Spiderman

Spike vs. The Spiders 6

Part 4

    Spike opened his eyes slowly. *Where the bloody hell am I?* He looked around, this was the mansion, *what happened?*

    "Spike?" came a tired voice from beside him. "Are you Okay?" Buffy leaned forward so that he could see her.

    "Well I can't feel my legs." He smiled. "You look shattered Luv." He reached out to her and frowned at the bandage covering his right hand. Realization swept across his face as he remembered what happened.

   "How long was I out?" He asked.

   "Almost a day. How do you feel?"

   "Like I was bitten by a huge spider." He told her. "Honestly Luv, if I'd been human I'd have shit myself."

    "Angel said he'd patrol for me tonight, keep an eye open for any huge eight legged things." She smiled. "And your on strict orders to get well, my mom's charity ball is in a week and your not going to weasel out of it this easy mister."

    "Great, and I thought the old 'got mauled by an overgrown arachnid' excuse would be a dead cert." Spike laughed half-heartedly. 

    "Just so long as you’re alright."

    "Have you slept at all pet?"

    "A little, not much." Buffy's eyes where bloodshot and ringed, her hair disheveled. Spike patted the bed beside him.

    "Come and have a lie down, you may have to push me over a bit seein' as I can't actually move from the waist down."

    "No, your fine there." Buffy smiled climbing up onto the bed; she put one leg across his stomach and snuggled up under his chin. Spike wrapped his arms around her and kissed the top of her head. "I'll get it, I promise." She mumbled, already falling into sleep.

    "Don't worry Buffy, just sleep."

*****

"Spike's going to be just fine, he'll be back to his old annoying self in no time." Buffy smiled.

    "Well that's good at least." Willow said through her cinnamon bun. "So you are patrolling tonight?"

    "Yeah, I'm out to kill me a hairy, legs-a-plenty thing." Buffy nodded,

    "You need a hand?"

    "No, I can handle it. I don't want to get anyone in any danger. This thing wasn't nice, it paralyzed Spike what do you think would happen if it bit a human?"

    "Nasty." Willow agreed.

    "Yeah, I'm gonna do a search of the cemetery where we found spike I've just gotta drop by the library pick me up some flying lethality."

    "You’re going with the crossbow option?" 

    "Totally! Distance attacks only, Spike said this thing could really move."

    "Well good luck, I hope you get it."

    "Thanks, this critter is gonna regret the day it ever messed with my boyfriend." Buffy got up from the table her face set as she headed for the library.

*****

    "Here Spider, spider, spider." Buffy called quietly. She had a wiggy feeling about this, like it was there, watching her. She had swept the park, the cemetery, and the other 11 cemeteries and still the feeling didn't go away. It was following her; she wished it would show itself. She had abandoned hope in the parks and cemeteries and taken up the search through the industrial area near the Bronze. 

    She turned down an alley keeping to the wall the crossbow held across her chest. She rounded a blind corner and cursed. It knew. Whatever creature this was, it wasn't stupid. Across the exit of the alley and intricate web had been stretched. Somehow it had spun it when she moved into the alley.... no, no, it hadn't had time. The spider had *herded* her in here, knowing there would be no escape.

    She looked back to see the beast taking a few tentative steps into the alleyway, it's long legs moving almost delicately. She raised the crossbow, the creature stopped. Buffy aimed carefully, right at the centre of the nest of eyes. The Slayer let the bolt fly. The spider moved with lightning speed. The bolt clattered to the ground. Buffy backed up until she was almost touching the web behind her. The spider advanced rearing up it's fangs dripping as Buffy struggled to reload the crossbow. She aimed again, at this distance she couldn't miss. 

    Suddenly the creature let out an ear splitting shriek that broke the windows of the surrounding buildings and had dogs barking miles away. Buffy thought it was another distraction tactic until she saw the spider recoil. Buffy aimed again, she might not get a second chance. Her finger squeezed slightly on the trigger and froze as she saw the spider begin to loose shape. 

    Buffy lowered the crossbow as the spiders legs began sucking themselves back into it's body, the eyes disappeared until only two where left. Pink skin appeared in patches across it's back. Finally Buffy stood open mouthed at the young brunette man knelt panting on all fours before her. He looked up, green eye's meeting her own hazel one's.

    "Buffy?" He choked out hoarsely. 

    "*Pike*?"

    "You think I could get some clothes?"

