A fic what I wrote
Jun. 28th, 2004 10:28 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
moonlettuceSo, a while back I wrote a story for the zine 'Lover's Walk'. And today I found a copy of it, making me think 'Hmmm, can I post this online yet?' Cue more hunting around a pile of papers until I find the list of zine stories and when they time out, and lo and behold! June 2004. Which is now. So, with much muttering towards fate and destiny and karma and the cosmic balance of the universe hanging by a thread until someone, *anyone*, cooks chocolate chip cookies for the monsters who hide in the shadows and wear pink taffeta when we aren't looking, I decided to post. So I am. Wheeeeee!
Falling From My Lips
by Claire
He doesn't know where it came from, this want, this desire. All Xander Harris knows is that one minute he was cursing the day that Angelus ever laid eyes on a boy called William, and the next he's underneath Spike, trying to get as close to the vampire's skin as physically possible.
"Spike," the word is little more than a moan, as Xander's fingers dance under Spike's T-shirt, skimming over cool skin. "Oh god, Spike."
"I'm here, pet."
But he's not. And Xander whimpers with loss as Spike pulls away. Breaking contact with Xander just long enough to pull the black T-shirt over his head and throw it into a corner. And then Spike is back, and there is no barrier between Xander's fingers and Spike's skin.
"Xan."
His name is a whisper in his ear as Spike's tongue curls around his lobe and teeth nibble gently.
"Xan, move."
And his shirt is tugged out of his jeans, pulled over his head as he wriggles under Spike, helping the vampire, until cool air blows across his already hardened nipples and skin comes into contact with skin.
But Spike's fingers don't stop as they busy themselves with Xander's jeans. Undoing buttons and pushing the offending material down off Xander's hips. And Xander wants to help, but his body just won't obey him anymore, so he lets Spike move from his position on top of him until his jeans and shorts slide down his legs and he's naked.
And he's not sure when Spike did it, but the vampire that settles back on Xander's thighs is decidedly naked. Naked and erect, leaking precome onto Xander's skin. And gooseflesh raises where the liquid falls, cold liquid on to Xander's already overheated body.
"Spike."
And if that's all he can say then it'll be enough, because Spike is all he wants, all he needs.
"Please."
And then Spike's fingers are there, slick with something, he doesn't know what, doesn't care what. They're pushing inside him, and Xander is right where he wants to be...
***
Xander's body is hot, too hot, and Spike feels like his fingers are burning. But if this is what it's like to be consumed by fire then Spike welcomes it, welcomes the heat. And he can feel Xander's body pulsing around him, and Christ, he's so hot and so alive and all Spike wants to do is bury himself in Xander and never come out.
"Want you. Wanna mark you, break you, fuck you, bite you."
"Then do it." Xander's eyes are so dilated Spike can only see a ring of brown around a pool of black.
He wants to, wants to do everything to Xander, wants to make him scream, but... "the chip."
"Fuck the chip. The chip doesn't matter, Spike, not here."
He wonders if that's true, wonders if the chip will realise Xander *wants* this, wants him. And he can feel his face itching, feel the demon ready to come out and claim its mate.
"Let it out, Spike. I want you, *all* of you."
And Spike isn't holding back anymore. Xander's hands slowly reach up and trace the ridges that adorn his face.
"Fuck me, Spike."
And Spike wants to, doesn't care anymore if it'll set the chip off. He'd face pain a thousand times worse for the chance to be buried in Xander's heat. Pulling his fingers out of the boy under him, he lines his cock up with the entrance to Xander's body.
"Do it, Spike."
So he does. Plunges into Xander, plunges into the heat, the tightness, plunges into molten silk. And he's so tight, holding Spike. But Spike's body is on automatic, ploughing into the heat it seeks. And Xander's fingers wrap around Spike's arms, and the vampire can feel the warmth cover him, surround him.
Xander is writhing under him, mewling with each push into him and whimpering with each pull out. And Spike knows he's found the one thing he needs, the one thing that makes him complete. But he still wants more. And Xander knows it, is tilting his head to the side, exposing his neck. Spike is torn between caution and want, but the demon roars. Lowering his face to Xander's neck he slides his fangs into the skin, feeling the liquid rush out and burst onto his tongue.
And if vampires have a salvation then Spike knows he's found it. He's found it as Xander screams, coming, spreading slickness between their bodies. And as he clamps down on Spike, the blond follows, emptying a soul he doesn't have into the heat he craves so badly...
