Buffy the Vampire Slayer - Xander Appreciation #9: 'Cause he's a flying buttress of support - Page 13

Sosa Lola · 07-01-2009, 03:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fresley4ever (View Post)

I am going to be gone for a week. So you guys need to keep bumping this thread.

Aw

We're gonna miss you.

Part Eight:

Spike and Xander sunk deep into the couch with as much space as possible left between them. They fell deeper into their despair when the girls had left, each one headed to her respective function. Buffy went to the Magic Box for she decided to take over now that Anya got her old job back and maybe earn some keep while she was at it, anything better than the Double Meat Palace. Willow set off to her morning classes and Dawn to school. That left both Xander and Spike as each other's delightful company.

After several minutes of sitting still in uncomfortable silence, only interrupted by the sound of the television as the credits rolled by, Xander pushed himself up and exited the living room. Spike didn't show any sign that he noticed, seemingly intrigued with the names of the stunt doubles. Rummaging could be heard. Cupboards were opening and closing, the definite sound of the fridge door being opened. Then before long, Xander came back laden with supplies. He was walking with difficulty as he was balancing four beers on top of a couple of large bags of chips. He spread the stuff on the coffee table, keeping one beer for himself then leaned back into the couch and started the mindless channel surfing, occasionally sipping from his beverage.

A moment later, he held back a smile as he heard the hiss of another can opening. Soon they were sitting in comfortable silence not giving the other a single thought except when their hands fought for the last chip. Because everyone knew that it was the tastiest chip. Spike won.

Xander sighed and stood up. "I'm going to the bathroom."

Spike shrugged while making noticeable crunching sounds. "Don't see why you have to tell me all the exhilarating details of your life."

Xander ground his teeth together to keep from barking at him. With a muffled growl, he left for the bathroom.

Spike snagged the remote and started clicking through the channels tiredly. He should be asleep during the day. But God help him if he slept in a house alone with Xander Harris. The boy already got him turned into a chick, deliberately or not. He wasn't about to allow himself to be even more defenseless in a house full of sharp weapons courtesy of the Slayer.

There was a knock on the door and Spike waited for Xander to come out of the bathroom to answer it, but nothing. He sighed and levered himself up off the couch, pulling the purple sweats back up when they threatened to fall. Thankfully, his brand new round waist kept that from happening. Spike was glad that his low-cut top was tight enough that it didn't need similar treatment and a plus for not needing a bra.

Bet that riled the boy. He thought snickering.

The knocking returned once more with more impatience this time. Spike growled irately and quickened his step.

"Bloody do everything myself and they start to pound the door down."

He unlocked the door and stepped back from it, towards the curtain protected living room and yelled, "It's open."

The door opened and closed. The figure at the door froze as he opened his mouth before blinking surprised to see him. He asked with a stutter, "I- I beg your pardon, b-but who might you be?"

Spike looked confused at Giles' ignorance before he felt a devilish smile appear on his face. It seemed like Buffy asked the old watcher to come and help but conveniently 'forgot' to inform him of the reason. He held back a snicker.

Oh, I get to play. Such joy.

Giles was oblivious to this, not to mention flustered at Spike's revealing appearance. He looked anywhere but at the seemingly disheveled attractive blonde.

"Are you a friend of Dawn’s?" he asked gruffly.

Spike choked on a snort. He knew he looked young but it seemed that the purple sweats and the unkempt appearance made him look a little older than Dawn. Spike had no idea that he actually looked like a nineteen-year-old model that had just woken up from a very 'satisfying' sleep. Or did he?

Spike fluttered his lashes confused. "Who is Dawn?" Then he faked knowledge. "Oh! You must mean that little girl in the picture. Xan-der," he said in his over exaggerated American accent, "- always makes sure that I'm here after she and the other ladies of the house have left."

This time Giles looked directly at the grinning woman. "I beg your pardon?"

