Title: Best Laid Plans 12/16
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 Twelve

Warning: There is a bit of Spuffy. I know. I know I feel a little nauseous too.

Xander started to wonder how he had been so bad at acting for the talent show back in high school. Pretending to be something you weren't to the people closest to you was harder than doing it in front of a group of strangers. Of course the only one of the group he couldn't fool was Tara. Not that he was surprised; she did know everything after all. It actually gave him a sense of relief. With her he could tell her everything and she was always very supportive and never criticized him for the decisions he'd made.

Buffy and Spike seemed to be getting closer every day much to Giles's dismay. He kept his mouth shut but everyone could tell he disapproved of it. If it was because Spike was a vampire or because of Spike's prior relationship with Xander he didn't give anything away.

"Are we Bronzing it tonight?" Willow asked. "With classes over it would be nice to just have some fun. We deserve fun! We've passed our classes and fought the baddies!"

"You've had caffeine today haven't you, Wills?" Buffy asked with a laugh. She sat as close to Spike as possible without touching him. "I could be up for some Bronze time. What about you, Spike?"

Everyone besides Buffy thought that was a silly question. Spike would go anywhere and do anything for her. Xander bet if she asked him to Spike would find some way to get to the sun and would willingly burn for her. "Suppose so. I did have a poker game tonight but I can go to the Sunday one."

Buffy wrinkled her nose. "You're still playing kitten poker?"

"It pays for my blood," Spike replied. "A baggie a kitten, more if it's a pure bred. Not a bad deal."

"That's disgusting, though! Who knows what happens to those poor kittens after you're done trading them," Buffy said, leaning away. "You can find another way to get blood, can't you?"

"It's not just about the kittens or the blood," Spike said and elaborated when he received a confused look from everyone besides Xander. "The group of demons, they accept me. They don't care that I kill other demons because they don't care about destroying the world."

Buffy didn't look convinced. She really didn't like Spike hanging out with other demons. Even though Spike said they were safe, that didn't mean they didn't talk about stuff they could do. Who knew what kind of things they were sticking in Spike's head? "But you have us! We're your friends, you don't need demons!"

Xander loved Buffy but she didn't understand. Spike wasn't human, he was a demon and no matter how much she wanted to change him, Spike would always be a demon. Even though Spike was the good guy now he needed that sense that he still belonged with the demon world. "Buffy."

"What?" Buffy said, looking at Xander, confused. "Don't tell me you approved of him doing this!"

"Spike is over a hundred years old; he can play poker if he wants. Besides it's not like he is going out and maiming people. You can't expect him to just stop doing everything you don't like, you do?" Xander asked, trying to not show how annoyed he was.

A small smile played over Spike's lips. Xander had still been acting distant around him but it was getting better and it was nice to know someone stood beside him.

Buffy wasn't overly happy that Xander was siding with Spike. Not that she didn't want them to get along but he was her best friend after all. With nothing else to say Buffy just huffed and crossed her arms. Spike took that as 'I don't like it but because you like it then I'm fine with it.' More or less anyway.

"So…Bronze?" Willow asked again.

"Yeah, sure," Buffy answered. "Me and Spike will do a quick patrol and meet you there."

Xander stood and offered an arm to Willow and Tara. "May I escort you lovely ladies home?""

"Thank you, kind sir!" Tara giggled and accepted the offered arm. Willow accepted the other.

"We'll see you two later. You'll find us on the dance floor boogey oogeying!" Xander told Buffy and Spike with a smile.

Buffy giggled. It made her remember the great times they had at the Bronze during the high school days. "Make sure some handsome guy doesn't fill up your dance card!"

"I'll try to hold a spot open for you, but I can't make any promises," Xander replied with a wink.

It took over an hour for the girls to get ready, leaving Xander so bored that he actually started looking through one of Tara's college textbooks. He only understood about a quarter of it. Finally though the girls were dressed, hair done up along with some make up. He didn't miss this part of dating girls. Guys didn't usually take this long to get ready; none that Xander knew anyway.

"Come on, Xander. We're always waiting on you," Willow said, trying to sound serious but the smile that threatened to appear said otherwise.

"Yes, Ma'am. Sorry, Ma'am," Xander replied. He loved his girls. "Let's hurry. I want to make all the guys jealous. And having two gorgeous girls will do that."

Buffy was sulking. It wasn't that she wanted to change Spike. There were just things about him that she wasn't overly fond of. Kitty poker being one of them. Why did Xander have to butt his nose into it anyway? He wasn't even with Spike anymore so why did it matter to him?

"You're mad," Spike said. It was obvious since Buffy had been quiet ever since they left The Magic Box.

"No. Yes. I don't know," Buffy replied. She played with her hair trying to figure out what she actually meant. Thinking back to her relationship with Angel, Buffy remembered she never once tried changing him. She accepted him for exactly who he was. She even managed to ignore everything Angelus did because it wasn't Angel's fault. So why couldn't she accept Spike for who he was? "Kiss me."

Spike's eyes widened in surprise. "Kiss you?"

"Yes. I need to see something," Buffy said.

With vampire speed Spike had Buffy pressed against his body, his arms wrapped around her slim waist. He watched as Buffy licked her dry lips. Months he'd been waiting for this; it felt like a dream come true. As Spike leaned in he felt his body shaking. If it was his or Buffy's he couldn't tell.

Buffy's breath hitched slightly as Spike's lips locked with hers. Her eyes fluttered closed. It seemed awkward. Buffy's brow scrunched up as she pulled away, wiping her mouth of saliva.

Spike did the same, looking disappointed. He finally kissed Buffy and it was far from what he expected. Kissing Buffy should have been amazing, but instead it just felt like a mistake. He didn't know what to say. "That was…"

"Wrong," Buffy said with a shake of her head. She had expecting sparks to fly and to melt into Spike's arms.

"Yeah," Spike muttered. The kiss with Buffy was forgettable. Why was it that kissing Xander popped into his head? "Xander."

Buffy's eyes snapped up. "Xander? You were thinking of Xander?"

"I'm sorry Buffy, I really am, but I just realized… bloody hell why didn't I see it before?" Spike mumbled the last part to himself. He had been so wrapped in getting Buffy's affection that he completely ignored the feelings that he developed for Xander.

The question now was what the hell was going to do about it?