***
Xander jerked awake, breathing heavily. He could still feel Spike's touch on his skin, and his body was trembling. Half afraid that no dream could feel that real, Xander's hand slowly went to his neck, checking for bite marks. Feeling both relieved and foolish when he found none, he dropped back onto the pillows, grimacing when he realised he felt sticky and cold around his middle. Jesus, he hadn't had a wet dream go that far since he was 16. He was thankful Anya was staying over at her own apartment tonight. He had no wish to explain to his girlfriend just why he'd come in his sleep, especially when she had the uncanny ability of being able to force the truth out of him just by giving him *that look*.
Peeling back the covers Xander pushed himself out of the bed, needing to get rid of the come and sweat he could feel sticking to his body.
Padding into the bathroom he walked to the shower and stepped in, turning it on. As the droplets of warm water began to hit him Xander turned the water up to full power and closed his eyes. He felt the droplets of water turn into a torrent, beating down almost painfully onto his body, cleansing him of the dream and the thoughts of Spike raging through his mind. As the water ran down his chest and washed away the sweat and come lingering on him, Xander began to feel human again. Reaching for the showers controls, Xander turned up the heat and stepped once more into the full force of the shower, feeling the water envelop him in a single, drenching flood. Holding his hands above him, he momentarily stopped the water from hitting him, before moving them and lifting his face, feeling as his hair was slicked back by the force of the water. Opening his lips, he let the torrent of hot water fill his mouth until it over-spilled and ran down his neck. Bringing a hand up, he ran his fingers through the water running over his throat. He could feel his pulse racing under his fingertips and, as he tightened his hold around his throat, his mind flicked back to the images from the dream, to the sensation of Spike's fangs sliding into his skin. Crying out in frustration Xander pulled his hand away from his neck and brought his head forward, spitting the remainder of the water out of his mouth. Reaching out sharply he turned the shower off and stepped out, grabbing a towel.
Walking back through to the bedroom Xander roughly towelled himself dry, dropping the now damp towel to the floor. He was too awake to go back to sleep. Debating with himself for a brief moment, he quickly pulled out some clothes and got dressed. He knew that going out at this time of night was madness but he couldn't help it, he had to get out of the apartment. Picking up a stake and cross and pushing them into his pockets on the way to the door, Xander left his apartment and headed out into the night.
***
Spike arched up in bed, cursing. He didn't know where the dream came from, but it could bloody well go back there. He was *not* going to start dreaming about the whelp. Okay, so the boy had big brown eyes and... /Stop it!/
Throwing the covers back in frustration, Spike stared in shock at his wilted cock and the sticky mess on the sheets. Damn it, he'd only just nicked these sheets and now he'd have to go and get some more. Swinging his legs out of the bed, Spike used the sheet to wipe himself down, growling about the fact that crypts had no running water. How dare Xander Harris do this to him. Getting up, Spike started to pace. How dare Xander make Spike dream about him, make Spike *come* from dreaming about him. Grabbing the sheet off the bed, Spike started to tear it into strips, throwing each one into the corner of the crypt as it ripped away. When he had nothing left in his hands, Spike continued to pace, his skin still tingling. His demon screamed at him, needing to do something, anything, to abate the itching under his flesh. Whenever he'd felt like this in the past he'd gone to Angelus, the other vampire holding him down and fucking him until the need left. But Angelus wasn't there anymore, and Spike'd be damned before he'd go to Angel with this, even if his sire was the only one who knew how to deal with Spike when he was like this.
So, if Spike couldn't fuck, he'd do the next best thing - fight. Pulling on his jeans and a T-shirt, Spike grabbed his duster and headed out of the crypt.
***
/Go home. Go home. Go home./
The mantra repeated itself in Xander's head with each step he took. He *knew* it was stupid coming out onto the streets of Sunnydale at night. Knew that he may as well hang a neon sign around his neck with the words 'vamp food' written on it. But he also knew that he couldn't sit in the apartment. There was no way he could go back to sleep after that little dream, and even the shadows were starting to look like Spike. He just didn't understand it. He had an attractive girlfriend who loved sex, so why was he dreaming about a chain-smoking vampire with a sarcasm problem?
"Argh!" Xander growled to himself. "Why me? Why couldn't Buffy fall for Spike instead?" Xander stopped in his tracks, realising what he'd just said. Fall for Spike? Who said that he'd fallen for Spike? "I have *not* fallen for Spike." Xander sighed, even he could hear the lie in his words. He looked up at the half moon shining down on him. "Yeah, go ahead and laugh. It's not *you* who's been hit with this."