Spike pulled on the memory of every seductive woman that had come across his path and brought forth every movie that would help him in his performance. Also, it seemed that those boring hours spent with Anya while she babbled on about Xander in bed would finally come in handy.

He twirled his finger around a long blonde lock and looked under his long bangs and lashes. He pouted delicately and bit on his lower lip, smiling in satisfaction when a flush started to build on Giles’ face.

"Poor guy was really down … he needed something to lift his spirits. And for the right amount I was ready to… help lift him up." There was a wicked gleam in the blue eyes. "I can get ANY one up, you know."

A delicate finger was running over the long milky neck while Spike tilted his head in thought. Giles swallowed the lump in his throat before he noticed that the supple ruby lips were still moving.

"… he's a Norse God in the sack, I'll have you know. Raises me up to the clouds he does." Spike licked his lips instead of grinning widely when he saw the wild green eyes looking for escape. "He really knows how to please me with his interlocking parts… work's pleasure with him. Mmmm." He sighed dramatically, making sure his chest rose and felt the heat of Giles' eyes. Spike sniffed discreetly and chuckled inwardly when he caught a very definite smell coming from the flustered man. That was only more incentive for him to continue.

"…and after he rides me like a fine mare – which he keeps screaming when he's 'close' –" A whimper came from the door's direction. "-he tells me when we cuddle, which causes him extra by the way… him needing the contact and all, that if only he had a sound father figure to help him through that wedding. His own father being a drunken fool was out of the question." He sighed exuberantly. "If only there were some man he could've confided in… none of this would've happened."

"Oh my…" Giles looked devastated.

Spike shrugged. He never felt this- giddy was the only word that fit. "Well, all that ends well… least for me. I could retire on the cash that I got from this."

"Why are you here?" Giles looked around frantically. "Is Xander here?"

"We can't go to his place no more. Neighbors bother us with their yelling for us to stop… rude much!" He knew hanging around the Buffy and her friends would be good for something. He was knowledgeable in the ways of girl speak.

He narrowed his eyes. "You're a friend of his?"

Giles, still unmoved from his spot near the door, nodded slowly in dread.

Spike gaped before bursting in frantic words.

"Give me money. Xanny Hunk -it's what he makes me call him- ran off on me and I ain't leavin' with out my pay."

"What?" Giles rubbed at his face.

"I think Hunk-y boy is a little short for cash… he has been around the block a lot if you catch my drift." Spike winked.

Giles didn't understand half of what the woman -- Dear God… Xander hired a prostitute – was saying.

"Xander needs money?"

Spike nodded so hard it caused the blond hair to bounce. "You bet your flat English ass he doe. He demanded in the last 'service' the King Treatment, and since it wasn't such a hardship for a well-hung cha--- uh, dude like him, only cost him one thousand --- bucks."

"Flat… excuse me. Wait," Giles' indigence turned into even more horrified shock. "One thousand bucks? Dollars! That's awfully a lot…"

"How would you know? Had your fill of some, hmm?" Spike wiggled a finger and leered. "Well, I'm not like anyone else… I have talent… and Xanny Hunk wanted the special treatment- ALL the extras. Want a list? Okay, on top there's the dominant play… he likes it when I lead… with toys of course, I'm no rooky … we have…"

"Hey, you're here!"

Giles jumped as he heard another unfamiliar female voice. He took a deep breath relieving the blue color that had attacked him when he stopped breathing midway into the description. He turned around and the red rushed back to his face when he found yet another attractive, short girl wearing a large baby blue T-shirt and darker blue sweatpants. Now this one absolutely looked Dawn's age.

That made Giles' bones to turn cold. Was Xander that depressed that he needed to play a game with a striking 'experienced' harlot and a shy innocent virgin?

"Oh Dear Lord… Xander hired himself TWO prostitutes!" he blurted out with gaped eyes.

"WHAT?" Xander yelled before looking at Spike accusingly. "What is he talking about?"

