What Dreams May Tell

by
Authoress Nebula

Part Twenty-One

“Dru?” Spike said, shrugging. “Don't need her anymore.”

Xander swallowed, and tried to ask what Spike meant, but the air had been sucked from his lungs. The person Spike loved, or had loved, for over a hundred years, and he was over her like that? He didn't need her?

Spike's eyes widened, apparently having read the look on Xander's face correctly. “Let me explain,” he said quickly, “S'not what you think, all right?”

Xander managed to nod. Spike gave him a worried glance, before continuing. “I went with Drusilla for two reasons: one was the obligation to sire. She wanted me with her, so I went. The other reason was to forget Alexander in any way I could,” he admitted softly. “I refused to accept that I'd done that, caused his death, 'cause I'd been too much of a bloody coward. Spent a century forgettin' him. The friendship, the possibility, all of it.

“But it doesn't matter anymore,” Spike told him, smiling again. “Found you again, and Dru's easily taken care of.”

“Easy for you to say,” Buffy said, rolling her eyes. She stopped and thought about it, before saying, “Or maybe not. She's your sire, Spike. Isn't it hard to dust your sire?”

“Well, yeah,” Spike said, giving her a 'duh' look. “Not sure I could, and I don't wanna try. Gonna get her out of town, if that's all right with you.”

Buffy crossed her arms. “Not really. You I'm making an exception for on Xander's part. And we're gonna have to talk about your desire to snack on the people. Because I can't let that happen. You are aware of that, right?”

Spike glared, before he sighed. “Just let me try to talk to her, all right? And I said I'd give up Sunnydale for him. Blood's harder, but if it means bein' with him...” Spike turned to Xander, his glare fading. “Worth it,” he told her. “Definitely worth it.”

Xander couldn't talk once more, but it was for an entirely different reason now. Spike was giving up human blood for him? Was he really worth that?

“To me, yeah,” Spike said in a hushed tone. Xander blinked, realizing he must've spoken his thoughts out loud.

“But you don't really know me,” he whispered.

Spike grinned. “Then I guess this is my way of sayin' I'd like to,” he whispered back.

Spike's grin was infectious, and soon Xander was beaming. “Me too,” he agreed, before his eyes widened. “Hey, do you still write poetry?”

“Write poetry? Are you out of your bleedin' mind?” Spike demanded, glaring at Xander. When Xander continued to give him a questioning glance, Spike sighed and gave in. “Yeah, still write.”

Behind him, the two girls giggled. “Oh yeah, bet you two think it's bloody hysterical,” he said, sounding annoyed. His eyes, however, were full of mirth. “They were awful; worst kind of torture I can inflict on my enemy is start recitin' the stuff.”

“That's not true,” Xander said, scooting forward. “I liked them all. Your words always held passion and...emotions I can't name. Yeah, it was poetry, not just 'stuff'.”

Spike stared at him for a few moments, before he ducked his head, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. If he could've, Xander was sure he would've blushed.

“Okay, if William did this, I don't know why he didn't have girls all over him, because this is adorable,” Willow cooed.

Buffy grinned. “It is pretty cute to see,” she admitted.

Spike's head whipped up, giving both girls glares. “I am not cute! I'm the Big Bad, and that's with capital B's, thank you VERY much.”

“Less and less with each passing minute,” Buffy said.

Xander watched as Spike's glare deepened, then stopped abruptly. He turned to see Buffy smiling gently, her words from before now seen in a teasing light. Spike's frown literally turned upside down. “You know, I think I like you,” he decided. “Much better than the other Slayers. Got a sense of humor for one.”

Buffy gave a small curtsy, causing Willow to giggle. “Thank you, kind sir. You're not half bad yourself.” The two shared grins, and the tension between the mortal enemies lessened even more.

Then Spike went flying backwards, Xander having launched himself on top of him. “What the bloody...” Spike started.

“MY vamp!” Xander claimed, tilting his head back to glance at two highly amused girls. “Get your own.”

Willow began to giggle again. Buffy threw her hands up in the air with mock-defeat. “You win, you win. Besides, I have a vampire already. One's enough trouble to handle as it is.”

Spike snorted. “Who, Angelus? Please. He's so whipped these days, I'm surprised he's got any teeth left anymore. Find someone else, Slayer. Not worth your time.”

