"You know, you’re sexy when you get all possessive." Spike gave Xander a cheeky grin. Xander laughed at the unexpected comment. He was relieved that Spike had relaxed about the gang’s reaction. Spike sighed a moment later. "Let’s get this over with, yeah? No need to drag it out. With any luck, we can tell them and get home in one piece."

"That’s optimistic." Xander said, sarcastically, but inside he was praying for the same thing. "I’m feeling the love now."

"Don’t get cheeky with me, you know what I mean." Spike saw Xander’s eyes dart to his ass at the word cheeky and he gave the boy a mock glare as Xander looked up at him. "Not as innocent as you appear, are you, luv?" Xander gave him a grin and shrugged, looking like a kid with his hand in the cookie jar. "Red and the rest don’t see this side of you, do they?" He asked, softly. Xander looked down at his nakedness and back up at Spike. He watched the vampire pull on his clothes, almost disappointed that he couldn’t see much of the pale, smooth skin that he loved, anymore.

"Buffy and Willow came awfully close a couple times..." He grinned again at Spike’s surprised look. "What? Think I’d spend all my time with girls and not try something? I was a horny teenager...but I’m sure you knew that." At Spike’s exasperated look, he sighed and answered truthfully. "No. I’d probably give them the wiggins if I acted like a total perv. Buffy would probably kick my ass if she knew some of the things I used to think about her. I think you would be shocked, too." He pulled on his underwear and jeans, grabbing a clean shirt and put it on. Spike noticed that it wasn’t an ugly multi-colored shirt for once. It seemed that Xander actually had some nice shirts, if this deep gray one was anything to go by. It fit the boy nicely.

"You thought perverted thoughts about me?" Spike seemed pleased, if not a bit intrigued. Xander blushed as he recalled some of the thoughts he’d had of the sexy blond. He wasn’t ready to tell Spike his kinky fantasies and quickly changed the subject.

"Like you said, no need to drag this out. Let’s go." He finished tying his shoes and all but bolted out of the room. Spike pouted, but grabbed a blanket and followed Xander out. As much as he wanted to know in detail the fantasies that Xander had entertained about him, he knew that now was not the time to pursue that. He would be lying if he said his stomach wasn’t in knots about their upcoming big reveal. He was sure that Mount Buffy was going to blow and in a big way. No way was the Slayer going to take this lightly. She was pissed enough that he had screwed the boy, how would she react to know that Xander was his for all eternity? A Slayerette and a vampire mated. He would be lucky if all Red did was turn him into a toad. The pretty witch would probably make the chip in his head look like a picnic. The more Spike thought about it, the more he was sure that this was a really bad idea to tell the Scoobies, but he also knew that Xander needed to do this and Spike didn’t want the boy to think that he was ashamed that he claimed him. Just knowing that Xander was in this with him made him relax even more. He heard Xander take in a deep, shaky breath as the magic shop came into view. Spike stopped in his tracks, biting his lip. He looked at the store and back at Xander, a wave of guilt hitting him as he remembered what had happened here last night. He peeked out from his protective blanket.

"You absolutely sure that you want to do this here?" He asked, softly, raising troubled blue eyes to Xander’s. "It can’t be your favorite place right now...I mean, I..."

"We can’t change the past and I won’t avoid the store because of what happened. If you hadn’t had sex with Anya, I wouldn’t have come to your crypt and last night would never have happened. Except for the very beginning before we talked, I can’t say I regret last night. I love you. They already know that we...for lack of a better way of saying this...kissed and made up. Buffy knows we’re doing the horizontal...Dawn probably knows and I have no doubt that Willow knows it, too. You’re in one piece...thank God...so, there’s nothing to worry about...right?"

"We haven’t told them yet, luv...I could be in a Dust Buster in the next few minutes." Xander gave him a pained look. "Right...no negative thoughts." He took a deep, unnecessary breath and counted to ten. "Okay, brilliant, let’s do this."

"Right." Xander took a deep breath as well, and nodding, they both walked into the store.

Willow looked up as the chimes above the door alerted her that she had customers. Her smile of greeting faded as she recognized the pair. She bit her lip and came around the counter. Spike eyed her warily as he draped his blanket over a chair. Red went straight to Xander and pressed a silver cross pendant against his cheek. Xander rolled his eyes and made to say something sarcastic when the witch gently traced the claim mark, which was half-way visible beneath Xander’s collar. Xander didn’t do what Spike had expected him to do, which was blush and stammer about it. The boy looked his friend straight in the eye, daring her to say something negative about it or about his mate. Red looked worried and Spike could smell the fear coming off of her. Xander gave her a reassuring smile.

"I’m fine, Will. I’m not the brightest crayon in the box, but I’m not stupid. I know everyone thinks I’m crazy, but I love him."

"Oh, Xander." Willow sighed, not wanting her friend to get hurt. She turned to look at Spike, who was watching the exchange with interest and a healthy dose of fear. "What about you, mister? Are you playing games? Because if you are, you’re going to be one sorry vampire. I’ll personally rip every strand of hair from your bleached head and..."

"That’s my Willow, always with the death threats and torture. Thank you for your concern." Xander kissed her cheek. "But I’m perfectly fine."

"No games, Red. I love him, too. You’ve always said that we fight like a married couple and I guess you could say we took your comments to heart, so to speak." He pulled back the collar of his shirt to show Willow the place where Xander had claimed him. He watched her eyes widen as she realized that Xander had bitten him, too.