Spike was biting his lip, hard. "Rupes thinks we're hookers."

"WHAT?!"

Giles was trying to wrap his mind around how he can help Xander out as well as trying to remember if he ever told the young 'lady' his name.

"Spike, what did you do?"

Giles blinked at the name. His mind froze.

Did she say… Spike?

His eyes narrowed as they zoomed in on the blonde who was pouting at the brunette while amazingly carrying out a death glare at the same time. Not to mention she mouthed 'party poofter'.

Giles rolled his eyes with a weary sigh.

Finally it all made perfect sense. How hesitant Buffy was on telling him about the problem they needed him for, only begging him to come as soon as possible because they didn't know what to do. She knew that if she had told him what really happened he would burst out laughing and then would tell her to “let the two stew” because if anyone deserved it, it would've been them.

So, the blonde-haired woman was Spike and the brunette was Xander. Good heavens, did he just think that Xander was a shy innocent virgin? Well, perhaps that was better than him 'nearly' getting aroused by the female vision of Spike.

He shook his head. That was why those two deserved this. They drove him bloody bonkers.

"I should've realized from that horrid American accent… I figured it some kind of southern talk."

Xander scoffed. "You have just insulted the south."

Giles rubbed at his eyes. "I assume you're the problem, Xander?"

Xander hid his face in his hands. Typical. Giles assumed that he was the reason to this. Putting aside the truth of that statement, Xander was more concerned that yet another person saw him as a girl.

Spike threw his arm over Xander’s shoulder. "We're always trouble. It's our 'maiden' name."

Xander looked at Spike with a pained face. "Now that's bad and this is coming from me."

Giles felt tired all of a sudden. The shock was unbearable. He moved to the living room, wanting to relax in his favorite place on the couch. Sadly, the dream was too good to be true, revolting pieces of chips were all over it. Four beer cans scattered over the coffee table with definite wet marks all over. He heaved a weary sigh and headed to the adjoining chair. A disgusted expression emerged on his face when his eyes fell on the untidy light blue pajamas thrown on his bloody chair!

He was beginning to lose his temper. At least from within, but that was how it began. He had better watch himself. Ripper wouldn't do any good at this moment. Even though it would be extremely satisfying. He took a deep breath, inhaling and exhaling. Now he was calm or as calm as he could be with those two around.

He stood by the couch and disgustedly picked up the two pieces of pajamas with the tips of his fingers. He threw them on the floor with a grimace.

"At least we know that you're still the same old slobs, now don’t we?" He looked from the clothes to the beer cans and chips then pushed the clothes away with the sole of his shoe.

Spike snorted. "Really, there's no need to act so spooked."

"Oh pray tell, why should I not be 'spooked' after your riveting story?" Giles grumbled while making himself comfortable on the couch.

Xander looked at Spike, puzzled. "What did you tell him?" His inner voice yelled at him that it wasn't a good idea to ask. He held up his hands in horror. "No, no, I don't wanna know." For once, he knew to listen to the inner voice residing upstairs.

He turned to Giles. "You so don't wanna know about those, Giles," he said pointing at the blue pajamas.

Giles nodded agreeing. Finally, some sense around here.

"I always sleep naked." Spike shrugged. "Dunno why you tiptoe around that."

"Lord Almighty," Giles exclaimed, massaging his head. "Who knew knowledge could this harmful." He shot the vampire a glare.

Xander smacked his hand over his eyes in embarrassment.

Spike smirked enjoying the utterly human reactions. He crossed his arms under his chest, purposely pushing the round breasts up, revealing more of the pale skin. Then he stroked his finger in a seemingly unconscious way over the separating line, bringing more attention to his ample boobs. He chuckled evilly when Giles cursed at the sight and looked away breaking the heated glare.

Spike raised his eyebrow thoughtfully. Well, well, well… maybe being a chick could have some advantages here.

