"Riight, cause I’m just lucky that way." Xander sighed, "Want to walk me home? I don’t know about you but I need a shower."

"Well, there goes that theory." Spike snorted, sitting up. At Xander’s questioning look, he explained, "Kind of pegged you as the cuddling after sex type. Thought it was a Xander Harris rule or something. You’re an affectionate bloke, always hugging Red and Glinda, Nibblet, too. Hell, you and Rupert hug quite a lot as well. Seems I’m the only one you’re not cuddling with." My God, Spike is pouting!

"Don’t tell me that you’re jealous of Giles? He’s like my second dad, Spike. And you’d have laughed in my face if I tried to hug you where anyone else could have seen it. Don’t look at me like that, you know it’s true."

"Get your kit on. I’ll walk you home." Spike’s words were clipped. The vampire pushed past Xander, finding his clothes and jerkily pulling them on.

"Spike, come on, don’t be mad. Please? Look at me."

Spike raised wounded blue eyes to Xander. Xander felt his heart contract as he saw the hurt in those gorgeous eyes. He moved toward the blond as if Spike was an exotic creature that he was trying not to spook. Spike watched him over his shoulder warily, unsure just what Xander was up to now. He tried not to flinch as the dark-haired beauty came up behind him. Xander slid bronzed arms around Spike, pulling the vampire back against him, nuzzling the pale skin below Spike’s right ear. He heard the blond take a shaky, unneeded breath.

"I-I don’t..." Spike began, sighing as he realized he had no clue what to say. He shivered as he felt Xander’s lips brushed his skin.

"Shhhh...don’t worry about it. We can’t change the past. God knows, I would if I could...I have so many regrets, but loving you is not of one them." He added as Spike tensed. "You were right that neither of us has had a great track record with love, but I’m hoping to change that and I hope I’m not the only one." Spike relaxed with another sigh and Xander pressed a kiss to the pale skin. Spike turned in Xander’s arms and the mortal gave him a sweet kiss on the lips. Spike reached up, cupping Xander’s face, kissing him back.

"Get dressed, sweet boy. I’ll walk you home." Spike said, swatting Xander affectionately on his bare ass. He forced himself to ignore the flash of heat that he saw flare in Xander’s dark eyes as he grabbed his duster and slipped it on.

"Cocktease." Xander muttered, mock glaring at the blond. Spike gave him a sexy smirk and blew him a sultry kiss. Xander continued to mutter to himself about sexy blond vampires and heard Spike laugh softly. He loved hearing Spike laugh, it was a beautiful sound. He stuck his tongue out at the vamp and saw Spike waggle his eyebrows suggestively. "You are an evil, evil undead man. Come on, let’s go before I change my mind and ravish you." Spike laughed again, delighting Xander.

"Insatiable little bugger, aren’t you, baby?" Xander grinned at Spike and the vamp shook his head. "Kids." He teased as they walked out of the crypt. The night was warm with a slightly cool breeze and Xander cast a look up at the sky, it was full of stars. This night had started out horribly, but now it seemed almost too good to be true. And that alone scared Xander, whenever things looked great in his life, that was when they crashed and burned. "What’s on your mind, luv?" Spike looked concerned and Xander guessed that his face gave him away.

"I guess I’m not used to being content, seems every time I start to feel happy, something bad happens. I want a normal relationship for once, you know?"

"Yeah...wouldn’t that be nice? But don’t go borrowing trouble, pet, one worrywart in this odd couple is enough, yeah?" He slung an arm around Xander’s shoulders.

"Holy crap!" They whirled at the shocked feminine voice.

"D-Dawnie! Uh..."

"Um, bit late for you to be out, isn’t it, Nibblet?"

"You...you...Are you two crazy? Buffy’s gonna have the biggest, fattest cow over this! Xander, Anya’s way beyond pissed and...God, again, are you crazy?" Dawn very nearly shrieked at them. They looked at each other and back at her, mouths working with no sound. Xander felt like his mom and dad had just caught him having sex...in their bed.

TBC...