"Well, well, what have we here?"
Spinning around, Xander turned to face the direction of the voice, swallowing heavily when two vampires started to advance on him.
"Looks like dinner to me," the second vampire answered.
Pushing his hands into his pocket, Xander wrapped his fingers around the cross and stake, just managing to pull them out before the vampires pounced.
***
It didn't take Spike long to find what he was looking for. He could sense the other vampires just around the corner. Probably a couple of minions out looking for anyone stupid enough to be out at this time of night. Spike snorted. Yeah, like anyone who'd lived in Sunnyhell for any amount of time would be moronic enough to be out after dark. The only person they were likely to run into was the Slayer, and they wouldn't even be alive long enough to see her.
Turning the corner, Spike saw that he was wrong and the other two vampires had actually found someone. Hanging back slightly, he decided to attack them after they'd eaten. After all, a fed vampire was more of a challenge than a hungry one, and Spike didn't feel like an easy kill. Besides, whoever it was they had cornered only had themselves to blame. They shouldn't have been such an idiot to come out and walk the streets.
And then one of the vampires moved, and Spike saw who the idiot was... "Oh, bloody hell."
And he hadn't even made the decision before his feet were moving. "Oi!" he yelled, closing the distance between them in record time and jumping onto the vampire nearest to Xander. Xander, whose eyes widened as Spike came out of the darkness, before turning to the other vamp, cross in hand.
Spike had never been quite sure why he decided carrying a stake was a good idea for a vampire, but he's glad he did. And the youngling hardly struggled as Spike held him down by the throat and thrust the stake into his chest, watching as the minion shattered into dust.
Not even pausing to brush the remains of the vampire off himself, Spike was back on his feet, unbeating heart leaping as he saw Xander underneath the second vampire with fangs too close to his throat. But he needn't have worried as the vampire exploded, leaving only Xander, lying on his back, with a stake in his hand. And even though he didn't know where the relief came from, he let it wash over him anyway.
***
Xander tried to calm his breathing. He knew coming out at this time of night was asking for trouble, but he'd done it anyway. He supposed he'd got what he deserved. Only, there was no way he could have taken both the vampires, knew he owed his life to...
"Spike."
"Xa... Harris."
Xander looked at the outstretched hand, remembering how the fingers had felt inside of him and suddenly glad of the darkness to hide the flush that he was sure was crossing his face.
"Look, are you gonna let me help you up, or stay there until the sun starts shinin'?"
Shaking himself out of his reverie, Xander grasped the hand and let Spike help him to his feet. "Thanks."
"My pleasure, pet."
And Xander didn't know why, but Spike's hand was still in his, cool fingers wrapped around warm.
***
"Spike." And, god, Xander sounded like he did in the dream. But he'd never heard it before, never heard the breathy hitch in Xander's voice when he said Spike's name. But he wanted to hear it again. And Spike needed to know if Xander tasted as good as Spike dreamed.
Xander didn't protest as he was pulled towards Spike, didn't protest as Spike's mouth descended on his.
Lips opened under Spike's and a warm tongue lapped at his teeth. And then Spike knew, knew that Xander tasted sweeter than he could have ever imagined, knew that he'd found salvation after all.
***
D'Hoffryn frowned as he watched the woman next to him look into the scrying pool he had created. "Are you sure you want this?"
Anya nodded. "I want to come back to you, D'Hoffryn, but I can't leave Xander alone. This way, I know he has someone to look out for him."
"You love him." It wasn't a question.
Anya turned and looked at the older demon. "Yes, I do," she answered truthfully. "But my place isn't with him, it's here. It just took me this long to realise it."
"And you're sure you want him with the vampire?"
Anya laughed softly. "*He* wants to be with Spike. And Spike wants to be with him." Turning back to the scrying pool, she studied the image of her ex-boyfriend kissing Spike on Sunnydale Main Street. "He'd better watch it though. If he hurts Xander I'll make him regret it, vampire or not."
D'Hoffryn smiled. "Spoken like the young woman I knew a thousand years ago." Reaching into the pocket of his robes, he pulled out a necklace and held it out.
Almost hesitantly, Anya opened her hand, eyes fixed on D'Hoffryn as he dropped the necklace into her palm.
"Welcome home, Anyanka."