Xander felt himself fume, noting the situation. First Willow, then Buffy, now Giles. Does Spike have absolutely NO dignity or restraint? He rolled his eyes. What was he thinking? Of course not. This was Spike.

Sighing, Giles took off his glasses and started his usual cleaning session. An unexpected gasp made him jump slightly. He raised his eyes with apprehension.

Now what?

Xander pointed his finger at him, his body somewhat shaking. "You're ... you're doing it!"

Spike followed Xander's pointed finger with excitement and looked at Rupert who was using his nancy handkerchief to wipe his glasses. His excitement vanished. "When’s has he never done it," he said bored.

"Yeah, but do you know why he does it?" Xander asked, staring at Giles with barely masked outrage

"Why?" Spike asked curious to what had gotten Harris in such a stitch.

"Buffy told me all that wiping is just an act so that he won’t see what we do." Xander's pointed an accusing finger at Giles. He hated how easily it was for their so called proud Englishman to discard his so called ‘Watcher’ pride - not that it wasn’t a smart idea to distract oneself from Spike’s antics, but it was the principle that mattered! Especially when Xander was involved in the fake loss of sight. Xander wondered how upset Giles really was when Willow made him blind that one time.

"What?" Giles said with a tense whisper, unaware of the battling emotions within Xander. Putting his glasses back on, he looked apprehensively at the angry brown-haired ‘woman’. He remembered asking Buffy to keep that piece of embarrassing information to herself. He sighed. Maybe she did so in spite, to get back at him because he had left. On the other hand, it could've been mere feminine nature; not being physically able to keep their mouths shut.

But how did that explain Xander and Spike before their sudden transformation? Perhaps this was a long time coming.

He looked at the two females in front of him and couldn't help but itch to clean his glasses once more. He was sure he had missed a spot. He finally gave up, not able to see more of that, and took them off and began wiping at that maddening spot.

He could tell that Xander was shaking his head and Spike was wickedly doing that … thing with his breasts. Breasts? He shuddered. With a sinking feeling, he realized that he was the only male in the group. Their group already had too many female members, they certainly didn't need more. It was a déj�* vu to the feeling he had when Angel and Oz had left leaving him to be the only adult, which really didn't change when Spike joined. And he wasn't even going to go there. He still couldn't figure out how that happened.

When he replaced his glasses once more, he looked hesitantly in the direction of Xander and Spike. Why were they standing so close to each other… and to him? Thankfully, Spike stopped his - toying… and Xander was no longer angry. They were looking at him expectantly now. It was as if they were hoping he would present them with the answer to their problem that very second.

He shook his head. Why do they all always expect him to find the right answer instantly?

He looked away from his current annoyance and was only irritated more at the sight of the messy living room. Now he noticed the sleeping bag and sheets, which clearly meant they had spent the night here although one would assume they lived here as well from the chaos.

He remembered the unpleasant days when Spike used to live with him. A terrified shudder came when he remembered his stay in Xander's dank basement. I really hate the Initiative.

Turning his gaze to the hopeful two, he asked, "Why don't you clean this mess right now before we try to figure this out?"

Xander and Spike shared a look then burst into unwomanly gales of laughter, leaning into each other for support.

Apparently, their misfortune brought them to common ground. Giles sighed and tried again, bluntly asking, “When will Buffy be back?"

As quick as the laughter began it stopped and the two bodies enjoyed a second of stillness before immediately rushing to clean up the garbage.

Giles closed his eyes tiredly.

When will Buffy be back?

buffy4ever · 07-01-2009, 04:49 PM

Another great update. I really love your writing.

fresley4ever · 07-01-2009, 11:42 PM

**ashleyt** · 07-02-2009, 10:55 AM

Poor Giles

Sosa Lola · 07-03-2009, 12:27 AM

Part Nine A:

"Willow, do I have to?"