"Oh, Xander, what have you done?" Both men whirled around to see Giles standing in the doorway. Spike’s lip curled up as he caught sight of the shiny blonde head right behind Giles. He shot a quick look at Xander and saw the boy’s look of betrayal as Xander realized what had happened. Buffy had called Giles in from England to talk some sense into Xander.

"Ran to Daddy, did ya, princess?" Spike was so angry that he forgot just how far away Europe was from the States and the fact that had Buffy called Giles only last night, he would not have arrived yet. "Tattled on Xander. Jealousy does not become you, Slayer. Did you tell him everything? Did she, Rupert? Did she paint herself the innocent victim? Big Bad Spike seduced three of your sweet little ones. Is that how she told the story?" Spike saw Giles eyes turn icy and saw a glimpse of Ripper there.

"Actually I was on my way back to take care of some loose ends and I had hoped to attend Xander's wedding. When I arrived, Buffy called me and all I needed to know was that Xander was in danger and you were the cause. I should have known we could never have trusted you, Spike. I should have let Buffy stake you a long time ago. If I had, then Xander wouldn’t be your new plaything, bad enough that you ruined his marriage to Anya, but this...this is low even for you."

"Is that what she told you? That I broke up Xander and Anyanka? She’s lying! It was Xander’s decision to walk away! Not that the lot of you ever took more than a passing interest in the boy! He was your go-fer, your errand boy. None of you can see how special he is! Xander Harris is a bloody sight better than all of you put together!" Spikes face rippled, showing his demon. "He isn’t the dozy donut boy you make him out to be! He’s an intelligent, loving, loyal, decent man who deserves to be treated as though he has a brain in his head!" Spike growled low and deep in his throat, angry that his lover’s so-called friends couldn’t see how terrific that the boy really was. His golden eyes glittered dangerously, even though he couldn’t hurt anyone.

"Shhhh...relax, baby...let me talk to him..." Xander ran a calming hand over Spikes ridges. Everyone else’s mouths dropped as Spike began to purr softly as Xander lovingly caressed the vampire. Spike shook his head, his features melting back into his human face. Ignoring the rest of the people in the store, Spike leaned in and kissed his lover tenderly. Xander melted against Spike returning the kiss until someone cleared their throat. Spike glared at Giles. "Spike had nothing to do with my decision not to marry Anya. I freaked out and I knew that it was much more than cold feet. I was scared and instead of telling her, I walked out. I was a jerk, but Spike didn’t do anything to wreck my wedding. I did that all on my own. It was also my decision to ask Spike to claim me. I love him and you may not understand why or how I could love him, but none of you condemned Buffy for loving Angel and his demon killed Ms. Calendar...the woman you claimed to love." Xander saw Giles eyes narrow and his lips thin as the ex-Watchers face flushed an angry red. "I’m sorry if that was over the line, but I think I deserve the same courtesy that you all gave to Buffy when she was with Angel. I don’t care if you don’t like me being with Spike, it’s not your decision. I was wrong to try and tell Buffy not to be with Angel. I’d never really been in love at that time and I didn’t know how a vampire could love someone, but I know now because I’ve seen it. Spike loves me. I can see the looks you’re giving me right now and I’m going to say this once and once only, I’m not stupid. I know what I’m doing and you are just going to have to deal with my decision to be with and love Spike. If you can’t, then you were never really my friends to begin with. I’ve said my piece and now it’s up to you." Xander finished softly, looking at each of his friends in turn. He noticed that Dawn had entered the room and she gave him a smile. He returned it and then, turned to Buffy, who looked both guilty and ashamed. Giles sighed, polishing his glasses.

"Well, then, it looks as if Xander has things under control and the rest of us should mind our own business, yes?" The ex-Watcher looked pointedly at the rest of the Scoobies and the Slayer. "Good. In honor of Xander’s...er...nuptials...we should...um...celebrate." Dawn squealed happily and ran to the couple, throwing her arms around Spike and then Xander.

"My two favorite guys...together...congratulations." She gushed.

"Ta, Nibblet." Spike kissed the teen on the cheek.

"Thanks, Dawnie." Xander gave her a bear hug and a kiss on the forehead. Dawn blushed and giggled.

The doors chimed, signaling a customer. Tara froze as everyone stared at her. She gave a shaky smile and locked eyes with Willow.

"I thought Willow and I could talk, but I guess I can come back later."

"NO!" Everyone else shouted, startling the blonde witch.

"Use the training room. It’s nice and quiet in there." Buffy offered, taking Tara’s arm, guiding her towards Willow. Willow blushed and looked nervous. After the witches closed the door behind them, the five others stood there and stared at each other for a long moment. "Um...we were going to celebrate?" Buffy asked softly, breaking the silence. Dawn nodded.

"Maybe later, Slay...Buffy." Spike said, his voice firm, but friendly.

"Thanks, guys, but it has already been a long morning and Spike and I should get home. Giles, don’t be a stranger. I hope you aren’t going back right away."

"I’ll be here for two more days, but I have to get back to London soon. I hope you made the right choice, my boy. You’re like my son and I just want you to be happy."

"Thanks G-man." Xander smiled.

"For the love of God, Xander, stop calling me that." Giles sighed, his eyes twinkling, even though his words were tinged with exasperation.