~*~*~*~

Spike moved his other hand to the back of Willow's head, pulling her face closer to his. He started to kiss her deeply, his tongue sweeping in and out of her mouth, brushing against hers. She tilted her head, deepening the kiss as much as she could, hungrily exploring his cool mouth, claiming all of it as hers.

Eventually, she pulled away, breathing hard. "Wait. . .wait. . .thought you were supposed to seduce. . .Xander," she gasped, trying to catch her breath.

Xander paused on his lips' exploration of Willow's neck. "No," he grinned against her skin. "I told him to seduce you. Not me, Precious." He was right. Willow did ask him to join their festivities.

Willow turned, her eyes wide. "You asked Spike to seduce me?" she asked softly, tears filling her eyes.

"Of course. It's my gift to you."

"Oh, goddess, Xander, you are the best!" she exclaimed, throwing her arms around his neck. "I love you so much!"

Spike frowned. "You two are bloody confusing me. Most couples don't go around asking someone to seduce their spouses."

Xander ran his hands through Willow's hair. She closed her eyes and leaned into his touch. He looked up at Spike. "She's always wanted to be with you, Spike. Not just any vampire, *you*. And over the years, as she's whispered to me about how she felt, and I saw who you were through her eyes. . .well, I began to want you too. I love my wife more than anything in the world, and I know that she loves me the same. . .but I'm not going to deny her something that she wanted before we even got together."

Spike's mind flashed back to the scene eleven years before, when he was telling Willow about how Dru wanted him back. The look of sadness in her green eyes, the way she struggled not to cry. . ."Bloody hell, pet!" Spike exclaimed, stepping back. He ran a hand through his hair and walked to the couch, dropping down on it. "Why didn't you tell me that day? I wouldn't have left Sunnyhell if I would have known. You were so in love with the little witch. . ."

Willow turned, tilting her head. "It's ok, Spike. Things worked out the way they were supposed to. Xander and I belong together, and we've been nothing but happy. If it hadn't of been for you hurting me, I wouldn't have gone to cry on his shoulder that night."

"I would have probably proposed to Anya. . .not knowing that Willow was even somewhat straight," Xander chuckled. "It's ok. You needed to be with Dru, Willow needs to be with me."

Spike looked up at them, his eyes glassy. "Yea," he said, wiping the tears away. "Except in the morning, when I leave, I'm still alone, and the two of you still have each other."

Willow pulled out of Xander's arms and went to Spike, dropping to her knees. "Shh," she hushed him. "Let's not think about things like that right now. Please? It's been such a good day. . .and I know you want this just as much as we do. . I felt it a few minutes ago." She teasingly ran her fingertips up the inside of his thighs, trying to get his mind back onto shagging her.

He studied her for a moment, his eyes darkening. "Red, you are incredible. After all these years, you are still incredible."

She graced him with a beautiful smile. "Thank you." She turned her head. "Xander, I'm going to pour us some of that wine. Would you and Spike please start a fire?"

"Sure thing, babe," Xander said, happily. It was his favorite place to make love to Willow, on the couch and floor in front of their fireplace.

Willow stood up, clutching the bottle of wine to her chest. She leaned down and kissed Spike softly on the lips. "Do you want wine, or blood?"

A slight grin graced his features. "Blood if you've got it."

"As if we'd invite you into our home and not have blood for you to drink. Shame on you for thinking otherwise," Willow chuckled. "I'll be back." She walked into the kitchen to get things for them to drink.

Xander had already moved to the fireplace, kneeling in front of it. He was poking at the logs, trying to get the fire to take hold. Spike moved towards the fireplace, picking up one of the many pokers sitting next to the fireplace. He turned it over in his hands, briefly considered just killing the moron and taking the redhead far away from LA, his Sire, her life.

Xander looked up at him, eyes shining in the firelight. "Well?" he asked softly.

"Well what, mate?"

"Are you going to do it?"

Spike frowned. "What are you talking about, Harris?"

Xander's eyes traveled down, following the length of the poker. He looked back up, meeting Spike's startled blue eyes. "Oh, come on, Spike, don't be shocked. I know you are chipless, and I know you are thinking it. How easy it would be for you to kill me, and take Willow away from here." He sat back on his heels, his hands splayed on his thighs. "If you are going to do it, then do it. But if you aren't, then don't do it in the morning. Once you give in and join us. . ." He shook his head, clearing his thoughts. "If you are going to kill me, don't do it tomorrow morning. Do it now."

Spike was surprised that there was no fear rolling off the mortal. He was talking about his own death just as easily as he would talk about the weather. He frowned, putting the poker back in its place. "I'm not going to kill you, mate." He dropped to his knees next to Xander, pulling his duster off. "I'm only here to shag you."

Xander's face broke into an easy grin. "So she asked you too, didn't she?"

"Yea, right after you did," Spike nodded, watching the fire. He was mesmerized by it. Fire always intrigued him - one of the few things in the world that could destroy him, yet it was so very beautiful. He once compared Drusilla to the lazy flames of a fire, but realized very quickly, as he sat inches from Xander Harris, that she was not the fire, but these two mortals were.

He was already weak around Willow, wanting to claim her and make her his. There was even something about Xander, something that hadn't been there years before. When Spike lived with the youth, he couldn't stand him. But now. . .it appeared that Xander had finally grown into his own under Willow's tutelage.

Xander reached out, brushing his fingertips along Spike's cheek. The vampire turned his head, blue eyes meeting desire filled brown. Xander leaned forward, brushing his lips across Spike's.

Spike deepened the kiss, pleasantly surprised that Xander had a firm kiss, yet just the right amount of softness.

*~*~*~*

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