Part Thirteen

Xander wakes with a start, momentarily unsure where he is. He starts to panic when two sleepy voices pull him back to the present.

"Go back to sleep, Xander, its late," comes from the Giles side of the bed.

"Lay down, whelp, ‘m comfortable," comes from the other side.

Xander is still tired and would love to stay secure in this cocoon but he needs to pee! He very carefully extricates himself from between the two men and creeps to the bathroom. As soon as he leaves Spike and Giles, they grope for him. Finding each other they curl up together, both sure they are holding Xander. He comes out of the bathroom and stops abruptly, stunned.

"G-Man, Spike!" the shout brings both men rudely to instant wakefulness.

"Soddin’ Hell, whelp! There better be a good reason for yellin’."

"Bloody Hell, Xander, what’s wrong!?"

It takes all of ten seconds for it to occur to the two older men that they are snuggling each other. Both jump away with twin looks of disgust.

"What are you doing with your hand on me, Spike! I told you not if you were the last man on this bloody planet," Giles spits out.

"Oi, Rupes, you were holding me. Never knew you felt that way about me," Spike smirks at the watcher."

As for Xander? He’s laughing so hard he’s on the floor.

"Xander, are you quite all right?" Giles asks dryly.

"Whelp, ya hurt?" Spike adds.

Snort- "You and Giles," -Guffaw, "Oh, My God!" -Chortle, "Spike wasn’t jealous of Giles for me, he wanted you for himself!" and Xander’s incoherent once again.

Spike cocks an eyebrow at Giles who nods. They both slowly stalk toward their prey. Xander stops laughing and crab-walks away.

"Um guys, you uh, need something?" Xander asks apprehensively.

"Yes, Xander, we do need something," Giles says with a smirk of his own. "Spike, carry him over to the bed please."

"My pleasure, Watcher," Spike smirks in return and grabs the teen before he can escape.

"N-not funny, G-Man!" Xander’s struggles are for naught, Spike’s intent is not to hurt him so he isn’t getting zapped.

"No worries, mate, we wouldn’t hurt you," Spike leers.

Giles sits down on the bed by Xander, Spike flanking him on the other side.

"The English have punishments for naughty boys, Xander. I am afraid that applies to you. Spike is merely here to assist. Now do hold still, this will hurt me far more than it will you," Giles says with a perfectly serious face except for that mysterious twinkle in his eye.

Xander pretends to be terrified.

"Spike, the punishment shall commence immediately," Giles solemnly intones.

This is the last thing he hears the two men say before he experiences the tickling of his life. When he kicks, Spike sits on his legs. A stray slap earns him a Watcher holding his hands together with one hand and tickling him even more vigorously with the other.

"Ah, ah, none of that, luv. Take your punishment like a good boy."

Xander doesn’t have enough breath left to retort. Giles just snorts and keeps tickling. Things could and probably will be hairy again later. But for now the room is filled with giggles, chortles, shrieks, and all the other sounds of a happy Xander being unmercifully tickled. Secure in his knowledge that he is loved and cared for.