Part Sixteen

Giles pulls into the garage and turns around just in time to see Spike sticking his tongue out in game face. Giles raises an eyebrow at the vampire then turns back around and gets out. Spike looks at his mate who is holding his stomach he’s laughing so hard. He shrugs off getting caught and tugs Xander out of the car, into his arms. He scowls when Xander continues to snicker.

"Not that funny, luv," Spike mutters.

"He caught you," Snicker, "Sticking your tongue out between your fangs, Spike," Chortle, "Not very dignified," and he’s off into gales of laughter again.

Spike glares and dumps Xander ungently on the sofa. He bounces a couple of times but it just makes him giggle. Spike stalks sullenly into the kitchen to get Xander’s lunch. Giles gives a long-suffering sigh, puts the TV on Cartoon Network for Xander, then follows the vampire.

"Don’t see what so soddin’ funny," Spike murmurs.

"Spike, if Xander is laughing at you he is not worrying about his appointment tomorrow. I would rather he found you amusing than be chasing him down the bloody street again. Do stop acting like a spoiled teenager and be glad your mate is not crying. I should like to have a little talk with you. Please do sit down," Giles motions to the table and waits, while Spike reluctantly sits, before he seats himself.

"I had a talk with Doctor Romer after you and Xander had left. He expressed an opinion that concerns me. It appears that Xander’s recovery is extremely dependent on you." Giles takes a moment to clean his glasses. "I do not approve of this relationship and I certainly have my own reservations. Nevertheless, I must do what is right for him. It pains me to admit that this appears to include you."

Spike smirks.

"I need not repeat the usual tedious threats of bodily harm I trust," Giles looks sternly at the vampire.

"Rupes, he’s my mate. Won’t harm him. If I could bite him me demon would promise too, "Spike says in frustration.

Giles is in a quandary. Spike biting Xander will guarantee his ‘son’s’ safety but as a Watcher he was trained to prevent vampire’s from biting. He reaches over and slides the spell book into his lap. Spike sees the motion but he doesn’t dare hope. Rupes would never agree to him biting the boy! Normally the vampire would be right but Giles is desperate. If Xander is ever to make any real progress he needs someone to lean on. Someone that could protect him. Spike could be trusted with a Claim. Xander seems to have already chosen the vampire. Giles runs his hand through his hair and sighs. In-laws with William the Bloody, won’t Father be proud.

"William, do not betray my trust. The consequences will be ghastly," Giles snarls. He recites a quick incantation then glares at the vampire.

"Do not hurt him more than is necessary. The reverse spell is only one word. I trust I will not require it," Giles adds.

"Oi, Rupert, won’t hurt me bloody mate! No need to keep nattering on like a bloody woman," Spike sulks.

It takes him about two minutes to catch on.

"I can bite ‘im?!" he asks with a bit too much eagerness for the Watcher.

"You may bite him for the Claim only, William. I would not allow even this much if I felt it was unnecessary for Xander’s well-being. I shall be watching him very carefully. If it appears you are hurting him more than is required I shall dust you and damn the consequences. Let’s get this over with before I realize I’m quite off and reverse the spell," Giles scowls.

Spike bounces happily in his chair.

"Right, mate, ready," Spike grins and stalks into the living room.

Giles rolls his eyes and follows the vampire - What was he thinking?

Spike practically vibrates with excitement.

"Whoa, Spike, you act like G-Man just gave you permission to hunt," Xander smirks.

"Nah, luv, he just gave me my bite back," he smirks back.

"Temporarily," Giles sternly adds as he gathers a cross and stake before sitting beside Xander.

"Hold still, luv, it only stings for a minute," Spike says eagerly and starts to lunge for Xander’s neck.

Two things happen simultaneously. Xander scrambles into Giles’ lap and Giles brandishes the cross, causing Spike to hiss and fall back.

"William! You owe him an explanation before you simply bite him," Giles says, incredulous.

Xander just eeps and crawls closer to Giles at all this talk of biting.

Spike looks cutely sullen in game face but reluctantly shakes his fangs away.

"Luv, Watcher said I could Claim you. Somethin’ about you needin' me support," Spike says abruptly then looks plaintively at Giles, "Now can I bite ‘im?"

Giles gives him the evil eye.

Spike sighs and tugs on Xander. Reluctantly his mate allows him to hold him.

"Pet, long version. Doc told Rupes you need me. Watcher thought despite his better judgment that he agreed. Bein' a Watcher he knows best way is the Claim. Claim you an' my demon will protect you too. Can I bite you, luv, please?" Spike pleads.

"Spike, Slayerettes are supposed to avoid vamp bites at all costs. And ya know, I so don’t like needles. Those fangs look a lot bigger than needles. I bet it really hurts!" Xander objects. He’s spent all this time being told vampire bites are of the bad and now Spike wants to bite him. Well G-Man can just reverse that no-bite spell because the Xand-Man ain’t doin' it! Besides, it’s creeping him out that Spike is so eager.

"Xander, did I or did I not assure you I would only act with your best interests in mind? I do not enjoy the fact that Spike seems to be the best thing for you. Having been bit myself in the course of my years as Watcher I can confirm it does hurt like Bloody Hell," Giles starts.

"Watcher! Vamp can do a better job of reassuring the whelp than you. He’ll never let me bite him with yer idea of ‘elp," Spike interrupts sarcastically.

