Title: Best Laid Plans 5/16
Author: Forsaken2003
Pairing: Spike/Xander
Rating: R
Disclaimer: I own none; all belong to Joss Whedon
Comments: Always welcomed!
Summary: Xander decides he wants to help Spike and Buffy get together. What better way than to pretend they are dating?
Warnings/Spoilers: Season 5
Beta'd by: Whichclothes

Part Five

Xander stood outside Willow and Tara's dorm room for a good five minutes trying to work up the nerve to knock. He needed to talk to Tara. She was the only one that he could talk to and without her judging him. Of course he wished he could tell Willow all of what had been going on but that just wasn't an option.

Finally he raised his arm and knocked twice on the door. He heard a mumbled come in and opened the door. "Tsk, tsk. Don't you know better than to say come in? We do live in Sunnydale, Wills."

"Huh?" Willow tore her eyes away from the text book on her lap. "Oh…right. Sorry, I have an exam coming up." She picked up her textbook and waved it around. "The professor that took over for Professor Walsh is riding us all harder than she ever did. But hey! At least he isn't creating a half human half demon to kill us!" Willow said with a grin.

Xander laughed. "Always looking at the bright side, aren't you?"

"What can I say, I like to believe the cup is half full." Willow set her book back down. "So what's up?"

"I was just wondering if Tara was around," Xander said his eyes darting around the room.

Willow frowned. "Tara? Yeah, she's just in the cafeteria. She's going to bring us up lunch. Why?"

"Well, I was just thinking Tara's been part of the group for a while and I haven't really gotten to know her. She's really important to you and I'd like her to be important to me as well."

Willow beamed. She'd been waiting for one of her friends to want to get to know Tara. Tara was very important to her and she hated to think that maybe the others didn't like her. "Xander, that is a terrific idea! I bet she'd love that."

Tara walked in and stopped when two sets of eyes were on her. "H-hey, Xander. Is everything okay?"

"It's fine, baby. Xander just came by because he wants to spend some time with you," Willow said excitedly.

"Oh…" Tara was taken by surprise for a moment before she looked at Xander and saw the begging look in his eyes. "Sure. That will also give Willow some peace and quiet." She placed the tray down on Willow's bed. A taco and Diet Pepsi. A lunch of champions. She grabbed her purse and leaned over and kissed Willow. "I'll see you later, sweetie."

Willow waved them off with a big grin planted on her face. With a sigh she went back to studying.

Xander held the door of the Espresso Pump open for Tara. Tara ordered a coffee, black, and Xander ordered a hot chocolate. They found an empty table and sat down.

"I appreciate the invite Xander but I get the feeling you don't really want to talk about me," Tara said with a slight frown.

Xander looked and felt guilty. "I do! Really. You are a great person and Willow loves you… but…"

Tara smiled. "You want to talk about Spike," She guessed.

Xander slouched in his chair. "Yeah… sorry. It's just, you're the only person I can talk to."

"What about Spike? I'm sure he can help you. I mean you guys have been getting closer," Tara commented.

"What? No! No way! We have not been getting closer in any way, shape or form!" Xander rushed out. Sweat formed on his forehead.

Tara leaned forward, concerned about how Xander was acting. "What's wrong?"

"I had a dream… about Spike. Spike and me. Spike and me naked," Xander babbled. "It was horrible! Well not horrible in the dream but horrible now!"

"Slow down, Xander." Tara placed a hand on Xander's arm, calming him instantly. "Just tell me what happened."

Xander's eyes bulged out. "You want to know the details?!"

Tara shook her head. "No, I'd prefer not to know. I mean how did you feel?"

"Oh," Xander sighed in relief. "I was…happy. Spike was there and he told me he didn't want Buffy but me. He wanted me! The way he kissed me, it was like he put his whole being into it."

"What about you?" Tara asked. She wasn't shocked that this happened. After all, she had told Xander to be careful.

"I did things… things I wanted to do," Xander confessed with a slight blush.

"You're in love with him," Tara stated.

Xander looked horrified. "What?! No, I'm not! I just had a dream. Dreams don't always mean something."

Tara wasn't going to push; she knew the truth even though Xander wasn't willing to admit it. "It's okay, Xander. Everyone has dreams that scare them. Willow has dreams of frogs all the time."

"I think dreaming of a naked Spike is worse than dreaming of Kermit," Xander said in a whisper. Tara couldn't disagree, though she really wasn't surprised by the outcome, she had warned Xander after all. Tara was also sure that Xander was burying his true feelings for Spike, but eventually those feelings would come out and he would have to deal with them.

"Do you want to call the plan off?" Tara asked.

Sitting there for a few minutes, Xander mulled over the question. Did he? He'd hate to let Spike down; Xander was the one to drag him into this in the first place. Plus they had finally started to become friends or at least not enemies anymore. "No, I can't. It wouldn't be fair to Spike."

"Is it fair to you?" Tara requested, watching him intently.

Xander ignored her true meaning. He was not in love with Spike. "I'm fine. I just needed to talk to someone," he said with a smile.

"I'll be here whenever you need me," Tara replied honestly. Xander was a good guy. She just hoped he didn't get hurt in the end.

"Thanks Tara, really." Xander took a sip of his cooling hot chocolate. "Now enough about me and my stupid problems, let's talk about you."

Tara blushed, not used to talking about herself and her life. She told Xander where she was born, how her mother died, why she came to Sunnydale and any other questions Xander had.

Xander listened intently, growing more and more fonder of Tara. He was glad that she was the one that he could come to about Spike.