Buffy's smile instantly disappeared. “Uh, rule of thumb?” Xander whispered, as Willow grabbed Buffy's arm to hold her back. “Don't put Angel down around her. It's a touchy subject.”

“So I noticed,” Spike muttered, as Willow turned back to them with a slightly calmer Buffy behind her.

“So, what's to be done with Drusilla?”

Spike sighed, and Xander backed away so they could both sit up. “S'pose a surprise attack would be best. Keep her from doin' her thrall trick. She's not up to full strength yet, and you've already taken care of the minions. So long as the stars haven't whispered anythin' to her as of lately, we're all right.”

“The stars?” Buffy asked, giving him a look. “And whose lover had no teeth?”

Spike glared right back at her as he stood. Xander quickly followed. “Ex-lover, if you please. And Dru's a lot stronger then she looks. Well, she normally is. She just needs time to heal. She'll be all right on her own. I'll get her to leave town, all right?”

Before Buffy could protest, Xander stepped forward. “Let's see if she'll at least just leave. There's less blood shed on everyone's part if she does. Sound good?”

There was a moment's pause, before Buffy nodded reluctantly. “All right. But if she gets fangy on me, I get stake-friendly with her. Got it?”

The others nodded. “Then let's head back,” she said, heading out into the hallway.

They headed down the stairs and out into the night, skirting past Xander's parents easily. “Uh, I thought you needed an invite into houses,” Xander asked once they were outside. “How did you get inside?”

“Got there ahead of the girls, so I just knocked on the door and asked if I could come in for just a second, had to talk to Xander 'bout somethin' really fast. Said I could come in before I'd even finished.”

“Always good to know,” Xander muttered. Not that he minded Spike in his house. That wasn't the problem. The problem was his parents so readily letting someone into their home like that. It could've been a different vampire.

A hand slipped into his, causing him to glance up at Spike. “Same parents, huh?” Spike asked quietly.

Xander nodded. “Just about. Couldn't care less.”

“Well, I care,” Spike told him, and there was that honest to goodness smile again. Xander blushed and glanced down at his feet once more.

“You know, I think William and Alexander traded places for this time around,” Spike said, raising his eyebrows. “William used to be the blushin' one all the time. Alexander had been the take-charge, aggressive type. Seems the roles reversed, eh?”

“Hey, I can be a take-charge person, pal,” Xander defended.

Spike leaned over, smile firmly set in a smirk. Xander swallowed at the predator look he was being given. “For what things, pet?” Spike leered.

Xander blinked, feeling his face turn beet red. Spike laughed, squeezing his hand. “So bloody beautiful when you blush,” he told him. Xander didn't think it was possible, but his blush deepened. A smile slowly began to grow, however.

“Yes, so pretty with all that blood rushing to his face. I can almost taste it on my tongue.”

Xander's head whipped around so fast, he was afraid he'd get whiplash. Willow was backing away rapidly, and Buffy was in a fighting stance, though she hadn't made a move yet.

The reason she was in a fighting stance was a young, pale woman, with long dark hair and big round eyes. Her lips were pulled down in a firm pout, but her eyes held fury, fury Xander knew was directed at him. He shuddered. She looked innocent and fragile, especially in the long white gown she wore, but he knew she was more dangerous than she appeared, just as he knew her name.

Drusilla.

Part Twenty-Two

Spike cleared his throat. “Dru, pet, listen. Got somethin' to tell you, so I need you to not eat them and listen to...”

“How could you want to abandon me, my sweet William?” Drusilla said, glaring at him. “Naughty Spike. Miss Edith warned that you would try to leave like Daddy. She's very cross with you, and says you're not to have any scones with tea. Mummy shall have to take the new toy away to punish her dear boy.” She took two steps forward, eyes now centered on Xander.

Spike side-stepped in front of Xander, eyes blazing. “He's much more than a 'toy', Dru, but you wouldn't know that, would you? S'all I ever was. A bloody toy, at your every beck and call.”

“You barely know the mind of this weakling,” she said, spitting the last word out.

“Don't need to know his mind yet,” Spike insisted. “Know his heart, and that's all I need.”

