "How can you be that cruel? Did you have to choose once? How could you do that to someone else?" he asked in reference to her parents divorce wherein she had been forced to choose whom she would live with.
"This isn't like that, it isn't a hard decision." Said Buffy curtly.
"Buffy, I can't even begin. . . don't make me do this."
"Oh I think it has to be done." Replied Buffy sounding every bit like her cheerleader self. "It's not that hard, Xan."
"You have no idea. Do you? There is no choice, Buffy, I love him."
Writer: Azure K Mello
Question: has anyone read a slash story wherein Buffy *wasn't* a bitch?
Disclaimer- I don't own the shoes I'm currently dancing in what's the likelihood I own anything in Joss' universe? I own the original novels. . . I bought them in Borders, and I own the DVDs. I don't however make money off of this I just seem to spend a lot on it. I in no way intend to infringe copyrights. I'm just entertaining myself, honestly, I'm shocked that anyone's read it.
Setting: somewhere during the Bachelor Party, some conversation is mangled out of said ep. This has nothing to do with Buff's time line at all.
Warning: SLASH Angel/Doyle. Spike/Xander. Don't like, don't read, don't flame. Also rather heavy mentions of child abuse. Extreme angst.
Thanks to Poison for being the fastest Beta I've ever had!
Section rating: R
Part 7/?
Dedication: to my bf, Isaly, who just joined the group! Chain smoking, throwing stuff at *her* house in the summer, stealing shit from school, Planned P-hood, hating our parents, screaming about intolerance in Friendly's, being scared by the KGB, hot-boxing the apartment with fags. . . and this is only this week.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Who was that on the phone?" asked Angel pulling on a robe. Cordelia was out on a date and Doyle had just had a vision about a nest of vampires.
"Spike. He and Xander are goin' to Sunnydale."
"Sunnyhell isn't safe for Spike! Or Xander, come to that."
Angel's causal use of Spike's slang for the dale attested to his fear. Smiling gently Doyle said. "Spike said they'd be gone three days at the most, would lay low, and avoid that rat-fucking bastard. He seemed to think you would know what that meant."
"He better fucking avoid him."
"Ye gonna share wit' the class?" asked Doyle but regretted it when he saw the remorse in his boyfriends eyes. "Right, this is another secret that makes up the enigma that is Xander Harris."
"This isn't my tale to tell. Xander doesn't even know Spike told me."
"But he tol' Spike?"
"No, Spike just stalked him."
"Oh that's right he tol' ma. What's up with Vampires and stalkin'?"
"It's not Vampires. I mean yeah we all get a kick out of toying with the prey. But actual stalking is something we rarely indulge in. It's more a clan of Aureleus thing."
"Tha's comfortin'." Angel smiled but the fear was in his eyes. "The'll be fine."
"Yeah I know. I just don't like. Buffy's out for blood. Why are they going?" he asked more to himself than to Doyle but an answer was still supplied.
"Xander's ma's in hospital. The boy wanted to see her. She fell down a flight of stairs." He saw the look on Angel's face. For a man with so few expressions he should could express a lot. "Or. . . pushed? Abusive da?"
"Abusive? No. . . he just has the same loving view of childcare that I do when I lack my soul. . . rat-fucking bastard."
"Ah. So that's why everyone tinks he's so strong?" Doyle couldn't keep the slight edge off his voice. Yes, the boy was strong but many had gotten through it.
"No," said Angel his voice angry but not directed at the smaller man. "He's strong because his mother is just the same and so is his uncle and no one's ever noticed. I didn't even notice. There's so much that, God, I wish I could tell you. So you could understand but I just can't. Talk to Xander sometime. Ok?"
Doyle nodded. "Are ye ok?"
"I just, I feel sick when I think about Xander and how I react to his life. And then I think of Penn, and Dru, and Will and I realize that I've done even worse things to them. And it just burns." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Xander, would you stop fidgetin'? You're making me car sick." Said Spike as he drove the 1957 Fire Dome 8 DeSoto back to the place he hated most. He had the one good thing to ever come out of Sunnyhell at his side.
"Maybe we should go back. Maybe I should go on alone. Buffy is not going to be colored happy to see you."
"That's not true. She'd love to see me. . . turned into dust." His joke didn't get a laugh and so he said. "Look, I'll just lay low when you go to see Smutty. It'll be fine."
"I want you there though. That's the scary thing. As much danger as I know you'd be in I still want you there when I see her. It's so fucking selfish and cowardly."
"No, god no. If you want me there, I'm there."
"How?" said Xander looking pale.