Closing her fingers around the necklace, Anya smiled. The dream she'd had D'Hoffryn send to both Xander and Spike worked out exactly as she'd hoped it would. And now everything was as it was supposed to be. Xander and Spike were together, and the vengeance power centre was where it was meant to be - with her. Fastening the chain around her neck, Anya opened her mind, hearing the first call for vengeance in nearly two years. Oh yes, she thought, as she fixed on the young woman calling for her services, everything's worked out just beautifully. And then she vanished.
The End.
Falling From My Lips
by Claire
He doesn't know where it came from, this want, this desire. All Xander Harris knows is that one minute he was cursing the day that Angelus ever laid eyes on a boy called William, and the next he's underneath Spike, trying to get as close to the vampire's skin as physically possible.
"Spike," the word is little more than a moan, as Xander's fingers dance under Spike's T-shirt, skimming over cool skin. "Oh god, Spike."
"I'm here, pet."
But he's not. And Xander whimpers with loss as Spike pulls away. Breaking contact with Xander just long enough to pull the black T-shirt over his head and throw it into a corner. And then Spike is back, and there is no barrier between Xander's fingers and Spike's skin.
"Xan."
His name is a whisper in his ear as Spike's tongue curls around his lobe and teeth nibble gently.
"Xan, move."
And his shirt is tugged out of his jeans, pulled over his head as he wriggles under Spike, helping the vampire, until cool air blows across his already hardened nipples and skin comes into contact with skin.
But Spike's fingers don't stop as they busy themselves with Xander's jeans. Undoing buttons and pushing the offending material down off Xander's hips. And Xander wants to help, but his body just won't obey him anymore, so he lets Spike move from his position on top of him until his jeans and shorts slide down his legs and he's naked.
And he's not sure when Spike did it, but the vampire that settles back on Xander's thighs is decidedly naked. Naked and erect, leaking precome onto Xander's skin. And gooseflesh raises where the liquid falls, cold liquid on to Xander's already overheated body.
"Spike."
And if that's all he can say then it'll be enough, because Spike is all he wants, all he needs.
"Please."
And then Spike's fingers are there, slick with something, he doesn't know what, doesn't care what. They're pushing inside him, and Xander is right where he wants to be...
***
Xander's body is hot, too hot, and Spike feels like his fingers are burning. But if this is what it's like to be consumed by fire then Spike welcomes it, welcomes the heat. And he can feel Xander's body pulsing around him, and Christ, he's so hot and so alive and all Spike wants to do is bury himself in Xander and never come out.
"Want you. Wanna mark you, break you, fuck you, bite you."
"Then do it." Xander's eyes are so dilated Spike can only see a ring of brown around a pool of black.
He wants to, wants to do everything to Xander, wants to make him scream, but... "the chip."
"Fuck the chip. The chip doesn't matter, Spike, not here."
He wonders if that's true, wonders if the chip will realise Xander *wants* this, wants him. And he can feel his face itching, feel the demon ready to come out and claim its mate.
"Let it out, Spike. I want you, *all* of you."
And Spike isn't holding back anymore. Xander's hands slowly reach up and trace the ridges that adorn his face.
"Fuck me, Spike."
And Spike wants to, doesn't care anymore if it'll set the chip off. He'd face pain a thousand times worse for the chance to be buried in Xander's heat. Pulling his fingers out of the boy under him, he lines his cock up with the entrance to Xander's body.
"Do it, Spike."
So he does. Plunges into Xander, plunges into the heat, the tightness, plunges into molten silk. And he's so tight, holding Spike. But Spike's body is on automatic, ploughing into the heat it seeks. And Xander's fingers wrap around Spike's arms, and the vampire can feel the warmth cover him, surround him.
Xander is writhing under him, mewling with each push into him and whimpering with each pull out. And Spike knows he's found the one thing he needs, the one thing that makes him complete. But he still wants more. And Xander knows it, is tilting his head to the side, exposing his neck. Spike is torn between caution and want, but the demon roars. Lowering his face to Xander's neck he slides his fangs into the skin, feeling the liquid rush out and burst onto his tongue.
And if vampires have a salvation then Spike knows he's found it. He's found it as Xander screams, coming, spreading slickness between their bodies. And as he clamps down on Spike, the blond follows, emptying a soul he doesn't have into the heat he craves so badly...
***
Xander jerked awake, breathing heavily. He could still feel Spike's touch on his skin, and his body was trembling. Half afraid that no dream could feel that real, Xander's hand slowly went to his neck, checking for bite marks. Feeling both relieved and foolish when he found none, he dropped back onto the pillows, grimacing when he realised he felt sticky and cold around his middle. Jesus, he hadn't had a wet dream go that far since he was 16. He was thankful Anya was staying over at her own apartment tonight. He had no wish to explain to his girlfriend just why he'd come in his sleep, especially when she had the uncanny ability of being able to force the truth out of him just by giving him *that look*.
