Part: (23?)

Writer: Az K Mello

Summery: Spike casts a spell on Angel to make him lose his soul. Things don't go as planned and instead Angel just opens up about his feelings towards Xander.

This chapter: The bet.

Feedback: is adored

The demons were instantly frightened of him. The moment a human walked in with the master behind him they were scared. When Spike called him sire they were horrified. When he was introduced as Angelus' mate they were shaken. And when he beat the pants off of everyone in the first round they were confused. He was warm to everyone. And when he casually mentioned that the last time he'd played poker it had been for cookies that the slayer's mother had baked Lord Trophosithe swallowed one of his eight tongues.

A painfully stupid fledge tried to go for Xander. He thought that if he killed Angelus' mate it would move him up in the ranks. Before Spike could even shout a warning to Xander the bow had thrown a stake into the vamps heart. Without a pause the human turned to a morinish demon and said, "You have to be bluffing," and put eight chips into the middle of the table.

The rest of the night was uneventful and pleasant. But at about two AM Xander announced that Angel had just called for him through their bond. Really the boy was just tired. The last game commenced in an interesting fashion. Spike had forgotten to tell Xander that the master of the town was supposed to win the last game. The others dropped out quickly but Xander just kept pushing up the stakes. It was funny as they were both playing with Spike's money. The collected demons waited in silent anticipation to see if the slight human would actually win against the master. As it turned out Xander had a pair of threes and Spike cleaned the floor with him. Xander sat pouting as the demons exchanged the owed kittens; no one played for owesies at diplomatic games. Collectively Spike and Xander had a profit of forty kittens.

As they climbed into the car Spike said, "If you win the bet I'll give you the money. All 12,000 bucks."

"Maybe we should call off the bet. He already told me he wouldn't sleep with her and it's all your money to begin with," Xander smiled slightly, "I had a good time."

"The bet's still on. Stop poncing about," said Spike as he drove.

After a period of silence Xander asked, "Are you and Dru mated?"

Spike laughed softly, bitterly, "No, I'm not her daddy. Angelus was the only vamp she would have bound herself to."

"I shouldn't have asked. I have a way of putting my foot in it. I pry too much." Xander sounded genuinely contrite.

"Don't worry, pet, I don't. Dru and I aren't mated but we'll be together 'til the end of time."

Xander smiled and as they pulled up to the warehouse a few minutes later he said, "You're sure about this bet?"

"Positive, I've always been a betting man." Spike parked the car and grabbed one of the boxes of tiny cats. Xander grabbed the other and walked besides his childe. When they opened the door they were greeted with a domestic sight. Dru was brushing her dolly's hair and telling Angel about her travels with Spike while her sire listened attentively and braided her hair. Spike shook his head in disbelief, put down the box, and speeded upstairs. When he returned moments later he handed Xander a heavy bag, "Don't spend it all in one place," he said and went to take Dru to bed.

"I want to go out. The stars are singing all happy. I want to dance with them."

"You're not well, my love," Spike said softly.

"I am. All whole. I don't need the prince to protect me. I'm going to dance with the moon."

Sighing Spike said, "Alright. Come up to bed when you're ready. Don't hunt or touch the humans." He sulked off up the stairs and Angel watched Drusilla practically prance out of the warehouse.

"Was the game fun?" he asked Xander once they were alone. He stood up from the couch and stretched.

"Yeah, it was good. Things went well with Dru?"

"I think so. Did you play at all?"

"Yep."

"Do you owe Spike a lot?"

"No I made 12,000 dollars."

"Wow."

"Come up to bed with me," begged the human softly.

He woke in the dark. He showered, dressed, and ate alone. With gentle hands he woke his lover. "I have to go to school. I'll be home soon."

Angel pulled him down close and said, "Steer clear of the slayer."

"I will."

"And you'll visit Giles?"

"I won't forget."

"Be careful, I don't want you to get hurt."

"I'll be careful. I have to go." Spike walked in looking put out. "Sorry. Am I being loud?" asked the boy.

"She didn't come home."

"What?"

"She never came back last night."

"She does this sometimes," the older vamp said soothingly. "It's been a long time since she went out alone. She must have lost track of time and got held up somewhere. She'll be back at sunset."

"What if she's hurt?"

"She isn't," Angel looked worried even as he said it, "She had to be allowed to go. We couldn't protect her from everything. She needed to go out last night. She hasn't been able to go out by herself for over a year. She's fine."

"What if she isn't?"

"We'll look for her right after dark," promised Xander.

Spike focused on him, "You should go to school, sire."

"I'll stay here."

"No," Spike sighed, "go to school. Nothing will happen while it's light. Go," but as the boy went to pass him the young vampire grabbed him. Acting purely on instinct Xander pulled him close and stroked the back of Spike's head.

"My dove," whispered Xander, "I'll be home soon."

"What did you call me?" asked Spike.

"Um. . . my dove? Yeah, I don't know," Xander shrugged.

Angel sighed and Spike said, "Bugger, you really are mated." He pulled back and straightened Xander's collar. "School."

"I'll be home soon. I'm just going to talk to Giles and then I'll come home. Ok? I won't be long."

"We're not going anywhere," said Angel with a half smirk.

The halls were packed by the time Xander got there. Buffy cornered him instantly. He flinched back: afraid that she would attack him and that he would win. He didn't want to hurt her. "Look," she said, "I don't want us to fight. You're my friend and I can understand why you're with him. I don't hate you for it; I would have done the same."

He smiled widely, "So we can move on?"

"Yeah. I can't forgive Angel though. He should have told me about how he felt."

"He didn't want to hurt you."

"That's no excuse. He did hurt me."

"He didn't mean to. I'm sorry, Buff, I wish it wasn't this way."

"It's not your fault. I don't blame you, you're my friend."

"Thank you."

"I found a little comfort in a small revenge last night anyway."

"What did you do?" he almost laughed, waiting for her to explain that she's dyed Angel's shampoo green.

"Remember the vamp I thought Angel was having an affair with? I slayed her. I mean, I know he wasn't having an affair, but it was still satisfying."

The colour drained from his face, "Tell me that's a joke."

"Well it sort of was because it was so easy. She was alone. Easy pickings. I took her on in the back left corner of the Bronze's parking lot she was cornered. Why?"

"She was easy because she wasn't very well. She was alone because she wanted some space. And I was hoping it was a joke because Angel and Spike will kill you."

"What? Angel and Spike?"

"Drusilla, the woman, and Spike are Angel's childer. They've both sworn off human blood so that Angel would take them back. He healed Dru and she wanted to go for a walk. You killed his childe. They're going to kill you and I'm not going to stop them." Tears slid silently down he face. The blood returned to his eyes and he looked like some mutant panda. His face was so pale and his eyes were so dark. "You didn't do it because she was a threat: you did it out of spite. If you had done it for duty you could have maybe gotten away with it." He pushed past her. She stood mute as he walked quickly to the library. "Giles?" he called, "are you here?"

"Xander? What's wrong?"

"Can you take me home? I need to get back to Angel. Please."

Looking at the panicked youth Giles just nodded. He knew the difference between Xander's over reactions and true fear. "Will you explain on the way?" he asked as he grabbed his keys. He wrote a note quickly and taped it to the door. "Family emergency. Back in an hour." He took Xander by the arm as the boy was looking slightly glazed. "You can give me direction."

"Yes, on both counts."