"Spike, I merely believe you should be honest with Xander," sniffed the Watcher.

"Honest," Spike snorts.

Xander wishes they would quit discussing him like a three-course dinner. He sneaks off to bedroom while they continue to bicker. He’s so tired of people making decisions for him. Hells, after this maybe he will just bite Spike and Giles. Giles so didn’t help telling him to let Spike bite him when he admitted he doesn’t like to be bit himself. Once again Xander is the virgin sacrifice. He flushes red at the appropriateness of that last thought. What if he made a decision to let Spike do this? Yes, the thought was wiggy, but at least it would be HIS decision. Okay, let’s weigh the facts: both Spike and Giles say it hurts, Spike’s demon will protect him, it will totally change his current relationship with Spike, and the most important fact of all - he loves the vampire. He’s scared to death but he does love him. Decision made he sighs and heads back down to his vampire. That actually feels kind of nice. Spike would be his, too. Xander wasn’t going to be Spike’s toy. He was determined this be mutual. His steps slowed as he thought about a physical relationship. He shuddered and nearly ran back up the stairs again. He can’t do this!

Spike and Giles stop arguing long enough to notice Xander hesitating on the bottom step. Spike sits him down and checks his feet. Xander gives a look a disgust, he was so upset he forgot about them. Now they are making it clear to him what they think of this running off thing he tends to do.

"Luv, we discussed that running thing at the doc’s. Going to talk now," Spike says sternly.

Xander shouldn’t feel chastised but he does.

"Well, you guys are always choosing what I am supposed to do. I feel like I have no control. I mean, G-Man tells me it hurts, then you tell me to hold still and just like that I’m supposed to bare my neck! Pardon me if letting a vampire bite me gives me the wiggins," he says sarcastically. "It doesn’t make me feel any more secure when you start licking your lips at the thought of sinking your fangs in me. And does this mean you are going to have to have sex with me, because forget it! I like you a lot, probably love you but I won’t do that. Not even for you. You can bite me, but no shagging," he finishes. Xander lies back against the couch, tilts his head, and squeezes his eyes shut. "Okay, I’m ready," he pushes out through tightly clenched teeth.

"Pet, you are so ready yer going to pop a vessel. Going to hurt like a bitch. Relax, whelp," Spike prompts.

Xander stops clenching his jaw and loses none of his present stiffness.

Spike sighs and very gently strokes one finger down Xander’s neck.

"Break me fangs off if I try to bite, now."

Xander jumps at the vampire’s touch. Spike lays Xander’s head down in his lap and starts petting his hair. It takes fifteen minutes for the muscles in the youth’s body to unclench. Spike continues petting him until he is nearly asleep. This is more like it. Xander gives a brief protest when Spike shifts out from under the boy’s head and Giles takes his place. Spike kneels down in front of his mate. Soon he really would be his Mate. Giles rolls the Xander puddle on his side and starts stroking his back.

"What are you doing, G-Man?" Xander says sleepily.

"Just relax, Xander," Giles says in a calm, even tone. A little hypnosis couldn’t hurt.

Spike continues to pet Xander’s hair as he shifts to game face. Giles momentarily considers stopping this when he sees a vampire baring his fangs at a teen he considers his son. Spike senses it and briefly flashes Giles a look of reassurance. There is something terrifying about those yellow eyes showing concern but it works for the Watcher. Spike turns back to Xander and strikes as gently as possible. Xander jumps and Giles holds him still until the pain recedes. Spike strokes the neck on either side of his teeth and purrs. Xander calms and the vampire takes two quick swallows. Once again he has to fight to urge to spit it out. There is still so much pain and misery in his Xander. Giles is relieved when Spike moves away from Xander and his face shifts back to human. Spike waits for the Watcher to reverse the incantation.

Giles occupies himself by wiping the marks on Xander’s neck with alcohol. The boy hisses at the sting and pushes the Watcher’s hand away. Distracted with his thoughts, Giles lets him.

"Spike... I do hope you never give me cause to regret this. I note that this will go against everything I was taught as a Watcher. If Xander did not need you so much and need your protection, I would not even consider it. Realize that I can still reactivate it in an instant if you give me cause. But Xander’s enemy is currently humans," Giles pinches the bridge of his nose as Spike cards his fingers through his Mate’s hair and puzzles out what Giles is saying. He is stunned when it hits him.

"Rupes, I can keep me bite? Not mojo-ing the chip back?" Spike is shocked, excited, and uncertain all at the same time. Xander was safe as a vampire’s Mate and Giles could certainly take care of himself as could the other Scoobies. But what about the rest of Sunnydale/ Could he control the demon’s bloodlust? Well they still had patrol. Plenty of violence there. He is a Master Vampire. If a Master is not able to stay in control he might as well be an animal - a minion. With his bite he could protect Xander from anything and anyONE. He could have protected his Mate from that wanker, Josh.

"Word of William the Bloody, Rupert. Hasn’t ever been broken. Won’t harm any human that doesn’t come after me or mine," Spike snarls. It has the sound of an oath and Giles is convinced the vampire is sincere.

"I accept your word, William. The chip shall remain deactivated until such time as you prove yourself unworthy of your word," Giles replies, just as formally.

Spike gathers his Mate into his lap. Xander is his and he’s got his bite back. Nothing will ever hurt his love again.

Giles notes the possessive vampire and sighs, ~In-Laws with William the Bloody. Oh, Dear God.~