Willow sighed, tired of this already. She had thought she got the good end of the deal when Dawn called dibs on shopping with Spike, but now she wished it was the other way around. Spike leering at her with his perceptive grins was a whole lot better than Xander's whining. She thought he was bad as a boy, but she had no idea!

"Again, no. You can't keep wearing the same clothes everyday. I didn't keep—uh, Tara's clothes won't take this much abuse."

Xander poked at the outfit in front of him. "Why do I have to look at skirts? It's not the Dark Ages, you know."

Willow glared at the unyielding finger. "You need to own at least one skirt, Xander. You don't know when one might come in handy."

Xander crossed his arms. "I picked one, but you didn't approve." He stuck up his nose.

Willow pointed at said skirt, still clear from a distance. "You mean that tight checkered skirt?" She turned accusing eyes towards him. "The one only available in the smallest size they have and with as many colors in it a rainbow would hide its head in the sand from the shame of it all?"

Xander had the dignity to blush. "I always wanted a kilt."

"Which again that wasn't!"

Hands waved in front of her face. "Calm down, Will, don’t want you getting any anger lines."

Willow covered her face and whimpered. With a deep breath, she straightened and turned Xander around, pushing him towards a new selection of clothes.

"Now, remember, Xander… it's either this or you walking around with no bra … and you'll actually feel first hand why every ‘blessing’ comes with a price."

Xander looked sideways at her skeptically. But with narrowed eyes, he turned back and carefully inspected the underwear. According to all those shows on television, women were really finicky about what they wore, especially on the inside, even though no one was going to see it other than their respectable other. And even then, Xander knew from experience, they cared for what was underneath. Sure the wrapping could be nice, but the present inside was several kinds of 'nice'.

Therefore, there had to be some other reason to care so much about picking out lingerie. Xander was determined to find out. He reached forward for the undergarments, but a short distance from reaching it his hand froze. He never 'really' touched any… other than that time those damn frat boys pushed him into one, and he took that off as soon as he was clear. He actually shuddered to think of who wore that. As for with Anya, she was always so eager for sex, he barely had time to see her in them before they magically disappeared and she was on him. And for the one that was on him, well that didn't count, Buffy had strapped it on him and he had yet to take it off.

Uh, maybe Willow was right. Gross.

He pulled back his hand. He drew closer to the hanged garments and leaned his head over to peek inside at the tiny paper. He squinted to read it. The answer to women might be in there.

Willow bit her lip, feeling her nails dig into her flesh. She didn't realize she was clenching her fists until the pain registered. And why wasn't she letting go? Because there was a high chance that she would punch Xander. She raked her brain, trying to think why that was a bad idea.

"Willow?"

That caused her to jump. Xander was too enwrapped in his 'reading' to notice. But Willow did, she knew that voice better than her own.

Though whenever I hear my voice on tape it sounds like someone else...

Even in the most unusual of circumstances, she couldn't keep herself from babbling, at least this time it was in her brain. She hoped.

"Oh, Tara!"

Tara’s vision swung from Willow to the brunette with her back to them. The other girl was currently wearing the clothes Tara was oddly missing when she had packed. The dark-haired girl was apparently buying garments with the girlfriend whom Tara had recently reconciled with post rough breakup.

Willow's eyes grew twice as large. She was able to read what Tara was thinking, something anyone else in such a situation would exactly think. She was out with a girl, who was wearing her girlfriend’s clothes, not soon after they had gotten back together. Clearly the brunette had had a busy night, slept over and didn't have spare clothes so she’d worn the leftovers. And now the lovebirds were shopping together - lingerie, albeit it was at Wal-Mart. But, the thought was what counted, right? And that was something some saw as being even more intimate than spending the night. The only problem was… it was not true!

"No, no, Tara. It’s not what you think… it's Xander. Xander is a girl. Xander is a girl! He…"

She couldn't say anymore because it was really hard to talk with a hand plastered against your mouth.