“And maybe I am a weakling,” Xander said, stepping up to join Spike side by side. “But I knew 'sweet William' long before you did.” Spike squeezed his hand.

“He's not a weakling,” Willow piped up. “Trust me, he's very brave. He could take you.”

“Very brave when I have a stake,” Xander muttered.

Buffy spared him a glance over her shoulder. “I'll give you one,” she told him.

“Slayer, wait, please,” Spike said. “Let me try my earlier plan. Please?”

Buffy sighed. “Just remember what happens if she gets fangy.”

Spike nodded. “Fair enough.” He turned to Drusilla, who was now staring at him, her face blank. “Dru, you're my sire. You brought me into this world a different person, gave me an incredible gift. And for that I love you. But I found Alexander again,” he said softly. “He's who I want, not you. And yeah, aware that it's not exactly him, but he's willin' to give us a second try. Not gonna waste it. So please, just leave town. Don't want to dust you, but don't want us to keep goin' like this. We can't. Not in love with you, Dru.”

There was a few moment's pause, as everyone waited for Drusilla's response. Finally she blinked, her lips pinching together. Xander almost took a step backwards. That was not the face of a happy vampire.

“Miss Edith warned me about this,” she hissed. “She said to chase you down, and make you come home. I don't wish to be cross with you, but you're being very naughty. If you come home now, I shall let you keep your new puppy.”

“Not while I'm still here,” Buffy said, her voice dangerously soft.

Spike's eyes shot between Buffy and Drusilla. Xander squeezed his hand and didn't loosen his grip. “Drusilla, please,” Spike pleaded. “M'not goin' back. Please, pet, just leave.”

“It would be the best idea,” Xander said, giving her a tiny smile. “If you leave now, Buffy won't stake you. I give you my word and hers. Okay?”

Apparently, it wasn't okay. With a scream Drusilla lunged forward. Buffy immediately launched towards the vampire, hand going straight to the stake in her jacket. Spike let go of Xander's hand to join her, and Xander was sure he was in there not only to stop Drusilla, but to stay Buffy's hand for as long as he could.

Drusilla moved incredibly fast for someone that supposedly was very ill. Her speed caught Buffy by surprise, who stumbled back from the many blows. Willow and Xander ran to help her up. Spike dodged and mainly kept on the defensive, avoiding her claws as best he could.

Willow reached Buffy first, so Xander ran for the stake that had tumbled from Buffy's grip when she'd fallen. How had it managed to get so far from them? His hand wrapped around the stake, and he turned to see how the battle was going.

Drusilla managed to get in a lucky shot. With a surprised yell Spike fell back, his entire left cheek ripped open from her nails. With Spike out of the picture, Drusilla turned her attention on the two girls. Buffy pushed Willow back, warily watching Drusilla approach. “You poisoned my Spike,” Drusilla growled. “You brought back dreams of a thing that was tainted.”

“I thought I was the one having the dreams,” Xander called as he ran forward. Stake firmly in one hand, he bent down and grabbed a twig from the ground. Drusilla had barely taken a step forward before he was there, connecting the twig and the wooden stake to make a cross.

Drusilla hissed and flinched away. “The wood used to protect me,” she said. “Now it has been turned against me, just like my William.” She jerked forward suddenly, flashing into game face as she did so. It was enough to startle Xander, causing his hands to pull away slightly. The twig and the stake stopped touching, and the threat of a cross was gone.

His hands had barely separated when Drusilla jumped forward and into Xander, sending him flying. The twig and stake disappeared from his hands as he did so, and he soon found himself skidding on pavement, no weapons nearby. He could hear Buffy and Willow yelling, and the sounds of feet on concrete coming towards him. But Drusilla had followed him through the air with a jump, and was now hovering above him, seconds away from falling on him. Xander could only watch as she growled and lunged for his neck.

She stopped suddenly, shifting back into human guise. She glanced down at her chest, and Xander's gaze followed hers. He blinked at the sight of a stake through her heart. She glanced back up at him, and Xander was surprised to see her give a tiny, sane smile before dusting.

He was even more surprised to see Spike behind Drusilla's ashes, stake in hand. “You...but...” he stammered.

Spike moved his gaze from his sire's ashes to Xander. “I didn't want to hurt her,” he said quietly. “But she threatened someone I care for. Someone who cared for me.”