Peeling back the covers Xander pushed himself out of the bed, needing to get rid of the come and sweat he could feel sticking to his body.
Padding into the bathroom he walked to the shower and stepped in, turning it on. As the droplets of warm water began to hit him Xander turned the water up to full power and closed his eyes. He felt the droplets of water turn into a torrent, beating down almost painfully onto his body, cleansing him of the dream and the thoughts of Spike raging through his mind. As the water ran down his chest and washed away the sweat and come lingering on him, Xander began to feel human again. Reaching for the showers controls, Xander turned up the heat and stepped once more into the full force of the shower, feeling the water envelop him in a single, drenching flood. Holding his hands above him, he momentarily stopped the water from hitting him, before moving them and lifting his face, feeling as his hair was slicked back by the force of the water. Opening his lips, he let the torrent of hot water fill his mouth until it over-spilled and ran down his neck. Bringing a hand up, he ran his fingers through the water running over his throat. He could feel his pulse racing under his fingertips and, as he tightened his hold around his throat, his mind flicked back to the images from the dream, to the sensation of Spike's fangs sliding into his skin. Crying out in frustration Xander pulled his hand away from his neck and brought his head forward, spitting the remainder of the water out of his mouth. Reaching out sharply he turned the shower off and stepped out, grabbing a towel.
Walking back through to the bedroom Xander roughly towelled himself dry, dropping the now damp towel to the floor. He was too awake to go back to sleep. Debating with himself for a brief moment, he quickly pulled out some clothes and got dressed. He knew that going out at this time of night was madness but he couldn't help it, he had to get out of the apartment. Picking up a stake and cross and pushing them into his pockets on the way to the door, Xander left his apartment and headed out into the night.
***
Spike arched up in bed, cursing. He didn't know where the dream came from, but it could bloody well go back there. He was *not* going to start dreaming about the whelp. Okay, so the boy had big brown eyes and... /Stop it!/
Throwing the covers back in frustration, Spike stared in shock at his wilted cock and the sticky mess on the sheets. Damn it, he'd only just nicked these sheets and now he'd have to go and get some more. Swinging his legs out of the bed, Spike used the sheet to wipe himself down, growling about the fact that crypts had no running water. How dare Xander Harris do this to him. Getting up, Spike started to pace. How dare Xander make Spike dream about him, make Spike *come* from dreaming about him. Grabbing the sheet off the bed, Spike started to tear it into strips, throwing each one into the corner of the crypt as it ripped away. When he had nothing left in his hands, Spike continued to pace, his skin still tingling. His demon screamed at him, needing to do something, anything, to abate the itching under his flesh. Whenever he'd felt like this in the past he'd gone to Angelus, the other vampire holding him down and fucking him until the need left. But Angelus wasn't there anymore, and Spike'd be damned before he'd go to Angel with this, even if his sire was the only one who knew how to deal with Spike when he was like this.
So, if Spike couldn't fuck, he'd do the next best thing - fight. Pulling on his jeans and a T-shirt, Spike grabbed his duster and headed out of the crypt.
***
/Go home. Go home. Go home./
The mantra repeated itself in Xander's head with each step he took. He *knew* it was stupid coming out onto the streets of Sunnydale at night. Knew that he may as well hang a neon sign around his neck with the words 'vamp food' written on it. But he also knew that he couldn't sit in the apartment. There was no way he could go back to sleep after that little dream, and even the shadows were starting to look like Spike. He just didn't understand it. He had an attractive girlfriend who loved sex, so why was he dreaming about a chain-smoking vampire with a sarcasm problem?
"Argh!" Xander growled to himself. "Why me? Why couldn't Buffy fall for Spike instead?" Xander stopped in his tracks, realising what he'd just said. Fall for Spike? Who said that he'd fallen for Spike? "I have *not* fallen for Spike." Xander sighed, even he could hear the lie in his words. He looked up at the half moon shining down on him. "Yeah, go ahead and laugh. It's not *you* who's been hit with this."
"Well, well, what have we here?"
Spinning around, Xander turned to face the direction of the voice, swallowing heavily when two vampires started to advance on him.
"Looks like dinner to me," the second vampire answered.
Pushing his hands into his pocket, Xander wrapped his fingers around the cross and stake, just managing to pull them out before the vampires pounced.