"When we got to the motel you call her and tell her that you brought your roommate, Spike, and no, you're not a vampire and she can call Angel if she likes."
"You think it'll work?"
"Sure." They were crossing a big cool gothic bridge and Xander touched his arm.
"Pull over for a sec? I can't go over this without doing something first." Spike stopped in the dead center of the bridge. Xander climbed out with Spike following his lead. He pulled a bag out of his jacket pocket. "Ever heard of Cutco?"
"The company that sells knifes?"
"Yeah, they make a pair of scissors that can cut a penny in half." He said as he pulled out twelve silver coins that had been halved so there were 24 pieces. "It's kinda a joke. Old, forget what it even was. Something about inflation or something and how Judas only got half of the going price for Jesus' head. I don't really remember." Spike watched as the boy dropped twelve halves into the water and put their matching pieces into another pocket. Having only a slight idea what was going on Spike held his tongue. If Xander didn't want to inform him that this was where he'd dropped Jesse's ashes he wasn't going to ask. And if that were the case than it made it that much more painful to watch. Xander turned back to him. "Ya ready?"
Spike nodded silently. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Angel held the young boy they had just saved. When Doyle had shaken off his demonic visage half way through the fight Angel had been confused. "Doyle, you're stronger when your demon, right? So why did you shake it off?"
Doyle sighed softly, "I just don't like to fight like that."
"This isn't a spelling bee. Nobody expects you to fight fair."
"It's just not my style, that's all." There was a soft desperation in his voice begging his lover to understand. And Angel did, all too well. He put the rescued boy on the floor and slammed Doyle into the wall.
As he kissed him he ran his hands all down his body. "I love you, Doyle. You have nothing to be ashamed of. It's who you are. You're beautiful. Stop blaming yourself for the past. You're too damn good for that so stop." Doyle turned as if to prove a point. Horrified Angel realized the boy expected him to pull back. Instead his hands trailed over the blue skin. The green spikes stopped at his the junction of his neck and shoulders. Angel investigated this side of his lover that he rarely saw. His blue skin was surprisingly cold and smooth it was sweet and slightly acidic under his tongue. Doyle didn't taste of his usual whisky and salt instead he tasted of power and lust. Doyle's lips were hot in comparison to the rest of his skin. And as Angel rested his forehead against Doyle's own he looked into red eyes. "So sexy. Let's get him home and go to bed?"
Doyle smiled. At least he'd gotten Angel's mind off his wayward childe. He nodded and rested his hand on Angel's hip as they walked.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Within an hour they had checked into a motel and were sitting about in the car, the engine idling. "What do you want to do?" asked Spike.
"I want to go to the house and get my stuff while Dad's at work."
Spike nodded and drove out. He went straight to Xander's, not even feigning ignorance as to where it was located. As they pulled into the driveway he turned to the boy. "You sure?"
"It's now or never."
"I can get money. You don't need this stuff."
"I want some of it. Ok?"
"Commo then." He said as he slid out of the driver's side door. "Let's do this quick, yeah?"
"Oh I'm right there with you. Believe me."
Like a well trained swat team the pair grabbed anything of consequence in the basement. Finally when everything Xander wanted was gone he stepped back and looked at the room.
"What is it, pet?" asked Spike standing behind him and putting a comforting hand on Xander's hip.
"It was the way I left it."
"Yeah?" asked Spike confused by the statement.
"I was just wondering if they were hoping I'd come home and didn't want to touch it. Or if they didn't realize I'd gone."
"They were never good enough for you in the first place." Said Spike in a low growl.
"Are you here with me?" asked Xander in a childlike whisper.
"Of course, pet." Xander turned and kissed him full on the lip.
"I don't know how I can thank you." Said Xander as he slipped his hands beneath Spike's waistband.
Spike's smile vanished. After swallowing twice he stopped Xander's hands from their exploration. Shaking his head slowly he pulled Xander's hands away. "You don't need to, Xander."
"You don't want-" There was hurt in Xander's eyes.
"I don't want you doing something you don't want to do. I don't want you doing this because you think you have to in order to keep me as your friend. I want to do it because you want to. And I really don't want to do it here as this place sets me on edge. What I really want, while here, is to kill anything with Harris blood that isn't you." Spike looked around the room. A room he knew damn well had had too much sex in it. Xander studied him and wondered if he knew about all the times he'd been raped here. If the cold sheen in Spike's eyes was anything to go by then the boy would bet he did.