That intense gaze, the bright blue eyes, the seriousness and even the accent, all of it was enough to push Xander up from the ground and into Spike's arms. Because for a few moments, it had been his William in front of him, not Spike. “I found you,” he whispered. “I finally found you.”

Arms tightened around him. “I believe that's my line,” Spike said, his accent still that of William's. It was all Xander needed for his eyes to start stinging with unshed tears.

After a few moments he pulled away, smiling through his blurred vision. 'William' smiled back, his hand tenderly reaching up to brush the moisture away. “Still can't believe you dusted Drusilla, and for me,” Xander said.

Then Spike was back, eyebrows raising. “You keep sayin' it like you're nothin',” Spike said. “Don't know all of this new version, but I highly doubt you are. Think I'll take a chance to find out,” he added, grinning.

Xander's own smile broadened, before he reached forward and grabbed the lapels of Spike's duster. Then his lips were on Spike's, and it wasn't a kiss that said 'hello, this is going to be shy and small and inquisitive and chaste', this was a 'hi, we're going to play tonsil hockey, and you're going to feel my lips on yours for days to come' sort of kiss.

Spike seemed to agree with that, and Xander barely registered the cool tongue against his bruising lips before Spike's tongue was inside and playing with his. It was only natural to tilt his head so he could get better access to Spike, and the vampire seemed to have the same idea again.

Xander would've been quite content to keep that up all night, but his lungs began to yell at him. His heart was causing a ruckus too, so reluctantly he pulled away, gasping for air as he did so. Spike was panting, and Xander felt a surge of pride that he'd managed to cause Spike to breathe.

It was only then that he remembered the girls. He turned to glance at them, and found their jaws on the ground. Spike glanced over as well, smirking at the sight. Xander settled for a weak smile. “Uh, guys?” he asked, his voice sounding squeaky.

“Wow,” Buffy said, licking her lips.

“I'll second that 'wow', and add a 'that's hot',” Willow said, grinning goofily.

All eyes turned to her, stunned. Willow gave them all looks. “What?” she asked. “It is!”

Part Twenty-Three

“You're sure he's coming?”

“Yes, Giles,” Xander said for the eighteenth time. “Spike will show. I promise.”

Giles tapped his foot and glanced at the clock. “It's now...”

“Two seconds after you checked the last time,” Buffy pointed out with a small smile. “Relax. He'll be here.”

“He does know I'm a vampire, right?”

All eyes turned to the library doors to see Spike striding in. “Sunlight and all, makes it a tad hard to move around in the daylight,” he continued, heading straight to Xander. Xander grinned and nodded to the stair he was sitting on.

Spike had barely taken another step when Giles was in front of him, cross up and aimed at Spike. “Giles!” was yelled from all three teenagers.

Spike hissed but didn't step back. “Somethin' you wanted to tell me, Watcher?” he asked, glaring.

Giles glared right back at him, causing Xander to slowly rise. He seriously did NOT want to have to pick between the two men. “All three of these children mean something very special to me,” Giles said quietly. Loud enough for the 'children' to hear him, however. The expected protests were heard, but Giles ignored them. “If you try to harm them in any way shape or form, I'll show you that this Watcher can do quite a bit more than just 'watch'. We're clear?”

Spike stared at him, before he began to grin. “Crystal,” he replied, before holding his hand out. Giles seemed taken aback, but he set down the cross and reached out, shaking Spike's hand. Xander lowered himself back onto his stair.

“We done with the questions?” Spike said, heading over and taking a seat next to Xander. “Or have I not satisfied your Watcher curiosity enough?”

“Actually, I have a question,” Willow said, lifting her hand. Spike slowly raised his eyebrows, and her hand lowered sheepishly. “Sorry. But I wanted to know what happened to Cecily. If you knew.”

Buffy rolled her eyes. “I thought that was pretty obvious.”

“Not as obvious as you might think,” Spike told her, scooting over closer to Xander. “I didn't kill her or her bloody Charles, if that's what you're wonderin'.”

“You didn't?” Xander asked, frowning. “But I thought...”

“I know pretty well what you thought, pet. But point of fact is, I was long outta Europe before she ever walked up the aisle. 'Course, he wasn't there to greet her.” A smirk stole across his face, and Xander's frown deepened.