*****

    Buffy walked into the main room of the mansion. The Scooby gang had assembled at the sometime slayer headquarters save for Cordelia who was in Maui with her parents on an off-season holiday. 

    "Buffster! Did you get the big, nasty, evil-bug?" Xander asked.

    "Well sort of." Buffy frowned.

    "What do you mean sort of?" Spike asked wheeling in from the other room. Willow had managed to get him back into his wheel chair under strenuous protest. His arms where working just fine apart from that his right hand little finger hadn't grown back yet. His leg's seemed to be a bit more stubborn though.  

    "Well, it'll probably explain more if you see him." Buffy looked back through the doorway and beckoned to Pike who was waiting outside.

    Pike wandered in to a room of confused frowns hands firmly buried in his pants pockets (They'd stopped off to fetch his van on the way over which had all his clothes in) and looking mildly ashamed of himself. He looked up and shrugged.

    "Hereby guilt of being a 'big, nasty, evil-bug'." Group sat in shocked silence, which Xander was the first to break.

    "Oookay." 

*****

    "So, to recap." Giles was cleaning his glasses on the edge of his T-shirt as he thought about the amazing story Pike had just told them. "You where bitten by a huge spider."

    "Well not very badly just a scratch really, the whole dose would have killed me." Pike said interrupting.

    "And managed to escape but you started experiencing, changes."

    "Every now and then, doesn't matter where or when or for how long I'll change most of the time it's only a partial thing I've only gone for a full out change twice. It's weird when it happens coz I know what I'm doing and I can remember everything but It's like I take a back seat. I knew about Buffy being a Slayer and all round reference on badness, so I found out where she was and headed down here unfortunately I changed just as I got here and went looking for a snack." Pike looked up at where spike sat. "Sorry about that whole trying to eat you thing by the way." Spike nodded and waved it off. 

    "Well this will need, er some researching I think." Giles thought to himself. "Something is familiar though we'll have to look up g-giant spiders."

    "Spider like demon's" Willow suggested

    "Greek myths." Angel nodded. Everyone looked at him confused for a second. "There's a Greek myth about a woman arachnid turned into a monster by a jealous god."

    "Ah yes, Apollo creating the first spider." Giles mused. “There could be something behind that. Err, Buffy, you, and Spike should get some rest, I’m sure your both very tired.”

    “Thanks, mean while you should track down exactly what’s going on.” Buffy nodded. Spike held up a hand a frown marring his face.

    “Just at thought here, You said that you got bitten and then started turning into Spiderman, Well I’m having issues with the part where you bite me and I become the sequel to this particularly wacky episode of ‘The life of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and co’.”

    “Well, we don’t know that the same rules will apply to a dead body. I-it could be that you are impervious to this.”

    “Either that or you are going to start exploring the wonders of peripheral vision whilst walking across the ceiling.” Angel smiled cheerfully, revelling in his childes pain.

    “Giles, find these two a cure, *soon*.” Buffy ordered.

    “Right, We’ll take Pike with us to the library.”

    “Your not planning on going big demon spider on us are you?” Xander asked cautiously.

    “Not likely, but possible.”

    “Well not to worry, we have the tranquillizer gun on standby and that book cage is stronger than you think, Oz can jump around in there for hours hanging off the door and howling but nothing breaks it. And even if there is a problem his extra set of chains are under the counter.” Willow reassured him innocently. Pike simply raised an eyebrow at Oz sitting quietly beside the red head.

    “Are we talking criminally insane or multiple personality disorder?”

    “Werewolf,” Oz clarified

    “Interesting.”

    “Well I like to think so.”

*****

    “It’s not to worry Buffy I’m sure Spike will be just fine”

    “Really? You’re not just saying that?” Buffy asked as she and willow sat in the library. “I mean. This is Spike *My* Spike I don’t want him to start going 360 degree vision on me.”

    “Well Giles said that there was no reason to think that spike would definitely turn into a…. You know. And we’ll find a cure for both of them anyway, I just know.”

    “Thanks will.” Buffy smiled gratefully. “I really needed the pep talk.”

    “That’s what I’m here for.” Willow nodded definitely and began searching through web pages.

    “Found anything?” Pike asked walking in through the libraries double doors.

    “Yes I think so, all my books seem to be agreeing with Angels theory of the cursed woman Arachnid." Giles spoke up. "Reports in ancient Greece told of a large beast with eight legs terrorizing the countryside.” 