"Yeah. I get that." Said Xander softly suddenly desperate to leave the close, muggy room. "Let's go." He slipped his hand into Spike and squeezed softly as they walked up the stairs abreast each other. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Cordelia had been uneasy around Angel all day. Of course the fact that he was growling, and muttering, and pacing did nothing to help Doyle's claims that the man was fine. After a few hours of her squealing every time Angel let out a growl Doyle sent her home. Her fear was feeding his worry. What the fuck could be going on in Sunnydale to upset the vampire so? For a while he simply sat and watched the other man march about but after a few hours he could bare it no more. Angel did not still when Doyle stepped in front of him. At the last minute Doyle captured the taller man, slipped into his demon form, and bit into his throat. He snarled, shocked at the pain but stilled as Doyle licked the wound gently. A soft purr rose from Angel's chest as Doyle stepped back. The purr disappeared the moment Angel lost physical contact with the man, he whimpered until Doyle took him back into his arms. Sighing Doyle rocked the larger man. He sat down on the desk, Angel stood between his legs growling and keening softly. Doyle hushed him softly while stroking every piece of available skin.
He heard the bell over the door and said without turning. "This is Angel Investigations. But there's a bit o' a situation right now. If ye could come back in ten minutes tha' would be just great."
He heard the woman swallow, "Hey, Francis."
Sighing heavily he turned to his wife, "Harry." He movement made Angel cry out and growl threateningly at the girl. Trying to ignore Angel Doyle said, "Uhm, - where've you been?"
"Around. Uhm -Kiribati - Togo - Uzbekistan - a few spots that were a - little less touristy." She said trying to follow his lead. He could hear in her voice that the scene confused and scared her. "I'm sorry about the surprise. I would've called first but I was afraid.."
"I'd run off? That's not my style, remember?" said Doyle completely fine with the tableau he and Angel presented. He was far more worried about Angel than what Harry was seeing.
"But it's mine?" said Harry sounding hurt, "Is that what you're saying? Do you want me to remind you who fired the starter pistol? - No, let's not, okay? Let's just hug and be happy to see each other."
"I can't hug you. If I let go of him he's likely to rip out your throat." He heard her step back with a gasp. "So why don't you come back in ten minutes?"
Harry sighed unwilling to leave, "You look good."
"Yeah, you, too." Said Doyle still facing Angel.
"You're still living it up? You know that drinking's no good for you."
"Yeah, you know me. I'm a fun-loving guy." He said sarcastically. Did she think he was holding the vampire for his health for Christ's sakes? What did she think was going on here. "So, shall we go on to why you're here exactly?"
"Maybe we could talk alone?"
"Yeah. We could but as I said, I let go and he kills you." He said As Angel rested his head on Doyle's shoulder. The younger man couldn't help but smile at the action. "So you'll either have to say it or come back."
"I should just say it." The door opened and Doyle heard a man walk into the room, a demon of some type, he could tell from the breathing. " Oh, I thought you were going to stay in the car?"
"I know, but I admit it, curiosity got the better of me." He looked at the two on the desk and called "Hey, Richard Straley. I've heard so much about you." He turned to Harry, "Say, why is you're ex growling?."
"He's not." She said looking confused at the scene.
"Oh, no, he is! Really."
"That's not Doyle."
"Oh, - that's more like it." Said Richard taken aback that he had assumed she'd been married to the crazy growling man. "Ah, forgive me, I'm not quite myself. What with the wedding only a few days off now."
Doyle laughed at the ridiculous scene. It was suddenly making sense. "There's a wedding?"
"I'm sorry I- I didn't want you to hear it that way." Doyle just sighed trying not to laugh. Harry misinterpreted it. "I didn't come here for your approval."
Doyle started to laugh, "Then why? To see my face when I found out? To see if it would cut?" he assumed it sounded bitter though really all it was, was that he was tiered, He's lover was having a mental freak- out, and the fact that she'd come to tell him she was getting married just made it all into a bad joke.
"Of course not. I would never.. - I just, I need you to sign these." She said handing him a folder by reaching over angel's form and holding it out to them.
"Divorce papers." He said with an unbelieveing smile.
"It had to happen. I mean one of us.."
"Gimme somethin' to lean on and a pen, yeah?"
He could feel her shock. So what it was ok for her to want this but not for him to be ok with it? She handed him a pen and a book Angel had been reading. Signing it was complicated as he was holding a large Angel upright at the same time. He laughed suddenly. "The funny thing is for all I know, I'm buying an ostrich farm."
As he handed them back to her she said, "It's good to see you again, Francis. I'm sorry it was so inconvenient." She went to touch his arm but Angel grabbed her hand with lightening fast reflexes.
