Title: Slayer Central chapter 28
Author: Gileswench
Contact: gileswench@yahoo.com
Feedback: Constructive criticism always welcome. Praise abjectly sought.
Disclaimer: It all belongs to Joss, Mutant Enemy, etc., etc., etc. I just let them have all the fun Joss won't. I own nothing except my twisted mind which you really don't want. Please don't sue.



Xander and Wesley stiffened at their post. Footsteps approached from the staircase. Xander peered around the stairwell to see who was coming.

"Xander. What are you doing up at this hour?"

"Making sure you don't pull a fast one on us, Deadboy."

Angel's brow furrowed in distress.

"I really wish you wouldn't call me that, Xander."

"Why? What'cha gonna do about it?"

Angel looked yet more perplexed.

"Nothing; it's just rude."

Xander pulled his stake.

"Don't come any closer or we'll be Dustbusting you up tonight."

"I was just going up to my room. It's been a long night and I want to go to bed."

"Right. Sure. Not falling for it, Soulboy. You are not going into this room tonight."

Wesley pulled his stake and closed ranks with Xander.

"You shall not harm them, Angel."

"Why would I want to harm them?"

At that moment, the door swung open and Buffy and Crystal peered out.

"Um, guys? Blocking the door, here. Not a good idea with two pregnant women in need of a bathroom."

Buffy eyed the stakes drawn.

"What's going on?"

Xander held his defensive position.

"Deadboy is up to his old tricks. We're here to protect you."

The Slayer rolled her eyes.

"Xander, have you gone completely insane? In this room are one Slayer, two witches, an ex-vengeance demon, and Cordelia Chase. We don't need protecting."

"I thought Angel was okay," Crystal offered.

"He is. Now why doesn't the testosterone brigade stand down before I get mad and break their arms?"

One look at Buffy's expression was enough to make Xander and Wesley put up their stakes. Angel smiled slightly.

"Now if you'll excuse me, I'll be on my way."

He skulked up the stairs to the attic as Buffy crossed her arms and faced her would-be protectors.

"Okay, Pinky, who's the brain behind turning a slumber party into a prison camp?"

The men looked at one another sheepishly. At last, Wesley spoke.

"That would be me, I'm afraid."

*****

Spike sidled into the crypt, stake at the ready in case he found it inhabited, and looked around. After a moment, he slid the stake back into his pocket and rubbed his hands together gleefully.

"Perfect. Abso-bloody-lutely perfect."

He flopped back on the stained mattress and lit a cigarette.

"Home, sweet mausoleum."

Once he'd finished his cigarette, Spike stood and unbundled his meagre possessions...after all, possession is nine points of the law.

There was an alarm clock liberated from Xander, a mystery novel Wesley had misplaced a few days before, a pair of Giles' spare glasses, some nail varnish he'd nicked from Cordelia, a basic spellbook the witches hadn't even noticed was missing yet, and a pair of tiny blue satin and lace knickers that still smelled of Buffy musk.

Not much, but it made the place a bit homier. A few trips to the local dump, and the crypt would be perfect.

*****

Angel surveyed his work critically. He added a bit more to the sketch.

Yes, with pregnancy, Buffy had developed some extra curves.

Liam had always preferred a woman with a bit of flesh to grip. That and a tart tongue had been the perfect combination to raise his interest...among other things.

Now as he smoothed the imagined lines of Buffy's nude form, he could feel the familiar tingle of arousal.

He sighed, knowing he could never have the object of his desire.

Still, that didn't mean he had to spend the evening alone.

He tossed the sketchpad aside and pulled on his coat. It was only one- thirty. Plenty of time before sunrise. It shouldn't be too difficult to find some willing girl in the next few hours.

*****

Buffy tapped her foot impatiently.

"I'm waiting, Wes."

Her former Watcher shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot as three pairs of eyes awaited his response.

"I tell you, he did. He licked my neck earlier. He walked about the room naked without the least embarrassment or regard for mine. He got angry when I made a bit of a joke. He isn't himself."

Giles tugged off his glasses and rubbed the back of his neck.

"It isn't that we don't believe you..."

"That's exactly what it is. We don't believe you."

"Buffy, please."

The Slayer shot a glare at her husband and sat heavily.

"It isn't that we don't believe you," Giles reiterated, "but none of us have witnessed anything remotely similar to what you've described."

"You know I'm no fan of Deadboy, but even I have to say he acted like his usual broody self a few minutes ago. Maybe he was just in a funny mood when he woke up. Happens to all of us."

Xander shrugged as he spoke.

"Angel wouldn't hurt us," Buffy added. "You work for him Wes. You know how much good he does. If Rupert is willing to work with him, then he's safe. We need him right now. I can't patrol and the rest of you aren't as strong as he is. I won't let you hurt him."

She glared around the room.

"I won't let any of you hurt him."

*****

"...And if you can't be with the one you love, honey, love the one you're with." Angel laughed and shook his head. Somehow that old song had been stuck in his head all day. The philosophy suited him just fine, too. He began another chorus.

He stopped short at the sight before him.

The Bronze.

The perfect place to pick up a cute girl.

He sauntered in.

*****

By the time Buffy got back to Cordelia's room, everyone else was asleep. She slid under the bedcovers - Cordelia had insisted that the two mothers-to-be share the actual bed rather than sleep on the floor - trying not to disturb Crystal.

The younger girl stirred slightly and snuggled closer to Buffy with a slight smile on her lips.

"Love you," she slurred in her sleep.

Buffy did her best to disengage herself from the girl-shaped limpet, but finally had to settle for lying on her side with Crystal spooned behind her.

"How could anyone mistake me for Daddy?" she muttered.

*****

Giles clung to the edge of the mattress feeling thoroughly sorry for himself. Buffy was angry with him, Wesley was either going mad or sincerely trying to warn them that Angel wasn't himself, he'd yet to hear back from Riley about Spike and his chip, and now Xander was hogging most of the bed.

Not to mention all of the covers.

It wouldn't have been nearly so bad if it wasn't for his unexpected reaction to the situation.

Arousal.

Not for Xander so much, per se, but for a man.

It had been far too many years, he reflected, since he had known the pleasures to be found in the arms of a male lover. Immediately, he felt guilty.

Not even two months married and he wasn't satisfied with what his wife could offer.

With a sigh, he rolled out of bed, slipped on his robe and headed downstairs for a drink.

*****

Angel was amazed how easy it was to talk to the girls at The Bronze. He'd spent so many years drowning in his own guilt, he'd forgotten how good it was to just flirt a bit. He'd been good at it in life. In fact, he found he couldn't recall a single wench he'd wanted then that he hadn't been able to have.

Now he found it was like riding a bicycle.

As he nuzzled with a girl he'd just met whose name he thought might be Julie, or possibly Judy, she slipped something into his hand. He looked at it. puzzled.

A condom.

He looked at the girl.

"It's okay; I can't get you pregnant."

"Vasectomy, huh?"

"Something like that."

"But you still gotta wear it. I don't know you, you don't know me, and I bet neither one of us wants to find out a month from now we've got some disease from this."

"You really don't have to worry about that with me."

"Hey, if you don't want to do it with me, I got plenty of other offers."

"No, I want to. It's just..." He trailed off unsure how to tell her he'd never used a condom before. Inspiration hit.

"I will if you put it on me."

Judy - or was it Julie? - smiled, took him by the hand and led him out the back door.


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