    The telephone rang and Oz walked over to answer it. “Supposedly this woman Arachnid was a very vain and self-cantered person." Giles continued "When the God Apollo turned her into a demon she was so mortified at her looks she left to ‘a place where no mirrors could find her,’ an island near Samos that was destroyed by a natural event of some kind. She would kill or maim anyone who looked upon her and those who survived would become demons themselves. Thus were created the first Spiders.” Giles looked up at them nodding. “With a little more research I should be able to find a cure for the condition I think.” Oz put the phone down and cleared his throat.

    “That was Angel on the phone.” He said. “Spike's walking again.”

    “That’s great.” Buffy said smiling

    “Yeah, apart from the bit where he’s walking on all eight legs.” Buffy spun round looking at her watcher

    “Giles, Cure, Now!” She ran out of the library heading for the mansion.

*****

    “How is he?” Buffy asked as Angel let her into the mansion avoiding the deadly sunlight.

    “He’s shut himself in his room, won’t let anyone in.” Buffy headed for the stairs but Angel grabbed her by the arm. “Buffy, I don’t think you should go up there. You might not want to see…I couldn’t get a good look, but I caught a glimpse before he made it to the bedroom, it doesn’t look good.”

    “I don’t care what he looks like.” Buffy smiled reaching up and stroking Angel’s brow. “You should know about that.” Angel gave her a sad look before nodding and letting her go.

    “Spike?” Buffy pushed open the door hesitantly, looking around inside at the darkness. She couldn’t see the blond vampire anywhere. “Spike?” She called out a second time and noticed something move in the corner.

    “Get out.” Came a hoarse reply. Buffy ignored the demand stepping into the room. “I said get out Buffy.”

    “No, I’m not leaving you alone I care to much about you.”

    “If you care about me you’ll stake me right now.”

    “Spike don’t…”

    “Don’t what?” Spike demanded angrily “Don’t wish myself dead? Don’t hide in here?” Spike moved out of the darkness and Buffy gasped unable to hide the look of horror that crossed her face. Spike looked like he’d just fallen out of a Cronenberg movie. He was walking on six legs the back half of his body was that of a spider covered in thick spiny black hair that had spread up to his chest and covered his arms which had made half the transition into spider legs. His face was twisted into its vampiric features. Buffy covered her mouth beginning to feel sick.

    “Not nice is it?” Spike asked, “I can’t see in the mirror but I’ve got a pretty good idea of what I look like.”

    “It’s okay Spike.” Buffy reassured him, gaining her composure. “Giles will find a cure. I know he will, he’s the super-librarian faster than a speeding book worm, more powerful than a search engine.”

    “You think?” Spike asked taking a step forward. Buffy backed up instinctively hitting the wall behind her. She saw the instant hurt reflected in her loves eyes as he began to turn away.

    “Spike, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to…” Buffy ran forward taking him by the shoulders and looking into his eyes. “I’m sorry, I’ve been fighting demons too long, and it’s kind of a reflex action.” Spike looked at her disbelievingly. “I don’t care what you look like.”

   She lent forward capturing his mouth with hers putting all the tenderness she could into their kiss. Spike wrapped his arms around her. Not noticing as they returned to their normal shape. He slipped his tongue past her lips running it slowly over the roof of her mouth. Buffy broke away from the kiss looking into Spike's clear blue eyes.

    “Your still my Spike.”

*****

    Willow appeared from back in the stacks a solemn expression covering her face. Giles looked up frowning.

    "What's wrong Willow?" All eyes turned to the red headed hacker.

    "I've found the book we've been looking for. It had fallen down the back of the stacks against the wall." She told them.

    "Well that's wonderful, we could be able to cure them now."

    "Well, yeah, but what if there is no cure."

    "No cure." Pike frowned.

    "Well yes and no. There are two cures, one that will reverse the possession completely and one that will only stop it from progressing further. As far as I can tell we're only going to be able to do the second one."

    "Why not?"

    "Hey guys what's up?" Buffy asked breezing into the library with Angel and Spike at each side.

    "Good to see you're back on two legs." Oz nodded at Spike. 

    "I had a little change that got my legs working again,” he explained. "Why is everyone looking so long faced?"

    "The cure, we've only found one that can stop you turning into a spider completely, but you'll both still have... episodes." Giles shrugged

    "The Spell for stopping the onset is pretty complicated, but I can get all of the ingredients we need. The one for complete reversion is simpler."

    "I thought you said there wasn't one." Angel asked.