"Come another time and we'll talk, yeah? It's jus' now's not such a good time." Said Doyle. He sensed her nod and turn to leave. He turned back to Angel and laughed at the new husband "Can I get a side of *bland* with that bland?" he asked and captured Angel's lips, hushing him with silent comfort. "So that was Harry, the woman you were so anxious to meet. Will you remember this, I wonder." He led the vampire to the elevator. "Let's get you into bed where ye can sleep this off."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Xander sighed outside the shut door. Worried Spike studied the boy's face. "Do ya want me to come in with you?" he asked softly.
"No, I better do this myself." He said giving Spike a sad smile.
"If you want me I'll be listening with vampiric hearing. So just ask your mother if she's heard from Charlie recently."
"I don't know a Charlie."
"Exactly, pet. I'll be in like a shot." Xander nodded. He pulled Spike to him for a desperate kiss. "You'll be fine, luv, just think tha' this time 'morrow we'll be in LA." Xander nodded again and ventured into the hospital room where his mother was currently residing.
Upon turning back Spike was met with the scene of a confused red head. "Xander needs a minute with his mum. Leave it a sec." He said sitting on a broken plastic chair.
"You're! You're."
"Spit it out, Red. I'm what?"
"You're using Xander to get to Buffy!"
The laughter could not be contained. Lighting a cigarette he gave an orderly a frightening glare. "I have absolutely no interest in even seeing the slayer. Xander didn't want to come alone, I didn't want him to come alone."
"So what the-"
"He's my roommate." He cocked his head. "And I just got called so excuse me." He got up and walked into the room closing the door behind him. Weakly he smiled at Xander. "Willow's outside. Hey, Mrs. Harris, how are you?" said Spike coldly. He laid a hand on Xander's arm. A casual gesture but he felt Xander melt into the touch.
"Who are you?" she asked.
"I'm Xander's roommate in LA."
"You're living in LA? For how long have you been living in LA?"
"Three weeks. Where did you think I was?"
"I thought you were with your little friend Willow."
"No, Mom."
"I'm sorry, Mrs. Harris, we have to go in a minute. We need to go back to LA. We have work in the morning."
"You work."
"For a detective agency." Said Xander sounding proud that he had a good job for once.
She started to laugh, "Who the hell would hire you?"
Spike growled and grabbed Xander's arm. "Goodbye, Mrs. Harris." Xander nearly fell when Spike let go of him outside the door. "You ok?" Xander nodded mutely but could not stand under his own steam. "Hey, it's all ok. We'll go see Buffy tonight and be in LA by first light. Ok? Sound good?" Xander nodded and captured Spike's lips. "It's all gonna be fine, Pet. I promise." Xander rested his forehead against Spike's.
A cough sounded from behind them and Spike wheeled around. There stood Buffy and Willow. Xander instantly stepped in front of the slighter man, protecting him from the slayer's wrath. "Hey, Willow. Spike said you were here nice to see you called reinforcements. Buffy." He said nodding to the blond carrying the stake. "Would you kindly put that away?"
"What's going on Xander."
"My mother's in hospital, and I brought my roommate with me."
"Spike's your roommate now?" said Buffy sarcastically. "So what He's on a leash?"
"Hey!"
"Spike, shut up."
"Yeah, he is. And we're both working for Angel."
"What?" she asked angrily.
"What, "what" are you asking about?"
"You're working for Angel? Why?"
"Because the pay is good and it's something I know. Would you please put the stake away?" she gave him a look. "I have a pulse. I'm wearing a cross." He threw her his cell. "Angel's number two on speed dial. Cordy put herself first because she programmed it."
"Cordy? Cordelia is working there too?"
"No, she's whoring herself out on the pavement outside." Said Spike sarcastically. "Not that I don't enjoy a public row but could we take this elsewhere? Only Mrs. Harris is only next-door."
"Buffy, why don't Spike and I meet you and Willow at your house? Where we can talk calmly."
"No I think I'd like to settle this now, Xander." Said Buffy coldly. "It's a very simple issue really. It's all about loyalty and where yours lays."
"Buffy-" said Willow from behind her knowing this was a bad idea.
"You can't be serious?" asked Spike his jaw dropped. "How can you be that cruel? Did you have to choose once? How could you do that to someone else?" he asked in reference to her parents divorce wherein she had been forced to choose whom she would live with.
"This isn't like that, it isn't a hard decision." Said Buffy curtly.
"Buffy, I can't even begin. . . don't make me do this."
"Oh I think it has to be done." Replied Buffy sounding every bit like her cheerleader self. "It's not that hard, Xan."
"You have no idea. Do you? There is no choice, Buffy, I love him."