"Oh, louder, why don't you, Willow?" Xander hissed in her ear. "Don't think that tattooed-biker-guy heard you. Jeez.”

Willow mumbled something that Xander chose to interpret as an apology.

He pulled back with a relieved sigh. "I was never more thankful that Spike couldn't go out in the day." He referred to the lack of customers at that time of night.

Tara took it all in stride, it was the Hellmouth after all. She shook her head. "So, what happened? And what does Spike have to do with this?"

Willow opened her mouth, but Xander gave her a warning glare and she snapped it back shut.

He turned to Tara. "Short version. Anya wanted to curse me… needed a chick… couldn't get one of my friends to do it - needed someone who doesn't give a damn. Surprise: Spike."

Tara tried to say something, yet Xander kept on going, "But, Spike is a guy, so she needed him to be a girl for the cursing thing to work and had Harmony of all people to vengeance-wish him a girl … and in turn he wished me without my manly bits and now…" He poked his thumb into the air behind him. "I'm buying lingerie!"

Tara blinked. She waited a few seconds and when no more flying words came out she nodded. "I thought your aura looked familiar." She looked at Willow. "What spells did you use to try and change them back?"

That had Willow speaking up no matter what Xander thought. "Not one. You were busy with class so I thought not to bother you. I was gonna tell you tomorrow though." She blushed.

That seemed to be enough for Tara. She smiled proudly at Willow. "You did well. After all, only a vengeance demon can break her own curse."

Xander snorted. "Tell that to Giles and Buffy who're still researching back at HQ."

Willow drew closer to Tara conspiringly. "Actually I think they knew better than to go shopping with Xander and Spike Gone Femme. It’s scary." Fact was, when Buffy had finally returned home, she promptly decided that Spike and Xander couldn't keep walking around in hand-me-downs, it was unwomanly, and that there was a need for an impromptu visit to Wal-Mart. Spike and Xander had changed back into last night's clothes, much to Giles' relief, Willow had noticed, and were sent out with Willow and Dawn plus a list of groceries. And yes, if the boys-in-disguise were on their good behavior, they could buy snacks, but not too much, because it would ruin their figure.

"Hey!"

Tara giggled at Xander's outrage. "Where is Spike anyway?"

Willow smiled at Tara's ease and acceptance of the situation. "Dawn is chaperoning him. It seemed like a good idea at first…" She and Tara shared a wince.

"Maybe we should see how they're doing?"

Willow sighed. "I wish. We haven't even bought one thing for Xander." She perked up. "Hey wanna help? Two minds are better than one."

Tara grinned widely and nodded drawing closer to Willow. Without delay, they started looking through things, occasionally glancing at Xander with calculating looks.

Xander gaped. "What about my third mind? Girls… Will… Tara?" He ran up to catch them barely stopping to pick up the now full basket. "Put down those high heels!"

fresley4ever · 07-03-2009, 12:30 AM

Cool

**ashleyt** · 07-03-2009, 08:30 AM

I need to see Girl Xander in heels

buffy4ever · 07-03-2009, 02:36 PM

Me too.

Aw, poor Willow.

fresley4ever · 07-04-2009, 01:50 AM

Sosa Lola · 07-04-2009, 09:24 AM

Part Nine B:

Spike and Dawn walked along the piles of clothes, looking for yet more clothes for the second basket they had. They had the same taste in outfits. Dawn wasn't shocked at all about Spike's stylish choice in clothes - as stylish as Wal-Mart clothes could get.

Her eyes caught the cute earrings hanging with similar accessories. She checked their price and found that they cost five dollars. Well, they were cute, but, five dollars? They didn't deserve such a price. Well, no one would notice them if she …

No. She had promised Buffy. But, how would Buffy know?

"Better pay for those, Bit."

She startled, turning her wide eyes at Spike's knowing stare.

"I like the way your mind works," he said. "But I don't want to be a pile of dust by big sis' favorite stake."