    "Well for this one to work relies on dumb luck and nothing else. It's a kiss of true love whilst under partial or complete demonic possession." Willow shrugged.

    "Well that's my arse covered." Spike smiled hopping up onto the counter top.

    "What?" Giles asked frowning. 

    "I obliged." Buffy shrugged jumping up onto the counter beside her lover and putting her arm around him. 

    "You did more than just oblige Luv." Spike commented giving her a dirty grin. 

    "Y-yes well, t-that still doesn't s-solve Pikes problem." Giles stuttered going a little red.

    "I'll settle for a regular if they're all out of specials." Pike shrugged.

    "Are you sure?"

    "Y-yes, well I see your point." Giles nodded "Willow if you Oz and Xander could collect up supplies then we'll get the spell underway as soon as possible, best to stop the transition now before it becomes permanent."

    "Seconded." Buffy nodded. "Those spiders are serious-nasty."

    "Let's go pickup some Raspberry leaves and Cats teeth." Willow nodded to Xander taking Oz's hand.

    "And I thought that this Saturday was going to be boring!"

 *****

    Buffy saw the figure moving through the streets, it was half hiding in the shadows, stalking a young college girl. Buffy had almost missed the supernatural being as it hunted but she knew instantly who it was. Buffy swung round a short cut once she realized where the girl was going.

Abby smiled as her prey walked into an alleyway as so many vulnerable young teens with no knowledge of vampires tended to do when they lived in Sunnydale California. She growled when her path was suddenly blocked.

“I’ll give you credit points for the stealth and the choice of meal. But your grade is gonna be a really low F because you chose to take your test in *my* town.”

“Slayer! You really need to get out more, Schoolroom jokes? Playground sarcasm? No A’s for you in my mark book little missy.”

“Well I would try harder to think out my puns but recently people just haven’t been giving them the respect they deserve. I admit I’m a little off my game.”

“Does that mean it’s gonna be easier to kill you?” Abby asked hopefully.

“Your not that lucky.”

“Shame, but you know what I just realized I’ve got this dentists appointment, having my fangs sharpened actually, they’ve been getting a little blunt lately, must be all the people I’ve had impaled on them, takes it’s toll you know.”

“Are you trying to run away from a fight and still save face?”

“Damn, am I that obvious?”

“Yep.” Buffy nodded. Abby threw the first punch without any warning knocking Buffy back against the wall. The slayer used the wall as leverage pushing back off it and sending a kick to Abby's chest.

The fight was quick and half-hearted. Buffy finally kicked Abby away frowning.

“You know I think you’re the one who’s off her game tonight. This is hardly even worth the slay.”

"Looks like another 'weird Abby sighting report' it's just fun, fun, fun." Buffy sighed shaking her head and heading for Giles's to check in. 

 *****

      Buffy looked at herself in the bedroom mirror and smiled. It was just the look she was hoping for. Minimalist with a touch of graceful beauty Spike wouldn’t know what hit him. She was wearing a simple red satin gown, a slit up one side to her thigh and pinched at the waist so that it fitted snugly to her frame. 

    A low neckline accentuated her breasts and two thin straps held the dress in place. Her shoes where of a matching satin and she wore a simple silver anklet on her right leg. Her hair was swept up away from her face and neck into a little pleat at the back of her head. The doorbell rang downstairs. Adding the final touch with a little red lipstick Buffy winked at her reflection before descending the stairs to meet her date. 

    Spike fiddled with his bow tie again for the thousandth time that night as he waited outside the Summer's household. The door opened, Spike's eye's positively bugged out.

    "Wow, Slayer, you look...."

    "Not so bad yourself. I knew you could look really good if you tried."

    "Hey, I always look good." Spike frowned coming out of his stupor. 

    "Yeah." Buffy laughed joining Spike outside and locking the door. "You look just gorgeous in your one and only outfit. I'm gonna have to take you shopping."

    "Don't knock the clothes. Anyway, I look sexy whatever I wear, and you know it." 

    "That's a lot of modesty for just one vamp." Buffy looked up and down the street frowning. "Spike, where's your car?"

    "Your standing in front of it." Buffy looked at the car parked on the curb beside her. 

    "Spike, you have got to be kidding! That is *not* your car." 

    "It is now. I got it yesterday."

    "You *stole* that!" 

    "No I didn't *steel* it. I bought it." Spike replied rolling his eyes

    "How?"

    "Look, just coz I'm a vampire doesn't mean I'm destitute. When you get to be 126 years old you learn how to invest some money."

