Axis of Love

A loud cheer erupted from the table closest to the stage as the band came on. 'The Dingo’s' bass guitarist beamed momentarily at the cute little redhead who was bouncing up and down and clapping her hands excitedly. Three of the other occupants of the table were also cheering loudly, if a little less giddily, the leggy brunette merely smiled impassively for a moment. The black clad blonde let out a piercing whistle. He was having fun. He had the most gorgeous girl in the building, nah … in the whole bloody country, on his arm, her friends and watcher were mostly accepting of him and he was living in a comfortable home with two amazing women who spoilt him rotten, most importantly he had his beautiful slayer in his bed every night. Life, or unlife if you will, was damn good right now!

The music started and hey they weren’t half bad after all, downing his drink he turned and asked Buffy if she would like to dance. Guiding his beautifully grinning goddess to the dance floor he could not help but reflect once again on just how bloody happy he was!

“Urgh” Xander looked at the two girls at the table with him. “Am I the only one who finds this deeply disturbing?”

Willow looked at him and pouted. “I think they are good, and Oz looks so cool, don’t you think, I mean with the hair and the…..”

“Not the band, Will! Them.” Xander indicated the blonde couple who were almost glued to each other on the dance floor. “Has everyone else forgotten that this guy is a vampire, that he tried to kill us, that he HAS killed like thousands of people not to mention two slayers. Why is it that I am the only one who sees the major bad in this?”

“Xander, Spike has changed, he loves Buffy, it’s so sweet. I mean look at them, they are just so gorgeous together, don’t you think they are gorgeous together?”

“No! No with the gorgeous and no with the together. I definitely try very hard not to think about the ‘together’ part because now THAT is just truly disturbing!” Xander gave a dramatic shudder to emphasise his point. “As for changed, Will, VAMPIRE, I mean ok at the moment he has this whole Buffy infatuation thing going, but how long will that last and then what…he kills us all in our beds?”
“Oh no, no Xander, I don’t think Spike would do that, I mean, we’re almost like family aren’t we, you know seeing how Buffy is kinda like a sister to us and he is kinda, well I mean they are, with the....you know!”

“ Again Will, with the so not wanting that image, can we please not go there again!”

“Oh my God, could you be any more pathetic!” Cordelia turned on her boyfriend, eyes flashing angrily.

“What?” Xander stared at her, incredulous.

“Xander the guy saved our lives, you - me - cage, ringing any bells? If it wasn’t for him we’d be puppy food about now!” She turned to look at the redhead for a moment. “Sorry Willow! Buffy is a big girl Xander, she doesn’t need you to make her decisions for her and last time I looked you aren’t her father or anything so just get over it already. Because I swear if I have to listen to one more round of Xander Harris and his ‘I hate the sexy evil undead monster who’s sleeping with my best friend’ crap, I’m going to scream! I mean can you consider someone other than yourself for once? I came here to talk to you about important stuff, like what NOT to say if we run into anyone I know, or what we are going to do about your wardrobe and what you are going to buy me for my birthday which is only 95 days away so you need to start saving, like a year ago.”

“I….uh…but….he, he’s still a vampire!”

“Yeah he is and Oz is still a werewolf.” Speaking very slowly, so he could take in every word she continued, “and they are our friends, ok! Now go and get me a drink.”

Xander sighed with resignation, he knew when he was outnumbered, outmanoeuvred and just plain outwitted. The women in his life, Willow, Buffy and now inexplicably Cordelia would always rule him, he was a sucker for their feminine wiles. When he thought about it he knew he was really only continuing his protest out of sheer male stubbornness. Yeah he had a problem with vamps, a huge problem in fact. But well, he actually didn’t mind Spike, he certainly liked him a hell of a lot more than he had ever like Angel, and the guy had saved his life and Buffy really was happy. So he let go of the last of his animosity and decided to just go with the flow.

And hey having another guy to hang around with just might be of the good. When he thought about it life was starting to look up, he was no longer destined to be the lone male fighting for survival in an all female jungle.

***************

Later that night after a pleasant evening at The Bronze during which he’d had several dances with his love, beat the whelp in numerous games of pool and soaked up the not unpleasant sensation of belonging, being a part of something other than just him, even if that something was a rather unusual group of American teenagers. Buffy and him had then gone on a rather quiet patrol before returning home late to the joyful pleasures of their bedroom. He lay now in tranquillity with his arms full of warm, sleeping, content slayer. As he brushed a stray lock of golden blonde hair from her peaceful face and watched her sleep.

She was his perfect mate, his lover, his friend, his realisation. Her strength and power; the warrior, called to his demon. Her spirit and compassion appealed to the poet. After a hundred and fifty years on this earth Spike was finally home.

the end