“Seems she got a tad brassed off 'bout bein' left up there all alone,” Spike continued cheerfully. “And one of the guests happened to be a demon. A vengeance demon. He sees what happened, asks if she wants payback, and there you have it.”

“Vengeance demon?” Willow asked. Giles began digging in his pocket for his notepad.

Spike waited until he'd found not only the notepad but a pen as well, before continuing. “Demons that grant wishes, but not of the good kind. The kind to exact 'justice' or really, vengeance on whomever hurt someone, usually a chit of some sort. Man's been cheatin' on her, she could wish for boils on his skin and the demon could make it come true. Like vampires, able to have that human appearance when they want to. Got a demonic side too. Looks like they had their face left out in the sun for too long like a bloody raisin.”

Buffy snorted, looking highly tempted to laugh. She coughed, smothering her giggles when Giles sent a disapproving glance her way.

“What exactly did she wish for?” Xander asked.

Spike's grin broadened into a full blown smirk. “Never mind, I don't think I wanna know,” Xander muttered.

“Let's just say that she liked it so much, she decided to become a vengeance or 'justice' demon for herself,” Spike said. “Don't know what happened to her.”

Giles finished scribbling in his notepad, and glanced up at Spike. “I assume we're to do something about Drusilla?” he asked.

Spike gave the Scoobies looks. “Oops?” Willow said.

“Oops what?” Giles asked.

“Drusilla's, um, out of the picture,” Buffy said.

Giles' eyes widened. “She threatened Xander,” Spike told him, scooting over to the mentioned boy until their shoulders were brushing. “So I dusted her.”

If Xander had thought Giles' eyes were wide before, they got even bigger when Spike told him that. “Your...your sire?” Giles managed to squeak out, before hurrying to the bookshelves. They could hear him muttering to himself, as he began to pull books down and into his arms.

“He always like this?” Spike asked.

The three Scoobies exchanged glances and nodded, grinning.

Giles came back, setting a huge stack of books down on the table. “This is incredible,” he said, sounding out of breath. “It's...it's not common at all, you do realize. And how long did you say you two were together?”

“Over a hundred years, but it doesn't matter. She wasn't the one I wanted. Alexander was, and I found the future him. THAT'S what matters,” Spike said. Xander gave him a goofy grin.

Giles turned, narrowing his gaze as he caught sight of the two sitting next to each other. “I don't trust you,” he said. “It will take a lot of time before I do, if ever.”

Xander's grin disappeared. “Giles, wait, I...”

“However,” Giles interrupted, sighing. “I do trust Xander and his judgment. If he believes he can trust you, then I'll trust him, and by that way sort of trust you.”

Xander blinked, a tiny smile making its way across his face. Giles trusted his judgment? That had to be a first. A very good first at that. His smile broadened.

“That all you need?” Spike asked, standing. “If so, I'd like to take Xander out and snog him silly.” He grabbed Xander's hand, pulling him to his feet and towards the doors.

Xander frowned. “'Snog'?” he asked.

Spike grinned. “Means 'kiss',” he told him, pushing the doors open. “Got a room we can lock?”

Xander pointed towards a supply room at the end of the hall. “You know, was thinkin' 'bout this on the way over,” Spike said suddenly. “Maybe it was better that there was a hundred years 'till we got together. Picked up a lot of tricks over those years, and now I get to teach 'em to you.”

“I dunno. We don't have the cute, blushing virgin anymore,” Xander teased.

Spike glanced over his shoulder, eyes traveling up and down Xander's form, before he said, “I think we still got one.”

Xander's mouth dropped open, causing Spike to laugh. “Not for long,” Spike promised, winking. “We'll fix that. Well, at least that last part.” He tugged on Xander's hand, and the two sped into a run.

Flying down the hall, Xander thought back to only a few days ago. He'd been running down this very hall, headed in the opposite direction, terrified of what he hadn't known. Wondering what the point of the dreams had been.

His gaze drifted over to Spike, and he began to smile. Yeah, that was a good enough point to the dreams for him.

The End

To my readers: THANK YOU for all your kind words. They've really meant a lot to me. Mwah to all!

Now I get to start the next story...oh joy...~_^

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