    "Some money?"

    "Don't ask me how much because I'm not going to tell you." Spike replied opening the car door for her.

    "I'm not sure I really want to know." Buffy shook her head stepping into the car. Spike slid across the car hood jumping in behind the wheel. The Aston DB7's engine roared in the quiet of the street, the midnight blue exterior seemed to hum with the energy as it tore down the street. Buffy looked at the walnut dashboard the cream leather interior and the way Spike just seemed to fit into the scene like the long lost piece of some perfect world jigsaw puzzle. 

    She *really* didn't want to know.

***** 

    "Pike! You made it that's great!" Buffy smiled giving the brunette a crushing hug. 

    "Well I had a few bucks in my truck, plus your mom let me in free." 

    "Haven't I seen that Tux before?" Buffy asked frowning.

    "Prom, the other year, when we burned down the gym." Pike reminded her.

    "Oh yeah, Not very easy to forget." 

    "Especially when my shoe's still smell of gasoline." 

    "Drink Luv." Spike smiled appearing at her side with a glass of wine.

    "Thanks." She smiled. They where in the main hall of the museum where most of the guests where dancing, Willow and Oz could be seen waltzing on the dance floor and doing the cute little fixate thing again. Not far away Buffy noticed Giles and her mother dancing and doing the not so cute little fixate thing that was starting to become a disturbingly frequent thing the two senior Scooby gang members. 

    "There's some real money here tonight." Pike commented "Have you seen some of the price tags on these things?" 

    "It is wicked expensive. I'm surprised the tickets where so cheap." 

    "Yeah, and did you check out the serious auto situation outside? I'd sell my soul to get my hands on some of those babies. I even saw a brand new Aston Martin out there!"

*****

    "Are you having a good time pet?" Spike asked as they slow danced under the gaze of multiple jealous onlookers from both genders. 

    Spike had been looking around all night trying to spot and avoid anyone who might have recognized him and started wondering how come he looked exactly the same as the last time they saw him. The aristocracy might be stupid, but they weren't that stupid. 

    "Best ever." Buffy smiled. "Nothing could ruin this." She pressed her lips to his gently. The kiss was slow and delicate not bred from lust or need or want. Just love. Spike rubbed his thumb over her cheek as they continued to dance. Swaying to the soothing beat.

    "Spike! Buffy!" The lovers broke apart, startled by the shout as Angel ran towards them across the dance floor.

    "Angel?" Buffy asked breaking away from Spikes arms to put her hands on his shoulders. Angel fought to catch unneeded breath. "What is it? What's wrong?" The disturbance brought gazes from the couples around them.

    "Abby!" Angel gasped out, "it's Abby. I've found out what she's up to."

*****

    "Hi, I'm a friend of Xanders. Do you mind if I talk to him?"

    "Come in, he's upstairs." Mr. Harris left the door wide retreating to the kitchen.

    "Thank you." Abby called out smiling. They really didn't care did they? Well they'd pay later. 

    Abby looked up and down the upstairs landing. 4 doors lead off of it, she headed straight for the end room. Knocking she waited for a reply. 

    "Who is it?" 

    "A friend." The door swung open suddenly, Xander stood wide-eyed and topless in the doorway. "You keep opening your door that forcefully your gonna pull it out of the jam one day." Abby chided jokingly.

    "Abby!" Xander exclaimed breaking out of his momentary daze. "What are you doing here? How did you get in? Where are my parents? What did you do with them?"

    "Your Dad invited me in, I haven't done anything with them they're in the kitchen, although that's not to say I don't have plans involving us, them and a bit of vivisection."

    "You stay away from them." Xander barked angrily.

    "Oh, it's not gonna be a case of keeping *me* away from them." The vampire smiled. "Now, about why I'm here." Abby walked forward backing Xander into his room and closing the door behind her. Xander stood his ground as Abby raked her eyes over him, his surprisingly well toned stomach, muscular arms. She could hear his heart pounding in his chest. The fear radiating from him was mixed with the scent of his undeniable arousal.

    She stalked towards him. "There's no need to be afraid precious." She soothed, placing one cold hand on his chest.

    "You've been following me." It was a statement not a question. Xander had known it was Abby following him from the beginning, even though he hadn't admitted it.

    "Your smart, no one thinks so but you are. You can be smarter." 

    "I know what your offering Abby." Xander spat "I'm not interested." Abby laughed, her green eyes glinting.