***
It didn't take Spike long to find what he was looking for. He could sense the other vampires just around the corner. Probably a couple of minions out looking for anyone stupid enough to be out at this time of night. Spike snorted. Yeah, like anyone who'd lived in Sunnyhell for any amount of time would be moronic enough to be out after dark. The only person they were likely to run into was the Slayer, and they wouldn't even be alive long enough to see her.
Turning the corner, Spike saw that he was wrong and the other two vampires had actually found someone. Hanging back slightly, he decided to attack them after they'd eaten. After all, a fed vampire was more of a challenge than a hungry one, and Spike didn't feel like an easy kill. Besides, whoever it was they had cornered only had themselves to blame. They shouldn't have been such an idiot to come out and walk the streets.
And then one of the vampires moved, and Spike saw who the idiot was... "Oh, bloody hell."
And he hadn't even made the decision before his feet were moving. "Oi!" he yelled, closing the distance between them in record time and jumping onto the vampire nearest to Xander. Xander, whose eyes widened as Spike came out of the darkness, before turning to the other vamp, cross in hand.
Spike had never been quite sure why he decided carrying a stake was a good idea for a vampire, but he's glad he did. And the youngling hardly struggled as Spike held him down by the throat and thrust the stake into his chest, watching as the minion shattered into dust.
Not even pausing to brush the remains of the vampire off himself, Spike was back on his feet, unbeating heart leaping as he saw Xander underneath the second vampire with fangs too close to his throat. But he needn't have worried as the vampire exploded, leaving only Xander, lying on his back, with a stake in his hand. And even though he didn't know where the relief came from, he let it wash over him anyway.
***
Xander tried to calm his breathing. He knew coming out at this time of night was asking for trouble, but he'd done it anyway. He supposed he'd got what he deserved. Only, there was no way he could have taken both the vampires, knew he owed his life to...
"Spike."
"Xa... Harris."
Xander looked at the outstretched hand, remembering how the fingers had felt inside of him and suddenly glad of the darkness to hide the flush that he was sure was crossing his face.
"Look, are you gonna let me help you up, or stay there until the sun starts shinin'?"
Shaking himself out of his reverie, Xander grasped the hand and let Spike help him to his feet. "Thanks."
"My pleasure, pet."
And Xander didn't know why, but Spike's hand was still in his, cool fingers wrapped around warm.
***
"Spike." And, god, Xander sounded like he did in the dream. But he'd never heard it before, never heard the breathy hitch in Xander's voice when he said Spike's name. But he wanted to hear it again. And Spike needed to know if Xander tasted as good as Spike dreamed.
Xander didn't protest as he was pulled towards Spike, didn't protest as Spike's mouth descended on his.
Lips opened under Spike's and a warm tongue lapped at his teeth. And then Spike knew, knew that Xander tasted sweeter than he could have ever imagined, knew that he'd found salvation after all.
***
D'Hoffryn frowned as he watched the woman next to him look into the scrying pool he had created. "Are you sure you want this?"
Anya nodded. "I want to come back to you, D'Hoffryn, but I can't leave Xander alone. This way, I know he has someone to look out for him."
"You love him." It wasn't a question.
Anya turned and looked at the older demon. "Yes, I do," she answered truthfully. "But my place isn't with him, it's here. It just took me this long to realise it."
"And you're sure you want him with the vampire?"
Anya laughed softly. "*He* wants to be with Spike. And Spike wants to be with him." Turning back to the scrying pool, she studied the image of her ex-boyfriend kissing Spike on Sunnydale Main Street. "He'd better watch it though. If he hurts Xander I'll make him regret it, vampire or not."
D'Hoffryn smiled. "Spoken like the young woman I knew a thousand years ago." Reaching into the pocket of his robes, he pulled out a necklace and held it out.
Almost hesitantly, Anya opened her hand, eyes fixed on D'Hoffryn as he dropped the necklace into her palm.
"Welcome home, Anyanka."
Closing her fingers around the necklace, Anya smiled. The dream she'd had D'Hoffryn send to both Xander and Spike worked out exactly as she'd hoped it would. And now everything was as it was supposed to be. Xander and Spike were together, and the vengeance power centre was where it was meant to be - with her. Fastening the chain around her neck, Anya opened her mind, hearing the first call for vengeance in nearly two years. Oh yes, she thought, as she fixed on the young woman calling for her services, everything's worked out just beautifully. And then she vanished.
The End.