Nor do I want to see her getting hurt, but no way I'm saying that to the chatty rugrat.

"I wasn't …" Dawn began, but trailed off at Spike's raised eyebrow. "How did you know?" she whispered sheepishly.

"Your heartbeat sped up a little, and the way you gazed at them. Easy to tell." He shrugged. Vampire hearing was the best; he could make a fortune acting as a lie detector, given that the person lying had a working heart.

"You're not gonna tell Buffy about this, are you?" Dawn asked, worried.

"Well, I'm evil. Of course, I would. But tell you this- with humble 'blackmail', shall we say, I'm keeping my sweet plump lips shut." He smirked nastily.

Dawn glared. "What do you want?"

"Me and you, Bit, sneaking at Xandra in the shower with a cam, for a little leverage of my own on him, how does that sound?"

Dawn smirked wickedly. "Sounds like a fair trade." Then she poked him in the chest playfully. "Just don't take advantage of him 'too' much."

"Cross my dead heart and hope for a third date with Mr. Pointy."

They chuckled maliciously, before Dawn took the earrings and put them in the basket. She turned to Spike. "At least Xander is paying for all this stuff."

Knew there was a real reason to me liking her.

Spike fingered a skimpy beige top with a single strap and brown and light purple smudges, glittery in the front and back. It would barely cover anything and would defiantly show his well defined stomach.

"What do you think of this?" he asked her while checking out two similar tops which only differed in their special shade of violet.

Dawn stared at it in awe. "Wild and sexy. Can I have it when you go back to being a manly big bad?"

Spike tilted his head, looking between it and Dawn. "Will Buffy let you wear it?"

"She doesn't need to know." She flung her hair back in rebellion.

Spike grinned and placed the shirt in the already overflowing basket, most would more than likely be worn by Dawn, bought under the pretence that Spike needed them. Spike felt like he wanted to spoil the kid, which was easy since it wasn't coming out of his pocket.

"Guess you're gonna have to make more space in that stacked dresser of yours then." He was distracted from her squeal and hug when his eyes caught a glittery bit in the accessory section that Dawn was facing before.

**ashleyt** · 07-04-2009, 09:45 AM

Awww that's so cute.

buffy4ever · 07-04-2009, 02:38 PM

I agree. I love your Spike, he's so adorable.

Sosa Lola · 07-04-2009, 09:41 PM

Part Nine C:

"Oh, look there they are." Tara waved at Dawn who waved back. They all had good timing as they were heading at the same time towards the checkout. Tara grimaced. There was no way they were leaving early if they added up the three full baskets that the Dawn and Spike to the two she and Willow had filled.

Tara had come to the store at this hour of the night because she needed to shop for particular items in a short time but that didn't seem likely now.

Oh, well, it was fun to shop with Willow and Xander.

She looked at Spike as he walked beside Dawn, grinning at her and making her laugh. He was really attractive as a woman, but she guessed that she would have recognized him even if Xander and Willow hadn't filled her in on the new predicament, as the female vampire still had the most prominent features Spike had before the curse. It was interesting to see that he held himself the same way in the unchanged attire. He still walked the same way demanding attention from everyone with the confidence of someone knowing that they were very attractive and they expected everyone to acknowledge that. And by the looks of the few people scattered in the store at this time of night, it was working.

It was different with Xander. He had always been timid in the way he presented himself compared to other men, but still held himself with confidence. However, it was like all of that was sucked out of him when he changed sexes. He was more slumped into himself, unsure of anything - just not feeling comfortable in his new skin like Spike was. And if Tara knew them, and she thought she did, Spike had acted more positive to rile Xander even more.

Tara opened her mouth as she turned her head to Willow to share her thoughts with her. Instead, she frowned when she noticed that her girlfriend's attention was on something else – or on someone else in particular. Tara didn't need to follow Willow’s gaze to know that she was looking at Spike. The vampire had exuded raw sexuality before Anya made him a female so much so that Tara could feel it. It wasn't surprising that as a woman, Willow would find him more striking.