    "Yes you are. You know you are and you know you can't lie to me. You have been interested since you first learned about vampires." Abby wandered over to the bed, sitting and reclining back on her elbows and looking at him intently. "You want to know what it's like. Living without a soul, feeding from humans, killing, feeling someone's pulse die beneath your lips." Xander shook his head defiantly.

    "You don't know me." 

    "I know you're alone. Willow used to be your best friend, how often do you just hang around together now? No one cares about you, and no one needs you." Abby sat up taking one of his hands and guiding him closer to the bed. "But I need you."

    "Why?" Xander choked out. "Why do you need me?"

    "Because I'm alone. I could have anyone, but I want you, I need you." Xander looked at the floor, refusing to meet her eyes. "All out of arguments?" She asked. "What comes next? Violence?" With lightning movements Abby pulled him face down onto the bed beside her. Flipping him over she straddled his waist. She could feel his evident arousal between her legs and smiled. "I can do violence."

    "You might need me, but I don't need you." Xander told her, his fear dissipating. Abby descended on his lips. The kiss was fiery and passionate. Xander returned it with equal fervour, wrapping his arms around her and cupping the back of her head with his palm as all thoughts preceded to vanish from his mind. Abby broke the kiss keeping her face just inches away from his she smiled almost warmly.

    "That felt needy enough to me." She whispered. "You don't want to be alone, helpless, useless. Come with me, and you can be everything you want to be." 

*****

    "If I ever question your vehicle choice again remind me of this," Buffy Shouted over the roar of the Astons V12 engine. Spike's driving was like a fluid movement as he topped 120 mph, running three sets of red lights with out a single backward glance. The car pulled up outside the Harris's home almost before they left the museum.  

    Buffy ran for the house leaving her shoes in the car and lifting her skirts she ran inside without knocking pausing only to invite Spike inside. She ran straight for Xander's room. Spike got upstairs just in time to catch Buffy as she fell to the floor. He frowned as heavy sobs began to wrack her body.

    "I-I was t-too late." Buffy cried. Spike ran past her into Xanders room. Spike closed his eyes for a second against the sight that greeted him in the brunette teens bedroom. He walked over to the body on the bed checking his pulse but finding nothing. Xander was still warm but his body was almost completely drained. Spike sighed when he found the mouth to be blissfully free of blood.

    Spike returned to the red wrapped huddle in the hallway just as Xanders parents appeared in the hall demanding to know what happened. Spike pulled Buffy into his arms holding her tightly as she cried.

*****

    "Xander Harris, was my best friend. From the moment that we first met in the kindergarten sandpit, and he buried my Barbie under his GI Joe Battle Fort, I can't remember anyone I was closer to. I saw him everyday and talked to him on the phone nearly every night." No matter how hard she tried Willow could feel the tears slipping down her face as she stood before the congregation in the church. 

    "Xander wasn't the brightest or the most popular student in Sunnydale high, but he was one of the most kind, gentle and caring. What makes his death all the worse, was that it came so soon in his life, like too many deaths this town has seen. 

    "I know Xander would laugh to think that so many of Sunnydale High Schools students would be here today, but I think that this is part of a realization that not everything in Sunnydale is natural. People are killed here everyday, more than in any other town I know. But in this town, people still care, how many places in the world wouldn't? I think that makes us more different than any thing else. 

    "Xander Harris lived 17 and a half years. In that time he has saved my life, and the lives of more people than I can count. He's loved and received love, he's made us laugh, and on occasion cry. He had so much more to give, and so much more to learn. But all I can think of is that I never said goodbye. I'll never talk to him again, I'll never get to see him laugh, watch him do the snoopy dance at Christmas time or listen to another of his dumb jokes, because he's never coming back.

    "Xander Harris was my best friend. I will never forget him, I will always love him, and I will miss him forever."

*****

    Abby returned to the factory. I had been a productive nights hunt the prey had all screamed for their lives to no avail, but she didn't feel any better. Inside the factory hummed with activity as minions and fledglings scurried about their nightly business. Wandering down the hall to her room she thought once more about Xander, the potential he had. 

    Entering the room she had no sooner turned her back to lock the door than she was slammed face first against it. Growling she pushed back against the strong hands that held her pushing her assailant away she turned to face them and was once more thrown against the door. This time she was able to look up into the molten yellow eyes of the one who held her and smile.

    "Hello Baby," Xander grinned toothily, "I'm home!"

End?