A side grin appeared on Tara's face.

"Willow, what's so interesting?" she asked openly. "Are you looking at Spike? He is really pretty as a female, isn't he?"

Willow froze and shook her head frantically. "Spike?" She chuckled hesitantly. "What are you talking about? Oh, look there he is with Dawn… I hadn't noticed. I was engrossed in that poster that he and Dawnie are walking in front of." She giggled lightly at Tara's mistake. "Yeah, that's it." She nodded, raising her head in proud self-assurance.

"You're looking at 'Condoms 10%' off?" Tara blinked at a frozen Willow. "Is there something you need to tell me, Will?"

When Willow actually read what the sign said, she flushed a bright shade of red and started apologizing, telling Tara how much she loved her and how she wouldn't look at anyone else, she promised!

Tara felt sorry for playing that way with her girlfriend and hugged her as Dawn and Spike drew closer, telling her it was okay, she didn't blame her, that like she had said Spike was very good-looking and that she loved her too.

Xander growled. It was like he wasn't even there. Tara now was all but writing her application to Chick Spike Appreciation Club. Spike and Dawn were laughing and obviously had a fun time, not like him, acting closer than they were the summer Buffy was--away. They were giggling and looking at him like they were 'girl friends' carrying so many clothes, he was going to be bankrupted. But 'oh wait' like Giles mentioned; that since it was 'technically' Xander's fault that he had angered Anya, causing all this mess in the first place, the least he could do was chip in to buy clothes for him and Spike. After all, the money he had saved for the Honeymoon was just 'sitting there'.

Stupid not-tweedy-any-more-Giles. What a time to not be British!

"Guess you're a girl at heart- eh, Spike?"

Spike only raised an eyebrow. "That's weak, Harris, even for you."

The checkout girl who was half way through their purchases by now heard the name Harris and asked Xander if he was related to 'Rebecca Harris'.

Xander looked flustered as he paid her and took the receipt. Mumbling, he said he didn't know who she was talking about, yes, he would like paper, please, and sorry he couldn't stay and chat they had some girly movie to catch. He picked up one of the bags and rushed out to his car with the sounds of Spike and Dawn laughing following him out.

His thoughts raged.

Stupid Spike for making fun of him. Stupid Dawn for choosing to mock him with Spike. Stupid Willow for having the hots for Spike. Stupid Tara for agreeing that Spike was hot. Stupid Buffy and Giles for sending them here in the first place, bet they think Spike is hot too. Stupid everyone.

"Harris!" Spike called.

"What?" Xander muttered gruffly, jerking open the car door. He exhaled wearily, turning his eyes Spike's way.

"Catch." Spike threw a little shiny trinket at him. Xander caught it easily then gazed down at it. It was a bracelet, a nice looking one, not like he was an expert or anything. He looked up at Spike, confusion written all over his face.

Spike shrugged. "Thought it'd look good on you." With that he placed the two bags he held in one arm in the trunk and helped the girls with rest. Not out of his kind-female-vampire-un-dead-heart, he had a soap he didn't want to miss.

Xander blinked stupidly for few minutes, and then smiled shaking his head. He threw the bracelet on top of the dashboard and didn't say anything when Spike sat in the front seat with him as he pulled away from the market and headed back to the Summers' residence. His eyes would occasionally fall to the dashboard before snapping them up, worried that someone might notice, but unable to help stop the smile from growing.

He caught himself doing that in the review mirror.

He decided that he was really 'pretty' when he smiled.

~*~*~*~

**ashleyt** · 07-05-2009, 08:11 AM

It's good to see that Xander's a little more comfortable as a girl. I wonder how they're going to fix things.

wilywiccan · 07-05-2009, 02:55 PM

I think that Xander should get a free pass for the rest of his life. I mean, he had his eye poked out with someone's finger. He's suffered enough.